Turkish as ceremonial language of Qajars
The month, and fast, of Ramazan finished yesterday,
and this day is kept as an Eed, or solemn festival, when the Shah receives the
homage and felicitations of his subjects. The Maidan was filled with Zambureks,
or small swivel-guns, which are carried on the backs of camels. The court of
the palace was filled with troops; the pavilion was open to the rear, so that
the snowy Elburz and the blue sky appeared in the back ground. Several princes
of the blood, of all ages, were ranged on a raised step to the right of the
throne; Ellis, who stood rather before them, was the only other person allowed
to occupy this post of honour. Count Simonich, who hates appearing in public
with a superior in diplomatic rank, had already been received by the Shah in
his private apartments, on the plea of his wound, which renders standing
painful to him. The nobility (a scanty attendance) were placed immediately below;
colonels, British officers, executioners, &c., stood on the right and left
of the long tank. The Nasakchi Bashee's deputy, with his mace in hand, and an
aigrette and tuft of feathers on his head, was the most picturesque personage
present. A fortunate moment having at length arrived, the swivel-guns in the
Maidan were fired off, and the fat king hurried with a graceless rolling gait
from his Anderoon, and ascended the throne. He was dressed in a robe of rich
gold brocade, once worn by his grandfather, and blazed with jewels to the very
top of his Persian cap. His Peshkidmet-bashee then brought the magnificent
kaleeoon of state, which his Majesty pretended to smoke. He addressed a few
words to Ellis, and then made a speech in Turkish to the Ausoof-oo-Dowlet, who
stood forward, looking every inch a prince, as the representative of the
Persian nation. The Shah spoke of the tranquillity of the country (!), the
peaceful aspect of foreign politics, and particularized his amity with England.
The Ausoof roared out, “Belli, Belli,” (Yes, yes,) at every word, and when the
royal harangue was ended, he replied at considerable length, also in the
Turkish language. Two poets afterwards recited odes composed for the occasion,
in a nasal chanting tone of voice. The audience bowed slightly when the prophet
was mentioned, more profoundly to the name of Ali, and lower still to that of
Mahommed Shah. His Majesty then withdrew: people who have eyes say that he
looked as black as thunder throughout the ceremony.
Lieut.-Colonel W. K. Stuart, Journal of a residence in Northern Persia and
the adjacent provinces of Turkey. — London: Richard Bentley, 1854. P. 223—224.
No comments:
Post a Comment