KALAAT. 
93 
consequence as this is looked upon to be throughout Persia. All 
the circumstances attendant upon the reception of a Kalaat being the great 
criterions by which the public may judge of the degree of influence 
which the receiver of it has at court, every intrigue is exerted during 
the preparation of the Kalaat, that it may be as indicative of the royal 
favour as possible. The person who is the bearer of it, the expres¬ 
sions used in the Firman which announces its having been conferred, 
the nature of the Kalaat itself, are all circumstances that are examined 
and discussed by the Persian public. A common Kalaat consists of a 
caba or coat; a kemerbund or zone ; agouch peech or shawl for the head : 
when it is intended to be more distinguishing, a sword or a dagger is 
added. To persons of distinction rich furs are given, such as a catabee, 
or a coordee; but when the Kalaat is complete it consists exactly of 
the same articles as the present which Cyrus made to Syennesis; 
namely, a horse with a golden bridle, ; a golden chain, 
(rr^B-^ov I a golden sword, d.mvd.Kv,v \ besides the dress, the 
(rroXriv which is complete in all its parts. Such, or nearly such, 
was the Kalaat which the Prince went out to meet; and consequently 
he gave as much publicity to it as he could devise. The day was in¬ 
troduced by discharges of cannon, and by the sounds of drums and 
trumpets. The Prince, in order to be on the spot, and to put on his 
dress exactly at the moment prescribed by the astrologers, issued from 
the city at a very early hour, escorted in a long procession by all his 
principal officers, preceded by numerous led horses, and followed by 
the greatest part of the population of the place. The Prince himself 
was conspicuous at a distance, by a parasol being borne over his head, 
which to this day is a privilege allowed only to royalty, and is exem¬ 
plified by the sculptures at Persepolis, where the principal personage 
is frequently designated by a parasol carried over him. We heard that 
* The golden chain which is now sent is part of the horse furniture, and hangs over the 
horse’s nose. By the Persepolitail marbles we perceive the ancient Persians wore chains 
round their neck. 4'sXAja or bracelets were also sent, which the same marbles show were 
worn. By golden mord is meant, a sword whose scabbard is ornamented with gold. Such 
are the Persian swords to this day.—Vide Xenophon, Anab, lib. i. c. 2. 
