Storia do Mogor 32: CHAPTER VIII · ARRIVAL IN THE CITY OF CASBIN (QAZWIN), AND HOW WE WERE SENT FOR TWICE TO THE ROYAL PALACE
Storia do Mogor (Irvine) 32
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CHAPTER VIII · ARRIVAL IN THE CITY OF CASBIN (QAZWIN), AND HOW WE WERE SENT FOR TWICE TO THE ROYAL PALACE
32.1
AT the end of thirteen days we arrived at the city of Qazwin, where the king, Xaabas [Shah 'Abbas], was. We were conducted to a house made ready for the purpose, and after three days a captain came, accompanied by several cavalry soldiers, to visit the ambassador on behalf of the chief minister of the king. He presented congratulations on our arrival, with many compliments and offers of service. Subsequently the ambassador paid a visit to the chief minister, called Etmadolat ['Azamat-ud-daulah], which means 'Modesty of Wealth,' by whom he was well received with many polite speeches and compliments, in which the Persians are never wanting. Between them there was much conversation in the Turkish language, the chief object of which was directed to finding out what presents we had brought for the King of Persia; secondly, to know the ambassador's rank, so that the proper honours might be paid to his person. Hearing from the Armenians that he (Bellomont) was of a great family, 'Azamat-ud-daulah sent to Smyrna to obtain information whether or not he were of the great family that he claimed to be. Meanwhile, after eight days from our arrival, we were sent for to the royal palace, into which we went through numerous gates, ending in a large courtyard, in the midst of which stood two beautiful trees full of shade. Beneath them were two lions fastened with heavy golden chains ; before each lion was a large golden basin full of water.
32.2
Also below each tree stood a well-dressed man with long moustachios reaching to his shoulders, in his hand a short spear all of gold, with his face turned towards the royal seat. We went on our way, and next came to an open hall which had twenty beautiful gilt pillars, ornamented with many kinds of floral designs and many-coloured enamels. Here we seated ourselves in the expectation that the King would come out. An hour afterwards the King arrived in great state, whereupon all rose to their feet, and crossed their hands on their breasts, and made a bow with lowered heads. This, too, was done by the ambassador, seeing that this was the custom of that court. Then, approaching the king, he delivered to him the letter, which the king took with his own hand and placed in that of the chief minister, who stood at his side.
32.3
The king seated himself in his place, and the master of ceremonies, who was close to the ambassador, pointed out to him his place, which was the fifth on the right hand. He was to sit there. On taking his seat, he presented a breastplate, a head-piece (morion], and sword-mountings, all of fine work made at Paris. All these were accepted by the king, who looked at the ambassador with a pleased face, saying to him that he was delighted at his coming. All this was spoken through an interpreter, an Armenian, who was in our employ. Then he asked after the health of the King of England, inquiring if he had any brothers, if he were married, how old he was, and whether he was loved by his people. To all these questions the ambassador replied, and after the lapse of one hour the king rose, saying to the ambassador that he should take rest and recover from his fatigues. Meanwhile he forwarded to Espahao (Isfahan) the letter brought by the ambassador in order to have it translated by a Capuchin friar named Frey Raphael Dumans, well acquainted with the Turkish and Persian languages, a priest of great virtues, loved by the king and all the court. The letter having been translated, the king sent to the ambassador an invitation to come to court, where he gave him a banquet at his own table. It was given in the hall already described, which was decorated with rich carpets, and seats covered with rich brocade, and handsome cushions.
32.4
In the assembly was the king seated in the midst of ten persons. That is to say, on his right hand 'Azamat-ud-daulah, then three of the great officials, and in the fifth place the ambassador, and on his left hand other five men, who were the chief generals then actually present at court. Of all these, the first was 'Azamat-ud-daulah, which means Great Minister of State; the second was Sepasalar (Sipah-salar), who is the commander-in-chief; the third Corchy-Bassi (Qurchi-bashi), the general of infantry; the fourth Couler Agassi (Qular-aqasi), who commands the king's slaves. All these are noblemen. The fifth was Nazer (Nazir), who is the major-domo of the royal household; the sixth Divan Begui (Diwan-begi), who is chief justice over the nobles of the kingdom; the seventh was Topchy Bassi (Topchi-bashi), who is the commander of the artillery; the eighth Cachiq Agasi Bassi (Qashiq-aqasi-bashi), who is captain of the royal guard and master of the ceremonies; the ninth Cedar (Sadr), who is the judge in all cases of the law; the tenth, Vaquia-navis (Waqi'ah-navis), who is the Chief Secretary of State. Below the royal seat, which was raised the height of a foot, there were on each side thirty persons, all men of rank and position.
32.5
They placed in front of the king twelve large basins of gold filled with polas (pulao) of various kinds, and four dishes of different roast meats, six porcelain vessels holding various other meats, and several boxes having their covers ornamented with all sorts of precious stones. Each of those who were on the two sides of the king had the half of what the king himself had placed before him; and the sixty who were further down, away from the king's side, had each of them four basins of pulao. At this banquet wine was absent [13], and although the king knew how to drink a drop or two, on this occasion he refrained as a matter of dignity. When the first course was finished, the second was brought, consisting of much fruit and numerous sweet dishes. The reader will be pleased to learn what pulao means. Pulao is rice cooked with many spices, cloves, cinnamon, mace, pimento, cardamoms, ginger, saffron, raisins, and almonds, to which is added the flesh of sheep, or fowls, or goats, and the whole dressed with plenty of butter. They make these pulaos of many sorts and of different flavours.
32.6
When the feast had ended, the king rose and said to the ambassador that he might start for the city of Isfahan, for which he himself would set out in a few days. This sending off of milord was because they were waiting for the answer from Smyrna, whether it was true that he had been sent as an ambassador by the King of England, Charles II., and whether he was of the rank that he claimed. At the end of six months the answer came, as I shall mention presently. Meanwhile we had spent fifty days in this city of Qazwīn, and every day there came to us food in abundance for every one of our people, with sufficient wine, and whatever was necessary for our animals. The city of Qazwīn stands in the midst of several mountains; it has sufficient water, many gardens, and much fruit, a fitting place for the holiday resort of a king, however great he may be, where he can go out after game, with which the country is well supplied.