The Persian city of Caswin, where our trade ambassadors from Holstein are now, is about 50 miles from the south shore of the Caspian Sea. They have traveled almost 500 miles overland after being shipwrecked on the west shore near the small town of Nisavay, and they have roughly another 300 miles to go before reaching their destination – the capital city of Isfahan.

The perimeter of Persia is almost entirely mountainous, while the center is a vast desert plateau that sits below the mountains but two or three thousand feet above sea level. The country might be described as a saucer, and the central desert is sometimes called “Qanat Civilization” due to its long historical use of irrigation systems.

Caswin, at the extreme northwestern edge of that great desert, is snuggled into a pocket right up against the Alborz mountain range. The kings of Persia once had their ordinary residences here after Shah Tamasp transferred his court here from Tauris.

It is said that Caswin was once the home of a famous physician named Lokman, a black Arabian who had acquired a great reputation because of the many books he had written about medicine and other works that endeared him to the inhabitants of the city. One day, the wise Lokman was asked how he had attained such great learning, and he said it was due to the ignorant and uncivil people, for he had always done the opposite of what he had seen them do.

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit semipropilgrim.substack.com