BUSHIRE TO SHIRAZ. 
73 
bets presented daily to the Envoy by the Melirnandar , proved the im¬ 
mense supply which the taste of the country demanded. The presents 
were arranged prettily in trays and boxes, and carried in great form on 
the heads of servants, but they were less acceptable, because for each 
the conductor required a present in money. By such means the great 
men in Persia pay their servants, who in general receive no other wages. 
The person, therefore, to whom such an office as that of Mehmandar is 
entrusted, is, of course, surrounded by hordes of adherents, who are al¬ 
lured by receipts so certain and valuable. 
The new Governor had consulted the astrologers of Bushire to deter¬ 
mine the most propitious time for his entrance into the town, which, by 
their predictions, was at three hours before sun-set on the 19th. In 
conformity therefore to the decision, he was now delaying his advance 
till the happier period should arrive. When, on a former occasion, he 
was departing from Bushire to embark on board the ship, which was to 
carry him on his mission to Calcutta , he was ordered by these astrolo¬ 
gers (as the only means of counteracting the influence of a certain evil 
star) to go out of his house in a particular aspect: as unfortunately 
there happened to be no door in that direction, he caused a hole to be 
made in the wall, and thus made his exit. 
In the evening we dined with Mahomed Nebee Khan. We did 
not go till the Khan had sent to the Envoy to say, that the entertain¬ 
ment was ready for his reception, a custom always observed on such 
occasions.* When we arrived at his tent, the same ceremonies passed 
as in the morning, except that we sat upon the ground, where the in¬ 
flexibility of our knees rendered the position more difficult than can 
be described. The Khan, who seemed to commiserate the tightness 
of our pantaloons, begged that we would extend our legs at their full 
length: fearing, however, to be rude, we chose to be uncomfortable, 
and to imitate their fashion as faithfully as possible; and really, with 
* That the same custom prevailed anciently in the East may be inferred from St. 
Matthew xxii. 2— 4 , St. Lxjke xiv. 16. 17. 
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