and in any manner whatever before his inferiors. To an English frame, the length of time during which the Persian will thus sit on his heels, is most extraordinary; sometimes for half a day, frequently even sleeping. They never think of changing their positions, and, like other Orientals, consider our locomotion to be as extraordinary as we regard their quiescence. When they see us walking to and fro, sitting down, getting up, and moving in every direction, they fancy that Europeans are tormented by some evil spirit, or that such is our mode of saying our prayers.

Learning, Poetry, and the Sciences.

The Persians are the most learned of the oriental nations; they have a strong passion for poetry and the sciences. In the former they are greatly distinguished; their most celebrated poets are Hafiz, Ferdusi, and Sadi. Hafiz is at the head of those poets whose lyre is devoted to love; and Sadi at the head of those whose theme is wisdom and morality. Their love songs, from the recluse and monotonous habits of life that prevail among the Orientals, cannot exhibit that variety of feeling and passion which fill the amatory poems of Europe. They dwell chiefly upon the beauties of the beloved object, which are treated in the utmost detail, upon the miseries of absence, and the joys of possession. In these poems the images are of the boldest and most glowing description; and hyperbole, their favourite figure, is carried to the greatest extreme.

Morality is much studied in Persia, though little practised. It is taught by proverb, apologue, and fable, which are usually clothed in verse. The Persians had no history deserving to be called such before the Mahometan invasion. Their circle of sciences comprises grammar and syntax, theology, philosophy, mathematics, medicine, and astrology. Their diligence in study is very extraordinary; and great attention is paid to the education of the children. The Persian language is celebrated for its strength, beauty, and melody. A great number of people are employed in writing manuscript copies of books, no printing being done in Persia.

Religion.

The Persians are Mahometans of the sect of Sunnites, or of the followers of Ali, and are viewed by the Turks with still greater aborrence than even the Christians. They are not themselves, however, an intolerant people: they listen without anger to the professions or arguments of those who hold a different belief, and do not allow this circumstance to cause any interruption of social intercourse. The only exception is in the case of the Guebres, or worshippers of fire, who are now mostly extirpated. The Persians are extremely superstitious; they have the utmost confidence in charms, talismans, lucky and unlucky days.

Women.

The better sort of women are seldom seen, and, when they are, their faces are so covered, that no feature can be distinguished. The poorer women are not so confined, for they go in troops to draw water. The elder ones will

sit and chat at the well, spinning the coarse cotton of the country, while the young girls fill the skin which contains the water, and which they all carry on their backs into the town. They do not wear shoes; their dress consists of a very ample shirt, a pair of loose trowsers, and the veil which goes over all. Their appearance is most doleful; though occasionally you notice a pretty face through all the filth of their attire. The colour of their clothes is originally brown, but, when they become too dirty to be worn, they are sent to the dyer, who is supposed to clean them by superinducing a dark-blue or black tint. In almost every situation, they might be considered as the attendants on a burial; but in a real case of death, there are professional mourners, who are hired to see proper respect paid to the deceased, by keeping up the cries of etiquette to his memory.

The employment of the Persian females differs but little from those of Europe. Persons of rank dedicate their time to dress and amusements; those in the lower spheres of life execute the business of the house or the field; and those who are exempt from these toils rarely go abroad, except to attend their husbands or masters, in a change of

habitation or on a journey. On these occasions, they travel on horseback, or on camels, and are completely veiled from the head to the feet; they are preceded on the road by servants, who give notice of the approach of female travellers, upon which all males turn aside, while the ladies pass; a breach of this custom is considered a proof of ill manners.

Mode of Living and Manners, according to Kotzebue.

"The houses in Persia are very slightly constructed, and generally consist of but a few rooms, mostly open towards the north; that is to say, instead of a wall there is a large window, with panes of variegated colours. It is shut during the night, but left open during the day. In the rooms are a number of cornishes and niches, which the poor people generally paint white, but the rich decorate with beautiful flowers and gildings. In every room there is a chimney-piece, generally opposite to the window: the floor is of stone, and covered with carpets by the affluent, and mats by the poor. Such, in a few words, is the description of Persian houses. Their rooms are provided neither with chairs, tables, mirrors, nor any article of furniture whatever.

"The Persians sit cross-legged on the ground: they leave their slippers at the doors of the apartments. Their meals are served upon trays; and if a gentleman does not retire for the night to his harem, a pillow is brought to him, and he sleeps on the same spot. To take a walk is considered highly ridiculous, and even vulgar. When the Persians see a person walk backwards and forwards, they conceive it must be on business, or they look on him with astonishment, and even think him out of his senses.

"According to their notions, a man should be on horseback as soon as he passes the door of his house. At home he must sit with due gravity near the window, rest his left hand on his dagger, and pompously waving his right, be loudly calling out every quarter of an hour Kallion,* to the gaping attendants, who stand on the outside the whole of the day. When he invites company, many of these Kallions are brought in, some of which are ornamented with gold and

* The Kallion is the glass-pipe, by which smoke is passed through water, and cooled before it comes into the mouth.

even with diamonds. At intervals, confectionary prepared with mutton fat, is offered to the guests, together with sherbet and fruit.

"The company assure the master of the house, that he looks as red as his apples, as brilliant as the sun, as placid as the moon; and they take their leave with the wish that the roses of happiness may ever bloom in the garden of his destiny. The host returns thanks with a friendly nod, laments that he must from that moment be unhappy, as they had accustomed his ear to the sweet tones of the nightingales. He then resumes his former posture, yawns and waits for sunset, that he may perform his devotions, and be able to say, that he had smoked away another day. "In the mean while, the retiring guests look for their slippers in the ante-chamber, and courteously consume a quarter of an hour in deciding which shall go first; the most opulent, or the most distinguished, then generally yields condescendingly, and gracefully mounts his horse with a profusion of bows. Twenty or more of his idle attendants form a circle around him, take his horse by the bridle, and obsequiously lead the great man to his home."

CABULISTAN OR AFGHANISTAN.

Cabulistan is a modern kingdom, comprising the eastern part of Persia, the western part of Hindoostan, and the southern part of Tartary. The inhabitants are composed of Hindoos, Afghans, Parsees, Belooches, and Tartars. They are mostly Mahometans of the Soonee sect.

The face of the country is greatly diversified with mountains, valleys, and sandy deserts, In the well watered valleys the soil is very fertile but there are extensive barren wastes.

Some of the principal cities are Cabul, Candahar, Cashmere, Herat, Peshawer, Moultan, Bamian, Balk, and Gaur.

CABUL.

Cabul, the capital of Cabulistan, is situated on the river Kameh, at the foot of the Hindoo Kho mountains, in a wide and fertile plain, and is said to contain about

;

200,000 inhabitants. It is surrounded with brick walls the houses are built of rough stones, clay, and unburnt bricks, and make a mean appearance. It carries on a large trade with Tartary and India.

CASHMERE. SHAWLS.

Cashmere, the capital of a province of the same name, is situated on the Chelum, and contains upwards of 150,000 inhabitants. The streets are narrow and dirty; the houses mostly of wood, many of them of three stories; with sloping roofs, covered with earth, which in summer is sown with flowers, exhibiting a very lively appearance. The country of Cashmere consists of a beautiful valley, inclosed by mountains, having a fertile soil, and a delightful climate, and styled by the Moguls the terrestrial paradise of India.

The Cashmerians have an olive complexion, dark hair, and black eyes. They are a keen and lively people, but far from being cleanly in their habits; and they have been described as deceitful, treacherous, rapacious, cruel, and exceedingly addicted to vice. The dress of the men consists of a shirt, trowsers, woollen loose coat, a shawl girdie, and a turban. The women are said to be peculiarly fascinating, but those of the higher classes are never seen abroad. Their dress consists of trowsers, a long cotton shift, a shawl scarf, and a crimson cap or bonnet.

The chief article of trade and the principal source of wealth of the inhabitants of Cashmere, is the delicate and unrivalled manufacture of shawls. These shawls are made of the wool or hair of a species of goat found in Thibet. The material is the inner coat of the animal; the outside coat being long and coarse. The borders of the shawls are woven separately, and afterwards joined in so dexterous a manner, that it is hardly possible to discover the junction. The plain shawls are woven by two men; but the flowered or spotted ones require a third person. The manufacture is exceedingly slow, and, of the finest sort, not more than a quarter of an inch is added in a day. One loom will weave only one shawl, if a very fine one, in a year, or six or eight common ones. many as 16,000 looms are said to be constantly employed, and the number of shawls annually manufactured is estimated at 80,000.

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