62 
CHAP. 
IV. 
MOSCOW. 
rade. The Kirgisians and Bucharians were best 
at arm’s length ; but the worthy old Persian, 
whose name was Orazai, often exchanged visits 
with us. He brought us presents, according to 
the custom of his country; and was much 
pleased with an English pocket-knife we had 
given him, with which he said he should shave 
his head. At his devotions, he stood silent for 
an hour together, on two small carpets, bare- 
footed, with his face towards Mecca ; holding, 
as he said, intellectual converse with Mohammed. 
Orazai came from Tarky, near Derbenl, on the 
western shore of the Caspian. He had with 
him his nephew, and a Cossack interpreter from 
Mount Caucasus. His beard and whiskers were 
long and grey, though his eye-brows and eyes 
were black. On his head he wore a large cap 
of fine black wool. His dress was a jacket of 
silk, over which was thrown a large loose robe 
of the same materials, edged with gold. His 
feet were covered with yellow Morocco 
slippers, which were without soles, and fitted 
like gloves. All his suite joined in prayer, 
morning and evening ; but the old man conti- 
nued his devotions long after he had dismissed 
his attendants. Their poignards were of such 
excellent steel, that our English swords were 
absolutely cut by them. Imitations of these 
