Three Years in Persia; With Travelling Adventures in Koordistan (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1841. Excerpt: ... aud looking most intently on the Ghiaour making his way to the seat of honour. At the farther end the Pasha was sitting in state, surrounded by the officers of his household; the Kaveh Bashi, the Tchibook Bashi, and other Bashis, looking.very fierce, bare-legged, and well armed. I was accosted with the "kush guelden," or welcome, and a seat placed for me at the Pasha's left hand. Coffee and pipes were immediately introduced, and we drew some long whiffs together before the conversation was introduced. It related to the purport of my visit, the place whence I came, and whither I was going--all this passing through my dragoman, the Pasha not understanding Persian, and I not speaking Turkish. I had previously laid the " backshish" or present at his feet, which he did not deign to notice nor to examine, much less to thank me for it. This was the tribute money, and the only way to Koordish favour. After sundry talk, he at length asked what I wanted of him? This was coming to the point, and I was rather puzzled so to frame my request that I might not show distrust of his own people; so I requested, in case of danger or difficulty in this strange country, the mighty protection of his passport, and the convoy of some of his troopers. This was immediately granted, the audience broke up, and I was conducted with the same ceremony to resume my saddle. On coming out, the numerous Bashis surrounded my dragoman, crying out "backshish." I replied that I had already rendered it to the Pasha. But the hungry servants must be feed too; so to avoid Koordish mobbing, I was obliged to draw my purse-strings, and count out the ducats, which my dragoman distributed amongst them. As I rode off, the Pasha came out to enquire what I had given to the servants, as he takes the greater...