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ability to explain and confute the doctrines of the Sooffees, after enumerating the seven that are supposed to be original, states his opinion, that there are but two entitled to that distinction. These are called the Hulooleâh, or the inspired," and the Itâhedeåh, or "the unionists." He deems the other five sects, which have been considered by many as original, to be only branches from these two. The principle maintained by the Hulooleåh, or "the inspired," is, that God has entered or descended into them; and that the Divine Spirit enters into all who are devout, and have an intelligent mind. The Itâhedeâh, or "unionists," believe that God is as one with every enlightened being. They compare the Almighty to flame, and their souls to charcoal; and say, that in the same manner that charcoal when it meets flame becomes flame, their immortal part, from its union with God, becomes God. It has, the learned author here followed states, been affirmed, that these two sects, which are now deemed original, are derived from a sect called Hermâneah, who borrowed their tenets from the Sâbetteâh, or "ancient Sabians." "Impious men," he observes, " desirous to conceal from themselves the great error, into which they had fallen, have tried to connect the doctrines of these sects with that of the twelve holy Imaums, to which they have not the slightest affi. nity: but," he adds, "the principal tenets of the Hulcolcâh certainly approach the creed of the Nazarenes, who believe that the Spirit of God entered into the

womb of the Virgin Mary, and thence the doctrine of the divine nature of their prophet, Jesus."

CHARACTER OF THE PERSIANS.

(From the Same.)

There is a considerable difference of character among the inhabitants of the various cities and towns of Persia, which originates in the opposite feelings and habits which they have derived from their ancestors. The natives of Kazveen, Tabreez, Hamadan, Shiraz, and Yezd, are as remarkable for their courage, as those of Koom, Kashan, and Isfahan, are for their cowardice. The former are chiefly descended from martial tribes; while the forefathers of the latter have, for many centuries, pursued civil occupations. But, though some of the citizens of Persia are less warlike than others, the different shades of character which this occasions are not of so much consequence as to prevent their being included in a general description. The whole of this community may be deemed, as far as regards their personal appearance, a fine race of men: they are not tall; but it is rare to see any of them diminutive or deformed, and they are in general strong and active. Their complexions vary from a dark olive to a fairness which approaches that of a northern European: and if they have not all the bloom of the latter, their florid healthy look often gives them no inconsiderable share of beauty. As a people, they may be praised for their quickness of apprehension, their vivacity, and

the

the natural politeness of their manners. They are sociable and cheerful; and, with some remarkable exceptions, as prodigal in disbursement as they are eager of gain. The higher classes of the citizens of Persia are kind and indulgent masters; and the lower ranks are, as far as respects the active performance of their duty, and the prompt execution of the orders they receive, the best of servants. In countries where the law grants equal protection to all ranks of society, and where servitude does not imply dependance, the master and servant are much more separated than in despotic states. In the latter, where there are no middle classes, the servant is often the humble friend, and lives in habits of intimacy that could only exist where the actual distinction is so great as to remove all danger of either forgetting the inequality of their condition.

The falsehood of the Persians is proverbial: nor are the inhabitants of that country forward to deny this national reproach: but they argue, that this vice appertains to the government, and is the natural consequence of the condition of the society in which they live and there can be no doubt, that when rulers practise violence and oppression, those who are oppressed will shield themselves by every means within their power and when they are destitute of combination and strength, they can only have recourse to art and duplicity. Nor is the moral character always debased by the use of this species of defence instances continually occur in Persia, as in other counVOL. LVII.

:

tries subject to an arbitrary government, where the head of a village, or the magistrate of a city, entitles himself to the gratitude and admiration of those under him, by a virtuous and undaunted perseverance in falsehood, by which he endangers his own life and property, to save others who consider him as their guar▲ dian and protector.

The frame of private society in Persia is, perhaps, still more calculated to render men artful and false than the constitution of their government. The wives and slaves of a despotic husband and master must have all the vices of their debased condition. The first lessons which their children learn from the example of those they love, is to practise deceit; and this early impression is confirmed by all their future habits. They may hear and admire moral sentences upon the beauty and excellence of truth; but prudence warns them against a rigid adherence to so dangerous a virtue. The oaths which they constantly use to attest their veracity, are only proofs of their want of it. They swear by the head of the king, by that of the person they address, by their own, by that of their son, that they are not asserting what is false: and if a stranger should continue to evince suspicion, they sometimes exclaim, Believe me;

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for, though a Persian, I am speaking truth." There are,

no doubt, some of the natives of Persia who do not deserve to be included in this general description, and who are distinguished by their regard for truth: but their numbers are too inconsiderable to save their countrymen 2 H

from

from the reproach of falsehood, as claimed, that he was totally unable a prevalent national vice.

to pay the tax which had been inposed on him. "You must pay "it, or leave the city," was the reply. "I cannot pay it,” said the man; " and to what other

place can I go?”—“You may "either proceed to Shiraz, er "Kashan, if you like those towns "better than this," said the Governor. "Your brother," replied the shopkeeper," is in power

at one of these cities, and your "nephew at the other: what relief "can I expect in either?"—"You

The citizens of Persia are not subdued by their situation into a submissive character. They are easily inflamed into passion, and act, when under its influence, like men careless of the result. A stranger, who is unacquainted with the nature of the government, and the latitude of speech which it permits in those whom it oppresses, is surprised to hear the meanest inhabitant of a town venting imprecations against his superiors, nay, sometimes against the sacred person of the king himself. These extraordinary ebullitions of pas-"King, if you think I have comsion, which are very common among the lower orders in Persia, generally pass unheeded. Sometimes they may provoke a reproof, or a few blows; but they never receive consequence from the unwise interference of power to repress them.

Many of the inhabitants of the principal cities in Persia are men of some education: but even those who are not so, are remarkable for the fluency of their language. They express themselves with a freedom and boldness that is not always restrained by the disparity of rank between them and the person whom they address. Hajee Ibrahim, the late prime minister of Persia, who gloried in the name of citizen, used to delight in relating a dialogue which took place between his brother, who was Beglerbeg, or Governor of Isfahan, and a seller of vegetables in that city. On an extraordinary impost being laid upon every shop, the latter forced himself into the Goyernor's presence when he was giving public audience, and ex

may proceed to court," said the Ruler," and complain to the

"mitted injustice."—" Your bro"ther, the Hajee, is prime mi"nister," said the man." Go "to Hell!" exclaimed the enraged Governor, "and do not trouble "me any more!"-" The holy

man, your deceased father, is "perhaps there," said the undaunted citizen. The crowd could not suppress their smiles at the boldness of their countryman: and the Governor, who shared the general feeling, bade the complainant retire, and he would attend to his case, provided he would not bring a curse upon his family, by insisting that they shut him out of all hopes of justice, both in this world, and in that which is to come.

The character of the military tribes differs essentially from that of the other inhabitants of Persia. The chiefs of these clans are often as much distinguished for their generosity as their courage. They are, from their condition, less artful than the ministers and principal civil officers of the kingdom: but they cannot be deemed ex

empt

empt from that vice, though it is corrected by their pride and violence. Arrogant from birth, and surrounded, from infancy, by devoted dependants, their minds are habitated to overrate their own pretensions, and depreciate those of others. When inflamed with passion, they in an instant lose all that courtly manner which they are accustomed to assume, and give way to the most ungovernable rage. They seldom suffer from the bold imprudence of the language which they use on these occasions, as they can always plead in excuse the habits of the rude class to which they belong and the consideration they demand, upon this ground, is hardly ever refused, even by the monarch himself, if he has been the object of their intemperance. The character of these military nobles may be said to change with the state of their country: when that is settled for any long period, they lose a great deal of their native honesty and violence. Educated at the capital, where, in youth, they are generally kept as hostages for the good conduct of their fathers; and compelled to constant attendance on the king after they have attained manhood; they become in time courtiers, and are not, except in being more haughty, materially different from the other nobles and principal officers of the country. We can neither praise them, nor any other of the higher ranks in Persia, for their strictness in either moral or religious duties to the former, they do not even pretend to give much attention; and though they are careful as to the observance of all the forms of the latter, they

often appear indifferent as to the substance, and are in the habit of discussing the tenets and dogmas of their faith with a freedom that sometimes borders upon impiety.

The character of the Eelleats, or men who continue to dwell in tents, is very opposite to that of the inhabitants of cities. They have the virtues and vices of their condition; are sincere, hospitable, and brave; but rude, violent, and rapacious. They are not in need of falsehood and deceit, and therefore not much in the habit of practising them: but if they have fewer vices than the citizens of Persia, it is evidently the absence of temptation, and the ignorance of luxury and refinement, which give them all the superiority they boast; for it is remarked, that they never settle in towns, or enter them as victors, without exceeding the inhabitants in every species of profligacy.

The females of Persia who dwell in towns are usually placed in the situation of slaves; and have, therefore, many of those qualities which belong to that condition. The different shades of character of a race who can hardly be said to have any influence in the community, is of little importance; and if it were otherwise, we cannot have suffi cient information of the subject to form any correct judgment upon it. If common report is to be credited, or if we grant our belief to the tales of Persian writers, the art and ingenuity of the women of that country are very often successful in eluding the jealous vigilance of their domestic tyrants. Of the females of the wandering tribes we have already 2 H 2

spoken:

spoken they enjoy a fair portion of liberty; and if they are inferior to the natives of cities in beauty of person and softness of manner, they are superior to them in industry, in chastity, and many other virtues. We meet, indeed, with frequent examples, among this class, of an elevation of sentiment, and an heroic courage, which nothing but the freedom of their condition could inspire.

In speaking generally of the inhabitants of Persia, we may describe them as a handsome, active, and robust race of men, of lively imagination, quick apprehension, and of agreeable and prepossessing manners. As a nation they may be termed brave: though the valour they have displayed, like that of every other people in a similar condition of society, has, in a great degree, depended upon the character of their leaders, and the nature of those objects for which they have fought. Their vices are still more prominent than their virtues. Compelled, by the nature of their government, to have recourse, on every occasion, to art or violence, they are alternately submissive and tyrannical. Many of their more serious defects of character may be attributed to the same cause and there is, perhaps, no country in which so much of the immortality of its inhabitants can be referred to a bad system of internal administration as Persia. This reflection, though it mitigates the sense we entertain of the depravity of individuals, leaves but little hope of their amendment; for it is evident that can alone be effected by the con

currence of many radical changes, with a complete alteration in their political condition; an event which neither their past history nor present state can lead us to anticipate.

ACCOUNT OF THE BOSJESMANS.

(From Lichtenstein's Travels in Southern Africa.)

Several Bosjesmans had arrived at the camp, with whom the General was engaged in an amicable intercourse, presenting them with food and other trifling presents. They were all strikingly low in stature, and seemed as if half famished. One of them, and by no means the least of the party, was measured, and found to be only four feet three inches high; he appeared between forty and fifty years of age. The women were still less, and ugly in the extreme. The colour of their skin was lighter than that of the Hottentots; some among them were even less yellow than the Spaniards at Teneriffe ; at the same time it must be observed, that the genuine colour of the skin can seldom be accurately distinguished, on account of the grease with which it is smeared over. The physiognomy of the Bosjesmans has the same charaeteristic features as that of the Hottentots, but their eyes are infinitely more wild and animated, and their whole countenance far more expressive, exhibiting stronger symptoms of suspicion and apprehension: all their actions indicate strong passion much more forcibly. This difference originates undoubtedly in the constant exertions of mind and body, occasioned by the wretched life they lead.

They

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