Across Coveted Lands; or, a Journey from Flushing (Holland) to Calcutta Overland

Kerman and Zeris, the two Kittens who accompanied Author on his wanderings.
A whole day was spent in preparing for the journey, and when November 4th came, shortly before midnight my provisions were packed upon my camels, with an extra load of fowls and one of fruit, while on the hump of the last camel of my caravan were perched, in a wooden box made comfortable with straw and cotton-wool, two pretty Persian kittens, aged respectively three weeks and four weeks, which I had purchased in Kerman, and which, as we shall see, lived through a great many adventures and sufferings, and actually reached London safe and sound, proving themselves to be the most wonderful and agreeable little travelling companions imaginable. One was christened Kerman, the other Zeris.
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His Majesty the Shah of Persia.

The start—The terrors of the Russian Custom-house—An amusing incident at the Russian frontier—Politeness of Russian officials—Warsaw: its sights; its lovely women—The talented Pole—People who know how to travel by train—A ludicrous scene.
First single to Baku, I requested when my turn came at the window of the ticket office at Victoria Station.
Baku?—where is that? queried the ticket man.
In Southern Russia.