Sir R. Ker Porter's Travels in Georgia, Persia, Armenia, §c. 
the mysterious crier who. called - the, 
enchanted merchandise of the fair 
Parabonoo, € a 
thei, his sonorous proclamation would 
have been. audibly heard over the usu- 
ally low murmuring sounds | from the 
company, atJarge.. 
hf city of ‘Bagdad (now to be re- 
garded as the capital of Assyria and 
Babylonia !y is the residence of the 
Pasha; and, according to the character 
of the man who fills that, station, pro- 
ceeds a temporary, independence of the 
pashalick,. or its continued subjection to 
the ubiime Porte. Being, so distant 
from. the seat of the Ottoman empire, 
thie sovereign can seldom stretch his 
hands so far, as to have any substantial 
control over -his delegate; and, when 
either Persia. or the "Arabs chuse to 
annoy the pashalick, ifs defence is usu- 
ally left to the ways and means of the 
deputed governor, 
Dowd. (David) the present pasha, 
who holds the mace of, deputed dignity 
over this far-eastern boundary of the 
Oftoman power, like many of the 
Moslem princes, was originally a slave. 
He isa native of Tiflis, and was sold 
when very young, with several compa- 
nions in captivily, to one of his prede- 
cessors, in the rank he now holds. His 
sce arécly formed Christian faith easily 
changed to the profession of Mahome- 
tanism;‘and, as he grew towards man- 
hood, ‘te became one of the Georgian 
guards attendant on the person of “the 
Pasha, of Bagdad, This was a step to 
fuldre trast and honours, to which his 
address. and. talents introduced him ; 
and when his master met his melancholy 
fate, tle accomplished Georgian found 
sufficient influence with the divan to 
get himself nominated his successor. 
A day or two after my arrival at the 
residence, of Mr. Rich, he accompanied 
me to the palace, where I was to be 
presented in due form to this almost 
independent viceroy. The state he 
assumed was perfectly that of a soye- 
reign, ‘prince. Tn himself, his’ manners 
were ‘pleasing, his person rather hand- 
some, with an intelligent and parti. 
enlirly “urbane countenance. On his 
Jeariiitig, that I had passed: through 
Gedrgia in my way to his capital, the 
feelings of natttte took place of princely 
cetciionies in his heart. He questioned 
mé repeatedly on the present state of 
the country; on ifs lope of lasting tran- 
quillily, and consequent welfare ; ‘and as 
repeatedly cx pressed his #reat pleasure 
ja the answers I made, Which described 
» 
v 
then appeared amongst, 
59% 
the prosperity and, comfort it enjoys 
under. the Russian, government. He 
then, told me, that his father, mother, 
and brothers, lived in Tiflis; and asked, 
““if he were to write, to the Russian g0- 
vernor of Georgia, recommending his 
family to that illustrious person’s espe- 
cial protection, did I think it would he 
attended to?” Isaid, ‘‘ Doubtless; the 
heart of General Yarmolofl was too 
good, not to be reacly, of itself, to dis- 
pense kindness; but I was sure he 
would be particularly delighted in any 
opportunity of redoubling his attentions 
tu the pasha’s family; and, above all, 
gratified at receiving a Ietter from so 
distinguished a prince.’ All epistolary 
communication between the great of 
these countries being accompanied by a 
present, his highness proposed to me, 
sending a particularly fine shawl to the 
Russian general; but, in consideration 
of his intended correspondent being a 
celebrated military character, I took the 
liberty to recommend a sword. On this 
suggestion, the pasha commanded, that 
several of the best should be, brought 
hefore him ; out.of which, at his request, 
I chose what I esteemed the most va- 
luable, and that was one of liltle ex- 
terior ornament, but with a blade well 
adapted to a soldier’s hand. Ifs temper 
and beauty conld not be exceeded in 
any country. Our entertainment in the 
saloon of this Turkish chicf, differed in 
some respects from the like hospifable 
ceremonies in the courts of , Persia. 
Soon after taking our seats, which he 
did on our entrance, and opposite to the 
pasha, small portions of sweetmeats 
were presenied to us on the end of a 
gold spoon; which was replenished from 
a golden saucer, held by an attendant 
in one hand, while he thus: appeared to’ 
feed us with the other. That over, 
silken towcls were spread on our knees, 
and coffee served. — ‘These napkins were 
then changed for niuslin, finély embroi- 
dered; aid sherbert, in CoNtly little ¢ cups, 
given us to drink, "This Vight regale 
being fi finished, our rivht Wands’ received 
from a silver ewer, a profase ablation 
of rose-water, which’ ‘His highness set us 
the example ‘of; bestowinig’ “plentifally 
on theheard and mustachios. | Tu order 
to, accomplish our perfect fragrance, a 
kind’ of censer, filled with’ Hill’ sorts of 
ardmatic’ guns, was held’ by’ another 
attendant for a’ few scconds near our 
chins; the exqnisite exlialations of 
which were Gatefully wafted by our 
hands oyer our faces, till the perfume, 
uniting itself with the essence of rase, 
insinuated 
