near his End commanded also that Ibrahim should be strangl'd who was the only Brother that remain'd However this Rigorous Command was not put in Execution for that Amureth not having any Children Ibrahim that was the only Remainder of the Ottoman Family was also Heir of the Empire By the way we are to observe that the reason which induc'd Amurat to let Ibrahim alone and put his two other Brothers to death though much younger was his want of Wit which rendring him unfit for Government secur'd him from any fear of a Rebellion for his sake So soon as he came to the Throne he plung'd himself into all manner of Vice and Wickedness His Debaucheries his Extortions and his Cruelties renderd him Odious and insupportable to all his Subjects He seiz'd upon the Revenues of the Mosquees and private Mens Estates without any distinction of Sacred or Prophane and frequently put to death such as he thought to be Rich to the end he might with more ease make himself Master of their Estates and all this to supply the inordinate Expences of his Pleasures and the excessive Luxury of his Court The Souldiers were ill paid which caus'd 'em to mutiny with a Resolution to depose Ibrahim in the Month of August 1648 and to set upon the Throne Mahamed his Eldest Son about seven Years of Age so that twelve Days after they strangl'd Ibrahim I have already related how that in the Minority of Mahamed the Empire was Govern'd by VVomen and Eunuchs who fill'd all the chief Places of Trust as they thought good themselves and particularly that of the Prime Minister till they gave it to Cuperly Mahomet who undertook the VVar of Transylvania His Successor who was his Son began that of Hungary which being ended by the Peace in the Year 1665. as already has been said for the next two Years he closely pursu'd the War of Candy where he found a longer and more vigorous Resistance then he expected Had Candy held out another Winter against the Turks 't is not to be question'd but that the Grand Vizier must have been forc'd to raise his Siege and then strange Commotions would have happen'd in the Empire The Veterane Janizaries were all either slain or dead in the Siege The rest would not budge a foot The Turks murmur'd at the War and cry'd out that the Ottoman Forces were commanded to dash out their Brains against a Rock The People of Constantinople were for advancing the Signior's Brother to the Throne His Highness was sollicited to put the Grand Vizier to death by means of such a Sacrifice to appease the Fury of the People and Souldiery Both the one and the other of these Changes had been sufficient to have rais'd the Siege The Grand Vizier knew all this So that he despair'd of putting an end to the War dismally afraid at once to lose both his Honour and his Life It is reported that he tore his very Hair from his Chin. However it is most certain that it brought upon him a most Incurable Distemper difficult to be nam'd It was an odd kind of seizure of the Heart or fainting of the Spirits caus'd by Fear Affliction and Pannick Terrour For which the Physitians prescrib'd him to drink pure Wine without any Mixture which he did every day nor could any thing but that do him any good When the News of the Surrender of Candy was brought to the Grand Signior his Highness could not believe it but when the Tydings were confirm'd it transported him to such an Excess of Joy that rather seem'd to be a sort of Frenzy for the time And both He and the whole Court frequently repeated these words The Franks have had pity upon Vs The Turks boasted upon the taking of Candy That they had Conquer'd all Christendom Because the Town had been defended by Soldiers and Volunteers from all parts of Christendom and they said moreover That the Siege had lasted three Years for that all Christendom had been there and done the utmost of their Endeavours The most useful and provident Preparation which the Grand Vizier made for the Siege was to make his Kiaia or Steward of his Houshold High Treasurer of the Empire For he knew the Love and Friendship which that Lord had for him and that for a need he would not spare his Life to do him Service And this same Foresight of his was the gaining of the Place and the safeguard of his own Life For the High Treasurer would not suffer any want to be in the Camp Sheep were there in great plenty at a Crown apiece The Markets were stor'd with all Things necessary for Food and Raiment And Men car'd not what they gave or what Risco's they ventur'd to carry Ammunition to a Place where Money abounded By the Accompts which the Treasurer brought into the Divan of the Extraordinary Expences at Candy the three last Years of the Siege it appear'd that Seven Hunderd Thousand Crowns had been spent in Gifts to Renegado's that turn'd Turks or left the Island to recompence such Souldiers as had behav'd themselves more bravely then others and to pay the Prizes set upon the Christians Heads which was half a Guinea for every Head By that Accompt it appear'd that the Turks had made an Hunderd Thousand Shot with their great Guns against the Place and that there had been slain before the Place Seven Basha's Fourscore Captains and Colonels 10400 Janisaries besides other Souldiers and Troops of the Provinces whose Pay is not charg'd to the State The Day that the Grand Vizier enter'd Candy Signor Molino who was sent by the Republick to make a Peace with the Port Riding a' one side of him the Grand Vizier told him That the Grand Signior had paid dear for the Island of Candy To whom Molino reply'd That it had cost the Republick as much no less then the Lives of a Hunderd Thousand Men without reck'ning the French The Grand Vizier ask'd him VVhy the Place was not surrender'd sooner in regard they had been but in a bad Condition a long time to hold it out To whom the Ambassador made answer That the King of France had hinder'd the Surrender by his Promises of Powerful Assistance and to declare a VVar against the Turks The Procurator Molino arriv'd in Candy in the Spring of the Year 1669. and lay at a place call'd Gozi not far from the Island From whence he sent to offer the Grabusi Spina Longa Suda and Tine Islands of the Archipelago Clissa and other Places upon the Continent the whole Expences of the VVar and an Annual Tribute of Fifty Thousand Crowns a Year for the City of Candy so that the Republick might keep the possession of it To which the Grand Vizier return'd for answer That the Grand Vizier valu'd his Honour at a Higher Rate then all the VVorld beside and therefore he would only have that Bit of a Rock which his Highness had been labouring for above these Four and Twenty Years But it
are of a Peculiar sort of Workmanship and shew the curiosity of the Artist For they are built one over the other and the uppermost is much higher and larger in the Diameter then that below which serves for a Basis to the other There are also three Hospitals in the City very neat and well in repair however there is no body lodg'd within 'em only they give Victuals to those that come twice a day These Hospitals at Tauris are call'd Ach-tucon that is Places where they spend a great deal of Victuals At the end of the City to the West upon a little mountain stands a Hermitage a very neat piece of Workmanship which they call Ayn Hali or the Eyes of Haly. This Califf whom their Prophet made his Son-in-Law was as the Persians report the most lovely man that was ever seen so that when they would signifie any thing that is extreamly handsom they say t is Haly's Eyes This Hermitage serves the Taurisians for a place of Devotion and the way to it for a walk of Pleasure Without the City of Tauris to the East appears a great Castle almost gon to decay which they call Cala-Rashidé It was built above 400 years ago by Cojé Reshid Grand Visier to King Kazan The Story reports that their King had five Grand Visirs because he did not believe that one could suffice to dispatch all the affairs of so great a Kingdom Abas the Great seeing that Castle ruin'd and judging it advantageously seated as well to defend the City as to command it caus'd it to be repair'd about fifty years since but his Successors not being of his opinion let it go to Ruin There are also to be seen the Ruins of the Principal Edifices and Fortifications which the Turks built there during the several times that they were Masters of it So that there are very few Rocks or Poynts of Mountains joyning to the City where nothing but the Ruins of Forts and Heaps of Rubbish are to be seen Of which I carefully survey'd a great Part but I could not discover any thing of Antiquity There is nothing to be digg'd up but Bricks and Flint Stones The onely Edifice that remains most entire among the Turkish Buildings is a large Mosquee the inside of which is inlay'd or rather pargetted with transparent Marble and all the Outside variegated in Mosaic work But the Persians account the Place defil'd because it was built by the Turks whose Faith they abominate Among the heaps of Rubbish of which I have spoken without the City to the South appear the Ruines of the Palace of the late Kings of Persia And to the East those of the Castle where they say Cosroes lodg'd and where he laid up the Holy Cros for Security and all those other sacred Spoyles which he brought away from Jerusalem The Piazza of Tauris is the most spacious Piazza that ever I saw in any City of the World and far surpasses that of Ispahan The Turks have several times drawn up within it Thirty Thousand Men in Battel Toward the Evening this Piazza is fill'd with all the meaner sort of People that repair thither for Sport and Pastime Where some are for Gaming some for Tricks of Activity some for seeing Jack-Puddings and Mountebanks act their Drolleries some for Wrestling others for Bull and Ram-fighting others for repeating Verses some reciting Stories in Prose and some to see Wolves dance The People of Tauris take great delight to see that sort of Sport insomuch that they bring those Dancing Wolves a hundred Leagues an end after they are well taught And such as are best instructed are sold for five hunder'd Crowns a piece many times also great Quarrels arise about these Wolves which are not easily appeas'd Nor is this Piazza empty in the day time as being a Market for all sorts of Provisions and things of small Price There is also another Piazza at Tauris which appears in the Plate before the demolish'd Castle call'd the Castle of Jafer-Pacha This was a Place for the Rendezvous and exercise of the Souldiers belonging to the Garrison now it serves for the Shambles where they kill and dress all sorts of large Meat which is sold in all parts of the City I have with great diligence endeavour'd to understand the number of the Inhabitants in Tauris but could never have a just account but I think I may truly reck'n it to amount to 550 Thousand Persons yet several Persons in the City would make me believe there could not be less than Eleven hundred Thousand The number of Strangers also which are there at all times is very great for that they resort thither from all parts of Asia Nor do I know of any sort of Merchandize of which there is not there a Magazine to be found The City is full of Artists in Cotton in Silk and in Gold The fairest Turbans in Persia are there made And I have heard several of the Principal Merchants of the City affirm that there are above six thousand Bayles of Silk wrought out in Manufacture every year The Trade of the City extends all over Persia and Turky into Muscovy Tartary to the Indies and over the Black-Sea The Air of Tauris is cold and dry very good and healthy nor can any man complain that it contributes to any bad disposition of Humors The Cold continues there a long time in regard the City is expos'd to the North for the Snow lies nine months in the year upon the tops of the Mountains that surround it The Wind blows almost every day Morning and Evening It also rains very often unless it be in the Summer nor is the Sky but seldom without Clouds any season of the Year It is seated in 38. deg of Latitude and 82 of Longit. It abounds with all things necessary for human Support so that a Man may fare there deliciously and very cheap The Caspian Sea which is not above forty Leagues distant affords 'em Fish And some they also take in the River of Agi before mention'd but that is only when the water is low The usual price of Bread is three pound for a penny and of a pound of Flesh Three half pence In the Summer there is great plenty of Venison and water Fowl But they kill very little Venison or other wild Beasts There are also Eagles in the Mountains one which I have seen sold by the Country people for a groat Persons of Quality let fly the Sparrow-Hawk at the Eagle which is a Flight full of Curiosity and much to be admir'd For the Sparrow-Hawk soaring above the Eagle stoops of a sudden with that swiftness strikes her Pounces into his sides and with her wings continually beating upon his head sends him in a short time to the ground Yet sometimes it happens that both the Eagle and the Sparrow-Hawk come both to the Earth together In the same manner the Sparrow-Hawks will many times stop the flight of hunted Stags and render the Chace much
Foundation of Tauris the City was almost ruin'd by an Earth-quake But Montevekel Califf of Bagdad of the Race of the Abas's who then Reigned not only repair'd but enlarg'd it A hundred fourscore and ten years after that the 14 of the Month Sefer another Earthquake more violent than the former utterly ruin'd it in one night The Persian Geography relates how that at the same time there resided in the City a Learned Astrologer of Shiras call'd Aboutaher or Just Father who foretold that the said Earth-quake should happen upon the Sun's entrance into Scorpio in the year 235. of the Hegyra which answers to the year 849. of the Christian Epoche and should overthrow the whole City To which when he found the People would give no Credit he went and was importunat with the Governor to force the People out of the City The Governor who was also the Califfs Lieutenant over all the Province being always a great Admirer of judicial Astrology gave way to his Importunity and did all the could to send away the People into the Country But finding that they still lookt upon the Prediction of the Earth-quake to be a meer Chimera and suspected some mischievous Design in the Governor he could not perswade above one half of the People to stir which fell out to their Destruction For the Earth-quake happ'ned exactly at the Hour mention'd in the Prediction to the overwhelming of forty thousand Persons The next year Emir Diueveron the Son of Mahamed-Rondain-Aredi Vice-Roy of Persia receiv'd Orders from the Calif to rebuild it larger and fairer than it was before and to know of that famous Astrologer Aboutaker under what Ascendant he should begin to work Who bid 'em begin when the Sun was in Scorpio and assur'd 'em the new City should never be troubled more with any Earth-quakes but that it was threatned with great Inundations of Water To which the History adds that the Event has in all respects verifi'd the Truth of the Prediction After this new Restoration Tauris came to be wonderfully enlarg'd famous and flourishing They assure us that in the Reign of Sultan Cazan which is about 400 years ago it extended in breadth North and South from the little Mountain of Ain Ali to the opposite Mountain call'd Tchurandog and in length from the River Agi to the Village Baninge which is two Leagues beyond the City The same History also observes for a Proof of the multitude of the Inhabitants where-with that City was peopl'd that the Pestilence happening among 'em there dy'd 40 thousand in one quarter before they were miss'd In the year 896. of the Hegira and 1490. of Christ the Princes of the Race of Sheith-Sephi having invaded Persia remov'd the Seat of the Empire from Ardevil which was their own Country to this City In the year 1514. Selim took it upon Composition two years after the King of Persia who thought himself not safe there retir'd from thence and seated himself at Casbin Selim stay'd not long at Tauris but he carry'd away with him a wealthy Booty and three thousand Families of Artificers the most part Armenians whom he settled in Constantinople Soon after his Departure the Inhabitants of Tauris rebell'd and falling unexpectedly upon the Turks made a most famous havock of the Enemy and became Masters of the City But Ibraim Basha General to Soliman the Magnificent severely reveng'd this Rebellion in the Year 955. of the Hegyra and Year of our Lord 1548. For he took the City by Assault and gave the Plunder of it to his Army who committed therein all manner of Inhumanity even to an Excess unheard of before In a word all that could be call'd Cruelty Fire and Sword was there put in Execution The Palace of King Tahmas and all the most considerable Structures were destroy'd and levell'd with the Earth Yet notwithstanding all these Calamities the City lifted up her head again at the beginning of Amuraths Reign and with the Assistance of some few Persian Troops put to the Sword all the Turkish Garrison consisting of Ten thousand men Amurath dismay'd at the Courage of the Taurisians sent a powerful Army under the leading of Osman his Grand Visir utterly to destroy and wholly to subdue the Inhabitants This Army enter'd the City and pillag'd it in the Year 994. by the Mahometan Accompt and the Year of our Lord 1585. at what time the Visir caus'd all the Fortifications which the Turks had raised before to be repair'd But eighteen years after this Expedition in the Year 1603. Abas the Great retook Tauris from the Turks with a small Force but with that Policy Diligence and Bravery which is hardly to be credited He divided the stoutest of his Soldiers into several small Bodies who surpriz'd the Corps du Guard and cut their Throats in such a moment of time that they had no notice of it in the Town These Troops were follow'd by a Body of five hundred Men disguiz'd like Merchants who enter'd the City with a plausible Story that they had left the Caravan a days journey behind Which the Turks readily believ'd because it is the Custom of the Caravans that upon their Approach near to Great Cities the Merchants go before besides that the Turks never dreamt but that they had been examin'd by the Corps du Guard Abas follow'd close and seeing his men were enter'd flew into the City at the head of six thousand Men while two of his Generals did the same on two other sides of the Town So that the Turks finding themselves surpris'd surrender'd only upon condition of sparing their Lives And the History farther observes that in this Expedition it was that that same Potent Prince first order'd one Brigade of his Army to carry Musquets and finding the good Effect of 'em order'd a mixture of fire-Arms among all his Forces Whereas before the Persians never made use of Guns in any of their Wars Now that we may not omit any thing in the History of Tauris that is worthy Observation it behoves us also to let ye know what the Armenian Authors have wrote concerning it They report that this City is one of the most Ancient in all Asia and that it was formerly call'd Sha-Hasten or the Royal Place for that the Persian Monarchs there kept their Court and that afterwards a King of Armenia who was call'd Cosroes chang'd the Name of it from Sha-Hasten into Tauris which in the Armenian Language signifies a Place of Revenge for that he there defeated the King of Persia who had murder'd his Brother The Government of the Province of Tauris is the Chiefest in all the Empire and annext to the Dignity of the Captain General-ship It brings him in thirty thousand Tomans Yearly which amount to much above a Million sterling besides Casualties which are very considerable in the Asiatic Governments The Governor bears the Title of Beclerbec He maintains three thousand Horse and has under him the Governors or Kan's of Cars Oroumi Maraga Ardevil and
much Rain and that the Soil is fruitful of it self whatever ancient Authors have wrote to the contrary the Parthian Air is dry to the extremest degree insomuch that for six Months together you shall neither see any Rain or any Clouds but the Soil is sandy and Nature produces nothing without good Husbandry and Pains The Country of the Parthians which was so long the Seat of the Empire of Asia is the largest and principal Province of the Persian Monarchy It is all the proper demeans of the King nor has it any Governor as the most part of the rest of the Provinces The Persians bound it to the East by the Province of Corasson or Coromitrena to the South by that of Fars which is properly Persia to the West by Azerbeyan or Media to the North by Guilan and Maganderaan which compose the Province of Hyrcania This Province extends it self at least two hundred Leagues in length and an hundred and fifty Leagues in breadth The Air is very dry and and the most healthy for the most part of any in the world It is more mountainous then level The Mountains are also very bare and to speak in general terms produce nothing but Thistles and Briers but the Plains are very fertile and pleasant where there is any Water otherwise the Soyl is very barren This large Province contains above forty Cities which is very much in Persia as not being an Empire peopl'd proportionably to its Extent The Orientals call the Country of Parthia Arac-agem that is to say Persian Arack They call it likewise Balad-el-Gebel or the Country of the Mountains for the reason 's already recited My Opinion is that the Scythians from whom as ancient Authors hold the Parthians deriv'd their Original were the lesser Tartars that inhabit to the North of Persia now call'd Yuzbecs and formerly Bactrians and that that same Arsaces who founded the Empire of the Parthians was a Native of the same Country with Tamerlan Halacou and those other Tartar Princes that made such great and famous Conquests in the Ages last past The 3d. we travell'd four Leagues keeping on to the South as when we first set out of Tauris the Road was very good only we had Mountains very near us upon the right and left hand We lay at Sirsham which is a large Inn adjoyning to three or four small Villages but seated in a sandy and dry Soyl and there the Officers that gather the Duties upon Goods transported out of the Kingdom keep their Post The 4th we travell'd seven Leagues through bushy Plains and Sands and we were forc'd to make several windings and turnings by reason of several Mole-Hills and little Sand-Hills in our way Nevertheless both on one the side and t'other at a distance we could see a Champian Country very delightful and fertile and Villages here and there which yielded a very delightful Prospect the River Zenjan wat'ring those Villages We lay at a large Caravanseray call'd Nichè built between five spacious Villages The 5th we travell'd six Leagues through a Road more pleasant and less crooked and observing the same Course as the day before and lodg'd at Zerigan a little City that contains not above two thousand Houses It is seated in a very narrow Plain between two Mountains that enclose it not above half a League one from the other The Soyl of Zerigan is fertile and pleasant and the Air wholsome and cool in the Summer The City without is surrounded with Gardens that yield both Pleasure and Profit but within the Town there is nothing remarkable but the great Ruins SULTANIE The 6th Our road lay through a Country the most lovely delightful that every Eye beheld through a fair Plain where the road was level and very straight Several pleasant Streams glide through it that render the Soyl very fertil The whole Plain is so strow'd with Villages that they are hardly to be number'd with so many Groves and Gardens that for me the most pleasant Land-skips and charming Prospects in the World We alighted after a journey of five Leagues at a Caravanserai call'd Queurk-boulag over against and within a good Canons shot of Sultanie This City is seated at the foot of a Mountain as you may see by the Draught which I have made of it It seems a far off very neat and well built and inflames a Man with a Curosity to see it but when you approach near it it ceases to be the same thing and appears less beautiful then when ye are within it Yet there are some publick Buildings very remarkable as well for the Structure as the Architecture together with about three thousand Habitations The people of the Country affirm that this City took up formerly half a League of Ground more to the West then it does and that the ruin'd Churches Mosques and Towers which are to be seen at that distance on that side stood in the heart of the City Which probably may be true seeing that Histories assure us that it was once the Metropolis and biggest City of the Kingdom nor are there many Cities in the world where there are vaster Ruins to be seen Provision also is there very plentiful and very cheap The Air is likewise very wholesome but subject to change For in all the Seasons it changes almost every hour The Evenings Nights and Mornings being cold but all the day long very hot from one Extreme to another Sultany lies in 36. deg 18. min. of Latitude and 48. deg 5. min. of Longitude and is govern'd by a Sultan Some Histories of Persia relate that this City is one of the most ancient in all the Country of the Parthians but that it is not known who was the Founder Others on the other side affirm that the foundations of it were laid when the Sun was in Leo by the order and in the Reign of Ergon-Can the Son of Abkei-Can and Grand-child of Halacou-Can and that because it could not be finish'd in his days his Son Jangou-Sultan compleated the work and call'd it Sultania or the Royal City For Sultan properly signifies a King from whence comes Seltenet the usual Persian word for a Kingdom or Monarchy And the Monarchs of Asia who reign'd since the seventh Age assum'd to themselves the Titles of Souldans from whence came the Title of Soldan given to the last King 's of Egypt and that of the Emperors of Turkey who call themselves Sultans Nevertheless I have heard some learned Men say that this City was never call'd Sultanié or Royal till the time that the last Kings of Persia who also assum'd the title of Sultans came to keep their Courts in this Place On the other side if this City were built out of the Ruins of Tigranocerta as several Modern European Authors maintain it may be said that the name which now it bears was form'd out of that Ancient Name For Certa in old Prsian signifies a City so that Tigranoterta signifies no more then the City of Tigranes who
was King of Armenia as is well known to every ordinary Reader However I cannot tell how it is possible for us to take Sultanié for Tigranocerta since Tacitus tells us that Tigranocerta was but thirty seven Miles from Nisibis a City which every one knows to be seated in Mesopotamia upon the River Tigris 25 Leagues from Nineve And therefore I must say as I said before the Geography of the Ancients is the most confused thing in the world the Writers were misinform'd and it is impossible to bring 'em to agree together I should not assert this so confidently did I not see that other Modern Relators commit also very great Errors in what they publish either upon the observations or report of others so that there is not not any one from whom I might not produce examples sufficient to confirm this Truth This City has been several times laid in heaps First Cotza Reshid King of Persia whom other Historians call Giausan for that it had rebell'd and tak'n up Arms against him After that by Tamerlan and after him by several other both Turkish and Tartarian Princes The Predecessors of Ishmael Sophi kept their Court there for some time and it is said that some Ages before the last Kings of Armenia resided there at which time it contain'd above four hundred Churches And it is very true that there are a great number in it which are ruin'd but not one that is entire nor doe there inhabit in it any Christians The 7th we travell'd six Leagues in a Country more lovely then that already describ'd where we came to a Village at the end of every thousand paces and we could see at a distance an infinite number of others surrounded with Groves of Willows and Poplers and environ'd which delightful Meadows We lay at Hibié a very fair and fair and large Village and seated near to a Town that is wall'd and well peopl'd which is call'd San-cala which word being abbreviated signifies the Castle of Hasan The 8th Our Horses were so tir'd that we could get no farther then Ebher which is no more then two leagues from Hibié though we travell'd all the way over most of those delightful and pleasant Plains already mention'd directing our Course still to the South Now that which makes those places so delightful is the great Number of Rivulets with which they are water'd and the good Husbandry of the Inhabitants For as I have already said the soyl of the Parthians is dry and barren of it self nevertheless wherever it can be water'd it produces whatever the Manurer pleases to have it fair and good in its Kind Ebher is but a small City counting only the buildings for it contains not above two thousand five hundred Houses but to those Houses belong so many Gardens and those so large that it is good riding for a Horse-man to cross it in half an hour A small River that bears the name of the City runs through the middle of it from one end to the other It is said to be the same City which the Ancients call'd Barontha The situation of it is jolly and delightful the Air very wholsom and the Soyl produces plenty of Fruit and other Provisions The buildings are tolerably handsom and the Inns the Taverns and other publick Structures very well considering the Place It contains three spacious Mosquees and in the middle of the City are to be seen the Ruins of a Castle built of Earth It lies distant from the Equator 36 deg 45. min. and from the fortunate Islands 48. deg 30. min. Which Longitude and all others that I observe are tak'n from the new Persian Tables It is govern'd by a Darogué or Mayor and the Mirtshecar-bashi or Chief Huntsman has his Assignations of Money charg'd upon the Revenue of this City Which assignation is call'd Tahvil Of the signification of which word we shall speak more at large in another Place The Persian Geographers assert that Ebher was built by Kei-Cosrou the Son of Sia-bouch that Darab-Keihoni or Darius began to build the Castle that Skender-roumy that is Alexander the Great finish'd it and that the City has been ruin'd and sack'd as often as the rest which are near it However she has so well recover'd her self that at present there is but little appearance of those former havocks The same Geographers observe that it is one of the most Ancient Cities of that Province and perhaps it may be either Vologoo-certa or Messabetha or Artacana of which there is so frequent mention made in the Ancient Stories of Persia At Ebher they begin to speak Persian both in the Cities and Country whereas all the way before the Vulgar Language is Turkish not altogether as they speak it in Turkey but with some little difference From Ebher to the Indies they speak Persian more or less neat as the people are more or less at a distance from Shiras where the purity of the Persian Language is spoken So that at Ebher and in the parts thereabouts 't is but a rude and clownish sort of Dialect which the people make use of The 9th we travell'd nine Leagues over Plains delightful ev'n unto Admiration and indeed more lovely Vales are no where to be seen After we had rode three Leagues we pass'd through a large Town almost as big as Ebher call'd Parsac and a little farther we left Casbin upon the left hand five Leagues distant from us of which I made the following description in the year 1674. during a residence of four Months that I stay'd at Court Casbin is a great City seated in a delightful Plain three Leagues from Mount Alou-vent which is one of the highest and most famous Mountains in all Persia and a Branch of Mount Taurus that crosses the Northern Parts of Parthia as has bin already said and separates it from Hyrcania The length of this City is from North to South In former times it was surrounded with Walls of which the Ruins are still to be seen but at present it lies open on every side It is 6 miles in circumference containing twelve thousand Houses and a hundred thousand Inhabitants among which there are forty families of Christians and a hunder'd of Jews all very poor One of the fairest places that is to be seen in this City is the Hippodrome which they call Maydan-sha or the Royal Piazza 700 paces in length and 250 in breadth and made after the Model of Ispahan To the Royal Palace belong seven Gates of which the chief is call'd Ali-capi or the High-Gate on which there is an Inscription in Letters of Gold to this effect May this Gate always be open to good Fortune by that confession which we make that there is no God but God The Gardens belonging to the Palace are very beautiful kept in good order and planted Checquer-wise King Tahmas built this Palace at first a small thing according to a draught given him by a Turkish Architect Abas the Great quite alter'd and enlarg'd
Channels and built a spacious Mosque in the Eastern part of it upon the same Foundation where Suyed-Eshac the Son of Imam-Mousa-Cazem had built one several Ages before Close adjoyning to that Mosque stands the sumptuous Tomb of Bercordar-bec Grand Master of the Ordnance of Persia who dy'd of a Dropsie in that City about ten years ago Just over against Sava to the East at the distance of four Leagues stands a place of Pilgrimage the most famous for the Devotion of the Persians They call it Ech-mouil that is to say Samuel for they believe that Prophet was there interr'd over his Tomb there is built a most sumptuous Mausoleum in the midst of a magnificent Mosque Opposite to this that is Westward nine miles from the City under the same Parallel are to be seen some footsteps here and there of that famous City of Rey the biggest City in Asia The Wonders that are recounted of it are incredible nevertheless they are generally ascertain'd by all Historians and by some as if they had been Eye-witnesses The Persian Histories report that in the Time of Calife Medybilla-abou-Mahamed-Darvanich who liv'd in the ninth Age of Christianism the City of Rey was divided into 96 Quarters of which every one contain'd 46 Streets and every Street 400 Houses and ten Mosques That there were moreover in the City 6400 Colleges 16600 Baths 15000 Towers of Mosques 12000 Mills 1700 Channels and 13000 Inns. I dare not insert the number of Houses because I cannot believe there were half so many people Nevertheless our Geography is in that particular asserted and justifi'd by all the Oriental Authors The Arabian Writers affirm in like manner that in the third Age of Mahumetism which is exactly at the same time that Rey was the best peopl'd City in Asia and next to Babylon there never was any City so considerable either for the Number Wealth or Trade of her Inhabitants And hence it was that those pompous Titles were given her in Histories The first of Cities the Spouse of the World the Gate of the Gates of the Earth and the Market of the Universe Nor is the Original of Rey less remarkable The Chronicle of the Magi makes Chus the Grand-Child of Noah to be the Founder of it and adds that he laid the first Stone when the Sun was in Scorpio But the Vulgar Opinion is that it was founded by Housheing-Pishdadi or Chief Justiciary The Orientals give this Title to all the Kings of Persia of the first Race as being the first Governors and Legislators that came to their Knowledge Housheing was the second King of that Race Manouâ—sher the first King after Housheing greatly enlarg'd it and it continu'd in its Splendor till the Conquest of the first Mahumetans that destroy'd it Mehdi-billa surnam'd Mansour or the Victorious the third Califfe of Babylon rais'd it to be greater and more populous then before and under his Successors it was that it arriv'd to that degree of Grandeur which we have related The last destruction that befel it happen'd in the Time of the Civil Wars at what time the Tartars extended their Incursions into the Country of the Parthians The Religion of the Mahumetans was then divided into Sects as at this day so that the Sect of Shia which was that which the Persians stuck to and that of the Sunnis which the Turks follow'd divided the whole Country These two Factions were at War for sixty years together and the Sect of Shia being born down by the the Assistance of the petty Tartars who are Sunnis the victorious Sect sub-divided themselves into two other Opinions which they call from the Name of their first Broachers Shafai and Hanifei which flourish to this day among the Mahumetan Sunnis These Wars together with the Incursions of the Tartars destroy'd the Potent Rey and reduc'd it to nothing before the end of the sixth Age of the Mahumetan Epoche Threescore years after that Facre-Eddin Prince of Parthia having made a Peace with Gazen-Can King of Persia of the Race of the Tartars endeavour'd to rebuild this unfortunate City but could not accomplish his Design Ptolomy calls this City Raquaja and the rest of the greek Authors call it by such Names as seem to be form'd from the word Rey. It lies in 35. deg and 35. min. of Latitude and 76. deg 20. min. of Longitude The Soyl is fertil and pleasant and produces plenty of good Fruits The Air is unhealthy makes the Skin look yellow and breeds Agues nevertheless it is said the People liv'd there as long as in other places which is a wonder and occasion'd that Persian Distick Dreaming I saw and naked in his Shirt The Angel of the Dead Who of the City Rey by break of day Th' unwholsome Vapors fled This City has produc'd a great many Learned Men and hoarded within its own bosom for several Ages the chiefest part of the Riches of the East It is reported that during its Splendor the smaller Mosques had no less then a hundred Branches of all sorts of Metal furnish'd with burning Tapers and the larger Mosques five hundred that were kept lighted all night long The 13. we travell'd six Leagues through a plain and level Country but the Road was full of turnings and winddings by reason of the turning and winding of the River and the several Canals in several parts of the Plain that water the Grounds We pass'd over one large Bridge and several small ones and lodg'd at a great Inn built upon a flat piece of Ground near to four others which are not so big It is call'd Jafer-abad or the Habitation of Jafer from the name of a great Persian Lord who caus'd the first Inns to be built that ever were built in this place The 14. we travell'd five Leagues over the same Plain When we came about half way we rode along by the side of a little Hill call'd Couh-Telisme Couh signifying a Mountain and Telisme that which we call Talisman or Hyeroglyphic This Mountain has one thing remarkably peculiar to it which I never could believe till now Which is this That still as you approach nearer and nearer to it it shews a different form and varies both in its bigness and figure The Top or Point of it is always in sight and you would think that it turn'd that side which way soever you stood to look upon it which I have experienc'd to be true as having beheld this Mountain from all the points of the Compass Which natural Inchantment may proceed in my Opinion from the variety of the Optick Mediums through which that little Mountain is beheld Nature having there sported something that resembles those Ingenuous Pictures that vary the Object by turning the Posture of the Picture this or that way to the Eye It consists of a black Earth that crumbles like the burnt Mould at the foot of Mountains that vomit fire and it is full of Caves and blind Corners that seem to have been made of purpose This made
Their Graves are confus'd among those that lie buried round bout the Monuments that were erected over 'em having bin beaten down by the Turks and Tartars that invaded those places and sacrific'd those structures to the honour of their Saints the grand Enemies and Persecutors of the Descendants of Aly. They made search for these Graves after the Califf became Master of the City again but how easily they may be deceiv'd in this search is no difficult thing to conjecture For in the Year 1667. they found out one that put the whole City into confusion For they affirm'd the Grave upon which a large Monument had been built a hundred years before out of an assurance that one of Aly's descendants was buried there to be the Sepulcher of one Yuzbec a Preacher The People enrag'd that they had worshipped for a whole Age together a Place in their Opinion more worthy of Execration ran in a heat to pull down the Monument dug down the Earth that was at the top and round about it and made a common road over it But what happen'd afterwards is much more Remarkable And that is this that one of the great Persian Doctors undertook to write a Treatise on purpose that there was never any such person as Yuzbec buried there Upon which the People again offended to see themselves made the sport of their Doctors fancies have left the place as indifferent and will neither pollute nor give it Reverence The Governor of Cashan carries the Title of a Darogué as do all the other Governors of the City 's of Parthia A Lord that was one of my good Friends call'd Rustan-bec Brother to several Governors Provinces had the Government of that City the first time that I pass'd through it The two years of his Government being ended the City was so well satisfi'd in his conduct that they sent some of their Members to petition that he might be continu'd two years longer but their Petition was rejected as being contrary to custom to continue such Officers longer then the usual time The 19. our Horses were so tir'd that we were forc'd to stay at Cashan We departed the 29. and travell'd seven Leagues the two first cross the Plain where the City was built the rest over a Mountain which was of a good height but not difficult to ascend At the top we met with a very large and fair Caravanseray and a little further with a wide Lake which serves for a Receptacle to receive the melted Snow and Rain that falls from the Parts thereabouts from whence they let go the water into the Plain of Cashan as they have need Abas the Great rais'd up two strong Dams about it to the end it might hold more Water and to prevent the Water from wasting He also caus'd several Causeys to be made in the same place for the Convenience of Travellers Being descended from the Mountain you enter into a deep Valley very narrow and about a League in length all which space of Ground is stor'd with Houses Vineyards and Gardens so close one to another that it seems to be but one Village of a League in length Several delightful and clean Streams derive their Springs from that Plain which preserve the Air wonderfully cool all the Summer so that it is a place the most charming and delightful that a man shall meet with in that scorching Climate For the Sun has so little Power there that the Roses were not then blown the Corn and Fruit were also then green and but half ripe and yet they had reap'd their Harvest and had eaten ripe Fruit a Cashan at month before We lodg'd at the end of that lovely Plain in a Caravanseray there built which they call'd Carou Some of our own modern Authors assert That this Valley was the Place where Darius was murder'd which is not improbable for that the History observes that Bessus and Nabarzanes after they had committed that Treacherous Murder upon the Prince took several Roads the one for Hyrcania and the other for Bactriana and Cashan is exactly the Place that leads directly to those two Provinces The 21 we travell'd eight Leagues two along the foot of the Mountains between which that Valley lies and six in a pleasant Vale stor'd with a great number of Villages where we met with several Caravanseray's upon the Road we alighted at one that was larger and fairer then the rest call'd Aga-Kemal from the name of a rich Merchant that built it and several other publick Structures about Ispahan The 22. our Journeys was not above five Leagues in the same Plain where Aga-Kemal stands We travell'd so hard that by nine a Clock at night we arriv'd at Moutshacour which is a large Village consisting of about five hundred Houses where there are several Inns and Gardens and great plenty of Water The 23. we set forward late to the end we might not come to Ispahan before day We travell'd the nine Leagues which we had to ride over lovely Plains still directing our Course to the South as in our former Journeys and pass'd by so many Caravanserays and Villages drawing near that great City that we thought our selves in the Suburbs two hours before we got thither We enter'd the City by five a Clock in the Morning all in good health Thanks be to God The end of the First Book THE INDEX A. ABas the Great ruins the Frontiers of Persia 348 Abca's a thieving people 77 Abrener peopl'd with Roman Catholics 346 Adoption the manner of it Mengrelia c by the women 146 Akalzikè the Description of it 168 Alexander K. of Imiretta 136 Alexander Son of Levan Prince of Mingrelia 136 Amazons 187 c. Anarguia a Town in Mingrelia 111 116 Arakilvank a famous Armenian Monastery Araxes the River 347 348 Archylus Son of Shanavas Can 139 crown'd K. of Imiretta by his Father 140 Armenia divided and bounded 242 c. Armenian Traditions fabulous 252 Aron 413 Author Author's departure from Paris p. 1. His Motives for the second Voyage to Persia 2. Made the King of Persia's Merchant ib. He designs for the Black-Sea and Colchos 16 c. His distress at Isgaour 108. He sends an Express to the Theatin Superior 109. His Answer ibid. The Author's Surprise 110. The Market-place fir'd 111. The Superior comes to him and carries him off 112. Amingreham Slave draws Compassion from the Author 115. The French Embassadors Letter in behalf of the Author 116. He arrives at the mouth of the River Astolphus 116. He takes a Lodging in Anarghia 117. Visited by a lay Theatin ibid. A Lady furnishes him with Provisions 118. He is advis'd to pretend himself a Capuchin ibid. He departs from Anargy 119. The Occasions of his Misfortunes ibid. Visited by the Princess of Mingrelia 121. She invites him to Dinner 122. The Consequences ibid. 123 c. He buyes his Goods 125. He is robb'd the by Mingrelians 126 c. He flies upon a Rumour of the Turks being entred into Mingrelia
like Cages which they take off and hang on as they please themselves The Saics have no more then one Deck Nor but two Masts with a Boltsprit that is a Main Mast and Mizen These Masts carry but two Sails and for the most part but one They have no Shrouds but one that is very small which is fix'd to the Main Mast and hangs down upon the Deck They have no Skuttles at the top of their Masts So that the Turkish Seamen never run up to the Yards Arms to furl or loosen their Sails which is needless because the Yards Arm is always below upon the Deck so that when they would take the Wind they only draw up the Yards Arm to which the Sail is fix'd The Top-Sail is ty'd to the Yards Arm and when they would make use of it they pull up the Yards Arm with a Pully fasten'd to the Top-Mast-Head Thus it may be easily seen that they neither understand the Use of the Yard-Arms nor Masts of a Ship Neither have they in these Vessels either Pumps to pump out the Water nor Capstalls to weigh their Anchors but they empty out their Water with Pales and then when they weigh Anchor there are Twenty or Thirty Men that take hold of the Anchor-Cables that run through two small Pulleys fasten'd to the Prow of the Ship and draw up the Anchor with all their Might till it be high enough When a Vessel enters laden into any Port they fix four Anchors two to her Poop and two to her Prow and so let her lie And this is all I have observ'd in reference to the Building and Rigging of these sort of Vessels among the Turks As for their Navigation there is nothing of Art nor Security in it The best of the Turkish or Greek Pilots depend only upon a bare Experience without any Foundation of Rules They never make any use of Sea-Carts nor ever make those exact Observations like our Seamen of the Ships way every day set down in Journals by which Observations they know how far they are from the place whither they intend They understand very little of the Compass only they know that the Flowre de Luce always tends toward the North. When they are to make any Voyage they stay for a good Wind and fair Weather Nor do they when that is come presently put to Sea till they have staid eight or ten Hours to see whether the Weather will hold or no and generally they Sail along by the Shore having the Land always in sight But when they are forc'd to take the Main Sea then they make use of the Compass To which purpose they know either by report or experience upon which hand they ought to have the North that they may gain such a Harbour which is all they have to guide 'em for more then this they know not Were they to make long Voyages in the open Sea hardly one Ship would escape a Tempest which they happily avoid keeping as much as they can within sight of Land or near some Harbour When the Wind is very high they furl their Sails and let the Vessel drive with the VVaves If the VVind be contrary they never strive against it but vere about and rather return from whence they came then endure the Violence of a contrary Sea That which ruines 'em is when the VVind blows 'em upon the Shore for then they are so out of heart that they split immediately not knowing what it is to lie by I have heard several old Turkish Captains affirm That there are Fifteen Hunder'd Vessels upon the Black-Sea of which they lose a Hunderd every Year The most dangerous place where Shipwracks are most to be fear'd being at the Entrance of Bosphorus The Entrance into it is very Narrow where generally the VVinds encounter one another of which there is one that still keeps back the Vessels which if it be violent dings 'em upon the Coast which is full of sharp Rocks to the loss of so many Galleys and Ships that their Number is hardly to be numberd 'T is but a little while since that no less then seventeen Galleys were cast away in one day And there is no question but that the frequent Storms that arise at all seasons in the Black-Sea the Surges short and cutting one upon another its streight and narrow Channel and the dangerous Coasts that in part surround it are the chief cause of the several Shipwracks that happ'n there On the other side there is no doubt also but that skilful Pilots and good Seamen would save above half the Vessels which are there lost The Third of August in the Morning we arriv'd at Caffa after a Voyage of eight days all which time we had very fair Weather and little Wind. Upon the Fifth we spy'd the Point of the Tauric Chersonnese For the Greeks call that a Chersonnese which the Latins call a Peninsula and they gave that Name to this almost Tauric Island because it was first inhabited by the Scythians of Mount Taurus It lies toward the East and West being about 250 Leagues in Circuit that is 35 Leagues in length which I take from the North to the South and 55 Leagues in the broadest part But the Isthmus that joyns it to the Continent is not above a League in breadth The Modern Geographers call it Crim Tartary and Precopensian Tartary As much as to say Tartary full of Towns to distinguish the Tartars of this Peninsula that live for the most part in Cities especially all the Winter long from those other European Tartars which inhabit without the Peninsula call'd Nogays as also Hordes or Hordou a word which signifies an Assembly and of which the Turks and Persians generally make use to signifie the Camp of an Army or the Numerous Train of a Court The Country belonging to these two sorts of Tartars Precops and Nogays is that which we call the Lesser Tartary to distinguish it from the Asiatick Tartars that inhabit beyond the Lake Maeotis to the East of the Caspian Sea and thence as far as China The Sea-Coast of this Precopens Peninsula to speak of that part which shoots farthest into the Sea as far as Caffa consists of very high Shoars and Mountains cover'd with Woods and Villages And by the Accompt of the Seamen it is from Constantinople to Caffa through the Black-Sea 750 Miles Tho I know not how they reck'n nor how it can agree with what frequently happens for the Saics to make the Voyage in two Days and two Nights just And therefore by my Accompt it is no more then Two Hunderd Leagues Upon our coming to an Anchor our Vessel fir'd two Guns and the Commander design'd for Azac made all his Musketeers give the Castle a Volley Which done he went ashoar with the Officers that were come to receive him in the Basha's Name Both the City and Port are very free for you have Liberty to go in and out never asking any leave Nor do they come
aboard to search the Vessels But when a Ship drops her Anchor several Boats make from the Haven to carry those ashoar that are desirous to go Caffa is a great Town built at the bottom of a little Hill upon the Sea-shoar It extends it self more in length then breadth lying in length very directly from the South to the North encompass'd with very strong Walls that advance a little into the Sea which is the reason that when we take a Prospect of the City from the upper part of the Deck it seems to be built like a Half-Moon The Castle upon the South side stands upon a Rising Ground that commands all the parts thereabout being very large and the Residence of the Basha The other is not so big but well stor'd and defended with great Guns the Sea washing that side which is next to it They reck'n about 4000 Houses to be in Caffa of which 3200 are inhabited by Mahumetans Turks and Tartars and 800 by Christians Greeks and Armenians though the Armenians are more numerous then the Greeks The Houses are but small and all built of Earth as are also their Bazars or Market-places their Publick Structures Mosquees and Baths There is not one Building of Stone in all the City except eight Churches somewhat gone to decay formerly built by the Genoeses This Caffa was once call'd Theodosia which the Greeks built in the fifth Age. Afterwards it fell under the Dominion of the Genoeses with several other Sea-Port Towns in several parts of that Sea in the Thirteenth Age in the time of the Holy War and during the weak and low Condition of the Eastern Emperors But Mahomet the Second won all those Places from the Genoeses toward the end of the Sixteenth Age Caffa being taken in the Year 1574. The Soyl about Caffa is Dry and Sandy nor is the Water good but the Air is very pure and wholsom There are very few Gardens about it nor is there but little Fruit. However they bring great Quantities from the Neighbouring Villages though it cannot be said to be very delicious However I do not know whether there be any other City in the World where other Provisions are cheaper and better Their Mutton is exceeding well-tasted and not above one Farthing a Pound Their other Provisions of Bread Fruit Wild Fowl and Butter is sold proportionably at a cheaper Rate Salt is as good as giv'n ye and in a word whatever is necessary for Human Sustenance costs little or nothing Nevertheless by the way take notice that Fresh Fish is a very great Rarity and very small whatever that they catch in the parts round about the Harbour and that only at certain times as in Antumn and the Spring Almost all the Turks and Tartars that live in the Town wear little Bonnets of Cloath fac'd with Sheepskins But in regard that over all Asia Bonnets are most usually worn among the Christians those of Caffa are oblig'd to fasten to theirs a little piece of Cloath such as the Jews in Germany wear upon their Cloaks to distinguish 'em from the Mahometans The Road of Caffa is shelter'd from the Winds except it be to the North and South-East and the Ships lie at Anchor near the Shoar in Ten and Twelve Fathom Water Ouzie at the bottom and very safe There is also a great Trade driven there more then in any other Port belonging to the Black-Sea During the Forty Days that I staid there I saw come in and go out above Four Hunderd Sail of Ships not counting little Vessels that keep close to the Shoar The most usual and most considerable Trade which they drive consists in Salt Fish and Caveare which comes from the Lake Maeotis and is thence transported into Europe and as far as the Indies 'T is incredible what a World of Fish is caught in that Lake considering its extent And the reason which the Country People give for the Infinite Multitude of Fish there bred and taken is this For that the Water of that Lake being muddy thick and not very salt because of the Tanais that empties it self into it it invites not only the Fish out of Tanais and the Black-Sea but also out of the Hellespont and the Archipelago where they breed and grow fat in a small time Several Persons have assur'd me That they usually catch Fish in that Lake which weigh every one Eight and Nine Hunderd Pounds and of which they make between three and four Hunderd weight of Caveare 'T is true I never saw any such large Fish alive at Caffa however I am apt to believe it by the pieces of Fish which I have seen and the vast Quantities which they export into a Thousand Places Their Fishing lasts from October till April And perhaps it is the Mudd of that Water of Maeotis which makes 'em call it a Mersh for otherwise it would be more properly call'd a Lake in regard it bears Vessels of Burden nor do the Waters rise or fall and besides that it continually partakes of a great River and the Sea Next the Exportation of Caveare and Fish the most considerable Trade is driv'n in Corn Butter and Salt with which this City furnishes Constantinople and several other places The Caffa Butter is the best in all Turkey The Venetians have several times desir'd leave to Trade to this Town but it would never be granted In the Year 1672. Signor Quirini was at great Expences to obtain it and he had obtain'd it indeed but the Customer of Constantinople caus'd the Licence to be revok'd upon this Occasion All the Europeans have it agreed in their Capitulations That they shall pay no Customs but in such places where they unlade their Goods By Virtue of which Article the Venetians would pay no Customs at Constantinople for Goods that came in a small Vessel bound for Caffa which the Farmer of the Customs claim'd And Signor Quirini obtain'd an Order from the Defterdar to the Farmer not to take any Cognizance of what was in the said Venetian Vessel Which Defterdar is the High Treasurer of the Empire and has all the Customs under his Inspection But the Customer seeing this Order wrote to the Vizier That the Trade of the Venetians into the Black-Sea would be very prejudicial to the Grand Signior and the Port and that the particular Damage to his Highness was most visible in regard the Merchandize which is proper for the Black-Sea and brought from Venice pays Customs twice at their coming into the Port of Constantinople and going out That it was the same thing as to the Commodities that were brought out of that Sea and which the Venetians Export all which the Grand Signior would lose if the Venetians had Liberty to Trade thither in regard that by Virtue of their Capitulations they ought to pay no Customs but where they discharge their Merchandises Besides that to permit the Venetians an Entrance into the Black-Sea was to open a new way for the Christian Princes to Correspond
a Beast like a Fox but much bigger Zerdava's which is a Furr that resembles a Martin with the Furrs of other Beasts that breed in the Mountains of Circassia Which is all to be had among these People They Exchange their Commodities after this manner The Ship-Boat Rows close to the Shoar and they that are in it are well arm'd Nor will they suffer a greater Number of Cherks to come nearer the place where the Boat lies then they themselves are For if they see a greater Number approach they presently put out to Sea When they are come so near as to talk one to another they shew their Commodities agree upon the Barter to be made and presently make the Exchange however it behoves 'em to stand upon their Guard all the while For the Cherks are Infidelity and Perfidy it self and it is an Impossibility for 'em to find an Opportunity to steal but they take their Advantage They are a People altogether Savage formerly Christians but now of no Religion not having so much as the Light of Nature among ' em For I look upon their Superstitious Customs as nothing which seem to be a Mixture borrow'd from the Christians and Mahumetans their Neighbors They live in Woodden Huts and go almost Naked Every Person is a sworn Enemy to those that live in the Provinces round about ' em The Inhabitants make Slaves one of another and sell one another to the Turks and Tartars And for their Ground the VVomen Till and Manure it The Cherks and their Neighbors live upon a kind of Paste made of a very small Grain like to Millet and they who have Traffick along these Coasts will tell ye a Thousand Stories of the Barbarous Customs of these People However there is no safety in believing the Reports which are spread abroad either of those that live upon the Sea-Coasts or of those that inhabit farther up in the Country in regard that no body travels thither and all that we know is by means of the Slaves that are brought from thence who are all meer Savages from whom there is nothing to be learnt of Certainty This is the reason why I have made no more Descriptions of Places in my Map of the Black-Sea which is at the beginning of this Book chusing rather to leave a space for the Circassians and Abca's void then to fill it up upon the Credit of People so illiterate who for the most part can hardly tell the North from the South The Abca's border upon the Cherks possessing about a Hunderd Miles of the Sea-Coast between Mingrelia and Circassia However they are not altogether so much Savages as the Cherks but they are equally inclin'd with Them to Thieving and Robbery The Seamen also Trade with 'em with the same Precautions as with their Neighbors already mention'd They stand in need of the same Commodities as their Neighbors and make their Exchanges in Slaves Furrs Does and Tigres Skins Linnen Thread Box Wax and Honey The 10th of September we arriv'd at Isgaour Which is a Road belonging to Mingrelia pretty safe in the Summer and there the Vessels that Trade into Colchis lie so that we saw seven great Ships there when we arriv'd in the Road. Presently our Captain fasten'd his own Vessel to four Anchors two at the Prow and two at the Poop and carry'd his Masts and his Yards ashoar As for Isgaour it is a desert place without any Habitations only according to the Number of Traders that come thither they build up Huts and Booths of Boughs as they find themselves secure from the Abca's which does not often happen But besides those Huts there is not one House to be seen Now before I enter into the Relation of the Hardships which I suffer'd and the Dangers I underwent in Mingrelia I shall give ye a Description of the Country and Parts that border about it without intermixing any thing Dubious or what I have not learnt by exact Information Colchis is situated at the end of the Black-Sea To the East it is enclos'd with a little Kingdom which makes a part of Georgia which by the People of the Country is call'd Imiretta by the Turks Pacha tchcouk or Pacha Koutchouk as much as to say the Little Prince to the South by the Black-Sea to the West by the Abca's and to the North by Mount Caucasus In length it lies between the Sea and the Mountains in breadth it extends from the Abca's to the Kingdom of Imiretta The Corax and Phasis famous Rivers in Ancient History at present call'd Coclours and Rione serve for its Bounds while the first parts it from the Abca's the second from Imiretta The length of Colchis is a Hunderd and Ten Miles at most the breadth Sixty Which I know to be true not only by the concurring Report of the People of the Country but also as having cross'd it my self from one end to the other It was formerly Fortifi'd against the Abca's by a Wall Sixty Miles in length which has been laid in Ruines these many Years So that now the Thick Forests are its chiefest Defence and its greatest Security The Inhabitants of Caucasus that border upon Colchis are the Alane's whose Country was formerly the Northern Frontier of Armenia the Suane's the Gigue's the Caracioles or Cara-cherks a sort of People more Barbarous then their Names These Cara-cherks as they are call'd by the Turks that is to say the Black Circassiens are the Northern Circassians The Turks so call 'em though they are the fairest People in the World by reason of the Foggs and Clouds that continually dark'n their Skie Formerly they were Christians and some Relicks of their Customs they retain and some certain Ceremonies also they observe yet at present they profess no Religion but live by Robbery and Rapine utterly ignorant of all Arts and Sciences and having nothing that may entitle 'em to Humanity but their Speech They are much taller and more portly then other People fo furious in their Looks and speaking with such a terrible Tone that you may easily thence discern their Dispositions and their Courage to be no less savage Their very Countenances are frightful to look upon more especially when you come to experience their Civility and understand 'em to be the most resolute Assassins and most daring Robbers in the World The Ancient Kingdom of Colchis was not so small a Kingdom as now for it extended on the one side to the Palus Maeotis and the other way as far as Iberia The Capital City was also call'd Colchis seated at the Mouth of Phasis upon the Western side of the River and that was the Reason that Mingrelia was formerly call'd Colchis for that Mingrelia is bounded by this River to the East Our Modern Geographers have seated another City which they call Fasso in the place where Colchis stood but this I know my self to be a grand Mistake All the Oriental People call Colchis Odische and the Colchians Mingrelians though I could never
upon Mount Caucasus seated in a hollow place among twenty Hillocks or thereabouts from whence the Castle might be easily batter'd on every side though fortifi'd with double Walls and flanqu'd with Towers both built with Battlements after the Ancient Manner Adjoyning to this Fortress which is defended with only a few great Guns stand upon the Neighbouring Hillocks aforemention'd a large Town consisting of about 400 Houses all new and which seem to have been but lately built so that there is nothing of Antiquity to be seen but two Armenian Churches The Town is Peopl'd with Turks Armenians Georgians Greeks and Jews the Christians having their Churches and the Jews a Synagogue There is also in it an Inn newly built of Wood as are all the rest of the Houses in that place The River Kur runs along by it which derives it Head from the Mountain Caucasus and was call'd anciently Cyrus and by some Corus Strabo places the Head of it in Armenia Ptolomy in Colchis Pliny will have it spring from the Mountains of Tartary which are beyond Colchis which he calls Coraxicie because of the River Corax that springs from thence and discharges it self into the Black-Sea Which Opinions seeming so various may nevertheless be true and come all to one and the same thing For that Armenia has formerly included Colchis and because Colchis formerly was a great Kingdom as I have already observ'd The Basha of Akalzikè lodges in the Fortress and the Principal Officers and Souldiers quarter in the adjacent Villages This Fortress was built by the Georgians from whom the Turks took it toward the end of the last Age. The 13th about Two a Clock in the Morning I parted from Akalzikè travailing directly Eastward At the end of three Leagues the Plain of Akalzikè streightens to the breadth of half a League having the Mountains on both sides In that part stands a Castle built by the Turks upon a Rock on the right side of the River Kur This Rock below is encompass'd with a double Wall and round about it lies a little Village like Akalzikè which takes up all the Ground between the Fortress and the opposite Mountain and is call'd Usker having a Garison and a Custom-House under the Command of a Sanziac I was in great fear of being there stopp'd and examin'd but Thanks be to GOD they let me pass without saying a word to me For my Guide was born at Gory a City of Georgia So that upon his Answer to the Captain of the Guard who ask'd him What Countryman he was That he was a Georgian of Gory the Captain let him pass with all his Train without any farther Examination The reason is for that the Kaan of Georgia and the Basha of Akalzikè hold a very good Correspondence together which makes the Turks so kind to the Georgians Two Leagues beyond Vsker we cross'd a Mountain which parts on this side Persia from Turkey We travell'd along the Brow of this Mountain after we had cross'd it There are several Villages seated on the top of it the River Kur running below through the Vale where in several parts are to be seen the Ruines of Castles Fortresses and Churches the Footsteps of the Grandeur of the Georgians and of the Turkish and Persian Conquests After we had travell'd ten Leagues till it was Night we stopp'd at a little Village The 14th we travell'd not above four Leagues the way being very rugged in those Mountains where you meet with several narrow Paths and close Passages where you cannot force your way together with the Ruines of many Fortresses We stopp'd in the Plain of Surham at a great Town near the Fortress which is call'd by the same Name It is a very lovely Plain full of Copses Villages Hillocks Houses of Pleasure and little Castles belonging to the Georgian Lords The Country is all over well Till'd and in a word it is a very delightful Spot of Ground The 15th I travell'd ten Leagues nine through the Plain and the other at the passage of a Mountain somewhat high which parts it from Gory I saw nothing on every side but fair Villages lovely Fields well Manur'd and every where the Ground very fertile We left upon the right Hand before we ascended the Mountain a great City lying almost all in Ruines as not containing above Five Hunderd Houses inhabited whereas formerly by report it contain'd above Twelve Thousand However there belongs to it a Bishop and a great Church built before the Georgians were reduc'd under Subjection Night overtook me upon the Descent of the Mountain before I arriv'd at Gory I went directly to the Residence of the Italian Capuchins Missionaries of the Congregation de Propaganda Fide to whom I had Letters of Recommendation Not above three Years ago they had a Dwelling at Cotatis and then they thought also to have spread themselves into Mingrelia and to have settl'd there But the Continual Wars in that Country and the Robberies perpetually there committed the King either not being able or not caring to prevent 'em constrain'd 'em to retire back into Georgia So that the Opportunity of meeting with 'em was very acceptable to me in regard they were able to give me what Advice and Assistance I stood in need of For that reason I presently made my self known to 'em and told 'em That the King of Persia had sent me into France to do him particular Services that I had his Orders and a Command directed to all the Governors of the Empire to give me Respect and to serve me upon all Occasions and with all Conveniencies I should stand in need of Afterwards I acquainted 'em That having chosen to return into Persia by the Black-Sea and so through Mingrelia I had been surpriz'd by the Wars in that Country and had undergone a Thousand Hardships so that not finding any way securely to bring along with me those things which I had brought for the King I had left 'em in the Custody of my Comrade and was come into Georgia to desire Assistance and therefore I most affectionately besought 'em to give me the best Advice they could and to take that Compassion of my Hardships and Troubles to which Charity and other Considerations oblig'd ' em Upon which the Good Fathers were concern'd for my Misfortunes the hazards I had run and for the Person I had left in Mingrelia And they assur'd me to do for me what ever lay in their Power so soon as they should have permission from their General for that they had no Power to act without first consulting him and without his Approbation That he was at Trifflis the capital City of Georgia two small days journey distant and that my best way would be to go and waite upon him And indeed they gave me so many reasons to constrain me to go that I resolv'd it without any more to do and to that purpose hir'd Horses forthwith The Superiour also order'd a Lay-Brother whose Name was Angelo of Viterbo to
when the Janisaries return'd and told the Commander that the Person had made his escape Which made him vent his Rage upon the La quey who was in a strange Agony between Fear and Madness at what time he began to open his Eyes and to perceive that GOD had confounded his Malice by his missing your Comrade with all that he carry'd under his care Thereupon I gave an accompt to the Commander of all the Villanies and wicked Tricks which the Rascal had committed in your Service and how liberal and kind you had been to him nevertheless in paying him his Wages That Evening the Commander invited me to sup with him at his own Table for he understood I was a Physitian and presently fanci'd himself to be ill So that I made him up some Medecins as well for himself as for some of the Souldiers that were in the Fortress He order'd an Italian Renegado to be my Guards at what time your Lacquey would have had him laid me in Irons for fear I should make my escape For the Rascal study'd a Thousand Tricks to do me a Mischief But the next Day the Queen and Janatelle sent two Gentlemen to the Commander to demand my Freedom as being their Physitian and the King 's also and about Noon there came two Gentlemen more from a great Lord of the Country whose Wife lay sick and he had been inform'd that I was a Prisner in the Fortress for Debt Thereupon he sent to the Commander of the Fortress to release me and he would pay my Debt but alas there was nothing more clear then that I ow'd nothing However I must give Twenty Five Crowns to the Commander which being paid I was set at Liberty notwithstanding the Noise and Clamour of the Lacquey who press'd that I might not be releas'd and told the Commander That there would be a Thousand Crowns giv'n to purchase my Liberty rather then let me lie So soon as I was free they carry'd me to the Lords House to whom I was beholding for my Liberty from whence I sent to Chicaris to know what News by the return of which Message I understood that you were gone to Tefflis and your Comrade was return'd to Mingrelia Some few Days after Father Justin arriv'd at Chicaris and understanding there where I was he came to me and then having repaid the Twenty Five Crowns which the Lord had disburs'd for my Deliverance out of Prison we return'd to Chicaris Where in two Days your Comrade arriv'd with all that was left behind of yours in Mingrelia who told us what Road he had tak'n to miss Cotatis To which purpose he had Ferry'd over the Phasis six Leagues from that City at what time the Ferryman told him That the Rogue who had laid so many Snares for us had giv'n two Crowns to give him Intelligence of your Comrade's Passage and that the Villain was under the Guard of four Janisaries who had order not to let him escape for that the Commander was resolv'd to make him perform what he had promis'd him And thus you see said he that hitherto all things have luckily succeeded and that GOD has confounded that Villain in his Wickedness whose Justice questionless will not permit him to escape the Clutches of the Turkish Commander without receiving some Punishment It was now late nevertheless my Comrade and I could not go to Supper till we had discours'd of the happy Issue of our Labour and of all our Misfortunes of which what I have recounted is but a part of the Truth nor till we had breath'd out to GOD our Ardent Thanksgivings for his Infinite Goodness his Omnipotent and his Miraculous Deliverance For we expected no such thing when we were in Tribulation And indeed who could have hop'd to have sav'd all when we were in such imminent danger of losing all The next Day following we cast up the Accompts of our Losses in this Disastrous Journey and found that it did not amount to more then above one per Cent. of all that we had sav'd and fortunately brought to Tefflis without any thing being either broken or spoil'd GEORGIA I mean all the Country so call'd which is under the Persian Jurisdiction borders at this day to the East upon Circassia and Moscovy to the West upon Armenia the Less to the South upon Armenia the Greater to the North upon the Black-Sea and that part of Colchis which is call'd Imiretta which in my Opinion is all that Country which the Ancients nam'd Iberia Georgia extended formerly from Tauris and Erzerum to the River Tanais and was call'd Albania being bounded as I have describ'd it It is a Country very full of Wood and very Mountainous that enclose a greater Number of pleasant Plains that run out in length but are not proportionable in breadth only the middle of Georgia is more even and level then the rest And the River Kur which most Geographers call Cyrus runs through the midst of it It takes its rise in the Mountain Caucasus a Day and a half 's Journey from Akalzikè as has been said and empties it self into the Caspian Sea I have seen some old Persian Geographies that place Georgia in the Greater Armenia The Moderns make a particular Province of it which they call Gorgistan and divide into four parts Imiretta of which we have spoken the Country of Guriel wherein is comprehended all that is under the Government of Akalzikè the Kingdom of Caket which extends it self very far into Mount Caucasus and is properly the Ancient Iberia and Carthuel which is the Eastern Georgia and which the Ancient Geographers call the Asiatick Albania The Kingdoms of Caket and Carthuel are under the Persian Dominion and this is that which the Persians call Gurgistan but the Georgians give it no other Name then that of Carthueli Which is no new Name as being to be found in the Writings of several Ancient Authors although somewhat corrupted especially St Epiphanias who speaking of these People calls 'em Cardians It 's reported that the Grecians were the first who gave 'em the Name of Georgians from the word Georgoi which signifies Husbandmen Though others will have this Name to derive it self from that of St. George the Patron Saint of all the Christians of the Greek Church There are very few Cities in all Georgia as has been observ'd though there has been many more formerly in the Kingdom of Caket But now they lie all in Ruines unless one which is also call'd Kaket And I heard say while I stay'd at Tefflis that these Cities were very large and sumptuously Built as may be well enough conjectur'd as well by that which is not as yet altogether destroy'd as by the ruines themselves Now these Northern Inhabitants of Mount Caucasus those Alans Suans Huns and other Nations so greatly fam'd for their strength and Courage and by the Report of many People another Nation of the Amazons were they that continually harrass'd and ransackt this little Kingdom of Kaket
their Penitents that confefs the taking of another Bodies Goods to bring the Goods to Them and not to restore 'em to the Right Owners so that Restitution is never made There are several Bishops in Georgia an Archbishop and a Patriarch whom they call Catholicos Whose preferments when Vacant are supply'd by the Prince though a Mahometan who generally prefers his kindred and Relations so that the Present Patriarch is his Brother As for the Churches in Georgia they are something more cleanly kept then those in Mingrelia And in the Cities you shall see some that are very decent though they are altogether as nasty in the Country The Georgians as all the other Christians that surround 'em to the North and West have a strange humour to build all their Churches upon high Mountains in remote and almost inaccessible Places Where they view 'em and bow to 'em at the distance of three or four Leagues but seldom or never go into 'em and we may boldly assert that the most part of 'em are hardly open'd once in Ten Years They erect 'em and then leave 'em to the Injuries of the Weather and for the Birds and Fowls of the Air to build their Nests in I could never find out the Reason of this Extravagance the Answers of all Persons of whom I enquir'd being altogether as extravagant 'T is the Custom The Georgians however are fully perswaded that whatever Sins they have committed they shall obtain Pardon by building a little Church Though for my part I am apt to believe they build 'em in such remote and inaccessible Places to avoid the Charges of Adorning and Repairing of ' em And now I come to the Relations and Histories of the Conquest of Georgia by the Persians which are so numerous that I should have been silent in this particular if those Authors had agreed among themselves or if I had found they had been rightly inform'd Briefly therefore here is that which I have met with in the Stories of Persia themselves Ishmael the Great whom our Historians have Sirnam'd the Sophy after he had subdu'd the Countries that lie to the West of the Caspian Sea of Media and part of Armenia and that he had expell'd the Turks out of all these Places made War also upon the Georgians though they had sent him numerous Succors at the beginning of his Reign The event of which War was successful to him as having reduc'd 'em to pay him Tribute and give him Hostages Now Georgia as well as the Kingdoms of Kaket and Carthuel had several Petty Kings call'd Eristares Feudataries and always at Wars one with another Which was the Reason or at least the Means that most contributed to the Ruine of the Georgians They pay'd their Tribute during all the Reign of Ishmael and his Successor Tahmas who was a Prince of great Courage and fortunate in War During his Reign Lnarzab rul'd in that part of Georgia which is call'd Carthuel and is as I have said the Eastern Georgia and borders upon Persia Eastward This King lest two Sons behind him between whom he divided his Kingdom Simon the Eldest and David the Younger But being both ill satisfi'd with their Division they made War one upon another and in those Wars both desir'd Tahmas to assist ' em The Younger Brother was beforehand with Simon To whom Tahmas return'd for answer That he would put him in possession of all his Fathers Dominions if he would turn Mahometan David accepted the Condition embrac'd the Mahometan Religion and went and surrender'd himself to the Persian Army which was already enter'd his Dominions to the Number of Thirty Thousand Horse upon which he was presently sent to Tahmas who lay then at Casbin So soon as he had got the Georgian Prince in his Clutches he wrote to Simon to the same effect as he had written to his Brother that is to say That he should quit his Religion and come to him if he intended to enjoy the Kingdom of his Ancestors Simon finding the Persian Army pressing too severely upon him surrender'd his Person but would not abjure his Religion But Tahmas being now Master of both the Princes and of the Country of Georgia sent the Eldest Brother Pris'ner to the Castle of Genghè near the Caspian Sea and made the other Governour of Georgia changing his Name from David to Daoud-Can which denoted him to be of the Mahometan Profession Which done he took an Oath of Fidelity from all the chief Georgian Lords and carry'd away their Childern and David's also as Hostages into Persia After the Death of Tahmas the Georgians shook off the Persian Yoak as did also the most part of the Provinces of Persia and they were at Liberty during the Reign of Ishmael the Second which did not last above two Years and during the first four Years of Mahomet Kodabendè that is The Servant of GOD who sent an Army into Georgia to reduce 'em to Obedience Daoud Can fled upon the Approach of the Army At what time his Brother Simon a Pris'ner as I have already declar'd near the Caspian Sea laying hold of the Opportunity to re-enter into his Dominions became a Mahometan and was made Can of Tefflis under the Name of Simon-Can During the Reign of Mahomet Kodabendè dy'd Alexander King of Kaket leaving Three Sons and Two Daughters Of which David was the Eldest a Prince whose Courage and Misfortunes have render'd him renown'd over all the World under the Name of Taimuras Can which the Persians gave him At the time of his Fathers Death he remain'd in Hostage at the Court of Persia whither he was carry'd by King Tahmas as has been said He was bred up with Abas the Great being almost of the same Age with great Magnificence and exact Care where he had inbib'd the Customs and Manners of the Persians certainly much better then those of the Georgians So soon as his Father was Dead his Mother a Beautiful and Prudent Princess by the Georgians call'd Ketavana but Mariana in the Histories of Persia wrote a Letter to Kodabendè to this effect Sir My Husband is Dead I beseech yee to send me my Son Taimuras to Reign in his stead and withal I send you his Brother for Hostage in his Room Thereupon Taimuras was sent back after he had tak'n the Oath of a Tributary and a Vassal At the beginning of the Reign of Abas the Great Simon King of Carthuel already mention'd ended this Life leaving the Kingdom to Luarzab his Son then a Child under the Tuition of his Prime Minister a Person of great parts but of a mean Extraction call'd by the Georgians Mehrou and by the Persians Morad who was also Governor of Tefflis and Govern'd the Kingdom almost with an absolute Authority This Mehrou had a handsome Daughter with whom Luarzab was passionately in Love and by whom he was as passionately belov'd Nor could the Father by any means that he could use prevent the two Lovers from seeing one another
and though they are but Children they are not easily induc'd to tear 'em out of their Houses The Kingdom of Caket is at present in Subjection to the King of Persia Shanavas-Can having compleated the Conquest of it and now Archilus his Son is Viceroy who turn'd Mahometan to obtain the Imployment We have already made mention of him and of the Love which he had for Sistan-Darejan the King of Imiretta's Wife when we gave an Account of the Revolutions of that Petty Kingdom Sistan-Darejan remain'd a Pris'ner at Akalzikè where the Basha's shew'd her an extraordinary Civility Archilus had also a longing Affection for her from the time that he had lost sight of her Thereupon his Father so wrought by his Presents and Contrivances with the Basha that he releas'd her in the Year 1660. She was carry'd in Triumph to Tefflis where Archilus Marry'd her immediately and by that Match entitl'd himself to the Kingdom of Caket of which he was actual Viceroy already For the Princess his Wife was Daughter to Taimuras-Can and Sister of Heraclius the only Son whom that Unfortunate Prince left behind him capable of Succession in regard all the rest had had their Eyes put out But he and his Mother were fled into Moscovy where they say the Great Duke allows 'em a Train suitable to their Quality And here give me leave to tell yee one Passage concerning this Archilus Viceroy of Caket very much worthy to entertain your Curiosity He was affianc'd in his Youth to a Daughter of one of the most Noble Families in Georgia And the Lady fully expected to be his Wife in regard that Breach of Contract is a thing never heard of in that Country But when she heard that he had Marry'd Sistan-Darejan she sent to him to demand satisfaction for the Murder he had committed upon her Honour For so in Georgia they call the affront done to a Contract when a Man leaves the party affianc'd to Marry another At first she resolv'd to Sue him at Law for the Injustice he had done her but that way not seeming feasable by reason of the great Authority and Sway which Archilus had in the Country she put her self at the Head of Four Hunderd Men and offer'd fairly to fight her Faithless Lover But Archilus refus'd her sending her word he did not use to fight with Young Maids withal he bid her not make such a noise lest he disclos'd the Favours which Sizi a Young Lord at Court had boasted to have receiv'd from her The Young Lady enrag'd to hear her self reproach'd as well as scorn'd turn'd all her fury against Sizi She challeng'd him and because he would not meet her she lay'd her self in Ambush for him put him to flight pursu'd him and kill'd him above Twenty Men. She had also a Brother and he also undertook to quarrel Sizi The Prince and the the whole Court did all they could to reconcile 'em but seeing they did but labour in Vain the two Adversaries were permitted to determine the difference by their Swords Now it is the custom in Georgia that when the Law cannot decide or reconcile a Quarrel among Gentlemen they are permitted to try it out in a place Rayl'd in for the purpose And before the two Combatants enter the Lists they Confess themselves receive the Communion and prepare for Death This is call'd Appealing to the Tribunal of GOD for the Georgians maintain that this way of referring directly to GOD the Punishment of a Crime is both Honest and Lawful where human Justice is not able to distinguish whether the party accus'd be Guilty or whether the accuser charge him falsely At length Sizi and his Adversary being arriv'd at the place appointed they were parted by a Company of Souldiers just as they had drawn their Swords And the Young Lady Dying soon after with shame and Grief the Prince by his Authority oblig'd her Brother to be Friends with Archilus and Sizi And now before I relate what befell me at Tefflis it behoves me to make a Description of the Place though the Plate before the Leaf might suffice to give a distinct Idea of it TEFLIS TEFLIS A. The Fortress B. THe Bpps church calld Sion C. The Bastias Monasterie D. The Holy Cross. E. The Church Place of the Catholicos F. The White Work or the Queen's Church G. The New York H. Mognay Church I. Bethen Church K. The Church of the Rupture L. THe Mosquee M. The Capuchins N. The Princes Palace O. The Great Bazar P. The public Magazines Q. The Viceroy of Caket's Palace R. The Prince's Gardens S. The Prince's Piatza T. The Place for Military Exercises The Principal Monasteries that belong to the Armenians are Pacha-Vane that is the Monastery of Pacha in which Monastery the Armenian Bishop of Tefflis resides They so call it by the Report of the Armenians for that a Fugitive Basha of Turkey turning Christian caus'd it to be erected in this City Sourph-Nishon that is to speak properly the Red Sign and thence generally tak'n for the Holy Cross Bethem or Bethlehem Norachen or the New Work and Mognay Now Mognay is the Name of a Village of the Armenians near Irivan where they have for a long time kept a certain Skull which they assure yee to be St. George's hence because that part of the Skull is remov'd to this Church therefore they gave it the Name of the Place from whence they took the Relick There is not any Mosque at Tefflis though the City belongs to a Mahometan Empire and is Govern'd together with the whole Province by a Mahometan Prince The Persians have endeavour'd all they could to rebuild one there but never could accomplish their design for the People still Mutiny'd and by force of Arms beat down the Work and abus'd the Workmen And indeed the Georgian Princes were glad of these Seditions of the People though they would not countenance 'em openly For in regard they had not renounced the Christian Religion but only with their Lips and to obtain Preferment they could not heartily consent to the Establishment of Mahometism Now the Georgians are Mutinous Inconstant and Valiant as has been said They also retain a smack and sense of Liberty Then they lie near the Turks And this is that which hinders the Persian from making use of Extremities and preserves to the City of Tefflis and all Georgia a happy Liberty to retain almost all the Exteriour Marks of their Religion Upon all the Steeples of their Churches at the Top stands a Cross and they are furnish'd with several Bells which they ring Every day they sell Pork openly and in publick with the same freedom as other Vittles and Wine at the Corners of the Streets All which though the Persians are mad to see yet they know not how to help it Some few Years since they built a small Mosque in the Fortress close to the Wall that separates it from the Grand Piazza of Tefflis They built it in the Castle
Lay-Brothers The City of Tefflis is very well peopl'd and there are as many Strangers resort thither as to any place in the World For it drives a great Trade and the Court is very Numerous and Magnificent beseeming the Capital of a Province being never without several Grandees of Note As to the Name of the City I could never learn the Etymology of the word They say the Persians gave it that Name Certain it is however that the Georgians do not call it Tefflis but Cala that is to say the City or the Fortress which is indeed a Name that they give to all Spacious Habitations encompass'd with Walls Which makes me think that because they have no other Wall'd City in all the Country they would give it no other Name but Cala. Some Geographers call it Tebele-Cala or the Hot City by reason of the Baths of Hot Waters within it or else because the Air is not so cold nor so boystrous as in the other parts of Georgia Neither could I learn the Time when the City was founded nor the most remarkable Revolutions that have befallen it For my part I do not believe its Antiquity surpasses Eight Hunderd Years It has been twice under the Power of the Turks Once in the Reign of Ishmael the Second King of Persia and the second time in the Reign of his Successor Solyman becoming Master of it at the same time almost that he took Tauris The Persian Tables place it in 83 Degrees of Longitude and 43 Deg. 5. min. of Latitude It is also call'd Dar el Melec or the Royal City as being the Metropolis of the Kingdom The 10th the Superiour of the Capuchins gave the Viceroy Notice of my Arrival I desir'd him so to do considering with my self that having Servants and Luggage and being lodg'd at the Capuchins House my Arrival could not be conceal'd from a Prince who had Intelligence even of the most trivial Things that pass'd in Tefflis much more of my Adventures in Mingrelia of which many People had spread a report Besides I was glad to see him and shew him the King of Persia's Passports directed to all the Governours of Provinces wherein I was effectually recommended For I made no Question but the Prince upon the sight of those Orders would make me Welcom and grant me a Convoy if I should have occasion for the rest of my Journey Shanavas-Can understanding who I was and that the deceas'd King had employ'd me into Europe upon his own Service and Affairs order'd the Superiour to tell me in his Name That I was Welcom that he was glad of my Arrival and that I would do him a Kindness to come and see him as soon as I could which I was neither in a Condition neither was I resolv'd to do so soon being resolv'd to stay till I was ready to depart because I would not be oblig'd to go every Day to Court Therefore I desir'd Father Raphael who was his Physician to tell him That I was overjoy'd at the Honour which he had done me and that I would not fail to pay my Duty to him so soon as I had put my self into a handsom Equipage but that I was so out of order that I could not stir abroad these Ten Days I know not whether Father Raphael made a true Report to the Prince or whether the Prince believ'd him for so it happen'd that about Twelve a Clock in the Forenoon he sent a Gentleman to tell me That since I was come to Town in a Week of Mirth and Jollity while he Feasted every Day at Court he desir'd that I would come and see him I was surpriz'd and troubl'd at the Message and therefore I desir'd the Superiour and Father Raphael to let the Prince know That I could not yet stir abroad and that he would be pleas'd to condescend that I might stay till the Sunday following before I receiv'd the Honour which he was pleas'd to do me Which Message the Capuchins promis'd to deliver but fail'd They went to the Court 't is true but return'd the next moment to tell me That the Prince was impatient to hear what News from Europe But the truth of it was that they had an extraordinary desire to produce me They were desirous to shew the King of Persia's Agent whom they asserted to be one of their own Nation to the end themselves might be the more respected and they desir'd my Comrade and my self to put on our most Sumptuous Habit and to enlarge for their sakes the Present which we intended for the Prince In which particular I was willing to gratifie 'em and in whatever else I might conveniently do as being glad of an Opportunity to acknowledge the signal Kindnesses they had done me It was almost Noon when we went to the Palace accompany'd by the Superiour and Father Raphael who attended to be assistant to us The Prince was in a Room of State a Hunderd and Ten Foot long and above Forty broad built upon the side of the River and all open on that side The Ceeling which was all of Mosaic Work was plac'd upon a great Number of Pillars Painted and Gilt between 35 and 40 Foot high The whole Room was spread with very fair Carpets The Prince and principal Nobility were sitting near three little Chimneys which with several Brasiers warm'd the Room to that degree that the Cold was not felt Shanavas-Can when people approach'd near him caus'd himself to be Reverenc'd the first time like the King of Persia Himself They fell upon their Knees Two or Three Paces distant from his Person and bow their Heads to the Ground Three Times one after another Which manner of Saluting the Eastern Princes the Europeans have always scrupl'd to observe And indeed it being impossible that a Man should prostrate himself in a more humble posture such a Prostration should only be us'd before GOD himself So that sometimes they excuse themselves from using this manner of Salutation by saying they are of another World and understand not the Complements of the Country For my part I made my Obeysance with three Bows without Kneeling Afterward two Gentlemen led me to take my place but I would not sit above the Capuchins though the Gentlemen press'd me so to do and the Steward of the Houshold who stood upon his Feet in the middle of the Room For I was willing to do 'em that Honour that they might have Honour done 'em by others Which the Superiour was so glad to see that he would needs have me take place of his Companion While I was paying my Obeysance a Gentleman who had receiv'd from me at the Hall Door the King of Persia's Letters Patents which I held in my Hand and the Present which I had brought for the Prince and lay'd 'em in order in a large Silver Voider set down the Voider at the Prince's Feet Presently he took the Patent open'd it and rising up from his Seat put it to his Lips and
Blessing that I slept without Interruption all that Night and the next Morning found my self wholly cur'd of this Distemper IRIVAN A. The FOrtres B. The small Fort calld Guetshi-cala C. Deuf Sultan's Mosquee D. The Great Piatza E. An Old Tower F. The Bpps Church calld Two Fronts G. The Church calld Catovike H. The New Inn. I. The River Zengui K. The River calld Forty Fountaines L. The Mountain where Noah's Ark rested IRIVAN 'T is a hard matter to describe the true Road from Tefflis to this City in regard of the many Turnings and Windings and the frequent Occasions to ascend and descend the greatest part of the way Only I observ'd that we still kept on to the South-West From Tefflis to Erivan it is reck'ned to be about Eight and Forty Leagues Erivan is a great City but ill-favour'd and dirty and of which the Vineyards and Gardens make the greatest part there being no Ornamental Buildings within it It is seated in a Plain encompass'd with Mountains on every side Two Rivers run by it Zengui to the North-West and Queurk-boulak to the South-West Which Queurk-boulak signifies Forty Fountains the River being said to rise from so many Springs nor does it run a long course But we shall say no more of the City nor of its Figure the Draught being sufficient to give an Idea of it The Fortress it self may pass for a small City It is of an Oval Form being about Four Thousand Paces in Compass and containing Eight Hunderd Houses inhabited only by Natural Persians 'T is true the Armenians have Shops therein where they Work and Trade all the Day long but in the Evening they shut up their Shops and return Home to their Houses This Fortress is surrounded with three Walls of Earth or Bricks made of Clay with Battlements flank'd with Towers and strengthen'd with very narrow Ramparts according to the Ancient Manner and therefore without any Regularity after the Eastern Fashion And indeed it had been a hard matter to have made a Regular Fortification in a place that would not admit of it in regard the Fortress extends it self to the North-East upon the side of a dreadful Precipice broad and steep above a Hunderd Fathom to the bottom where the River runs And therefore this side being impregnable and inaccessible has no other Fortifications then Terrasses furnish'd with Artillery However a Garison of no less then Two Thousand Men is always kept in pay for the Guard of this Fortress which has as many Gates as Walls all plated with Iron and strengthen'd with Port-Cullices and Courts of Guard fortify'd The Governor of the Provinces Palace being within the Castle stands upon the Brink of the Precipice already mention'd and is very fair very spacious and very delightful in Summer Near to the Fortress about a Thousand Paces distant upon the North-side stands a Hillock which Commands it the upper part being fortify'd with a double Wall and planted with great Guns and capable to lodge Two Hunderd Men. This little Fort is call'd Queutshy-cala The City stands about Cannon-Shot distance from the Fortress but the space between is fill'd up with Houses and Market-Places but such pitiful thin Structures that they may be all remov'd away in one day There are several Churches in this City of which the principal are the Episcopal See call'd Ircou-ye-rize or Two Faces and Catovike Which two Churches have stood ever since the Raign of the two last Kings of Armenia The others were Erected since and are small sunk deep in the Earth and not unlike so many Cata-Combs or Burying-places Near the Episcopal See stands an old Tower built of Free-Stone of which you see the Draught in the Sculpture I never could learn when it was Erected nor by whom nor for what use Yet there are Inscriptions on the outside of which the Character resembles the Armenian but the Armenians could not read it The Workmanship of this Tower is all of Antique-Work and singular for its Architecture as may appear by the Figure The inside is all empty and naked but on the outside and round about it several Ruines so dispos'd as if formerly there had been some Cloyster there and that this Tower had stood in the midst of it An ancient Tower at Irivan There are many Baths in the City and in the Fortress and many Inns of which the fairest stands about Five Hunderd Paces from the Castle built by the Governor of Armenia some few Years ago The Portal is Eighty Paces in depth and forms a fair Gallery full of Shops where are sold all manner of Stuffs The Body of the Structure is square containing three great Lodgings and Sixty small ones with fair Stables and very large Warehouses Before it lies a Market-Place surrounded with Shops where are to be sold all sorts of Provision for the Belly and upon one side a fair Mosque and two Coffee-Houses The Elevation of Erivan is in 40 Deg. 15 Min. The Longitude in 78 Deg. 20 Min. The Air is good but a little thick and cold and the Winter lasts long so that sometimes it will Snow in April Which constrains the Country-People to bury their Vines in the Winter and never to dig 'em up again till the Spring The Country is delightful and very fertil The Earth produces her Fruits in great Plenty especially Wine which is very good and cheap The Armenians also have a Tradition That Noah planted a Vineyard near to Erivan and some there are who pretend to know the Place and shew it about a small League from the City The Soyl produces all sorts of Provision which is therefore sold at a very low rate The two Rivers that run by the side of it and the Lake of which we shall take an occasion to speak furnish the City with Excellent Fish and among the rest with Trouts and Carps that are wonderfully good and famous all over the East of which I have seen some that have been three Foot long And then for Fowl no place in the World where Partridges are more plentiful The Lake of Erivan lies three small days Journeys off to the North-West by the Persians call'd Deria-Shirin or the Sweet-Lake by the Armenians Kiagar-couni-sou which signifies the same thing and the reason why it is so call'd is from the extraordinary sweetness of the Water It is Five and Twenty Leagues in Circuit and very deep affording nine sorts of Fish which are there tak'n the fairest Trouts and Carps which are eaten at Erivan being caught in this Lake There is a small Island in the middle of it where stands a Monastery built about 600 Years ago of which the Prior is an Archbishop who takes upon him the Title of Patriarch refusing to acknowledge the Grand Patriarch Our Maps take no Cognizance of this Lake a wonderful thing to me that among all our Travellers into Persia not one should make any mention of it By which defect it may be judg'd that those Authors were little curious after
since at this City and is now going in all hast to the Palace which is the a Refuge of the Universe You must of necessity fully and exactly b inform your self of his designs and what Petitions he has to make to the most High Court and when you rightly understand ' em see that you use your best Endeavour that they may be favourably answer'd We shall be very desirous to know what Effect and Success our Recommendation shall have and after what Manner this Hlustrious Friend shall be receiv'd and entertain'd We also desire you to send us the good Tydings of his Health We pray to God that he may have the favour and the happiness to be well receiv'd of our Great King To whom I wish that c all the World may pay Homage and that he may prosper in all his Undertakings The Eternal God grant ye long life a The Persian word which I have translated the Refuge of the World is Alempenha Alem signifies the whole entire World or Universal Nature Penha a Retreat a Haven a Place of Security and to which a Man may have recourse b In the Original it is that they inform themselves For the Eastern People addressing themselves to Persons of Quality to denote the Person make use of the Third Person Plural and when they mean themselves speak in the Third Person Singular Which is also the Proper Idiom of the Holy Language c In the Persian it is That all Souls may serve his Name his Name Repetition is a Figure very frequent in the Oriental Languages and questionless borrow'd from the Sacred Language Of which there are a Thousand Examples in the Original Bibles as in the 68. Psalm v. 13. They are fled they are fled That is They are absolutely fled And Psalm 8. 7. v5 The man the man That is the Perfect Man Afterwards I went and took leave of the Principal Lords of the Court and among the Rest of the General of the Mint This Lord who was call'd Mahamed Shefi perswaded me to go to Ispahan by the way of Ardevil assuring me that I should not fail to sell in that City Thereupon I promis'd him so to do and took along with me a Letter of Recommendation to the Governor of that City who was his near Kinsman Which I thus Translated into French GOD Thrice High and Potent Lord Glorious Majesty worthy to be call'd Celestial Elect of the Governors Deputy Lieutenants and Happy Men Fountain of Grace Honour and Civility Exemplar of Purity Model of Generosity and Manificence Heart Sincere Real and Faithful Protector of his Intimate Friends and Kindred My most Excellent Lord and Master I beseech the most High God to preserve your Health and prolong your Life Having paid you my due Respects and Homage These are to let you understand Great Sir whose Wit is Clear and Glistering like the Sun That Mr. Chardin the Flower of European Merchants intending to go through Casbin to the Magnificent Palace which is the Refuge of the Universe I who am your Real Friend perswaded him out of a desire to serve you to go through the Sacred Ardevil He carries with him certain Commodities of an Extraordinary value which he will shew in the presence of your thrice a Noble Person I am certain you will buy if you meet with any thing that is worth your having and I am assur'd your Highness will command your People to take care of this Noble Stranger I am preparing to go for Tifflis with God's Assistance toward the end of the next Month Zilhage If I can serve your Excellency in that Country you will do me a great Honour to let me know it I beseech ye to believe that a richer Present cannot be made me then to bring me Tydings of your good Health God through his favour preserve your Illustrious Person till the Day of Judgement I am the true Friend of the Thrice High and Thrice Illustrious Lords Geonbec Hiaiabec and Mahamed-bec I am apt to believe for my own Repose the Continuation of their Health The Seal contain'd a Verse or Sentence of which this was the Meaning I have wholly left my Destiny to God I Mahamed Shefi his Creature Upon the outside of the Letter at one Corner was written in a small Character God preserve the happy Condition of my Friend While I stay'd at the Camp there arriv'd a Courier from the King who brought his Majesties Answer touching the Patriarch's Business And I understood at the Governours that the Contents were That the Chief Ministers were of Opinion that the Treasure at Ecsmiazin should be sold with all the Ornaments and all the Wealth belonging to the Church and Convent and that the Money that was made of it should go to the payment of the Patriarch's Debts And that this Resolution had been taken except Opposition had been made by the Armenians by representing that all that Money would nothing near satisfie the Patriarch's Concerns and that if they took away from Ecsmiazin its Treasure and its Ornaments they would ruine a place that drew a world of Company into Persia and which yearly paid a very great Rent occasion'd by the Devotion and Concourse of the Eastern Christians That upon that the King had decreed That the Money should be levy'd in Armenia upon all the Christian Villages to satisfie the Customer of Constantinople whom there was a necessity to see paid The Patriarch was over-joy'd at the News and made a Present to him that brought it but it displeas'd all the honest People in the City who were vex'd to the Souls to see the Prelate so insensible of the Violence they were going to offer to thousands of Poor Christians to pay for the Expences of his irregular Ambition The 8. an hour before day I parted from Erivan and travell'd four Leagues over the little Hills and through Valleys the Country which I cross'd being full of Villages In one of which that was a very fair and large one I lodg'd call'd by the name of Daivin The 9. we travell'd five Leagues through a Country that was very level and fertile That which they call the Mountain of Noah lying upon the Right Hand We directed our Course South-West and lay at a Village call'd Kainer The 10. we continu'd the same Road and travell'd eight Leagues Upon the left hand after we got half the way we left a great Town call'd Sederec Which is as it were the Capital of the Province of Armenia call'd Charour The Sultan of which Province resides in that Town That Night we had but a very bad Lodging in an old ruin'd Inn near to a Village call'd Nouratchin The 11. We travell'd four Leagues upon the same Road and through a very fair Country but not so level nor smooth as being stony and full of little Hills We also ferry'd over a River call'd Harpasony that waters all the Neighbouring Lands It separates the Government of that part of Armenia of which Erivan is the Capital from that
other part of which Nacchivan is the Metropolis The 12. we arriv'd at Nacchivan after we had travell'd five Leagues over Plaines very level and Fertile Nacchivan is a great City or rather a vast heap of Ruins which are repair'd and repeopl'd by degrees The heart of the City is at present rebuilt and inhahited having very large Bazars which are a sort of long Galleries or Streets that are cover'd full of Shops on both sides where they sell all Sorts of Merchandizes and Provisions There are in it five Inns or Caravanserays Baths Market Places large Publick Houses where they sell Tobacco and Coffee and two Thousand Houses or thereabouts The Persian Histories assure us that formerly it contain'd above Forty Thousand They also tell us that before the Arabians conquer'd this Country there were in it five Cities which had been built by Behron-Tchoubin King of Persia Without the City are to be seen the Ruins of a great Castle and several Forts which Abas caus'd to be destroy'd toward the end of the last Age not finding himself strong enough to keep 'em All which he caus'd to be ruin'd after he had taken Nacchiavan from the Turks and after he had ruin'd and dispeopl'd the City Which he did to prevent the Turks from Fortifying themselves in that Place and furnishing themselves with Provisions Most certainly the City is an Object of Pity considering in what a Condition it now lies The Histories of Persia would have us believe that it was one of the Greatest and Fairest Cities of all Armenia as has been already said But that History now kept in the Monastery of the Three Churches and which is chiefly spok'n of doclares that this City was the ancient Ardashhad call'd Artaxate or Artaxasate by the Greek Historians Other Armenian Authors make Nacchivan to be much more Ancient and assert that Noah began to build it and made it his Abode after the Deluge And they make the Etymology of the Name to agree with the Antiquity of the Original Affirming that in the old Armenian Language Nacchivan signifies the first Habitation Ptolomy makes mention of a City in these Parts which he calls Naxuane which might have been the same with Nacchivan I believe that Artaxate or Artaxasate was seated very near it For Tacitus observes that Araxes ran very near that City and we find it not to be above seven Leagues from Nacchivan The height of the Pole over it's Horizon is mark'd upon the Persian Astrolobes to be 38. deg 40. min. and the Longitude 81. deg 34. min. It is govern'd by a Kan and is the Capital of one part of Armenia Five Leagues from Nacchivan to the North lies a great village call'd Abrener which signifies the Fertil Field The inhabitants of that Village and of seven others near it are all Roman Catholicks Their Bishops and Curates are Dominicans and they perform their Church and Service in the Armenian language He was an Italian Dominican of Bologna that brought all this Country under Subjection to the Pope about 350. years ago And about twenty villages more that lay round acknowledg'd the same Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction But at length they return'd to their obedience under the Armenian Patriarch and to their first Religion and as for those that persist in the Romish Ceremonies their Number daily decreases by reason of the Persecution of the Patriarch and the Governors of Nacchivan Those poor people having drawn upon their own heads the Indignation and violent Usage of those Governors for having endeavour'd to withdraw themselves from their Jurisdiction Dependence To which purpose there arriv'd in Persia in the year 1664. an Italian Dominican in the Quality of an Embassador from the Pope From whom and from several other Potentates of Europe he brought Letters to the King He made great Presents to his Majesty and obtain'd effectually That those Roman Catholick Villages should every year send their Tribute to the Royal Treasure and whatever they were oblig'd to pay yearly according to the Rates set down in Writing in the Registers of the Superintendant and Receiver-General of Media Which being done that Orders should be sent to the Super-intendant and Governor of Nacchivan and all other the Kings Officers to acknowledge the Roman Catholicks to be absolutely independant from their Jurisdiction and that they should not presume to make any Levies within their Territories Which Regulation that did very little good to those villages was the occasion of many Mischiefs that afterwards befell em and will one day be the cause of their Ruin For the Governors of Nacchivan provok'd at these proceedings and the complaints that were made of 'em to Abas have lay'd a thousand heavy Impositions upon those poor People since the death of that good King and have made 'em pay three or four times the money which they sent to the Treasure Royal For which the oppressed people can have no remedy whether through the Remissness of the Government or for that their own Party is low and out of Credit The Treasurer of Media has done worse for he has sent to Court false extracts of the Registers of that Province by which it appears that those villages were to pay fourteen hundred pounds yearly which is just as much again as what they pretend to have always paid Every time they carry their Imposition of Seven Hundred Pounds into the Treasury the Officers give 'em a Receipt wherein they put that it is upon Account of what they ought to pay by which they keep a Door open for Arbitrary Impositions and Branglings to ruin 'em when they please themselves The Governor of Nacchivan was not in Town when I arriv'd there But this Son that was Deputy had soon notice of my arrival So that he invited me to Dinner and desir'd me to shew him some Watches and some Jewels But I was no way satisfi'd with his manner of dealing with me For after he had been civil to me and had giv'n me a dinner he left me with his officers who forc'd me in a manner to let him have that for fourty pounds for which I refus'd fifty at Erivan And without question they had us'd me more uncivilly but for the King's Pattent and Pass port which I had about me And indeed those Thorow-fairs are a sort of Places for the skinning of strangers who are reputed to be rich They must alway there pay Passage-money The 13. We departed from Nacchivan and travell'd seven Leagues At the end of the first League passing a River over a very broad Bridge to which the People of the Country give no other name then that of the River of Nacchivan The Country which we pass'd is dry and Stony where was nothing to be seen but little Hills of Stones We lay upon the Banks of the River Araxes which the Orientals call Aras and Ares We pass it at Esqui-julfa or Julfa the old a ruin'd City which some Authors beleive to be that City which the Ancients call'd Ariammene They call'd
of Ur or the Country of Fire And Ptolomy makes mention of a City in that Country which is call'd Urcoa that is to say the place of Fire ga with a long or a double a being a Persian word that signifies a Place or Part of a Country But the Ancient Names have been so corrupted by the negligence or ignorance of Transcribers or by the differences of Language and Pronuntiation of Authors and Translators that when we come to compare the Ancients with the modern Name we must not reject every thing that has not an entire Resemblance Now what we have already said shews us the Errors of those who have written that Azer-beyan is the Northern Part of Syria and that the word of Azer-beyan is deriv'd from Ardoebigara which was the Capital City of the Country The Persians divide it into three parts Azer-beyan Shirvan and Shamalei Strabo divides it only into two parts the greater and the lesser but as for Ptolomie and other modern Geogrophers they make no division of it at all The 14. we travell'd five leagues through a Country full of little Hills following the same course as the days before that it is to the North-West leaving that spacious Plain upon the left hand which has been the Stage of so many Bloody Battels fought in the last ages and in the beginning of this between the Persians and Turks The people of the Country shew you a great heap of Stones affirm it to be the Place where that Battel began between Selim the Son of Solymon the Great and Ismahel the Great Our days Journey ended at Alacou The Persians assert that this place was so call'd Alacou by that famous Tartar Prince who conquer'd a great Part of Asia and there founded a City ruin'd during the Wars between the Turks and Persians The 15. our Journey was not so long as the day before but the way through which we travell'd was more smooth and easie We lodg'd at Marant which is a good fair Town consisting of about two thousand five hundred houses and which has so many Gardens that they take up as much ground as the Houses It is seated at the bottom of a little Hill at the end of a Plain which is a league broad and five long and which is one of the most lovely and fairest that may be seen a little River call'd Zelou-lou running through the middle of it from which the people of the Country cut several Trenches to water their Grounds and their Gardens Marant is better peopl'd than Nacchivan and a much fairer Town There grows about it great plenty of Fruits and the best in all Media But that which is most peculiar to these Parts is this that they gather Cocheneel in the Places adjoyning though not in any great quantity nor for any longer time then only eight days in the Summer when the Sun is in Leo. Before that time the People of the Country assure us that it does not come to Maturity and after that time the Worm from whence they draw the Cocheneel makes a hole in the lease upon which it grows and is lost The Persians call Cocheneel Quermis from Querm which signifies a Worme because it is extracted out of Worms Marant is seated 37. deg 50. min. of Lat. and 81. deg 15. min. of Longit. according to the observation of the Persians Some take it for the City which Ptolemy calls Mandagarana I made no Platform of it no more then I did of Nacchivan because neither their Fame nor their Beauty seem'd to me to be worth any such Pains The Armenians have a Tradition that Noah lies buried there and that the Name of the City is deriv'd from an Armenian word which signifies to bury You may descry from Marant when the Air is clear the Place where the Ark rested which sav'd the Patriarch from the Deluge You may also see the same Mountain from Tauris in a serene Sky as the People of the Country assure us The 16. we travelled four Leagues turning always among the Mountains that come very close one to another in several parts but never joyn By ten of the Clock in the morning we arriv'd at Sophian a little Village seated in a Plain full of Rivulets and Gardens the Soyl of which is fertile to a wonder Some Authors believe it to be the Ancient Sophia of Media Others hold that it was call'd Sophian from the Sophi's who settled there when Ismael the First left Ardevil and remov'd his Court to Tauris That Evening Mr. Azarias the honest Armenian already mention'd went before with my Pasports and Letters of Recommendation from the Governors of Georgia and Armenia I ordered him to find out the Toll-gatherer of Tauris and to desire him in my Name to give order that I might pass with my Retinue and the next day I found he had discharg'd his Trust and that care had been taken to leave such orders at the Gates as I desir'd That day being the Seventeenth we arriv'd at Tauris after we had travell'd six Leagues upon the same Road as the preceding days through fair and fertile Plains where all the Lands were till'd and where we had a Prospect of a great number of Villages It is fifty three Persian Leagues every one of which makes five thousand Paces between Irivan and Tauris which may be easily rid on Horseback in Six days but the Caravans take double the Time The Camels seldom travel above four Leagues aday and carry six or seven Hundred weight the Horses and Mules seldom carry above two Hundred and Twenty weight with a Man and travel five or six Leagues a day There are in Tauris two hundred and fifty Mosques of which the Principal are mark'd in the Copper Plate I shall not say any thing of any one in particular because they are no otherwise built then the fair Mosquees in the Capital City of the Kingdom of which you will find in the following Volume both Descriptions and Platforms The Mosquee of Ali-sha is almost totally ruin'd Only they have repair'd the lower part where the People go to Prayers and the Tower which is very high and is the first that discovers its self to the Eye coming from Erivan This Mosque was built about 400 years ago by Coja Ali-sha Grand Visir to Sultan Kazan King of Persia who kept his Court at Tauris and was there buried His sepulchre is still to be seen in a great ruin'd Tower which they call by his name Monar can Kazan The Mosque which they call the Master Apprentise which lyes half in Ruins at present was built three hundred and twenty years ago by Emir-sheic-Hassen That which is mark'd with the Letter O in the Plate is the fairest in all Tauris all the inside and some part of the outside being guilt with Gold It was built in the year 878 of the Hegyra by a Persian King call'd Geoncha or King of the World That with two Towers is a very small one but both the Towers
more easie to the Pursuers But if this were so observable that which I am going to say is no less remarkable which is That they assur'd me that in the parts adjoyning to Tauris there grow no less then threescore sorts of Grapes Not far from the City in the neighbouring Parts are to be seen great Quarries of white Marble of which there is a sort that is transparent The People of the Country affirm it to be the water of a Mineral Fountain congeal'd and hardne'd by degrees and indeed there are not far from it two considerable Mines the one of Gold and the other of Salt But there has been no working in the Gold Mine for this long time because they always found that the Profit never defray'd the Expences of the Labour There are also several mineral Waters Of which the most frequented are those of Baringe half a League from Tauris and those of Seid-Kent another Village which is six Leagues from the City These Waters are sulphureous but there are others that are cold others boyling hot I do not know whether there be any City in the World concerning the Original and first Name of which there is a greater Dispute among Modern Authors We shall produce the Opinion of the most celebrated only it will not be amiss in the first place to take notice that the Persians call the City Tebris and that when we call it Tauris as the People of Europe generally do it is only in compliance with the common Custom and to the end I may be the better understood Teixera Olearius and some other Authors maintain that Tauris is that City which Ptolomy in the fifth Table of Asia calls Gabris the G. being put in the stead of T. an Alteration frequent in the Greek Language as they assert Leonclavius Jovius and Aython will have it to be that City which the same Ancient Geographer calls Terva instead of Tevra by a transposition of the Letters of the word But Terva being plac'd in Armenia and it being certain that Tauris is seated in Media those two Names can never be appropriated to the same City So that without doubt the Resemblance of the word deceiv'd those Authors Tebris is a Persian word and was given to the City in the year 165. of the Hegyra as we shall declare more at large And therefore in regard it was several years ago since Ptolomy wrote we must believe that Terva and Gabris are both very different from Tauris Niger asserts it to be Tigranoama other Authors take it to be Tigranocerta Some there are of Opinion that it is the Susa of Media so famous in Scripture tho others believe it to be the City which in the Book of Esdras is call'd Acmatha or Amatha Some place it in Assyria as Ptolomy and his Interpreter Others in Armenia as Niger Cedrenus Aython and Jovius Marcus Paulus Venetus places it in the Country of the Parthians Calchondylas removes it a little farther that is to say into the Province of which Persepolis was formerly the Metropolis In short there is a strange Confusion in the Variety of Opinions upon this Subject But the most rational in my Opinion is that of Molets who has translated and commented upon Ptolomy of Ananias Ortelius Golnits Teixera de la Vall Atlas and almost all the modern Geographers that Tauris is the Ancient and Celebrated Ecbatana so frequently mention'd in Holy Writ and in the Ancient Sories of Asia Minadoi an Italian Author if I am not deceiv'd has set forth a Treatise to prove it However give me leave to add this that there are no Remainders to be seen at Tauris either of the Magnificent Palace of Ecbatana where the Monarchs of Asia kept their Courts in Summer nor of that of Daniel which was afterwards the Mausoleum for the Kings of Media of which Josephus speaks in his tenth Book and which he assures us stood entire in his time If then these stately and magnificent Palaces were standing not above sixteen Ages ago in the Place where Tauris now stands the very Ruins themselves are now not to found For among all those that are to be seen within the Circuit of that City there are none but what are of Earth Brick or Flint which were not Materials anciently made use of in Media for the building of sumptuous Palaces The Persian Historians unanimously agree the Time when the Foundations of Tauris were laid to be in the year 165. of the Hegyra but they do not concur in other particulars Some ascribe the Foundation of it to the Wife of Haron-Reshid Califf of Bagdad call'd Zebd-el-Caton which signifies the Flower of Ladies They report that she being desperately sick a Median Physitian cur'd her in a short time For which the Princess not knowing what Reward to give him bid him make choice of his Recompence where upon the Physitian desir'd that she would build a City in his Country to the Honor of his Memory Which after she had perform'd with great Care and Diligence he call'd the City Tebris as a Memorial that it ow'd its Original to Physick For that Teb signifies Physic and Ris is the Participle of Ricten to power forth scatter abroad or give a Largess This is what some relate to which there are others that tell a Story not much unlike For they say that Halacoucan General to Haron Reshid having been two years sick of a Tertian Ague of which he never expected to be cur'd was strangely deliver'd from his Distemper by an Herb which he found in the same place where Tauris now stands And that to perpetuate the Memory of such a fortunate Cure he built this City and call'd it Tebrift the Ague is gone For Teb signifies also an Ague and rift comes from the Verb Reften to go away But that afterwards either by Corruption or because it runs smoother upon the Tongue it was call'd Tebris instead of Tebrift Mirzathaer one of the most Learned Persons of Quality that are in Persia the Son of Mirza Ibrahim Treasurer of the Province gave me another Reason of the Etymology that is to say that at the Time when this City was built the Air was extremely wholesom and preservative against Agues Which extraordinary Quality drew a world of People to it and that therefore it was call'd Tebris as if man should say the Expeller of Agues The same Lord also further assur'd me that there are in the Kings Treasury at Ispahan certain Medals with the Inscription of that Zebd-el-Caton which were found at Marant a city near to Tauris with a great number of others both of Gold and Silver being the Coyns of the Ancient Kings of Media And that he had observ'd others with Greek Figures and Inscriptions wherein he remembred the word Dakianous And then he ask'd me if I knew who that Dakianous was To which I answer'd that I did not understand the name but that it might be very probably the Name of Darius In the 69. year after the
it There are but few Mosques at Casbin The chiefest of which by them call'd Metshid-guima or the Mosque of the Congregation was founded by Haron-Reshid Califf of Bagdat in the year of the Hegyra 170. The Royal Mosque call'd Metshid-sha is one of the largest and fairest in all Persia being seated at the end of a spacious Street planted with fair Trees which begins from one of the Gates of the Palace Royal. This Mosque was almost all built at the expences of Tahmas and in his Life time his Father Ishmael having laid the Foundations but dying before they came to be even with the street There are also several handsome buildings among the Caravanserai's or Publick Inns. That which they call the Royal Inn contains 250 Channels has a large Fountaine planted with Trees in the middle of the Court and two Gates which the lead in the Court from two streets full of shops where the most costly sort of Merchandises are sold But chiefest Grace and Ornament of Casbin consists neither in Inns nor Baths nor in Bazars nor in Markets Tobacco Coffee or strong-water Houses where the Persians debauch themselves but in the great number of Palaces of the Persian Grandees which they keep in their possession from Father to Son by reason of the long residence of the Court at Casbin from time to time But there are not so many Gardens in Casbin as in most part of the other City of that Province because the soyl is Sandy and dry for want of water there being only a little River which is no more then an Arm of the River Charoud not sufficient to to supply the Grounds about it So that they are forc'd to bring their water from the Mountain in Subterraneal Channels which they call Kerises that empty themselves into Vaults thirty foot deep which though it be cool is nevertheless heavy and insipid Which want of water is also the reason that the Air of Casbin is heavy thick and not very healthful especially in Summer by reason that the City not having a running stream has neither any sinks to carry away the filth of the Town Yet notwithstanding this same scarcity of water the City abounds in Meat and all manner of Provisions for that the Plains that lie round about it are so well water'd that they feed a world of Cattel and produce a prodigious plenty of Corn and Fruits Among the rest the fairest Grape in Persia which they call Shahoni or the Royal Grape being of a Gold Colour transparent and as big as a small Olive These Grapes are dry'd and transported all over the Kingdom They also make the strongest Wine in the World and the most luscious but very thick as all strong and sweet wines usually are This incomparable Grape grows only upon the young Branches which they never water So that for five months together they grow in the Heat of Summer and under a scorching Sun without receiving a drop of water either from the skie or otherwise When the Vintage is over they let in their Cattel to browze in the Vineyards afterwards they cut off all the great Wood and leave only the young stocks about three foot high which need no propping up with Poles as in other places and therefore they never make use of any such supporters There is also great Plenty of Pistachio's in those parts where the Air is very hot in the Summer all the day long by reason of the high Mountain that lies to the North. But on the other side the Nights are so cold that if a Man expose himself never so little to the air after he is undrest he is sure to fall sick Casbin lies in 85. deg and 5. min. of Long. and in 36. deg and 35. min. of Latitude The most part of our European Chorographers who have discours'd of the Cities of Persia affirm Casbin to be the ancient Arsacia and that before it was call'd Europa till the Parthians gave it that name from Arsaces the first of their Emperors that is it the same with that City which the Greeks call'd Ragea and the holy Scripture Rages of Media Some are of opinion that it was that same Casbira of which Strabo makes mention but the Persian Histories will not allow it to be so ancient The History entitl'd Elbeijon or the Explication relates That this was founded by Shapour the Son of Ardeshir-babecon and that he gave it the name of Shaepour as much as to say the City of the Kings Son For Shae signifies a King and Pour in the ancient Persian a Son Whence the name of Sha-pour which the ancient Greeks call Sapores The History entitl'd Teduine affirms that the City which was call'd Shaepour was not Casbin and that it was not built on the same place where Casbin now stands but at least three Leagues above toward the West at the Concourse of two Rivers the one named Haroud already mention'd which springs from the Mountain Alou-vent and the other call'd Ebher-roud or the River of Ebher I have heard several Persons of Quality affirm that there are in that place vast heaps of Ruins to be seen and all Authors agree that the two Towns call'd Sartshé not far from thence were built in the Reign of Ardeshir-babecon Another Persian History compos'd by an Author call'd by the name of Ambdalla relates that Casbin had its first Rise from a Castle which the King last mention'd caus'd to be built to stop the Inroads of the Deilemites that came down from Mount Alouvent and ravag'd all the Territory That this Castle was seated in the middle of the City where is now the Royal Piazza of Casbin and that it was ruin'd by the Arabians in the time of Osman one of Mahomets first successors And indeed almost all their Histories make mention of this Castle and say that after it was demolish'd it was rebuilt again much larger then before and a great Town rais'd round about it Mousael-hadibilla the Son of Mahomet-mehdy Califf of Bagdat caus'd it to be surrounded with walls in the 170. year of the Hegyra and about a thousand paces from it built a little City which he call'd by his own name Medina-Moussi which name one large Ward or Quarter of Casbin carrys to this day Moubarec-suzbee one of the Califfs free'd Servants who had the Government of the Province and to whom the work was recommended built another City at an equal distance and call'd it Moubarekié for the preservation of his name which the Persians some time after call'd Moubarec-abad Moubarec signifying blessed abada habitation Haron-Reshid Brother and Successor to Mousa-elhadi joyn'd these three little Cities into one by filling up the void space with a great number of buildings and then order'd the whole to be encompass'd with Walls and Fortifications Which work was begun in the 190 year of the Hegyra Haron also had a design to have made it a Bull-wark against the Incursions of the Hircanians and Deilamites and a Magazine for the warr
are glad to walk sometimes when they find themselves sleepy and to shake off those little shiverings caus'd by the Coolness of the Air besides that it is a great ease to the Horses When you get to your Inn you go to Bed and fetch up that sleep in the day which you lost in the night Another advantage of travelling by night is this that the Beasts of Carriage rest all the time that the Heat and the Flies molest 'em and are better lookt after while the Servants dress 'em by day-light besides that in the day time Provisions both for Horse and Man are more ready to be had And then again the Hosts of the Caravanseray having slept almost all the day for want of Employment are then up and ready at all Commands The first thing which the Grooms do at the first coming into the Inn is to walk the Horses then they cloath them and loosen their Girts About an hour or two after they give 'em to eat and then the Grooms go to sleep about nine or ten a Clock every body rises and eats a light Breakfast after that the Grooms dress their Horses and the Cooks get ready their Victuals In the mean time the Master betakes himself again to his Rest or else otherwise employs himself About four a Clock they meat their Horses with Barley for they never give 'em Oats in the East and then put on the Saddle at which time Supper is serv'd in While the Master Sups the Cook cleanses the Kitchin Furniture and the Valet de Chambre puts up the Masra's which is a kind of Portmantle where the Bed and Bed-cloaths are put up with as much Convenience as in a Chest of which one Horse will carry two Then the Servants go to Supper while the Master gets himself ready and puts on his Boots When the Servants have supp'd which is soon done among the Asiatics the Cook puts up his Utensils and the Groom bridles and girts up the Horses and the rest fold up the Carpets or do what else belong to their Duties lastly they load and so depart They that have not seen the Fashions of the East will hardly believe with what Conveniency Men travel in those Parts However it is very great though a man may be said to carry a whole House a long with him and the reason is because every Servant knowing what he has to do every thing is dispatch'd in an Instant We lodg'd at Segs-abad which signifies the Habitation of Dogs being a Town as large as Kiare seated in a fair Plain where there are a great number of Villages There are no Inns at either of those two places but in each fifteen or twenty great Houses which the Owners keep open for the Entertainment of Travellers and which are kept much more cleanly than the Caravanserais There is also much better Accommodation but at a dearer rate For the Host not daring to demand either for his Lodging or his Trouble which is not the Custom he pays himself by the Provender and Provisions which he sells his Guests at his own price whereas in the Caravanserais every thing is tax'd The 11. we travell'd eight Leagues the first two over Mole-hills and little hills where the way was somwhat rugged the rest over a fair champaign Ground full of Villages and for the most part well manur'd It is said to be the place where the Battel was fought between Lucullus and Mithridates and which the defeat of Crassus render'd yet more famous in the Roman History We alighted at an Inn call'd Koskeirou one of the fairest and largest that ever was built in Persia There are belonging to it two Gardens two Cisterns a Bath and a small Canal being altogether the Gifts of the Chief Wife of Abas the Great She founded this place and settled a Revenue of Fourscore Pounds to pay four Servants that were to lodge in the Inn meerly to keep it clean and to wait upon Travellers But the fourscore Pounds have bin since converted to other uses through the Covetousness of the Trustees Which is the reason that the Caravanserai lies very nasty every where and runs to ruin for want of good keeping It cost four Thousand Tomans the Building which comes to eighteen thousand Pounds There are also in Persia other Inns besides Bridges Causeys and Hospitals remaining Monuments of the Charity of that Princess which have render'd her Name famous and if we may believe public Report she expended in Pious Works no less than a hundred thousand Tomans which make about four hundred thousand Pounds Sterling The 12. we travell'd eight Leagues three over the pleasant Plains where stands Koskeirou and five in a deep Country where the Road is somewhat crooked and rough Two hours before day we arriv'd at Sava and lodg'd in the Suburbs that lie upon the high Road. Sava is a great City seated in a sandy and barren Plain within sight of Mount Alouvent It is two miles in Circuit and girt with walls but thinly peopl'd for unless it be the Heart of the City the rest runs to ruin for want of Inhabitants The Walls are also in a bad condition nor is there any thing remarkable round about it tho formerly it has been a fair City as the ruins of several great Structures demonstrate There runs a small River through and a good number of Canals The Soyl is dry and sandy producing nothing without Art and Industry yet it is beautify'd with a great number of Gardens The Air is there very hot and unhealthy It lies 35. deg 50. min. of Lat. 85. deg of Longitude and is govern'd by a Derogué or Mayor The Histories of Persia unanimously consent that the whole Plain of Sava was formerly a Salt Marsh or Lake like to that Lake which is call'd the Salt-Sea not above twenty Leagues from this City to the East and which is cross'd over a Crusey thirty Eeagues in length as ye travel from Ispahan into Hyrcania but those Histories do not agree upon the time that this Marsh was dry'd up Some fabulously report that it was the same night that Mahomet was born Others that it was Haly his Son-in-Law who drain'd away the waters by a Miracle And the same Histories report that he wrought that Miracle onely by the pronuntiation of one word and that he did it in favour to the Inhabitants of Com who took his part against the Father-in-Law of Mahomet They also add that those People to preserve the Memory of so great an Accident built a City in the midst of that same drain'd Fenn and laid the first Stone upon the Sun 's entring into Gemini The northern People ruin'd it in the fourth Age of Mahumetism But Coja-Sehid-el-din the Son of Melec-Sheref-el-din-Savegi rebuilt it forty years after that much more stately than it was before its Destruction wall'd it and pav'd it with red Bricks Sometime after that Coja-Séhid-el-din enlarg'd it to the North and brought the water to it through ten
me enquire of the People of the Country whether that Mountain was wont to cast forth fire but I could meet with no body that ever saw or heard of any such thing But this is a publick Caution to all men For they tell ye that they who desire to ascend that Mountain never come back and it is reported that Abas the Great one day sent a Foot-Boy up with a Cresset Light upon his Shoulders but that the Light presently went out and the Fellow never appear'd more This Mountain lies upon the left hand as you go to Com. To which City as we drew near we saw on every side the little Mausoleums and Mosques where the Grand-Children and Descendants of Aly lie interr'd The Persians call the first Descendants from this Califfe Yman Zade or Sons of the Apostles and these are the Persian Saints of which there are an infinite number buried in this Kingdom for they reckon four hundred Sepulchers about Com. We made this City the end of our Journey at ten a Clock at night and I was afraid I should have ended my Life there too by an Accident altogether unexpected For I alighted at the Door of the Caravanseray and held my Horse by the Bridle expecting my Groom to come and take him and what time another led Horse perceiving me at his Tail up with his hind Legs and with all his force yerk'd with his Heels at my Breast so that had I been never so little farther from him he had broken my Bones I confess I did not fall for I was supported by my Horses head but for a quarter of an hour I was almost stifl'd not being able to fetch my Breath God in his Mercy took Comparsion of me so that I escap'd the fury of the Blow tho I felt it six weeks afterwards yet not so but that I could go about my Business as I was wont KOM KOM The Tombs of the two last KINGS OF PERSIA And here I shall give you the Platform of that Celebrated Mosque so much talk'd of over all the East It has four Courts belonging to it as you may perceive by the Draught The first is planted with Trees and Flowers like a Garden being a long Square having an Alley in the middle which is separated from the Beds and Plots by a Balustrade There are also two Terrasses an each side running the full length of the Garden three foot high Upon each side of which there are twenty Chambers vaulted nine foot square one Chimney and a Portico At the Entrance into this Court upon the left hand there 's one of these deep Cellars and upon the right hand an Aviary It is a place design'd for Recreation For it is moreover encompass'd with a Canall of clear water that runs out of one Fountain at the Entrance and empties it self into another at the end Ten Disticks in Letters of Gold over the Top of the Portal compose the Inscription of this Mausoleum of which the Translation is as follows The Date of the Portal of the Tomb of the most Venerable and Pure Virgin of Com upon whom be Salvation In the time of the happy Reign of Abas the Second the Support of the World to whom increase of days This Gate was open'd in the face of the People Whoever casts up his Eyes looseth the Idea of Paradise Who has ever cross'd her Courts whose Aspect rejoyces Hearts has not pass'd 'em swiftly like the wind Masoom Vicar to the Great Pontiff whose sage Counsels teach the Sun to govern his Motion caus'd this Portal to be made by one of his Substitutes Aga Mourad the Height and Excellency of which surpasses the Celestial Throne This is the Entrance into the Palace Royal of the thrice Venerable pure Virgin descended from the House of the Prophet Haypy and Glorious that faithful Person that shall prostrate his head upon the Threshold of this Gate in Imitation of the Sun and Moon Whatever he shall demand with Faith from above this Gate shall be like an Arrow that hits the Mark that is to say shall answer his Desires Certainly Fortune shall never molest the Enterprises of him who for the Love of God rais'd this Portal in the Face of the People O thou Faithful if thou demand'st in what Year this Portal was built I answer thee from above the Portal from Desire demand thy Desires To understand this last Distich you must understand that whereas in our Alphabet there are but seven Numeral Letters or which serve instead of a Cipher as V. for five X. for ten L. for fifty c. The Alphabet in the Oriental Languages stands for Arithmetical Numbers and so for a knack of Wit which indeed requires a quick Fancy they denote the Year of any thing by words that have some resemblance to the Thing done and are compos'd of Letters which according to their arithmetical Value make up just the Year of their Epoche and the Letters of this word make 1061. Year Of which I shall produce another Example The deceas'd King of Persia caus'd a Tent to be made that cost one hundred and fifty Thousand Pounds It was call'd the House of Gold because there was nothing but Gold that glister'd in every part of it I shall give you the Description of it in another place It may be easily conjectur'd that it was a sumptuous and costly Piece as well by the Price that it cost as by the number of Camels which were requir'd to carry it that were in all 280. The Anti-chamber was made of Velvet with a Ground of Gold Of which the Cornish was embellish'd with Verses that concluded in this manner If thou demandest at what time the Throne of this Second Salomon was built I will tell thee Behold the Throne of the Second Salomon where the Letters of the last words being tak'n for Ciphers make 1057. Years Which is look'd upon as meer Gibbrish in our Language but among the Orientals passes for Wit and Ornament The second Court is not so beautiful as the first but the third is nothing inferiour to it It is surrounded with Apartments every one containing two Stories a Terrass a Portico and a Canal in like manner as the former Four large Trees stand at each Corner and cover it with their Boughs Out of this third Court you enter into the fourth by a Marble Ascent consisting of twelve Steps The Portal which is at the Top is a most magnificent Piece It is cover'd below with white Marble transparent like to Porphiry or Aggat The top of it which is a large half Duomo is painted with Moresco Work of Or and Azure laid on very thick In this fourth Court are also Chambers both at the lower end and on both sides with Terrasses and Portico's like the other three Those are the Lodgings for the Priests the Governors and Students that live upon the Revenues of that sacred Place Fronting these Courts stands the Body of the Structure consisting of three great
Revenue is employ'd to keep the Places clean and neat to repair the Decays of time in the Building and Moveables for the buying of Lights and maintaining several Churchmen and a great number of Regents and Governors of Students and poor People They distribute Victuals every day to all that come and to people that are hir'd And of all these Legacies and Revenues three Great Lords of Persia have the Superintendency every one being appointed his Chappel He that at present takes Care of the she-Saints Chappel is an illustrious Ancient Person who has been Courtshi Bashi or Collonel of the Courtches which is a great Body of the Militia consisting of thirty Thousand Men. And the same Person is also Governor of Com. This City contains also several other Edifices very beautiful and sumptuous It is a very pleasant Place but for the Heat which is very excessive In the Summer the River that passes by it is no bigger then a small Rivulet but the Winter Thaws swell it to that degree with the Water that falls from the Mountains that it not only fills its own Channel which is as broad as the Seine at Paris but overflows a great part of the City They call it generally the River of Com but the true Name of it is Joubad-gan This City lies in 85. deg 48. min. of Longitude and 34. deg 30. min. of Latitude The Air is wholsom but extremely hot as I said before for it scalds in the Summer there being no place in all Persia where the Sun scorches more violently It abounds in all manner of Victuals and Fruits particularly in Pistachios The people also are very courteous and civil The most part of Topographers will have Com to be the same place which Ptolomy calls Gauna or Guriana And his Translator asserts it to be the same with Choama tho others will have it to be Arbacte or Hecatompyle Several Histories of Persia likewise relate this City to be very Ancient and that it was built by Tahmas when the Sun entred into Gemini that it was twelve thousand Cubits in compass and as big as Babylon I must confess there is no doubt but it was very large for there are many Ruins and Footsteps of Habitations to be seen round about it but it is much to be question'd whether it were so Ancient as the Reign of Tahmas Other Persian Histories deduce its Original from the first Age of Mahumetism and affirm that in the time of Mahomet there were in that place seven large Villages and that in the 83 Year of the Hegyra Abdalla Saydon Califfe coming into that Country with an Army joyn'd those seven Villages together with new Buildings enclos'd 'em with a Wall and made 'em one City and that afterwards this City encreas'd to that degree that it became twice as large as Constantinople For Mousa the Son of that Abdalla came from Basra to Com and brought with him the Opinions of Haly which they call the Religion of Shia or Imamism which was always profess'd in that place even to Martyrdom nor would the People suffer any other and therefore Temur-leng being of a contrary Belief utterly destroy'd the City Nevertheless by degrees they repair'd one part of it again but it did not begin to reflourish until this last Age and since that Sephy was there interr'd Abas the Second his Son and Successor banish'd thither such Persons as were fallen from his Favour to the end they might pray to God for his person and give thanks to heaven for their Lives which he had spar'd ' em Soliman at present reigning had made use of it to the same purpose sending thither all those whom he thought convenient to punish with Exile and the great number of exil'd persons of Quality it was that has restor'd the City to that Splendor wherein now it stands In the Year 1634. an Inundation of Waters ruin'd a thousand Houses and it is but three Years since that an Accident of the same nature had like to have ruin'd it all together For two thousand Houses and all the Ancient Houses were laid level with the Earth The Name is pronounc'd with a double m as if we should write the word Komm It is also call'd Darel mouveheldin that is to say The Habitation of pious People The Governor bears the Title of Darogué or Mayor Kachan Kachan The 17. we travell'd five Leagues cross the Plain We found it all the way cover'd with a moving Sand dry without either Villages or Water We lodg'd in a place call'd Abshirin or Sweet Water because there is in that place a Fountain of fair Water and Cisterns in the midst of six Carevanserais The 18. our Journey reach'd to Cashan where we arriv'd after we had travell'd seven Leagues steering toward the South over the Plain already mention'd and at the end of two Leagues we found the Soyl delightful and fertile stor'd with large Villages We pass'd through several and about half the way left upon the left hand at a near distance a little City call'd Sarou seated at the foot of a Mountain The City of Cashan is seated in a large Plain near a high Mountain It is a League in length and a quarter of a League in breadth extending it self in length from East to West When you see it afar off it resembles a half Moon the Corners of which look toward both those Parts of the Heavens The Draught is no true Representation either of the Bigness or the Figure as having been taken without a true Prospect And the reason was the Indisposition of my Painter who being extremely tir'd with the former days Travel was not able to stir out of the Inn where we lay All that he could do was to get upon the Terrass and take the Draught from thence There is no River that runs by the City only several Canals convey'd under Ground with many deep Springs and Cisterns as there are at Com. It is encompass'd with a double Wall flank'd with round Towers after the Ancient Fashion to which there belong five Gates One to the East call'd the Royal Gate as being near the Royal Palace that stands without the Walls Another call'd the Gate of Fieu because it leads directly to a great Village which bears that name Another between the West and North call'd the Gate of the House of Melic as being near to a Garden of Pleasure which was planted by a Lord of that Name The two other Gates are opposite to the South-East and North-East The one call'd Com Gate and the other Ispahan Gate be cause they lead to those Cities The City and the Suburbs which are more beautiful then the City contain six thousand five hundred Houses as the People assure us forty Mosques three Colleges and about two hundred Sepulchres of the Descendants of Aly. The Principal Mosque stands right against the great Market Place having one Tower that serves for a Steeple built of Free Stone Both the Mosque and the Tower are the
Remainders of the Splendour of the first Mahumetans who invaded Persia The Houses of Cashan are built of Earth and Bricks of which there few that are remarkable But the Bazars and Baths are lovely Structures well built and well kept There are also several Inns. That which is call'd the Royal Inn without the City joyning to the Gate that looks toward the East is the fairest not only in Cashan but in all Persia It is four square every front within-side being two hundred Geometrical Paces and two Stories with an Anti-Chamber or Hollowness below that runs all-along the length of the two Fronts rais'd about the height of a man above the Court and four Inches below the level of the Chamber It is eight foot deep pav'd with white Marble almost as transparent as Pophiry The Stories on the sides contain fifteen Chambers of the same Figure the two others had but ten with a large one in the middle having five Chambers The other Apartments consisted of one Chamber fifteen foot long and ten broad high and vaulted with a Chimney in the middle and a square Portico before ten foot wide cover'd with a half Duomo with a Contrivance for a Chimney on each side which was for the Servants to lodge in The second Story was contriv'd like that below with a Baluster four foot high that let in the the Light and ran round the Structure In the Geometrical Part of the Draught you may perceive a Hexagonal in the midst of the Entrance every Front of which is a large Shop where are to be sold all manner of Belly-Timber Wood and Forrage The Entrance is under a high and magnificent Portal adorn'd with Mosaic Work like all the rest of the Buildding and upon the sides runs a Portico where you may lie in the day time as conveniently and as pleasantly as in the Inn it self The Fountain in the middle of the Court is rais'd above five foot and the Brims of it are four foot broad for the Convenience of those that will say their Prayers after they have perform'd their Purifications THE GREAT INN IN CASHAN There is also somewhat that does not appear in the Draught that is to say the hinder part of the Carevanseray which is worthy to be observ'd in this place For it consists of very large Stables with places for Servants and Luggage built almost according to the same Symmetry as the Apartments already mention'd at least as to the Form and Bigness of store-Houses and Lodgings for the Poor and the Country people that bring their Goods to sell and the large Gardens that lie behind this lovely Palace of a Caravanseray no less famous for its Founder Abas the Great who caus'd this sumptuous Structure to be erected Near adjoyning to it stands the Palace Royal and over against it another design'd for the Lodging of Embassadors Both the one and the other with very large Gardens behind 'em were built at the Charges of that Renowned Monarch besides that there is in the middle a void Space for their Carousels and other Exercises on Horseback The Wealth and Trade of Cashan consists in the Manifactuary of all sorts of Silk Stufs and Tissues of Gold and Silver There is not made in any place of Persia more Sattin Velvet Tabby Plain Tissue and with Flowers of Silk or Silk mingled with Gold and Silver then is made in this City and the Parts round about it so that one single Borrough in this Territory contains a thousand Houses of Silk-Weavers That which is call'd Aron seeming at a distance to be a good big City as containing in it no less than two thousand Houses and six hundred Gardens It is about two Leagues from Cashan The City of Cashan stands in a good Air but violently hot insomuch that it is ready to stifle yee in the Summer Which extream Heat is occasion'd by its Situation as lying near a high Mountain oppos'd to the South The Reverberation of which so furiously heats the place in the Dog-Days that it scalds again Besides there is one greater Inconvenience more troublesome and more dangerous which is the great number of Scorpions that infest those parts at all times especially when the Sun is in Scorpio Travellers are terribly threatned by 'em And yet for my part thanks be to God I never saw any in all the time that I pass'd through the Country Neither could I hear of any great Mischief that they had done It is said that Abas the Great 's Astrologers in the Year 1623. invented a Talisman to deliver the City from those Vermin since which time there has not appear'd so many as before But there is no Credit to be given to these idle stories no more then to that same other that if Travellers stopping at Cashan are but careful at their entrance into their Inns to speak these words Scorpious I am a Stranger meddle not with me no Scorpion will come near ' em For these are meet Tales However certain it is that their sting is very dangerous And therefore it has given occasion to an Imprecation frequently in the Mouths of the Persians May the Scorpions of Cashan sting thy Golls However there is no Body but has by him several soveraign Remedies against the sting of this Creature This City lies in 35. deg 35. min. of Lat. and 86. deg of Longitude Cattel and wild Fowl are not very plentiful in those parts but it abounds in Corn and Fruits They carry from thence to Ispahan the first Melons and Water-Melons which are eaten in that City which they furnish with vast numbers as long as the season for Fruit endures Several European Authors hold Cashan to be same place which the Ancient Greek Authors call Ambrodux or else that which was call'd Ctesiphon of the Country of the Parthians The Persian Historiansaver that it owes its Restauration to Zebd-leca-ton the Wife of Haron-Reshid Califf of Bagdat They observe moreover that this Princess was a Virgin when she first began to build the City and that for that reason she laid the first Stone when the Sun enter'd Virgo She gave it the name of Casan in honour of Casan her Grand-father the Grand-child of Haly who di'd and was enterr'd in that Place of which there happened some alteration afterwards through the error of poining For it is well known to people versed in the Eastern Languages that such a mistake so easily committed changes the letter S into that which is call'd Shin Tamerlan being become Master of this City spar'd it in a Humour as they say when he had destroy'd almost all the other Cities of Persia It is call'd by another name Darel-mou-menin or the Habitation of the Faithful either because the Descendants from Aly and his first Followers made it a Sanctuary and Retreat during the Persecutions of the Califfs who would not embrace his Opinions but held a contrary belief or else because a great number of the Descendants of that Califf lie there enterr'd
very Enemies and those that envied him For being come to the Assembly he stood upright upon the Terrace among the Croud of Officers with his head hanging upon his Breast and his Eyes fixed upon the ground as if he had been ashamed to shew his face This submissive Posture of his moved the Assembly to pity so that one of the Lords who owed him no unkindness told the King of it and begged pardon in his behalf The King surprised at the News sent the same Lord who had spoken to him to demand of the Intendent General what he did there I come said he to offer his Majesty the head of an Offender and to expiate with my bloud the misfortune of having drawn upon me his Indignation Thereupon the King sent him a Command to go home where about four days after he was honoured with the Royal Vest as the rest had been and was confirmed for the future in all the Employments which he enjoyed I have heard from several persons of Quality and from some of his own Kindred that never any Head was in such a tottering condition and that the least word that had been let slip to his prejudice had been enough to have ruined him But his good Fortune stopped the mouths of his Enemies so that there was not one who either durst or was willing to oppose him Besides that the Young King who had been always bred among Women and therefore not accustomed to bloud was unwilling to put to death a person of whose worth and merit he was well assured Tho perhaps another more cruel and more experienced would not have needed any Instigation to such a piece of Fatal Inhumanity At the sitting of the third Assembly Nicolas Claud de Lalain Esquire Gentleman in ordinary to the King of France and his Majesties Envoy to the Princes of Asia was introduced together with one of the three Deputies of the French East India Company followed by the Interpreter of the Nation Now this Deputy had been sick which was the reason why they demanded Audience no sooner For in regard that at the Grand Audience it is necessary to demand the Confirmation of the Priviledges granted to the Company Monsieur de Lalain had not power to treat of any such matter but joyntly with the Deputy Otherwise the respect which the Persians have for the chief Nation of the World would have procured them their Audience before any of the other Europeans They made a Present to his Majesty of a Crystal Mirrour enchased in Gold Enamelled on the back-side and set with Emeralds on the forepart together with a pair of Saddle Pistols and a small Lion of Gold embellished with Pearls After they had made their Obeysances they took their Seats by the Kings Order among the Grandees and then being directed to draw near his Majesty Monsieur Lalain began with all fortunate Wishes for the Prosperity of the New Monarch in the name of the King his Master and in few words gave him to understand That Habas II. his Father of glorious Memory whose place is in Paradise had granted to the French Company many Priviledges in consideration of the great advantage and profit they brought to his Dominions For which reason he most humbly besought his Majesty to continue to the French Nation the former favours of his Predecessours and to grant both the Nation and Company his Royal Protection To which the King made answer by his Prime Minister My Lord Embassadour for the Persians make no distinctions between Embassadours Envoys Agents Residents c. but still make use of the word Heltchi which comprehends all the King of France is my Brother and the French Nation are my Guests and Friends I do not only confirm what ever my deceased Father who rests now in Heaven granted the French Nation but it is our Pleasure to add new Favours which we shall do upon the first Occasion that presents it self By what has been said it appears that there was no alteration of the Face of Affairs at the beginning of this New Reign for that the King did nothing of himself but meerly like an Engine mov'd as the Springs and Wires give it motion Every one of the Grandees labour'd to get as near the Kings Person as he could to insinuate himself into the Kings Affection and to remove his Competitors at a distance The most Powerful and most his Favourite however at that time was Boudak-Saultan General of the Musquetteers who continu'd still his Majesties Director for that he thought nothing well done but what he either order'd or at least approv'd Next to him Gemtchid-Kaan as also the Mehter or High-Chamberlain had a good share in his favour not to speak of his Mother who in the Inner Palace ruled him as she pleased her self As for the General of the Musquetteers for the first trial of his favour he had procur'd himself a Commission that brought him a great Sum of Money He had obtain'd of the King that he might send out the New Patents and Royal Vests to all the great Officers of the Empire To the Beckler-bekirs who are the chief Governours call'd by a Name that consists of two words and signifies Lord of Lords To the Kaans or Governours of lesser Provinces call'd by a Title that signifies strong and whom the Persians dignifie with the Title of Omrah or Prince which is the Plural of Mir an Arabic word signifying the same thing To the Vaziers or Farmers Royal whom we call Vizirs deriv'd also from an Arabic word that signifies carriers of Burdens and in a word to all Governours and Officers that had any Command in any City depending upon the King and this according to the Custom of Persia where the Sovereign newly come to the Crown sends to all Persons in any Command or Employment of value a Patent or Commission which they call Ragam and a Habit call'd Kalate Which two things ascertain him that he is continu'd in his Employment So that when they appear in Publick thus habited the People also know that they are confirm'd in their Authority This Commission vastly enrich'd the Coffers of this great Lord in regard that every Officer and Governour to whom he sends such a Patent and Vest sends a very considerable Present according to the Custom of Persia But it was the ruine of his Fortune and his Family as we shall by and by declare in regard he made an ill use of his Power For that he sent those Royal Habits more sumptuous or less costly not according to the Rank of the Person and Dignity of the Employment which every one held but according to the friendship and kindness which he had for them himself And thus he dealt by the Vazier or Farmer of the Province of Mazenderan to whom he sent a Vest of little value because he had an Enmity against him not only to be reveng'd of him by that affront but because he believ'd the indignity and vexation to be so slighted
together as old as he was suffer'd horrible totrure stedfast in his resolutions not to make any discovery His Estate being confiscated amounted to twenty five thousand Tomans which make about four hundred thousand Crowns In the mean time at Ispahan there was nothing but publick Rejoycing Feasting Horse-racing with other Sports and Pastimes of the same nature And when day was shut in an infinite number of Lights which they call in that Country Chiragan were hung out all along the Streets round about the Houses and in the great Squares after a most pompous manner insomuch that the night it self might truly be call'd an Artificial day The Young King no less greedily tasted all the pleasures and delight which the full swinge of Liberty unknown what it meant till then gave him opportunity to enjoy Every day he walk'd abroad with his Wives into the parts adjoyning to the City commanding the Kourouk through all the Villages and Towns adjoyning Kourouk signifies a Prohibition to all Men and Boys above seven years of Age upon forfeiture of Life to be seen in any place where the Kings Wives were to pass if he were in their Company All the ways are hung on both sides with such stuff of which they make their Tents to prevent the Women from being seen And notice is given to all the Men to retire home at such an Hour besides that the Guards at two Leagues distance round about were ready to prevent any one from coming near the Places so canvast in Such is their fear lest the Wives should be seen by the Men. For they never hinder the Women from seeing as much as they please It is said that during the five Months from the Coronation of the King till the year 1078. of the Hegira which answers the Spring of our 1667. the King commanded no less then sixty two Kourouks going abroad with his Wives every time and visiting the Places round about Ispahan especially Gioulfa a Town belonging to the Armenians separated from the City only by a River over which he made several large and magnificent Bridges Which shews what power the Women had over the Young Prince that they could cause him to make so many Prohibitions for their sakes only that they might have the pleasure of hunting and walking and breathing in a more sweet and spacious Air then that of their Confinement While the Young King deni'd nothing to his Wives nor his Pleasures he neither refus'd any thing to his Favourites nor to those that begg'd any thing of him insomuch that many persons that were laid aside were taken again into Favour So that the beginning of the New Prince's Reign was like a year of Jubilee that sets open the Prison Doors They that had never so few friends at Court might easily be admitted provided none of the Grandees oppos'd their entrance Mirza-Rezi or the submissive Prince was one of those persons out of favour and Prisoners of whom we have made mention The deceased King had confin'd him to his Palace and had confiscated all his Estate to the value of twelve thousand pounds yearly revenue and this because that although he was blind he would assume to himself the disposal and management of a Legacy of six thousand Crowns a year which one of his Ancestors had left to the Mosquees For the Testator having order'd in his Will that this Revenue should be at the disposal of him that was in the Family to manage it the person to whom the Administration belong'd being dead this blind Lord thought no person more capable then himself and because he was very potent and of the Bloud Royal by the Mothers side who was the Daughter of Habas the Great which was also the reason that they put out his Eyes he resolv'd to get this Administration by force under pretence that he was going out of the World and concern'd himself only about Ecclesiastical Affairs and besides had more wit then all his Family But his Kindred coming to Habas II. and informing him that Mirza-Rezi having had his Eyes put out by the Command of the deceased King his Father on purpose to render him incapable of the Affairs of this World nevertheless went about by force and contrary to Law to meddle in Civil matters The Monarch hearing this grew impatient at his arrogance and after he had given some signs of admiration that a blind man should think himself capable to manage such a a design sent to confiscate all his Estate and commanded him to keep himself confin'd to one single Quarter of his Palace But Sefiè the Second upon his coming to the Crown restor'd him to his favour and return'd him all his Estate without the least diminution But the most considerable who in these Halcyon days of the King 's early Government were releas'd out of Prison and admitted to return to Court was Hali-Kouli-Kaan who had been a Prisoner at Kasbin and who with a boldness altogether surprizing having made his escape from his Guards came and threw himself at the King's Feet The story was this So soon as he understood the News of Habas's decease he conceiv'd great hopes of recovering his Liberty To which purpose he consider'd with himself by what means he might make his escape and get to Ispahan He was resolv'd to beg the King's favour himself believing that not any of the Grandees at Court ow'd him so much kindness as to speak in his behalf only one friend he had and that was the General of the Slaves He not forgetful of the ancient and strict Friendship that had been between them ventur'd three or four times in that privacy which the King allow'd him to represent to his Majesty the misfortune of Hali-Kouli-Kaan but when he saw thatt the Prince return'd him no Answer he sent to the Lord an account of the state of Affairs and advis'd him to come in person and throw himself at the King's Feet for that considering the mildness and sweetness of the new Conjuncture he could run no great Risco These Letters confirm'd Hali-Kouli-Kaan so much the more in the Resolution he had taken because he found himself supported beyond his expectation Thereupon he wrote back to the General of the Slaves return'd him thanks for his kindness toward him besought him to continue it and to take care that he might have Horses laid to be ready at such places and times And when all things were ready he desir'd leave of the Captain of the Guard to let him go a hunting This being a favour which the Captain had granted him several times before he did not then deny him Thereupon he rode forth attended only with four of his most intimate Confidents well mounted and well arm'd Being got into the field he still beat toward Ispahan pretending to hunt but little minding whether he put up any Game or no. But at length having drawn off his Guards a good way from the Town and finding their Horses tir'd toward the close of the Evening
as if it had been only a frolick he put Spurs to his Horse and rode out of sight As for his Guards they had no mistrust at first till at length that they saw he made so little hast to come back But it was too late to pursue him and as vain to stay till he return'd their Horses being quite tir'd with Galloping up and down for four hours and more together Besides the resolute Prisoner flew with all the speed that Whip and Spur could make and arriv'd at Ispahan where he met all his friends at the appointed Rendezvouz to the number of Fifty persons and went directly to the King's Gate When he drew near the Place where the King was sitting the General of the Slaves met him who was not a little surpriz'd to see him there sooner then he expected Nevertheless without making any shew of having kept any correspondence together he ask'd him his business who answer'd That he came to lay his Head at the King's Feet It is very well done replied the General of the Slaves I 'll go and beg the Kings leave for your admission But Hali-Kouli-Kaan instead of staying for the Kings Answer follow'd the General of the Slaves so close that he could hear the King as soon as he heard his Name and that he was come make answer aloud Kouh-Gheldy Safa-Gheldy Let him be welcome let him come in a good Hour and then commanding him to enter he repeated the same kind words with a Countenance that testifi'd his satisfaction and then caus'd him to sit down Within a Minute after the King call'd for him and order'd him to draw near him and when he was close by him Hali-Kouli-Kaan said he what brings thee hither and what is thy request To which the Lord made answer with a wonderful quickness of Wit I am come hither Benefactor of Mankind to serve your Majesty because Slaves and Dogs ought always to be within their Masters call This Answer highly pleas'd the Youthful Sovereign insomuch that after he had dismiss'd him he gave Order to the Prime Minister to give him a splendid Entertainment the next day to provide him a Palace and to furnish him with money and all other necessaries whatever In pursuance of which Command the Prime Minister assigned him the Palace where lodg'd the Embassadour from Aurang-Zeeb King of the Indians in the years 1664 and 1665. But this Lord so soon as he became Master of it pull'd it down to the ground and built it up again far more magnificently then ever as you may see in our Description of Ispahan The next day as he sate at Dinner with the Prime Minister and was telling the Story how he made his escape out of his Confinement he added That a mad Dog the more you keep him chain'd up the more mad and extravagant he grows which he therefore said in regard he had incurr'd the Kings displeasure by hair-brain'd and violent actions and full of a Transportment that truly savour'd of Extravagance A while after the King summon'd a Megelès or publick Assembly for his sake There out of a magnificent humour not usual but among Sovereign Princes he caus'd to be spread upon the ground in the Garden where this Lord was to pafs to the very Hall seventy Pieces of Zer-baffe which is a very rich sort of Persian Tissue as much as to say a Weaving of Silver For baffen signifies to Weave or make Tissue Every Piece of this Tissue might be worth eighteen Tomans about threescore or threescore and ten pound amounting in all to some twenty thousand Crowns Such persons as are thus honour'd by the King walk without their Shooes upon the Stuffs which the King afterwards sends them home to their house for a Present as he did to this Person to whom at the end of a sumptuous Banquet which he gave him he spoke these words Hali-Kouli-Kaan hearken what they are going to read Upon that the Principal Secretary read a Patent wherein the King nam'd him Governour of Corassin or the ancient Bactriana of which the Capital City is Metshed which is one of the chiefest Governments in Persia But whether this Lord had heard some report of an Invasion threaten'd those Parts he would by no means accept the honour or whether it were that he did not care to leave the Court or which was more probable because he thought it beneath him to accept of a meaner Employment then what he had before his Confinement For he had been formerly Generalissimo of all the Armies and therefore after he had return'd the King his most humble thanks Benefactor of Mankind said he I am old and broken with Age Grant me the favour at the end of my life that I may spend my days at the Gate of your Majesty Some few days after he offer'd him the Government of Armenia of which Erivan is the Capital City but with his most humble Thanks to his Majesty he refus'd that likewise and questionless for the same Reasons At length the King caus'd Letters Patents to be made him to be General of all his Forces and Governour of Media of which Tebris that which we call Tauris is the Capital City in regard that Government is always annex'd to that Employment But at the very time that he had receiv'd so great and extraordinary a favour from his Majesty he took the boldness to shew that he was not yet content but that he still desir'd something more To that purpose Benefactor to Mankind said he since your Majesty does me the favour to call me to so high a dignity I humbly implore your Majesty to add to my Government such and such Villages to the end I may maintain the splendour of that High Rank to which your Majesty has call'd me that when any Stranger comes to visit me I may be able to entertain him with a Plate of Pelo or Rice and Flesh the usual Food of the Persians that receiving this favour at my hands he may be more ready to joyn with me in praying for your Majesty To which when the King had condescended he flung himself prostrate at the Kings Feet and gave him Thanks As he was retiring out of the Kings presence the King having spi'd certain white Hairs in his Beard which he wore up to his Ears Hali-Kouli-Kaan said he Go to the Treasury and bid 'em in my name pay thee three hundred Tomans which is about Eleven hundred Guineys and buy thee some Paint to colour thy Beard and let me see no more grey hairs in thy Face Which immediately he did according to the Kings Order and carried away the Money And this was another Accumulation of Favour which his liberal Sovereign added to the rest which he had bestow'd upon him Thus was he made General of all the Persian Forces Governour of Media and in a word the first and most powerful person in Persia at which all the Grandees were not a little astonish'd and they all began to grow jealous of him
which they did but to no purpose For quite contrary to his expectation the insolent Multitude perceiving nothing but fire and smoke were the more confirm'd in their Opinion that the Grand Provost was only come there to shew himself in discharge of his Office and that he did not desire they should part in good earnest In the mean time two Horsemen came from the King to see if the Tumult were appeas'd at what time the Provost gall'd to the heart that they should observe the little Authority he had over the Rabble who had put him to a Retreat with their Stones commanded about twenty of his Soldiers to fire with Bullets Of which Volley there was not a shot that miss'd So that Nine of the Multitude were kill'd upon the place and others were dangerously wounded The rest finding now that the Provost was not in jest fled with all the hast they could leaving their dead and wounded behind When word was carri'd to the King what had happen'd some of the Grand Provosts private Enemies which the great Lords are never without and who unfortunately for him were then at his Majesties elbow laying hold of the opportunity How comes it to pass Sir said they that a private Person and a Slave dares thus abuse the Inhabitants of your Capital City Has he nothing to do but thus to destroy your truly Loyal Subjects Cannot a Grand Provost prevent these disorders 'T is not well done to make such a slaughter of innocent and disarmed people This will cause a contempt of the Authority which your Majesty has over your Subjects and to lose the Respect and Reverence which they ought to bear your Majesty over all your Empire when they find such terrible extremities used under pretence of keeping 'em to obedience Upon this the King who of himself was already troubl'd at the Accident was far more incens'd by these exasperations Wherefore he immediately dismiss'd the Lord from his employment and sent him Prisoner to a House from whence he was releas'd some few days after at the earnest suit of the Queen Mother and some other persons that were concern'd at his Misfortune For indeed he was a man of courage eminent for his vertue and one that shew'd in all his Actions the Nobility of his Extraction for he was descended from the Bloud Royal of Georgia the last Sovereign Prince of that Country being his Grandfather whose name was Hemirè-Hamzeh-Mirza We shall speak more of him in the Progress of his Story fortune calling him again upon the Stage to act a part of more importance and of greater Authority The charge of Grand Provost was again suppli'd the next day and conferr'd upon a very worthy person the Son of Mir-Kassem-bek or Lord Prince Robust This same Mir-Kassem-bek had been Grand Provost before the last that was so lately put out and in the time of Habas II. by the craft of the Prime Minister had his Head cut off in the Royal Piazza of Ispahan His Son who was call'd Kelk-Hali-Bek or the Lord the Dogg of Haly during the little time that he enjoy'd this Employment most worthily behav'd himself in it and we must needs say that rais'd his Father made himself eminent again by driving out all the Thieves Pick-pockets and Rabble which infected that great City This happen'd at the latter end of the Year 1077. according to the Mahumetan account which answers to the beginning of our Year 1667. For their Year 1078. began with the Vernal Equinox which his Majesty made a great day of publick rejoycing according to the Custom of the Persians But this Year that began with so much rejoycing and with such lucky Omens was not so fortunate however in the Conclusion Scarcity War and Epidemick distempers afflicted the most part of the Provinces during the whole course of it The Court was turmoyl'd with several disorders which cost some persons many a troublesom Hour And through the negligence and remissness of the Sovereign the Grandees erected so many petty Tyrannies which trampl'd under foot and pillag'd the poor people as they pleas'd themselves So that there was not any person but was sensible of the miseries which ill Government occasions when the Prince only minds his pleasures and to content his Passions and the great ones following his example give themselves the liberty to follow the swinge of their own Arbitrary Wills The first thing remarkable at the beginning of the Year was the death of Mahammed-Kouli-Kaan-Divan-Beki or Lord Chief Justice He neither lay long sick nor was it long before his Place was suppli'd being conferr'd upon him that was Mirraab or Prince of the Waters or Steward of the Waters For in regard that water is very scarce in that Country this same Overseer of the Waters is a very considerable Employment However it was not thought that he would be the Person made choice of to succeed the Chief Justice but rather that he who had formerly executed the Place and had been banish'd by the deceased King to Metshed for his ill Government would be restor'd to the Kings favour and to his former Post Nor was the Conjuncture without great Probability in regard that Hali-Kouli-Kaan General of all the Kings Forces was then very powerful and that the other was his Nephew the Son of Rustan-Kaan his Brother However he was deceiv'd and the General quite contrary to his Expectation hinder'd all people to sollicite in his behalf out of the care he took of his own Reputation which he had sulli'd in a high degree had he been instrumental to restore a Person that was hated by all the world besides that his private enmity against him prevail'd beyond all the Considerations of Bloud and Consanguinity For which the Christians had reason to bless God because there was no man more their enrag'd and bitter Enemy then he And it was well for 'em during the time he held his Employment that Habas was not a young man and that he undertook their Protection For it is reported of him that when any Christian was Cited before his Tribunal by any Mahumetan he presently condemn'd him before he heard him and that he was wont to say It was Crime enough for an Armenian to have a suit with a Mahumetan for him to cause his head to be broken Why should he not suffer the Injuries that are done him Dog as he is that does not know that the Christian Religion is inferiour to the Mahumetan In the mean time the King held on his debaucheries every day at the same rate But his health did not keep at the same stay while he grew every day worse then other For the young Prince having plundg'd himself into the excesses of Wine and Women it was impossible he should hold out without some alteration So that during the whole course of this Year he was always ill what Physick soever his Physicians could prescribe him for he took little care of himself If he sometimes refrain'd Wine by their advice it was
the People dancing before with their Instruments of Musick and the horses being cover'd with Housses and gingling an infinite number of little Bells which together with the Acclamations of the Rabble made a strange confused and yet pleasing noise Some Villages there were that mutiny'd and refus'd to send in their Corn but the punishment of the Inhabitants of Ispahanimcha strook a terrour into the rest For the General had sent to this Place being a great Town consisting of four thousand Houses two Leagues distant from Ispahan one of his Officers with a Command from the King to send at the set Price two hundred Sacks of Meal to the Capital City for their present necessity The Townsmen made answer 't was nothing to them if there were such a Famine in the City for that they had paid all their duties and Impositions for the last Harvest that they had something else to do then to send their Corn and their Meal to Ispahan Market and that those that wanted might come to them for that they were not bound to sell but in their own Town Thereupon the Officer remonstrated to the Principal of the Village that it was the Kings pleasure and shew'd 'em the Kings Warrant which he had in his hands to which their answer not being with that becoming reverence which became 'em the Officer laid his hand upon his Sword thinking to have frighted 'em into obedience But the Country fellows not understanding his hard words fell upon the Officer beat him almost blind and tore the Kings Command crying out 't was a Cheat and Counterfeit The General highly offended at this Insolence of the Countrymen gave the King an account of it who order'd him to inflict such punishment as the Offence deserv'd Upon which he sent two hundred of his Guards who Drubb'd to excess the Principal of the Ringleaders He also set a Fine upon their heads of a hundred thousand Crowns which was mitigated to a third part tho after many Petitions and Submissions with a Present to the General of a thousand Pistols which was all paid down upon the nail At the same time the General also found a way to revenge himself upon the Armenians for refusing him a kindness which he ask'd 'em making use for his pretence of this Commission which the King had given him to furnish Ispahan with Corn. These Armenians are Christians born in Ispahan so call'd because they are originally Natives of Armenia from whence Habas the Great transplanted 'em into the heart of the Kingdom At present their principal Colony is without the Walls of the Capital City in a place adjoyning separated from the City only by the River the Persians also call 'em as we do Armeni for the same reason They also call the two Armenia's the one Armen the Great and the other Armen the Less Now Hali-Kouli-Kaan at his first coming to Court being in want of money to put himself into an Equipage and to go forward with his Buildings and not knowing where to have it one day that some of the Armenians came to him about business demanded of 'em which were accounted the most wealthy of all their Country-Folks Upon which they nam'd him five or six and among the rest Koga Zachara The General remember'd his name and two days after when another Armenian came to present him some Petition or other he ask'd him whether he knew the Merchant Zachara who making answer that he did the General bid him go and seek for him Now the Armenian little thought that the General had meant the rich Merchant which the former had mention'd but another of the same name who with his two Brothers manag'd the Kings Money and had always considerable Sums i' their hands to purchase in Foreign Countries such Curiosities of value which might please the King This latter therefore the Armenian fetch'd And the General believing him to be the Merchant Zachara caus'd him to sit down by him for two hours together and receiv'd him so civilly as to make him stay and dine with him After Dinner Koga-Zachara said the General canst not thou do me the kindness to lend me two hundred Tomans which are about a thousand Pistols I expect in a short time considerable Sums of Money and then I will repay thee with Interest and upon any occasion thou shalt see I know how to be grateful to those that oblige me To which the Armenian repli'd Not only two hundred but two thousand Tomans if your Lordship pleases This answer pleas'd the General insomuch that he shew'd himself highly satisfi'd and ask'd him if he could not send him in the money the same day To which the Armenian understanding what he had to do repli'd Sir said he the money shall be sent in when you please to command it but I must beg the favour first to give me the liberty to speak one word We are two Brothers and my self his Majesties Factors the one is in the Indies the other in Europe as for my self I reside here as you see all the Money that we turn and wind is the Kings and then it will be requisite that the Receipt which you give me should be seal'd with the Kings Signet and then you may have the Sum you desire The General then saw he was mistaken for he could not meddle with the King's Money and chafing in his mind dismiss'd the Merchant believing the Armenians had nam'd this person to him on purpose to baffle his request by putting him to desire a kindness of the King's Factor of whom it was not proper for him to borrow Money However it was only an Error caus'd by the mistake of the Person where there were two of a name For in regard that the Armenians are only call'd by the Proper names which they receive in Baptism never using any Sirnames it happens that there are several persons that go by one and the same Name However the General resolv'd to try once more and two days after he found an opportunity to make a second Request For the Keloanter or chief and sole Governour of the Armenians and who has therefore that Title given him which signifies Greatest having made some Presents to the King for which his Majesty sent him a Royal Habit put it on and being attended by the most considerable persons of his Nation went to return his humble Thanks to the King and to kiss his feet After that according to custom he goes with all his Company to pay his Visits to the Grandees of the Court and to return 'em his Thanks for having contributed to the Honour done him to have the Royal Vest bestow'd upon him When he came to the Generals House the Grandee caus'd him and all his Company to sit down and after the usual Complements he desired 'em to lend him two hundred Tomans assuring 'em that he would repay 'em again with Interest and be their Protector upon all occasions at Court But they who knew how usual a thing it
was for the Persian Grandees to be borrowing and how frequently they were deni'd and besides as well understanding the humour of the Person to whom a Loane would have prov'd a Gift made him answer that it would be their happiness to serve him but as at present their affairs stood it was impossible for that all their Money was either in the Indies or in Europe in the hands of their Factors and before their return they knew not how to raise such a Sum. Very well repli'd the General then lend me but half so much nay he came down at length to a third part But these imprudent persons swey'd by their own Avarice refus'd him also that small Sum not considering the Credit he was in at Court and that he was able to do 'em a great deal of harm Which so incens'd the General that he put 'em out of the Room before him calling 'em Dogs and turning his back upon 'em would not receive their Complement Three Weeks after he sent a Command in the Kings name to their Chief to furnish the City with forty thousand Batman-Sha of Meal which make five hundred thousand pound weight To which the Chief of the Armenians answer'd that there was not so much in all the Town and to fetch it from other places was a thing not to be done in regard the expence of Carriage would raise the Price of every Batman or twelve pound to an Abassi and a fourth part which was contrary to the King's Command who intended that the abovemention'd weight should be sold for an Abassi which in that manner would be a fifth part loss to them The Accompt was just and the General knew well enough they would be losers at least a thousand Pistols in the quantity of Meal which he demanded but that was the thing he aim'd at that they should be losers the full Sum of what they refus'd to lend him And therefore not satisfi'd with their reasons he sent to 'em again to let 'em know that they must furnish the Quantity of Meal which the King had order'd That the Place of of their Residence was a dependance upon Ispahan and that they were oblig'd to relieve the Capital City as well as others and that it was his Majesties express Command But notwithstanding all that the General could say the Armenians would do nothing They pleaded that they were not oblig'd to that over-chargement and that by their Agreement with the King they were exempt from all new Impositions and Tributes paying yearly four hundred Tomans which come to about two thousand Pistols so that altho there were a real Famine in the City as thanks be to God there was not there could no more then that Sum be demanded of them They were in the right but they wanted strength The General was resolv'd to carry it on with a high hand and no less was agreed upon then to arrest the Principal Heads of the Town Of which when they had notice they sent all their Wives to the number of above three hundred to the Gate of the Haram or Palace of Women there to wait for the King and demand Justice To which purpose they took their opportunity when his Majesty was there and plac'd themselves before the Gate against the Walls For indeed this is the Place allow'd to be free for all that come to cry for Justice or to Petition for any Favour nor dare the Guards upon pain of death hinder any Persons that offer to go thither where they have liberty to implore with a loud voice the Justice of the Prince There these Women made such a noise that they were easily heard to the innermost part of the whole Palace so that the King having understood the Cause commanded 'em to go home and he would take order in their business However the Generalissimo ceas'd not to press the Armenians and to threaten 'em with Imprisonment so that finding no other remedy they sent their Wives a second time to the Palace and to the same Place Where the Women set up their throats as they did before and understanding that his Majesty was just coming forth at the Gate that leads into the Royal Alley thither they ran in heaps with so much fury that one Croud of 'em got so near as to touch the Kings Horse nor could the Sophies and Lacqueys that went before and round about the Kings Person hardly keep 'em off For the Women in the heat of their fury began to throw stones and one among the rest was so impudent as to lay hands upon the Bridle of the Kings Horse So that his Majesty being before not a little startl'd at the Tumult began to be more astonish'd at the boldness of such an action and besides his Youth and want of Experience was such that he knew not how to deal with that Sex only he commanded the Guard to drive 'em away bid 'em be gone and that he would do 'em Justice but for all that he had much ado to quit himself from those she Devils let loose At the same time the Armenians had presented a Petition by means of an Eunuch to the Queen Mother as being under her Protection for that their Town is one of the Places assign'd for her Dowry The Princess receiv'd their Petition and promis'd to act in their behalf In a word so soon as the Monarch her Son was return'd to her Apartment she besought him to remit the Surcharge which he had laid upon the poor Armenians in regard that by the Concessions which the Kings his Predecessors had granted to 'em upon payment of the Sum agreed they were exempt from all other Impositions To which the King answered A God's name let it be so I acquit ' em Immediately the Princess dispatch'd away an Eunuch to give 'em notice of their discharge but the Eunuch either through negligence or otherwise not meeting with those he was sent to the Armenians knew nothing of the Kings Discharge For indeed the Chief Heads of the Armenians to the number of Forty or Fifty ignorant of the Kings mercy and fearing lest the General should send to apprehend 'em were fled to the Grand Portal of the Kings House call'd Haly-Capy that is to say the High-Gate which is a Sanctuary for all those that are pursu'd by Justice and from whence no person can be taken without an express Warrant from the King Toward Evening as his Majesty return'd from the Women's Palace to the Place where he gives his Audiences it was told him that all the Armenians were got together in a riotous manner under the High Gate and that they cri'd out against the General for threatning to imprison ' em To which the King made answer What do those Armenians do there I have pardon'd 'em and acquitted the Imposition of Meal which was laid upon 'em by Hali-Kouli-Kaan by my Order All which the General being present heard but said not a word tho mad in his mind that he had miss'd his
aim Presently several of the Officers ran with the news to the Armenians in the Gate but blinded by their Destiny instead of going home they thought it had been a snare only to draw 'em thence and arrest 'em when they had got 'em out of the Sanctuary so that they would not stir till they saw the King's Grace confirm'd under his Seal With this Resolve of theirs the same Officers return'd to the King but then the General finding his opportunity Sir said he had I not reason to represent to your Majesty as I did that the Armenians were a company of Dogs a rebellious sort of people that submit to your Majesty more for fear then force Does not your Majesty see that they despise your Royal Word Refusing to relie upon it or to obey your Orders But they would force your Majesty to give 'em in writing what your sacred Lips have pronounc'd Was ever such a matchless piece of Impudence ever heard of Thou speakâ—st reason repli'd the Prince they deserve my displeasure and to be punish'd Send and let their Guts be ripp'd up They are Dogs Upon these words the Officers were ready to execute the Monarchs Sentence but the General made 'em a sign to stay a little For besides that he had no design upon their Lives but only upon their Purses he consider'd that such a bloudy Execution and the loss of so many industrious and understanding Merchants would be very prejudicial to the Kingdom and therefore falling upon his Knees and imploring his Majesties Pardon in behalf of those miserable Creatures Sir said he they are unworthy your Majesties displeasure Let 'em live it will be a sufficient punishment to bleed their Purses of a round Sum of Money Well then said the King let their Fine be four times the value of the Meal which was demanded of ' em Which came to fifteen thousand pound sterling Immediately contrary to any president that had ever been seen in Persia the Armenians were hurri'd from their Sanctuary which till then had bene always held inviolable and committed into the hands of their Enemy who sent 'em prisoners to a fair Palace formerly belonging to the Mir-aab or the Prince of the Waters where they had order to remain till they had paid their full Fine This Imprisonment made 'em look about 'em so that they petition'd the General the same day for their Release and that in acknowledgment of his favour they would give him the two hundred Tomans which he had formerly desir'd to borrow and that for their Fine they would summon the whole Town of Julfa and cause a Contribution to be made for raising the Sum impos'd for that as for themselves they were not able to pay it How cri'd the General Dogs as they are do they think the Sum impos'd is to be paid by any other then themselves Do they imagine that they who are rich shall be exempt from the Burthen for the Poor to pay it They talk of making the Burrough contribute but 't is his Majesties pleasure that the Rich shall pay and not the poor Mechanicks and such as have no Trade The Merchants alone are able to pay a Fine of fifteen thousand pounds and therefore no more words nor no more contending unless they intend to have this Fine doubl'd Nevertheless the Armenians persisted to plead their want of Money and that it was impossible for 'em to raise such a Sum. But at length there were two Indians who whether out of their own good Nature or whether it were at the request of the Armenians who went to the General and offer'd to advance the said Sum of fifteen thousand pounds for the Armenians provided they would engage to repay it with Interest to which they agreed and so the business was concluded in four days and all the rest were releas'd but only the Governour who remained a Prisoner still for some Weeks till the whole Sum was fully paid that is to say four thousand Tomans for the King and five hundred to the General of the Army which make some eighteen thousand pounds And thus you see what these People got by being wedded so stiffly to their own Interests for refusing the crafty old General the thousand Crowns which was all at first by him desir'd This Fine so considerable was not paid neither by all the Armenians but by those only who are call'd Giculfali And here for his better Information the Reader is to understand that Giulfa which is a part of the Suburbs of Ispahan is inhabited altogether by Christians that came out of Armenia tho not at all from one part and therefore they are divided into two sorts of Colonies Of which the Principal is the Colony of the Giulfali so call'd as being once the Inhabitants of Jiulfa a small Town in Armenia built upon the Banks of Araxis who built this Burrough when they were transplanted to Ispahan and gave it the name of their former Habitation Since and in these latter times the other Armenians being constrain'd to remove from the Village where they had before seated themselves at one end of Ispahan came and settl'd at the end of this new Town adding new buildings to it which make four distinct Quarters the one call'd the Quarter of the Hirvanli the other of the Nakshivanli as being Peopl'd by the Native Inhabitants of two Cities in Armenia Nackchivan and Hirvan The other two are call'd Shams-abadi Sheik-Sabani in regard that they who inhabit 'em formerly liv'd in the two Suburbs of Ispahan Shams-abad or the Habitation of the Sun and Sheik-Sabana the Habitation of the Ancient Mason Now this Fine of eighteen thousand pounds was only paid by the first the rest against whom the General had no such Antipathy were discharg'd all together from the Imposition of Meal only for fifteen thousands pounds weight The Guebres who are the ancient Persians or Fire Worshippers and who live at the farthest end of the Town were wholly discharged upon their pleading Poverty it being well known that they were a miserable sort of People and under great distress The General of the Army within a small while after caus'd a Fine of thirty thousand pounds to be paid to his Majesty and indeed upon a much more rational and juster score by the Multani who are a sort of Indian Banians so call'd from Multan one of the chief Cities of India and the first that lies next to Persia toward Kaud-Dar because the first that frequented Persia came from that City Now two of these Indians had Intelligence several years since with the Ministers of the Indian King and serv'd him as Spies at Ispahan to give him private intelligence of all the Affairs and Intrigues of the Persian Court and Kingdom nor did they fail to write upon all opportunities and at that time taking hold of the opportunity of the Caravan which in the Spring time goes to the Indies they sent Letters by that Caravan among other things that Aureng-Zeb for that was the
far off So that the loss was valu'd at sixteen thousand pounds and the misery was that this accident happen'd when there was great scarcity of Corn. Here I cannot omit a small Circumstance which has some affinity with what I have already spoken concerning that spacious place full of Trees and Alleys that compose the Avenues to the Palace through one of which call'd the Royal Alley the King and his Train went always in and out to avoid passing through the City The other great Alleys were adorn'd with Beds and Borders planted with Flowers and sweet smelling herbs which together with the Fountains and Rows of Trees caus'd a very pleasant prospect In the mean time came certain intelligence that the Yusbecks were enter'd into the Province of Corason or Bactriana The Governour of the Province sent Courrier after Courrier to the King for Orders for that the Enemy was already enter'd the Kingdom burning and spoiling all before 'em and that unless speedily oppos'd the Province would be in danger to be lost The Yusbecks are a People that inhabit to the North of Persia Possessing all that Country between the Caspian Sea and the Indies under several petty Sultans or Princes absolute within themselves They are called Yusbecks at least if the Persian Etymology be true by reason of the great number of Sovereign Princes by which the Tartars are Govern'd for Yus as well in the Language of the Tartars as Turks which is but a Dialect of it signifies a hundred and Bek Lords to shew the great number of Masters by which they are Rul'd But those People reject that Etymology which they say is both false and injurious to 'em That the true Etymolgy is Yusi which signifies He in both Languages tho pronounc'd Yus by cutting off the last Vowel and Bek Lord. So that when they say Yusbek 't is as much as to say He the Lord or He is the Lord as if these People were the only People upon the Earth that are truly Lords Such is the pride of this Nation and the high conceit they have of their own merits One of the principal Lords of the Persian Court when he told me this he gave me an account of a certain petty King that Reign'd in the Molucca's in the time of Habas the Great who nevertheless assum'd to himself a Grandeur almost equal to his For he look'd upon himself to be the only lawful Lord of the East and assum'd to himself the Title of sole Monarch of it Saying withal that he knew not whether there were any other in the West but that he was well assur'd that He himself was Master of that part of the World where he inhabited For which reason he caus'd his Dominions to be call'd by way of Excellency Moulouk that is to say the true Kingdoms for tho we pronounce the word Molucca's after our Manner over all Asia they write and pronounce it Moulouk But among all those petty Princes that Govern Tartary the less there are three who are accounted the Principal That is to say the Prince of Bokora the Prince of Balke and the Prince of Carechme or Orquenge upon which the rest in some manner or other have have their dependence In the Reign of Sephi the Second which the Persians for distinction sake call Mazi the pass'd Reign he being Grandfather to the present King these Yuzbecks overrunning the Territories of Corasson or Bactriana and Margiana were pursu'd by the Persians who made a dismal slaughter among 'em after they had gain'd a most signal Victory over the Enemy killing twelve of eighteen Thousand of which their Body consisted and taking the rest Prisoners Among these Captives there was a young Prince one of the Cheiftaines of the Tartars descended from the Royal Line of Karechme or Orquenge who was call'd Abouel-Kazi or the Father-Arbiter This Prisoner being known to be what he was among the rest of the Prisoners was carry'd to Ispahan but his usage was quite different For Sephi did not look upon him as a Robber but as a Prince who was only a Prisoner of War and paid him all those Honours and Civilities due to a Personage of Royal Birth assign'd him a Revenue of fifteen hundred Tomans which amounts to six thousand pounds gave him a stately Palace furnish'd accordingly a number of Officers and a suitable Train to attend him And it was his Pleasure that the Vazier or Treasurer to the Governor of Ispahan should take care of his Person and perform the Office of a Mehmandaar who is the Person as we may say that takes care of the Guests and is the Master of the Entertainment This Mehmandaar for ten years together paid this Tartar-Prince by his Majesties Order all the Respect and Service which the rights of a most tender Hospitality could reasonably claim and such as there could not be any thing shew'd him more obliging in our best civiliz'd Provinces On the other side the Prince understood so well how to disguise the natural Savageness and Barbarity of the Tartars that you would have taken him for a Persian he behav'd himself with such a Grace and so much affability in all things So that his Majesty observing him endow'd with so many rare Qualities strain'd his affection for him so high that he admitted him into his Megeles or Royal Assemblies where he rank'd him equal with the Grandees of his Kingdom and for his maintainance assign'd him Pensions that were no way inconsiderable During his abode at Ispahan where he had liberty to go and come as he pleas'd only attended by his Mehmendaar and the Guards that were assign'd him more in honour to his Person then for a Watch on his Freedom he had still in his mind a natural hankering after his own Country his Kindred and that Sovereignty to which he was lawful Heir The Magnificence the Mildness the Beauty and delights of Persia could not eradicate out of his Breast this violent affection for the place of his Nativity For tho it were true that nothing but Barrenness and a hideous prospect overspread the Country for which he had such a lingring desire however it was the place where he was born and where he was to change the condition of a Slave for that of a Master Importun'd therefore by his own ardent desires he wrote privately to the King of Orquenge his Father and besought him to endeavour his Liberty Who having consulted what course to take pretends an occasion to send an Embassador into Persia who brought to the Prince the King his Fathers answer And at length the Prince and the Embassador agreed upon the manner of his escape And then the Embassador after a stay of six Months took his leave of the Court But then it was that the Prince when he thought the Embassador was got beyond the Bounds of Persia and that it was seasonable for him to make his escape laid his Plot in this manner He feign'd himself one day to be very ill and gave notice
Prince to the end they might have a pretence for a War they sent to demand Restitution of the Tribute which the Persian Monarch had receiv'd for thirty years together of the Turkman whom they alledg'd to be their Subjects So soon as their Commissioners were arriv'd at Esther-abaat which is the first considerable City of Persia on that side the Governor detain'd 'em and assur'd 'em he would both send to inform the Court of Persia concerning the occasion of their coming and give 'em an account of the answer back Immediately the Kings Council were all of opinion to reject with scorn a demand so affrontive to the Grandeur of the Empire Which Resolution was without doubt the most honourable and made most noise but not the wisest For the Calmachs no less highly offended when they understood the answer return'd came towards the end of the Campagne to the Frontiers that separate the two Dominions and there in a most solemn manner shot an Arrow into the Territories of the Persians which is the Signal they use in declaring open War against any of their Neighbours To which War what issue Heaven ordain'd we shall below make known All those Wars that threaten'd Persia in this same languishing and feeble condition wherein it was were the reason that the Court would not listen to the Propositions of the Basha of Basra vulgarly tho erroneously call'd Balzura a City seated at the mouth of the Persian Gulph wherein for several years together the said Basha had assum'd to himself a kind of Sovereign Dignity while he acknowledging no Supreme so well manag'd his affairs in the midst of those two Monarchs between whom he lay the Turk and Persian that the desire which both had to ruin him made for his preservation For when the Turk had a design to fall upon him he offer'd himself to the Persian at what time the Turk being unwilling that the Persian his Enemy should become Master of such a Territory and rather choosing that they should remain under Subjection to a Neuter Prince forbore to molest him and when the Persian summon'd him to give an account for breach of his promises with the same policy he threaten'd to surrender to the Turk And then the Persian fearing lest the Turk already two potent should enlarge his Empire by the addition of these Territories were unwilling to give him a disturbance so highly provoking and several of these tricks did the Basha play during the Reign of Habas II. After his decease the Turks desirous to take the opportunity of Sephie II. being come young and newly to the Crown to make an attempt upon Bas-ra in the same manner as thirty years before Sultan Mourad whom we call Murat took hold of the occasion Sephy I. being newly advanc'd to the Throne to Besiege Babylon so that altho he were then busied in the War of Candia he undertook that Conquest also and to that effect gave orders to the Bashas of Diarbekre Moussol Alep Merdin and other Governors on that side to march against Bas-ra every one with an embody'd Army of which he appointed the Basha of Bagdat or Babylon to be General Hossein-Basha for so was the petty Sovereign of Bas-ra call'd sends away into Persia to make the same Offer which he had already made so many times before to Habas II. But he was not in being and his Successor minded only his pleasures and had no inclination for War However the chief Ministers unwilling to discover the weakness of their present condition answer'd the Ambassadors that they had no encouragement to hearken to their Propositions after the Basha their Master had so frequently and so insolently baffled the Persian Monarchy That he had drawn his own misfortunes himself upon his own head and that his sufferings were no more then what he well deserv'd However the Basha nothing discourag'd for having miss'd the Succours which he expected on that side betook himself to another Stratagem and being a person that had heap'd a vast Treasure together by his Merchandize he now employs it to corrupt the Basha of Bagdat General of the Turkish Army and the rest of the Grand Officers Thereupon he treats with 'em upon condition of being Tributary for the future to the Grand Seignior to pay him every year a hundred thousand Crowns and to give him in ready Money two hundred thousand upon the naile some other conditions were likewise added of small importance and so the Siege being rais'd and the Basha sent his Son-in-law to Constantinople to have the Treaty ratifi'd which was all that happen'd in reference to this War in the year 1667. Toward the end of the same year arriv'd sad tidings at Ispahan from the Provinces adjoyning to the Caspian Sea that at Shirvan the Capital City of a Province of the same Name and which makes a part of Armenia the greater were Tefflis the Capital City of Georgia an Earthquake had overturn'd the greatest part of that City and ruin'd four Villages near adjoyning and and that above thirty thousand Persians had perish'd in the Ruines That in another City call'd Shama-Ki in the Province of the same name which is the Southern Media another Earthquake altogether as dreadful as the former had occasion'd the loss of twenty thousand Persons and swallow'd up three fourth parts of the City which two accidents had reduc'd those two Provinees to utter Desolation I do not believe there was any more then one person in the World that could rejoyce at these dismal tidings and that was Mirza-Ibraim already mention'd although as being Royal Farmer of the latter Province he ought to have been afflicted rather at his loss However he look'd upon the sad event with a joyful heart as being that which offer'd him more an opportunity to get rid of his troubles and persecutions which he sustain'd in the Court of Persia and to get out of Ispahan which he lookt upon as a kind of confinement or to speak more truly as his place of Torment nor did he neglect the opportunity but presented forthwith a Petition to the King and the Chief Ministers wherein he declar'd that Shamaky was dependent upon his imployment and therefore besought his Majesty that he might return thither to see what might be done to recover it out of its Ruins He back'd his Petition with several considerable Presents which he made to the chief Ministers and by that means obtain'd a Grant of his desires And thus did that unfortunate Lord delay for a time the bad effects of his unfortunate Ambition Certain it is that for six months that he staid at Court the King and Prime Ministers under various pretences got from him above sixty thousand Tomans which amount to two hundred and fifty thousand pounds and all the while they contemn'd him as a Cully and a Person of no value Infamy attended him every where and not only the Grandees but persons of ordinary condition took delight to make sport with him as if he had been
it Old to distinguish it from Julfa that is built over against Ispahan Nor is it without reason so call'd as being totally ruin'd and demolished There is nothing farther to be known of it except the Grandeur which it once enjoy'd It was seated upon the descent of a Mountain by the side of a River that ran close by it The Avenues to it which are naturally very difficult of Access were defended by several Forts It contain'd four thousand Houses as the Armenians report but if we judge by its Ruines it never could contain half the number At present there are nothing but Holes and Caverns made in the Mountains fitter for Beasts then Men. I do not believe there is in the world a more barren or hideous Place then that of Old Julfa where there is neither Tree nor Grass to be seen True it is that in the Neighbourhood there are some Places more happy and fertile yet on the other side it is as true that never was any City seated in a Situation more dry and stony But the Figure of it somewhat recompens'd the Situation resembling a long Amphitheater At present there are not above thirty Families in it which are all Armenians Abas the Great was the Prince that ruin'd Julfa and all that Art had contributed to its Fortification Which he did for the same reason that he ruin'd Nacchivan and other Places of Armenia to hinder the Turkish Armies from Provisions For he being a prudent and Politick Captain finding his Forces inferior to those of his Enemies and studious how to prevent their return every year into Persia their winning and preserving their Conquests resolv'd to make a Desart of all the Country between Erzerum Tauris upon the line of Erivan and Nacchivan which was the road which the Turks usually observ'd and where they fortifi'd themselves because they found provisions sufficient for the support of their Armies To that purpose therefore he transplanted all the Inhabitants and Cattel ruin'd all the Houses and Buildings fird all the Country burnt up all the Turf and the Trees poyson'd the very Springs as the History relates and they who have read the Story well know that it had an effect answerable to his wishes But to return to our lists Araxes is that famous River that separates Armenia from Media It takes its Rise from the Mountain where they affirm that Noah's Ark rested and perhaps it may derive its name from that Mountain From thence it empties its self into the Caspian Sea This River is very Large and very Rapid In it's Course it is augmented by several lesser streams that have no name as also by several Torrents Bridges have been built over it several times above Julfa but though they made 'em never so strong and massie as appears by the Arches which are yet intire they were not able to withstand the force of the River It becomes so furious when swell'd by the Thaws of the Snow that falls down melted from the neighbouring Mountains that no Damms or other Fortifications can withstand it And in truth the very Noise of the Waters and the Rapidness of it's Course astonish both the Ears and Eyes of all that come near it We ferri'd over it in a large Boat made to carry twenty Horse and thirty Persons at a time But I would not suffer any to go along with me at the same time but my own People and my own Baggage It had four men to manage it They row'd up about three hundred paces along the shoar a this side then let the Barque drive us back with the stream and so by the help of a long and strong Rudder guided the Boat to the other side The current carry'd it with an unspeakable Impetuosity so that we ran five hundred Paces in an instant And thus it is that the Ferrymen cross the River Araxes They allow themselves two hours to go and come by reason of the time they must spend in pulling up against the stream But in the Winter when the Waters are low you may pass it upon the Camels Backs the Ford being half a mile from Julfa in a part where the Channel being very broad the current is much more gentle We have said that Araxes separates Armenia from Media This Country that formerly rul'd all Asia with Imperial Dominion at present makes but one part of a Province of Persia which the Persians call Azerbeyan or Asupaican However it is one of the largest in the Persian Empire It borders to the East upon the Caspian Sea and Hyrcania to the South upon the Province of the Parthians To the West upon the River Araxes and the upper Armenia to the North upon Dagestan which is that Mountainous Country that consines upon the Cosaque Muscovites and makes a part of Mount Taurus It encloses all the Eastern Media call'd by the ancient Authors Azarca and the Western or lesser Media which they likewise call Atropatia or Atropatene Assyria is a part of the upper Armenia The Persians assirm that this Place was call'd Azer-beyan that is the Country of Fire by reason of the famous Temple of Fire which was there erected where was kept their Fire which the Fire-worshippers held to be a God and because the chief Pontiff of that Religion resided there The Guebres who are all that are left of the Fire-worshippers shew this place about two days journey distant from Shamaki They assure us for a certain truth that the sacred Fire is still there that it resembles a Mineral and subterraneall Fire and that they who repair thither out of Devotion see it in the form of a Flame Nay they add one particular more which is a sort of pleasant story that if you make a hole in the ground and set a pot over it that same fire will cause it to seeth and boyles all that is in the Pot. To return to the Name of Azer-beyan the Etymologie is true for Az is the Article of the Genitive Er or Ur in old Persian as in most part of the Ancient Oriental Idioms signifies Fire and Beyan signifies a Place or Country I am not ignorant that some people read and pronounce it Asur-paican and affirm that this geat Province wasso call'd because it contains Assyria which in the opinion of all Authors deriv'd its Name from Assur which is the same thing in my Opinion for I am apt to think that the Name of Assur comes from Az Ur that is of Fire Moses speaking of Nimrod that Idolatrous Prince who introduced the Worship of Fire and invaded Chaldea the share and Patrimony of Sem tells us that the Sons of that Patriarch retir'd thither and that Ashur was one Now 't is very probable that this Ashur was so call'd from his retiring thither or from the worship of Fire or from Chaldea which was then call'd the Country of Fire as appears C. 11. of Genesis and in all the ancient Authors who unanimously agree that Chaldea was call'd the Country