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CHAPTER II.

THE "TAUJ U DOULUT.”

It was in the month of August that I was wending my way through the narrow streets of Tehran, to obtain a fresher respiration outside the walls than I could find within them, when my course was suddenly arrested by a troop of "Faroshs,"* with their long sticks, clearing the road, and their menacing shouts frightening every poor wight that stood before them, who ran away into the passages, and took refuge from the fury of the "courouk,” or royal proclamation, which ordains, that when

These "faroshs" are menial servants, pitching tents, sweeping carpets, &c. From the latter employ, they derive their name. They are generally numerous in all great men's establishments, and are the executors of his will, and of his orders for the basti nado, &c.

any of the Shahs harem leave the palace, no man shall appear in the streets, on pain of death, and woe be to him that does not in some way avoid the hurricane of the eunuchs'* wrath.

"What is it!" I exclaimed to Gul Mahmoud.

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"The Tauj! the Tauj!" and with breathless haste he added, "kebarder," take care.' Immediately the "faroshs" were amongst us, when one of them turned me suddenly to the wall, to prevent my seeing the coming procession; another handled Gul Mahmoud severely for daring to keep his stand near me, whilst all were shouting and clearing the way of every living animal, man, and beast. I could compare it to nothing but the threatened coming of a wild bull, such was the general consternation.

Placed in this position, I yet ventured to turn around, for a peep at this wonderful "Tauj;" but

The eunuchs run in every direction, and fire guns loaded with ball to drive people from the roads. They would inake no scruple whatever at killing any one that may happen to be in the way. The peasants fly from their villages when the alarm is given; and if any one is surprised by the coming up of the procession, he throws himself flat on the ground or stands to a wall during its passage, deeming himself most fortunate if the eunuch is satisfied by his thus humbling himself.

buried in shawls and rich oriental embroidery, I could form no idea if it was a male or female that sat on the horse, since they both use the same saddles. A boy, richly habited, and his steed sumptuously caparisoned, preceded "The Crown of the State," for such is the title of the "Tauj u Doulut," or the king's principal wife. Then followed some ladies of the household, all in rich wrappers of crimson or gold colour, sparkling with Asiatic finery. In the midst of these came the "Tauj" herself, with many eunuchs surrounding her, whose vigilant eyes, lest any one should see even the wrapper which enveloped their fair charge, bespoke the trusty keepers of the harem.

The scene was so transient, I had only time to notice that the principal distinction of the “Tauj” from her followers consisted in the richness of her shawls, and the splendid housings of the horse bestridden by her. The train was brought up by a motley group of attendants, about a hundred altogether.

The "Tauj" was returning from the " Nagaristan" Palace, not far from the city, the favourite summer resort of his majesty and wives. Except on these extraordinary occasions, none of the royal

haremites are to be seen in the streets of Tehran ; and such is the jealousy with which they are moved from place to place, that it would be positively fatal to any man to look upon the procession. The ladies are sometimes removed in a "takht revan." This is a machine on two poles, borne by mules before and behind. It is long enough to sit at length, and high enough for the comfort of reclining. The mules ought to be well trained, in order to step together, or the movement becomes very rough, as I have experienced.

The "Tauj u Doulut" was said to be the favourite wife of Futtee Ali Shah, and to manage the affairs of the "Andaroon," which are by no means unimportant, since large sums are annually expended for the females who inhabit it. The number of these royal prisoners it was difficult to ascertain. I have heard them estimated at a thousand. Not long before my arrival at Tehran, they had been materially thinned out; but whether from his majesty's caprice, or from sudden qualms of avarice touching the expense, was not known. Some of them were bestowed as wives on the khans, being the most gracious mark of royal favour.

I could learn but little of the history of the present "Tauj;" nothing whatever as to how she found her way to the royal favour. She was said to have been the daughter of an obscure "kiabab" cook at Sheerauz, who kept a public eating house for these dainties, and that her brother was then in the same profession. She was esteemed to be a woman of talent, and a woman of taste too, so far as English porter goes, of which she took her bottle daily-such, at least, was the "on dit" of Tehran.

The jealousy of the Persians that their females be not seen by any but their legitimate lords is remarkably strong. I have seen numerous instances. The harems are guarded by the black eunuchs, who can alone enter the apartments, whilst the white eunuchs keep the doors. The observance of this custom among the ancients of the East is first instanced in Rebecca covering herself with a veil at the approach of her affianced lord. The females themselves are equally jealous of being seen, as in the times of "Vashti, the queen, who refused to come at the king's commandment to show the people and the princes her beauty." The observance of this custom is thus