'A Journey through Persia, Armenia, and Asia Minor, to Constantinople, in the years 1808 and 1809, in which is included some account of the proceedings of his Majesty's Mission, under Sir Harford Jones, Bart., to the Court of the King of Persia. With twenty-five engravings from the designs of the author; a plate of inscriptions; and three maps.' [‎195] (266/524)

TEHERAN* \g^
chanting. When the Mollah had finished, a high and cumbrous pole
was brought into the scene. It was ornamented with different coloured
silks and feathers, and on the summit were fixed two curious weapons
made of tin, and intended to represent the swords of Ali. This heavy
machine was handled by a man who, having made his obeisance to it
(by first bowing his head, then kissing it) took it up with both his
hands, and then amidst increasing applauses balanced it on his girdle,
on his breast, and on his teeth. Next, on a small temporary stage, ap
peared several figures, who acted that part of the tragedy of the history
of the Imaum appointed for the day. It consisted of the death of
the two children of his sister Eatme, who, at the close of the
performance were killed by Ameer, one of the officers of Yezid. The
actors each held in their hands their speeches written on paper, which
they read with great action and vociferation, and excited much interest
in their audience, so that many sobbed and wept aloud; and when the
ceremonial required the beating of breasts, many performed that part
with a species of ferocious zeal, which seemed to be jealous of louder
intonations from any breast than their own. In a part of the scene
were then introduced water-carriers, who were emblematical of the
thirst of the Imaum at his dying moments. They bore on their backs
bullocks' skins filled with water, no inconsiderable weight; but in ad
dition, they each received five well-grown boys, and under the united
burthen walked round a circle ten feet in diameter, three times con
secutively.
On the following night the Envoy and I visited the Ameen-ed-Doulah
Hajee Mohamed Hossein Khan. At his house, Mirza Shef-
feea, Hajee Mohamed Hussein Khan Mervee, Fath Ali
Khan the poet, and other great men were assembled. The comme
moration of the death of Hossein was performing in his court-yard;
and when the Mollah begun to read that part of the ceremonial
appointed for the day, the windows of the room, in which we
were seated, were thrown open, and we all changed our positions, and
sat with our faces towards the Mollah. His preaching lasted about an
c c 2