252 
CAVALCADE TO TEHERAN. 
me constantly, as my interpreter. A mehmandar was also sent 
to attend me, to see that my own quarters, and those of my 
people and horses, were duly provided. His Royal Highness 
had given directions, that my board should daily be furnished 
from his own; a distinction which is held in high honour by the 
Persians. 
All being prepared, and the morning of the third of March 
having been fixed for that of our departure, soon after sun-rise 
on that day, I set forth, accompanied by some of my country¬ 
men, to join the Prince at the eastern gate of the city. At the 
moment of our arrival, the bugles had sounded, and his Royal 
flighness, with his numerous suite, were just on the move. The 
sight was novel to me, and not less interesting; for almost every 
new object I now heard or saw, seemed a memorial* from age 
to age, of some usage we read of in our oldest histories of the 
East. 
A party of horsemen, to the number of about one hundred 
and fifty, marched first as an advanced guard. Then followed 
the Prince. And immediately behind him, rode his eldest son 
Mahomed Mirza, a boy about twelve years of age, with his 
cousin, the son of Ali Shah, Governor of Teheran; and Malek 
Khassum Mirza, the youngest son of the King. We Europeans 
followed next; consequently I was seldom far from the person 
of the Prince. Then succeeded the khans, and ministers of 
state, with the whole mass of necessary officers besides, mingled 
indiscriminately amongst five or six hundred goolams , a kind of 
horsemen in the service of Persian royalty, used both on civil 
and military duties. These people are always better dressed, 
armed and mounted, than the ordinary cavalry of the country; 
and, from the numerous advantages, of abundant perquisites, 
