‘GAZETTEER OF PERSIA VOL. I Comprising the Provinces of ASTARÁBÁD, SHÁHRUD-BÚSTAN, KHÚRÁSÁN, AND SÍSTÁN’ [‎212r] (430/722)

by the most disciplined order. There is no part of the govermnent to
which so much attention is paid as the strict maintenance of those forms
and ceremonies which are deemed essential to the power and glory of
the monarch; and the high officers to whom this duty is allotted are
armed with the fullest authority, and are always attended by a number of
inferiors, who carry their commands into prompt execution.
“ As there are no wheeled carriages in Persia, the monarch always rides,
unless he be prevented by indisposition ; and then, if forced to move, he
is carried in a litter, that is suspended between two males. The tents and
portable pavilions of the king of Persia are very magnificent. They are
surrounded with a high tent wall, which encloses both the outer and
inner apartments. The same forms and the same usages are observed when
he is in the field and when at his capital ; but it is to be supposed that
on active service his female train must be greatly reduced. The severe
discipline of Nadir Shah prohibited the chiefs of his army from encumber
ing its march with their numerous females; and he gave himself an example
of moderation that has been more praised than imitated.
“ The dress of the Safavian kings was as splendid as that of the present
dynasty; but the costume is much changed. It is now universally the
fashion in Persia to wear the beard long; and the head is covered with a cap,
instead of a turban. The upper part of* their garments is made to fit the
body very close; but the lower is invariably loose.
u There is no part of the establishment of a monarch of Persia to which
more attention is paid than his horses. These are placed under the charge
of an officer of rank, who is styled ‘ Mir-Akhor/ or £ The Lord of the Stable/
The finest colts, from every part of his kingdom, are sent to the king; and
from these he selects what are deemed the best for his own riding. The
charger on which he is mounted is richly caparisoned ; and a number of
others, with gold-embossed saddles and bits, are led before him, and form
when he is travelling the most magnificent part of his state. It has been
before mentioned that the stable of the king is deemed one of the most
sacred of all sanctuaries.
“ The kings of Persia have always been very observant of the forms of
religion. They say their prayers at the appointed hours; and as it is the
habit of Muhammadans to perform this sacred duty in an open and public
manner, its neglect would produce observation; and no impression could
tend more to weaken their authority than a belief that they were irreligious.
They sometimes attend worship in the principal mosque of the capital,
and, like their subjects, pay their devotions, whenever they have an oppor
tunity, at the sepulchres of those sainted persons, who are buried within the
limits of their dominions. As Shiahs, they profess great veneration for the
memory of Ali and his sons ; but not being able to visit their tombs,
which are within the Turkish territories, they content themselves with
sending rich presents to ornament these shrines. It is also an object of
ambition to be buried at these sacred places. The body of Agha Muham
mad Khan, the late king of Persia, was sent to Karbala, that it might be
interred near the sacred precincts of the dome which canopies the remains
of the sainted Imams, Hasan and Husain.
“ Id-i-nauruz .—It has been before stated that the Id-i-nauruz, or c the feast
of the vernal equinox/ is to this day observed with as much joy and festivity
as it was by the ancient inhabitants of Persia. This single institution of
former days has triumphed over that intolerant bigotry, which destroyed the
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