'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.' [‎387] (458/516)

BEHAVIOUR OF THE KING. SS7
Mervi. He had the condescension to converse very familiarly, and
his remarks and manners are ever those of a highly polished man: he
seemed also anxious to give us a public mark of his attention ; for as we
rode along, at two different intervals, he was presented with bowls filled
with sugar candy, of which he first took a piece himself, and then or
dered that it should be given to me, and to the gentlemen of the mission
and our attendants. This among the Persians is esteemed a very high
mark of favour; and whilst we could not refrain from smiling at the
strange custom that embarrassed our hands with large pieces of sugar
candy on horseback, there was scarcely a Persian around us that would
not willingly have given his beard for a similar distinction.
During all this time I had an opportunity of observing the King,
and remarking the different stages of the procession. His Majesty was
gaily dressed in a white close vest, embroidered with spangles. His
sword, his dagger, and other ornaments were entirely inlaid with pre
cious stones. The bridle, crupper, breast-plate, were all either rubies,
diamonds, or emeralds, whilst a long thick tassel of pearls was sus
pended under the horse's throat, by a cordon that went round his neck.
At different intervals he called for his Kalioun, (the water pipe,) which
was brought to him by his Shatir Bashi, or head of the running foot
men, from which he took not more than one whiff, which was after
wards emitted in one long white stream of smoke, which he managed
to conduct over his beard as a perfume. He was dignified in all he
did, and seemed very attentive to all that was going on. As he ap
proached the town, long rows of well-dressed men at some distance
from the road made low bows, and whenever he called one near to him
he came running with great eagerness, and received whatever he had
to say with the greatest devotedness. He was then received by a corps
of Mollahs, and Peishnamaz (priests) who chaunted forth the Khot-
heh* with all their might. Then oxen, and sheep in great num
bers were sacrificed just as he passed, and their heads thrown under
* This is an oration delivered every Friday, after the forenoon service in the principal
Mosques, in which the Mahomedans praise Ood, bless Mahomed and his descendants, and
pray for the King.
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