two guests; then pillaus were produced, and after them such a succession and variety of dishes, as would have sufficed for ten companies of our number. The whole of these were served up in vessels of fine china, and in the bowls of sherbet were placed long spoons, made of pear-tree, each of which contained about as much as six common table-spoons.

"The Persians ate most heartily and indiscriminately of sweet and sour, meat and fish, fruit and vegetable: but they betrayed a peculiar fondness for rice, as well as spices and every other stimulant, which they strongly recommended.

"As the Envoy sat next to the Minister, and I next to him, we very frequently received marks of his peculiar attention and politeness. These consisted in large handfuls of certain favourite dishes, which were by main strength torn off, and put before us. Sometimes a full grasp of lamb, mixed with sauce of prunes, pistachio-nuts, and raisins; at another time, a whole partridge disguised by a rich brown sauce; and then, with the same hand, he scooped out and gave us a piece of melon, or a piece of omelet swimming in fat.

"The dishes were set before the guests promiscuously, and the silence with which the whole was transacted was the most agreeable. No rattling of plates, or knives and forks: no lacquies, no drink

ing of healths, no disturbance of carving; scarcely a word was spoken; all were intent on the business before them. The whole disappeared as if by magic, and then ewers and basins were brought in, and every one washed his hands and mouth."

On another occasion he sorrowfully writes: "The business of eating was a pleasure to the Persians, but it was a misery to us. They comfortably enough placed their chins close to the dishes, and scooped up the rice or other food with three fingers and the thumb of the right hand; but in vain did we attempt to approach the dishes; our tightkneed breeches, and the ligaments and buttons of our dress, forbade us; we were therefore obliged to manage as well as we could, and fragments of meat and rice were continually falling through our fingers. Luckily, however, this could occasion no great offence to Persian delicacy, for on the ground was spread the sofra, a fine chintz cloth, which had been so long unchanged, as to emit no very savory scent. The Persians endure this, saying,"changing the sofra brings ill luck.”

ARMENIA.-A drole procession is related by Pouqueville, which he saw in an Armenian marriage at Pera. The march commenced by discordant fiddlers and flute-players, with dancers, who sang and tripped it at the same time; they were followed by a groupe of relations; next came a body of men, with torches of yellow wax, who seemed as

if escorting a funeral; immediately afterwards the bride was seen, supported by two of her nearest relations; a sack was drawn over her head down to her feet; with a wooden platter or tea-board upon her head, by which the sack was kept from her mouth and nostrils. She was separated from the bridegroom by a party of guests. He then came alone, enveloped in napkins, with his arms crossed and placed on his breast; his head was covered with a silk shawl, and inclined on the left shoulder; while his long whiskers and lamentable appearance gave rather the idea of a criminal about to receive punishment, than a bridegroom about to receive the hymeneal crown. The banquet degenerated into a most scandalous orgie, which lasted without interruption for three days and three nights.

The Armenian clergy are allowed to marry, but they are not allowed to say mass for the space of seven days after their nuptials, and when they are allowed, they must be shut up in the church five days previous, and five days subsequent thereto; during which time they must have nothing to live upon but vegetables and water. A second marriage totally incapacitates them from officiating ever after. A father is prohibited marrying with a god-child; nor can ever those marry who are of different families, if they happen to have the same godfather. The Armenian's chil

dren are all married during their infancy, which is a political precaution to preserve them from being sent to the emperor's, seraglio, or harems of the grandees, the Persians being particular in avoiding adultery, or depriving a man of his wife. Though the contract is thus made in infancy, the cohabitation is not permitted until a suitable age. The bridegroom annually makes the bride a present at Easter, consisting of a fine silk garment, &c. prior to the celebration of the nuptials.

Among the Georgians, some follow the Armenian custom of marrying their children while infants, that their lords or governors may not take the girls for concubines; but this is only to be understood of those who have a larger share of decency than the generality of them.

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SIAM.-The Siamese do not permit young gins to have any conversation with the young men, but, notwithstanding every precaution, assiguations sometimes take place. A love-intercourse, if fairly carried on, is not thought to be dishonorable, but implies a nuptial engagement; and after this the least coldness or indifference would be a misfortune equal to a divorce. The women of Pegu, in Siam, are looked upon as loose and abandoned, because they give a greater licence to their desires than the Siamese ladies, and will live as mistresses with their gallants.

The Talapoines of Siam are the priests and

friars of this country, and a number of females constitute themselves Talapoinesses, or nuns; but this does not take place until their charms are injured by time, and there is no chance of marriage. In a treaty of marriage, the female relations of the young man apply to the parents of his mistress, and the fortune-teller and nativity-caster are consulted on the probabilities of the future happiness of the parties, whose approbation or dislike determines the steps to be taken. When the marriage is at the point of conclusion, the intended bridegroom pays three visits to his mistress, at the last of which the valuation of the young lady's dower is made; and deposited in the hands of the bridegroom, together with his own fortune. The lawyers are not called in as in England, and immeasurable parchments and stamps provided, but all is delivered on the spot, and the presence of the parents is sufficient testimomy of the fact. The marriage is then consummated without any other ceremony either civil or religious. On their wedding-day, among their festivities dancing is not admitted. The festival is kept at the bride's father's, at the bridegroom's expence, and after this they reside for some months together in a solitary apartment built at some distance from the father's house, to make trial of each other's temper and affection.

Polygamy is allowed in Siam, but it is held