FEUDALISM IN PERSIA — DE MORGAN. 603 



affixed either below or on the back^ of the written page. This seal 

 was then returned to the vahli's pocket. 



When a difficult case was presented, they discussed it; each gave 

 his opinion, even the servant who had served the tea or passed the 

 kalian. If one of the opinions pleased the vahli, he adopted it and 

 dictated his reply accordingly; if not, he opened the Koran at any 

 page whatever and according to the word at the angle of the first 

 page, that on the right side, consequently, he settled the business or 

 else postponed it till the morrow, the drawing by lot having con- 

 vinced him that this particular day was not propitious for settling 

 such an affair. Or else, counting a certain number of beads of his 

 rosary, he would toss up for a decision. 



St. Louis judging under his oak tree was certainly not grander 

 than this new incarnation of Mithridates II dispensing justice in 

 the open air, taking for his counselors all those who surrounded him, 

 listening to all complaints, all demands, all requests, familiarly con- 

 versing with the most humble of his rayats or serfs. This sight gave 

 me really a broad idea of primitive institutions among the Iranian 

 peoples. The audience ended, Hussein Kuli Khan felt the need of 

 quenching his thirst, and a servant approaching very ceremoniously 

 offered him a large silver cup holding at least a pint of liquid, which 

 the vahli emptied at one draught; it was brandy. 



We returned from the ride ; the vahli talked no more, retired into 

 his tent, and slept until evening ; then he dined with his wives, again 

 took some brandy, and showed no more signs of life until the next 

 day. 



When I arrived at Pusht-i-Kuh, Hussein Kuli Kahn promptly 

 sent a troop of cavalry to meet me, its military band equipped with 

 flute and tambourine fastened at the saddlebows. It was in this 

 parade, in the midst of mares that made my horse rear, that I was 

 conducted to the site chosen for my camp. Scarcely had I put foot to 

 the ground when a crowd of domestics arrived, the chief ahead, car- 

 rying some plates loaded with fruits and other refreshments. Then 

 the visits began. Hussein Kuli Kahn first sent his sons or his min- 

 ister to learn the state of my health, and, about an hour later, having 

 made inquiry of the vahli through my chief servant as to what hour 

 he could conveniently receive me, I went to his tent and remained 

 there about 15 minutes. An hour later, as the agreement willed, 

 Hussein Kuli Kahn came in his turn to my camp not without re- 

 questing an hour when I would repeat my visit. Then I made some 

 presents of money to all his servants, each receiving according to 



1 The king places his seal at the top of his firmans and at the bottom of his letters ; 

 on a special writing to his equal he puts it on the back of the paper facing the last word 

 he wrote ; to place it at the foot of the written page would indicate to the receiver that 

 lie was considered as his servant. 



