32 
RESIDENCE OF THE MISSION AT BUSHIRE. 
Persia had received, to add, that by second orders from Teheran , as they 
were reported to us, the Princes of the districts were required to adopt 
in their own persons the Russian uniform. The Prince of Tabriz , Abbas 
Mirza , had already conformed to the costume; and the Prince at 
Shiraz , with a hundred of his immediate attendants, was preparing to 
assume the same garb; and as we learned on the 10th, by other dis¬ 
patches, already appeared in it. The proposed adoption by Sultan 
Selim, of the dress of the Nizam Gedid troops, was the signal of revolt 
to his Janizaries, and the direct cause of his dethronement. The na¬ 
tional levity of the Persians counteracts the original rigour of their reli¬ 
gious principles, and disposes them, from the mere love of change, to 
admit the encroachments of European manners, which would rouse to 
despair and revenge the less volatile character of the Turks, and ani¬ 
mate them in defence of their least usage with all the first enthusiasm of 
their faith.* 
££ * A circumstance, connected with the more permanent superstitions of Persia, occurred 
“ during the first part of our stay at Bushire , which may be worth mentioning. A 
“ Derveish settled himself for many days at the door of the Assistant Resident’s house, 
££ and did not quit it till he had extorted from the Envoy a donation of ten rupees. These 
££ men wander about from place to place ; and, as their demands are sanctioned by long 
££ usage, they levy wherever they go, their established dues.* Mr. Bruce told me, that 
“ on his first arrival in the country, a Derveish came to him and asked the sum of ten 
u piastres; he was refused, but he persisted that he would not depart till he should receive 
“ it. He accordingly stationed himself at the door, and commenced his conjuring, crying 
“ £ Hag , Hag , Hag unceasingly for days and nights, till he had worked himself up into 
££ a frenzy, in which his cries became quite horrible. To get rid of such a nuisance, Mr. 
££ Bruce was glad at last to pay the price which his tormentor originally charged. Mr. 
££ Manesty, the East India Company’s Resident at Bussorah , was attacked more 
££ formidably, and defended himself with more perseverance, but without better success. 
££ A Derveish demanded a hundred piastres, and being of course refused, settled himself 
<£ at the door, and remained there two years, when Mr. Manesty was at last forced to 
M yield, and paid the full sum required. 
* Lord Teicnmoutii, in an interesting Paper in the Asiat. Res. IV. p. 334-5, mentions a similar custom (“ sitting 
" Lkerna”) in a different religion. “ Brahmins even in Culcultn have been known to obtain charity or subsistence from 
“ the Hindus, by posting themselves before the door of their houses, under a declaration to remain there until their 
“ solicitations were granted.’’ The religious mendicants of India have sometimes assembled in a body of 5000 men. 
