Chap. X. of Monfieur Tavernier. 221 



CHAP. X s 



Of the firfl of the three Orders or States of Perfia , 'which comprehends 

 the Kings Houjhold, the Kans or Governours of Provinces , and I he 

 Soitldiery. 



TH E Primier Minifter of the Kingdom is calPd Athemadoulet 3 or th,e fupporc 

 of Riches. His office is the fame with the Grand Viùr's in Tnrkle ) and may 

 becompar'd to the ancient Majors of the Palace in France. In regard all the af- 

 fairs of the Kingdom pafs through his hands, he ought to be rather a Gownman 

 then a Souldier : and herein he only differs from the Grand Viz-ier •, who is always 

 to be at the head of the Army, and for every flight fault or diftalte is fubjed to 

 beft.rangl'd by the Grand Signior. Whereas in Perfia where the Government is 

 milder, the Prime Minitters generally dye in their beds, or if they are Depos'd, 

 they are only exiPd to fome frontier City, where they live as private 

 men. 



When the King is young, the Prime Minifter has a hard game to play, for then 

 the Favourite Eunuchs and the Sultaneiies difànnul and cancel in the night what- 

 ever orders he makes in the day time. 



The Naz*ar or Seer has the charge of all the Kings goods, of his breeds of hor- 

 fes, of his moveables, of his Gloaths and Plate : much like the grand Mafter of 

 the Kings Houfe in France. 



The Mehter, who is always a white Eunuch, is the firft Gentleman of the Kings 

 Chamber, and follows the King with a kind of bag hinging by his iide full of 

 handkerchiefs. And as he is always at the Kings elbow, if he have the Kings 

 car, it is eaiie for him to befriend or do unkindnelfes, as his inclination leads him. 

 During the minority of the King, fome ofthele Mehters have been known to go- 

 vern the Kingdom. , 



The Mir-Atihor-Bajhi, or Grand Efquire, has the Charge of the Kings Stables, 

 which as well as the Gate of sili-Capri, are a place of Refuge, and whoever fèves 

 himfelf therein, let it be for Murther or Debt is fàfe. All the Horfes in the Kings 

 Stable are mark'd with a hot iron upon the left hip, and thofe that belong to pri- 

 vate perfons upon the right. Thole that the King gives to them that ferve in his 

 Armies, have the Kings mark, and are not to be fold, but they may be chaffer'd 

 away. If any of thofe Horfes happens to dye in a Horfè-mans hands, he muft: 

 flea otF the Kings mark, and carry it to the under Officers of the General of the 

 Cavalry, to have another, otherwile he would be forc'd to buy another at his 

 own expences. Thofe people by laying the skin in the water, know, though by 

 what art I cannot tell, whither the Horfe dy'd of age or ficknefs, or whither he 

 were malitioufly kill'd. For in times of Peace there are fome Horfemen that will 

 kill their Horfes, to fave the Charges of keeping any more than themfelves : then 

 at the next Mufter they bring the skin of their Horfe^with the mark on,to the Of- 

 ficers, and get another, unlefs they be found out. Nor are their Horfes only 

 mark'd, but their Scimitars, Mufquets, Bows and Quivers, all which they muft 

 {hew to the Gomroiflioners every Mufter. 



Ska-Abbas the fécond being at Casbin in the year 165:4, took a general view 

 of his Cavalry, which lafted for ten or twelve days. Fer the King fitting in the 

 Portal of one of his Gardens, with ljis Officers ftanding about him, every day 

 caus'd fo many troopers to ride by him : which were all ftout a&ivemen and well 

 mounted. Every Souldier gallop'd fingly by him ; and coming juft under the 

 King, he (hot an Arrow againft a Butt of Turf that was thrown up upon his left: 

 hand, and when the Mufter was over, the King advanc'd the Pay of every Horfe- 

 man, who according to the fentence of the Judges had (hot neareft the 

 mark. 



I was then at Casbin, and I remember one Souldier, who quite contrary to what 

 the other Horle-men did, walk'd his Horfe along by the King, and never lhot, but 

 only lay'd his hand upon his breft, and then upon his forehead , which is the 



D d 2 Cere- 



