'A Tour to Sheeraz by the Route of Kazroon amd Feerozabad with various Remarks on the Manners, Customs, Laws, Language and Literature of the Persians to which is added A History of Persia from the Death of Kureem Khan to the Subversion of the Zund Dynasty' [‎9] (33/362)

[9]
brought in on trays, one of which was placed before eve^ two
persons; then two pilaus, one of fowl, and the other of mutton.
In the trays there were about eight dishes, some consisting of curds
and cheese, and others of sour and sweet ingredients mixed together.
During the time of eating, I remarked that they frequently drank
out of two basons, which I conceived to contain soup; but which
proved to be a kind of sherbet, supposed to promote digestion
And, indeed, they have need of this drink, for they seldom appear
satisfied until they have emptied their trays. The conversation,
both before and after supper, was general; every one took his
share in the discourse, and some enlivened it with the history of
former kings, and remarks on the present government. This is by
no means the case if the entertainment be given to a person of
superior rank to the entertainer; ^ich cloths are spread before the
door for him to walk upon, and which become the property of his
servants; the master of the house seats himself at a great distance
from him; if he speaks, the rest of the people speak also, if he is
silent, a sullen silence is observed. A great man in Persia, instead
of being received with welcome, is received with dread and appre
hension, and his departure is anticipated with anxious expectation.
The Persians are firmly persuaded of the truth of judicial astro
logy, and seldom undertake any business without consulting their
astrologers; the most lucrative profession in all Persia. It is
useless to attempt convincing them of the fallacy of their belief,
for reason seldom conquers prejudice, and in Persia its sway is
omnipotent: neither the arguments nor the eloquence of Cicero
would have any effect. The King of Persia, I heard, was told by
his astrologers, that the safety of his throne would be endangered,
if there was not a new king for a certain time. He immediately
invested his eldest son with the insignia of royalty, and sent him on
an expedition towards Khorasan. By doing this, he propitiated
c