22. Manners of the Persians and Turks contrasted and described. [ Aug. 1, 
shawl, or one of more common quality ; 
and all, except the mirzas, fasten to it 
a kind of khandjar or knife. 
Most of the rich cover themselves 
in winter with a kind of pelisse of 
sheep-skin, lined with the wool of the 
same animal. ‘The principal nobles 
of the court wear black fox, martin, 
and other furs. The common people 
have a cloth great-coat, with slit 
sleeves. : 
All ihe Persians indiscriminately, 
from the king down to the meanest 
of his subjects, wear on the head a cap 
of lamb or sheep skin, surmounted by 
a bit of red cloth or printed cotton. 
Each tribe is distinguished by the 
particular form which it gives to the 
upper part of this head-dress. A 
Cashemir shawl is wrapped about the 
cap when its wearer makes his appear- 
ance at court. 
The Persians shave their heads, 
leaving only two locks of hair behind 
the cars. In Persia, Musselmans, 
Jews, Armenians, all let their beards 
grow. ‘They frequently die them 
black or red, so that a white one is 
very seldom seen. This is a coquetry 
to which the old men are very eager 
to resort. These people attach great 
importance to the length of the beard: 
it will hardly be believed, that the 
first eulogium they bestow on Feth- 
Ali-Shah relates to the length of his 
beard. It is certainly remarkably 
long, as it descends to his waist. 
The Persian architecture is more 
regular and elegant than that of the 
Turks: it appears to me te owe its 
origin to the taste which these people 
have always had for a wandering life. 
Every house has a garden, or at least 
a court, planted with trees. The 
apartments, of which the pictures 
form the only ornament, are very 
neat: their furniture consists only of 
a thick carpet laid upon the floor, and 
extending the whole length of the 
room; around are felts, which are 
narrower and finer, upon which they 
sit. ‘The Persians are unacquainted 
with the pleasure of lying at ease 
upon a sofa; their luxury is more in 
imagination than in reality. They 
have no idea of those elegant ‘apart- 
ments’ which the refinement of the 
superfluities of life has caused to be 
invented in Europe.. Vheir chambers 
have windows ornamented with co- 
loured glass ; outside, and in front of 
them, is hung a kind of shade, to mo- 
derate the heat of the sun within the 
apartment, which is open on all sides, 
and is entered by lifting a perdek or 
carpet, that serves as a door. The 
reception-chambers, decorated with 
pictures, very much resemble tents. 
Nothing can be more cool and agree- 
able than these serails, disposed on 
the banks of rivulets, and surrounded 
with verdant trees. 
The luxury of the ancient Persians 
was unbounded: that of the Persians 
of the present day is far from equal- 
ing it; it is even inferior to that of the 
‘Turks. For what are the garments 
worn by the former when compared 
with the rich mohair pelisses, or the 
flowing vests of magnificent cloth in 
which the Ottomans are habited. The 
Persians perhaps keep more horses in 
their stables than their neighbours do ; 
but the harness is more magnificent 
in Turkey than in Persia. The Per- 
sian contents himself with having a 
numerous train of domestics behind 
him when he goes abroad, for plea- 
sure or to pay a Visit. The great 
man goes on horseback, and his ser- 
vants follow on foot. 
The Persians are much more volup- 
tuous and refined in their pleasures 
than the Turks. After a repast, they 
frequently have perfumed ~ water 
brought them to wash their hands in. 
When they go abroad for pleasure, 
they always carry with them sweet- 
meats, ices, and sherbet. ‘There are 
few Persians who go a journey without 
their galeoun, and a brasier to light it. 
They do not smoke for so Jong a time 
as the Turks, who never lay aside the 
pipe until the tobacco is consumed; 
but renew this enjoyment more fre- 
quently, taking only a few whiffs each 
time, When they drink it is from a 
vase of the richest and most transpa- 
rent porcelain, in which there is 
always put a certain quantity of ice. 
Notwithstanding their extreme sen- 
suality, the Persians are more tem- 
perate than the Turks. The great 
men in Persia are very nice in the 
article of cookery; they have roast- 
meats and high-seasoned dishes. But 
the ordinary meal at mid-day consists 
only of a ragout, together with yog- 
haurt (a kind of sour milk), preserves, 
or sweetmeats, of which these people 
are particularly fond, and in the pre- 
paration of which they excel. For 
supper they have a pilau, which they 
prepare in various ways. © Their 
drink is vinegar, the juice of the 
pomegranate, citron, or barberry, or 
curdled 
