TEHERAN. 
259 
circulation. In a country so poor as Persia, in which there are so few 
people of any capital, the absorption of a million or a much smaller sum 
would be immediately felt. If therefore all the sums, which are 
annually poured into the King's treasure, had remained a dead stock in 
his hands, there would not now have been a single piece of gold in 
Persia. There is no corresponding influx of bullion. Persia exports 
yearly three hundred and fifty thousand tomauns in specie to India; 
to meet this drain there is indeed an inadequate supply from their 
trade with Russia, which purchases with gold all the silk of 
Ghilan ; and again with Turkey, which pays in gold for all the 
shawls and the little silk which it exports from Persia. Yet it is 
possible that the King may reserve two-thirds of his receipts; and 
expend the remainder only, perhaps half a crore of tomauns. This sup¬ 
position derives some probability, as well from the increase in the value 
of bullion as from the accounts of the treasures of Aga Mahomed; 
and further from the common belief of Persia, that a large proportion 
of the regular expences of the royal establishment are defrayed by the 
Ameen-ed-Doulah, from sources connected with his office and power. 
Thus he pays the household, and clothes the servants; he supplies a 
part of the kalaats at the Norooz ; he furnishes the maintenance of the 
King's children, and clothes for the new-born infants, and necessaries 
for the mother. In Persia, when a woman is five months in her preg¬ 
nancy, she provides clothes for her expected offspring: in this situation 
the King's wives send to the Ameen-ed-Doulah a list of all the articles 
which they may Avant; and which, frequently at a large cost, he is 
obliged to produce on the spot. For this purpose he keeps in his house 
a magazine stored with every description of dress for every age. Every 
year he is obliged to build neAv rooms in the King's Seraglio for the 
women Avhom his Majesty may chance to add to his numbers; and for 
each of these rooms he provides a silver manzal or fire-pan, a lamp 
and two candlesticks of silver, basins, ewers, dishes, plates, &c. and 
all of silver. To answer these immense demands, the range of his exac¬ 
tions may Avell be believed to be unbounded. 
