Part 46 (1/2)

?By the salt of your highness, by your death, and by the beard of the Shah, I ao wherever you command, were it even to fetch the father of all the Franks from the inmost chambers of the world below?

?Be it so,? said the vizier; ?and as the first step towards it, go at once to Mirza Firouz, flatter and assure him that he is the only man in Persia fit to be sent upon such an ees that will accrue to hioodwill of the Shah, and my protection all will abound; and at his return, God best knows to what heights he may not ascend Throw out hints that some other man, some rival, whom you may discover, has been talked of for the situation, and you will see how easily he will s the bait Go, and Allah be with you!?

I left his presence scarcely knohether I soared in the heavens, or trod on the earth ?What,? said I to myself, ?shall I then attain the sunostics at length be fulfilled,--and shall I indeed enter my native place, clothed with the kalaat of honour, armed with the hand of power, and mounted upon the steed of splendour? Let those who once scorned Hajji Baba, the barber?s son, noare, for they will have to deal with the Shah?s deputy Let those crohich once submitted to my razor, now be prostrate, for he who can cut the head off is at hand Ye that have deprivedyou restore it is s, I anity of manner which must have surprised every one who sawhonours; andold chain round its neck, and a silver tassel under its throat, preceded by reeted by a deputation froovernor of the city, to welcome my arrival in my native place

However, I proceeded to the house of Mirza Firouz, whom I found prepared to converse on the subject of the elish elchi had already rand vizier intended to h I had attached myself almost exclusively to the service of the prime minister, yet I persevered in lad to hear I was to acco upon our future plans, as well as past adventures, and when, roaring with laughter, he asked whether I should now endeavour to regain possession of my faithless Shekerleb, I slipped away, not over-pleased to have that event of my life recalled to my recollection

The next day, the Shah announced at the public audience his intention of sending Mirza Firouz to England as his representative, and the grand vizier ordered me to be in readiness to proceed to Ispahan, as soon as the proper firmans necessary to arm me with power should be prepared

I will not tire the reader with a description of the numerous details of my preparatives for this expedition He would sicken and I should blush at my vanity It is sufficient to say that I travelled to Ispahan with all the parade of a man of consequence; and that I entered s that none but a Persian, bred and born in the cravings of ambition, can understand I found myself at the summit of what, in my eyes, was perfect human bliss Misfortune see informed me that a new chapter in the book of my life was about to open Hajji Baba, the barber?s son, entered his native place as Mirza Hajji Baba, the Shah?s deputy Need I say entle Reader! the humble translator of the Adventures of Hajji Baba presu by the hint afforded him by the Persian story-tellers, stops his narrative, ement, and I will tell you reat aland, of their adventures by sea and land, of all he saw, and all he remarked, and of what happened to his to add, should he find, like Hajji?s friend the third dervish, he has not yet acquired the art of leading on the attention of the curious, he will never venture to appear again before the public until he has gained the necessary experience to ensure success And so he very humbly takes his leave

PP

THE END

FOOTNOTES

[Footnote 1: It is perhaps almost needless to remind the reader, that the Mussulmans are divided into two inimical sects; viz _suni_ and _shi+ah_; and that the Turks are of the former, and the Persians of the latter, persuasion The Sunies hold, that Omar, Osman and Abubekr, were the lawful successors of Mohamed The shi+ahs assert that they were usurpers, and that Ali, his son-in-laas the next in succession]

[Footnote 2: This is the Persian pipe, made upon the principle of the Indian hookah]

[Footnote 3: Officers whose duties are to find quarters for the pilgrieulate the hours of march, settle disputes, announce the time of prayer, etc]

[Footnote 4: This takes place in the spring, when the sun enters Aries, and is called the No Ruz, or the new day The festival is not of Mohain, and dates from very remote antiquity]

[Footnote 5: By heel ropes is s which are used to secures horses in the East]

[Footnote 6: The Turcomans, as well as the Turks, their descendants, are of the Suni persuasion: with the the shi+ahs]

[Footnote 7: The word _Sultan_, which in Europe is generally used to designate the sovereign of Turkey, a the Tartars, Turcoiven frequently to subalterns, as well as to those of higher rank]

[Footnote 8: Banou ihts_, _Paribanou_, or more properly _Peribanou_of Persia's principal wife is styled _Banou Harem_, chief of the harem]

[Footnote 9: All classes of Mohamedans shave the crown of the head In Persia two patches of hair are left behind each ear by way of curls In Turkey, a tuft is left on the very summit of the head]

[Footnote 10: The Turks differ materially fro corpulency, whilst the latter show greater refinement, and esteem those forms which are mostly prized in Europe]

[Footnote 11: The races that take place a the Turcomans and the Persians are intended to try the _bottom_, rather than the actual speed of their horses]