HONOURS PAID TO THE PRINCE. 
2 55 
which occurred, of these sort of conversations being repeated 
with his Royal Highness of Persia, I could not but think, that I 
saw before me the man whose powerful and liberal mind was to 
create a new epoch in the national consequence of his future 
kingdom. 
The whole country was still deeply covered with snow; but 
from the manifest influence of the sun on it’s surface, more genial 
weather might soon be expected. Our first halting-place was Bos- 
meech, which we reached early in the afternoon ; a distance from 
Tabreez of three farsangs; a farsang being an hour’s travel, or four 
miles. It is a neat village, watered by a stream of the same 
name, which flows into the Augi. In these places, the Prince is 
seldom better lodged than any khan of his train; and to such 
temporary inconvenience, he shows the unaffected indifference 
of a really manly mind. But before our entrance into Bosmeech, I 
witnessed a very singular kind of ceremony; a custom of this 
country, performed in honour of the sovereign’s approach to any 
town, or considerable village in his dominions. A concourse of 
people appeared, coming towards us and leading forward a cow, 
which they brought near to the Prince, and instantly immolated 
at the feet of his horse. A signal from Abbas Mirza, to prevent 
so disagreeable a compliment, was not observed in the hurry of 
the scene; and the poor animal’s blood flowed all over the path 
we must pass. Besides this, another act of respect is performed, 
by breaking a vessel containing sugar or honey, in the way of 
the Prince; after that, the cavalcade moves on. 
I enquired of several of the best informed Persians, the mean¬ 
ing of the former ceremony. The latter, we can easily resolve 
into a figure of proffered gift of all the breaker of the vessel 
of plenty possesses; a tribute from the subject to the sovereign ; 
