TEHERAN. 
191 
about the Envoy’s journey, and asked some very familiar and affable 
questions. The gentlemen of the Mission were then separately intro¬ 
duced by their names and situations ; the King said “ Khosh Amedeed,” 
and we made very low bows. We returned with nearly the same 
ceremonies as we entered the palace, except that in the outer court, 
the Envoy was further honoured with a salute from three pieces of 
cannon. 
The King is about forty-five years of age; He is a man of pleasing 
manners and an agreeable countenance, with an aquiline nose, large eyes 
and very arched eye-brows. His face is obscured by an immense 
beard and mustachios, which are kept very black; and it is only when 
he talks and smiles that his mouth is discovered. His voice has once 
been fine, and is still harmonious; though now hollow, and obviously 
that of a man who has led a free life. He appeared much pleased at 
finding that the Envoy could talk to him in Persian, as he did indeed 
after the first introductory speech; and when he was told that Sir 
Harford read and studied much, he asked many questions on literary 
subjects, for he professes to be a protector of learning and of learned 
men. He was seated on a species of throne, called the takht-e-taoos , 
or the throne of the peacock, which is raised three feet from the 
ground, and appears an oblong square of eight feet broad and twelve 
long. We could see the bust only of his Majesty, as the rest of his 
body was hidden by an elevated railing, the upper work of the 
throne, at the corners of which were placed several ornaments of vases 
and toys. The back is much raised ; on each side are two square 
pillars, on which are perched birds, probably intended for peacocks, 
studded with precious stones of every description, and holding each a 
ruby in their beaks. The highest part of the throne is composed of an 
oval ornament of jewelry, from which emanate a great number of 
diamond rays. Unfortunately, we were so far distant from the throne, 
and so little favoured by the light, that we could not discover much of 
its general materials. We were told, however, that it is covered with 
gold plates, enriched by that fine enamel work so common in the orna- 
