28 6 
TABRIZ. 
The first Minister appears under the same discipline of humiliation 
before his Majesty, as the Ray at, before the Ket Khodd of his village; 
and it is somewhat ridiculous to see that man, who sat in state in his 
Dewan , surrounded by a numerous circle of obsequious attendants, 
performing the next moment, in his turn, all the offices of one of 
those attendants before the King. In Persia, and I believe generally 
over the East, a son never sits down in the presence of his father. 
Thus the King’s sons always stand before him, and are regarded only 
as the first of his servants. Prince Abbas Mirza, who is Governor 
of Aderbigian , and Heir Apparent of the crown, when he repairs to 
the court of his father, appears there like any one of the other sons, 
with the single advantage of taking the precedence of the rest. 
The King is never approached by his subjects without frequent incli¬ 
nations of the body; and when the person introduced to his presence 
has reached a certain distance, he waits until the King orders him to 
proceed; upon which he leaves his shoes, and walks forwards with a 
respectful step to a second spot, until His Majesty again directs him to 
advance. No one ever sits before the King except relations of Kings, 
Poets, learned and Holy Men, and Embassadors: His Ministers and 
Officers of State are never admitted to the privilege. The place of 
honour is on the left. When an inferior visits a superior, he sits at a 
distance, and not on the same musnud . He places himself on the 
Nummud (the long carpet that skirts the room); nor even there, till 
he is desired: and, in approaching his superior, he is very careful to 
cover himself with his outer-coat, and to sit down directly on his 
heels, so that his feet are completely hidden. When a servant comes 
before his master, he makes an inclination of his body ; and, when he 
goes away, he walks backwards until he reaches the door, where he 
makes another inclination. 
There is as much etiquette in smoking as in sitting. No in¬ 
ferior calls for his kaleooti , until the superior has given the lead. 
No one can smoke before the King; and only particular persons 
before the Princes. 
