Page:Kennedy, Robert John - A Journey in Khorassan (1890).djvu/106

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we were met by our native agent resident at Astrabad, who had come to meet us, bringing with him four fairly good riding and five pack horses. Our head Persian servant, Kuli, also met us, bringing from Tehran about forty letters, besides bundles of newspapers, as well as provisions, wines, and other small luxuries, sent by the careful forethought of our 'nazir,' or house steward, McCormick. We lunched in the comfortable house, situated on the banks of a prettily wooded stream, of a Russian merchant, to whom we were introduced by our Astrabad agent, and at two o'clock we started, after the usual wrangling between the 'chavadars,' or pack-horse owners, who quarrel incessantly about their respective loads, for a short march of fourteen miles to Barfrush. Our direction was south, following the Babil river through a rich and well-cultivated country, covered with fine walnut, mulberry, and orange-trees. We passed numerous orchards and luxuriant gardens, and we reached the prosperous and smiling village of Barfrush, with its busy little bazaar, at sunset. Here we were lodged in a most comfortable house, belonging to a Persian, who holds the