376 LIEUT.-COL. D. C. PHILLOTT : 



state. He performs, to a large extent, the double functions of novelist and dramatist ; 

 indeed, from his more ready access to the poorer classes, he may be said to come nearer 

 to the schoolmaster. Moving about from town to town, and from country to country, 

 he contributes in no small degree to the diffusion of education and to the growth of 

 intelligence resulting therefrom ; and from his ample stock of choice phrases and 

 expressions, to a greater flow of language in the peoples who have the benefit of his 

 services. Hence the almost marvellous fluency of tongue and nimbleness of wit of the 

 Persians as a nation ; for the professional story-teller has his headquarters in Persia. 1 

 In Egypt, too, he has his vogue. There he is known under different names, from the 

 subject of the story which he makes his forte. 3 The prime object of the story-teller is, 

 no doubt, the diversion and intellectual amusement of the people ; but astute politicians 

 did not fail to turn him to their purposes. The first, and still the greatest romance in 

 the Arabic language, the " Romance of 'Antar," was, we are told, written at the instiga- 

 tion of the Caliph, to divert the attention of the populace from affairs of state." 



I. 

 THE STORY OF THE PHILOPENA. 8 



There was in Bandar-i 'Abbas a wise merchant, who had one son named Khwaja 

 Ibrahim, an inexperienced lusty youth much inclined to the society of ladies. Now 

 this youth had composed a book on the wiles of the women of 'Abbasi ' and was anxious 

 to extend and complete this work. Accordingly he said to his father one day, " Father, 

 I want to see the world ; I want to go to Kirman.'' 5 His father replied, " My son, go 

 not to Kirman, for Kirman possesses women so tricky that they can steal away the 



1 In Persia, a story-teller is called a * QissaKhwdn or Naqqdl ; in Turkish Arabia Qissa Khwiln. In Baghdnd he is paid by the 

 keeper of the coffee-shop. He is generally of the class of dervishes. Sir John Malcolm, in his admirable " History of Persia," 

 gives a vivid description of these narrators of stories and reciters of verses. We cannot do better than quote his own words 

 when he speaks of the great skill sometimes attained by the masters of this art. " They sometimes display so extraordinary a 

 skill," he says, " and'such varied powers, that we can hardly believe, while we look on their altered countenances and listen to 

 their changed tones, that it is the same person, who at one moment tells a plain narrative in his natural voice, then speaks in the 

 hoarse and angry tone of offended authority, and next subdues the passions he has excited by the softest sounds of feminine ten- 

 derness." 



It remains to be added that the Derveish Seffer of whom he speaks is in all probability the same person who is mentioned in 

 Morier's Hajl Bdbd. 



2 Thus 'Antarl is one whose chief stories are based on the romance of 'Antar. Muhaddith is one who tells stories generally. 



3 In the Persian or rather the Eastern philopena, the merry thought of a bird is broken at a meal by the two players, as a sign 

 that the bargain is concluded. [Boys sometimes break a stick or tear a piece of paper when a merry thought is not at hand.] 

 After this the first player that receives any article whatever from the hand of the other, ha<* to pay the forfeit. The winner, as 

 soon as the article is taken, must say, Mara y ad ast turd far dmush, " I remember, thou hast forgotten" ; or simply Ydd ast, " It 

 is remembered." 



In Persia this kind of philopena is called a jandgh shikastan, " breaking the merry thought "; but in Baghdad and probably 

 in some parts of Persia a ydd ast " it is remembered." 



* Abbasi : m.c. for Bandar-i 'Abbas. 



*> The women of Kirman are noted for their immorality. Local tradition says that the Afghans once mounted their bullocks 

 and buffaloes and came down on the city and captured the women. The men of Kirman petitioned the Afghan chief, and the 

 women were restored. They had, however, become hopelessly corrupted, and the tricks and looseness of morals acquired duringa< 

 short sojourn in the Afghan camp have been perpetuated in the daughters. 



