'A second journey through Persia, Armenia, and Asia Minor, to Constantinople, between the years 1810 and 1816. With a journal of the voyage by the Brazils and Bombay to the Persian Gulf. Together with an account of the proceedings of His Majesty's embassy under Sir Gore Ouseley, Bart. K.L.S. With two maps, and engravings from the designs of the author.' [‎299] (352/516)

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CHAPTER XX.
I he King of Persia's Ambassador returned to Teheran a short time
after the English Embassy, and was himself the bearer of the prelimi
nary treaty, which he had concluded with the Russians. The treaty
was drawn up after the usual form, with as little of oriental imagery
and embellishment as the idiom of the Persian language would admit.
In the preamble, where the ranks of the respective Plenipotentiaries are
specified, General de Rtischeff on the part of Russia, in addition to his
character of Commander in Chief in Georgia, was designated as knight
of many orders, all of which, notwithstanding the difficulty of making
such details perfectly intelligible in the Persian language, were inserted
at full length. The Persian Plenipotentiary, however, having no orders
of knighthood, his titles in consequence appeared less than those of
the Russian (although every advantage had been taken of those usually
so liberally bestowed in Persia), and he at first was at a loss how to
make himself equal in personal distinctions to the other negotiator;
but recollecting that previous to his departure, his Sovereign had
honoured him by a present of one of his own swords, and of a dagger
set with precious stones, to wear which, is a peculiar distinction in
Persia ; and besides had clothed him with one of his own shawl robes,
a distinction of still greater value, he therefore designated himself in
the preamble of the treaty as " endowed with the special gifts of the
" Monarch, lord of the dagger set in jewels, of the sword adorned with
" jems, and of the shawl coat already worn" *
This may appear ridiculous to us, but it will be remembered that the
bestowing of dresses as a mark of honour among eastern nations, is
one of the most ancient customs recorded both in sacred and profane
history. We may learn how great was the distinction of giving a coat
already worn, by what is recorded of Jonathan's love for David:
q q 2