LASHES AS SALARY 385 



of iiiy four thousand annual lashes. These will be duly 

 administered for your soul's health to-morrow at sunset. 

 Allah Hu ! Great is the Shah !" The clause to be read 

 between the lines is : " If you desire to commute, my dear 

 fellow, I shall be most happy to welcome you. I shall be 

 in at almost any time to-day or to-morrow morning." 

 M. or N., who may be a wealthy trader or a noble brig- 

 and, naturally enough prefers to pay with his purse rather 

 than his person ; he loses no time in accepting the polite 

 invitation, and no doubt after interminable discussion as 

 to amount and terms, endless gesticulation, and unlimited 

 coffee, finishes by buying himself off with a good round 

 sum, payable in whatsoever coin is current — flocks and 

 herds, jewels, women, slaves, or grain. The viceroy re- 

 peats the stratagem on others, and finds himself rich in 

 short measure, and is glad enough to go halves with his 

 royal master. In a country where the Government steals 

 from every rich citizen, where these do the same by the 

 first comer, where brigandage pure and simple is the daily 

 rule, this to us novel salary-scheme works to a charm. 

 The annual budget is an easy one to cipher out. At all 

 events, the method suits the people — and the Shah. 



