236 



THE LIVING RACES OF MANKIND 



The ancient Persians were celebrated 

 for manly beauty, tall stature, pleasing 

 faces, and the good looks of their women. 

 The modern Persians have not deteriorated 

 in this respect. In form they are tall 

 and graceful, with oval faces. Their 

 features are clearly marked and of Cau- 

 casian type, but suggesting delicacy rather 

 than strength. Their hair is black, 

 luxuriant, and glossy, while the eyes are 

 unusually attractive, being dark, full, and 

 luminous. 



A gentleman who held a professional 

 appointment in Persia for many years, 

 and was intimate with people of all 

 classes, was favourably impressed by their 

 character. He describes the Persian as 

 easy-going, and always ready to make 

 things as pleasant as possible for every 

 one else. Unlike most Asiatics, he is 

 well disposed to the foreigner, extremely 

 hospitable, and fairly honest in his deal- 

 ings. Persians of pure blood have a quick 

 apprehension, a ready wit, and a persua- 

 sive manner. They are fluent in oratory, 

 and have more sense of beauty than the 

 Turks. As a parent the Persian is kind 

 and indulgent to his children, and as a 

 son he always pays the utmost respect 

 to his parents. He addresses his father 

 as "master," and unless requested to do 

 so will not sit down in his presence. 

 He never ceases to love and reverence his mother. So universal is the sense of filial devotion 

 that an undutiful son or daughter is hardly known in all the country. Respect for the aged 

 is general, and much charity is shown to the poor. Indeed, most of the rich have regular 

 pensioners old servants or poor relations who live on their bounty. There is no institution 

 in Persia corresponding to the English workhouse, yet in ordinary times death from privation 

 is unknown. On the other hand, it must be admitted that the Persian is a great liar. So 

 prevalent is lying in all ranks of society that it is hardly considered an insult for one man to 

 call another a liar. It may truly be said that the Oriental tendency to exaggerate is carried 

 to an extreme among the Persians. 



Their culture, industry, readiness of address, and subtlety in a word, the combination of 

 their good and bad qualities have earned for the Persians the reputation of making first-rate 

 diplomatists, negotiators, and brokers. It is perhaps owing to their natural politeness and 

 vanity that titles are so extraordinarily common in Persia. " Mirza " (learned) is prefixed to 

 the name, or "Khan" or "Beg" appended. Pious people are styled " Hadji," the title given 

 to a pilgrim to Mecca; or " Kerbelai " or " Meshedi," from pilgrimages made to other places. 

 It must be admitted, however, that the Persians are cruel. For murder, theft, and political 

 offences savage sentences are imposed and carried out in a cold-blooded manner. 



The Persian dresses so as to display his physical advantages in the best light. Men 

 generally wear an unstarched shirt of cotton, sewn with white silk; and when they can afford 

 it, elaborately embroidered round the neck. It is without collar, the sleeves are loose and 



A GILIAK MAX. 



