"عبر بلاد فارس على سرج ركوب جانبي" [‎١‎١‎٩] (٣٦٠/١٥٠)

FOUR VISITORS AND A MAID
119
This arrangement always takes place at Noruz. The
Governor then proceeds to his province, and recoups
himself doubly or trebly for his outlay, collecting the
money as fast as he can, for next Noruz will not be long
in coming, and he may then be turned out, or at all events
have to give the Shah a much larger sum to enable him
to continue in office.
Sorry as we were for the Sahib Diwan, who had been
hardly a month in power, yet we could not but be glad at
his departure, for we heard that the Farman Farma, my
brother's old friend, had been appointed Governor in his
place, and as this prince was a man of enlightened views,
with a civilised French-speaking suite, we looked forward
to having quite a pleasant society at Kerman.
Not many days after this, my first lady visitor arrived,
attended by a hideous old Abyssinian negress. Both
women were completely hidden from view by large black
silk chaddars edged with gold gimp, long pieces of white
silk hanging over their faces, with small oblongs of lace-
work in front of their eyes, the whole arrangements kept
in place by being fastened at the back of their heads by
clasps. When her outer wrap was slipped off, the mistress
disclosed an emerald-green velvet jacket, trimmed with
bands of vivid purple, sky-blue silk gloves embroidered
with red roses completing a curious discord in colours,
while her head-dress was a piece of stiff book-muslin,
fastened under the chin and flowing behind, giving a nun
like look strangely at variance with the rest of the toilette.
It was a warm afternoon, and the balakhana windows were
open while we drank our tea, which was poured out by
Marie, as of course no man-servant might enter the room
while my visitor was present. Every now and again the