ILLUSTRATIONS OF SCRIPTURE. 
143 
other guests were arranged around the room, according to their respective 
ranks; amongst whom was an old man, a lineal descendant of the Seffi fa¬ 
mily, whom they called Nawab, and who took his seat next to the Ameen- 
ad-Dowlah. Although needy and without power, he is always treated 
with the greatest respect."^ He receives a daily sursat, or allowance, 
from the King, which makes his case resemble that of Jehoiachin, for 
his allowance was a continual allowance given him of the King, a daily 
rate, all the days of his life, 2 Kings, xxv. 30. This treatment is in 
the true spirit of Asiatic hospitality. Giving to the Nawab a high 
rank in society, is illustrative of the precedence given to Jehoiachin, 
by setting his throne above the throne of the Kings that were with him 
in Babylon. Idem, verse 28. 
When a Persian enters a mejlis, or assembly, after having left his 
shoes without, he makes the usual salutation of selam aleikum, (peace be 
unto you,) which is addressed to the whole assembly, as it were saluting 
the house (Matthew, x. 12.); and then measuring with his eye the de¬ 
gree of rank to which he holds himself entitled, he straightway wedges 
himself into the line of guests, without offering any apology for the 
general disturbance which he produces. It may be conceived that, 
among a vain people, the disputes which arise on matters of precedence 
are numerous ; and it was easy to observe, by the countenances of those 
present, when any one had taken a higher seat than that to which he 
was entitled. Mollahs, the Persian scribes, are remarkable for their 
arrogance in this respect; and they will bring to mind the caution that 
our Saviour gave to the Jews against their scribes, whom among other 
things he characterises as loving the uppermost places at feasts. Mark, 
ix. 39. The master of the entertainment has, however, the privilege 
of placing any one as high in the ranks of the mejlis as he may choose, 
and we saw an instance of it on this occasion; for when the assembly 
was nearly full, the Governor of Kashan, a man of humble mein al¬ 
though of considerable rank, came in, and had seated himself at the 
lowest place, when the Ameen-ad-Dowlah, after having testified his 
* See 2 Samuel, c. ix. v. 1 and 7. 
