144 CIVIL HISTORY AND 



reservoir was a platform about a foot and a half 

 high, and five feet in length. On this was set the 

 throne slightly elevated, and resembling a square 

 pedestal or altar, covered with silk stuffs. The 

 floor of the apartment was spread with Persian car- 

 pets. The imam sat half buried in cushions, with 

 his legs across. His dress was a bright green robe 

 with full sleeves, such as were worn by the caliphs. 

 On each side of his breast was a rich filleting of gold 

 lace, and on his head he wore a white turban of am- 

 ple dimensions. His sons sat on his right hand, and 

 his brothers on his left. Opposite to them was the vi- 

 zier, Fakih Achmed, and on the lower elevation were 

 placed the European visiters. On each side of the 

 hall were ranged the principal grandees and officers 

 of the court, who all shouted, " God save the imam !" 

 as the strangers kissed the hem of the royal robe. 



The pompous manner of going to mosque, which is 

 described by the French travellers, was witnessed by 

 the Danes. The better to display his magnificence, 

 the imam usually made a long and circuitous progress, 

 passing out by one gate of the city and entering by 

 another ; his train, after prayers, being joined by all 

 the inhabitants who have performed their devotions. 

 A large body of soldiers marched before ; and, be- 

 sides the princes of the blood, there were in the pro- 

 cession at least 600 noblemen, ecclesiastics, civil and 

 military officers, all superbly dressed and mounted ; 

 the rear was brought up by a vast concourse of peo- 

 ple on foot, and by a number of camels in pairs, bear- 

 ing empty sedans, and small flags fixed by way of or- 

 nament to their saddles. On each side of the imam 

 was borne a standard, surmounted by a small box 

 or casket of silver filled with amulets, whose vir- 



