Ï02 
"travels into ^ L e v a n t. Part IL 
Chief Officers 
Eatmad Dou- 
Ict. 
Sedre. 
Sepch S alar. 
Bajfa. 
Officers of 
Religion. 
The Sedre. 
The Scheickr 
el-Selom, and 
the Cadi. 
FichnamaTi- 
Imam. 
Mails. 
Bodgia. 
The Na\er. 
Mehter. 
is a thing too common to all Princes, who are not acquainted with mattersj, 
but as it pleafes thofe who are about them to inform them,) returned back 
in a great fright, and lent prefently to apprehend the Divan Beghi, with 
orders to pluck out his Eyes, which was inftantly put into Execution pub- 
lickly in the Meidan ; and from that time forward this guard hath Leca 
entertained in the fèrvice of the Kings of Terfia. 
The chief Officers of the Crown are the Eatmad Doukt, who is the firft 
of the Kingdom next to the King ; the Sedre, the Sepeh Salar, who is a Ge- 
neralijjlmo, the KoMrcukgi BaJJa, the Koular Agaji or General of the Goulams. 
In my time there was no Sefeh Salar, and they make none now, but in time 
of War, which being ended the Office alfo expires. The Sedre is the chief 
in fpiritual Affairs ; he is the high Prieft of the Law, as in temporals the E^/- 
mad Doulet is the chief Minifter ; however this man is more confiderable, 
and takes place of the Sedre : Wherein it is obfervable that the dignities of 
the Church are not annexed to the Dodors of the Law, as in Turkey, but 
many times from being Sedre, one is promoted to the Dignity of Eatmad 
Doulet. 
Next to the Sedre in Spirituals, there are two under him who decide 
all points of Religion, and make all contrats, teftaments and other pub- 
lick deeds ; they judge alfo of Divorces and of all civil Debates and Pro- 
ceflcs : The one is called Scheick-cl-Selom,^ (.that's to fay, ) Scheick of the Law, 
and the other Cadi : Their Authority as well as Office is almoft equal ; 
neverthelefs,the Scheick-el-Sehm has fome preference : They are eftabliflied in 
all the principal Towns of Ferfia and even in Ifpahan, and the King nomi- 
nates them, on whom they onely depend. 
In every Mofque, as well as in the King's Houfhold, there is a Ttchnamaz„ 
this is the direftor of the Prayers, who fays the Prayers, and makes the 
reft fay them ; and therefore he ftands always fpremoft that the reft behind 
may fee him, and do as he does ; in Turkey he is called the Imam. They 
who pronounce the Prayer aloud, are inconfiderable fellows that have 
good Voices, who are hired for that, and commonly they are young Boys, 
There are A-lulas who have great Salaries out of Ecclefiaftical Revenues 
for teaching all comers, Sciences and the Law, and they are properly the 
Doctors, whom the Turks call Hcdgia : In ferfia they all wear white tur- 
bans. Thefe Midas are alfo in Verfia hke Clerks or Notaries ; they make 
the deeds of conveyances, of purchafes, contrats and other deeds ; to make 
thefe Writings Authcntick they n uft have the Bull of th.Q Schekk-el-Selom or of 
the Cadj, but many negletft that Circumftance ; befides, they are not very 
willing that the Scheick-el-Selom or Cadi fliould know their Affairs, and 
therefore they think it enough to have the Writings drawn by a Mula, 
with the feals onely of the Mula and party concerned. Thefe Bulls or Seals 
are ftones with their names cut on them, upon which they put a httle Ink, 
and then apply them under the Writing ; they carry commonly thele ftones 
let in a Silver-Ring on their little Finger. 
For temporal Affairs, befides û\QEatmad Doulet who is the chief Minifter, 
and thofe whom I have named before, there is the Naz^er, who is overfeer 
of all the goods, furniture, habits, plate, and all the Haras belonging to the 
King, for all which he is to anfwer. The Mehter is as the firft Gentleman 
of the Kings Bed chamber, he may be lookt upon alfo as his Chamberlain. 
This Mehter hath always by his fide a pouch full of Handerchiefs, which 
he prelents to the King as often as he demands any ; for he is almoft al- 
ways near his Perfon, and has his Lodgings in the Royal Palace. That is 
an important Office, for he may oblige and difoblige whom he pleafes, ha- 
ving the Princes ear, efpecially if he be very young, for during a King's Mi- 
nority, the Mehter is in a manner fole Governour : The word Mehter is a 
comparative in the Verfian Language. There are feveral other confiderable 
Officers, as the Mirakhor BaJJa, who is Mafter of the horfe : The Vakami- 
vicz,, who is like the firft Secretary of State ; Mirchikar BaJJa, the chief 
Huntfman ; Ichik Agafi BaJJd, who is as Steward of the houfe, for he hath 
an 
