m a Mohammedan he must not touch the same, as the merchant could not
thereafter sell it to a Mohammedan.

There are many pick-pockets, both male and female in the crowded
streets. A stranger must beware.

WEIGHTS.

The standard measure is the miscal, 100 of which equals a pound. Four
Persian pounds equal one hapta while it takes five American pounds to
equal one hapta. Eight hapta equal one batma. Four batma equal one
khancaree. In this measure they weigh raisins, molasses, and tobacco.
Ten batma equal one load. In this they weigh green wheat, corn, etc.
Twenty-five batma equal kharwar. In this they weigh fuel.

The money is of copper and silver and a very little gold. The following
table shows the values of Persian coins:

25 denars = 1/2 cent
50 denars = 1 cent
100 denars = 2 cent
500 denars = 10 cent
1,000 denars = 20 cent
10,000 denars = 100 dollar

The bankers sit on small rugs before the shops with boxes of money in
their laps. Their chief business through the day is to change money.
For changing 20 cents into copper, they charge one cent, and the fee
increases in proportion to the amount of the bill changed. Interest in
Persia, especially among Mohammedans, is very high, being from 12 to 15
per cent. per annum. But the synod of the Presbyterian Evangelical
Church has a law which forbids any of their members charging more than
10 or 11 per cent.

There are no gas or electric lights in the streets of a Persian city.
The mayor appoints an officer, who has a number of assistants, to watch
over the city day and night. Every day of the year is given a name by
the mayor; as, lion, eagle, Cyrus, fortune, etc. This word is known
only to the officials and such persons as may have been given
permission to be out at a late hour. If an officer finds a man on the
street after 9 o'clock he calls to him to give the name of the night.
If he can't do this he is arrested. One of the worst things in a
Persian city is the large graveyards, which contain two to five acres
of ground. Mohammedans dig up the remains of a dead relative to carry
it to a shrine place, and these removals often fill the city with bad
odors. These graveyards make excellent hiding places for robbers and
thieves. There are many robbers outside of the city walls, and it is
very dangerous to go out after night, even a distance of one mile.
Victims are usually shot while at a distance, or stabbed and then
p