4.66 
from the reproach of falsehood, as 
a prevalent national vice. _ 
The citizens of Persia are not 
subdued by their situation into a 
submissive character. They are 
easily inflamed into passion, and 
act, when under its influence, like 
men careless of the result. A 
stranger, who is unacquainted 
with the nature of the government 
and the latitude of speech which it 
permitsinthose whom it oppresses, 
is surprised to hear the meanest 
inhabitant of a town venting im- 
precations against his superiors, 
nay, sometimes against the sacred 
person of the king himself. These 
extraordinary ebullitions of pas- 
sion, which are very common 
among the lower orders in Persia, 
generally pass unheeded. Some- 
times they may provoke a reproof 
or a few blows; but they never 
receive consequence from the un- 
wise interference ‘of power to 
repress them. 
Many of the inhabitants of the 
principal cities in Persia are men of 
some education:but even thosewho 
are not so, are remarkable for the 
fluency of their language. ‘They 
express themselves with a freedom 
and boldness that is not always 
restrained by the disparity of rank 
between them and the person 
whom they address. Hajee Ibra- 
him, the late prime minister of 
Persia, who gloried in the name 
of citizen, used to delight in relat- 
ing adialogue which took place 
between his brother, who was 
Beglerbeg, or Governor of Isfahan, 
and a seller of vegetables in that 
city.—Onan extraordinary impost 
being laid upon every shop, the 
latter forced himself into the Go- 
vernor’s presence when he was 
giving public audience, and ex- 
ANNUAL REGISTER, 
1815. 
claimed, thathe was totally unable 
to pay the tax which had been im~ 
posed onhim. “You must pay 
‘it, or leave the city,” was the 
reply. ‘I cannot pay it,” said 
the man; ‘and to what other 
“‘ place can I go ?””?-** You may 
‘either proceed to Shiraz, or 
‘« Kashan, if you like those towns 
‘¢ better than this,” said the Go- 
vernor. ‘ Your brother,” re- 
plied the shopkeeper, “is in power 
*‘ at one of these cities, and your 
‘nephew at the other : what relief 
‘can I expect in either ?”—“You 
“may proceed to court,” said the 
Ruler, ‘* and complain to the 
“‘ King, if you think I have com- 
“ mitted injustice.”—** Your bro- 
“ther, the Hajee, is prime mi- 
‘“‘nister,” said the man. ‘Go 
“to Hell!” exclaimed the enraged 
Governor, ‘‘and do not trouble 
“me any more!”—< The holy 
“man, your deceased father, is 
‘‘perhaps there.” said the un- 
daunted citizen. The crowd could 
not suppress their smiles at the 
boldness of their countryman : 
and the Governor, who shared 
the general feeling, bade the com- 
plainant retire, and he would at- 
tend tohis case, provided he would 
not bring a curse upon his family 
by insisting that they shut him 
out of all hopes of justice, both in 
this world and in that which is 
to come. 
The character of the military 
tribes differs essentially from that 
of the other inhabitants of Persia. 
The chiefs of these clans are often 
as much distinguished for their 
generosity as their courage. They 
are, from their condition, less art- 
ful than the ministers and princi- 
pal civil officers of the kingdom: 
but they cannot be deemed ex- 
