196 
TEHERAN. 
hour, and was followed by the representation of that part of the history 
of Hos seines death, which succeeded the scene performed on the 
preceding evening. First came Hossein’s horse, with his turban on 
the saddle. Then, in a row on chairs, were seated Yezid, with three 
others; one of whom, dressed in the European habit, represented an 
European Embassador, (Elchee Firing.) Zain Labedeen, Hossein’s 
brother, chained, and with a triangular wooden collar round his 
neck, appeared as a captive before Yezid, and was followed by his 
sister and children. Yezid’s executioner treated them with much 
barbarity, repelling the women when they implored his protection; 
and using the captives with great insult, at the instigation of Yezid. 
When Zain Labedeen, by Yezid's firman , was brought to be 
beheaded, the Elchee Firing implored his pardon, which instead of 
appeasing the tyrant, only produced an order for putting the Elchee 
himself to death. All this scene produced great lamentation among 
the spectators, who seemed to vie with each other in the excess of 
their weeping, and in the display of all the signs of grief. The Prime 
Minister cried incessantly; the Ameen-ed-Dowlah covered his face 
with both his hands, and groaned aloud; Mahomed Hussein 
Khan Mervee made at intervals very vociferous complaints. In 
some I could perceive real tears stealing down their cheeks, but in 
most I suspect that the grief was as much a piece of acting as the 
tragedy which excited it. The King himself always cries at the cere¬ 
mony ; his servants therefore are obliged to imitate him. When the 
mob passed the window, at which we were seated, they again beat 
their breasts most furiously. 
25th. This day was the last of the Moharrem , when all those, 
who had performed the ceremonies peculiar to this season, appeared 
before the King. He was seated in a more elevated chamber, which 
looked towards the Maidan. A tent had been pitched for the Envoy, 
who was invited to attend, but he was too unwell to venture out. The 
representation of the day happened, indeed, to be incomplete. A 
strange circumstance had occurred at a village near Teheran , which 
