Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1877-06-06
APersian Governor.

Iahia Khan is the most aecomplise,,
and Europeanized man in Persia. His
manners are charming. and there can
be but very few Asiatics who have such
easy command of the French language.
II he were a man of firmness, vigor, of
strong and lofty ambition, Iahia Khan
might do great things for his country.
But one sees at glance that though
superior to his brother in culture. and
probably in moral worth, he has not
the energy, the boldness. or the power
of intrigue of Mira Houssein Khan.
he wore military undress OF Europe-
an cut-the only Governor who had
not received me with all the jewe's and
ornaments at command. In this and
many other points the superior civiliza-
ton of lahia Khan was evident. His
apartment was not unlike a barrack
room in officers quarters; the walls
white and bare, the floor covered with
mating, with two carpets laid upon it.
Chairs are always scarce in Persia:
there were only three in the Firman
t1rma's room, two for Mr.. Oddling and
myself, besides the armchair of the
Governor. which he compelled me To
accept. The British agent, a native of
rank, the Mira Hassan Ali Khan. n
man Of very agreeable manners and of
much cultivation, arrived as soon a.
we were seated, and gracefully accept
ing Yahia Khan's apology for the alb
sence of fourth chair, took his seat,
in probably greater comfort, upon the
tioor. All the weakness OF the Firman
Firma's amiable character appeared in
his conversation. OF the ills in the
condition of Persia he was in no way
ignorant; of amendment he had moth
ing to say. did not expect much in
that direction from a man who. while
drawing a splendid income from the
province was content to leave the front
OF his house heap of ruins. 1t is this
supine SUBMISSION to the process of de-
cay which is the bane of Persia. From
highest to lowest, everything is admin
istered as if the only object of those in
power was to seek their own momen-
tary advantage; as if, in fact, the Per-
slams held the country as yearly tenants.
and nothing more. When Sir Lewis
Pelly was Gin his capacity of Political
Resident at Bushire) in official eommu-
nication with the Government of Shi-
raz, he showed his true appreciation of
the political system of Persia in a re-
port to the Bombay Government. "a"
he wrote, "gives to his sub farmer per
mission TO collect the revenue by force;
this is done; next year some of the peas
ants are fled; some of the land is lying
waste. The country, in brief, is reven-
ued as if the Government were to end
with the expiry of the Governors lease
The tIrman Firma had but one word
ofexplanation concerning the condition
of Persia; the country, he said, was
very, very poor There had been a
few robberies lately in his province.
but he believed it was generally quiet
(he has since been recalled, owing to
his inability to control the turbulent
people of Shiraz); he should provide Us
with an armed escort from Shiraz To
Bushire, which he had intended should
be ten men and an officer; but as I pre-
ferred to have only two sowars, ne
would give orders that but two, and
those the most trustworthy, should ae-
company our caravan. He provided
the customary entertainment of tobae-
co, tea, and coffee, aud was most polite
in desiring to do anything which could
conduce to the comfort and pleasure of
our stay at Shiraz.-IFrom Through
Persia by Caravan.