PERSIA, OR IRAN. 



929 



who also belong to the same family. Turkomans, in the northeast, Arabs, in the southwest, 

 Armenians, Jews, &c., are also numerous, and the Turkomans are now the dominant nation, 

 although the mass of the population is Persian. The Turkish is the common language of 

 the country, the Parsees only speaking the Persian, which is, however, the language of the lite- 

 rature of an earlier period. Generally speaking, the Persians are a handsome race, even 



when unmixed ; but the Georgian, Circassian, and Mingrelian 

 slaves are so common, that there are few of the higher classes, 

 which are not descended from them. The Persian dress has 

 been considered effeminate. The men wear a long robe, reach- 

 ing nearly to the feet, and under this a vest tight to the hips, and 

 then flowing like a petticoat. They wear wide trowsers and silk 

 or calico shirts. Robes of various kinds are common, and a long 

 musHn sash is worn over the whole dress. In this is stuck a dag- 

 ger, and no Persian considers himself fully dressed without a 

 sword. All classes wear a black lambskin cap, about a foot in 

 height. The head is shaved except a tuft on the head, and be- 

 hind the ears. The beard is dyed black. The dress of the fe- 

 males is simple. In winter a close-bodied robe, reaching to the 

 knees, and buttoned in front, is worn over the vest. In summer 

 a silk or muslin shift is worn, loose velvet trowsers, and a vest. 

 The head is covered with a black turban, over which a cashmerian shawl is thrown as a veil. 

 The Persian language is well fitted for poetry. It has an affinity with the German and Goth- 

 ic languages. The general food of the Persians is simple. Coffee is general, and tobacco 

 is smoked by all classes. The delicious wines of Persia are much used, in spite of the pro- 

 hibition of the Koran. The Persians have been called, probably by a Frenchman, the Pa- 

 risians of the East, but they have more resemblance to the Greeks. They are volatile, cheer- 

 ful, versatile, cunning, lying, and dishonest, but eminently social. They show great respect for 

 age. They abound in compHmentary phrases, and their pohteness, like that of the other Asiat- 

 ics, is formal, though less grave than that of the Turks. They are affable, and fond of conver- 

 sation ; in which fables and apologues abound.* Their manner of salutation is to touch the 



Persians. 



* The following fable is a fair specimen of the Persian 

 figurative mode of speech. 



" In former days there was an old woman, who lived in 

 a hut more confined than the minds of the ignorant, and 

 more dark than the tombs of misers. Her companion was 

 a cat, from the mirror of whose imagination the appear- 

 ance of bread had never been reflected, nor had she from 

 friends or strangers ever heard its name. It was enough 

 that she now and then scented a mouse, or observed the 

 print of its feet on the floor; when, blessed by favoring 

 stars, or benignant fortune, one fell into her claws. 



She became like a beggar who discovers a treasure of 

 gold ; 



Her cheeks glowed with rapture, and past grief was con- 

 sumed by present joy. 



" This feast would last for a week or more ; and while 

 enjoying it she was wont to exclaim, — 



'Am I, O God ! when I contemplate this, in a dream or 

 awake 



Am I to experience such prosperity after such adversity ' 



" But as the dwelling of the old woman was in general 

 the mansion of famine to this cat, she was always com- 

 plaining, and forming extravagant and fanciful schemes. 

 One day, wnen reduced to extreme weakness, she, with 

 much exertion, reached the top of the hut; when there, 

 she observed a cat stalking on the wall of a neighbor's 

 house, which like a fierce tiger advanced with measured 

 steps, and was so loaded with flesh, that she could hardly 

 raise her feet. The old woman's friend was amazed to see 

 one of her own species so fat and sleek, and broke out 

 m the following exclamation : 



' Your stately strides have brought you here at last; pray, 

 tell me from whence you come 

 From whence have you arrived with so lovely an appear- 

 ance ' 



117 



You look as if from the banquent of the Khan of ChatAi. 

 Where have you acquired such a comeliness and how 

 came you by that glorious strength ' 



The other answered, ' I am the Sultan's crum-eater. 

 Each morning, when they spread the convivial table, I at- 

 tend at the palace, and there exhibit my address and cour- 

 age. From among the rich meats and wheat-cakes I cull 

 a few choice morsels ; 1 then retire and pass my time till 

 next day in delightful indolence.' 



" The old dame's cat requested to know what rich meat 

 was, and what taste wheat-cakes had ' As for me,' she 

 added, in a melancholy tone, ' during my life, I have 

 neither eat nor seen anything but the old woman's gruel 

 and the flesh of mice.' The other smilinff, said, 'This ac- 

 counts for the difficulty I find in distinguishing you from 

 a spider. Your shape and stature is such as must make 

 the whole generation of the cats blush ; and we must ever 

 feel ashamed, while you carry so miserable an appearance 

 abroad. 



You certainly have the ears and tail of a cat. 

 But in other respects you are a complete spider. 



Were you to see the Sultan's palace, and to smell his de- 

 licious viands, most undoubtedly those withered bones 

 would be restored ; you would receive new life ; jrou 

 would come from behind the curtain of invisibility into 

 the plain of observation : 



When the perfume of his beloved passes over the tomb 

 of a lover, 



Is it wonderful that his putrid bones should be re-ani- 

 mated ? ' 



" The old woman's cat addressed the other in the most 

 supplicating manner : ' Oh, my sister ! ' she exclaimed, 

 ' have 1 not the sacred claims of a neighbor upon you are 

 we not linked in the ties of kindred what prevents your 

 giving a proof of friendship, by taking me with you when 



