New national era. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1870-1874, 1873-03-13
The Sovereign of Persia.

Narreddeen Shah, sovereign of Persia pro-
poses to visit Europe this year, and is max
ing up a little purse of 100000 900 for trav-
cling expenses. lie will be accompanied by
a retinue of imposing proportions, consisting
of mollahs, astrologers, welsh kheidmets,
councillors, interpreters, and the like, and
there is little doubt that his suite will make
a more gorgeous and meteorc display than
any royal retinue which has ever come IN
peace from the east to visit the nations of
the west. The Sultan, who is, in fact,
much more powerful ruler than the Shah,
lording il over larger territories and more
numerous subjects, visited Paris and London
a few years ago, but he made no particular
display. He wore a red skull cap with a
black tassel, a plain irock coat and I" eight
and half'' Courvoisier kids, took his cham
payne like a cocotte, and, in short, conducted
himself much as any private Turk on his trav-
els might do. His divan is rather nearer
Europe and European influences than the
distant court of the Shah; and, in visiting
Europe, he sensbly adopted the simple
usages prevailing among the people whom he
visited.
This the Shah will in all likelihood not do.
lie will come in full splendor, genuine
eastern monarch, like Timur or Togrul Beg.
He is not a very rich king, but he does not
lack wardrobe nor regalia. In fact, the
CEONH lCWtlS VI tlSld arc " nc TIE
finest in the world, and the display on court
days is something unrivaled. Ker Porter
says, describing the appearance and dress of
the predecessors of the present Shah on some
state occasions, "IIe was one blaze of Jewels
which literally dazzled the sight on first look
ing at him. But the details of his dress were
these: lofty tiara of three elevations was
on his head, which shape appears to have
been peculiar to the crown Of the great king.
1t was entirely composed of thckly set dia-
monds, pearls, rubies, and emeralds, so eX-
Quisitely disposed as to form a mixture of the
most beautiful colors in the brilliant light
reflected from its surface. Several black
feathers like the heron plume were intermixed
with the Respondent a9rettcs of this truly
imperial diadem, whose bending points were
FURNISHED pear formed pearls OF an immense
size.
.'The vesture was Of gold tissue neatly COW
cred with 4 similar disposition of iewelry,
and crossing the shoulders were two strings
probably the largest in the world. But for
splendOr nothing could exceed the broad
brecelet around his arms and the belt which
encrcled his waist. They actually bazed
like fire when the sun met them, and when
we knew the names derived from such excess
siye lustrc we cannot be surprised at seeing
such an effect. The ieweled band on the
right arm was called the Mountain of Light
and that on the left the Sea of Light"
Mr.. A. III. Mounsey, 4 recent traveller to
Persia, described the state attire of the pres
ent Shah in terms of similar gorgeousness,
though he states, oddly enough, that the
kingly hands were covered with pair of cot.
ton gloves of an ugly brown color, and that
the cushion of the throne, fabric Of cotton
wool studded with priceless emeralds, was
covered with Manchester ChintZ worth about
seven pence per yard.
twill be seen that if his Persian Majesty
takes with him on his travels the splendor
and ceremony which he maintains in his
court at Teheran, he will make a genuine
sensation in Europe, where kings and queens,
except on occasions of ceremony, 90 about
their business dressed very much like any,
body else, and quite unbothered with ret
inue. He is now Il years old, little taller !
than the average, with bushy, black eye
brows, aIclosely trimmed beard, an acquiline |
nose, and is altogether an exceedingly hand |
some sovereign, as, indeed, BELTS the ruler of |
a race which is on all hands admitted to be |
the handsomest in the world. lie is rather |
a well-meaning than all able ruler. Mr.. X. |
q. Watson, the latest English historian Of
Persia, whose long association with the |
British Embassy at Teheran gave him ample |
opportunities for judging, says: THAT his |
Majesty's increasing efforts have been d.
of all classes of his subjects, and toward ac-
complishing the difficult task OF providing |
for the furiherancc OF justice throughout his |
wide domains, il would be unfair To deny"
This testimony represents the Shah in a most |
amiable and creditablc light, and quite con-
troverts the popular notion of an eastern
ruler, which is that of a bloodthirsty person |
with large turban, a long cimeter, and fierce |
Inustachi0s, in the act of chopping OFF the
heads of his yiziers, or consigung his near
relations TO the bowstring.
of late years an important trade has sprung
ND between Persia and the various European
nations, and il is likely that the western visit
of the Shah may impel him TO direct intelli-
gent efforts towards increasing and extend
ing it, Persia exports cotton, silk worms,
silk, wool, and sundry other raw products,
but if she were governed with wisdom, her
industry fostered and protected, instead Of
being fettered and oppressed by rapaeiOus
and irresponsible Governors, these products
might be increased ten fold, and instead Of
being consumed with famine, the land might
be made to smile with plenty. All their ag-
processes, too, are rude and primi- ]