[103] These facts are mentioned in the Introduction to Mickle's translation of the Lusiad. [104] This desert is called, where we crossed it, Deryâ-e-Kebeer, or Kemeen which signifies a desert; and the term Deryâ, which means the ocean, being prefixed, is a proof of the truth of the popular belief of this having been once a sea. [105] Melek-ool-Mout derrat. [106] "Yekee dâstân poor ab-e-cheshem." [107] Gherm-esh ne-ghermee bood, oo serd-esh ne-serd [108] Berf-e-peeree meenesheened ber sêr-em Hem-choon-ân teba-em jevânee kooned. [109] Rehim koon oo bee fouj der teskeen bâsh Dilhâ-e-âlem gheer oo shâh-e-âlem-gheer bâsh. [110] Meger kih lâleh be-dânist bee-wefâ-e-deher Kih tâ be-zâd oo be-shood jâm-e-mei z' kef-ne-nihâd. [111] Ne meedihend ijâzet me-ra be-seir-oo-Sefer Neseem-e-bâd-e-moosellâ we âb-e-Rooknâbâd. [112] Kedem dereegh medâr ez jinâza-e-Hâfiz. Kih ger-chih gherek-e-goonâh est meereved be-bihisht. [113] Turkey. [114] Kih ishk âsân nemood avvel welee ooftâd mooshkil-hâ. [115] Ishk avvel choo ser-khoonee booved, Tâ be-tersend her kih beeroonee booved. CHAPTER XVII. Distant view of Teheran--Demavend--Rhe--Entrance into the Capital--Hajee Ibrahim--Zâl Khan--Terms of Courtesy. The first distant view we had of Teheran, the modern capital of Persia, was very imposing. It is situated near the foot of Elboorz, a mountain of the great range which stretches from Europe to the utmost limits of Asia. This range would appear high, were it not for Demavend, whose lofty peak, rising above the clouds, and covered with eternal snow, gives a diminutive appearance to every thing in its vicinity. We had seen Demavend at the distance of one hundred miles from its base, but it increased in magnificence as we advanced; and those amongst us who delighted in the pages of Firdousee now planned an early visit to this remarkable mountain, whose summit that poet describes as "far from the abode of man, and near to Heaven." A Persian of our party, called Meerzâ Ibrahim, who had been at Demavend, increased our curiosity by a detail of the wonders we should see when we visited that place. "Amongst others," said he, "is the cave that was once the habitation of the Deev-e-Seffeed, who was slain by Roostem; and if fortunate," he added, "you may catch a glimpse of the Deev's daughter, whose dwelling is on the point of an inaccessible rock, at the edge of which she now and then appears; and is reported, notwithstanding her age, which cannot be less than two thousand four hundred years, to be as active with her distaff, and looking as well as ever.