Page 416 - Cultures and Organizations

11

Intercultural Encounters

The English Elchi [ambassador] had reached Tehran a few days before we
arrived there, and his reception was as brilliant as it was possible for a dog of an
unbeliever to expect from our blessed Prophet’s own lieutenant. . . . The princes
and noblemen were enjoined to send the ambassador presents, and a general
command issued that he and his suite were the Shah’s guests, and that, on the
pain of the royal anger, nothing but what was agreeable should be said to them.
All these attentions, one might suppose, would be more than suffi cient to
make infidels contented with their lot; but, on the contrary, when the subject of

etiquette came to be discussed, interminable difficulties seemed to arise. The
Elchi was the most intractable of mortals. First, on the subject of sitting. On the
day of his audience of the Shah, he would not sit on the ground, but insisted
upon having a chair; then the chair was to be placed so far, and no farther,

from the throne. In the second place, of shoes, he insisted upon keeping on his
shoes, and not walking barefooted upon the pavement; and he would not even
put on our red cloth stockings. Thirdly, with respect to hats: he announced his
intention of pulling his off to make his bow to the king, although we assured
him that it was an act of great indecorum to uncover the head. And then, on

the article of dress, a most violent dispute arose: at first, it was intimated that
proper dresses should be sent to him and his suite, which would cover their

persons (now too indecently exposed) so effectually that they might be fit to be

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