Tbe Persian ^Travels Book IV, 



The Second Patent. 



To the Governour of Schiras , 



TH E Command of Him whom all the World ought to obey, is fuch, That 

 the lllufiriom and, High Lord-, whofe Office ought to be honour d , the 

 Governour and Prototype of Vifiers and Grandees, Mirza-Mahomet-Sadée, 

 the Vifier of Fars may be affur'd of Royal Favours when he tmderïlands the 

 Contents of this Command. He jhall give three Loads of wine , of that 

 which he has in his custody, to the Cream of his Equals , Aga T A V E R- 

 N I È R , French Merchant , and you jhall take an Acquittance. K^éll 

 the Grand Vifiers , and Officers of Cufloms , and Guardersof Pajfes alfo let 

 them not molefl him at all , let them take nothing from him , let them permit 

 him to go and come as he pleafes , and let them obey him. Given the Month 

 of Jamady-Elaker, in the Hegyra of Mahomet 1075. 



January, 

 1665. 



The Cream , is the Character of an honeft man among the Eaftern people. 

 But to return to the Calaat. You muft take notice, that the Perfians call a Calaat? 

 any Prefent which one perfon makes to another inferior to him in dignity -, fome- 

 times a Veft alone , fometimes a Tunick with the Girdle only, fometimes a Tur- 

 bant, oraHorfe, with Bridle and Saddle - , to thofe in the Army the King fends a 

 Sword or a Dagger , and all thefe go by the name of Calaat' s. Secondly, you muft 

 take notice , that when the King fends a Calaat to a Governour of a Province , he 

 names himfelf the perfon, that is to carry it. For both in Turkic and Perfia , the 

 Receiver of the King's Prefent is oblig'd to pay the MefTenger, in fo much that 

 fometimes they hardly fcape for a thoufand Tomans. But when the Calaat is fent to 

 any private perfon, the Naz.ar choofes out of his Domeftick Servants one to carry it. 

 I gave twenty-five Tomans into Father Raphael's hand , who order'd his bufinefs with 

 fo good a grace, and fo advantagcoufly for my Purfe, that he complemented away 

 the MefTenger very well fatisfi'd with half. 



The next day the Nazar fent to me to put on my Calaat , and to come and do 

 my obeyfance to the King , who was that day to go abroad. Thereupon I fummon'd 

 together all the Franks , and order'd the Trumpets and Drums to be made ready as 

 I rode from the Palace home. For then the people come out to fee who the King 

 has honour'd that day, who is always known by his Habit, which is ftill the neweft 

 and gayeft of all the reft. 



It happen'd, that the King being indifpos'd did not go away that day, however 

 I apply'd my felf to the Nazar, and told him how much I was oblig'd to the King 

 for the honour he had done me , and that I was refolv'd to fhew my felf before the 

 greateft Monarchs in Europe in the Habit he had beftow'd upon me :, that they might 

 behold the beauty and richnefs of my Calaat. The Nazar fail'd not to repeat my 

 Compliment to his Majefty -, who thereupon order'd me the Per fan Cloak , with 

 hanging-fleeves , and fae'd with fable Martins. 



Two or three days after the Nazar fent for me again to Court , whither I went, 

 accompany 'd by the Zulphian Franks, as before. I was no fooner come to the Palace, 

 but the Nazar met me in the great Hall , attended by two Officers, who carry'd 

 the Cloak which the King had appointed for me, and prefently taking the Cloak 

 out of their hands , he put it about my (houlders , faying thefe words , h is the 

 Kings pleafure to honour thee entirely. It was a moft magnificent piece of Silk, and 

 very richly furr'd , having been valu'd at eight hundred Crowns. In this I was 

 particularly beholding to the Nazar, who might have fent me my Cloak home to my 

 Lodging as well as the Calaat ; but he was pleas'd to put it upon my back in the Palace 

 with his own hands, to fpare me the charges of a new Prefent. After this the Nazar 

 took me by the hand, and led me to the Hall, where the King was fitting upon a 



