VISIT TO MEHMANDAR. 
91 
Yainest as well as one of the most assiduous of the King’s courtiers. 
A speech that he made to the Ambassador during his visit, was 
highly characteristic of the man; for in speaking of the King, he 
exclaimed, “ Wait, wait, Elchee! until you see the ^Kebleh Alum. 
Thenj indeed, you will see a King: he is in himself a paradise; 
he is full of sJiefaket^ (condescension,) towards you; as a proof 
of which he has sent me, a person of higher rank than has ever 
been sent to any former Ambassador, to escort you to his pre¬ 
sence.” 
:. On the 24th of May the Ambassador paid a visit to Mahomed Zeky 
Khanjhis first Mehmandar, for he was desirous of showing him how much 
he was satisfied with his conduct towards us during the journey from 
Bushire. On arriving near the house we found the street watered and 
swept: on alighting from his horse, the Ambassador was received by 
the Khan’s nephew, and on entering the door by the Khan himself 
The. court we passed through was lined by his servants; and the basin 
of water that stood at one end of it was ornamented by roses, daifodils, 
lilies, &c. arranged in separate compartments on its surface. The Am¬ 
bassador was seated in the place of honour, in the corner of the room; 
and the Khan, notwithstanding all entreaty to the contrary, seated him¬ 
self about three yards distant from His Excellency, on the Num7nud^ 
long felt carpet that borders the room,) which among the Persians is 
esteemed an act of great respect. Indeed nothing could be more 
agreeable than the manners of our host, whose good humour never for¬ 
sook him. Although educated for a mirza^ or a man of the pen, he 
joked very pleasantly upon his ignorance of literature, owned that his 
principal pleasures consisted in horses and the sports of the field, and 
said, that no enjoyment could surpass hawking a partridge or killing an 
antelope. He confessed that it was dangerous in a government like 
that of Persia to amass wealth; and that his system of happiness con¬ 
sisted in living without a thought beyond the present hour, never pos- 
5 . . ■ i 
* Kehleh^ the point to which the Mahomedans turn in prayer: JJum, the world. This is 
one of the common titles of the King of Persia, and by which he is most usually addressed 
by his subjects. 
N 2 
