e to his inferiors, and the very best companion to
those who shared in his debaucheries. No bolder drinker of wine existed
in Persia, except perhaps his present companion, the executioner, who,
as long as he could indulge without incurring the Shah's displeasure,
had ratified an eternal treaty of alliance between his mouth and every
skin of wine that came within his reach.

It was before these two worshipful personages that I was introduced,
followed by two or three of my principal attendants. I stood at the end
of the compartment until I was spoken to.

'You are welcome,' said the chief executioner. 'Hajji, by my soul, tell
me, how many Russians have you killed? have you brought a head--let me
see?'

Here the serdar took him up, and said, 'What have you done? What
Russians are on the frontier? and when shall we get at them?'

To all of which I answered, after making the usual prefatory speech,
'Yes, Agas, I have done all that was in my power to do. It was a
lucky hour when we set off, for everything that you wish to know I can
explain; and it is evident that the destinies of the serdar and of my
master are much on the rise, since so insignificant a slave as I can be
of use to them.'

'Good luck is no bad thing, that's true,' said the serdar, 'but we trust
a great deal to our swords, too,'--rolling his eyes about at the same
time, and smiling in the face of the chief executioner.

'Yes, yes,' said his companion, 'swords and gunpowder, spears and
pistols--those are our astrologers. It will always be a fortunate hour
that will bring me within slice of an infidel's neck. As for me, I am a
_kizzel bash_ (a red head), and pretend to nothing else. A good horse,
a sharp sword, a spear in my hand, and a large _maidan_ (an open space)
before me, with plenty of Muscovites in it: that is all I want.'

'And what do you say to good wine too?' said the serdar. 'I think that
is as good a thing as any you have mentioned. We'll have the caliph
in, and make him give Hajji a cup of his best. But tell us first,'
addressing himself to me, 'what have you seen and done? where are the
Russians posted? how many of them are there? have they any guns? who
commands them? where are their Cossacks? have you heard anything of the
Georgians? where is the Russian commander-in-chief? what are the Lesgi
about? where is the renegade Ismael Khan?--Come, tell us all: and you,
Mirza,' addressing himself to his scribe, 'write down all he says.'

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