THE CELEBRATION OF THE NOWROOSE. 
329 
same metal, mixed with a few pieces of gold. I imitated my 
friend in all these ceremonies, and held out both my hands to 
be filled with this royal largess ; which, with no little difficulty, 
we passed through our festal trappings into our pockets. 
When the rest of the gratulatory compliments of the day, 
had been uttered between the monarch and his assembled nobles, 
the chief executioner, our former herald, gave us the signal that 
all was over for that morning. We then retired, as we came, 
under his auspices; but, if possible, with still more pressure 
and heat than we had battled through in our approach. 
The celebration of the feast was to last six days; several even¬ 
ings of which were dedicated to the display of fireworks ; and 
the mornings, to the reception of presents to the King, from his 
sons the Prince-governors of the provinces, also from his minis¬ 
ters, khans, &c. These offerings generally consist of mule and 
camel loads of gold stuffs, shawls, or any rare and valuable 
commodity, which money or good fortune may throw in the way 
of the donor. I am told that the amount brought into the royal 
treasury by this various tribute, is enormous ; and that it rather 
increases than diminishes, on every succeeding anniversary. One 
day is allotted to horse-racing; but, for some reason, it was 
postponed at this fete to a more distant period. With the taste 
common to my countrymen, for such exhibitions in general, I 
more particularly wished to see the style of that entertainment 
in a kingdom of the East, where the horse, like our own, is one 
of the boasts of the country ; but at this time, I was so little in a 
frame of mind to enjoy the sight, or indeed to take that interest 
in the progress of the week of the Nowroose, which I otherwise 
should have done, that after my first appearance at the fete, I 
devoted the greatest part of every day, and much of the night, 
VOL. i. 
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