2 7 2 TRAVELS TO DISCOVER 



large windows, the bottom of which were about three fteps 

 from the ground. Thefe doors, or windows, were latticed 

 with crofs bars of wood like a cage, and a thin curtain, or 

 veil of tafFety filk. was hung within it ; fo that, upon darken- 

 ing the inner chamber, the king faw every perfon in the 

 chamber without, while he himfelf v was not feen at all, 

 Juftin * tells us, that the perfon of the king of Perfia was 

 hid to give a greater idea of his majefly ; and under Deioces, 

 king of the Medes, a law was made that nobody might look 

 upon the king ; but the conftant wars in which Abyiunia 

 has been engaged, fince the Mahometans took poffemon of 

 Adel, have occafioned this troublefome cuftom to be wholly 

 laid afide, unlefs on particular public occafions, and at coun- 

 cil, when they are ftill obferved with the ancient ftrictnefs* 

 And we find, in the hiftory of Abyflinia, that the army and 

 kingdom have often owed their fafety to the perfonal behavi- 

 our and circumitance of the king diftinguifhing and expo- 

 fing himfelf in battle, which advantage they muft have loft 

 had the ancient cuftom been obferved. However, to this 

 day, when he is abroad riding, or fitting in any of his 

 apartments at home where people are admitted, his head 

 and forehead are perfectly covered, and one of his hands 

 covers his mouth, fo that nothing but his eyes are feen ; 

 Jlis feet, too, are always covered. 



We learn from Apuleus, that this was a cuftom in Perfia » 

 and this gave an opportunity to the magi to place Oropaf- 

 tus, the brother of Cambyfes, upon the throne, inftead of 

 Merdis who mould have fucceeded ; but the covering of the 

 face made the difference pafs unperceived. 



i It 



* Juftin, lib. 2. 



