CASVIN. 
295 
tery from being nauseous; the person addressed, rather con¬ 
sidering them words of polite ceremony, in which apt memory, 
original wit, or poetical fancy, contend for display, than any 
sinister design to propitiate vanity, at the expense of common 
principle and common-sense. The European traveller, who 
would think himself free to take lasting possession of a Persian’s 
goods and chattels, because the polite Asiatic told him, at his 
entrance, “ they were, henceforward, his property !” would not 
be less absurd, in this country, than if in his own, he were to 
believe himself privileged to command about every man as his 
lackey, who subscribed himself his “ obedient humble servant.” 
Plow the Persian nation, which has been so often over-run by 
people of the most rugged habits, came to acquire, or to retain, 
such suaviter in modo , is hardly to be explained. Besides, exces¬ 
sive refinement in the courtesies of life, being commonly consi¬ 
dered, not merely the acme of social polish, but a pledge that the 
country which possesses it, has arrived at every other perfection 
attendant on the progress of society ; the like harmony, if ex¬ 
pected here, would be found wanting. Persia is yet in its 
infancy, as a great and flourishing state; or rather, the noble 
tree, so often stripped of its branches, till it appeared bare to 
the root, is only now shooting the new-growth ; which the suc¬ 
ceeding generations of Futy Ali Shah, may cultivate into fruit 
as well as flowers. 
Plaiting a whole day at Casvin, gave me an opportunity of 
visiting what was note-worthy in the town, before I went to the 
palace ol Ali Nackee Mirza; which comprised every splendour, 
due to his station as Prince-governor, and to the royal personage 
who was then his guest. Casvin was a city of consideration 
many centuries ago; and is situated on the extensive plain, to 
