94 
KALAAT. 
the whole of his road to Kalaat Poushan, about three miles, was strewn 
with roses, and watered; both of which are modes of doing honour to 
persons of distinction ; and at very frequent intervals, glass vases filled 
with sugar were broken under his horse’s feet.* The treading upon 
sugar is symbolical, in their estimation, of prosperity; the scattering of 
flowers was a ceremony performed in honour of Alexander on his en¬ 
try into Babylon and has perhaps some affinity to the custom of cut¬ 
ting down branches off the trees and strewing them in the way, as was 
practised on our Saviour s entry into Jerusalem.i:- 
The person who was the bearer of the Kalaat was Mahomed Rar- 
kheem Khan, a youth of about sixteen, son to Mahomed Nebee Khan, 
the Vizier of Fars. It is said of him that when he went before the 
King for the first time, he appeared so bashful, that he could scarcely 
be made to proceed. However, this was only art, (so early are they 
made courtiers,) for when the King said to him, “ Come, take courage, 
draw nearer,” the boy said in a faultering voice, “ I beseech your Ma¬ 
jesty not to order me farther—I am overpowered. Mi —Iburn.” 
The adventures of Mahomed Nebee Khan, whom I before mentioned 
to have been sent for by the King, deserve to be recorded, as they 
afford a specimen of what generally happens to every Persian who has 
grown into power from his riches. Before he ventured to enter the 
capital he sent for his son, who was an attendant on the Court, of whom 
he enquired what were the King’s intentions towards him, and what 
fear there might be for his safety. The King, in order to cloak his 
game, conferred the dignity of Khan on the son previous to seeing the 
father, which so blinded him, that he entered the city in full confidence 
of the monarch’s favour. He had been accompanied by Mirza Ahady, 
the Governor of the great districts of Corbal and Fasa, and his coadjutor 
in his systems of extortion. They were called upon to appear before 
the King some days after their arrival, and were then informed that 
they were to give an account of the administration of their respective 
* Quint. Curt. lib. v. 
f Mark. xi. 8. The other circumstance, “the spreading of garments in the way/’ is used 
in the Scriptures as announcing royalty.—See 2 Kings, chap. ix. ver. 13. 
