SHIRAZ. 
117 
partake of it; though at the time of receiving it, the Envoy suspected, 
that it might have been the trick of some one who calculated on a more 
valuable largess in return. 
6th. A zeeafet or entertainment was given this evening to the 
Envoy by Mirza Zain Labadeen, Chief Secretary and Private 
Minister to the Prince. This was so nearly a repetition of the 
former display, that any description may well be spared. One thing 
indeed may be remarked ; as soon as the Prime Minister came into the 
room, he took the direction of the feast upon himself; and the master 
of the house, the real donor, sunk into the character of a guest. This is 
the case wherever the Minister goes, as he is supposed to be the master 
of every thing, and to preside in every place, next after the Prince his 
Own immediate superior. 
On the 7th, Jaffer Ali Khan, (the English Agent at Shiraz) 
Mr. Bruce and I, went by the Envoy's order to the Minister, to pro¬ 
pose certain measures. We were introduced into the Bagh-a-Vakeel , a 
garden belonging to the Prince, and situated contiguous to his palace 
in the town. In the centre is a pleasure house called Koola-frangee , 
(and built on the model of the one of the same name in the Bagh-a-Jehan 
Nemah , on the outside of the city gates.) Here we conferred with the 
Minister, and as, in quitting him, we were going out of the garden, we 
chanced to meet the Prince himself, who asked us the common questions 
of civility, and passed on. In the evening, the Prince invited the 
Envoy to meet him on horseback at the Maidan, and expressed a wish 
to see the troop of cavalry go through some of its exercises and evolu¬ 
tions. We accordingly proceeded, and, when we perceived the Prince, 
we all dismounted from our horses for a moment, and when he waved 
his hand, we all mounted again, and rode close up to him. Plis man¬ 
ners and appearance were most elegant and prepossessing. He was 
dressed most richly: his outer coat was of blue velvet, which fitted 
tight to his shape; on the shoulders, front pocket, and skirts, was an 
embroidery of pearl, occasionally (in the different terminations of a 
point or angle,) enlivened with a ruby, an emerald, or a topaz. Under 
