unto himself two wives, Adah and Zillah. Jacob had a second wife imposed upon him, it not being the custom at that time "to give the younger before the first-born." I cannot find that this custom prevails now in Persia; but I do find that a man is bound to marry the widow of his deceased brother" in order to raise up seed unto his brother," as Moses wrote, or as the Sadducees relate, that "the seven had her to wife." Then they tell me of David and Solomon having numerous wives, and in their days, as at the present time in Persia, the royal harem formed the greatest part of the King's expenditure. I have done with the subject, except to say, that I am a little inclined to the harem seclusion, but not to the full extent. In Persia, even sisters are not allowed to see their brothers after a certain age. What then would be the astonishment of an Asiatic to be introduced at once to that Rose Garden of Beauty which is sometimes to be met with in English society-that beauty thus spoken of by the poet : "Oh! what a pure and sacred thing His Majesty showed considerable ingenuity in keeping up what may be termed "the balance of power" amongst his numerous sons, being all governors of provinces, so that they might not weaken the supreme authority, vested in himself, of which he was very jealous. The governor of Shiraz was never entirely subject to him; and his last expedition was against this contumacious son, in search of the tribute money. Of Abbas Meerza he was also jealous, not trusting him with the means of paying the troops, but sending it to the charge of an English major. The numerous offspring of the Shah could not boast of much family concord amongst themselves. Where they are not born of the same mother, they are any thing but brethren; their interests are so conflicting, and all drawing upon the Shah's resources, that I am inclined to think his avarice savoured somewhat of prudence, and not altogether of rapacity. His Majesty had a very high opinion of his own dignity and splendour. The Persians have a great deal of that overweening vanity, or happy delusion, which is so beguiling in this life of uncertainty. At an audience once granted to an ambassador, who was much struck with his imposing magnificence, "I wish him joy," said the King, "he has now seen every thing!" His Majesty terminated his mortal career, after a long and prosperous reign of thirty-five years, at Ispahan, on the 23d of October, 1835, aged seventy-five years; during which time Persia had wonderfully progressed in civilization. It may be well to conclude this chapter with a list of the titles of the Shah of Persia. The Persians have almost a sacred respect for their sovereign, calling him "Zil Allah," or, "The Almighty's Shadow." They esteem the very ground on which he sits to be holy; and obey the divine command to Moses, "Put off thy shoes from off thy feet." They call him also, 66 Hazret," which signifies Presence, Majesty or Highness. He is the Vicegerent of Omnipotence upon Earth-the Most Lofty of Living Men-the Source of Majesty, of Grandeur, of Honour, and of Glory-whose Throne is the Stirrup of Heaven -Equal to the Sun, and Brother of the Moon and of the Stars-the King of Kings—Agent of Heaven in this World-Object of the Vows of all Mortal Men-Disposer of Good and of all Great Names-the Master of Destiny-Chief of the Most Excellent Seat of the Universe, sitting in the Seat of the first temporal Being (Mahomet)— the greatest and the most splendid Prince of the Faithful-born and sprung from the Throne which is the only Throne of the Earth-King of the First Rank-Monarch of Sultans and of the Sovereigns of the Universe-First Noble of the most ancient Nobility-King-Son of a King-Emperor of all Corporeal Beings-Lord of the Revolutions of the World-Father of Victories-the Centre of the Universe, &c. &c. &c. What a commentary on all this splendour are the words of our poet: "Earth's highest station ends in‹ Here he lies,' And dust to dust' concludes her noblest song." In the burial of their kings they had formerly a superstitious custom in Persia. In order to prevent any enchantment being practised on the body, three stately coffins were prepared exactly alike, in one of which the royal clay was deposited; one was sent to Koom, another to Ardebie, and the third to Meshed; but in which of these coffins lay the kingly remains was never known. It may be presumed that his late Majesty lies at Koom, since he had given directions for the repairs of the tomb a short time only before his decease. 14 CHAPTER II. THE KOORDS. THESE nomade tribes of the wilderness are but little known in Europe. Having made an extensive acquaintance amongst them in my Asiatic wanderings, I will endeavour to give a slight sketch of their origin and history, which are so involved in obscurity that I must penetrate deep into their records, to obtain any thing like authentic facts concerning them. These, the rudest of nature's families, occupy an extensive territory, called Koordistan, which it is said was the ancient kingdom of Chaldea, and that amongst the natives are some remains of the original stock, speaking the original tongue. They are to be met with near the lake Ouroumia, in |