After some months had elapsed, it was discovered by accident that a small branch of Kerreem Khan's own tribe of Zend, at that time encamped near Shiraz, were the murderers. Their guilt was clearly proved, and all who had been actually engaged in the murder were sentenced to death. Powerful intercession was made that some at least should be pardoned, but the prince had vowed that every man should suffer, and their being of his own favoured tribe made him more inexorable. They had, he said, brought disgrace on him as their sovereign and as their chief, and could not be forgiven. When the prisoners were brought before him to receive sentence, there was amongst them a youth of twenty years of age, whose appearance interested every spectator; but their anxiety was increased to pain when they saw the father of this young man rush forward, and demand, before they proceeded to the execution, to speak to the prince. Permission was granted, and he addressed him as follows: "Kerreem Khan, you have sworn that these guilty men shall die, and it is just; but I, who am not guilty, come here to demand a boon of my chief. My son is young, he has been deluded into crime; his life is forfeited, but he has hardly tasted the sweets of life; he is just betrothed in marriage; I come to die in his stead: be merciful! let an old worn out old man perish, and spare a youth, who may long be useful to his tribe; let him live to drink of the waters, and till the ground of his ancestors!" Kerreem Khan is stated to have been greatly moved by the old man's appeal: he could not pardon the offence, having sworn on the Koran that all concerned should be put to death; and with feelings very different from our ideas of justice, but congenial to those of the chief of a tribe, he granted the father's prayer, and the old man went exultingly to meet his fate. While all around were filled with pity, his son, wild and distracted with grief, was loud in imploring the prince to reverse his decree, to inflict on him that death which he merited, and to save the more valuable life of his aged, devoted, and innocent parent. FOOTNOTES: [89] Neeyet-e-naish zedden. [90] Boodeh-bâshed. [91] The standard fersekh of Persia is 6000 royal yards (gez-e-shâh), which is somewhat more than three miles and a half. This measure, however, varies in different provinces of that kingdom. [92] Many Persian authors assert that the word Tûrkûmân is from the compound term Tûrk-mânend, or Turk-like; and the conclusion made from this is, that they are a tribe of Tartars who, having become inhabitants of the north-eastern part of Persia, were subsequently designated by a name which marked their origin. Persian writers, however, are generally bad etymologists, and I am a worse; I must, therefore, leave this important question in doubt. [93] Gholam-e-Shâh. [94] Een kârkhâneh cheh fâideh; berâe sipâhee cheh zeroor sewâe neezeh wa dil? [95] Hâzir mydânee. [96] Chappau.