'Travels in Beloochistan and Sinde; accompanied by a geographical and historical account of those countries, with a map.' [‎211] (253/476)

A PERSIAN ENTERTAINMENT.
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placed in gold or silver ones, a size larger; these were succeeded by a
variety of fruits, preserves, and pickles, in a green and dried state, and
sherbets in bowls were handed round on trays, with a large wooden
ladle to each, out of which every person drank what he pleased.
A cloth was then spread in front of the party on the floor, and a
quantity of bread in broad thin cakes thrown upon it, shortly after
which the regular dinner, composed of all descriptions of pilows,
stews, and other made dishes, was brought in upon trays, one of
which was set before each guest. When every thing was thus ar
ranged, the minister gave the signal to commence, by calling out
Bismillah *, and in an instant the whole party was hard at work.
The servants stood in the centre of the room, to help us to sherbet
or water; and our host wanted very much to send for wine on my
account, but I would not, of course, allow it; assuring him that I
had not tasted it for many months, and infinitely preferred his iced
sherbets. We had no less than three courses of meat, and as it
was a very tedious business to remove and replace such a number
of dishes, I was most happy when the time arrived for going
home.
This meal, which is the principal one among Persians, corresponds
exactly with our dinner. They eat nothing from that time until the
following day at noon, which is their breakfasting hour, unless it may
be a little green fruit very early in the morning. Two or three
things are very inconvenient at their meals. You must dine off what
happens to be next to you, or else have a person to put his feet in
the midst of the dishes to reach at what you wish for ; and, to Euro
peans, the method of sitting cross legged on a level with the victuals
is, of course, always uncomfortable; nor do the Persians themselves
seem to be much at their ease. From eating with the fingers, nap
kins also would appear to be indispensable, yet I never saw them
introduced: many of the Persians use bread instead, and as it is very
* In God's name. Vide Note on Diary of the 8th April.
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