Alexandria gazette & advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1822-1824, 1823-05-20
THE KING OF PERSIA.

SirR h. Porter, in his travels. gives
an interesting account ST the ceieofa-
tion of the Nowroose, the most joyous
festival in Persia. It continues E days,
commencing on the 2lst of March,
when the solar year begins. On the
frs, day Of this fete, the King holds
grand assembly to receive the congrs-
tulations of the most distinguished or
his subjects. 1t was at this assembly
that our authors had first the honor Of
beng introduced to his Majesty, with
the dignity of whose department, and
afable condescension TO himself, he
seems to have been very deeply i'm.
pressed. After a minu description OF
the court arrangement, aud the da2-
zins spleudor of the royal attire, Sir
Il. X. Porter thus proceeds:
awhile the Great King was APP
proacnipg mis- throne, the whole as
ssmbly with one accord, continued bow
inc their heads to the ground till he had
taken his place. A dead silence then
ensued, the whole presenting a most
MAGNIFICENT, and indeed awful appear
aoce the stiffness beng SO profound,
amongst SO vast concOurse, that the
slohtest rustllng of the trees was
heard, and the sofIest trickiiDg OF the
water from the fouutains into the ca
nails. As the mOtionlsss state OF eve-
nv thing lasted for more than q minute,
il allowed me time 60 observe partlcu-
larly the figure of the Shah. His face
SCENE exceedingly pale. OF polished
marble hue; with the finest color of
features; and eyes lark, brilliant, and
MERGING: a beard as black as jet, and
OF length which fell below his chest.
over a large portion OF the efulgent
belt whicn nsld his diamond hilted dag
ger. FMS extraordinary amplitude of
beard appears to have noen badge OF
PERSIAN ROYALTY from the esrlieet times
for we TIM it attached 10 the heads OF
the soversigns 10 all the ancient sculp-
tured remains throughout the empire.
'.lD the n,dst of TINS solemn stiffness
while all eyes we're fixed on the bright
object before them, which sat indeed
a., radiane and immovabls as the ina &c
of Mnhras itself, q sort of volley of
words, bursting at one impulse from
tina maths Of the moullah aud astrolo
qers. made me start, and interrupted
NV gaze. This strange oatcry was q
kind Of heraldic enumeration OF the
Great Kings titles, doninion,, and 81 To-
rious acts; with an appropriate panegy-
rio ON his courage, hberality, and ex
tended power. When this was ended.
with all the heads bowling to the ground
and the air ceased to vibrate with the
sounds, there was pause for minute.
and then his Majesty spoke. The Of.
feet was even more starting than the
sudden bursting forth of the moullahs;
for this was like voice from the tomb,
80 deep, 60 hollow, and at the same
time SO penetratingly loud. Having
thus addressed his people, he looked to-
wards Captain Wilcox, the British
Charge d'Affairs, with whom l stood;
and then we moved forward TO the front
of the throne. The same awful voice,
though in a lowered tone, spoke to him,
and bonored me with gracious vel
come to his dominions. After his Ma
iesty had put few questions to me.
and receiv I'D my answers, we fell back
into our places; ana were Instantly
..rved with bowls oil most delicious
sherbet, which grateful refreshmens
was followed by an attendant presents
ing to US large silver tray, on which
law a hesp u smsll coin called shy
Of tho same metal, mixed with few