Feofar mounted his favorite horse, which carried on its head
an aigrette of diamonds. The Emir still wore his uniform.
He was accompanied by a numerous staff, and beside him walked
the Khans of Khokhand and Koundouge and the grand dignitaries
of the Khanats.
At the same moment appeared on the terrace the chief
of Feofar's wives, the queen, if this title may be given
to the sultana of the states of Bokhara. But, queen or slave,
this woman of Persian origin was wonderfully beautiful.
Contrary to the Mahometan custom, and no doubt by some
caprice of the Emir, she had her face uncovered. Her hair,
divided into four plaits, fell over her dazzling white shoulders,
scarcely concealed by a veil of silk worked in gold, which fell
from the back of a cap studded with gems of the highest value.
Under her blue-silk petticoat, fell the "zirdjameh" of
silken gauze, and above the sash lay the "pirahn." But from
the head to the little feet, such was the profusion of jewels--
gold beads strung on silver threads, chaplets of turquoises,
"firouzehs" from the celebrated mines of Elbourz,
necklaces of cornelians, agates, emeralds, opals, and sapphires--
that her dress seemed to be literally made of precious stones.
The thousands of diamonds which sparkled on her neck, arms, hands,
at her waist, and at her feet might have been valued at almost
countless millions of roubles.
The Emir and the Khans dismounted, as did the dignitaries
who escorted them.
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