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Shiavault - a Vault of Shia Islamic Books Salaman and Absal: an Allegory APPENDIX. What follows concerning the Royal Game of Chúgán comes from the Appendix to Vol. 1. of Sir William Ouseley's Travels in the East. Firdúsi tells of Siavesh and his Iranian (Persian) Heroes astonishing Afrasiáb of Turán with their Skill at this Game 600 years before Christ; and Gushtasp (Hystaspes), to the sound of Drum and Trumpet, drives the Ball Invisible with his Blow.

Nizámi sets Shírín and her Maidens playing at it, against her King, Khusrau Parvíz, and his Ministers; "On one side was the Moon and her Stars, "On the other The Shah and his Firmán-bearers." Ouseley however (allowing for Poetic License) believes the Game was played "through almost every Reign of the Sassanian Dynasty-as much esteemed by the Mahommedan Kings as by their Fire-worshipping Predecessors." "We find the Greek Emperor, Manuel Commenus, with his Byzantine Princes and Nobles, enjoying this Amusement on Horse-back in the 12th Century; the Wooden Ball having been exchanged for one more soft, form’d of stuff 'd Leather; and the Stick, or Wand, instead of a Hammer-like Head, terminating in a Hoop; which, as our Battledores or Tennis-rackets, presented to the Ball a reticulated space.

This Imperial Sport is well described by the Historian Cinnamus, who probably was a Spectator." It went by the slightly altered name Tsukanisterion-which word, however, since Chúgán means the Bandy-stick employed, more properly signifies, I suppose, the Ground played on; and equally related to the Persian, had they chosen to affix, as so often, the Verb common to themselves, the Greeks, the Latins, and us, and called the place of Exercise Chúgán istán ; or Chúgán- stand .

Piétro della Valle, who saw it played in Shah Abbas’ time (1618), calls it "Pallamaglio," and found both Game and Name subsisting in the Florentine "Calcio"-only that the Florentine played a-foot, and the Persian "piu nobilmente a Cavallo." The Spanish Jesuit Ovalle found it also (also on Foot) under the name of "Chueca," in South America, in 1646.

Ducange finds Name and Game also in the "Chicane"of Languedoc, from which he naturally thinks it borrowed; not daring to push Derivation to the English word "Chiquen," he says, "qui signifie un Poullet; en sorte que ‘ Chiquaner ’ seroit imiter les Poullets qui ont coutûme de courir les uns apres les autres pour arracher les morceaux du Bec," etc.