568 
THE FEARS OF A TYRANT. 
a great share of the liquid, and the first minister of state drinks 
it off, ere his illustrious lips dare touch it.” 
During the moments when the Wally thinks himself recover¬ 
ing, Dr. Cormick told me, he found him even a delightful 
companion; his general knowledge being far beyond the usual 
acquirements of great men in this quarter of the world, and his 
flow of lively humour in such circumstances, perfectly astonish¬ 
ing. One day he was discussing the subject of Christianity and 
Mahomedanism, while a Jew of Ispahan, one of his occasional 
physicians, was in the room. “ Well!” observed his highness 
to Dr. Cormick, “ it is certainly very illiberal in you Christians 
not to acknowledge our prophet as a man inspired from God, 
for we pay that respect to the founder of your religion ! But 
here is a rascal,” cried he, turning to the Jew, “ reprobate from 
both, for he acknowledges neither !” 
But these moments of constitutional gaiety are very few. It 
may be said, “ his crimes have murdered peace, and all her 
smiling offspring !” Sickness, gloom, and irritation, according 
to the description of my friend, almost ever clouding his speech 
and his aspect. His amusement without doors, to lull these 
busy fiends, is riding ; and within, he smothers thought under 
the incessant noise and bustle of his harem. One of the most 
favourite entertainments there, is the singing and dancing of a 
set of people called Luzmoonies ; both men and women com¬ 
pose these companies, while the latter in general are exquisitely 
beautiful, and trained to all its powers. But the palace is not 
the only theatre of their exhibition ; various sets of them are to 
be found every where in the city ; and, as all degrees are as fond 
of the show as their lord, the contagion of such manners has 
rendered this little capital one of the most dissolute spots in the 
