Start for Persia—Arrival at Isphahan—Departure for Kerman—The Land of the Lion and the Sun—A rainy day and its effects—Eclipse—Locusts—Sand-storms—Land of cats—Modes of conveyance—Inhabitants.

“’Tis the sight of a lifetime to behold

The great shorn sun as you see it now

Across eight miles of undulant gold

That widens landward, weltered and rolled

With patches of shadow and crimson stains.”

Lowell.

“Shadow maker, shadow slayer, arrowing light from clime to clime.”

Lord Tennyson.

Our life in Persia extended over a period of three years, dating from the spring of 1900 to that of 1903.