'The History of Persia, from the most early period to the present time: containing an account of the religion, government, usages and character of the inhabitants of that kingdom. By Colonel Sir John Malcolm, KCB, KLS Late minister plenipotentiary to the court of Persia from the supreme government of India. In two volumes.' [‎584] (641/786)

THE HISTORY OF PERSIA.
chap . xxv. the seal belongs, if in business, is obliged to take the most respectable
-witnesses of the occurrence, and to write to his correspondents, de
claring all accounts and deeds with his former seal null from the day
upon which it was lost.
Among the lower classes of the citizens of Persia there is not
much perceptible difference of manner. That which exists arises
from the nature of their respective occupations, and from the partial
ditfusion of knowledge. Almost all the tradesmen, and many of the
mechanics, have received some education. There are schools* in
every town and city of Persia, in which the rudiments of the language
of that country, and of Arabia, are taught. The child who attends at
one of these seminaries, after he has learnt the alphabet, is made, as
a religious duty, to read the Koran, in Arabic; which he usually
does without understanding one word of it. He is next taught to
read some fables in the Persian language, and to write a legible
hand: here his education commonly ends; and unless he is led by
inclination to devote himself to study, or his occupation requires that
he should practise what he has learnt, the lessons he has received
are soon forgotten. But this course of education, slight and super
ficial as it may seem, has the effect of changing the habits, and of
introducing a degree of refinement among those who benefit by it,
which is unknown to their ruder countrymen.
# The schools in Persia have been particularly described by Chardin, and other
travellers. They are sufficiently reasonable to admit of the poorest tradesman sending
his children to them ; but are often under the management of ignorant pedants. It is
not to be expected that a government like that of Persia should ever pay attention to
the education of its subjects, though that is evidently the root from which all im
provement must spring.