20 6 
TEHERAN. 
64 ral joy. The rich sent presents to the poor: all were dressed in their 
44 holiday clothes, and all kept open house: and religious processions, 
44 music, dancing, a species of theatrical exhibition, rustic sports, and 
44 other pastimes presented a continued round of varied amusement. 
44 Even the dead and the ideal things were not forgotten; rich viands 
44 being placed on the tops of houses and high towers, on the flavour of 
44 which the Peris and spirits of their departed heroes and friends w ere 
44 supposed to feast/'* To this day the festival of the Norooz retains 
many of these ceremonies, though it has changed its character since 
the rise of Mahomedanism in Persia, and ceases to be connected with 
the religion of the country. It commences when the sun just enters 
Aries , and lasts three days; it begins the spring of nature, though it 
no longer commences the civil year of the Persians, who, like all other 
Mahomedans, have adopted the lunar calculation. It is still the most 
solemn of the Persian festivals, as it was in the day of Chardin. 
Mr. Bruce informed me of a singular fact, that it was not observed 
at all on the coast of the Persian Gulph. At Teheran , however, we 
saw it celebrated with great festivity. It differs from the Norooz of 
ancient Persia in the diminution of its duration; and in the absence of 
all religious observance: there are no processions and still less any 
offerings of viands to the dead. But all on meeting in the morning 
embrace and say, 44 Ayd moharek; happy festival!" as in England we 
wish our friends a merry Christmas. The rich still send presents to the 
poor, all are still dressed in their holiday clothes, and sports of every 
kind are preserved in the season. 
22d. We visited the Ameen-ed-Doulah. He was seated in his dewan 
Month, dressed in the kalaat which he had received from the King. 
His mujlis or assembly was crowded by Khans of the neighbouring 
districts, who had repaired to the city to pay their compliments to their 
• Richardson’s Dissertation, 8vo. p. 184. 
