THENCE I returned again to Shiraz; and as, amidst my perusal of various books, certain extraordinary words, some noble discoveries, and many illustrious and valuable gains of knowledge, had fallen in my way, which it is not easy at all times to become master of, and which can be attained by few even of a host of profound investigators; and whereas also there occurred to my defective mind a multitude of noble results and conceits, and a diversity of sublime truths; it became my wish, to arrange them in a collection which should consist of precious and rare things, and excel the famous magazines of preceding literati. I began, therefore, to write this work, and gave it the name of Moddat Ol Omr.* By degrees, whatever suited its quality was registered in this collection, and during my travels through Fârs a considerable quantity of it was written. In this way, by the first of the year one thousand one hundred and thirty-five, it amounted to about seven thousand couplets; when, during the revolution which occurred that year at Isphahan, it was carried away in plunder, with my library and all that I had; and I have sadly to lament the loss of this manuscript. Had the work been completed, and submitted to the inspection of the learned world, it would have been judged worthy of being laid up as a treasure in the stores of discerning monarchs.

From Shiraz I went to the town of Fasa, which is one of the warm countries of Fars, intending to go thence to Kâzerôn. In those parts, I thoroughly informed myself of the circumstances of the godly Sofi, the model of perfect men, Sheikh Salâm Allah of Sholistan of Shiraz; who in that country, having retired from the world, had taken up his abode in a cave; and I hastened to wait upon him. I found him surpassing all that I had imagined of the greatest saints, and such as are rare indeed in the world. The line of his superiors and predecessors reached in uninterrupted succession up to Maarôf Karakhi; God sanctify their souls! I staid some time in a small town which was near that spot; and for many days had the happiness to attend the Sheikh. At length, he approved of and accepted my good will and sincerity, which were of the purest intention; and he shewed me the most generous kindness and affection. A few nights and days I passed in the cave with him; and I petitioned him, that I might pass the remainder of my life on the same spot. He would not consent; but dismissed me thence with great civility. If, up to the present time, the grace of obtaining any happiness has been granted me, I reckon it due to the blessing of the care, and the regard of affection, bestowed on me, by that prodigy of the universe; and my tongue exerts its elo­quence to this effect;*

However much I am become a melancholy and infirm old man;

Whenever I recollect your countenance, I grow young again.

On that day, the gate of meaning was opened to my mind,

When I became a dweller at the threshold of the Magian Chief.

Afterwards I went to Kâzerôn. One of the principal men of that city, and a native of the place, was Khojah Hosâm Eddin, whom I found to rank among the most liberal characters of the age. To me he was a thorough friend.

Of the native literati of that city, one was Mawla Mohammed Yosof, a graduated Sofi,* who had passed his academical degrees, and wrote a most beautiful hand. He possessed a powerful genius for poetry, an humble and pious disposi­tion, and was pure in his manners, and conversa­tion. He died at Shiraz, during the period of the Afghan conquest.