In the Kingdom of the Shah. By E. Treacher Collins.
(T. Fisher Unwin.)—Mr. Trencher Collins was suddenly summoned from London to proceed to "spatula by way of Bushire in order to eralrine the eyes of the Shah's eldest son, or, as heaves called, "The Shadow of the Sultan." His preparations seem to have in- cluded a somewhat hasty study of Zoroastrianism and of the charac- teristics of the Persians, as the chief nation that has professed this faith. The Persians were not quite the model people that he supposes. Their "liberality to dependent nations" was by no means consistent. Cyrus, for some reason of which we are not certainly informed, permitted the Jews to return. But com- monly the Persians were bigoted and intolerant. The savagery with which they destroyed the temples and religious symbols of the nations which they invaded, profoundly shocked the ancient world. Mr. Collins's Persian experiences are interesting. He had, as may be imagined, many other patients besides the Prince. There is no disease, in fact, so common in Persia as ophthalniia, and any number of eye-doctors might find employment. Of the country and its people we have an interest- ing account, supplemented by what Mrs. Collins has to say about the manners of the women.
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