Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-07-22
rrF X MODERN PERSIA.
.-pu .cFNEs AND CUSTOMS IN
\ ~ur LAND OF THE SHAH.

~
fire Gsrtens'
y-ssa ne Nsto York San.
a., rs. Benjamin, United States
,-.[..., VA, Persia, who was recently re-
49, a.. - 4.sshin gton, arrived last week
~ ci-r. and remained here several
s.rs Refs short man, with reddish
-! srs n,oustache, and strongly marked
I''- C-atures. There is, however,
'.-.,..- Else Purfanical about him. He
' -' mist and writer, and pleasant
'"'.rT.rsstionalist. In speaking about
Persia. Sc said;
N ,r~,ve8 there on June l, 1883. The
,,lrts of my reception and the pres
',.,. b-s-0wed upon me have been greatly
1.-.'.'.-.-at..f. Il mas always been the Gus
.-.. ~ the King to send a horse 20 each
sa'. Minister on the latter's arrival, and
t,. Minister naturally makes present IN
-aturs 10 The man bringing The morse. II
,.,,-ll he an insult not 10 give a return
''r..an' and the value OF that present de-
i,,rl. CD ile rank of the person 10 whom
itis gwen. received the horse, AS Well
a. ,-- Hospitality shown me, IN the name
NJ the Uuiled states government, not for
wysaif. TIE department at Washington
a. i.p.ierst TODD it, and readily met the
,,.5arst4 gratuities which were spent on
,Ss occasion common in more
~ less decree in other countries than
p.rs5a The horse is now at the legation
and belongs to the United States govern
,nart II is Of fine Arabian blood and mas
wan several races. Every other legation
tbar. speuJ more money in this way than
f3. I didn't have it to
amend. because as our government
las op'v mere bagatelle OF
;0uaN.6l0 sailed down in the Treas
vry ue cannot allow the expenditures
made IN tle Old mOnarchies of Europe,
hut nusl give them the precedence. l
waa however. Obliged 10 make some pres
ents Il NY own expense.
THE European colony at Teheran, the
capital q Persia, comprises, including
me legations, about 800 persons, and
tbey live in the new city. The majority
inbabir the ordinary Persian house. This
lsonc story high, Of unburned brick, and
built around one or more cOurtyards.
The great thing sought in Persia is seclu-
sion and privacy. In walking through a
street one sees nothing but these walls of
houses. some IS or ~ feet high, with fiat
roots and with no windows whatever. They
are covered with plaster 10 keep the brick
from being worn away by the rain, and II
kept III repair last for centuries. The
mon0t0nv OF the walls il relieved by
mouidlngs ana cOrnices. the entrance is
a small door richly decorated with Sara
Genie work The Persians have always
been clever decorative architects. Per-
sian architects built the Alham bra in
Granada, and originated the Mogul archi-
lecture of India. And after going through
a uarr0w-winding passage you suddenly
step into . courtyard more or less mag
nlhcent, according to the wealth of the
owner. COurtyaTds of two and three acres
IN extent are not uncommon, and some
cover i've acres. They are filled with
parterres OF flowers and trees of the most
luXuriant foliage. Here and there are
great tanks, some of them 80 yards long,
with jets OF water playing in them. Every
householder in TeheTan hashis courtyard
aud taBs 0t water, no matter how poor he
Is. Frequently there are three or four
couTiJards, and there is one called the
andaIQon, into which no man ever enters
except tie master and his eunuchs. 1t is
Reserved .W mis- wives and cOncubines. a
wealthy Persian can have four wives and
several c0ucubines. These women drive
cut Ia carriages and visit one another,
ana are watched with the greatest care.
Inc wives oi poorer men 20 about on foot,
hut all alike are covered with a dark
blue mantle, which falls TO the feet, con
ealing the form. Over the face is a white
ven, With apertures for the eyes.
ne rooms have large windows set in
HoniY-decorattd sashes and opening on
the couriyards, and frequently these win
poWs are studded with cOlOred glass, Civ
ing cathedral effect 70 the high-ceilinged
rooms. All the rooms have dirt floors,
'ul lhey are hardly noticed, for they are
covered with mating and rich
rugs In one part of the
room there is a mattress covered with
rugs, and on This the Persian sits during
.Ae 0ay and sleeps at night. Some OF the
!uouls nave tanks in their centre, giving
mem an air OF luxury. / often wonder
WI! water Is not used more in this way
!" p'Hef countries. 1t does not create
SS'ufntss, as the climate in Persia is very
's mere IL a separate room for the
Sts"' anu us appointments are often lux
u"uN. CHRISTIANS are obliged to have
a W. OSlhs from the MOhammedans."
siansT' ' H''i'9 "a ei
Every one from the King down rises at
oDcteck m the morning. They then mar
,""e % cup Of tea and some bread. Tea
~ Feiy important article of diet in Per-
i' aug me tea urn is nearly ALWAYS
r. 80 mix Is used, but they sweeten
1 1'o ue" utmost TO the consistency Of svruD.
d, "feI me merchant goes to his shop
I'm o '"<af. This bazar consists or
ar,i oW streets rooted over with brick
,o,T' Y hicn are pierced here and there
stt-'.. HKut and air. The merchant
y" ID Neol1 IN front of his store aud
Si,..'e custom, He charges a much
ma lFloe IMAM he expects to get. after
,@, USUAL oriental style. At noon he
1Ae' q substantial breakfast in the ba-
'"u" .aen, AS the middle Of the day
49, 'ul' hOt, be takes "A nap. About 4
mn, ne goes home and takes ride. re-
e',' "s !" Wmer, and then about 7 O'Clock
f,te u'S andarOOn. When once there.
o.r, inaccessible except on the most ur-
G,, "a7iueSs. IL ia sufficient excuse
MAJ, ~ tecrNihg caller To say that a
los',,'' ~ NJ hndaroon. He takes another
aiis.,,.u lrs' there AT 5 O'Clock, ard soon
,,l. "aid irtlres 10 bed.'
.i, l"t NlYes all occupy one roomp'
man rn ,gFehds on the wealth OF the
roo,'s lh'g generally have separate
sro.t "uu ny law he ia compelled 10
/ ua yam amount Of time with each
brt. ~ course she can sometimes be
anot H1cilhee her rights In favor Of
wslt,- vile. A Persian is rarely seen
e-,ui ..H MS wives, except on the
u,. 81 the new year, called M
|smri. H'n the custom Tor every Per-
|grl.. 'f"lli with his wives. and the
Omen .'' rich are on that day thrown
..I uublic."
.r. go Tue unmarried women Iivey,,
,apt ,i.' mo no unmarried women. ex-
ritto lute women. Every girl IN be-
0,o',.' lore she ~ 10 years of aye.
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