New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-08-08
PRESENTED TO THE SHAH.
MR.. BENJANINeAT THE PERSIAN COURT.
THE AMERICAN REPRESENTATIVE DESCRIBES MS
JOURNEY AND HIS RECEPTION


| JOURNEY AND HIS RECEPTION.
WASHINGTON, Aug. Tin dispatch of June
10 to the Department Of State. SO. ". benjamin.
recently appointed uisterresdent and consal General
of the United States Persia has account OF HE
tourney to Tehe-an and the ceremony attending BIS Official
presentation TO the shah Mr. Benjamin being the first
diplomatic representative Of this Government accredited
TO that OF His Majesty. Mr. Benjamin was slxtyAU
days reaching Tehera from NewY0rk, by way OF Bor-
deaur, Msrseilles, Constantnope and Por by water
and from the place by rail to Baku. the Gag
plan Sea- Baku place Of great and rapldy-growIng
Importance a. tho chief port of large inland Tie
United States nag displayed at the masthead Of the
vessel in the ports Of the Black Sea-
The portion Of the road from Pot to Tfs presents
fine example OF engineering up the steep dctlss Of the
mountain ranges Wills the portion from Tidis 30 Baku
recently opened travel proceeds for the most part
through plain, fat the sea and sparsey setrlet
At Baku MT Benjamin received from the Persian Con-
sui telegram from the Shah, inviting him to proceed
at once to Teheran twodays journey In small boat
brought Mr. Benjamin to Ense. where tho Shahs steam
yacht which the only vessel permitted to dy the Per-
sian flag the Caspian Sea- crossed over the bar and
took Mr.. Benjamin ashore
The Minister says: I'VE were met on landing By
Mshemet Taghy Khan, the mehmandan or officer dele
gated to and conduct them to tho
capital We were escorted with considerable pomp TO
summer residence OF His Majesty, situated In garden
overlooking the surfbeaten of the Caspian At
tached to 1t peculiar circular pavilion In several
stories. picturesquely decorated. After breakfast wo
taken the steam yacht across shallow Lake or
OF the TO the mouth OF narrow stream There
entered boats and towed up the winding river
whose banks incosed with reeds in which tigers
are still found We landed nc the village Pin Bazaar
which forms the port OF Resht. We were met here BY
by the Governor-General OF tho Province
OF Gillian ana number OK notabes After the usual re-
freshments the ladies' of my family were escorted to
fine horse, and fifty gentlemen accompanied me to
Resht place of over 10000 inhabitants, six miles dis
tant When half way there were met by six Govern
OF neigIborug Provinces with their attendans all
mounted. Forming line by the roadside they grace
fully sauted representative aud then joined his e
cort with their attendants At the entrance TO the town
met by delegation Of two hundred citizens, wha
after sautiug me- formed procession and conducted
the residence OF tho Governor General where We
were received by q company OF soldiers and awsrded
comfortable apartments"
Here also many officials and prominent citizens called
and paid their respects Mr. Benjamin. From Resht
Journey OF go miles undertaken. In
company with the mehmandar. The scenery
along the route varied and magnificent
On the north side OF the mountain says Mr.. Ben
jamn, the vegetation had tropical luxurance, while
the south side arid with plains skrted by dis
ant roseate ranges. as In Colorado, and varied with
frequent mirage. We crossed the Ebrooz Ridge where u
Demavend, cone resembling Chimborazo, AND looming
above Teheran q height OF 20, 900 feet"
At Aga Bahia Mr. Benjamin was met by the Calantas
or Mayor OF Casbn, with attendant who received hun
with the usual Persian ceremony aud assured him tha1
the Governor Of CasDin who brother of the Shah.
was DESTROYS of welcoming Mr.. Benjamin with dis
tnction. Upon arriving al Casbin, the mehmaadax
called the Governor, presented Mr. Benjamins
compliments forl the proffered honor and offered
suitable apologies for having to decline it. At cassin
leading to the hotel the hotel aud the
neghboring buildings gaiy decorated with stream-
for the occasion. Casbin Is O fourishing city Of
10000 inhabitants possessing well kept inn belonging
to the Government The chief products OF the city and
district dried fruits. nuts. carved woods and wing
This latter agreeable hayor PALE yeowish red
color. and is somewhat mider than Burgundy. II 10
cheap and would probably well received abroad bus
docs not keep well.
From Casbin the party proceeded to Teheran In car
riages nne carriage-road recently completed.
brilliant pageant hal been prepared outside OF ~ walls
OF Teheran OF the royal pavons. At the stair
way of the pavilion Mr. Benjamin met by the Sasr
FL Mulk Generain- Chief OF the Armies Of Persia
and q gittering crowd In prominent officers blaE
ing with blue. scarlet, silver aad gold.
and decorations nnumarable OF diamonds ana costly
gems Mr. Benjamin escorted to audience hall
by the hef where exchange of courteses
was offered and accepted Next Mr.. Benjamin was
taken the court below and mounted upon fine horse
to mount. and the cortege Of nearly 1000 royal
guards put In motion. They were brilliantly aud
deliberately costumed As the procession moved across
the plain toward beautiful turreted cats OF the city
which Is decorated with parti-coored glazed tiles the
Cossacks dashed hitler and thther between ths lines.
firing uskets in the afr and exhibiting the most brill
liant feats Of horsemsnshp The streets lined with
spectators and intervals stationed the police
squads OF military. Passing through the grand square
OF the Department Of War; the oorege turned into tho
now European quarter Of the city.
On approaching his quarters, Mr.. Benjamin was told
by aid that 800 soldiers marshalled at the en-
trance 20 receive him. Mr. Benjamin dismounted. 70
turned their salute and accompanied by the Generaa
Chief and his stan, escorted TO the receptionroo,
where further courteses shown and refreshments
enjoyed. Mr. Benjamin next made an informal call on
the Minister Foreign Affairs his residence accord
ing 10 the custom Of the country.
On June Mr. Benjamin received call from the Grand
Chamberlain who is the son-nIaw OF the SHAH and who
informed Mr. Benjamin that His Majesty desired receive
him at o'clock p m.onJune 11Mr. Benjamin was taken
to the palace In landau furnished by His Majesty and
drawn by horses each mounted by liveried post-
lon. Twenty royal feraushes foot-runners. clad In
scarlet and wearing plumed taras preceded the car
riage together with score OF horsemen. Accompanied
Mr. Benjamin arrived az the gareus Of .he palace which
beauted with fountains aud shrubbery aud foliage
All were usaered into spacious aud handsome nal.
and oSsecasy were in
Here Mr. benjamin was Invited to 8 of honor
and treated 10 tea aud the kallan OF water-pipe
Soon after the announcement was made 70 Mr. BeDja-
min thai his Majesty was IN readiness to receive MIN,
thereupon ne conducted by the first OK
10 the palace Itself.
AT this moment" says MI. Benjamin. ga salute
fred honor OK tue United States Numbered the
Ihe city And" he continues. ION entering. we
ccuded MAGNIFICENT STAIRCASE The walls deco
rated in part with PAINTINGS by European masters From
The staircase we entered an audencenal Of vast pro:
portions and most Impressive effect His Majesty stood
1t the upper end Leaving my outer shoes at the door
y prescribed by the treaty OF koarmantchla, made
ow bow and walked up to where the King was stand
ng" Mr.. Benjamin then addressed the King In Frenoh
ind presented his letter of eredence His Majesty replied
hat II gave him great satisfaction TO see an American
egati0n at Teheran and considered that both Govern
neuts could further benefited by increasing tine IN
e,course aud diplomatic relations OF the two peoples
Ia