1. The zcer jumah, a pair of very wide trowsers, either of red silk or blue cotton, and reaching below the ancle.
2. The peera haven, a shirt generally of silk, which, going over the trowsers, reaches a few inches below the hips, and is fastened by two buttons over the top of the right shoulder.
3 The alcalock a tight vest made of chintz, and quilted with cotton, which ties at the side, and reaches as low as the thin part of the calf of the leg. It has sleeves extend ing to the wrist, but open from the elbow.
4. The cabs, a long vest descending to the ancle, but fitting tight to the body as far as the hips, and buttoning at the side. The sleeves go over those of the alcalock, and from the elbow are closed by buttons only, that they may be opened thus far for the purpose of ablution.
5. The shat keener, a bandage round the waist, which is made either of Cashmirian shawl, or of the common shawl of Kerman, or of English chintz, or of flowered muslin. It is about eight yards long, and one broad. To this is fastened a kunjur, or dagger, ornamented according to the wealth of the possessor, from an enamelled pummel set in precious stones, to a common handle of bone or wood.
6 The rekmeh and baromer, outer coats made of cloth, and worn or thrown off according to the heat of the wea ther. The former has sleeves open from the elbow, which are generally permitted to hang behind. This coat is round, buttons before, and drops like a petticoat over the shawl that goes round the waist. The bamonee is a loose and ample robe, with proportionably ample arms, generally faced with velvet, and thrown negligently over the shoulders. Besides these, they have also coats trim med with fur ; and the warmest of their dresses is a sheep skin with the wool inside and the leather out, of which the finest are from Bokhara. When they ride, they put on loose trowsers of cloth, called shalwar, into which they insert the skirts of the alkalock. as well as the silken trowsers ; so that the whole looks like an inflated bladder. Their boots have high heels, and turned up at the toe, and . are generally made of Russia leather." The mess of the women is extremely simple. In sum mer it consists of a silk or muslin shift, a loose pair of velvet trowsers, and an alkalock or vest. In winter, a close-bodied robe, reaching to the knees, is worn over the vest. his is made of velvet or kimco., is fastened in front by large gold buttons, and sometimes ornamented with jewels. The head is covered with a large black turban, over which a Cashmirian shawl is gracefully thrown, to answer the purpose of a veil.
The Persians hardly wear any under linen ; and, among the lower classes, the clothes they once put on are sel dom taken off till worn out. Nothing could preserve the health of the people with such habits, but those ablutions which are enjoined by their religion, and the constant use of the hot baths, which arc to be found in every city; town, and village of Persia.
In describing the character and manners of the Persians, it is necessary to divide them into two classes, namely, the agricultural or manufacturing class, who reside in fixed dwellings, and the wandering tribes, who subsist by their flocks, or by fishing, and live in tents.
Among the inhabitants of the various cities and towns of Persia, there are very different shades of character, which arise from the feelings and habits which they nave derived from their ancestors. The natives of Tabreez, Hamadan, Shiraz, and Yezd, who are chiefly descended from martial tribes, are famed for their courage : while those of Boom, Kashan, and Ispahan, whose forefathers have for centuries pursued civil occupations, are equally remarkable for their cowardice. As a people, however, they arc, generally speaking, of a lively imagination, of quick apprehension, and of agreeable and prepossessing manners. They very much resemble the French; and an inhabitant of Shiraz, except from his dress and lan guage, could scarcely be distinguished from a Parisian.
A quick and light step, a volubility of tongue, a facility at turning a compliment, a delight in saying agreeable things about nothing, and a minute care of their clothes and manner of dressing, are common to both. The higher classes of the citizens of Persia, are most carefully in structed in all that belongs to exterior manner and deport ment. " Nothing," says Sir John Malcolm, " can exceed their politeness ; and, in their social hours, when for mality is banished, their conversation is delightful. It is enlivened by anecdotes ; and their narratives and obser vations are improved by quotations of beautiful passages from their best poets, with whose works almost every Persian who possesses any intelligence is acquainted. They are kind and indulgent masters ; and the lower ranks, as far as concerns the active performance of their duties, are the best of servants. In a state of society where there are no middle classes, and where, conse quently, the actual distinction between master and servant is so great as to remove all danger of either forgetting the inequality of their condition, they often live in habits of the strictest intimacy and friendship. But the Persian character is sullied by the debasing vices of falsehood and duplicity ; and the noble system of their ancestors, whose first care it was to teach their children to speak truth, seems to be now totally forgotten. They even attempt to defend the practice, and represent it as the natural conse quence of the state of society in which they live. The violence and oppressions of their rulers, they say, must be averted by every means in their power ; and when this cannot be done by combination and strength, they can only have recourse to art and deceit. The oaths which they constantly use to attest their sincerity, are only proofs of their want of it ; and it is no uncommon exclamation, when all their asseverations and oaths fail to convince a stranger of their veracity, " Believe me, for, though a Persian, I am speaking truth." Though there are many exceptions to this general description, yet their numbers are too inconsiderable to save their countrymen from this national reproach. This people are subject to extraordi nary ebullitions of passion, when they conduct themselves like men altogether careless of the result ; but they are of such a gay and sanguine temperament, that the most violent quarrels are often succeeded by immoderate bursts of mirth. On such occasions a stranger is surprised at the latitude of speech which this despotic government permits in those whom it oppresses. You will hear the meanest citizen venting imprecations against his supe riors, not excepting even the sacred person of the king ; and this will sometimes provoke only a reproof, or a few blows. An instance of this freedom of remark is given by Sir John Malcolm, in a dialogue which passed between the governor of Ispahan, and a seller of vegetables in that city, who was remonstrating against the payment of a tax which had been imposed upon him. " You must pay it, or leave the city," said the governor. " I cannot pay it, and to what other place can I go ?" " You may either pro ceed to Shiraz or Kashan, if you like these towns better than this." " Your brother is in power at one of these cities, and your nephew at the other : what relief can I ex pect in either ?" "You may proceed to court, and com plain to the king, if you think that I have committed in justice." Your brother, the hajee, is prime minister." " Go to hell." exclaimed the enraged ruler, " and do not trouble me any more." " The holy man, your deceased father, is there," said the undaunted citizen. The crowd could not suppress their smiles at the boldness of their countryman ; and the governor, who shared the general feeling, bade the complainant retire, and he would attend to his case.