1 was to be obtained t1 -.ere. We were told that there were four
2 French military officers in the service of Bunjeet Sing at
3 Laho're, in India*( Allard. Ventura, Court, and Avituhile) who,
4 after the defeat of Napoleon, having served in Persia. were
5 about to organize a regular army at I-ahore, and that no Euro¬
6 pean physicians or surgeona had been yet engaged. We there¬
7 fore, thinking it better to accelerate our departure, requested our
8 dismissal, which was granted, and we thus left Bagdad, Our
9 friend, Mr, Swohodn, furnished us with letters of introduction to
10 tlie aforesaid French officers, and we went down the Tigris to
11 Bassora, and ■ embarked there for Bender Buhir, in Persia.
12 At Rushii we met, at the British consuls, with six English
13 officers (one of whom was a medical man, coming from
14 Bombay )j who were on their way to England overland. We
15 sold them our two Arabian horses, and becoming acquainted
16 through that transaction, we went with them as far as Shiran,
17 where we visited the ruins of PersejMiiis, and then separated.
18 On the jmtmev wc iiad an opportunity of rendering a special
19 service to our companions, namely, that of saving their luggage,
20 and at the same time of witnessing the cowardice of the Persians.
21 The fact was, that a fortress in the mountains, between Rushir
22 and SI liras, having capitulated, the garrison, which consisted of
23 a couple of hundred robber-like looking- fellows, had met u< in
24 a forest,and fallen on the luggage-train of the English officers,who,
25 together with their numerous servants, were considerably in
26 advance. When I saw the miscreants dragging about by the hair
27 our men, l fired a pistol, partly to give a signal to the English¬
28 men to come to our assistance, ami partly to frighten the
29 assailants, which had the di ired effect; foi they fled right and
30 left among the trees. We then pursued our journey without
31 ftirthei molestation, and received the thanks of the Englishmen,
32 who were coolly taking snuff, and waiting for ns at the top of
33 the hill, near die fortress that had previously capitulated.
34 A - it was too late for us now to proceed to India by sea, we
35 preferred staying a few months at Shirks, following our profes¬
36 sion, and waiting for the winter cason, which is more convenient