'Persia and the Persian Question by the Hon. George Nathaniel Curzon, M.P.' [‎447] (506/714)

THE GOVERNMENT
447
finance. Ther are supplemented by a variety of proceedings which
may be classified under the head of irregular or extraordinary
joishliesh, to which 1 promised a little while ago to devote the
tribute of a paragraph. Of these presents, I have alreadv de
scribed the most habitual, in the shape of the gifts which precede
and often follow, every appointment, according as they represent
the aspirations or the gratitude of the nominee. But even when
installed in office, the latter is not safe against rumours of the
withdrawal of his post, in which case he must take the necessary
steps to secure his position. Or let us suppose that a governor is
accused of committing some offence against the central authority.
A few thousand tomans 10,000 Persian dinars, or a gold coin of that value. are straightway despatched to the capital,
and thus, by the payment of a voluntary fine, the dignity of the
Government is satisfied, and the anxiety of the offender relieved.
Other methods also exist. The Shah announces his intention of
honouring a subject with a visit, and the latter loyally prepares an
offering for his royal guest. Sometimes the high distinction of a
piesent arii\es from the sovereign, whose condescension is grate
fully acknowledged by the return of a gift worthy of its royal de
stination. Sometimes, after a successful day's sport, there is the
exhibition of a head of game that has fallen to the royal rifle. The
defunct animal, let us say an ibex or a leopard, is taken round and
shown to a select number of wealthy or eminent personages, who
make, as a matter of course, a handsome present to the official who
has given them the privilege of seeing the quarry of so illustrious
a sportsman. It can be readily understood that one of the results
of this system of presents from inferiors to superiors is that every
one of any standing in the official hierarchy is relieved of the irk
some necessity of paying salaries to the bulk of his personal re
tainers. If he desires to discharge the arrears of pay of a member
of his retinue, he has merely to send him with an ornamental gift
to someone whose sense of etiquette may be trusted to make him
bestow a substantial acknowledgment upon the bearer. One stone
thus kills two birds. The recipient of the gift is pleased with the
compliment implied, while the bearer gets a present which he
accepts as a form of payment from his master. Manifold are the
means by which the gift of a compliment can thus be translated
into the compliment of a gift. Occasions have been known when
the Shah, in a playful mood, has entered the bazaars, established
a temporary partnership with a shopkeeper, and sold off his wares