The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1893-09-09
MPORTANT,

he profited by it. If the season be bad
one, let the bank bear the losses if some
body must chase after the coin into
sterile regions, let the soulless corpora
tiOn do it, which has no dignity to lose.
At the beginning of September the
shah's caravan is ready to start. 1t never
consists of less than 10000 people, and
question to be considered in connection
with its mobilization is which of the
troops can be trusted with the avant and
rear guard. Our poor relations" are
next to be thought of Nasr-ed-Deen well
remembers that his branch Of the family
| assembled the throne only after wading
knee-deep Through the blood of their
brothers and sisters and cousins and
aunts; consequently he cannot afford to
turn his back on anybody bearing his own
name. He must have them con-
stantly under his eyes and his lash. He
must take them along wherever he goes,
and there are 1852 of them, not counting
the women. Then there is the harem.
Thus the caravan Is increased by 300 at
least. The shah contents himself with
taking along ten to fifteen assorted destes
(sections of his harem), each section cen
tanning twenty to thirty women and girls.
Only once did he travel with less. That
was on his European tour in the summer
of 1878, when in Difference to the customs
of the countries he intended visiting he
cut down his female following to a round
bakers dozen.
In the caravan the ladies of the harem
travel astride richly accoutered mules
and donkeys, under the watchful eyes Of
eunuchs, who occasionally use their long
riding whips to keep order. These Of
ficials, who rank with the ministers of
state, are the best horsed in the train /;
they are also the best paid, receiving
from s., 900 to $4,000 per year, and the
most privileged in their intercourse with
the king; in fact, nothing is too good for
them, as far as money, power and infu-
ence are concerned. The royal princesses,
recognized as such, namely, thirteen
daughters of the shah's favorites, make
the Journey in trachtavan, kind of sedan
chair, in which mules replace the foot
men. The litter has sliding doors and
windows. and is hung with costly tapes
tries or silks, as are also the mules har-
| ness In addition the animals are pro-
| vided with chimes of silver bells. An
| athletic young driver walks at the side
| of each mule to prevent accidents, and in
! case tumbledown cannot be forcstalled
| snatch the occupant of the vehicle from
| death.
| The women, in the chairs as well as in
| the saddles, are heavily yelled, holes for
| the eyes being cut into their silken head
| dress. A long mantle envelopes them
| from shoulder to foot, but the more daring
! among them are not at all dverse to eX-
hibiting their figure, as the law, enforced
by the eunuchs, requires women only to
hide their faces from any man not thCi
! master. The shah himself rides with hi
bodyguard, of whom every man vouche
for the king'sl safety with his heal
Even if he should be murdered by his
legitimate successor, that gentleman
would be bound by law to massacre the
guards, one and all There is nothing left
for these fellows, then but TO be faithful
The greater part of the journey is made
at night, the excessive heat making it i'm
| possible to travel after l0a m Mention
should be made of the numerous torch
bearers, mounted and on foot, who ac-
company the mighty caravan as it pro
crosses slowly over mountains and mule
paths swims rivers and nayigates the
desert until the government seat of the
coveted province is reached.
The people and tribes of the districts
traversed are, of course, expected to act
as hosts to the caravan, and if they be at
all tardy about offering the best of all
they possess the cavalry guard will soon
fog them into submission and apprecia-
tion of the honor conferred upon them.
1t may be assumed that the people Of
Irak, at the present moment, value their
lives at an exceedingly low rate, while
most of the officials await their doom
with true Oriental stOicism. On ascend
ing the throne Nasr-ed-Deen had several
hundred high officials who displeased him
tortured and decapitated, while number
less understrappers, in disgrace with him.
were blinded, their eyes were torn from
the sockets, being conveyed to Teherau
castle IN bushel basket, there to be
trampled under foot by the king.
These were not altogether unusual pro
ceedings in Persia, but nevertheless they
impressed the people generally with a
wholesome fear of their ruler After all
the Iraks can hardly be blamed for look
ing to Nasr-ed-Deen visit with terror
and trepidation.