240 
PERSIAN CUSTOMS. 
received, may be to the general principles of good-will between 
man and man. To keep the head covered, is another point of 
Persian etiquette ; and as we Englishmen were obliged, therefore, 
to dine in our cocked-hats and feathers, where they were no small 
impediments in our approach to the trays, we found this extremity 
of politeness much the most troublesome of the two. 
The custom of leaving the outward covering of the feet at the 
door, is of very ancient practice all over the East, and especially 
so, when the place to be trod on, is connected with any 
religious ideas. We find it recorded, so far back as in the book 
of Exodus, at the account of Moses turning aside to observe the 
burning bush, where it is written, “ The Lord called to him, 
and said, Put off thy shoes from off thy feet, for the place 
whereon thou standest is holy ground.” And again, we read 
in the book of Joshua, that when that great captain of Israel 
was encamped in the plain of Gilgal, the same Divine Being 
appeared to him, and said to him also, “ Loose thy shoe from 
off thy foot; for the place whereon thou standest is holy. And 
Joshua did so.” These two notices of the custom, are selected 
on account of their antiquity, from many others which it is 
needless to add. Mohammed adopted the same reverence to 
consecrated places, and things, into the ceremonies of his faith ; 
and, as I have observed before, the carpets of Persia being not 
only of a more costly texture than any which are laid on the 
doors in Europe, but rendered sacred by their use in prayer, to 
tread on them with any thing beyond a light sock, would be 
regarded by the professors as an outrage little short of sacrilege. 
The sock, which is worn within-side of the boot or slipper for 
this purpose, is of a delicate manufacture and prettily wrought 
with various colours. 
