Karah Kaplan ; or The Koordish Chief III

PREFACE

One of the first observations likely to be made by any one who takes up this work, on perusing the title page, will be, what is the meaning of Karah Kaplan? In anticipation of this question, I have written a few lines concerning the name I have given to my story. It consists of two Turkish words, Karah, black, and Kaplan, a tiger, and is pronounced by laying the accent strongly on the first and last syllables, for instance Karah Kaplan. It is the surname of a Koordish Chief, who plays a most conspicuous part in the narrative.

This tale is founded on fact, and some celebrated and well known characters make their appearance in its pages, among whom may be noticed the late Shah Fath Ali.

It was originally my intention to have written a very short story, of a few pages, (the circumstances giving rise to it appearing in the second volume. Chapter XIII., the leading events of which really took place not long before the death of the late King; but the work grew so upon my hands, that at length it wove itself into its present shape.

As no one can dislike reading long prefaces more than myself, I shall do as I would be done by, and bring these few necessary remarks to a conclusion. Hoping that Karah Kaplan will meet with indulgent readers; I leave it to its fate; if it should meet with approbation, the public will perhaps again hear from their sincere well-wisher,

THE AUTHOR