of capital punishments, so that until a criminal had been declared deserving of death, according to the Abádían code, the order for his execution was not issued. The kings and chieftains of Iran never addressed harsh language to any one; but whenever a person deserved chastisement or death, they summoned the _Farhangdar_, or “judge,” and the _Dad-sitani_, or “mufti;” on which, whatever the code of _Farhang-abad_ enjoined in the case, whether beating with rods or confinement, was carried into effect: but the beating and imprisonment were never executed by low persons. Whatever intelligence was communicated by spies was submitted to a careful examination, in which they took great pains; and that unless reports made by two or more spies coincided, they carried nothing into execution. The princes and young nobles, like all others, began by personal attendance on the king: for example, the routine of _Hash-o-bash_, or “presence and absence” at court, was enjoined them in rotation, that they might better understand the state of humbler individuals: they even attended on foot, that they might more easily conceive the toils of the foot-soldier. _Bahzad_ the Yasanian, in one of his marches having proceeded a short distance, alighted from his horse,[360] on which a distinguished noble, named _Naubar_, thus remarked: “On a march it is not proper to remain satisfied with so short a journey.” On this, _Bahzad_ Shah, leaving the army in that place, said to the commander _Naubar_, “Let us two make a short excursion.” He himself mounted on horseback, and obliged the other to advance on foot. They thus traversed mountain and plain, until _Naubar_ became overpowered by fatigue, on which _Bahzad_ said: “Exert thyself, for our halting place is near;” but he having replied, “I am no longer able to move,” the king rejoined; “O oppressor! as thou art no longer able to proceed, dost thou not perceive that those who are on foot experience similar distress from performing too long a march?” “Thou, who feelest not for the distress of others, Meritest not to be called by the name of man.”