The Sumter banner. [volume] (Sumterville, S.C.) 1846-1855, 1849-09-05
alIisrellanfons.
PERSIAN PRINCE.

Young man, or about tW0.and.tWenty |
years of age, and was the eldest son,
by his chief wife, Of Husscin Meeza,
Farmoon Farmah of Slliraz, and son of
Fati Ali, King of Persia. His royal
highncss had been for several days on q
hunting expedition, and was about to
proceed on the following morning to
Bushire. He invited us to stay that
night with him, and to accompany him
afterwards on his return homewards, in
forming us at the same time that we
should enjoy some excellent gazellc-
hunting and hawking on the way. Al
though we were much fatigued with our
long and tedious journey from Shiraz,
we accepted Of the invitation, and the
more willingly, as we were aware that it
would afford us an opportunity of wit
Messing royal eastern hunt in all its
splendor. Hussein Ali Meeza, for
that was the name of the prince, enter
tanned us during the remainder of the
day most Hospitality: and did US the hon
or Of personally conducting us over his
hunting and hawking establishment,
which consisted of above hundred fine
Arab horses, cighty-four groyhounds,
and ninety three-hawks, besides guam
tity of yaboos (hacks) of an inferior
quality, for the use Of the camp.follow-
ers. In the evening he ordered out his
body-guard to practise at a mark, which
consisted of a large he-goat placed at
three hundred and fifty yards distance
from the marksmen, who fired with huge,
unwieldly matchlocks, about twelve feet
IN length, and so heavy that they could
not be without rest. The men shot
tolerably we'll, several balls striking the
ground close to the goat. Two of
them hit the stake to which the
animal was tied, which pleased the
prince so much that he Immediately or
dercd kalaat (drcss of honor) to be
given to each. Having returned with
us to his tent, he directed bottle to be
placed at hundred PAGES distant at
which he fired about twenty shots; he
did no, however, prove himself q very
good marksman, or rather the rifle he
used was so very unwieldly, that he did
not go near the mark. The prince, al
though evidently somewhat annoyed at
the ill.success Of his attempts, laughed
at his awkwardness, as he termed it.,
and asked us to try our skill. Upon
which, having sent for one Of my rifles,
was fortunate enough to break three
bottles in as many shots; but, in order
that his royal highness should not be
vexed at being beaten by me, l hintcd
to him that his want of success was ow-
ing to the hardness of his gun.locks, and
proposed that he should make trial of
my rife. Whether it was the result of
accident, or that he was really a better
shot than l gave him credit for, he hit
the mark at the third shot, and appear
ed so delighted with the gun, that I
could not help making use of the SEN
tencc, cit is not mine, but yours" In
return for this present, Hussein Ali
Meeza sent me afterwards, a beautiful
Nedjee Arab, perfectly white, and
which, believe, became in the follow
ing year one of the chief favoritcs of the
Bombay turf, to which city it was taken
by an Arab householder, to whom | sold
the animal on quitting Persia.
HEADLEss LADIES' The day after
our arrival at Schwalbach, we were
startled by the appearance of two cx-
traordinary figures advancing towards
us by the street. They were females,
both very fashionably dressed; one in
white, the other in some snowy, flower
cred pattern, with immense sleeves. that
stood out like balloons. The ladies',
perfectly well formed in other respects,
were, 'horrid to relate, headlcss! We
looked at them with amazcment and GU
riosity. They moved on, slowly and
steadily, like any one else, keeping side,
but were evidently timid, from the care.
ful manner in which they avoided being
jostled by the passcrs.by. Whenever,
too, carriage or cart approached, they
were in great hurry to get across to
the other side of the street; and once,
to escape q cloud of dust, raised by a
large donkey party, they both ran be.
hind large gate for shelter We
watched anxiously, while nearer and
nearer camo the mysterious ladies with.
out heads. At length they were quite
close, and now proved two well-starchcd
gowns, going home to their respective
owners, at tho end of the lanndress'
fingers, This is the way all the dres-
aes arc returned from tho wash. The
washer.woman, instead Of submitting
these important articles of dress to the
indignity of being doubled up and con-
fined in a basket, convert their fingers
into pegs, hang the dresses thereon as
large as life, and bear them away; mod
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