1834.] Persia, and Mesopotamia. 270 



made to the Governor of Azerbijan by chiefs of districts to co-operate 

 with him in a war against Russia. Letters were written to these leaders, 

 by the head of their religion, who came from Meshed Hussein, and urged 

 the king to arm against the insulters of his religion. The Mool- 

 lahs flocked around their leader, the inhabitants of the capital listened 

 to their inflammatory orations. The Shah was called upon to declare 

 war, the troops were enthusiastic in the cause, and the contest com- 

 menced. The following account of the reception given to the chief 

 priest of the holy shrine of Meshed Hussein, being from an eye-wit- 

 ness, may not prove devoid of interest. " When Aga Syyud Mahom- 

 med arrived, a vast number of people, and most of the infantry, without 

 regimentals or arms, went out to meet him. The Shah sent his own 

 litter for the Syyud : and some princes, and many of the chief people 

 of the court did honour to his entry. Much enthusiasm was manifested 

 by the populace. To the Syyud's person they could not get access, but 

 they kissed the litter, kissed the ladder by which he ascended to it, and 

 collected the dust which had the impressions of the mule's feet that bore 

 him. The people beat their breasts, and the litter was brought close to the 

 Shah's door, that the Syyud might alight without being overwhelmed 

 by the populace. Six or seven of the chief priests entered the court 

 with him, and one of them insisted on going in on his mule. An offi- 

 cer of my acquaintance who happened to be there on the spot prevent- 

 ed him. He said that the ordinary attendants on His Majesty seemed 

 quite to have lost sight of their duty to the sovereign, and were occu- 

 pied in paying their devotions to the Syyud. The Shah came to the 

 door of the court to receive him, and the enthusiasm of the populace 

 seemed to be communicated to the royal hearts, as the Shah and the 

 prince royal wept bitterly in speaking of the misfortunes of the Faithful 

 under the Russian Government. Aga Syyud Mahommed, with a suite 

 of one thousand Moollahs, had a separate encampment. Two princes 

 had by order of the king pitched near him, professedly to prevent the 

 intrusion of the populace, but secretly to hinder too general a mani- 

 festation of public esteem and consideration. Another detachment of 

 holy men have just reached this, covered with winding sheets, and we 

 hear that .the heads of the religion of most of the principal cities are flock- 

 ing to this point. The Shah has twice visited the Syyud, and on one 

 occasion, His Majesty said, " I am anxious to shed the spoonful of blood 

 that remains in my weak body in this holy cause, and it is my wish to 

 have in my winding sheet a written evidence from you, that the inquir- 

 ing angels may at once recognise my zeal, forgive my sins, and admit 

 without delay my entrance into heaven." This description is not 

 very dissimilar to the language and conduct of European monarcht 



