Rensselaer Republican, Volume 28, Number 10, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 7 November 1895 — A Persian Dinner Party. [ARTICLE]

A Persian Dinner Party.

When the Persian host thinks that the entertainment has lasted long enough he gives the signal for supper, which is served either in the same or another room. A cloth is laid on the floor, around which are arranged the long flat cakes of “pibble bread,” which do double duty as food and plates. The meats, consisting for the most part of “pilaus” and “chilaws” of different sorts, are placed in the center, together with bowls of sherbet, each of which is supplied with a delicately carved wooden spoon, with deep, boat-shaped bowl, Whereof the sides slope down to form a sort of keel at the bottom. The guests squat down on their knees and heels round the cloth, the host placing him whom he desires most to honor on his right side at the upper end of the room (that is, opposite the door). At the lower end the musicians and minstrels take 'heir places, and all, without further delay, commence an attack on the viands. The consumption of .food progresses rapidly, with but little Conversation, for it is not usual in Persia to linger over meals, or to prolong them to talk,, which is better conducted while the mouth is not otherwise employed. If the host wishes to pay special honor to the guest, he picks out and places in his mouth some particular delicate morsel. In about a quarter of an hour from Hie commencement of the banquet most of the guestsChave finished and washed their hands by pouring water over them from a metal ewer into a plate of the same material, brought round by the servants for that purpose. They then rinse out their mouths, roll down their sleeves again, pariake of a final .pipe, and, unless they mean to stay for the night, depart homeward, either on foot or on horseback, preceded by a servant bearing a lantern.