'Travels in Assyria, Media, and Persia, including a journey from Bagdad by Mount Zagros, to Hamadan, the ancient Ecbatana, researches in Ispahan and the ruins of Persepolis, and journey from thence by Shiraz and Shapoor to the sea-shore. Description of Bussorah, Bushire, Bahrein, Ormuz, and Muscat, narrative of an expedition against the pirates of the Persian Gulf, with illustrations of the voyage of Nearchus, and passage by the Arabian Sea to Bombay.' [‎214] (245/582)

214
ISPAHAN,
as of all others I had yet seen in Persia, consisted simply in
carpets. These were indeed of the finest and softest kind, as well
as exceedingly beautiful; but there were neither sofas nor cushions
of any kind, as used in Turkey and Arabia. The Persians of all
classes and distinctions kneel, and sit back on their heels, pre
serving their bodies in an upright posture, and holding their hands
across their girdles, or on their daggers, so that cushions are not
necessary. This, however, is an attitude used by Turks and
Arabs only before their superiors, and never resorted to by people
of the higher classes, or those who feel at ease in society. The
cross-legged mode of sitting, common to the Turks, is more easy
of imitation by a stranger, and admits a greater change of position,
so that lounging may be easily indulged in, and cushions are
then agreeable ; but among the Persians I had never observed
this practised, either in the circles of the high or low ; and it was
so far fortunate, therefore, that my Arab dress admitted of my
retaining Arab manners, since it would have been impossible for
me to have sat in the Persian fashion longer than half an hour,
without being incapacitated from rising again, from so cramped a
position.
The dresses of most of the people of distinction in attendance,
were those commonly worn by Persians of every description, and
offered no other variety than the quality of their materials. The
sleeves and bodies of their garments are even tighter than those of
Europeans; while the lower part, from the waist downward, is
like an ample petticoat, open at the sides, and both undignified
and ungraceful. Cashmeer shawls are wound round the waist, in
which a plain and generally straight dagger is placed, and the
black sheepskin cap is worn by all. An outer coat, with sleeves,
and embroidered work around the edges, is used by the Khans and
people in office, and this is mostly of bright scarlet broad-cloth,
that being the established colour of the court-dress.
In our conversation with the Governor, his enquiries were first
diiected to European affairs, and afterwards to the state of the