The silk trade of Resht, which has suffered so much for many years from the disease that attacked the silkworms in the Caspian provinces, and spread to all the Persian silk districts, is now recovering.  The introduction of cellular seed has been attended with much success, and there is a rapidly-increasing export of cocoons.  The fresh start in this old industry has given an impetus to mulberry-tree cultivation, and waste land is in considerable demand for planting purposes.

An attempt is now being made to grow tea on the low hills near Batoum.  It is not yet known what may be the ultimate chances of success, but already what is being done there is having the effect of suggesting a similar experiment near Resht.  The conditions of the soil on many of the wooded hill-slopes in the Persian Caspian provinces, where every gradation of climate and atmosphere can be met with, appear to be well adapted for the tea-plant.  The cart-road to Kasvin, now being constructed by a Russian company, will pass through some of these well-favoured parts, and this will help to draw attention to natural resources which have hitherto been unnoticed.

As old Persian travellers, we were at once reminded of our return to the land of complimentary address and extravagant phrase by the frequent reply ‘Chashm’ (My eye!), the simple slang expression known in our country, and which ‘Trilby’ has made better known by its introduction on the stage.  The word is an abbreviation of ’Ba sar o chashm’ (By my head and eyes!  May my eyes be put out, and my head taken off, if I obey not!).  We also heard the similar but less formal reply Chira?  Why?—­meaning, why not? why should I not do as you desire? i.e. you will be obeyed.

We travelled to Kasvin, halfway to Tehran, over the execrable road which leads from Resht.  For the first forty miles the landscape was lovely from wooded slopes, green growth and clear running water.  The post-houses are just as they were—­ill-provided, and affording the very smallest degree of comfort that it is possible for a ‘rest-house’ to give.  They had been in some way improved for the reception of General Prince Karaupatkin, and his suite, who visited Tehran to announce to the Shah the accession of H.I.M.  Nicolas II.; but no effort to maintain the improvement had been made, except in one place—­Menzil.  The on dit in Tehran was, that the successful launching of the Russian cart-road enterprise, now fairly well in hand, is entirely due to Prince Karaupatkin’s strong representation on his return to St. Petersburg.  He is said to have taken the opportunity of telling the Shah, in answer as to his journey up, that he was greatly surprised to find the road leading to the capital such a very bad one; whereupon his Majesty remarked that the blame lay with his own countrymen, who, after begging for a monopoly concession to construct a good road, had held on to it and done nothing, and they had the right, so long as the contract time allowed,