RESIDENCE OF THE MISSION AT BUSIIIRE. 
37 
this power, though generally a man of high rank, is generally also un¬ 
derstood to purchase the nomination at very large prices. The propor¬ 
tion of the purchase is the proportion of course of the demands on the 
country : the villager groans under the oppression, but in vain shrinks 
from it; every argument of his poverty is answered, if by nothing else, 
at least by the bastinado. 
The information of the appointment was premature: Mahomed 
Hass an Khan, an officer of rank, had indeed been dispatched from 
Shiraz , but he was entrusted with a more private commission to the 
Envoy. On the 19th his immediate approach to Bushire was an¬ 
nounced. As, independently of the confidence which by this mission 
the Government appeared to repose in him, he possessed high personal 
rank, (as one of the Chiefs of the Karaguzlou tribe, one of the most nu¬ 
merous, warlike, and respectable of all under the jurisdiction of Persia,) 
the first Minister at Shiraz wrote to the Envoy to desire that He would 
send the person next in rank to himself to receive him. The Envoy 
accordingly ordered me to proceed on the occasion. I went, accom¬ 
panied by Mr. Bruce and Dr. Jukes, and escorted by Cornet Wil- 
lock with ten troopers, and five Cliattars. The Chattars are those 
running footmen who, in fantastical dresses, generally surround the horse 
of a great man; but the name is applied not only to these attendants of 
shew, but to those messengers also who perform their journies on foot, 
and perform them with a dispatch almost incredible. When we had 
proceeded about a mile we met the stranger. He was thinly at¬ 
tended, having travelled in haste. When we approached, our 
little squadron drew up in a line as he passed; and we ad¬ 
vanced, and made our respective compliments. We then all turned 
back together, and brought him into the presence of the Envoy, who 
received him sitting on one corner of the sopha, but rose just as he 
approached it. We were all dressed with more or less ornament in 
honour of our guest; and during his visit we kept on our hats. The 
Nasakchee Bashee had already fallen into his train, when we first met 
him; and during the short stay which he now made, the Vice-governor 
