[135] My old friend Câsim-Wâlâ died about five years after this interview. Among other occupations of his latter years was that of preparing for himself a place of interment in the Chehâr-Bâgh of Isfahan. He built a small but handsome mausoleum, with a tomb in the centre, for the top of which a fine marble slab was obtained from Yezd; and he not only wrote his own epitaph on this stone, but had it engraved, and every way finished, with the exception of the date of his death. Near the mausoleum he made a fountain and flower garden, with bowers and seats; and a gentleman who saw him a short time before he died, tells me this spot became his favourite resort, where he delighted to receive and converse with his friends and disciples.
[136] Faringee, as has been before remarked, implies European.
[137] This observation alluded to some embarrassments that had arisen in consequence of two British envoys, one from England, and the other India, meeting at the court of Persia.
[138] Nothing can be more curious than the fact of Mahomedan princes creating honours of knighthood to confer distinction on Christians. The usage commenced with the court of Constantinople, and was followed by that of Teheran. The King of Persia created the order of the Sun for General Gardanne, the ambassador from Buonaparte. This order was offered to Sir Harford Jones, envoy from the King of England, but was declined on account of the circumstances attending its origin. It was subsequently pressed upon the acceptance of the Elchee, but he deemed it proper to follow the example of the envoy of the King of England. The King of Persia determined, however, as he said, that his first European friend should wear an order of his creation, and instituted that of the Lion and Sun, which have been from very ancient times the arms of Persia.
[139] The number three is deemed fortunate in Persia as elsewhere.
[140] "Ajeb jâhee berâee chappau!" literally, a wonderful place for a foray!
[141] "Poco di matto" is deemed by the Italians an essential quality in a great man's companion.
[142] This remarkable lady, who for a long period might be said to govern Fars, died three years ago of the cholera.
[143] Mr. Sundt, an Anglo-Indian.
[144] Bacon.