‘GAZETTEER OF PERSIA VOL. I Comprising the Provinces of ASTARÁBÁD, SHÁHRUD-BÚSTAN, KHÚRÁSÁN, AND SÍSTÁN’ [‎214r] (434/722)

influence or direct power, alter the succession, and place an uncle in the
situation of a nephew, and sometimes put a younger brother in the condi
tion of an elder; but the leader of the tribe must be of the family of their
chiefs. The title of khan, or lord, is conferred upon such persons as a
matter of course. When a son is born to a noble of high rank, he is often
honoured with this title when his birth is announced at court. The younger
sons or nephews of a chief seldom receive it till they are enrolled in the
king’s guards, or have performed s *me service. This class of men are most
tenacious of their descent, and the succession is regulated by attention to
the rank and birth of the mother. The son of the khan of a military tribe
by a concubine is never placed on a footing with his legitimate offspring.
An attempt made by parental fondness to do so would he resented by the
relations of his legitimate wives, and would outrage the leelings of his tribe.
The manners of this class, even when softened by long residents at court,
always retain a good deal of haughtiness. They are (with some remarkable
exceptions) not so polished and well-educated as the civil officers of the
court, and much of their time is devoted to martial exercises and field sports.
“ Mirzds .—The ministers of state in Persia and the secretaries of the
various departments of government generally bear the name of ,r mirza. ^This
term, which is a contraction of two words,* signifies the son of an amir, or
lord ; but at present it does not, when prefixed to a name, denote high
birth. It may be translated ‘ civilian,’ as it implies complete civil habits.
All who assume it are understood to have been well brought up, and to devote
themselves to those duties that require education. T hey should be able to
read and write well, to keep accounts, and be thoroughly versed in all the
rules and forms of epistolary correspondence, which are considered by men
of rank in Persia to be as essential _ as the ceremonies that regulate their
personal intercourse. Mirzas are, in general, citizens; though, sometimes,
they belong to warlike tribes. The fact is, that every person,, who has
received the 3 slightest education, and who.prefers for any reason civil occu
pation to military, becomes a mirza, and is a candidate for the employments
usually ofiven to persons of this description, these employments are. very
numerous ; for every officer in the army, and every magistrate of a village,
has his mirza. This class, who may be said to fill the highest and the
lowest offices in the government, are usually distinguished by wearing a
f kalamdan ’ (or small case which contains pens and ink) in their girdle; and
they seldom, however wealthy, dress with equal splendour, or assume
the same state and equipage, as the chiefs of tribes. Their manners are,
from their occupation, mild and polite; and we meet with some of them
who are highly polished and accomplished. The mirzas of Persia are,
generally speaking, careful not to offend the rude arrogance of the tribes of
that country by an adoption of their habits. It is unusual for them to
follow the sports of the field, or to practise martial exercises, and they hardly
ever pretend to military skill; but their modesty does not prevent their
beino’ treated with slight, if not contempt, by haughty nobles, to whom
thei”relation appears not dissimilar to that m which the clerks of ancient
Europe stood to the knights and barons under the feudal system To relieve
them from this degradation, the monarch often raises them to the dignity
of khan; but they are looked upon as a mere court nobility, and the lowest
chieftain of a clan considers himself superior m real rank to the most
favoured mirza. -
* Amirzada.