'Persia and the Persian Question by the Hon. George Nathaniel Curzon, M.P.' [‎104] (137/714)

i f s ■
PERSIA
from the court by a latticed window, the central panels of which
were thrown open. Entering a small room in the right-hand
corner, I left my goloshes, and was ushered into the central apart
ment of the dais, which contained only two inlaid tables down the
middle, positively laden with coloured glass candelabra, vases, and
curios, and an iron bedstead with a mattress in the corner. The
glass baubles represent an incomprehensible but very widely
spread taste among the Persians ot the upper classes, while the
bedstead was doubtless introduced as a crowning evidence of suc
cessfully assimilated civilisation. In the centre of this audience
chamber at the back was a recessed, apartment, where the Khan
was seated at a table, and whence he rose to welcome me. While
lie was dictating to the interpreter the customary opening civilities,
and during our subsequent interviews, which lasted tully two hours,
I had abundant opportunity to become acquainted with his features
and deportment.
In appearance the Shuja is striking, but the reverse of hand-
There was a photograph of him hanging in the house
where he entertained me, which I subsequently begged
of him, and a reproduction of which adorns the accom-
panving page. He was careful to explain that, having been
taken by a Persian artist, the likeness entirely failed to
do him j ustice, a criticism which I am bound to endorse, as, though
an ugly, he was in no sense a forbidding-looking man, but wore an
air both of authority and of intelligence. Though over sixty years
of age, his beard and hair were jet black, the result, I imagine, of
dye. He had strongly marked features and a very sallow com
plexion. He was dressed in a black cloth coat and trousers, with
diamond buckles, and a diamond-hilted sword, a black sheepskin
kolah or hat pressed low down on to his ears, 1 white cotton gloves
and stockings, and patent leather shoes. Being very short-sighted,
he wore colossal blue spectacles over his eyes. When speaking,
some.
Appear
ance of
Amir
Husein
Khan
1 The Iwlah, as the national headdress of the Persians, was only introduced by
the Kajar family a century ago. Up till that time the turban was universal.
Even after the introduction of the Itolah, a shawl was sometimes wrapped round
it; but this was a distinction limited to the King, the Royal Family, and a few
of the great officers of State. It is now only seen in the Court dress worn at the
Shah's levies. On the other hand, the kolah itself has changed in shape ; for
whereas at the beginning of the century it was about a foot and a half in height,
and sloped up to a peak at the top, it is now ordinarily from six to ten inches in
height and is level round the top.