ABSTRACT
S CARCEL Y had I cleansed myself from the dust of travel, when I was informed that one had come who would have
speech with me; and on my signifying my readiness to receive him, a portly old man, clad in the dull yellow raiment of the guebres, was ushered in. Briefly saluting me, he introduced' himself as the Dastur Tir-andaz, high-priest of the Zoroastrians of Yezd, and proceeded to inform me that the Governor of the city, His Highness Prince '1madu'd-Dawla, having learned that a European had just arrived in the town, had instructed him to interview the said European and ascertain his nationality, the business which had brought him to Yezd, and his rank and status, so that, if he should proye to be "distinguished" (mutashak,hk,hif), due honour might be shown him.
