DEPARTURE FROM TABREEZ. 
251 
money: the highest in value is the real , eight of which 
amount to a tomaun. The smaller silver coin is called the 
white-shy; eight of these being equal to a real. The copper 
money have the name of black-shy ; and twenty-four of them 
amount to one real. Tomauns are coined in almost every great 
province ; but they differ much in actual value, though all pass 
current for the same number of reals. Counterfeit money is 
also found in this country; but the fabricators are sure of death, 
on the event of detection. Clippers, or otherwise defacers of 
the national coin, are punished by mutilation. Gold ducats 
are the only foreign money passable; and they suffer more 
than the native tomaun, because there is less risk incurred, 
under the hands of the fraudulent. We see them in daily circu¬ 
lation, altered from their original form into all the shapes of 
square, octagon, pentangular, and no remark made on the depre¬ 
dation of their substance. Not being of Persian origin, liberties 
with their surface are permitted to pass with a neglect almost 
amounting to impunity. The current value of a ducat is equal 
to six reals. When a sum of any considerable amount is to be 
paid in this coin, it is usually disbursed by weight; and that 
more of these clipped ducats, may not go to the scale, than 
would be demanded of their counted number in paying the 
price, the coin is duly burthened with a certain portion of melted 
wax, to make the balance of justice stand even. 
That we might reach the capital several days before the com¬ 
mencement of the nowroose, which begins on the twenty-first of 
March, the Prince commanded all to be in readiness for an 
almost immediate departure from Tabreez. He provided me 
with a young Persian, called Sedak, of uncommon natural en¬ 
dowments, and still rarer advantages of education, to be with 
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