169 
CHAPTER XI. 
We entered Teheran on the 9th of November, and were received by an 
Istakball, or deputation, headed by Mahomed Khan Amou, or Mahomed 
Khan the Uncle, so called, not because he was the King’s Uncle, but 
because he had been the King’s playfellow ; for Uncle, among the Per¬ 
sians, as well as among the Arabs, is an epithet of affection frequently 
used to fondle and caress the person t,o whom it is applied. With this 
character, united with the circumstance of his being a Cajar by birth, 
we were assured that the distinction conferred upon us was very consi¬ 
derable. He was attended by a great body of the King’s cavalry, 
mounted upon fine horses, who made a display of their horseman¬ 
ship as we proceeded in slow procession towards the city. Many of 
them particularly excelled in the Keykaj^, an exercise that consists in 
turning about on the saddle at full speed, and firing backwards upon a 
pursuing enemy. This they learn from their childhood, and it gives 
them great confidence and dexterity on horseback. It is probably the 
remains of the old Parthian custom, so frequently alluded to in ancient 
authors f, with this difference, that fire-arms are now used instead of 
bows and arrows. 
We were lodged in the Ameen-ad-Dowlah’s palace until houses 
should be appropriated for the fixed habitation of the Embassy. Two 
were shortly after selected, but in a manner that will show of what frail 
tenure are possessions in Persia. The one formerly belonged to Mirza 
Baba, who had held the situation of Beglerbeg (a principal officer) of 
f 0» §£ ^apSctpoi IwTreig xsCi ifeuyovTSg apix. hrlrpmaKOV, eif TsVjfffiev TO^euovTeg a-rto Tmv »Wwv, 
Xenophon, Anab. lib. iii. c. 3. 
Fidentemque fuga Parthum, versisqiie sagittis. Virg. Georg, lib. iii. v. 31. 
Miles sagittas et celerem fugam 
Parthi. Hor. lib. 2. Ode xiii. v. 17*; also lib. 1. Ode xix. v. 11. &c. 
Z 
