DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.15173#0248
230
VISIT THE MINISTER.
CHAP. IX.
we were, we could have no desire to try experi-
ments among those who seemed, outwardly at least,
such bigots. The dress which I have described is
nowhere enjoined by the Koran ; nor did it obtain
in these countries for two centuries after the pro-
phet, when the prejudice of some of the caliphs
discovered that the " Faithful" should be distin-
guished from those who were not Mahommedans.
On entering the city, the authorities did not
even search us; but in the afternoon an officer
summoned us to the presence of the minister. My
fellow-traveller was still labouring under fever, and
could not accompany me ; I therefore proceeded
alone to the ark or palace, where the minister lived
along with the king. I was lost in amazement at
the novel scene before me, since we had to walk
for about two miles through the streets of Bokhara,
before reaching the citadel. I was immediately
introduced to the minister, or as he is styled, the
Koosh Begee, or Lord of all the Begs, an elderly
man, of great influence, who was sitting in a small
room that had a private court-yard in front of it.
He desired me to be seated outside on the pave-
ment, yet evinced both a kind and considerate
manner, which set my mind at ease. The hardness
of my seat, and the distance from the minister, did
not overpower me with grief, since his son, who'
came in during the interview, was even seated
farther off than myself. I presented a silver watch
and a Cashmeer dress, which I had brought for the
purpose; but he declined to receive any thing,
saying, that he was but the slave of the king. He
VISIT THE MINISTER.
CHAP. IX.
we were, we could have no desire to try experi-
ments among those who seemed, outwardly at least,
such bigots. The dress which I have described is
nowhere enjoined by the Koran ; nor did it obtain
in these countries for two centuries after the pro-
phet, when the prejudice of some of the caliphs
discovered that the " Faithful" should be distin-
guished from those who were not Mahommedans.
On entering the city, the authorities did not
even search us; but in the afternoon an officer
summoned us to the presence of the minister. My
fellow-traveller was still labouring under fever, and
could not accompany me ; I therefore proceeded
alone to the ark or palace, where the minister lived
along with the king. I was lost in amazement at
the novel scene before me, since we had to walk
for about two miles through the streets of Bokhara,
before reaching the citadel. I was immediately
introduced to the minister, or as he is styled, the
Koosh Begee, or Lord of all the Begs, an elderly
man, of great influence, who was sitting in a small
room that had a private court-yard in front of it.
He desired me to be seated outside on the pave-
ment, yet evinced both a kind and considerate
manner, which set my mind at ease. The hardness
of my seat, and the distance from the minister, did
not overpower me with grief, since his son, who'
came in during the interview, was even seated
farther off than myself. I presented a silver watch
and a Cashmeer dress, which I had brought for the
purpose; but he declined to receive any thing,
saying, that he was but the slave of the king. He