The Nāṣirī Generations 87.4

87.4

The Ata-bak, Sa’d, was endowed with many distinguished virtues, and excellent qualities. In the first place, the flag, which, every year, he used to send along with the caravan of pilgrims on the journey to the Ka’bah [at Makkah], when the pilgrims returned, he used to have kept constantly set up before the entrance of his palace or pavilion; and, every time he came to the hall of audience, or his private apartments, he used to perform a prayer of two genuflexions under the flag in question, after which he would mount his throne. This circumstance indicates how excellent was his faith; but, respecting his ostentation and pomp, a trustworthy person has related, that the revenues of one of the provinces of the territory of Fars was set apart for the expenses of his own wardrobe. The revenue of the province in question amounted, every year, to three hundred and sixty thousand golden dinars; and, every day, one thousand dinars of red gold used to be expended upon his attire, in the shape of head-dresses, tunics, mantles, robes, and expensive fabrics, girdles, jewel-studded collars, and the like. If any surplus remained over and above the necessary expenses of his wardrobe, he would purchase therewith valuable gems and jewels, which used to be arranged about his head-dress, his tunic, and girdle. He never wore a suit but one day; the next day he would invest one of his nobles or grandees with it. May the Almighty have mercy upon him, and pardon his sins!