‘GAZETTEER OF PERSIA VOL. I Comprising the Provinces of ASTARÁBÁD, SHÁHRUD-BÚSTAN, KHÚRÁSÁN, AND SÍSTÁN’ [‎216r] (438/722)

“ The Persians of all conditions are fond of society. Their table is in
general well furnished, as the extraordinary cheapness of provisions of every
kind, and the great plenty of fruit, enable even the lowest order of citizens
to live well. The hog is the only animal whose flesh they are positively
forbidden to eat.* They are also, as Muhammadans, prohibited from tast
ing wine ; but this rule is often broken ; and as, to use their own phrase,
‘ there is equal sin in a glass as in a flagon/ they usually, when they drink,
indulge to excess. They are, indeed, so impressed with the idea that the
sole pleasure of this forbidden liquor is centred in its intoxicating effects,
that nothing but constant observation can satisfy them that Christians are
not all drunkards. c It is/ they often remark when speaking to a person of
that persuasion, ‘ one of the privileges of your religion to be so, and there
fore neither attended with shame nor disgrace/ If an endeavour is made
to remove these impressions by telling them that, though we are permitted to
use wine, excess is always considered as degrading, and often, when it inca
pacitates for duty, as criminal, they listen with a smile of incredulity; for
they believe it impossible that men, who are not withheld by motives of a
religious nature, can deny themselves what they are led, by the restraint
imposed upon them, to deem one of the most delightful of all enjoy
ments.
“ The lower classes are entertained by the same exhibitions as the higher.
Illuminations, fireworks, wrestlers, jugglers, buffoons, puppet-shows,
musicians, and dancing-boys, amuse all ranks at public feasts; while riding
on horseback, visiting’, walking in gardens, and sitting in groups at their
houses, or under the shade of a tree, to listen to a tale or poem, are the
usual occupations of their idle hours. Dancing-girls were once numerous
in Persia; and the first poets of that country have celebrated the beauty of
their persons and the melody of their voices.
“ Dress .—The dress of the Persians is much changed since the time of
Chardin. It never possessed the dignity and solidity of the Turkish dress ;
and much less now than ever. So materially, indeed, have their fashions
altered that, in comparing with the modes of the present day the pictures
and descriptions in Chardin and Le Brun, we can recognise no longer the
same people. It is extraordinary that an Asiatic nation, so much charmed
by show and brilliancy (as the Persians have always been supposed to be),
should have adopted for their apparel the dark and sombre colours, which
are now universal among all ranks. In the reign of the Zand family,
indeed, light colours were much in vogue; but the present race, perhaps
from a spirit of opposition, cherish dark ones. A Persian, therefore, looks a
most melancholy personage; and resembles much some of the Armenian
priests and hofy men whom one sees in Turkey. Browns, dark-olives,
bottle-greens, and dark-blues are the colours mostly worn. Red they dis
like ; and it is singular that this is a hue, which fashion seems to have dis
carded even in the countries far beyond the northern and eastern confines of
Persia; for the merchants of Bukhara, who come down annually to Bushahr
to buy cloths, totally disregard scarlets, and tor that colour will not give
anything like the price which they will pay for others.
“ Although the climate requires full as much clothing as that of Turkey,
the Persians do not clothe themselves by any means so warmly as the
Turks. As the cold increases, the number of his pelisses increase also, till,
in the progress of the winter, a small and puny man often expands into, a
* They eat English bucou, however, under the name of “ English beef.”
49