346 
PUBLIC SCHOOLS. 
the young princes are reared. All persons of high rank, so far fol¬ 
low the example, as to have their children instructed by moullahs, 
and other preceptors, who attend their pupils at the houses of 
their parents. The lower orders, and often the considerable 
Persians, who are under the condition of nobles, send their sons 
to the public schools; which are planted in every town. They 
are commonly held in the mesjids, and sometimes in the houses 
of the teachers, who are mostly moullahs. The expense of each 
child’s education, annually, hardly amounts to a tomaun ; not 
half a guinea! a price much in favour of the advancement of 
learning. The scholars sit round their master, on the matted 
floor, all conning their lessons aloud, as they learn them ; and 
not stopping their noise, even when the teacher is officially 
hearing one of their brother-pupils read. This little seminary 
presents a curious sight to a European ; for besides the rapid 
motion of their lips, they keep their bodies in one continued 
see-saw ; without which cabalistic movement, a Persian conceives 
it would be impossible to learn any thing. When idleness, or 
any other misdemeanour, requires chastisement, the young culprit 
undergoes the same punishment as that which royalty at times 
inflicts upon any offending nobleman ; namely, the bastinado on 
the soles of the feet. The children are taught reading and writ¬ 
ing ; and, as soon as they can commit to memory, they learn 
passages from the favourite poets of the country ; many of which 
are fraught with the noblest sentiments, and the most amiable 
feelings of human nature. At the same time, they are taught 
prayers from the Koran, in Arabic; a language which they do 
not in general understand ; but the meaning of the prayer is 
explained to them; and they are directed on what occasions 
to repeat it. Youth of the higher classes, often subjoin the 
