22 



The Persian Travels 



Book V. 



Ceremony of Salutation us'd by the King. He was a very homely fellow, with 

 a flat tawny countenance : fo that his behaviour and his prefence offending the 

 King, in a chafe he commanded that black rafcal to be cafhier'd out of his fervice. 

 Immediately they took away his Horfe and his Arms, and were going about to 

 havedrubb'd him,but that the General of the Cavalry made them a fign to let 

 him alone. Immediately the General gave the King to underftand that he was 

 one of the belt Souldiers in the Army : as he had fignally made it appear at the 

 Sieges of Erivan and Candahar. Upon that the King caus'd his Horfe and Arms 

 to bereftorM him again, and commanded him to ride by him as the reft of the 

 Souldiers had done. When he came againft the Butt, inftead of obeying the Kings 

 command, he turn'd his Horfe to the right and left, without faying a word. The 

 General fearing he would offend the King again., bid him (hoot. What jhall IJheot 

 at ? Sir faid he. Againft the place where all the reft have Jhot y anfwer'd the Gene-* 

 irai. Then the Souldier fhaking his head and fmiling, 'Tis not my. way, laid he., to 

 [pend my Arrows againft a wall j for I know how to make fife of em better againsl the 

 body or head of the Enemies of my King. I would then Jlooot thrice before another 

 could fhoot once. At the fame time he draws out two Arrows out of his Quiver, 

 one of which he held in his mouth, and put the other to his bow : and then fet- 

 ting fpurs to his Horfe he out-rid the Butt for the nonce, to fhoot backward, 

 which he did, and hit the very middle of the white, then turning his horfes head 

 and palTing the Butt as before, he fhot the fécond Arrow into the fame hole, 

 whence they had pull'd the firft Arrow. Then the General approaching near the 

 King, told him that by what he had heard and feen, he might well believe that 

 Horfeman to be as brave a Souldier as any in the Army : which his Majefty con- 



fefs'd, and from three Tomans advane'd his pay to 1 5- Tomans. 



The Mir-Shikar-Bafhi, or the Grand Mafter of the Hunt, who is alfo employ'd 



as Grand Falconer. He has under him a thoufand Officers, and a great number of 



Birds of prey,and manag'd Hawks. 



The Seguan Bajhi receives the orders of the Grand Mafter of the Hunt. He has 



charge of the Doggs, Lyons, Leopards, and-other Beafts for Chace. 

 The Kindar Bajfki, who has charge of the Kings Saddles. 

 The Zinkan-Courlfhifi is the chief of the Qnerries, that hold the Kings ftirrup, 



when he gets a Horfeback. 



The Kelege-Courlfhifi carrys the Kings fword. 

 The Oriaje-Cofirljhifi carrys his Row and Arrows. 



The Vakanviez, is as it were the chief Secretary of State : an employment never 

 conferfd but upon a Favourite. He alfo reads all Petitions and Papers that are re- 

 prefented to the King. 



The Kafnadar- Bajhi is he that keeps all the Money which is in the Kings Cof- 

 fers, whom we call the High Treafurer. 



The Iftil^-Agaft-Bajhi is the Grand Mafter of the Houfhold,who has feveral Of- 

 ficers under him. 



The Mehmender Bajhi is the Mafter of the Ceremonies. 



The Hakim-Bajhi is the Kings chief Phyfitian,by whofe allowance all the Phyfiti- 

 ans of the Kingdom are licens'd. 



The Munedgin Bajhi is the chief of the Aftrologers. 



The Divan-Bequi is the chief Jufticiar, as well in Civil as in Criminal caufes, and 

 he keeps his Court either in AliJOapi, or in the Kings Houfe, where his Majefty 

 fometimes prefides himfelf vvEen he pleafès. Before him as being an Officer of 

 great Authority all the Criminals in the Kingdom make their appearand he makes 

 out procefs againft the Kans,and other Grandees of Perfia. 



The Deroga is muc v h like the Lieutenant Criminal in France, from whom it is 

 lawful to appeal before the Divan Bequi. He has an eye upon Robberies, Batte- 

 ries and Murthers, and he has power to fupprefs Houfes of Debauchery. If he 

 catch any debauch'd perfbns, he has power to give them the Baftinado, or to fine 

 them : and moft commonly he fpares corporal chaftifement to punifh their pur- 

 fes. 



The Sofragi-Bajhi is he that fpreads the Sofra before the King. 

 The Chira^gi-Bajhi is he that has charge of the Wine : chiefly the Schiras wine* 

 which is particularly kept for the King, who feldom drinks any other. Nor can 



any 



