Kandahar have so often betray'd the King A Precaution to keep the Frontiers secure in delivering the Fortress to the Mogul that there are no more sent but such as are Faithful Rich and Powerful and who would not have been able to have found greater Advantages in his Court than they had at home in their own And besides they always pitch upon a good Family that they may retain 'em for Hostages The King always keeps a strong Garison in the Province of Candahar for fear of being surpriz'd by the Bullodges and Agwanes that inhabit the Mountains These are People that live in Tents like our First-fathers They are very Warlike and know how to use a Bow admirably well but they are great Thieves and never give any Quarter to the Caravans They live in Scythia yet are Subjects of the Great Mogul but still he is not so much their Master but that they 'll serve them that give 'em most Persia knows how to manage 'em very well for it allows 'em so many Privileges and Advantages Colony of Christians in Scythia that if they do not altogether engage 'em to their Service yet they take away their Inclinations of doing 'em any harm They make the Sign of the CROSS and love Christians extreamly but have as great an Aversion for Mahometans They are of those Armenians of Turcomania and the Countries about the Caspian Sea which Tamerlan carried away to plant 'em in Colonies in Scythia They have forgot their Religion but for the little that remains in 'em of Christianity it would be much easier for the Missionaeries to make good Christians of them than to convert those Schismatick Armenians so much these last are wedded to their Errours and Superstitions The Intrigues the King of Persia has in the Mogul's Court The Mogul 's Son a Refugee in Persia and the favourable Reception he gave to his Fourth Son Cha Hegber seven Years since has made some believe he had a secret Intelligence with that Prince about the Revolt against his Father 'T is very well known that Cha Abbas his Father got the Province of Kandahar upon the like occasion But nevertheless these Conjectures are not very valid for the King has not only refus'd this Prince Assistance but given sufficient proofs that he on the contrary highly disapprov'd of his Designs against his Father Yet it is to be doubted whether he will make any scruple to assist him against his Brothers after his Father's death and whether he would not be very glad to divide that Empire whose daily encrease gives him so much Jealousie Cha Hegber is Son of a Recheboude His Rebellion against his Father those of his Nation who are the best Soldiers the Mogul has being revolted against him engag'd this Prince to seize upon the Government for fear his elder Brothers should do it before him after their Father's death Therefore putting himself at their Head he advanc'd towards the Capital City where he might very well have surpriz'd his Father who had no Forces about him had not the wary Monarch oppos'd his Designs after this manner He counterfeited his Son's Hand and Seal and dispatch'd away a faithful Servant immediately into the midst of his Son's Army where pretending he was coming from his Son towards him he was immediately stopp'd by the Recheboudes who surprizing him found the Letter in these Words Dear Honoured SIR DO not believe me capable of daring to make any Attempt against your Person or Kingdom the Recheboudes who have given you so much Disturbance in their Rebellion have at length found in me a General who know my Duty so far as to submit 'em to your Pleasure I have therefore brought 'em to your Capital City to deal with according to your Discretion But be sure to have your Guards ready to seize upon the Chief Ringleaders and be humbly assur'd I shall be one of the first who shall endeavour to deliver 'em to Justice and you shall be fully satisfied of my Fidelity by my Diligence to punish the rest Your Dutiful CHA HEGBER When the Recheboudes had read this Letter they immediately resolv'd to disengage themselves from Cha Hegber and all the Protestations he was able to use were not sufficient to appease ' em The greatest part of 'em left him and the others would not advance a step farther insomuch as the Mogul had time to raise Men with which he gave a total Overthrow to his Son and forc'd him to save his Life 'T was then he fled into Persia where the King entertain'd him with a most magnificent and numerous Court for many Great Lords follow'd him in this Disgrace and do now wait for some favourable Revolution when they may enter into India They impatiently expect the King's Death who is at present said to be above an Hundred years old The Persians have more reason to fear the Usbeg Tartars for Enemies Usbeg Tartars how troublesome to Persia for tho' they be worse Disciplined yet the unexpected courses they take in unproper seasons are so much the more grievous to the Persians as they cannot possibly be prevented and when they have ravag'd a Country they cannot be pursu'd They are not to be stopt by the vast and burning Desarts that separate them from the Province of Kandahar They make these Enterprizes in the very hottest part of the Summer and trouble themselves but little with carrying Provisions their natural love of Flesh enclining 'em to eat any thing Their natural Barbarity nay so much as their Baggage-Horses after they have spent all the Hay and Oats they carry'd for the sustenance of those for their Saddle They always eat their Flesh raw and when they are adry they prick their Horses Necks and suck out the Blood which serves 'em instead of Drink They have a sort of little Pads which are as indefatigable as they are fleet The Persians were never made to live after this manner and therefore they suffer the more by their Incursions These Usbegs do not content themselves with only Ravaging they have at present a numerous Army on foot which has so weakened the Persian Troops with their frequent Skirmishes and Surprizes for near these six Years that this War has been begun that 't is to be fear'd they may at last take the City of Masched and recover the Province of Corrassan which Cha Abbas the Great took from them 'T is not to be doubted but that the Mogul will be ready to encourage 'em and to furnish 'em with requisite supports And this Suspicion is not without a reasonable ground for 't is certain that the Usbegs did not begin this Wat before the King of Persia had receiv'd this Princes Son into his protection Masched is a City very Rich City of Masched the place of the Persian Pilgrimage because 't is the place whither the Persians make their Pilgrimage Cha Abbas having a mind to prevent his Subjects carrying Money out of his
at the time of Audiences when there is nothing serv'd up but Sweetmeats and Fruits The Europeans who have the Honour to be call'd to these Feasts always find wherewithal to satisfie their Appetites for every thing is exquisite in its kind and well order'd Their way of Eating But they are often at a stand when they see they must eat Rice with their open Hands and tear the boil'd and rost with their Fingers for here you have neither Knives Forks nor Napkins They give you indeed a sort of Box-spoons but they are to drink a certain Liquor made of Rose-water boil'd Wine and Verjuice which you always drink with your Rice If you would you could not make use of 'em to eat because they are very large and deep and therefore not to be taken into your Mouths The Modesty Respect and Discretion of the Persian Officers is to be wonder'd at for they sit all in a profound silence at the King's Table Moreover their Repasts are generally so short Their Modesty at these Feasts that they have not time to talk if they were enclin'd eating open-handed for scarce is the last Table serv'd before the first is ready to be taken away The Magnificence of the King of Persia appears the more glorious How the King treats Strangers by reason of the great Number of foreign Princes that he entertains at his Court The Son of the Great Mogul the Princesses of Georgia and many Usbeg Princes keep their Courts with him at present at his Charge Ambassadors Envoys and others that bring Letters from any Princes of Asia and Europe which they confound all under the Names of Guests are lodg'd and entertain'd by his sole Bounty and to whom he never grants Audiences of Leave 'till he has made 'em Presents of Silver brocard and Silk Stuffs work'd in his Manufacturies Also there is nothing more obliging His obliging manner of receiving Ambassadours c. than the manner after which he receives 'em for no sooner are they arriv'd on the Confines and have acquainted the first Governour that they bring Dispatches to the King from such and such Princes but he immediately provides 'em Horses to mount themselves and Followers and furnishes 'em moreover with Mules and Camels to carry their Baggage And this all by the King's Orders who sends some of the Principal Officers to conduct 'em on to Court with express Commands to see 'em provided of all things necessary where ever they come When they are arriv'd at the City where the King is they place 'em in some House in the Suburbs and immediately go to give the King an account which he no sooner hears but he receives 'em into the Number of his Guests and orders the Introducer of Ambassadours to bring 'em such News on his behalf to prepare 'em an House richly furnish'd and therein to inrroduce 'em with Honour The Introducer immediately goes to salute 'em and after mutual Ceremonies takes an account of the number of their Retinue and accordingly hastens away to acquaint the King who assigns 'em all suitable Maintenance After this the Introducer goes to 'em again and conducts 'em to their Apartments prepar'd for ' em He provides 'em also a certain number of Guards to prevent any Affronts might be offer'd ' em He lays 'em in all things necessary for one Month and so continues every new Moon as long as they stay He makes 'em frequent Visits to inform himself of their Health and Occasions for any thing that he might inform the King He also conducts 'em to all Publick Audiences and Feasts where they have a proper Place assign'd ' em They are honour'd and respected where ever they come and it would be to wound the King in his tenderest Part to affront or give the least cause of Discontent to any of his Guests He has a great deal of Regard towards 'em and defrays their Charges when they return as well as when they come to his Court. He entertains into his Service all sorts of European Workmen European Workmen esteem'd of and entertain'd but he respects the French most of whom he has at present many skilful and excellent Watch-makers and Jewellers He gives 'em very munificent Salaries and there are some of 'em that receive 2500 Livres per Annum which together with all necessary Provisions amounts to a great Summ. The King esteems their Labour so dear that he will have 'em work for no body else He also entertains some Chineses and a great number of other Artists from all the Nations of Asia All those Lords who have the Honour to assist at these Feasts of the King of Persia His manner of taking the Air on Horse-back and other Diversions are oblig'd to wait upon him whenever he goes on Horse-back He mounts oftentimes to receive the Petitions of his Subjects as he passes and to entertain himself about Affairs of State with his Etmadaulet and other Ministers and sometimes to see the Exercises of the young Lords of his Court perform'd on Horse-back in that fine Course that Cha Abbas his Grandfather made to set off the City of Ispahan Cha Abbas having a mind to fix the Seat of his Successours at Ispahan A fine Course spar'd no cost to adorn it with magnificent Palaces Houses of Pleasure and noble Walks and amongst the rest that fine Course he planted between the New and Old City is one of the most bewitching 'T is a Walk very streight and uniform more than two hundred Geometrical feet broad and two good French Leagues long It s Description It is set on each side with a great number of Plane-Trees which are large high and spreading and whose Leaves being of the bigness of those of a Vine make a very agreeable Shade This Course beginning at the declining of the Mountain Sofa is made round so that the Fountain which is in the middle throws its Spouts agreeably on all sides into great eight corner'd Basons as large as Ponds which receiving their Force with regret returns 'em into several other Basons at three hundred Paces distance one from another which must needs be thought to make a very pleasant Sight Between the spaces of these Basons are the King 's Royal Houses on both sides of the Walk one over against another they are built after the same manner and their Structure is both commodious and magnificent They have many Stories distinguish'd by Balconies and which advance upon the Course Their Fronts are embellish'd with Paintings and enrich'd with Leaves and Flowers of Gold in demi Relievo This Walk is cross'd by another less both in length and breadth Another Course but which has a very fair Canal in the middle of it of about twenty foot broad and six in depth The Walls on both sides are open Pallisado'd with Iron gilded and which gives a very delightful Prospect into the King's Garden The River Zendroud cuts the Course a little below the Walk
Kingdom to that of the Ottoman's dissuaded 'em from their Pilgrimage to Mecca and inspir'd 'em with great Devotion for Iman Reza one of the Twelve Saints of Persia who has his Sepulchre at Masched He has made this Tomb Famous by a great many false Miracles he caus'd to be practis'd there for placing People there on purpose who should counterfeit themselves Blind they suddenly receiv'd their Sight at this Sepulchre and immediately cryed out A Miracle He procur'd so great a Veneration for this Tomb of Iman Reza that most of the greatest Lords in Persia have desired to be bury'd in his Mosque and to which they give great Legacies From thence arises the great Treasure it has in it and of which no doubt the Vsbegs are more desirous than of the Town it self They were so near to it about two Years ago that the King was oblig'd to send a puissant Army thither under the Conduct of Roustan Kan his Divan Begui and Favourite He omitted nothing to divide these Usbegs insomuch that his good Deeds prevail'd upon the Prince D' Organge to be detach'd from their side The good Intelligence the King of Persia always has with the Kalmoukes and Lezguis Good Intelligence with the other Tartars against the Muscovites serves for a Bulwark to defend him against the Muscovites on the North Nevertheless they might very much incommode Persia by Pyracies on the Caspian Sea For the Cossacks who live under their Obedience dayly encrease in strength there but yet they would not do wisely to make any descent for their Troops are not fitting to grapple with those of Persia especially such as live about Mount-Caucasus for they retain too much of the Courage of the Amazons from whom they descend ever to be overcome The Women also have a great deal of their Valour in them They are very Tall and very Fair and do not want for Chastity Their Men have also a great Meen and are very strong but are unreasonably Brutish and have little or no Neatness The Grand Signior is the most formidable Enemy the Persians have The Persians Politicks in regard of the Grand Signior His State confines with Persia from the Black Sea even to Balsora which comprehends both the West and the South The Christian Princes in League against the Grand Signior not being satisfied with the Answers they receiv'd byt their Ambassadors sent Solomon Skourki whom I have mention'd before once more to Sollicite the King of Persia with new Arguments in which they employ'd all the power of Politicks to engage him to advantage himself by the Confusion and Disorder the Grand Signior was in and moreover they endeavour'd to persuade him that he might now restore his Empire to that glorious condition it was in in the Reign of his Predecessor Ahasuerus who Govern'd 27 Provinces and of which the Grand Signior now enjoys Arabia Chaldaea Syria and the other Countries which are between Tygris and Aethiopia which confin'd the Empire of Ahasuerus But he was answered anew That the King of Persia would rather chuse to lose his Kingdom than to Conquer another contrary to Articles of Peace made betwixt him and the Grand Signior The Arabians who had possest themselves of Balsora two Years ago dispatcht away Couriers to the Governour of Laurestan to desire him to send thither a Garrison to take possession of that place for the King his Master whom the Governour sent away immediately to Court with other Couriers from him But the King did not think fit to accept of their Offer and they had the same Answer with the former The Persians His managing Alliances with his Neighbours against this Powerful Neighbour take care to manage their Alliance prudently with the Princes of Turcomania Curdistan and Arabia Deserta all which owe no Obedience to the Grand Signior They also carefully keep Correspondence with the Prince of the Arabians of Mascat to assist 'em against the Portuguese when they come with Sword in hand to demand their share of the Customs of Congo Bandarik and Baharin The King's Politicks are admirable in respect of the Georgians His Politicks with the Georgians who might give him a great deal of disturbance if they were once united against him But he knows how to keep 'em divided the better to correspond with his Interest He preferrs so advantageously all their greatest Lords that they forget both their Country and Religion to apply themselves wholly to his Service The greatest Trusts in the Empire are at present in their hands and they who have no Preferments yet have all their Places at Royal Feasts their Expences out of the Treasury and enjoy all other Privileges of the King's Guests and Tablers The care that Chiek-Sephi took to Establish a particular Sect which was so very different from the other Mahometans was an admirable Invention to prevent the People from Revolting through the Solicitations of either the Turks Tartars or Indians who are all their Neighbours for it has imprinted 'em with such an horrour of their belief that the Persians have a saying That if you should boil together a Sunni that is a Follower of Omar with Chiai who is a Follower of Ali their Substances would never Mix but keep their Antipathy and Opposition tho' they were both dissolv'd The Sunni's for their part and above all the Usbeg Tartars have so great an aversion for the Persians that a Soldier returning from the Campagne would be but ill received by his Wife if he should not bring her some of a Persian's Blood wherein she might indulge her Joy for his safe return The Persians have no other Codes The manner of administring Justice in Persia or Digests than the Interpretation of the Alcoran made by the Imans descended from Mortas Ali. They have three sorts of Tribunals 1. The Criminal which they call Ourf 2. The Civil called Cheher And 3. the Legal which has the name of Divan Ali that is The Soveraign Tribunal The Chief Justice of the Courts at Hispahan The sole Chief Justice of the Kingdom and all other Superiour Courts of the Kingdom is the Diven Begui He has a Derogat to execute his Sentences who also serves as Jaylor and sometimes as Judge to determine petty Criminal Causes The Kans are also Chief in their own Courts in their Provinces but there always lies an Appeal from them to the Divan Bigui The Divan Bigui has no cognizance of Treason for that is try'd in the inner part of the King's Palace without any relation had to the Council as I observed before But no Criminal whatever he be is Sentenc'd without the King's knowledge who must be fully acquainted with the Sadre's Decision who always determines the sort of Punishment according to the Laws prescribed by the Imans They proceed in these Courts much after the same manner with us of Europe viz. by Proofs Confronting of Witnesses and Tortures There are two sorts of Tortures in use in Persia as