Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1886-08-15
THE TEHERAN BAZAAR.
A scroll Through the Great Mart or
the Persian Capital.

A scroll Through the Great Mart or
the Persian Capital.
Thomas Stevens, writing to the Bos-
ton Herald from Teheran of his winter
rsmbles about the Persian capital, thus
describes q visit to the great bazaar:
That portion of the bazaar immedi.
stely behind the Shah's winter palace
is visited almost daily by Europeans,
and their presence excites little GEN.
ment or attention from the natives, but
| had frequently heard the remark that
8 fereDghi couldn't walk through the
more southern portion without being in
suited. Determined to investigate as to
the truth ofthis, sailed forth the other
afternoon, entered the covered bazaar
on the east of the palace grounds, where
| had entered it dozen times be-
fore. The streets outside are sloppy
with melting snow, and the rooted pas
sages Of the bazaar, being dry under
foot, are crowded with people to an un.
usual extent albeit they are now pretty
we'll crowded at any time. Most of the
dervishes in the city have been driven
by the inclemency of the weather to
seek shelter in the bazaar. These,
added to the no small number who make
the place their permanent foraging
ground, render them greater nuisance
than ever. They are encountered in
such numbers that, no matter which
way turn, | am confronted by q rag
bedecked mendicant with q wild, bag
gard countenance, and gourd slms-re-
ceiver, who utters his supplication Of
"huk yah hulk" in his own peculiar
way.
The moullahs (pr;ests), with their
flowing robes and huge white turbans,
likewise form no inconsiderable proper
ton Of the moving throng. They are,
almost without exception, scrupulously
neat and clean in appearance, and their
dress and Pharisaical department give
them certain air Of stateliness. They
wear the placid expression Of men so
pulled up by the notion Of their own
sanctity that their selfconsciousness
verify seems to shine through their
skin, and to impart to them sleek,
oily appearance. One finds himsslfwon-
deriug how they all manage to make
living. The moullsh tolls not, neither
does he spin, and almost every second
person one meets is . moullah. Persia
is undoubtedly the worst priest-ridden
country in the world the moullahs in
fuence everything and everybody, from
the Shah downward, to such an extent
that no progress is possible. Barring
outside interference, Persia will remain
in its present wrstched condition until
the advent Of q monarch with sufficient
force Of character to deliver the coun.
try from the incubus OF their present
power and influence. Nothing less
than 6 general massacre, however.
would be likely to accomplish
complete delivsrance. A great ma
iority Of the moullshs are inpe-
cunious individuals, who fairly sponge
their living from day to day of their
circle of friends and scquaintances, |
managing to drop in on one for break |
fast and another for dinner. Most Of
them command . triding income from
some source or other; in the case Of
the poorest Of them it is often mere
pittsncs, but by skilfally making the |
most of their friends and scquainsansss
they manage not only to rub along |
without work themselves, but to main. |
tain . family. Some Of them are
wealthy, but the majority may be
likened to needy vultures prsying |
upon people who are scarcely able to
support themselves.
BAZAAR IS A COMMON THOROUGH.
FARE
for anything that can make it's way |
Donksy-riders, horssmsn, |
and long strings Of camss and pack |
mules add their disturbing influence to |
ths general confusion ) and, although