'Through Persia on a side-saddle' [‎86] (117/360)

dently his new sleeves had procured this excellent repast
for him, and his remark has passed into a proverb.
Our servants were also very good in cleaning up the
whole establishment if a visitor were expected, and would
perform prodigies in the way of cooking and waiting on
such occasions, as they said it would never do to let people
think that our retainers were slacker or less skilful than
other domestics; and they had a curious horror of the
Consulate getting a bad name in the bazaars.
However, this tashakhus, or love of show, had its evil
side. Not content with hiring underlings to do most of
their work, our men one and all sported murderous-looking
knives, and ruffled it among the Kermanis, as their aim
was to show that they were greater swells than the re
tainers of the Governor.
Naturally their habit of forcing every one to give way to
them when they took their walks abroad, led to alter
cations, and on one occasion a disgraceful row ensued,
which had to be taken notice of, as four of them drew their
daggers on the populace when in a state of intoxication.
In Persia, to be tipsy in public is looked upon as a great
offence, as drinking is strictly prohibited by the Mahom-
medan religion. Our servants were accordingly offered
the choice of being beaten at the Consulate or at the
Governor's Palace, and having chosen the former alter
native, punishment was meted out to them by Nasrullah
Khan, who took a keen interest in the proceedings, and
gave me an account of the whole affair afterwards. He
arranged that any servant who had a grudge against any
other, was to be given the rod to be used on his enemy!
For example, Akbar was the son of the public executioner
of Kerman, and, as such, was said by every one to possess
THROUGH PERSIA ON A SIDE-SADDLE