MY father, out of a longing to see his brothers and relations, was seized with a desire of going to Lahijan, and, taking me with him, he set out in that direction. At every stage where we alighted, I read with my father the Theological Part of the Sharh Tajrid, and the Zubdat Olosol.*

Of the eminent and learned men, whom I met with on that journey, one was the excellent attester of truth* Mirza Hassan son of the late Mawla, Abd Orrazzak of Lahijan. I had the happiness to wait upon him in his old age and last days of life at the City of True Believers,* Com, which was his place of abode. He was a miracle of science and piety, and has left some noble compositions, such as, The True Light on Articles of Faith in Religious Prac­tice,* The Beauty of Good Men in their Works,* A Pious Treatise, and some others.

Another was Hajji Mohammed Sherif, to whose society I was admitted in the same town. He was a collector of sciences, possessed a disposition of the most unsullied purity, and was a man of per­fect taste. Another was the prince of learned men, Mir Mohammed Ibrahim of Cazvin, an assembler of the intellectual and traditional,* and a pious man. I saw him at the seat of government, Cazvin. Another was the prince of excellent men Mirza Cavam Eddin Mohammed of Seif near Cazvin, who was an intelligent scholar, and in traditional learning, par­ticularly, was an Imam, or Prelate. He composed well in Arabic and Persian verse, and in man­ners and disposition was worthy of all praise. It was also in that town that I was introduced to his society. These two noble Seyyids lived till within the last few years.

On our arrival at Lahijan we alighted at the ancient mansions of our family, and I visited my highly respectable uncle and all the men of learn­ing, rank, and ability in that country. I passed little short of a year there, and enjoyed perfect calmness and tranquillity of mind. My father employed himself in conference and disputation, and I attended his class as one of his pupils. By his direction, I studied under my uncle the Treatise called Khulâsat Olhisâb.* At times, going for a walk and recreation to the charming spots in the neighbourhood of the town, I cast my delighted eye over heart-attracting landscapes; then reverted with cheerfulness to the sweet society around me.