MANNERS AND CUSTOMS. 
thenatural politeness of theirman- 
ners. They are sociable and 
cheerful ; and, with some remark- 
able exceptions, as_ prodigal in 
disbursement as they are eager of 
gain. The higher classes of the 
citizens of Persia are kind and in- 
dulgent masters; and the lower 
ranks are, as far as respects the 
active performance of their duty, 
and the prompt execution of the 
orders they receive, the best of 
servants. In countries where the 
Jaw grants equal protection to all 
ranks of society, and where ser- 
vitude does not imply dependence, 
the master and servant are much 
more separated than in despotic 
states. Inthe latter, where there 
are no middle classes, the servant 
is often the humble friend, and 
lives in habits of intimacy that 
could only exist where the actual 
distinction is so great as to re- 
move all danger of either for- 
getting the inequality of their 
condition. 
The falsehood of the Persians is 
proverbial: nor are the inhabit- 
ants of that country forward to 
deny this national reproach : but 
they argue, that this vice apper- 
tains to the government, and is 
the natural consequence of the 
condition of the society in which 
they live: and there can be no 
doubt, that when rulers practise 
violence and oppression, those 
who are oppressed will shield 
themselves by every means within 
their power: and when they are 
destitute of combination and 
strength, they can only have re- 
course to art and duplicity. Nor 
is the moral character always de- 
based by the use of this species of 
defence: instances continually oc- 
cur in Persia, as in other coun- 
Vor. LVII. 
465 
tries subject to an arbitrary go- 
vernment, where the head ef a 
village, or the magistrate of a 
city, entitles himself to the gra- 
titude and admiration of those 
under him, by a virtuous and un- 
daunted perseverance in falsehood, 
by which he endangers his own 
life and property to save others 
who consider him as their guar- 
dian and protector. 
The frame of private seciety in 
Persia is, perhaps, still more cal- 
culated to render men artful and 
false than the constitution of their 
government. The wivesand slaves 
of a despotic husband and master 
must have all the vices of their 
debased condition, The first les- 
sons which their ehildren learn 
from the example of those they 
love, is to practise deceit ; and 
this early impression is confirmed 
by all their future habits. They 
may hear and admire moral sen- 
tences upon the beauty and excel- 
Jence of truth; but prudence warns 
them against a rigid adherence to 
so dangerous a virtue. The oaths 
which they constantly use to at- 
test their veracity, are only proofs 
of their want of it. They swear 
by the head of the king, by that 
of the person they address, by 
their own, by that of their son, 
that they are not asserting what 
‘is false: and if a stranger should 
continue to evince suspicion they 
sometimes exclaim, ‘* Believe me; 
‘for, though a Persian, I am 
“ speaking truth.’ There are, 
no doubt, some of the natives of 
Persia who do not deserve to be 
included in this general descrip- 
tion, and who are distinguished 
by their regard for truth: but 
their numbers are too inconsider- 
able to save their countrymen 
2H 
