'The travels of Sir John Chardin into Persia and the East Indies, through the Black Sea, and the country of Colchis. Containing the author's voyage from Paris to Ispahan. To which is added, the coronation of the present King of Persia, Solyman the III.' [‎257] (300/594)

through the Black ^Sea, and Colchis.
Coolom-Sha fignifies the Kjngs Not but that thev
who bear this Title are as free, as other the Kings Natural
Subjeds; but they take it as a Mark of their perfca Devo-
tion t6 their Soveraign, as being that to which they were bred
up altogether in their Infancy. For the Imployment of thefe
Kings Slaves in the Court of Tis almoft the fame with
that of Gentlemen-Ufliers ; who are Childern of good Quali'
ty, employ'd very young in Duty, as Well for the Profit which
they get by it, as to give 'em a fair Opportunity to make their
way to Preferment at Court. There are fome Perfons who
fend their Sons to thele Imployments at the Age of Five Years*
To whom the King affigns Exhibitions according to the Quali
ty of their Family, or the Service which it does the King ; for
that ferves in ftead of other Recompence to the Parents. The
ufual Exhibition is Twenty ' toman 10,000 Persian dinars, or a gold coin of that value. a Year, an i their Diet;
which Twenty Tomans 10,000 Persian dinars, or a gold coin of that value. make about Seventy Pounds Sterling :
And the Diet taken in Money amounts to about Forty Pounds.
But thefe Exhibitions are frequently enlarg'd proportionably
either to the Service which they do the King, or to the Kind-
nels which the King has for their Perfons. For which reafon
they are very diligent at Court, and are employ'd in the Exe
cution of all Orders of Importance. They are fent with the
Kings Prefents to the Governors; and out of their Number
are taken feveral to fupply the Vacancies of Officers.
Orders that require Expedition are carry'd Poft. Which
Couriers are call'd TJhapars ; a word that comes from a
word that fignifies Galloping, whence that other word
which fignifies a Courier. Thefe make great hafte,
though they do not always meet with Horfes when they have
occafion for 'em: For there are no fetl'd Stages in all the
In Ferfia the Kings and Governors Couriers take Horfes where-
ever they find 'em •,nay, they have Authority to difinounc
Travellers upon the High-way : befides, the Magiftrates of the
Places through which they pafs, are oblig'd to furnifli 'em.
However, this is a very mifchievous Cuftom ; for fuch as have
neither the Strength nor the Courage to refill, are conftrain'd
to give Money to thefe Couriers, or to alight and fuffer their
Horfes to be rid away with, arid then to run after 'em if they
intend to have em again. Neverthelefs they dare not meddle
with Perfons of Quality, nor the Kings Officers, nor Strangers
that are going to the Court, for fear of being call'd to Que-
ftion. Ufually therefore they take up Horfes in the Villa
ges through which they pafs j which they muft not make
U u u u(e