gravelly soil there was less danger of our again suffering as we had the day before. By eight o'clock everything was ready for a start; but we had scarcely mounted when rain and sleet came down in such torrents, beaten against our faces by the east wind, that we resolved to wait. In an hour, the storm having slightly moderated, we made a second attempt to proceed, enveloped in good waterproofs. Our destination was Shurâb, i.e., 'Salt water.' The road was good throughout, though stony in some places and narrow in others. After three miles we began a gradual ascent into the hills, where the rain turned into fine driving snow; after nine miles we passed a large, empty caravanserai, where we took refuge for a short time, and then pushed on, fighting against a heavy snow-storm, until we reached the post-station of Shurâb, seventeen miles, where we lit a fire, dried our clothes, and lunched; but the post-boy with our luggage did not put in an appearance for two hours after our arrival.
We left Shurab at 1.30 for a twenty-five mile ride to Nishapūr. Our route was east--
