226 



The Persian Travels Book V. 



chap. xr. 



Of the fécond 'Order , containing all thofe that belong to the EcclefiasJi- 

 cal Law, and their Courts of JusJice ; and, in general, of all the 

 Gown-men ; fuch as are chiefly the Officers of the Chamber of Ac- 

 counts. 



THE fécond of the three Eftates of Perfia comprehends the Gown-men, fuch 

 as are the Doctors of the Law, the Officers of Juftice, and thofe of the 

 Chamber of Accounts. 



As the Athemat-doulet is the Prime Minifter in Temporals, the Sedre is the 

 Prime Minifter in Spirituals, and the High-Prieft of the Law. However, he does 

 not pretend to take place before the Athemat-doulet either in Council, or in the 

 publick Ceremonies. There is this difference between the Sedre and the Mufti in 

 Turkey, that in Perfia Ecclefiaftical Dignities are no bar from Civil Employments j 

 fo that the Sedre is many times made Athemat-doulet. 



The Dignity of Sedre is not limited to one fingle perfon, but may be divided 

 between two, in regard there are two forts of Legacies, the one from the King's 

 of Per/ia, the other from particular perfons. Therefore for the more careful 

 Superintendence' over thefe two forts of Legacies, there are fometimes two Se- 

 dres appointed. The one is call'd Sedre-Kras, particular or peculiar Sedre, who 

 manages all the Revenues of the Pvoyal Foundations, and distributes them to the 

 Mullakj and Students according to their merit. The other is call'd Sedrc-:l-man- 

 koufat, who has the management of private Foundations. In the year 1667 the 

 King created two Sedres, and marri'd them to two of fiis Sifters. 

 - The Sedre has two men under him, whofe Authority is almoft equal to 

 theirs. The one is call'd Skeik-el-felom, and the other Cadi : and thefe are 

 they that decide all controverlles in Religionjudge of Divorces, make Contracts 

 and publick Ads. Thefe two Dignities are in the King's nomination : and in all 

 the principal Cities of the Kingdom there are two of thefe Ecclefiaftical Judges 

 for all matters that concern the Law. 



To every Mofquee there belongs a Pichnamaz., who is always firft there before 

 Prayers begin ; and he teaches the people to Pray by learning of him,having their 

 eyes always fix'd upon him to that end. This Picknamaz* is the fame with him 

 whom the Turks call Jman. The Moullah's are the Doctors of the Law, as are 

 the Hodgia' s in Turkey, and they are well paid out of the Legacies giv'n to the 

 Mofquees, for reading every Friday, and interpreting the Alco-ran to the -people. 

 He that reads, fits in one Chair ; and he that interprets, in another, foifrewhat 

 lower upon the left-hand of the Reader. They are alfo bound to teach the Sci- 

 ences to all thofe that require it : and, as a mark of Sanctity, they wear a great 

 white Turbant, with a fingle Chamlet-habit of the fame colour. Their gate, is 

 grave, and their difcourfe very ferious ; yet all this is but pure hypocrify. When 

 they light into any confiderable company of people, they prefently rife, and ex- 

 hort 'em to go to Prayers. At the fame time they warn their heads, their hands, 

 and their feet, and fpread a felt upon the ground, or if they are poor, a fingle 

 mat. Upon this, at one end, the Manila kneels, at the other lies a flat Stone about 

 the bignefs of the paulm of a man's hand, which was brought from Mecca. 

 Which Stones the Moullah's always carry about 'em ; for being commanded 

 while they are at their devotions often to kifs the ground, they rather choofe 

 to kifs a Stone brought from fo holy a place, than the prophane Earth. They 

 have a kind of a Mariners compafs, which directs them punctually where Mecca 

 ftands, to the end they may know which way to turn when they fay their Prayers. 

 The Prayer which the MoulUs make, feems to be accompani'd with a great deal 

 of zeal, and they take great notice all the while whether the company be atten- 

 tive or no. Some Perfians are fo fuperftitious, that a VixSr of Schiras fuffer'd 

 his leg to rot off, becaufe he would not let a Chriftian Chirurgeon touch him, for 

 fear of being defil'd. 



There 



