Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1827-03-30
FUNERAL OF A PERSIAN KING.
From Kennels Journey.

For the last two days, guns had been hred al
intervals, preparatory TO the removai oil 'ne ia'e
prince's corpse for Interment at MeSheo AL
This morning been appointed for the setting
out OF the cortege we put Grape on our iei' arms
and sword -hilts, and mounting our horses, sci
of at an early hour, anxious TO witness me no.
vel ceremony Of princes funeral procession
two We ars after his decease. AS our eagerness
10 DE in time brought US out much sooner than
was necessary, we dismoun,ed in garden near
the road side, and whiled away couple OF
hours in observing the various chatting parties
around US, all dressed in black, their merry faces
being somewhat curiously contrasteG with their
mournrul garb. Our attention to these groups
was diverted by the appearance Of blind horse
man Of about sixty years OF age; he was attend
ed by train Of servants, one OF whom held the
rein Of his bride; upon inquiry, we learned that
he was a counsellor Of the princes, by name
Hassan Khan, TO which was added the eplthet
Of Khoord (the Blind, to distinguish him from
the numerous courtiers OF the same name. In
the brief interval Of anarchy that, according to
custom, followed the death of the late king
Hassan Khan, at the head OF what forces he
could collect, became 4 competitor for the
crown; but being conquered, was deprived OF
sight BY order oil his more successful rival. a
sudden discharge Of cannon, followed by lo1d
shrieks and lamentations, announced to us that
the prince had left the palace with the body Of
his father. We took our station near the gates
Of The town, ready to fall in with the process
sion. Near this place, riding handsome
charger, was Nasir Ali Meerza, the youngest
son of the late prince, pretty boy of about five
years old. His little highness was attended by
q pigmy train Of courtiers Of his own age and
size, who seemed as well versed in the art Of
renderin g homage, as :heir little lord and mas
ter was in receiving it; as for himself he APP
peared to be quite Indifferent either 10 the noise
of the crowd or the occasion OF il, all the time
preserving serions and digni6ed demeanour;
and; as we approached him, he returned our
salute with the easy air Of one long accustomed
TO this sort of attention. But-litie highness-
es are always great people. The Duc de Bor-
deaux, boy Of the same age as the young Per-
sian, when:he reviewed his troops, was gracious
ly pleased to compliment them on their skill in
military evolutions; and the King Of Rome, just
escaped from the gocart, reviewed the marshals
ofFrance with that precocious dignity SO inhe-
rent in royal progenies. In the meanwhile the
procession issued slowly out q the town, led
by the artisans: each craft had with it black
banner, and horse equipped in the same
mournful trsppings Next came two men re-
nowned for their strength, carrying large brass
ornament representing palm tree. After them
two hundred Coordish soldiers, who were to es-
cort the corpse to Meshed Ali: they wore blue
Jackets, cut in the European fashion, and the
rest Of their dress was according to the custom
Of the country. The escort was preceded BY
corps Of drums aud hfes, playing a variety Of
tunes, principally English: Rule Britannia was
one; and there were several country dances
After the military, came the representatives OF
the church-a large body OF mounted Moolahs
(priests) headed by their Bashee (ehicf), jolly,
drunken looking fellow, who, with voice a
mounting 10 a scream, recited verses from
Koran, in which he was joined by his follow
ers, who made the air resound with their voei-
ferrous lamentations. Behind them was the
corpse Of Mahumud Ali Meerza, borne by two
mules, in that sort Of covered litter called in
Persian iukhts ruVaun, Immediately behind
the corpse were Mohumud Hosein, the ruling
prince, and two of his brothers.; the principal
officers OF the court closed the procession. At
intervals the cavaleade stopped, when every one
barring his breast, struck i, so violently with his
hand, that the flesh bore visible marks of the
severity Of the discipline: at these times the
shouts were redoubled, and tears flowed copi-
ously from every eye. Large groups of women
yelled from head to foot, and hudded together
almost into shapless heaps, were seated on each
side OF the road, and were BY no means the leas,
silent mosrners of the party We fell in with
the French officers in rear Of the troops; two or
three chiefs were in the same line with US. I'm.
mediately on my right was handsome young
man, whose eyes were red with weeping. He
had been favorite follower Of the late prince,
for whom he had entertained a most sincere az
tachment; and was beginning to sympatbise
with him in his sorrows, when il was insiuua-
ted that il was Just possible, wine and not grief
had caused his tears to How-a surmise that
his subsequent behaviour in some degree war
ranted. After proceeding about mile, We quit
ted the procession, and hating on one side Of
the road, waited until the Prince had given US
the mur,akdus, or permission to depart. His
eyes were much inflamed, and tears chased each
other down his cheeks. Thus far the ceremo-
NAL of grief had been conducted with the great
est propriety; and any one Witnessing the mourn
ful demeanor Of the prince this merning, would
have been impressed with high opinion of his
filial piety. The day closed on a scene of We
ry different description. The funeral process
sion arrived at Mahidesht near sunset, when his
.highness ordered the cal avanserai to be cleared
of its inmates; and, taking with him several