The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1883-08-09
PRESENTED TO THE SHAH.
MIR. .. G.. w. Benjamins Report of His
Journey to Tsheran and Reception at
the Hhahs Palace.


Residen and Consul General of the United
States to Persia, has given an interesting ac-
count of his journey TO Teheran, and the cere-
mony attending his official presentation to the
Shah, Mr. Benjamin being the first diplomatic
representative of this Government accredited
to that Of his Majesty. Mr.. Benjamln was 65
days reaching Teheran from New York by
way of Bordeaux, Marseilles Constantinople
and Poti by water, and from tho latter place
by rail to Baku, on the Caspian Sea. At Baku
Mr.. Benjamin received from the Persian Con-
sui telegram from the Shah, inviting him to
proceed at once to Teheran. A two days.
journey in small boat brought Mr. Benjamin
to Ensell, where the Shah's steam yacht, which
is the only vessel permitted to fly the Persian
flag on the Caspian Sea, crossed over the bar
and took Mr.. Benjamin ashore The Minister
then says: "We were met on the landing by
Mehmet Taghy Khan, the Mehmandar, or
officer delegated to receive amhas adors and
conduct them to the capital. We we're escort
ed with considerable pomp to the sumner res
idence Of his Majesty, situated in garden
overlooking the surf-beaten shore OF the Gas
plan. Attached TO 1t Is a peculiar circular pa
vilion in several stories, picturesqueB decorat-
ed. After breakfast we were taken on the
steam yaCut ACROSS q Swallow lake. on arm OF
the sea, to the mouth OF a Darrop stream.
There we entered boats and were towed up the
winding river, whose banks are enclosed with
reeds in which tigers are still found. We
Landed at the village OF Piri Eazaer, which
forms the port OF Resht We we're met here
by the Governor General OF the Province of
Gillian and number OF notables. After the
usual refreshments the ladies of my family
were escorted to the town in carriage. / was
then requested TO mount fine horse, and
some 90 gentlemen accompanied me to Resht,
place OF oyers20, 0,000inhabitants, six miles dis
tant When half way there we were met by
six Governors of neighboring provinces with
their attendants, all mounted. Forming line
BY the roadside they gracefully saluted your
representative and then Joined his escort with
their attednante. AT the entrance to the town
was met by delegation OF 200 citizens, who,
after salutiDg me, formed a procession and
conducted us to the residence of the Governor
General, where we were received by compa-
ny of soldiers and awarded comfortable apart
ments." Here, also, many officials and prom
inent citizens called and paid their respects to
Mr.. Benjamin. From Resht journey of go
miles on horseback was undertaken, in compa-
ny with the Mehmandar
"On the north side of the mountain says
Mr.. Benjamin, "the vegetation had tropical
luxuriance, while on the south side it was arid
with plains skirted by distant roseate ranges as
in Colorado, and varied with frequent mirage
We crossed the ElbrooZ ridge where il is 1900
lcCb HiEHb anu OpcHtu buo Sbup6uuOus p0ak Oh
Demavend, a cone resembling Chimborazo, and
looming about Teheran to a heightlof 20, 600
feet" AT Agr Baba Mr.. Benjamin was met
by the calantar, or mayor, of Casbin, with at
tendants, who received him with the usual
Persian ceremony and assured him that the
governor of Casbin, who is a brother OF the
Shah, was desrous of welcoming Mr.. Benia-
min with distinction. This attention Mr.. Ben
jamin was forced to decline, owing to his fa-
tigued condition, having ridden about 1870
miles and his daaira IN Tahara,, kafa
the Shab's departure tor the summer. Upon
arriving at Casbin the Mehmendar called on
the governor, presented Mr. Benjamin's COM
plments for the proffered honor and offered
suitable apologies for having TO decline it. At
Casbn, the broad avenue leading to the hotel,
the hotel and the neghboring buildings were
gaily decorated with streamers for the occasion
Casbin is fourishng city of 10000 inhabi-
tants, possessing well kept inn belonging to
the government The chief products OF the
city and district are dried fruits, nuts, carved
woods and wine This latter has an agree
able flavor, pale, yellowish red color,
and is somewhat milder than Bur-
gundy. 1t is cheap and would probably be
well received abroad, but being so moderately
fortified does not keep well. From Casbin the
party proceeded to Teheran in carriages over
line carriage road recently completed. A brill
liant pageant had been prepared outside of the
walls of TeheTan at one of the royal pavilions.
AT the stairway of the pavilion Mr.. BENJAMIN
was met by the Nasriel Mulk or General-in-
Chief of the armies of Persia, and a glittering
crowd Of prominent officers, blazing with blue,
scarlet, silver and gold, and decorations in
Vulnerable OF diamonds and costly gems. Mr..
Benjamin was escorted TO an audience ball by
the GeBerai-in-Chief, where exchange OF
c0urtesies was offered and accepted. Next,
Mr.. Benjamin was taken to the court below
ana mounted upon fine horse to continue his
travels. This was the signal for every one to
mount, and the cortege of nearly 1000 Royal
Guards was put in motion. They. were bril-
liantly and elaborately costumed. AS the pro-
cession moved across the plain toward the
beautiful turreted gate Of the city, which is
decorated with parti-colored glazed tiles the
Cossacks dashed hither and thither between
the lines, firing muskets in the air and exhi-
biting the most brilliant feats of horsemanship.
The streets were lined with spectators, and at
.intervalsi were stationed the police or squads
OF military. Passing through the grand square
of the department OF war, the Cor tege turned
into the new, or European, quarter of the city.
On approaching his quarters, Mr.. Benjamin
was told by an aide that 300 soldiers were mar
shaled at the entrance to receive him. Mr..
Benjamin diSmounted, returned their salute,
and, accompanied by the General n-Chef and
his staff, was escorted TO the reception room,
where further courtesies were shown and re-
freshments enjoyed. Mr. Benjamin next made
an informal call on the Minister for Foreign
Affairs at his residence, according to the Gus
tom of the country. The latter has held his
Office 36 years, and is a conservative and astute
statesman of kindly manners and disposition.
On June 10 Mr.. Benjamin received call from
the Grand Chamberlain, who is the son-in-law
of the Shah, and who informed Mr.. Benjamin
that His Majesty was to receive him at l
O'Clock p. M. on the 11th Mr.. Benjamin was
taken to the palace in landau furnished by
his Majesty and drawn by six horses, each
mounted by iiveried position. Twenty royal
feraushes or foot runners, clad in scarlet and
wearing plumed tiaras, preceded the carriage,
together with score of horsemen Accom-
panied by the Mehmandar and the second
master of ceremonies Mr.. Benjamin arrived
at the gardens of the palace, which are beauti-
fed with fountains and shrubbery and
foliage arranged artfully wild, after style Pc
culiariy Persian. All were ushered into a spa
cious and handsome hall, where the first mas
ter of ceremonies and other gentlemen and
dignitaries, gorgeousy arrayed, were in watt
ing. Here Mr.. Benjamin was invited to a seat
of honor and treated to "tea and the Kalionu
or water pipe" Soon after the announcement
was made TO Mr.. Benjamin that His Majesty
was in readiness to receive him, and thereupon
he was conducted by the first master OF cere-
monies to the palace ITSELF "At this moment"
says Mr. Benjamin, "a salute, fired in honor of
tho United States, thundered over the city.
And, he continues, ION entering we ascended
a magnificent staircase. The walls were deco
rated, in part. with paintings Of European mas
ters. From the staircase we entered an audi
ence hall of vast proportions and most impress
sve effect. His Majesty stood ut the upper
end. Leaving my outer SnoeS at tne door, as
prescribed by the treaty Of Kourmantchia,
made low bow and walked up to where the
King was standing" Mr.. Benjamin then
addressed the King in French, and pre-
sented his letter of credence. His Majesty re-
piled that that it gave him great satisfaction to
see an American legation at Teheran, and con.
sdered that both governments could be fur
ther benefited by Increasing the intercourse
and diplomatic relations of the two peoples.
After this ceremony his Majesty expressed
strong hopes that the United States, now that
it had established legation in Persia, would
maintain one permanently at Teheran. At
the conclusion OF the audience Mr.. Benjamin
made formal call upon the minister of for
eign affairs, and paid his respects, also to his
Royal Highness, the Naib Sultan, who is the
minister of war aud one of the sons of the
king, and thanked him for the military es-
cort. AT all tho points along the route, where
ever Mr.. Benjamin stopped, he was shown
much attention by foreign officials, and espec-
tally by those OF Persia aud Russia at Constan-
xyb m nita FuI1