whereto the Persians belonged,
is not perhaps so gifted as some others; but it has qualities which
place it above most of those by which Western Asia was anciently
peopled. In the primitive times, from Cyrus the Great to Darius
Hystaspis, the Persians seem to have been rude mountaineers, probably
not very unlike the modern Kurds and Lurs, who inhabit portions of
the same chain which forms the heart of the Persian country. Their
physiognomy was handsome. A high straight forehead, a long slightly
aquiline nose, a short and curved upper lip, a well-rounded chin,
characterized the Persian. The expression of his face was grave and
noble. He had abundant hair, which he wore very artificially arranged.
Above and round the brow it was made to stand away from the face in
short crisp curls; on the top of the head it was worn smooth; at the
back of the head it was again trained into curls, which followed each
other in several rows from the level of the forehead to the nape of the
neck. The moustache was always cultivated, and curved in a gentle sweep.
A beard and whiskers were worn, the former sometimes long and pendent,
like the Assyrian, but more often clustering around the chin in short
close curls. The figure was well-formed, but somewhat stout; the
carriage was dignified and simple. [PLATE XI, Fig. 1.]

[Illustration: PLATE 11.]

Simplicity of manners prevailed during this period. At the court there
was some luxury; but the bulk of the nation, living in their mountain
territory, and attached to agriculture and hunting, maintained the
habits of their ancestors, and were a somewhat rude though not a coarse
people. The dress commonly worn was a close-fitting shirt or tunic of
leather, descending to the knee, and with sleeves that reached down to
the wrist. Round the tunic was worn a belt or sash, which was tied in
front. The head was protected by a loose felt cap and the feet by a sort
of high shoe or low boot. The ordinary diet was bread and cress-seed,
while the sole beverage was water. In the higher ranks, of course, a
different style of living prevailed; the elegant and flowing "Median
robe" was worn; flesh of various kinds was eaten; much wine was
consumed; and meals were extended to a great length; The Persians,
however, maintained during this period a general hardihood and bravery
which made them the most dreaded adversaries of the Greeks, and enabled
them to maintain an unquestioned dominion over the other native ra