250 
PERSIAN MONEY. 
sole, under them,) and drew near the place in which he sat. 
We made a third bow. By a short and narrow passage, we 
entered the apartment, and saluted him a fourth time. He 
instantly made a sign for us to be seated. He then uttered a 
few words of the most gracious welcome; and his smile puts 
one at ease in a moment. He desired Major Lindsay to express 
fully to me, that he received me as an old friend; that he had 
long known me, by report; and that Abul Hassan Khan had 
repeated to him, the hospitalities I had shown to him. His 
Royal Highness then invited me to accompany him to Teheran; 
whither the King had ordered him to repair, to assist at the 
celebration of the feast of the Nowroose. He did me the honour 
to say, that would I join his party, he hoped to make my travel¬ 
ling to the Persian capital, more comfortable than it could 
otherwise be, at that inclement season. I could not but be 
happy to embrace so gracious a proposal; as it would enable 
me to become really well acquainted with a Prince, whose cha¬ 
racter may hereafter have no inconsiderable influence on the 
balance of European power beyond the Indus. After some 
discourse on the position of public affairs in Europe, we took 
our leave; and withdrew, repeating the same ceremonies with 
which we entered. 
Amongst other preparations for my journey to Teheran, I 
furnished myself with a sufficient quantity of the different monies 
of the country. The Persian coin is of gold, silver, and copper ; 
each metal being struck in almost its pure state. The gold 
money are called tomauns ; one of which, in intrinsic value, 
may now be equal to ten shillings English: they were worth 
more, formerly; but, during the last fifty years, their size and 
weight have gradually decreased. There are two sorts of silver 
