But What Can Be Expected From A Youth Of Seventeen, Who Has Received Little Or No Education; Was Married At Fifteen, And, Two Years Afterwards, Takes The Unlimited Control Of A Large Province With A Revenue Of A Million Tomans (500,000 Pounds), And With Every Means Of Gratifying His Desires.

The prince has at present only one regular wife, although he is allowed to have four; however, he has no scarcity of handsome female friends.

It is the custom in Persia, that when the king, or the successor to the throne, hears that any one of his subjects has a handsome daughter or sister, he demands her. The parents or relations are greatly rejoiced at this command, for if the girl is really handsome, she is, in any case, well provided for. If, after some time, she no longer pleases the king or prince, she is married to some minister or rich man; but, if she has a child, she is immediately considered as the king's or prince's acknowledged wife, and remains permanently at court. When, on the contrary, a girl does not please the regent at first sight, her family are very much disappointed, and consider themselves unfortunate. She is, in this case, sent home again immediately, her reputation for beauty is lost, and she has not, after this, much chance of making a good match.

The princess is already a mother, but, unfortunately, only of a daughter. She is, for the present, the chief wife of the prince, because no other female has given birth to a son; but whoever brings the first son into the world will then take her place:

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