Ambassadors sent to him to desire him to communicate to them the Orders of the Court concerning the prosecution of their Journey Answer was made us that he had not receiv'd any new Orders at all and that if we desired it we might hear the Letter read which he thereupon gave his Physician to read The Physician a person the fittest in the World to represent a Fool in a play after he had kiss'd the Letter put it to his forehead and at last read it The Contents of it at least what he read was to this effect That the Express from the Sulthan of Derbent being come to the Court before him whom the Chan of Schamachie had sent all the account he had brought was that there was arriv'd at Derbent any Envoy or Poslanick from the Great Duke of Muscovy who had reported that within a few days there would come into those parts certain Ambassadors from one of the Princes of Germany That the Schach who had receiv'd no other accompt of their arrival thought it enough to order the Governour of Derbent to receive them to entertain then kindly during the stay they should make there and to supply them with all things for the continuation of their journey as far as Schamachie and that when they were come thither the Chan of Schamachie should send an Express to give an accompt thereof to the Court from which he should immediately receive orders what to do as well in respect of the maintenance of the Ambassadors as their departure thence The Chan demanded of us a Catalogue of the names and qualities of all of our Retinue nay he would have had it express'd in the said Catalogue what Professions they were of and that we should not fail setting down that we had among us a Physician a Chyrurgeon a Painter and Musicians which we would not do but thought it sufficient to give them in writing only the names of our people and the Offices and employments they were in upon the accompt of the Embassy We had a great suspicion that the said Letter came not from the Court and that there was somewhat more or less in it and the more to be assur'd of it we got the Courier to come the next day to our quarters The Wine we gave him and the small Presents which were secretly made him unlock'd the man's breast and drew out the whole secret He told us upon promise of secrecy that the Governours Brother having been not long before executed and that misfortune having in some measure engag'd the whole Family in the disgrace of the deceas'd there was not any man durst undertake the delivery of his Letter to the Sophy as being ignorant what the contents thereof might be but that after a moneths delay one of the Kings Chamberlains having ventured to lay it at his Majesties feet the Sofi would make no answer at all thereto but ordered another to write to him and sent him word that there was no answer to be made to his Letter by reason of the orders sent to the Sulthan of Derbent which were contain'd in the Letter whereof we had heard the reading That it was not thought fit to add any thing thereto but an express command to the Governour to see cut to pieces in his presence all those Persians that durst affront or injure the Germans during the stay they should make in his Government So that we were forc'd to stay there in expectation of what orders the Sophy should send upon the Dispatches which the Chan was then sending to the Court by an Express Ian. 25. the Governour accompany'd by the Poslanick and a great number of Courtiers gave the Ambassadors a Visit but in regard their Lent was already begun he would not participate of our Collation and so having heard our Musick he return'd to his own Palace Ian. 28. The Muscovian Poslanick went for Ispahan not well satisfy'd with the treatment he had receiv'd from the Governour and Calenter All the revenge he could take was upon the Mehemander who had been assign'd to Conduct him taking any occasion to affront and abuse him Some of our Retinue accompany'd him a League out of the City where they took leave of him February the fifth walking abroad with some of our company we went into a great house near the Market-place which they call Basar It was a very noble Structure having many Galleries and Chambers like a College Meeting up and down with several persons some antient some young some walking some sitting with books in their hands we had the curiosity to enquire what place it was and found that it was a School or College which they called Mandresa of which kind there are very many all over Persia. While we were viewing the Structure one of their Maderis or Regents who read publick Lectures intreated us to come near him and perceiving that I had caus'd to be graven upon a Cane I walk'd with all these words in Arabick Bismi alla rahman rachim that is in the name of the merciful God who sheweth mercy a sentence which the Persians put at the beginning of their writings he desired me to bestow it on him upon a promise that he would give me a better the next day but finding I made some difficulty to part with it he cut out the word alla which in their Language is the proper name of God and put what he had cut off in a piece of clean paper very gently and carefully and told me the name of God ought not to be written upon a walking stick which was many times thrust into the dirt The next day I went again to the same College whether I had caus'd to be brought along with me a very fair Celestial Globe but by mistake I went to another School where nevertheless they receiv'd me very kindly The Professors and Regents as also the Students very much wondred to see me come with so noble a Globe and to understand thereby that Astrology and the Mathematicks were better taught among us than in Persia where they are not yet acquainted with the invention of Globes and make use only of the Astrolabe for the instruction of their Students They took much delight in viewing my Globe and they nam'd to me in the Arabian Language all the Signs of the Zodiack nay gave me to understand further that they knew all the names and all the significations of most of the other Stars Another day I went into a Metzid or Church in that part of the Town where we were quarter'd to see how they instructed their Children They were all sate against the Wall excepting only the Molla or Master of the School who with some other aged persons sate in the midst of the Hall As soon as they saw me coming in they invited me to sit down by them The Molla who had an Alchoran in his hand very fairly written suffered me to turn it over awhile which when I had done
is done upon the accompt of the Sanctity of the place which is so great that Schach-Abas thought himself oblig'd to banish thence all the publick VVomen Dinner being ended the Musick and the Dancers withdrew and the Ambassadors with the Chancellor made some Progress in their Negotiation and in the mean time we were carried a walking into the Garden where they treated us with Fruit and Conserves As to this Eahtemad dowlet his name was Tagge and he was about sixty years of age having one eye black the other blew a full face but yellowish or inclining to an Olive and very high colour'd whence it came that he was ordinarily called Saru Tagge He wore no beard as being an Eunuch and upon that occasion we shall here give a short account of him and his fortunes which we think may deserve insertion in this place though there are various relations thereof Some affirm that Saru Tagge being yet very young and his employment being to Copy out Writings in the City of Keintze he fell in love with a young Boy and not prevailing with him to consent to his brutality he forc'd him The Boy 's Father made his complaints to Schach-Abas then King of Persia who commanded that Saru Tagge should have his Syk so they call the privy parts with all its dependences cut off Others relate that Schach-Ahas condemn'd him to die and that Tagge coming to hear of it cut off himself those parts with a Rasour sent them to the King with this request that having himself punish'd the Members which had offended his Majesty would be pleas'd to let his head alone which had done no more harm and might one time or other be serviceable to him and that the King astonish'd at the strange resolution of the man conceiv'd an affection for him and finding him an understanding person made him Secretary in his Court of Chancery Schach-Sesi having with his own hands kill'd Taleb-Chan this man's Predecessor sent Tagge the Golden Ink-horn which is the Badge of the Dignity of Chancellor The 21. following the Chancellor invited the Ambassadors to a second entertainment by express order from the King that they might make some further progress in their Affairs They had a very long conference together after which we were treated at dinner but not with the same Magnificence as the time before The 29. the two Brothers Seferas and Elias-beg came to visit the Ambassadors who would needs have them stay Dinner Elias-beg endeavour'd all he could to be merry himself and to make others so but we easily found it was done with some violence and that his heart answer'd not his outward demeanour The reason of it we understood from his elder brother who told us that the King had a great kindness for them and did them very great favours but that it was a dangerous thing to jeast with him and that he had a very sad assurance of it in his brother who being much respected at the Courr for the freedom of his humour and his divertive conversation the King told him one day that he wanted not any thing save that he was not of the Mussulman's Religion and that he could not do him a greater pleasure than to suffer Circumcision Whereto Elias-beg reply'd smiling that that might happen one time or other intreating his Majesty not to speak any further of serious affairs but to prosecute his Divertisements There was no more said to him of it for a good while but upon occasion of the Clock-makers constancy the king sent him word that he should remember the promise he had made to be Circumcis'd He would have excus'd himself pretending what he had spoken was in jeast but those whom the king had sent to him would not be shuffled off with that answer took him and Circumcis'd him by force Elias-beg confirm'd what his elder brother had told us but with this protestation that he was nevertheless a Christian in his Soul and that he would die in the profession he had ever made of that Religion December the second Abasculi Beg our Mehemandar came and brought us the Presents from the king to wit to each of the Ambassadors a Horse with the Saddles cover'd all over with plates of Gold and the Bridles having great buckles of the same Metal Two Garments according to the Persian wearing together with the Mendils and Mianbends that is the Turbant and Girdle of Gold Brocado according to the mode of the Countrey Moreover to be divided between them both two hundred and five pieces of fifteen sorts of silk stuffs Satin Damask Darai Taffata Cotton c. and two hundred Tumains in money which amont to just three thousand three hundred and seventy Piastres or a thousand French Pistols towards the expences of their travel in their return The five principal persons of the Retinue had each of them a Satin Vestment and another of Taffata with Flowers of Gold and Silk The other Gentlemen had each of them one of Taby with Flowers of Gold but the rest of the Retinue had not any thing sent them The Ambassador Brugman seiz'd the money bestow'd some of it among those of our Company who stood in need thereof to buy things necessary for their journey and distributed the rest among some of his Armenian friends The next day Decemb. 3. the King sent to invite the Ambassadors to Dine with him once more which was to be the last Treatment we were to have at Court The Mahemandar told them it was the custom that they should have upon their own cloaths the best of those Garments which the King had sent them The Ambassadors at first made some difficulty to have that complyance but when they were told it was a custom observ'd by all Ambassadors and that no doubt the King would take it very ill at their hands if they presented themselves before him without the marks of his Liberality they at last resolv'd to do it and after their example all the rest of the Retinue We Dined in the Hall of the Divan Chane and all things were performed with the same Ceremonies as at the first time Only this happened more than ordinary that while the fruits were yet upon the Table the Chancellor ordered to pass before the King the Present which he is wont to make every year once and sometimes twice for reasons whereof we shall give some account hereafter This Present consisted in twelve excellent Horses very richly cover'd forty nine Camels loaden with Turkie Tapistry and other fine stuffs of Wool fifteen Mules a thousand Tumains or fifty thousand Livers in money forty pieces of Gold and Silver Brocado and several other stuffs and Commodities whereof there was such abundance that it took up an hour and a half ere all were pass'd by to be dispos'd into the Treasury in as much as for every Tumain there was a several person who carried it in his hand in a silken Purse of several colours
l. 2. daies 114 The 8. to Sabackzar 8. l. 1. day 115 The 9. to Kocks-chaga 5. leagues 1. day ibid The 13. to Suiatzki and the same day opposite to Casan where they find a Caravan conducting a Tartar-Prince and a Factor of the King of Persia's ibid The description of Casan its situation buildings Castle how the Province of the same name conquer'd by the Muscovites which occasions a pleasant diversion the exemplary fidelity of a Weywode the Great Duke forc'd out of Muscovy takes the City of Casan by storm ibid. Melons of extraordinary bigness 116 The 15. they leave Casan come the 17. to the mouth of the River Kama which falls into the Wolga on the left hand 12. leagues from Casan 117 The Iland of Sokol ibid The 18. they come to the River Serdick and afterwards to that of Vtka and see as they pass by the City of Tetus 25. leag from Casan 118 The 19. they pass before the Iland Staritzo which is three leagues in length ibid The fishing of the Muscovites and Tartars ibid Botenska Iland the Cape of Polibno the River Beitma and several Cities ruin'd by Tamerlane ibid The mountain Arbeuchin ibid The River Adrobe the Salt-mountain the River Vssa the mountain Divisagora ibid Iabla-neu-quas or the Cider-valley ibid The mountain Sariol-Kurgan and that of Savobie 119 S. Nicholas's red Snakes ibid The 28. betimes in the morning they come to the City of Samara 60. l. from Casan upon the River of the same name within two wersles of the Wolga ibid The same day they come to the mountain of the Cosaques and opposite to the fall of the River Ascola 120 The River Pantzina the Iland of Zagcrinsko ibid The 30. to the River Zagra the Iland of Sosnon and the mountain Tichi ibid The 31. to the Iland Osino and that of Schismamago to that of Koltof the mountain of Smiowa and the 40. Ilands ibid The fabulous metamorphosis of a Dragon kill'd by a Heroe ibid. SEPTEMBER The 1. they come to the City of Soratof which lies upon a branch of the Wolga 70. leagues from Samara 121 The 2. pass by the Ilands Kriâ—sna and Sapunofka and come to the mountain Achmats-Kigori 10. l. from Soratof ibid 4. leagues lower to the Iland Solotoi and the mountain Solottogori or the Golden mountain that of Craye the mountain of Pillars the River Ruslana the mountain Vrakofskarul 30. l. from Soratof the mountain Kamuschinka and River of the same name ibid. At this place the Don or Tanais is within 7. leag of the Wolga Visits from the chief Persons of the Caravan 122 The River Bolloclea 18. l. from Kamuschinka The first branch of the Wolga 123 The 6. they come to Zariza 70. l. from Soratof on the right side of the River ibid Thence to Astrachan there are only barren lands and heaths The Iland Zerpinske behind which there falls a River into the Wolga whereby there might be a communication with the Don. ibid The 7. they come to the Iland and mountain Nassonofsko 124 Tziberika a Fish of a rare figure ibid The 8. to the Cape Popowizka jurka 14. l. from Zariza and the mountain Kamnagar 8 l lower the Iland and River Wesowoi and that of Wolodinarski-Vtzga Achtobenisna Vtsga a second branch of the Wolga the Iland Ossino an extraordinary kind of Liquorice ibid. The 9. to the little City Tzornogar 40. l. from Zariza its original ibid Carps weiging 30. pound Sandates c. 168 The 10. leave Tzornogar come to the mountain Polowon and the Iland Kissar 125 The 3. and 4. branches of the Wolga the Islands of Coppono and Katarniski ibid The Iland Peruski the 5. branch of the Wolga the excellent fruits of Nagaia Cormorants the 6. and 7. branches of the Wolga ibid The 15. the Ambassadors having pass'd by the Ilands Itziburki and Basan and the River Biltzick come to Astrachan ibid The 7. branch of the Wolga maketh the Iland Dolgoi in which Astrachan lies From Moscou to Astrachan there are above six hundred German leagues A description of Astrachan where they stay neer a month 126 A description of Nagaia the Iland of Dolgoi the Salt-pits 127 Astrachan 12. l. from the Caspian Sea the fruits of Nagaia ibid Its Inhabitants Nagaia when conquer'd by the Muscovites the greatness of the City its Structures Ammunition Garrisons Governours the Tartars not permitted to come into it their manner of life and cloathing wars with the Kalmukes and Tartars of Buchar 128 Their Princes Religion food 129 The Ambassadors visited by the Persians who came along with the Caravan ibid The Cuptzi's Present a visit of the Tartar-Prince and his reception ibid The Cuptzi's visit the Weywode's Present to the Ambassadors the Ambass visit to the Tartar-Prince 130 The Cuptzi's Feast 131 The Tartars much addicted to Hawking the treatment of another Persian Merchant Brugman's imprudence the visit of another Tartar-Prince 132 The Weywode's Present ibid OCTOBER The 1. the Secretary sent to the Weywode Provision made for the continuation of the Voyage ibid The 10. the Amb. leave Astrachan and embark upon the Wolga Simples of extraordinary bigness neer Astrachan 133 The 12. come to Tomanoigor or the Snaky mountain ibid Many Ilands at the mouth of the River the Sepulchre of a Tartar-Saint the Sacrifices of the Tarters dog-fishes several sorts of Birds ibid The 15. come to the mouth of the Wolga and to the entrance of the Caspian Sea where it is very troublesom sailing 134 A Muscovian Slurrâ— the civility of a Persian Pilot an ominous day 135 NOVEMBER The 1. they come before the City of Terki in Circassia having sailed but 60. l. in 16. daies the situation of Terki upon the River Timenski its fortifications Garrison ibid The Cuptzi's Present to the Ambassadors a mutiny in the ship an Eunuch belonging to the King of Persia visits the Ambassadors their Present to the Weywode 136 Their message to the Tartar-Prince his house his reception of those sent to him a collation the curiosity of the Tartar-Ladies 137 The Princess's Present to the Ambass The Tartars enclin'd to theft ibid The Weywode's Present ibid Nov. 10. the Ambassadors leave Terki An Iland in the Caspian Sea 138 A description of the Iland Tzetlan by the Persians called Tzenzeni ibid Come in the sight of the mountain Salatto which is the Caucasus of the Autients in Mengrelia or Colchis mount Ararat 139 Are forc'd by a tempest upon the Coasts of Persia. ibid The Ambass dis-embark with part of their retinue 140 The Ship run a ground 141 A description of the Caspian Sea its names It is a particular Sea having no communication with any other 142 Above a hundred Rivers fall into it yet is it not known what becomes of them ibid The length and breadth of it contrary to the common opinion of Geographers its water is salt Curtius's error the Caspian Sea not known to the Antients 143 It neither ebbs nor flows hath few Havens its fish and fishing
Muscovy made use of the Haven of Narva whither there came in the year 1654. above sixty Ships and took up there Merchandizes amounting to above 500000 Crowns Upon this they took occasion to cleanse and augment the Town to build new and regular streets for the convenience of strange Merchants and to facilitate the passage of Ships into the Haven Queen Christina of Sueden exempted this City out of the general Jurisdiction of the Governour of the Province and gave it a particular Lieutenant to judge of affairs Secular and Ecclesiastical without appeal to any other place The Castle is on this side the River and on the other that of Iuanogorod which the Muscovites have built upon a very steepy Rock whereof the River of Narva makes a peninsula so that the place was judg'd impregnable till Gustavus Adolphus took it in the year 1617. At the foot of this Castle is a Town called Narva Muscovite to distinguish it from the Teutonick or German Narva whereof our discourse hath been This Town is inhabited by natural Muscovites but Subjects of the Crown of Sueden to which the said Gustavus hath also joyned the Castle of Iuanogorod where Nichola Gallen govern'd at our passage that way in quality of the King's Lieutenant The Country between Reuel and Narva as also generally all Ingermania and Livonia have in the Woods a great number of Beasts that are yellowish and black and among others such abundance of Wolves and Bears that the Peasants have much ado to keep them off their Cattel and themselves In Winter when the ground is covered with snow the Wolves not meeting with ought abroad will come in the day time into mens yards and carry away the Doggs that keep them and will break through the VValls to get into the Stables We were told that in the year 1634. upon the 24. of Ianuary a Wolf not of the biggest had set upon 12. Muscovian Peasants who were bringing Hay to the City He took the first by the throat got him down and kill'd him he did the like to the second He flead the third's head eat off the nose and cheeks of a fourth and hurt two more The other six got together put themselves into a posture of defence struck down the Wolf and kill'd him It was afterwards discovered that he was mad for all those he had hurt dyed so The Magistrate of Narva had caus'd the skin to be preserv'd which was shew'd as a thing very remarkable We were told also that a Bear finding a Vessel of Herrings which a Peasant had laid down at an Alehouse door fell a-eating of them and went thence into the Stable whither the Peasants follow'd him but having wounded some of them the rest were glad to get away Thence he went into a Brewhouse where meeting with a fat of new Beer he got so drunk that the Peasants perceiving he reel'd every step and at last fell asleep in the High-way pursu'd and kill'd him Another Peasant having turn'd out his Horse a-grazing in the night found him next morning dead with a Bear lying by him who had fed very heartily upon him But as soon as the Bear perceiv'd the Peasant he leaves the Prey he was already assur'd of got hold of the Peasant and was carrying him away between his paws to his Den but the Peasants Dog having got the Bear by the foot made him let go and while they were engag'd the Master had time to get up a Tree and save himself In the year 1634. A Bear digg'd up thirteen Carcasses out of a Church-yard belonging to a little Village near Narva and carried them away with the Coffins Not is it long since that a Lady of quality in those parts met one carrying away a Carcass with the shrowd trailing after it which frighted the Horse that drew the Lady's Sledge so as that he ran away with her cross the fields to the great hazard of her life Many other stories were told us as that of a Bear who had kept a Woman 15 days together in his Den and the manner how she was deliver'd thence but we shall forbear any further accompt of them as relating more to natural History than Travels I shall only add that the Peasants who are not secure from these Creatures when they goe but into the fields especially in the night time are of opinion that the noise of a stick they fasten to the Sledges frights the VVolves and makes them run away March 7. We left Narva and lodg'd at night at Lilicnhagen seven leagues from it The 8. we travel'd six leagues to Sarits The 9. before noon we got four leagues to Orlin where the Interpreter we had sent before to give notice of our departure from Reuel met us with this news that a Pristaf waited for us upon the Frontiers And whereas many disorders were crept into our retinue insomuch that some express'd but little respect to their Superiours the Ambassadors caus'd all to come before them and told them that being upon their entrance into Muscovy where they judge of the quality of the Embassy and the greatness of the Prince that sends it by the honour which the Ambassadors receives from those that are about them they should be mindful of their duty We all promis'd not to fail therein provided we were mildly treated every man according to his place and quality Which the Ambassadors having promised for their parts we parted cheerfully to go and meet the Pristaf We found him in a Wood within a league of Orlin where he stay'd for us in the Snow with twenty four Strelits about him and ninety Sledges As soon as the Pristaf whose name was Constantino Iuanouits Arbusou had perceiv'd us and saw that the Ambassadors were a lighting he also came out of his Sledge He was clad in a Garment of green flower'd Velvet which came down to his Hams with a great Golden Chain crossing over his breast and an upper Garment lined with Sables As the Ambassadors advanced he also came forward till that being come up to them and the Ambassadors having put off their hats the Pristaf said Ambassadors be uncover'd The Ambassadors return'd him answer by the Interpreter that he saw they were uncover'd whereupon the Pristaf read out of a Paper That Knez Peter Alexandrowits Repuin Weywode of Novogorod had sent him by order from the Grand Seigneur Czaar and Great Duke Michael Federouits Conservator of all the Russes c. to receive the Ambassadors Philip Crusius and Otton Brugman and to accommodate them with Horses Carriages Provisions and what else were necessary for the continuance of their Voyage to Novogorod and thence to Moscon After we had return'd him our thanks he gave us the precedence enquir'd how we did and of the particulars of our voyage and causing the Horses to be put before the Sledges he made us travel six leagues further that day to a Village named Tzuerin March 10. About noon we
a Copec This small mony which is also of Silver is so troublesome in the telling and handling that the Muscovites put handfuls of it into their mouths for fear of losing it but so as it no way hinders their speech All their Money is marked at the same corner having on one side the Arms of Mascovy of which we have spoken upon occasion of their Great Seal which Armes were heretofore peculiar only to the City of Novogorod and on the other the Great Duke's name then reigning and that of the City where it was coined There are but four Cities in all Muscovy where mony is coined Moscou Novogorod Tuere and Plescoâ— The Great Duke farming out the Mint to the Merchants of those places Rixdollers are current in Muscovy but in regard two Dollers outweigh a hundred Copecs by two drams the Muscovites know how to make their advantage of it and so carry them to the Mint as they do also Spanish Reals The Rixdollers they call Iaâ—â—mske from the modern Latin word Ioachimicus which name hath been given that money as well by reason of the effigies of St. Ioachim heretofore stamped upon it as of the City of Iaachimstad in Bohemia where it was first coined in the year 1519. The Great Duke coins no Gold unless it be that to perpetuate the memory of some gread advantage gain'd against his enemies he hath some Medals cast to be afterwards presented to Officers that are Strangers or to be scattered among the Souldiers of the victorious Army He only levies Taxes and impositions and regulates them according to his pleasure so as that he takes five in the hundred upon all Merchandizes upon the Frontiers of his Dominions both coming and going out It is his prerogative to send Ambassadors to the Emperour the Kings of Poland Denmark Sueden and other Princes his Neighbours These Ministers are either Welikoi Posol Grand Courriers or Poslanicks Envoys Heretofore especially in the time of Iohn Basilouits they treated Strangers even the publick Ministers of Princes with much disrespect but now it is otherwise Ambassadors are entertain'd with great civility and their charges defray'd from the day of their entrance into the Great Duke's Dominions to that of their departure thence they are treated at great feasts and have very rich Presents bestow'd on them Whence it comes that other Europaean Princes make no difficulty to send their Ambassadors thither nay some have their ordinary Residents there as the Kings of England and Sueden All the Presents made by the Great Duke consist in Furrs and he never sends any solemn Embassy but it carries such as are very considerable for the Prince to whom it is sent Those which the Great Duke Foedor Iuanouits sent in the year 1595. to the Emperour Rodolph II. were very remarkable which amounted to above a Million of Livers or 100000. sterl viz. onethousand and three Zimmers which we have said elsewhere makes twenty pair and in worth about 100. Crowns in Muscovy of Sables five hundred and nineteen Zimmers of ordinary Martins sixscore black-Fox-skins three hundred thirty seven thousand ordinary Fox-skins three thousand Beavers a thousand Wolf-skins and sixty four Elk's-skins The Poslanicks make no Present from the Great Duke but upon their own account they do as baits to draw in others and if they are not given them they will have the boldness to ask for them They defray foreign Ambassadors not only as to provisions but also provide for the carriage of them and what ever they bring and there are upon the Road appointed stages for the accommodation of their travelling where the Peasants are oblig'd to be ready with a certain number of Horses and to come upon the first order sent them Nor is this done with any grievance to those Peasants for besides a salary of 60 Crowns per an duly paid them they have land enough allow'd them for their subsistence They are freed from Taxes and all other Charges and have the allowance of some Altins every journey they make By this means we travell'd from Novogorod to Moscou above 120. German leagues in six or seven days and in the Winter in four or five 'T is true the Houses where the Ambassadors are lodg'd are so poorly furnish'd that unless a man will be content to ly on the ground or upon a bench he must bring a Bed with him but the Muscovites themselves are no better accomodated Heretofore they shut up the Ambassadors and their retinue in their lodgings kept them in as Prisoners and set Sentinels at the door to hinder them from coming out or if they permitted some of their people to go abroad into the City they were accompany'd by Strelits who observed all their actions but now they are kept in only till the first Audience and in the mean they are visited and entertain'd by two Pristafs whose office it is to see them supply'd with all things necessary These take occasion to ask the Ambassadors what the design of their Embassy is as also to inform themselves whether they have any Presents for the Great Duke and in what they consist not forgetting to ask whether they have also any for them As soon as the Ambassadors have delivered in their Presents the Great Duke causes them to be valu'd by persons that know their worth Heretofore the Ambassadors were entertain'd after their first publick Audience in the Great Duke's Chamber at his own Table but some years since this custom was abolish'd and they send to their Lodgings the Meat design'd for their treatment All Ambassadors who bring Presents thither receive others for themselves and their retinue nay they give Presents to Gentlemen who come thither as Envoys and to all those that bring but so much as a Letter from a forein Prince To make a fuller discovery of the Political Government of Muscovy it will not be much from our purpose by a short digression to give an account of what hath pass'd there within this three hundred years The Great Duke Iohn Basilouits Son of Basili came to the Crown very young in the year 1540. No History of his time but speak of his Wars and the un-heard of cruelties exercis'd by him on all sorts of persons through his whole reign They are so horrid that never any other Tyrant did the like so that Paulus Iovius a Bishop might have forborn giving him that noble quality of a Good and Devout Christian since that it may without any injury to him be said he deserves not to be numbred even among Men. 'T is true he would go often to Church say the Service himself sing and be present at Ecclesiastical Ceremonies and execute the Functions of Monks and Priests but he abus'd both God and Men and had not sentiments of humanity so far was he from having any of piety He had seven lawful wives and by the first two sons Iuan and Foedor that is Iohn and Theodore Being once very angry with the elder he struck
Election might raise among themselves resolv'd to take in a forein Prince The Polanders still countenanc'd the second Demetrius so far as that they forc'd the former's Widow to acknowledge him for her husband and expected satisfaction for the affront they had received at Moscou at the marriage of Demetrius so that the Muscovites willing to satisfie the Polanders and not finding any Prince near them so well qualified as Vladislaus eldest son to Sigismond King of Poland sent to the King his father to desire that he might accept of the Crown of Muscovy The King consented but the Treaty agreed upon among other Clauses had this that Iohn Basilouits Zuski should be taken out of the Monastery and with some other Lords of his Kinred should be put into the hands of the King of Poland who kept them a long time Prisoners at Smolensko where Zuski at last died and his body was buried near the High-way between Thorn and Warsaw Stanilaus Solkouski was in the mean time advanc'd with his Army to the very Gates of Moscou with order to revenge the death of Demetrius and the Polanders who were Massacred with him But news coming of the conclusion of the Treaty they laid down their Arms and Stanislaus had order in the Prince's name to receive homage from the Muscovites and to stay at Moscou till the Prince were come thither in person The Muscovites were content and having taken the Oath of Allegiance they reciprocally administred it to him and permitted him with a thousand Poles to enter the Castle and to keep a Garrison there The rest of the Army stay'd without the City not doing any thing at which the Muscovites might conceive any jealousie On the contrary there was much kindness shewn on both sides till that the Poles having crept by degeees into the City to the number of above six thousand took up the Avenues of the Castle for their quarters and began to incommodate the Citizens and to become insupportable by reason of their insolences and the violences they dayly committed upon Women and Maids nay upon the Muscovian Saints at which they shot off their Pistols So that the Muscovites not able to endure them any longer and impatient for their Great Duke met together on the 24. of Ianuary 1611. in the place before the Castle where they made a noise and complained of the outrages which they daily received from the Polanders saying it was impossible for them to maintain so great a number of Soldiers that their Trade was destroy'd that they were exhausted to the least drop of their blood that the new Great Duke came not which made them apprehend there was something ominous in it that they could live no longer at that rate and that they should be forc'd to those remedies which nature had furnish'd them with for their safety if some other course were not taken The Muscovites having weather'd out all these calamities proceeded to the Election of a new Great Duke and chose Michael Foederouits the son of Foedor Nikitis a Kinsman but far remov'd of Iuan Basilouits This man had forsaken his wife for God's sake as they call it and became a Religious man whereupon he was made Patriarch and in that dignity chang'd the name of Foedor into that of Philaretes The Son who was of a very good nature and much inclin'd to Devotion hath alwayes express'd a great respect for his Father taking his advice in affairs of greatest importance and giving him the honour of admittance to all publick Audiences and Ceremonies at which he alwayes gave him precedence He died in the year 1633. some few dayes before our first Embassy The first thing this new Great Duke did after his establishment was to make a Peace with his Neighbour Princes and to abolish the memory of his Predecessors Cruelties by so mild a Government that it is granted Muscovy hath not had these many ages a Prince deserving so great commendations from his Subjects He died Iuly 12. 1645. in the 49th year of his age and the 33. of his reign The Great Dutchess his Wife died eight dayes after him and his son Knez Alexei Michalouits succeeded him The reign of Michael Foederouits was very quiet But as in the times of Boris Gudenou and Iohn Basilouits Zuski there were Counterfeit Demetrius's so in Michael's time there started up an Impostor who had the boldness to assume the name and and quality of Basili Iouanouits Zuski Son to the Great Duke Iuan Basilouits Zuski His name was Timoska Ankudina born in the City of Vologda in the Province of the same name and son to a Linnen Draper named Demko or Dementi Ankudina The Father having observ'd somewhat of more than ordinary wit in him had brought him up to writing and reading which having attain'd he was look'd upon as a very excellent person among those who have no further acquaintance with Learning The excellency of his voice and his skill in singing Hymns at Church recommended him to the Arch-Bishop of the place who took him into his service wherein Ankudina behaved himself so well that the Arch-Bishop having a kindness for him married him to a Grand-Child of his This Allyance which might have been very advantageous to him prov'd the first occasion of his ruine for he presently began in his Letters to assume the quality of Son-in-law to the Weywode of Vologda and Vellicopermia Having after the Arch-bishops death squander'd away his Wife's fortune he came with his Family to Moscou where upon the recommendation of a friend of the Arch-bishop's he found an employment in the Novazetvert that is the Office where such as keep common Tip-ling-houses are oblig'd to take the Wine Strong-water and Hydromel which they sell by retail aâ—d where they give an accompt of what they have spent He was made Receiver there but became so unfaithful that the first Accompt he made he could not bring in what was due to the Prince by 200. Crowns and in regard they expect a great exactness upon such an accompt in Muscovy he put his invention upon the rack to make up the said sum To that end he went to one of his fellow Officers named Basili Gregorowits Spilki who had Christen'd a Child of his and done him several kindnesses when occasion required and told him that one of the chiefest Merchantâ— of Vologda one to whom he was very much oblig'd being come to the City he had invited him to Dinner and would be glad to let him see his Wife intreating him to lend him his Wife's Pearls and Rings that he might present her in a condition suitable to his employment The other did it without any difficulty nay without any thing to shew from the other of his having receiv'd them though they were worth above 1000. Crowns But Timoska instead of pawning the Jewels to make up his accompts sold them made use of the money and confidently averr'd that his friend had not lent him
in its ashes No body would endeavour to prevent it those who were oblig'd thereto being got so drunk that lying along in the streets the vapours of the fire they had in their bodies together with the smoak of that which was then in its way to burn down the whole City choak'd them as they lay About 11. at night some strangers looking with no small astonishment on the fire in that house where they kept the Strong-water for the Great Duke's Provision perceiv'd at some distance a Monk coming towards them with a great burthen which by his blowing they conceiv'd must needs be very heavy Being come near he call'd for some desiring them they would help him to cast into the fire the body of the abominable Plesseou which he dragg'd after him it being as he said the only way to quench it But the Germans refusing to meddle with it he fell a-swearing and cursing till some Muscovites did him the good office and holp him to cast the Carcass into the fire which immediately began to abate and some time after went out ere they left the place Some dayes after this accident the Great Duke treated the Strelits with Strong-water and Hydromel and his Father-in-law Ilia Danilouits Miloslausky invited divers Citizens of several Professions to dine with him and spent several dayes together in entertainments The Patriarch also enjoyn'd the Priests and Monks to endeavour the settlement of unquiet spirits and to press unto them the respect and obedience to which their consciences oblige them All thus quieted and the Great Duke having supply'd the places of the executed with able and approved persons he took the opportunity of a Procession to speak to the people in the presence of Nikita Ieuanouits Romanou and told them that he was extremely troubled to hear of the injuries and violences done by Plesseou and Trachanistou under his name but contrary to his intention That he had put into their places persons of integrity and such as being acceptable to the people would administer Justice equally and without corruption and that they might not fail therein he would have an eye over them That he repeal'd the Edict about the imposition laid on Salt and that he would with the soonest suppress all Monopolies That they should enjoy all their Privileges which if occasion were he would augment Whereupon the people having smitten their forehead and given his Majesty thanks the Great Duke re-assumed his discourse and said That it was true indeed he had promis'd to deliver up to them the person of Boris Iuanouits Morosou and acknowledg'd that he could not absolutely justifie him but that he could not also resolve to condemn him That he hoped the people would not deny the first Request he should make to them which was that they would pardon Morosou only for that time as to what he might have displeas'd them in That he would be answerable for him and durst assure them that Morosou should so behave himself for the future as that they should have occasion to speak well of him That if they would not have him to be any longer of of his Councel he would dismiss him but that he desir'd them to look on that Lord as one who had been a Father to their Prince and one that having married the Great Dutchess's Sister must needs be extremely dear to him and consequently that it would be very hard for him to consent to his death The tears which concluded this discourse of the Great Duke's discover'd the affection he had for that Favorite and so mov'd the people that they all cry'd out God grant His Highness a long and happy life God's and the Great Duke's will be done The Czaar conceived an extraordinary joy hereat thanked the people and highly celebrated the zeal and affection they express'd for his estate and person Some few dayes after Morosou appeared in publick among those who attended the Great Duke upon occasion of a Pilgrimage which he made to the Monastery of Troitza He went uncover'd from the Castle to the City gate saluting the people on both sides with great submissions and from that time he laid hold on all occasions to gratifie and assist those who addressed themselves to him in any business they had at Court The story we have related confirms the truth of what we have said elsewhere that the Muscovites how submissive and slavish soever they may be will endeavour the recovery of their freedom when the Government becomes insupportable to them and casts them into despair I shall here add another later example which will be the less tedious in that it hath some dependence on the precedent and relates very much to what we have seen much about the same time in all the other Countries of Europe The Great Duke of Muscovy sent in the year 1649. a solemn Embassy to the Queen of Sueden the chief person whereof was the Ocolnitza Boris Iuanouits Puskin He had order among other things to accommodate the difference which seemed to threaten those two States with an inevitable War proceeding hence that the Subjects of both Crowns left their own habitations and got into the other Kingdom to avoid the payment of their debts And in regard that for 32 years that accompt had not been clear'd and that there were more Suedes in Muscovy than there were Muscovites in Sueden it was mentioned in the Treaty made by Puskin at Stockholm that for the first thirty years there should be a liquidation of all accompts and for the two other the Great Duke should pay to the Queen and Crown of Sueden 190000 Roubles that is 390000 Crowns part in mony part in Rye and that the payment should be made in the Spring of the year 1650. Accordingly Iohn de Rodes being come at that time to Moscou in the quality of Commissary for the Queen of Sueden receiv'd in Copecs and Ducats 300000. Crowns and order was sent to Foedor Amilianou a Merchant of Plescou to provide as much Rye as should amount to 90000. Crowns This interess'd man caus'd all the Rye wherever it were to be seized and permitted not private persons to buy so much as a bushel without his permission which good leave of his they were forc'd to buy at a dear rate The Inhabitants of Plescou were so impatient under this oppression that they not only quarrel'd at the avarice of the Suedes but charg'd Puskin with prevarication in his Employment and perfidiousness towards his Prince They said that Morosou held correspondence with Strangers and presuming that this negotiation was concluded contrary to the Great Duke's intention they endeavour'd to engage the City of Novogorod in their quarrel and went so far on in their work that some of the chiefest Merchants having declared for them the Weywode had much ado to prevent an insurrection of the whole City Both these and the others resolv'd that they would stop the money when it was to be transported into Sueden and that they would no
their Retinue and some Iron and Brass Guns a great number of Granadoes and other Fire-arms And as our design was to make use of it chiefly upon the Wolga which is full of Banks and quick-sands it was so built as that if there were no wind they might use Oars and to that end it had twelve seats two Oars to every seat We had caused to be made a double Shallop for the conveniency of unlading the Ship in those places where it might want water as also to carry the Anchors Cables Sails and other things necessary for so great a Voyage and to discover those Banks and Sands in the Caspian Sea which might hinder or retard its passage We stayd almost three weeks before the City of Nisenovogorod for the finishing of the Ship which time we spent in visiting our Friends in the City where the chiefest Dutch Merchants entertain'd us at several great Feasts as also in reciprocally treating them in our Tent which we had pitch'd by the River side Our stay there gave me the convenience to observe the elevation of that place which I found at the place where the River Occa falls into the Wolga to be at 56 degrees 28 minutes and that the Needle of the Compass declined there above nine degrees towards the West The Great Duke Basili ordered it to be built at the conflux or meeting of those two Noble Rivers and gave it the name of Nisenovogorod upon occasion of the Inhabitants of the great City of Novogorod whom he caused to be translated thither This indeed is not so great as the other yet hath its Towers and Walls of stone From Moscou to Nise are accounted 500 werstes or 100 German leagues by Land but by water it is above 150. The Suburbs are much bigger than the City and are above half a league about The Inhabitants are Tartars Muscovites and Hollanders of whom there are so many as make a Protestant Church of about 100. persons Iohn Bernarts our Factor was the chiefest man among them the rest being for the most part Military Officers Merchants and Victuallers or Sutlers The City is Governed by a Weywode who at our passage that way was Basili Petrouits under the Great Duke-Provisions were so cheap there that we bought a Pullet for a penny a quartern of Eggs for as much and a Mutton for 12. 15. or at most for 18. pence Iuly 24. The Ambassadors sent Monsieur Mandelslo and my self accompany'd by our Muscovian Interpreter and the Pristaf to the Weywode to thank him for his civilities towards our people during the stay they had made in the City while the Ship was a building which was almost a year and to make him a Present of a Jewel worth a hundred Crowns His reception of us discover'd how magnificently he liv'd and what a noble house he kept For as soon as notice was brought him that we were come near the house he sent two very handsom compleat persons to meet us at the Gate They conducted us through a very long Gallery and at the entrance into the Palace it self we met with two comely old men richly clad who brought us to the Weywode's Chamber who had on a Garment of Brocadoe and was accompany'd by a great number of persons of Quality The Room was hung with Turkie Tapistry and had in it a great Cup-board of Plate He receiv'd us with much civility and having accepted the Present and answer'd our Complement he desir'd us to take our part of a Collation during which his Discourse was excellent good and such as we thought the more extraordinary in that the Muscovites for the most part contribute very little to any thing of Conversation Among other things he asked us whether we did not fear meeting with the Cosaques who in all likelyhood would set upon us ere we got off the Wolga and told us they were a barbarous and inhumane people and more cruel than Lions shewing us at the same time a Picture wherein was represented Sampson's engagement with one of those Creatures We made him answer that we look'd on that Piece as a good omen in as much as if the Cosaques were stout as Lions we should behave our selves on the other-side like Sampsons The Weywode reply'd that he had that good opinion of us nay-believ'd that the repute our Nation had gain'd by the services it had done his Czaarick Majesty would frighten the Cosaques and hinder them from attempting ought against us The River Wolga is four thousand six hundred Geometrical feet wide near Nise at the meeting of the two Rivers and whereas its waters encrease in the months of May and Iune by reason of the Sun 's having melted the Snow and thaw'd the Rivers which fall into it the Boat-men who go from Moscou to Astrachan do commonly take that time when there is water enough to pass over the Banks of Sand nay indeed the little Islands which are very frequent in that River This consideration and the example of their misfortune whose Boats we had seen cast away and half rotten upon the Sands made us resolve upon our departure thence with the soonest before the waters which visibly decreas'd were fallen too low and so we appointed it should be the 30 th of Iuly The Wolga whereof we gave a short accompt in the precedent book is in my opinion one of the noblest and greatest Rivers in the World its course being of a vast extent from its source to the place where it falls into the Caspian Sea below Astrachan Whence it came that I took a delight to observe all the particularities thereof from League to League and from Werste to Werste with all possible exactness and with the assistance of a Dutch Master's-mate named Cornelius Nicholas one of the most able I ever came acquainted with in that Science as also of some Muscovian Pilots I have drawn a very exact Map of it which I had made the World a promise of some years since but now part with it so well done that I hope the Judicious Reader will be satisfy'd therewith Having bought Provisions for our Voyage as far as Astrachan we left Nise the day before named having only a side wind Mr. Balthasar Moucheron Commissary or Agent from his Highness of Holstein about the Great Duke the Weywode of Nise's Secretary the Pastor of the Lutherans Church there and our Factor Iohn Bernarts would needs accompany us some Werstes to see the beginning of that long Voyage but we had hardly got two Werstes ere we were a ground near the Monastery of Petsora and forc'd to cast Anchor while the men were getting off the ship which took them up four hours Iuly 31. Having made about a Werste the Ship touch'd against a Sand-bank but was soon got off and we had continu'd our course if the contrary wind together with a Tempest had not oblig'd us to cast Anchor This interval we spent in our Devotions to give God thanks for
is reported that the ruins of that City became the foundation of that of Schiras upon the River Bendemir which Q. Curtius calls Araxis It s principal Cities besides that of Schiras whereof there will be an accompt given in the following Travels of Mr. Mandelslo into the Indies are Kasirus Bunitzan Firusabath and Astar whereto may be added the City of Lahor with the little Province which derives its name from it The Province of Sciruan is known in the Maps under the name of Servan and is no doubt that which the Antients called Media Acropatia though Ienkinson in his Itinerary affirms that it is the antient Hyrcania It is indeed the most Northerly part of the antient Media which Herodotus and Strabo deliver to be Mountainous and Cold. Whereof we had a sufficient experience in our Travels after our departure from Schamachie as will be seen in its due place Schamachie is the Metropolis of the Province wherein there are besides Bakuje seated at the foot of a Mountain upon the Caspian-sea which from its name is called the sea of Baku That of Derbent which is one of the Passages which the Antients called Pylae Caspiae This is that which Alexander the Great caused to be built and called Alexandria upon which accompt it is that the Inhabitants do often call it Schacher Iunan that is the City of the Greeks That of Schabran in the Country of Muskur near the place where the wrack cast us ashore The City of Ere 's or Aras is destroyed but there may be seen the remainders of what it hath been heretofore upon the River Arras which is now called Arisbar The Province of Iran which the Inhabitants of the Country commonly and for the most part called Karabag is seated between the two famous Rivers of Araxes and Cyrus which are now called Aras and Rur and comprehends some part of the two Provinces of Armenia and Georgia which the Persians call Armenich and Gurtz It is one of the noblest and richest Provinces of all Persia and in this particularly that it produces more Silk than any other It is sub-divided into several other lesser Provinces to wit those of Kappan Tzulfa Scabus Sisian Keschtas Sarsebil Ervan or Iruan Kergbulag Agustawa Aberan Scorgd Saschat Intze Thabak-melek Thumanis Alget and Tzilder The principal Cities Forts and Towns of it are Berde Bilagan Skemkur Kentze Berkuschat Nachtscuan Ordebad Bajesied Maku Magasburt Tiftis and Tzilder This great Province might very well deserve a larger account to be given of it but in regard it borders upon the Turk and that I have been so fortunate as to meet with a very accurate Map of this Country together with a particular relation of what ever is most observable therein we shall endeavour to find else-where some occasion to speak of a thing which to treat of in this place would make too great a Digression Adirbeitzan which the Europaeans are wont to name Aderbajon or Adarbigian is the more Southerly part of the Antient Media to wit that part which the Antients call Media Major And forasmuch as it is acknowledg'd that the Province of Kurdestan is that which the Antients call'd Assyria we may in some measure be satisfy'd with what Nubius's Geography says to wit that it is the more Northerly part of Assyria since they have their Frontiers common and in a manner confounded It is divided from the Province of Schiruan by the Deserts of Mokan and from that of Karabag by the River Aras and it hath on the East the Province of Kilan Adirbeitzan is also sub-divided into many other little Provinces as Erschee Meschkin Kermeruth Scrab Chalchal Tharumat Suldus Vtzam c. It s principal Cities are Ardâ—bil and Tauris The former is famous for the Birth of Schich Sefi Author of the Sect of the Perses who liv'd and dy'd in that City where his Tomb is yet to be seen as also those of several other Kings of Persia of whom we shall have occasion to speak hereafter The City of Tauris or Tabris which is thought to be that of Gabris according to Ptolomey and which Ortelius affirms to be the antient Ecbatana heretofore the most considerable place in all the East and the ordinary residence of the Kings of Persia is seated at the foot of the Mountain Orontes eight dayes journey from the Caspian Sea and is one of the richest and most populous Cities of Persia. The rest are Merrague Salmas Choi Miane Karniarug Thesu Thel and Tzeuster Tzors and Vrami are two places excellently well fortify'd and in the latter is to be seen the Sepulchre of â—urla the Wife of King Casan which if it bears any proportion to the stature of that Woman she must needs have been a Giantess and of an extraordinary height since the Tomb is above forty foot long The Province of Kilan derives its name from the people that inhabit it who are called Kilek It is the antient Hyrcania For its situation absolutely agrees with that which is given it by Quintus Curtius and that it is encompass'd after the manner of a Crescent with a Mountain cover'd with Trees It is water'd by many little Rivers It comprehends several other Provinces among which some number that of Thabristan or Mesauderan which is the same with that whose Inhabitants in the time of Alexander the Great were called Mardi The rest are Kisilagas Deschteuend Maranku Maschican Lengerkunan Astara Buladi Schigkeran Nokeran Kilikeraa Houe Lemur Disekeran Lissar Tzeulandan Rihk Kesker Rescht Lahetzan and Astarabath containing forty six Cities and a very great number of Villages The principal Cities are Astrabath Metropolis of the Province of the same name and Firascu where may be had the fairest Turquoises in the Kingdome In Mesanderan are Amul Funkabun Nei Sarou Nourketzour and the noble and pleasant City of Ferabath It was heretofore called Tahona but Schach Abas was so pleas'd with it that many times he pass'd over the Winter therein and gave it the name it now hath from the word Fâ—rah which signifies pleasant or delightful Indeed the whole Country is such so that they who affirm that fruits hardly ripen in it by reason of its coldness injure it very much unless it be that they speak of its Mountains which indeed are not habitable but the plains are very populous and very fertile and so pleasant that the Persians say it is the Garden of the Kingdome as Touraine is of France Whence the Hakim or Poet Fardausi had reason to say Tschu Mesanderan Tschu Kulkendâ— Sar Nikerem we nesert henis che besar That is What is Mesanderan Is it not a place set with Roses neither too Hot nor too Cold but a perpetual Spring Lahetzan is famous for its Silk which it hath better than any other place and its principal Cities are Lenkeru Kutsesbar and Amelekende In the Province of Rescht besides the Metropolis of the same name are the Cities of Kisma Fumen Tullum Scheft Dilum and
presuming we should have kept the High-way was gone before us with all the Provisions Iune 18. we got on Horse-back after Sermon and Dinner marching after the rate of a full trot between two very sleepy Hills and we came about midnight to the Village of Kamahl which is two leagues or better out of the High-way and six from our last Lodging and we were Lodg'd in several houses scatter'd up and down upon three hills They had taken up for the Ambassadors a great unfurnish'd house at the entrance of the Village but finding there was no convenienee at all for them they refus'd to Lodge there and having left two of their Guard upon the Avenues of the Village to give an account of them to the rest of the Retinue they took up other Lodgings and we after their example though the Country-people who were surpriz'd at our unexpected arrival and could not so soon get their Wives and Daughters out of the way deny'd us entrance and put us to the necessity of taking up Quarters by force half-dead as we were with cold and spent with hard travelling But we were hardly laid down hoping to rest our selves the remainder of that night when our Trumpet sounding to horse made us get out of our Beds to see what the matter should be Being come to the Trumpetter he brought us to the Ambassadors Lodgings where we understood that twenty Persians of the same Village all hors'd had set upon abus'd and dis-arm'd the Guard which the Ambassadors had left upon the Avenues of the Village and that they had kill'd them if our Steward with the Muscovian Interpreter who by reason of his sickness had not been able to follow us had not come up to their relief and made the Persians draw back fearing there might be others coming after them There was a Lieutenant with twenty Musketiers commanded out to clear the High-ways all about and all the Retinue were Lodg'd as near as could be to the Ambassadors The 19. we continu'd in the same place where we caus'd Tents to be pitch'd Here our Secretary fell sick of a burning Feaver The next day being the 20. we departed thence about two in the moâ—ning and march'd all the Fore-noon which was extremely hot through a vast Plain where we saw only barren and heathy grounds About noon we came to the little City of Senkan six Leagues from Camahl The City is not enclos'd with a Wall but is otherwise sufficiently well built Within half a League of the City we receiv'd from the Governour of Sulthanie who was then in the City a Present of certain Dishes of Aprâ—cocks and Cowcumbers which were a great refreshment to us in that excessive heat and sultriness of weather At the extremity of the Suburbs we were met by thirty persons on Horse-back well mounted who receiv'd us in the name of the Governour of Sulthanie whose name was Sewinduc Sulthan Among these Gentlemen there was one who though he had neither hands nor feet yet made a shift to guide his horse with as much skill as any of the rest He was son to one of the principal Inhabitants of the City who had been heretofore much in favour with Schach-Abas the Grand-father of Schach-Sefi for his Poems and other excellent Productions of his Understanding upon the accompt whereof he was so well respected at Court that the King not only granted him the life of his son who for some Crimes had deserv'd death but would also continue him in his favour contrary to the custom of the Country according to which all the relations of a Malefactor or unfortunate person participate of his disgrace or misfortune The young man had been guilty of strange debauches and extravagances even to the Ravishing of Maids and Women in their houses so often reiterated that they became at last insupportable so that the Schach ordered him to have his hands and feet cut off and caus'd the stumps of his arms and legs to be thrust into boyling Butter to stop the blood He had wooden hands crooked at the extremities wherewith he made a shift to hold his Bridle The City of Senkan was heretofore of a considerable bigness and famous for its Trading before Tamberlane destroy'd it but what reduc'd it to the condition it is in now is the Turk who hath taken and plunder'd it several times Yet are there some very handsome houses in it and those well furnish'd in which we were entertain'd with much civility and our sick people extremely well accommodated The Sulthan came to visit the Ambassadors immediately after their arrival and made his excuses that he had not met them which was upon this score that having been wounded in the shoulder at the siege of Eruan and the wound being lately opened he could not have waited on us in person We sent to him our Physician and Chyrurgeon who dress'd him which he look'd on as so great a kindness that he thought it not requital enough to send us a Present of several excellent Fruits but he also doubled the ordinary allowance of our Provisions All about this City there are only Barren and Sandy grounds which bring forth only Briars of about the height of a mans hand About half a League from it there may be seen a branch of the Mountain Taurus which they call Peydar Peijamber and reaches from North to South towards Kurdesthan where may be seen as they affirm the Sepulchre of one of the most antient Prophets from whom the Mountain derives its name At the foot of this Mountain there is a very pleasant Valley which is checquer'd up and down with a great number of Villages Iune 21. having stay'd till the great Heat were over we left Senkan after Sun-set taking our way by Moon-light through a Plain of six Leagues at the end whereof we came with the Sun-rising to Sulthanie It had been so calm and cold in the Night that we had hardly the use of our Limbs so that we had much ado to alight This sudden change from extreme cold to the excessive heats of the next day occasion'd the falling sick of fifteen persons of our retinue at the same time all of a violent burning Feaver the fits whereof were very frequent accompany'd with a benumd'ness of all the Members but that misfortune hindred not but that they were set on horse-back and though to avoid the heats of the day we afterwards travel'd only by night yet were they so far from over-mastering their former weariness that they were brought lower and lower Two of our Guards took occasion to fall out at this place and fought a Duel wherein one of the two who was a Scotch-man named Thomas Craig was run into the Lights near the Heart of which VVound he lay long sick but at last was Cur'd As to the City of Sulthanie it lies at eighty four degrees five minutes Longitude and at thirty six degrees thirty minutes Latitude in a spacious
between the last of Iuly and the first of August we travell'd four leagues further and came the next day to a Village called Kuk We were lodg'd in the house of the Kaucha or Judge of the place where we continu'd all that day and the night following August 2. we departed thence two hours before day the Moon shining bright and got but two leagues further to one of the Kings houses where we took up our quarters in a very fair Garden which was our last nights Lodging in our passage to the City of Ispahan For very betimes the next morning being the third of August horses were sent us to make our entrance into the Metropolis of the Kingdom Within a quarter of a League of the City we found one of the principal Officers of the Court named Isachan-beg in the head of 200 horse and some paces thence two great Armenian Lords named Sefaras-beg and Elias-beg who conducted the Ambassadors to their Lodgings The dust which the horse and the people who came to meet us had rais'd was so thick that we were got to the Gates before we imagin'd we could have seen the City Not only the streets and windows were full of people who out of curiosity were come to see our entrance into the City but also the tops of the houses were covered with them We were conducted through several streets through the Maidan and before the Kings Palace to that part of the Suburbs which is called Tzulifa where we were lodg'd in the Quarter of the chiefest of the Armenian Merchants who are Christians and have their habitations there We had hardly alighted ere there were brought us from the King's Kitchin the ordinary Presents of Provisions for our welcome thither They laid upon the floor of the Ambassadors Room a fine silk Cloath on which were set one and thirty Dishes of Silver fill'd with several sorts of Conserves dry and liquid and raw fruits as Melons Citrons Quinces Pears and some others not known in Europe Some time after that Cloath was taken away that another might be laid in the room of it and upon this was set Rice of all sorts of colours and all sorts of Meat boyl'd and roasted to wit Mutton tame Fowl Fish Eggs and Pyes in above fifty Dishes of the same metal besides the Sallet-dishes great Porrengeâ—s and other lesser Vessels Presently after Dinner the Commissary or Factor for the Dutch Commerce whose name was Nicholas Iacobs Overschle who was afterwards Governour of Zeilan for the East-India Company came to visit the Ambassadors who being then looking upon the unlading of the Baggage though that should have been the employment of their Steward or some other Officer would have wav'd the visit upon that pretence But the Dutchman would not be put off his visit wherein he ingenuously acknowledg'd that he had received Orders from his Superiours to oppose our Negotiation but that nevertheless as to what concern'd the Ambassadors themselves he should do them all the civilities they could expect from him He seem'd desirous to drink and we had the Complyance to give him his load ere he went away The joy we conceiv'd at our having at last arriv'd to a place where we hoped to put a period to our Negotiation was soon disturbed by a most unhappy accident and the Divertisements intended us were within a few days after our coming thither changed into a bloudy Contestation with the Indians occasion'd by the insolence of one of the Domesticks belonging to the Mogul's Ambassador who was Lodg'd not far from our Quarters with a Retinue of three hundred persons most of them Vsbeques One of their Domesticks standing by and looking on our people unloading and putting up the Baggage our Mehemanders servant named Willichan said to him jesting that it would speak more good nature in him to come and help them than to stand as he did with his Arms a-cross whereto the other making answer somewhat too snappishly as he conceiv'd the Persian struck him over the pate with his Cane The Indian incens'd at the affront ran to some of his Camerades who were lying hard by under the shade of a Tree and made his complaints to them of the injury he had receiv'd upon which they all got up and fell upon Wellichan whom they wounded in the head with stones Our Domesticks perceiving this tumult brought our Steward notice of it who taking along with him five or six Soldiers and some others of our servants charg'd the Indians whole number was augmented to hear thirty so home that they mortally wounded one and pursu'd the rest to their Quarters but what most troubled the Indians was that in this engagement they had lost a Sword and a Poniard whereto a little Purse was faste'd in which there was some small money which our People brought home as a sign of their Victory The Industhans at that time thought it enough to threaten how highly they should resent that affront and that they should take occasion to revenge their Camerade Nor indeed were they unmindful of their threats for the Ambassadors having resolv'd to change their Lodgings by reason of the great inconvenience it was to them that their Domesticks were scatter'd up and down the Suburbs and quarter'd at a great distance from them and having appointed the seventh of August for their removal the Indians took their advantage of that occasion to be satisfy'd for the affront they imagin'd they had received We had sent before a Lacquey belonging to our Steward and some of our Seamen with part of the Baggage to be by them conducted to the Lodgings we had taken up which were within the City a quarter of a League or better distant from the former Certain Indians who were lying under Tents to keep their Master's Horses which were then feeding between the City and Suburbs knew him as having seen him in the former engagement set upon him and though he gallantly defended himself with his Sword and Pistol at last kill'd him with their Arrows which done they cut off his head toss'd it up and down in the Air and bound his body to his Horse-tayl which dragg'd it to a certain place where the Dogs devour'd it The news brought us of this Murther was enough to assure us that the Industhans would not think that revenge enough but that they were resolv'd to set upon us with all their forces Whereupon the Ambassadors sent out Orders that all of their Retinue should stand upon their Guard and come with all expedition to their Lodgings But before this Order could be put in Execution the Indians had already possess'd themselves of all the Avenues of their Quarters which they had in a manner block'd up in so much that none could get in without running the hazard of being kill'd However reflecting on the imminent and inevitable danger it was to lie scatter'd up and down in several quarters most of the Domesticks thought it their safest course though with some
to his Successor who hath as yet done nothing therein If Aaly the Patron and great Saint of the Persians had liv'd in that time he might have done Schach-Abas a very great kindness by opening that Rock at one blow with his Sword and so made way for the River as he sometime did according to the Relations of the Persians in the Province of Karabach where he made a passage for the River Aras through the Mountain which he opened with his Sword and which upon that occasion is to this day called Aaly deressi that is the streights of Aaly The City of Ispahan was twice destroy'd by Tamberlane once when he took it from the King of Persia and the other when the said City would have revolted from him and become Subject to its lawfull Prince Ios. Barbaro who Travell'd into Persia in the year 1471. sayes that about twenty years before Chotza whom he calls Giausa King of Persia desirous to punish this City for its Rebellion commanded his Soldiers not to come thence unless they brought with them the Heads of some of the Inhabitants of Ispahan and that the Soldiers who met not every day with Men cut off Womens heads shav'd them and so brought them to Chotza and that by this means the City was so depopulated that there were not people enough left to fill the sixth part of it It began to recover it self under Schach-Isinael 11. but indeed it was Schach-Abas by translating the seat of his Empire from Caswin to this City brought it to the height it is now in not only by adorning it with many fair both publick and private Structures but also by peopling it with a great number of Families which he brought along with him out of several other Provinces of the kingdome But what contributes most to the greatness of this City is the Metschids or their Mosqueies the Market-places the Basar the publick Baths and the Palaces of Great Lords that have some relation to the Court but especially the fair Gardens whereof there is so great a number that there are many Houses have two or three and hardly any but hath at least one The expences the Persians are at in their Gardens is that wherein they make greatest ostentation of their Wealth Not that they much mind the furnishing of them with delightful Flowers as we do in Europe but these they slight as an excessive Liberality of Nature by whom their common fields are strew'd with an infinite number of Tulips and other Flowers but they are rather desirous to have their Gardens full of all sorts of Fruit-Trees and especially to dispose them into pleasant Walks of a kind of Plane or Poplar a Tree not known in Europe which the Persians call Tzinnar These Trees grow up to the height of the Pine and have very broad Leaves not much unlike those of the Vine Their fruit hath some resemblance to the Chestnut while the outer coat is about it but there is no Kernel within it so that it is not to be eaten The wood thereof is very brown and full of Veins and the Persians use it in Doors and shutters for Windows which being rubb'd with Oyl look incomparably better than any thing made of Wall-nut Tree nay indeed than the Root of it which is now so much esteem'd All things in their Gardens are very delightful but above all their Fountains The Basins or Receptacles of them are very large and most of Marble or Free-stone There are belonging to them many Chanels of the same stone which conveigh the water from one Basin to another and serve to water the Garden Persons of Quality nay indeed many rich Merchants build in their Gardens Summer-houses or a kind of Gallery or Hall which is enclos'd with a row of Pillars whereto they add at the four corners of the main Structure so many with-drawing-rooms or Pavilions where they take the air according to the wind then reigning And this they take so much delight in that many times these Summer-houses are handsomer built and better furnish'd than those wherein they ordinarily live 'T is true their Great-mens Houses and Palaces are very Magnificent within but there is not any thing so ugly without in regard most of their Houses are built only of Earth or Brick bak'd in the Sun Their houses are in a manner square and most have four stories accounting the ground-room for one They call the Cellar and such places belonging to a house as are under ground Sirsemin the ground-rooms of the house Chane the first story Kuschk the second Tzauffe and the third Kesser and they call the open Halls Eiwan Their Windows are commonly as big as their Doors and in regard their buildings are not very high the frames ordinarily reach up to the Roof They have not yet the use of Glass but in Winter they cover the frames of their Windows which are made like Lattices with oyl'd Paper There is also little Wood in Persia I mean in most of its Provinces that not being able to keep any great fire they make use of Stoves but they are otherwise made than those of Germany In the midst of their low rooms they make a hole in the ground of about the compass of an ordinary Kettle which they fill with burning Coals or Char-coal and put over it a plank or little low Table cover'd with a large Carpet Sitting according to their custom upon the ground they thrust their feet under the Table and draw the Carpet over their Body up to the breast so as that the heat is thereby kept in Some pass away the nights also thus accommodated and so they procure a very natural heat with little fire and they imagine it to be the more wholsom in that it troubles not the head which in the mean time hath the benefit of a fresh and healthy air They call this kind of Stoves Tenuer and that the brain might not be offended by Vapours which Char-coal commonly sends up into the head they have certain Passages and Conduits under ground through which the air draws them away Persons of mean Quality and such as are saving dress their meat with these Tenuers and make use of them instead of an Oven and bake Bread and Cakes over them There is not a house in Ispahan but hath its Court which a man must cross ere he comes into the house They say that heretofore the streets of Ispahan were so broad that twenty horse might have rid a-breast in any of them But now especially since the City began to be re-peopled in the time of Schach-Abas they husbanded their ground better especially in the heart of the City near the Maidan and the Basar insomuch that the streets are become so narrow that if a man meets a Mule-driver whom they call Charbende that is a servant to look to the Asses who many times drives twenty Mules or more before him he must step into some shop and stay there
Ispâ—han took them for Towers The King doe's not live in it but there is a Governour who hath the command of it and a strong Garrison within it which is kept there for the security of the Treasure the Arms and Ammunition of War that are within it though all the Artillery consists only in some Field-pieces On the other side of the Maidan in a by-street there is another Sanctuary which is called Tschehil Sutun upon occasion of the forty Beams which under-prop the Roof of the Structure and which all rest upon one Pillar which stands in the middle of the Metschid or Mosquey Into this Sanctuary there got a great number of the Inhabitants of Ispahan when Tamberlane punish'd the rebellion of this City For though he had no great Sentiments of piety yet did he discover a certain respect for the places he accounted sacred and accordingly he spar'd all those who took refuge in the Mosquey but ordered all the rest to be cut in pieces and commanded the Walls of the Court belonging to it to be pull'd down But Schach-Ismael had them built up again and made the place a Sanctuary Towards the South part of the Maidan stands that rich and magnificent Mosquey which Schach-Abas began and was almost finish'd when he died but Schach-Sefi had the work carried on at the time of our being there causing the Walls to be done over with Marble It is dedicated to Mehedi who is the twelfth Iman or Saint of the posterity of Aaly for whom Schach-Abas had so particular a Devotion that he was pleas'd to build several other Mosqueys after the same Model though much less at Tauris and other places in honour of the same Saint wherein he made use of the Marble which he had brought from Eruan which is as white as Chaulk and smoother than any Looking-glass But the Marble which was spent in the building of the great Metschid at Ispahan is brought from the Mountain of Elwend The Persians would have it believ'd that Mehedi is not dead but lies hid in a Grot near Kufa and that he shall come out thence some time before the day of Judgement and ride Aaly's Horse upon whom he is to go all over the World to convert people to the Religion of Mahomet Whence this Mosquey is called Metzid Mehede Sahebeseman To go from the Maidan to this Mosquey a man must pass through a great Court pav'd with Free-stone at the end whereof there is under a Tree a fair Cistern wherein those who go to do their Devotions in the Mosquey wash and purifie themselves Behind this Tree there is a pair of stairs by which you go up to the square place which is much less than the fore-said Court and thence it is but a little further to the Mosquey Iohn de Laet taking it from Nicholas Hem affirms that there is a pair of stairs of thirteen steps to get up to the Mosquey and that those stairs are cut out of one piece of Marâ—â—e but there is no such thing The Portal is of white Marble and at least as high as that of the Meschaick Choabende in Sulthania The door is cover'd all over with plates of Silver which are Gilt in several places As you pass through the Door you enter into a great Court round about which there is a Vaulted Gallery and in the middle of it a great Cistern of Free-stone but eight square and full of water Above this Gallery there is another not so high as this which upper Gallery hath towards the Hejat or Court a row of Marble Pillars which in some places are Gilt. A man must cross this Court to go into the Mosquey wherein are the Meherab and the Cathib that is the Altar and the Pulpit according to their way As you come in you pass under a Vault of extraordinary height done over with glittering Stones some Blew some Gilt. It is a vast Structure having many Neeches and Chapels which are all upheld by Marble Pillars But the most remarkable thing in all this Emerat is that all the Walls as well those of the Gallery which is in the Court as of the Mosquey it self are of Marble about fifteen or sixteen foot high and that there is no piece of Marble which is most of it white and extremely well polish'd but is five or six foot in length and breadth and they are so neatly put one into another that the Junctures being in a manner imperceptible a man cannot but admire the Art of the Work-man and acknowledge that the Workmanship is not to be imitated The Meherab or the Altar is all of one piece of Marble having on each side a Pillar of the same stone which is also all of one piece Besides this Mosquey which is the chiefest in all the City and the most sumptuous of any in the whole Kingdome there are in Ispahan many others but they are much less and there is too great a number of them for us to undertake to give here a more particular Description thereof In the midst of the Maidan there stands a high Pole much after the manner of those that are set up in several Cities of Europe to shoot at the Parrat but instead of a Bird they set on the top of it a little Melon an Arpus or an Apple or haply a Trencher with money upon it and they alwayes shoot at it on Horse-back and that Riding in full speed The King himself is sometimes pleas'd to make one among the Inhabitants when they are at that sport or sends some of his chiefest Lords to do it and commonly there are very considerable summs layd The Money which falls down with the â—rencher belongs to the King's foot-men and he who carries away the Prize is oblig'd to make a Feast for all the Company nay for the King himself if so be he hath shot among them They play there also at a certain Game which the Persians call Kuitskaukan which is a kind of Mall or Cricket but they play at this also on Horse-back and strike the Bowl to the end Riding in full speed They also often Exercise themselves at the Tzirid or Iavelin their way we have described elsewhere And in regard Persia hath the best Horses of any in the World and that the Persians are very curious about them they many times lay wagers on their swiftness and Ride them between the two Pillars which are at both ends of the Maidan When the King is onely a Spectator of the sport he sits in a little wooden Lodge called Scanescin which is at one end of the Maidan set on four Wheels for the more convenient removal of it from one place to another On the other side of the Maidan over against the great Mosquey are the Wine-Taverns and other Drinking-Houses whereof we spoke before There are several kinds of them In the Scire Chanes they sell Wine but those who have the least tenderness for their Reputation will not come into
without a Lantern Those who find themselves well enough to go give the Guard somewhat to Drink and are brought home to their Houses I shall here take occasion to say something of the excellent order observ'd in all Cities of Persia for the Guard At Ardebil there are forty men who incessantly walk about the Streets to prevent Mischiefs and Robberies with such Vigilance and Exactness that they are oblig'd to Indemnify those that are Robb'd Whence it came that at Ispahan we came many times after Midnight from the Monastery of the Augustines which was above half a League from our quarters yet never met with any mischief by the way nay if at any time as it might well happen in that great City we chanc'd to lose our way the Guard would bring us with Torches home to our very Doors It is reported of Schach-Abas that desirous one day to make tryal of the Vigilance of those people suffer'd himself to be surpriz'd by them and had been carried to Prison had he not been known by one of the Company who discovering him to the rest they all cast themselves at his Feet to beg his pardon But he express'd himself well satisfy'd with their care and told them they had done but their duty that he was King in the day time but that the keeping of the Publick peace in the night depended on them If it happen that after the Marriage the Bride be oblig'd to live at her Husband's Father's House it is not lawfull for her to appear before him with her Face uncover'd much more to speak to him till such time as the Father-in-Law hath hir'd her to do it and given her a new Garment or a piece of Stuff to make one to oblige her thereto But after all this she must not uncover her Face in his presence nor yet her Mouth when she eats for she hath a piece of Cloath which they call Iaschmahn ty'd to her ears so as that it hangs over her Mouth to hinder her from being seen eating The Persians keep their VVives more in restraint than the Italians do and suffer them not to go to Church or to any great Feast unless their Husbands go along with them If a VVoman permit her Face to be seen all the Apologies she can make for her self shall not clear her from the suspicion conceiv'd of her Dishonesty even though she granted that favour to one of her Husband 's nearest Relations This reserv'dness they also observe in their Hoases where they are kept up as close Prisoners VVhen any business obliges them to go abroad it it be a foot they cover themselves with a white Veil like a VVinding-sheet which reaches down to half the Legg and if it be on Horse-back they are dispos'd into a kind of Chests or at least muffle up their Faces so as that it is impossible to see them The Ceremonies we mention'd before are only for ordinary Marriages but besides these there are two other kinds of Matrimony among the Persians which are celebrated quite after another manner For those who are oblig'd to sojourn at other places besides those where their ordinary Habitations are yet are unwilling to take up their quarters in publick places take Wives for a certain time allowing them a certain Salary either for a Moneth or such term as they agree upon They call this kind of Marriage Mittâ—he and to dissolve it there is no need of Bills of Divorce but the time of the contract being expir'd it is dissolv'd of it self unless both parties are mutually content to prolong it The third kind of Marrying is when a man makes use of a Slave that he hath bought and these Slaves are for the most part Christian Maids of Georgia whom the Tartars of Dagesthan steal to be afterwards sold in Persia. The Children which they bear as also those Born in the Marriage called Mittâ—he share in the Fathers Estate as well as the others who have no other advantage of them therein than what was granted the Mother by her contract of Marriage but they are all accounted lawfully begotten inasmuch as after the example of the antient Egyptians they look upon the Father as the principle of Generation and say the Mother does only foment and feed the Child when it is once conceiv'd and upon the same accompt it is that they affirm that the Trees which bare fruit are the Males and that those which do not are the Females When the Women are in Labour and that they find some difficulty in the delivery the Kinred and Nighbours run to the Schools and make a present to the Molla to oblige him to give his Scholars leave to play or at least to pardon some one of them that hath deserv'd to be severely punish'd imagining that by the liberty they procure for those Scholars the Woman in Labour is eas'd and will be the sooner deliver'd of her burthen It is also out of the same perswasion that in such Emergencies they let go their Birds and many times purposely buy some that they may give them their liberty upon such an occasion They do the like for persons in the agony of Death who seem unwilling to dye The Muscovites let go Birds when they go to Confession believing that as they permit the Birds to fly away so will God remove their sins far from them The men take an absolute liberty to see the Women when they please but they allow not their Wives the freedom of seeing so much as one man so far are they from permitting them to see any in private so excessive is their jealousie The offences Women commit contrary to their faith plighted to their Husbands are unpardonable nor indeed can they be guilty of any which they will punish with greater severity nay indeed cruelty We were told an example of it that had happened in the Province of Lenkeran in the time of Schach-Abas who coming to understand that one of his Menial servants who was called Iacupzanbeg Kurtzi Tirkenan that is to say he whose Office it was to carry the King's Bows and Arrows had somewhat a light Wife sent him notice of it with this message that if he expected to continue at Court and to keep in his employment it was expected he should cleanse his House This message and the affliction he conceiv'd at the baseness of his Wife and his reflection that it was known all about the Court as also that of the hazard he was in to lose his place put him into such a fury that going immediately to his House he cut in pieces not only his Wife but also her two Sons four Daughters and five Chamber-maids and so cleans'd his House by the blood of twelve persons most of them innocent that he might not be turn'd out of his employment The Law of the Country allows them to kill the Adulterer with the Woman if they be taken in the fact These accidents are not very extraordinary among them and
had so many examples thereof perpetually before their eyes wherein they sound that neither Age nor Sex could secure any person from his inhumanities As to his person there was nothing of this cruelty to be read in his countenance but on the contrary it was amiabâ—e of a mild aspect and his complexion so good as gave but little grounds to infer he had so barbarous a heart He was of a mean stature and very well shap'd as to his person and at the time of our Embassy he had but one Son named Abas who succeeded him in May the same year 1642. being then but 13. years of age and he it is who now reigns The Kings of Persia have the Provinces and Cities of their Kingdom Govern'd by Chans Sulthans Calenters Darugas Visirs and Kauchas dignities and employments which are conferr'd there according to valour and virtue and not in consideration of birth and extraction Thence it comes that there are so many persons of such resolute courage that they cheerfully hazard their lives as knowing it is the onely way to get into the greatest charges of the Kingdom which are neither hereditary nor venal in Persia. 'T is true the Children of these Lords are look'd upon with some respect to their Fathers and that they enjoy their Estates but they are never advanc'd to their dignities but purely upon the account of worth and services from which they are inseparable The King never makes any Chan but with the title he gives him where withall to maintain it and that during his life which many of them lose meerly that they might be depriv'd of their quality Every Province hath its Chan and its Calenter who have their several Habitations in the chief City The Chan is as it were the Governor of the Province and is entrusted with the administration of Justice with the power of putting his Judgements in Execution notwithstanding any Appeal The Calenter hath the over-sight of the King 's Demesn and the Revenues of the Province which he receives and gives an account thereof to the Council or by order from the King to the Chan. The Daruga is in a Citie and the Kaucha in a Village what the Chan is in respect of the Province The Daruga do's also Execute the Function of the Calenter in his Jurisdiction but with a dependence on the Governour of the Province The King employes the Chans and Sulthans in the Embassies he sends to forein Princes but they are not so chargeable to him as some conceive in regard he finds but one half of the Presents which the Ambassador carries along with him the Province whereof he is Governour being oblig'd to defray all the rest of the Charge Most of the Chans are oblig'd to maintain a certain number of Soldiers who are to be ready to serve in the Armies when any occasion requires and in this is all the Revenue of the Province spent not including what is rais'd by way of Imposition which is carried into the Exchecquer Besides that they also send the King certain New-years-Gifts which are very considerable The Provinces and Cities which have no Chans and are Governed by a Daruga as part of Georgia the Cities of Caswin Ispahan Kascham Theheram Hemedan Mesched Kirman Ormus c. maintain no Soldiers but pay Taxes to the King The order they observe especially in the Frontier-Provinces for the subsistence of so great a number of Soldiers is such that it is no hard matter to raise a powerfull Army in a short time And indeed this the Schach makes very much his advantage of against the Potent Enemies he hath about him and by whom he is in a manner encompass'd of all sides as the Vsbeques Tartars the Turks and Indians He is never at quiet with the former concerning the Frontiers of Chorasan with the Mogul about those of Candahar and with the Turk about the Provinces of Bagdat and Eruan for which they are in perpetual War whence it comes that they often change Masters Their Armies consist onely of Horse for the Infantery which is upon occasion to serve on foot is in its march mounted as our Dragoons The ordinary Arms of the Foot are Musquets but the Horse are Arm'd onely with Darts and Javelins They have us'd Muskets and great Guns but since the reign of Schach-Abas nor do they use the latter so much in the assault as defence of places in as much as their Armies making ordinarily great dayes marches and with little or no Carriages it would be troublesom to them to take great Guns along with them as such as would much retard their Expeditions No slight or stratagem in War but they are apt enough to make their advantage of At the siege of Iruan in the year 1633. they had the invention of casting into the place with their Arrows small Glasses full of poyson which so infected the air that the Garrison was extremely incommodated thereby and made incapable of handling their Arms for the defence of the place They call the General of the Army Serdar a Colonel of ten or twelve thousand Horse Kurtzibaschi him who commands a thousand men Minbaschi a Captain of a hundred men Iusbaschi and a Leader up of ten men Ohnbaschi At the time of our being there all the Military Commanders were persons of very mean extraction Arâ—b Schan of Schiruan was the son of a poor Countrey-man of Serab and his first employment had been in the Train of Artillery wherein he made such Discoveriers of his Conduct and Courage that Schach-Abas bestow'd on him that Government which is one of the most considerable in the Kingdom Aga-Chan was the Son of a Shepheard neer Merrage This man ordered his business so well at the siege of Wan that his services were recompens'd with the Government of his Countrey Kartzschucai-Chan was the Son of a Christian of Armenia and had been sold to Schach-Abas who made him a Chan and afterwards General of his Army He acquir'd so great reputation in that employment that the Schach himself would needs be his Lacquey as we said elsewhere Salma-Chan a Kurde by birth had some time been an ordinary Groom Emir-Kune-Chan was the Son of one of that kind of Shepheards who live in Tents or Huts upon the Mountains grew so famous at the siege of Eruan that the King entrusted him with the Government of the whole Province What a particular kindness Schach-Abas had for this person may be guess'd by the ensuing story The Turks who lay before the Citie of Eruan having rais'd the siege Schach-Abas got into the place where he spent the best part of the night in drinking with Emir-Kune wo grew so familiar with him that taking the King by the Mustachoes he kiss'd his very mouth yet did not the King take it any way unkindly Emir-Kune who remembred not what he had done in his Wine was much astonish'd when some gave him an accompt of what had pass'd the next day and so
then engage themselves in any honourable employment for if they can but once get to be Masters of a Horse they court Fortune no further and immediately list themselves in the service of their Prince The Benjans on the contrary are a reserv'd people and laborious and apply themselves to Trades and Merchandise and have an extraordinary devotion for the things that concern Religion as we shall have occasion to insist on more at large hereafter There are also in the City some Arabians Persians Armenians Turks and Iews who either have their habitations there or trade thither but there are no Forreigners so considerable for their settlement there as the Dutch and English They have there their Lodges their Store-houses their Presidents their Merchants and their Secretaries and indeed have made it one of the most eminent Cities for Traffick of all the East The English particularly have made it the main place of all their Trading into the Indies and have established there a President to whom the Secretaries of all the other Factories are oblig'd to give an account He manages Affairs with the assistance of 20. or 24. Merchants and Officers and hath under his superintendency the Factory of Agra where they have a Secretary accompanied by six persons that of Ispahan where they have a Secretary and seven or eight other Merchants that of Mesulipatan with fifteen that of Cambay with four that of Amadabat with six that of Brodra and Broitscheia with four and that of Dabul with two persons who are all oblig'd to come once a year to Suratta there to give an account of their Administration to the President The English have also a Factory at Bantam in the Isle of Iava but that hath its particular President who hath no dependance on that of Suratta which hinders not but that he hath a certain deference for him as have indeed all the English Ships which perfect not their Voyage without casting Anchor at Suratta The places about this City are the most delightful of any in the world For besides the fair Gardens where they have all sorts of Fruit-trees all the Champion seems to want nothing that might recreate the eye Among other things I observ'd there one of those Trees whereof I have given a description when I had occasion to speak of the City of Gamron as also very many sumptuous Sepulchres built of Marble and a Tanke or Cistern made eight-square of Free-stone having at every angle a pair of stairs to go down into it and in the midst the Sepulchre of the Founder of that magnificent Structure which is so spacious that it contains water enough to supply the whole City even in the greatest heats of the year The tempests of Rain begin to cease with the moneth of September About that time viz. the 14. of that moneth news was brought that two English Ships were arrived at the Port of Subaly The President would have gone thither in person but some business he had with the Governour hindred him so that he was forc'd to send two of the chiefest Merchants who took me along with them We came to Suhaly about noon and having left our Horses in the Village went aboard one of the Ships called the Discovery 'T was a Vessel of 600. Tun having 28. Guns and 190. Men. Captain Menard who commanded her and the three Merchants who came to the President for Orders receiv'd us kindly and being come directly from England they told us all they knew of the Affairs of Europe which discourse made us pass away the best part of the night pleasantly enough The next day we went to the other Vessel called the Mary which was 1200. Tun burthen and carried 48. Guns She had past by Aden on the Red-Sea where she had lost her Captain who dy'd of sickness The Merchant who commanded her instead of the Captain made us a reception equal to what we had in the other Ship and both of them oblig'd us to come every day to see them till the President were come which was not till eight dayes after Which hindred not but that we went sometimes a walking and a hunting but so as that we lay every night in one of the Ships As soon as the Commanders heard that the President was come to Suhaly they went a shore and meeting him on the River side he made a short discourse to them exhorting them to shew their fidelity and complyance to their Superiours during the time they should stay in the Indies Which done he went into the Boat to go aboard of the first Ship where they fir'd twelve Guns at his arrival After supper he went along with the whole company to the other where they fir'd sixteen Guns besides those that were discharg'd at the drinking of the King of England's health and those of some other persons of Honour in that Country The two dayes following were spent in feasting at which the Commanders of the two Ships treated the President who afterwards return'd to Suratta but night overtaking us by the way we were forc'd to take up our Lodging in the little City of Reniel The 24. of the same moneth arrived two other Ships whereof one was called Boldue a Hollander of 1400. Tun. She came from the City of Batavia in the Isle of Iava and was returning for Holland loaden with Pepper and other Spices The other was an English Vessel call'd the Swan and had been sent by the Secretary of Mesulipatan into Persia for Silks but the contrary winds having kept her four moneths together at Sea had oblig'd her to put in at Suratta whereas the Hollander had in less time made the whole Voyage from the Texel to the Indies I again accompany'd the Merchants who went to the Port to see their Ships We went first aboard the Hollander who receiv'd us very nobly and we were shewn all the conveniences of the Vessel which no doubt was the best contrived and the biggest that ever came out of the Ports of Holland It was twenty foot longer then the Mary but not altogether so broad During my abode at Suratta I wanted for no divertisement for either I walk'd down to the Haven or found company in the City especially at the Dutch Presidents who had his Family there and with whom it was the easier for me to make acquaintance in as much as I could converse with them in my own Language But understanding that the English Ships with which I intended to return into Europe would not be ready for their departure under three or four moneths I resolv'd to take a journey into the Country to the Great Mogul's Court taking my advantage of a Caffila or Caravan of thirty Wagons loaden with Quick-silver Roenâ—s which is a root that dies red Spices and a considerable sum of Money which the English were sending to Amadabat The President had appointed four Merchants certain Benjans twelve English Souldiers and as many Indians to conduct and convoy this
nature cowardly and that it avoids those who stand to it and hath courage only when it hath to do with those that have not any and run away from it Another quality which this Country hath not common with all places is that it produces abundance of Snakes and Serpents which are here very dangerous and among the rest those which from a Greek word are called Amphisbenes and have two heads I must confess I never saw any of them and expect not that upon my testimony any should condemn the opinion of those who with much probability affirm that Nature produces no Creature with two heads unless she intend to make sport and frame a Monster and that their errour who speak of the Amphisbene proceeds only hence that they have seen Serpents which contrary to the ordinary form of all Reptiles are as big towards the tail as towards the head We might also very well esteem those somewhat ridiculously conceited who would have people believe that these heads command ' and obey alternately by years if those of the Country did not affirm as much and if Nirembergius in his Natural History write that an Inhabitant of Madrid named Cortavilla had assur'd him that he had seen it but he doth not himself believe what he adds to that Story to wit that this Creature hath under one of its Tongues the Remedy against the Poyson which the other had cast The Woods are full of Lyons Leopards Tigers and Elephants whereof we shall have occasion to speak elsewhere But there is no Creature more common in these parts as also all over the Indies then the Batts which are as big as Crows with us nay there are some about the bigness of our Hens They are so great an annoyance to Gardens that people are oblig'd to watch them for the preservation of the Fruits The City of Amadabat maintains for the Mogul's service out of its own Revenue twelve thousand Horse and fifty Elephants under the command of a Chan or Governour who hath the quality of Radia Raja or Rasgi that is to say Prince He who commanded there in my time was called Areb-chan and about sixty years of age I was credibly inform'd that he was worth in Money and Houshold-stuffe ten Crou or Carroas Ropias which amount to fifty millions of Crowns the Crou being accounted at a hundred Lake Ropias each whereof is worth fifty thousand Crowns It was not long before that his Daughter one of the greatst Beauties in the Country had been married to the Mâ—gul's second Son and the Chan when she went to the Court had sent her attended by twenty Elephants a thousand Horse and six thousand Waggons loaden with the richest Stuffs and whatever else was rare in the Country His Court consisted of above 500. persons 400. whereof were his slaves who serv'd him in his affairs and were all dieted in the house 〈◊〉 have it from good hands that his expence in house-keeping amounted to above five thousand Crowns a moneth not comprehending in that account that of his Stables where he kept five hundred Horse and fifty Elephants The most eminent Persons of his retinue were very magnificently clad though as to his own person he was nothing curious and was content commonly with a Garment of Cotton as are the other Indosthans unless it were when he went abroad into the City or took a journey into the Country for then he went in great state sitting ordinarily in a rich Chair set upon an Elephant cover'd with the richest Tapistry or Alcatifs of Persia being attended by the Guard of 200. men having many excellent Persian Horses led and causing several Standards and Banners to be carried before him October 18. I went along with the English Merchant to visit the Governour whom we found sitting in a Pavilion or Tent which look'd into his Garden Having caused us to sit down by him he asked the Merchant who I was He told him in the Indosthan Language that I was a Gentleman of Germany whom a desire to see forreign Countries and to improve himself by Travel had oblig'd to leave his own That coming into Persia upon occasion of an Embassie sent thither by the Prince my Master I took a resolution to see the Indies as being the noblest Country in the world and being come to that City that I hoped he would not take it ill if I aspir'd to the honour of waiting upon him The Governour made answer I was very welcome that my resolution was noble and generous and that he pray'd God to bless and prosper it He thereupon asked me whether during my aboad in Persia I had learnt ought of the Language I reply'd that I had a greater inclination to the Turkish Language and that I understood it so far as to make a shift to express my self in it The Governour who was a Persian born made answer that it was true indeed the Turkish Language was much more commonly spoken in the Scach's Court then that of the Country and thereupon asked me my age and how long it was since I left Germany I told him I was 24. years of age and that I had travelled three years He reply'd that he wondred very much my friends would suffer me to travel so young and and asked me whether I had not chang'd my habit by the way whereto having made answer that I had not he told me that it was an extraordinary good fortune that I had travell'd in that equipage through so many Countries without meeting with some unhappy accident and that the Dutch and English to prevent any such misfortune clad themselves according to the fashion of the Country After about an hours discourse we would have risen and taken our leaves of him but the Governour intreated us to stay and dine with him He caused some Fruit to be brought while his people were laying the cloath which was of Cotton laid upon a large Carpet of red Turkie-leather The dinner was very noble and serv'd up and dreâ—t according to the Persian way the Meat being laid in dishes all Porcelane upon Rice of several colours in the same manner as we had seen at the Court at Ispahan Presently after dinner we came away but as I was taking my leave of the Governour he told me in the Turkish Language Senni dahe kurim that is to say we shall see you again giving me thereby to understand that he would be glad of some further discourse with me Accordingly we went thither again the 20. but I had clad my self according to the mode of the Country upon the design I had to travel into Cambaya which I could hardly do without changing habit We found him in the same appartment where we had seen him the time before He was clad in a White Vestment according to the Indian mode over which he had another that was longer of Brocadoe the ground Carnation lined with white Satin and above a Collar of
and the Corps was set upon an Elephant to be carried through the City to serve for an example to others He who upon this Tragedy came next into play went with an undaunted courage towards a Tiger which he was to engage with in so much that his deportment was such as raised in the minds of the Spectators a certain confidence of his obtaining the Victory But the Tigre who it seems was too cunning for his Adversary fastened on his throat killed him and tore his body in pieces The third Champion that came upon the Stage instead of being any way frightned at the misfortune of his two Camrades came very chearfully and couragiously into the Garden and went straight towards the Tiger who flesh'd with the precedent success run at his Adversary with a design to make quick work with him but the Indosthan though a man of low stature and a wretched countenance struck off at one blow the two fore-paws of the Beast and having by that means got him down he soon dispatch'd him The King immediately ask'd him his name whereto he made answer that it was Geily whereupon there came in a Gentleman who presenting him from the Mogul with a Garment of Brocadoe said to him Geily receive this Garment from my hands as an assurance of the Kings favour who sends it thee as a pledge thereof Geily having made several low reverences putting the Garment to his eyes and breast and afterwards holding it in the Air and having made a short Prayer to himself he at last pronounc'd aloud to this effect My Prayers to God are that the Mogul 's glory may be equal to that of Tamerlan from whom he is descended may his Arms prosper may his Wealth be increased may he live seven hundred years and may his House be established for ever Upon this there came to him two Eunuchs who conducted him to the Kings Chamber at the entrance whereof two Chans took him between them and so brought him to the Kings feet After he had kiss'd them and was rising up the Mogul said to him It must be confessed Geily-Chan that thou hast done a very great and glorious Action I bestow on thee that name and quality which thou shalt enjoy for ever I will be thy Friend and thou shalt be my servant Thus was the doing of a single Action the Foundation of a mans Fortune who was not so much as known before but grew famous afterwards by the Charges he had in the Mogul's Armies It was my design to make a little longer stay at Agra but there happened an accident which oblig'd me to change my Resolution nay forc'd me to leave a place where I thought my life in danger For being one day fallen into discourse with the Persian servant who ran away from me at Surat I perceiv'd coming towards me an Indosthan a person of a goodly presence and as far as I could judge of quality who immediately asked me whence I came and what business I had in those parts I made him answer that I was an Europaean that I came from Germany and that the desire I had to see the Court of the most powerful Monarch in all the East had brought me thither He told me that if he were not much mistaken he had seen me at Ispaban and that questionless I was the person that had kill'd a Kinsman of his at the Engagement which had happened between the Indians and the Germans This discourse had almost put me out of countenance but upon a little recollection I told him that I had never been in Persia and that I came from England by Sea to Surat which the two English Merchants who were then in my company affirmed to be true But he who did me the greatest kindness in this extremity was my old Persian servant who swore by his Mahomed and by his Hossein that what I had told him was nothing but the truth Whereupon the Indosthan went away but discover'd by his deportment that he gave not over-much credit to what we had said and for my part I conceiv'd it but prudence to be distrustful of a man who had expressed his good will had there been occasion to do me a mischief and would no doubt have revenged his Kinsmans death of which my conscience told me I was guilty Upon these reflections I left Agra with a Caffila or Caravan that was going to the City of Lahor which lies sixty Leagues further into the Country I had the company of two Dutch Merchants and our travelling was so much the more pleasant in that our way was but one continued Alley drawn in a streight line and planted on both sides with Date-trees Palm-trees Cocos-trees and other kind of Fruit-trees which gave us a continual refreshing shade against the heat of the Sun The sumptuous Houses which were to be seen up and down the Country the Apes Peacocks Parrats and other Birds found us very much sport One day with a Pistol-shot I kill'd a great Serpent which I met with in the way and afterwards a Leopard and a Roe-buck but the Benjans of whom there were many in our company took it very ill at my hands and reproach'd me with my cruelty in that I deprived those Creatures of a life which it was not in my power to give them and which God had not bestow'd on them but that he might be thereby glorified in so much that when ever I handled my Pistol they either express'd their trouble to see me take a pleasure in violating in their presence the Laws of their Religion or they intreated me for their sakes not to kill them and when I had made them understand that I would in any thing comply with their desires they on the other side had all the kindness imaginable for me The Country about Lahor is very fertile and brings forth all sorts of Fruits as also Wheat and Rice in abundance much beyond any other Province of that great Kingdom The City is scituated at 32. degrees 30. minutes elevation upon the little River Ravy or Ravée which with four other Rivers falls into the Indus which upon that occasion is called Pangab or five-waters as we have said elsewhere It is very delightfully seated especially towards the River on which side it hath many fair Gardens The Kings Palace is within the City from which it is divided by a high Wall and hath many spacious Appartments There are also many other Palaces and great Houses for the reception of those Lords who ordinarily follow the Court And in regard most of the Inhabitants are Mahumetans there is in this City also a great number of Metzids or Mosqueys and bathing places for their ordinary Purifications I had the curiosity to go into one of their Baths to observe their way of bathing I took along with me my Interpreter who was by Profession a Broker and went into one of their Baths which was built according to the Persian
resolve how to make our party good against them we saw coming out of all sides of the Wood a great number of Rasboutes arm'd with short Pikes Bucklers Bows and Arrows but without any Fire-arms We had the time to charge those we had which were four Fire-locks and three pair of Pistols The Merchant and I got on horseback and bestow'd the Fire-locks among those who were in the Coach with express order not to fire till they were sure to do execution Our Fire-arms were charged with square pieces of Steel and the Rasboutes came on in so close a body that at the first firing we saw three fall They shot certain Arrows at us wherewith they hurt an Oxe and two foot Souldiers One was shot into the Pommel of my Saddle and the English Merchant had another shot into his Turbant The Dutch Caffila hearing the noise commanded out ten Souldiers but ere they could come in to our relief we run a great hazard of our lives For I was set upon on all sides and was thrust twice with a Pike into my Buff-collar which certainly sav'd my life that day There came two of the Rasboutes so near as to lay hold on my bridle after they had kill'd two of my foot Souldiers and were going to carry me away prisoner But I dispatch'd one of them with a Pistol-shot which I gave him in the shoulder and the English Merchant came in to my relief and behav'd himself with as much gallantry as it was possible man could do The ten foot Souldiers belonging to the Dutch Caffila being come in and the Caffila it self not much behind them the Rasboutes got into the Wood leaving six men kill'd upon the place and carrying along with them many hurt On our side we had two foot Souldiers kill'd and eight wounded besides whom the English Merchant had also received a slight wound From that time we kept along with the Caffila marching in very good order out of an imagination we had that the Rasboutes would be sure to set on us a second time but we heard no more of them and came about noon to Broitschia where we stayed till the evening We departed thence about four of the clock that same day in order to our crossing the River and that we might get five Cos further to the Village of Onclasser where we lodg'd that night and the next day being the 26. of DECEMBER we got to Surat At my return to Surat I found in the English Lodge above fifty Merchants whom the President had summon'd out of all the other Factories to give an account of their Administration and to be present at the change of Government This Assembly consisted of the persons following viz. Mr. Metwold the then President Mr. Fremling who was to succeed him in that charge five Consuls from several places of the Indies three Ministers two Physitians and twenty five Merchants Being all met together the President made an excellent Speech to give the Assembly then present his hearty thanks for the many expressions he had received of their fidelity and affection during his Government as also for the honour and respects they had rendred the East-India Company in his person and to intreat them to continue the same towards Mr. Fremling to whom he had received Order to resign up his charge exhorting them in all things to do that which conduced most to the reputation and advantage of the Company Having ended his Speech he delivered Mr. Fremling the Letters Patents by vertue whereof he was to assume that new Charge and made him a short Complement upon that occasion This Ceremony ended they went to their Garden without the City where Mr. Metwold had prepar'd a magnificent entertainment consisting of whatever the Country afforded that was excellent and rare as also a set of English Musick Violins another of Mahumetan and a third of Benjan which for our further divertisement was accompanied by the Women-dancers of the Country All which being over Order was immediately given that those Ships which were fully loaden should make all necessary Provisions for their return and we began to make all things ready for our Voyage December 28. There came to Surat a Sultan sent thither by the Mogul to succeed him whom I had found there at my Arrival The new President went half a League out of the City to meet him accompanied by five of the chiefest Merchants who intreated me to go along with them The Sultan had marching before him several foot Souldiers and a certain number of Palanquins and after them an Elephant upon which a Man carried a Banner of red Taffata After the Elephant came above a hundred foot Souldiers and after them twenty other Souldiers carrying every one a little Banner much like those of our Cornets of several Colours These march'd immediately before the Sultan who was mounted upon a gallant Persian Horse and attended by several Persons of quality and a great number of Men on horseback On one side of him went a Page with a great Plume of Feathers which serv'd for a Fan to keep off the heat of the Sun and he had carried behind him his own Palanquin which was all gilt His name was Myrsa Mahmuda one with whom the new President had been acquainted long before Having accompanied him to his Palace amidst the Acclamations of the people which throng'd in the Streets to congratulate his Arrival he return'd to his own house Immediately upon the establishment of the new President all the other Officers and Merchants departed one after another to the places of their ordinary Residence and the Ships were ordered to make all things ready to set sail They were the Mary and the Swan but there were to go along with them two other Vessels one whereof being too old to get home into England was to be sold at Goa where the President was to touch in his way and the other was bound for the same place to receive fifty thousand Ryals which the Portuguez were to pay in execution of the Treaty of Peace they had made with the English to be imployed in the Indies according as the President of Surat should dispose thereof The Swan had Orders to set sail ten dayes before us and to stay for us at the Cape of good hope But ere we leave Surat it will not be amiss to give that account of the Kingdom of Guzuratta wherein that famous City of Trade lies which we promised elsewhere We call it the Kingdom of Guzuaratta in regard it is not above 120. years since the Mogul united it to his Crown upon occasion of the King of Guzuratta's minority who then reigned For then Sulthan Mamoâ—t who died about the year 1545. left only one Son named Madofher who being but about eleven or twelve years of age was put under the Guardianship of Ehamet-Chan his Fathers Favourite This Guardian perceiving that his young Master was not in a condition to protect him from the envy
of those Grandees who had highly express'd their dissatisfaction with his Administration of the Government and considering with himself that he stood in need of a more powerful Protection made his Applications to Achobar the Mogul or King of Indosthan and intreated him to come in to the relief of his Ward promising to deliver up Amadabath the chief City of the Kingdom into his hands Achobar thought it no prudence to neglect so favourable an occasion and so immediately entred Guzuratta with a powerful Army but instead of contenting himself with the City of Amadabath he became absolute Master of the whole Kingdom and carried away Madofher and his Guardian Prisoners to Agra Madofher being come to thirty years of age and beginning to reflect on the misfortune of his Captivity which he saw must be perpetual combin'd with one of the most considerable Lords of Guzuratta who put him into possession of certain Cities of his Kingdom such as lay at the greatest distance from the Frontiers of the Mogul but they gave him not the time to settle himself therein For Achobar immediately sent an Army thither under the command of Chan-Channa who recovered the whole Kingdom in less then a year prevented Madofher from making his escape and took him prisoner This unfortunate Prince reflecting on the Affronts which would be put upon him at his coming to Agra and fearing that Achobar would put him to death chose rather to prevent him and being got to a certain place alone under pretence of doing some necessities of Nature cut his own throat The Mogul governs the Kingdom of Guzuratta by a Viceroy or Governour General who hath his ordinary Residence at Amadabath in such manner as that all the other Governours are oblig'd to give him an account of their Administration and to receive Orders from him His power is in a manner absolute For though in the judgment of Civil Causes as also when he consults about affairs of Importance he advises with some of the principal Lords of the Country and of his Court yet can it not be said that he hath any settled Council but takes their Proposals rather to discover their Sentiments then to follow them Insomuch that if his imployment were settled for a certain number of years he would have no cause to envy the greatness of the Mogul himself But this Government depends meerly on the Kings pleasure who takes occasion often to change the Governours as on the other side they knowing that the least Order from the Court may dispossess them let slip no occasion of making their advantages and receiving from all hands especially near the time they expect to be recall'd For then they make it their business to get excessive sums of money out of the richest Merchants in the Country especially those of the City of Amadabath who are forc'd to clear themselves of false Accusations which they had not been charged withall but to squeeze them of some part of their Estates inasmuch as the Governour being supreme Judge of all Causes as well Civil as Criminal they must either expect certain destruction or satisfie the Governours avarice There is no King in Europe hath so noble a Court as the Governour of Guzuratta nor any that appears in publick with greater magnificence He never comes abroad but he is attended by a great number of the Nobility and his Guards both Horse and Foot having marching before him a great many Elephants with their covering Cloaths of Brocadoe or Velvet embroidered Banners Drums Trumpets and Timbrels In his Palace he is served as a King and permits not any to come within his Lodgings till they have demanded audience He makes his advantages of all the Levies and Impositions which are made in his Government so that in a short time he becomes Master of incredible wealth especially by means of the third part of all the Arable Lands which belong to the King and are assign'd to the Governour for the maintenance of a body of Horse which he is oblig'd to defray but comâ—s much short of the number it should be of The Revenue of the Kingdom of Guzuratta amounted heretofore to eighteen Millions of Gold not accounting the Customs of Brodra and Broitschia which brought in yearly near eight hundred thousand Crowns This Country hath no Enemy it need stand in feâ—r of but the Mountains of those parts are the retyring places of certain Radias or petty Princes who live only upon rapine and the incursions their Subjects make upon the Mogul's Territories who with all his great power is not able to force them out of those inaccessible places Besides these there are also certain companies of Robbers or Tories who sometimes makes up a body of three or four hundred Men to rob upon the High-way insomuch that travelling cannot be without danger unless so many travel together as can in some measure make their party good against the attempts of those Villains who are so much the more easily defeated by reason of their having no fire-Armes The Couteval is he who judges of Affairs of lesser Consequence but the administration of Justice amongst them is very pleasant in as much as he who complains first most commonly gets the better of it so that it may be truly said among them according to the Proverb that who bears away the blows payes for the bloud-whip Capital crimes are judged by the Governours of the several Cities who cause their Sentences to be put in execution by the Couteval There is in a manner no crime whereof a Man may not avoid the punishment by Money so that it may be said of those parts with greater reason then of any other that Gibbets are set 〈◊〉 only for the unfortunate The Crimes punished with greatest severity are Murther and Adultery especially when it happens to have been committed with a Gentlewoman of any Quality Upon which account it is that they permit Brothel-houses all which pay a certain Tribute to the Couteval who in requital protects them so well that it is not only safe but also honourable for any man to frequent them We have already given a Catalogue of the principal Cities of Guzuratta as Amadabath Cambaya Surat Brodra Broitschia c. All which we passed through in our Travels so that it remains only that we give a short account of the other more inconsiderable places of the Kingdom Goga is a small City or rather a great Village thirty Leagues distant from Cambayâ— at a place where the Gulf is so narrow that it seems to be a kind of a River This place is sufficiently well peopled and most of the Inhabitants are Benjans and live either by their Relation to the Sea or by Weaving It hath neither Gates nor Bulwarks but only a Free-stone Wall towards the Sea-side where the Portuguez Frigats have their Rendezvous in order to the conveying of their Merchant-men to Goa Pattepatane and Mangerol are two great Towns nine
Oxe and Cow They eat their Meals within a Ring or Circle within which they permit not the Benjans to enter They are for the most part Souldiers and the Mogul makes use of them for the keeping of the most considerable places of his Kingdom The other sort comes out of the Kingdom of Baghenal which is commonly called the Kingdom of Golâ—anda and they are called the Ientives These are a sort of very ignorant people who refer themselves as to matter of Religion to their Bramans They believe that in the beginning there was but one God who took others into a participation of his power according as Men came to deserve that honour by their heroick Actions and it is to this kind of Saints that they build Masqueys They believe the Immortality and Transmigration of Souls upon which perswasion they abhor the effusion of bloud Accordingly are there not to be found any Robbers or Murtherers among them but on the other side they are generally Lyars and Cheats in which good qualities they exceed all the other Indians They severely punish Adultery but they so openly permit Fornication that there are whole Families among them whom they call Bagawaro who prostitute themselves publickly Besides all these they have yet among them another sort of people whom they call Theers who are neither Pagans nor Mahumetans for they have no Religion at all They are altogether imployed about the scouring of Wells Sinks Common-Shores and Privies as also the fleaing of dead Beasts whose flesh they eat They also conduct condemn'd persons to punishment and are sometimes the Executioners of them Whence it comes that they are an abomination to all the other Indians who are oblig'd to purifie themselves from head to foot if any of these people whom upon that occasion they call Alchores should touch them Which is the reason that they suffer them not to live within Cities but assign them Habitations in the extremities of the Suburbs that they may be as far as may be conveniently from the conversation of other men We shall not make it our business here to speak of the Religion of the Mahumetans wherewith the Kingdom Guzuratta is peopled in regard that some few points only exâ—epted it is common to them with the Turks and Persians whereof there hath been an account given in the precedent Travels of the Embassadors But we shall continue a little further the digression wherein we are ingag'd and treat of the manner of life of the Mahumetans of the Indies which is much different from that of the Turks and Persians We will begin with their Ceremonies of Marriage The Friends on both sides being agreed and the Wedding-day appointed there is brought to the Bridegrooms door a Horse whose Mane and Crupper are beset with all sorts of Flowers as is also the piece of Net-work wherewith they cover the Bridegrooms face who gets on horseback accompanied by his Kindred and Friends having on each side two Pages carrying Umbrelloes of painted Paper and before him Musick and certain Men who cast into the Air Squibs Crackers and other Fire-works In this Equipage he passes through the principal Streets of the City and at last comes to the Brides door where he entertains her with his Musick and Fire-works for the space of half an hour Then he goes into the house where he sits down on pieces of Tapistry purposely set there for that Ceremony and whither the Bride comes to him accompanied by her Kindred and the Molla and Kasi or Judge of the place The Molla reads certain passages of the Alchoran and after he hath taken the Bridegrooms Oath that in case of Divorce he will provide for the subsistence of his Wife he blesses the marriage and goes his way The rest of the company stay in the room to eat Bettelé and some other Drugs but they drink no Wine instead whereof they take Pills of Amsion or Opium which works the same effect and intoxicates them as Wine does The Kindred and Friends continue their Assemblies five or six sometimes eight or ten dayes together especially when the marks of the Consummation of marriage are apparent upon the sheets of the new married couple But if the Bridegroom find it more beaten and common then he expected he uses it as a high-way and without any more ado abandons it to the publick as on the contrary if he be not able to force himself a passage and that in the three or four first dayes of his marriage he gives not visible assurances of his abilities in the work he hath undertaken one of the Brides nearest Kinswomen sends him a Distaffe with this message That since he is incapable of doing mans work 't is but fit he should be put to womans Their marriages are not indissoluble as they are among Christians nay indeed among the other Mahumetans among whom there is no Divorce made till the grievances of the parties be first examined and after that not without the authority of the Judge But here the men make it an express Article in their Contracts of marriage that they may be divorced not only in case of Adultery or sterility but also in case of ever so little aversion they may conceive against their Wives provided some course be taken by them for their subsistence during their lives Not a word of any restitution of Dower in regard the Women there do not bring their Husbands any thing besides their Clothes and Jewels Nor indeed is there any but have their Pendants Rings and Bracelets of each good store The Women go seldom abroad and those that are of any quality go in close Coaches or are carried in Palanquins or Litters according to the Indian mode There are indeed those who ride on horseback but they have their faces cover'd with a Skarf so that they are only the meaner sort or the common ones that go a foot or are seen with their faces uncovered They are deliver'd without any pain almost in so much that it is seldom seen there that Women are above two or three hours in labour The Mahumetans bring up their Children with much care and tenderness send them to School as soon as they are capable of learning any thing and there they are taught to read and write Those who are not of ability to maintain their Children at School bestow them on some person of quality or send them to the Wars as soon as they are able to bear Arms. They who put themselves into the service of others enter into a very unhappy condition inasmuch as they are allow'd but three or four Ropias a moneth towards meat drink and cloath It is observed that the Children of the Mahumetans have a particular tenderness of those that brought them into the world nay that it is sometimes so great that they would rather starve themselves then suffer those from whom they derive their life should want any thing requisite for the preservation of their own
and go from Surat Cambaia and Broitschia upon the Coasts of Persia bring home Brocadoes Silk-stuffes Velvets Chamlets Pearls dry Fruits as Almonds Raisms of the Sun Nuts and Dates and above all Rose-water wherewith they drive a great Trade These go away in the moneths of Ianuary and February and return in April or the beginning of May. There are other Ships of a hundred two hundred and three hundred tuns burthen which carry to Acim in the Island of Sumatra all sorts of the Commodities of the Country and bring home Sulphur Benjamin Camphire Percelain Tin and Pepper These last set sail in May for this reason that the Portuguez who forbid the selling of Pepper any where but in the Cities where they have established their Commerce upon pain of death and confiscation of Goods and guard the Coast against the Pirats of the Malabares draw not into their Havens till that time and therefore they must so order their Affairs that they may be at home again in October before the Portuguez set out their Fleets to Sea The Malabares who inhabit that part of the Indian Coast which reaches from Cap di Rama ten Leagues from Goa Southward as far as Cap di Comori about a hundred and seven or a hundred and eight Leagues in length and comprehends the Cities of Calicut Onor Bacalir Bacanor Mangalor Cananor and Granganot have also very great trade at Surat Cambaya and Broitschia and bring thither Cayro which is the bark of the Cocos-trees whereof they make Cordage for Ships Copera or the pith of the same Trees brown Sugar which they call Sigaga Areca and Bettelé which they call in their Language Dimang a certain kind of Wood which dyes red called Patang and Harpus wherewith Ships are calked as also Rice and other provisions They carry home Opium Saffron Coral Cotton Thread Linnen-cloaths and other Stuffes They come to Surat and upon the Coasts in the moneth of December and go away in April The Portuguez who for a long time had all the advantages of the Trade of Guzuratta and were become Masters thereof by means of the Forts they had built at Daman Diu and Goa to make their party good against the Malabares their irreconcileable Enemies brought thither Lead Tin Vermilion Quicksilver all sorts of Woollen-clothes Ivory Sandal-wood Pepper Cardomomum or grains of Paradise Cloves Porcelane China-Stuffes Cinnamon Cocos Cayro Vessels of Gold Vermilion-gilt made in Europe and bought there all sorts of Stuffes Cotton-clothes Indico Saltpeter Lacque Sugar Mirobalans Preserves Bed-steads Cabinets and other pieces made of Lacque which they brought to Goa and disposed into their great Ships or Carracks which set thence for Portugal in Ianuary and February They bought there also Butter Assa foetida Opium Cummin Cotton and Thread to be transported to Malacca China and Sapan where they traded many times at two hundred upon one hundred profit But since the English and Dutch setled themselves in the Kingdom of Guzuratta they have been forc'd to quit some part of that Trade and to content themselves with what they still carry on at Goa whereof we shall give some account in the second Book of this Relation MANDELSLO's TRAVELS INTO THE INDIES The Second Book THe English President Mr. Metwold who had resign'd his charge in the Indies to his Successour Mr. Fremling having taken all requisite order for our Voyage went the first day of Ianuary 1639. to take his leave of the Sulthan who receiv'd him very kindly and presented him with a Vestment of Brocadoe the Collar whereof was made of two Martins Skins with Sables which he then had about him as also many other rare things which he entreated him to keep for his sake At our coming out of the Sulthans Palace we were received into a Shallop which brought us aboard the Mary then lying in the Road two Leagues from the mouth of the River The new President and the chiefest of the English Officers accompanied us into the Ship where they stayed three dayes entertaining and treating one another and drowning in good Wine the affliction which was to ensue upon so long a separation We set sail the fifth two hours before day and got at night in sight of the City of Daman where we found one of our Ships which was gone before us to take up a Portuguez Vessel that was to go along with us to Goa The Governour sent us a Vessel of Wine about the bigness of a Barrel and some other refreshments notwithstanding the siege which the King of Decam his Neighbour then maintain'd against the place but with little good success in regard the Haven being not block'd up the Indians could not prevent the sending in of relief into the City even in the day time The Kingdom of Decam or rather Cuncam for so it is more commonly called though from its Metropolis it sometimes gets the name of Visiapour reaches all along that Coast from Ingediva which lies within twelve leagues of Goa towards the South to a place named Siffarde The Neighbouring Princes are on the North-side the King Nisamsa who is possess'd of the Country which lies between the Province of Dolte babth within the Kingdom of Decam and the Kingdom of Bailama on Daman side and on the East the King of Benghenal whose residence is in the City of Golcanda which is corruptly called Golconda The chief Maritime Cities of the Kingdom of Decam are Geytapour Rasapour Carapatan and Dabul but the Metropolis of the Kingdom is Visiapour eighty Leagues from Dabul and eighty four from Goa The way from Goa to Visiapour lies according to the following direction which we thought fit to insert here purposely to take occasion by that means to discover a good part of the Country As soon as you come out of Goa you cross the River Madre de dios to get into the Country of the King of Visiapour in which the first place you come to is the City of Ditcauly three Leagues from Goa The Governour of this City is Governour also of the Fort of Ponda which is upon the same River From Ditcauly to Danda are counted six Leagues This City is of a competent largeness and hath very fair Streets It is seated upon the River Dery which falls into the Sea near those Isles which the Portuguez call Islas quemadas Its Inhabitants are Decanins and Benjans who traffick very much at Goa From Danda to the Mountain of Balagatta are nine Leagues and you pass through the Villages of Amby and Herpoli and at the foot of the Mountain through that of Amboly This Mountain reaches along the Kingdom of Cuncam as far as the Coasts of Coromandel and there on the top of it Plains whose fertility is equal to that of the most pleasant Valleys From Amboly to the Village of Herenekassi upon the River of the same name there are eleven Leagues and within Cannon shot of it you pass
to some Island for very petty Offences The Castle of Iedo which is the place of his ordinary residence is near two Leagues in compass and is fortified with three Walls and as many Moats very deep and built of Free-stone but so irregular that it is impossible to assign it any certain Figure Within less then three hundred paces a Man must pass through eight or nine Gates not one of them standing opposite to another for being come within the first he must turn on the right hand to go to the second and being come within that on the left hand to go to the third and so alternately till he comes to the last Just within the last Gate there is a Magazine of Arms for three or four thousand men on which about all the Streets which are fair and broad having on both sides many magnificent Palaces The Gates are done over with great Iron bars and over every Gate there is a House wherein two or three hundred Souldiers may be lodg'd The Emperours Palace stands in the midst of the Castle and hath belonging to it many Appartments Halls Chambers Closets Galleries Gardens Orchards Groves Ponds Rivers Fountains Courts c. and several particular Houses for his Wives and Concubines At your coming out of the Palace you go into that quarter where the Princes of the Bloud and Counsellers of State live and thence into another quarter where are the Palaces of the Kings and great Lords of Iapan which are all gilt both within and without and the more sumptuously built out of this respect that there is a certain emulation amongst them who shall be at greatest expence to please the Emperour In the next quarter to this there live other Princes and Lords who are not so powerful as the former yet have their Palaces gilt and so richly furnish'd that a Man would think at his first coming in he met with Mountains of Gold In this quarter there live some of the Wives and eldest Sons of those Princes whom the Emperour hath brought up in the sight of the Court as so many Hostages of their Fathers fidelity so that this Castle though as big as a considerable City yet is so full of people that the Streets can hardly contain them When the Emperour goes out of his Palace he either rides on horse-back or is carried in a Palanquin open of all sides and he is accompany'd by a great number of Lords whom they call the Emperours Camarades These Lords are of great quality and very rich yet do they not think it any dishonour to apply themselves to such things as are either necessary or delightful Some are skill'd in Musick some in Physick some are excellent at Writing or Painting others study eloquence and the mannagement of Affairs Next them there goes a part of the Guard which consists altogether of persons cull'd out among the Children of younger Brothers Cousins or Kinsmen of great Lords among whom there are also some natural Children of such as either actually are in employments or may upon presumption of their Birth pretend thereto Then follow the ordinary Guard commanded by their Colonels and other Officers who so dispose thereof that two or three thousand march before the Emperour and as many after him Among so many Souldiers there is not one but there hath been some trial made of his courage nor any that hath not gone through all the necessary exercises in order to such a kind of life and whose countenance and demeanour is not answerable to the employment they are put into They leave a space between them and the Emperour for a great number of other great Lords who are about his Majesties person who must needs make a strange shew among five or six hundred Men all clad in black some on horse-back some afoot all marching with such gravity and so orderly that there is not only any one man to be seen out of his rank but a man hears not so much as a word spoken The Streets are swept and strew'd with Sand or Gravel and the doors of all the houses standing open yet is there not a person to be seen either in the shops or at the windows or if it happen there be the Guard makes them kneel till such time as the Emperour is passed by Once every five year the Emperour goes to Meaco to do reverence to the Dayro who is the true Prince of Iapan and still hath the quality but without any function There is a whole year spent in making all things ready for that journey whereof we shall hereafter give a particular description and Orders are issued out to the Lords who are to follow and who accordingly come at the day appointed to the places where they are to meet the King dividing themselves so as that some go before to relieve such as come from the Court so to prevent the disorder and confusion which were unavoidable among so great a number of Princes who are all oblig'd to make their appearance upon this occasion with all the bravery and magnificence they can From the City of Iedo to that of Meaco there are a hundred and twenty five Leagues and within every three or four Leagues there is a considerable City able to lodge the whole Court yet hath the Emperour caused to be built between those two places at an equal distance one from the other eight and twenty fair Houses of which there 〈◊〉 twenty great Castles and in every House there is a Retinue and 〈…〉 else befitting a Kings Court as Gentlemen Guards Horses Officers and Servants with Provisions necessary for the subsistance of the whole Train They who go along with the Emperour from the City of Iedo leave him to the care of those whom they find in the first House These accompany and conduct him to the second and so from one to another till he comes to the City of Meaco in his return from whence he observes the same order being attended from one House to another till he comes to Iedo The Emperours of Iapan build many of these Castles and have them finish'd in so short a time that they will have a Structure compleated in six moneths which in Europe would take up as many years We have an Instance of it in the Castle which the Emperour had built in the year 1636. in the Province of Nicko four dayes journey from the City of Iedo It is fortified with a double Moat and a double Rampier and both of Free-stone and it is so spacious and consists of so many particular Palaces for the Grandees of the Court and so many Appartments Gardens and Fountains for the Emperour himself that the best Architect in Europe would not have finish'd it in several years yet was this great building compleated in less than five months there were so many Masons Carpenters Joyners Stone-cutters Gilders Painters c. employ'd about it This Castle is so far within the Countrey that the Emperour lodges
three days they make choyce of one of these three on whom they bestow besides several other Titles the quality of the Prince's Nurse In order to her establishment in that Function she is brought into the Prince's Chamber whom she finds in the arms of one of the chiefest Ladies of the Countrey by whom he had been kept from the time of his birth and after the Nurse hath spurted a little of her milk into the Childes mouth he is delivered up to her All these Ceremonies as also those performed at the ordinary Feasts are very great and they are at this day performed with the Dayro who still enjoys a very considerable Revenue sufficient to defray all the charge and continues the same grandeur his Predecessours have been possess'd of though the force of the Empire hath been devolv'd into other hands as we shall now relate The charge of General of the Army was heretofore the greatest of any in the Kingdom as is that of Constable in France and it was invested ordinarily though contrary to the rules of good policy in the second Son of the Dayro About a hundred and twenty years since it happened there was a Dayro who having a son he exceedingly doted on would needs out of an imprudent compliance he had for the Mother consent that he should participate of the Royal Dignity and it was ordered that it should pass alternately from one to the other every three years But the son willing to make his advantage of the occasion found means so to insinuate himself into the affections of the great Lords and the Soldiery during the three years of his Reign that he resolv'd to continue it contrary to the exhortations of his Father who too late repented him of his devesting himself of an authority which indeed is not communicable This was the first disturbance that ever had been seen in Iapan inasmuch as both Father and Son being equally invested with the quality of Dayro the people conceived they might without any crime take up Arms for either However most of the Lords detesting the ingratitude of the Son joyn'd with the General whom the Father had appointed to reduce his Son to obedience who was defeated and killed in that Civil warr The General finding himself well established in his charge followed the example of the Prince and abusing the lawful power whereof he was seized made his advantage of it to settle himself in the Throne after the Dayro's death yet leaving the lawful heir with the quality of Dayro all the outward appearance of his former greatness This demeanour of the Generall 's occasioned a second Civil warre which was thought the more just out of this respect that in this the people took up Arms against an Usurper who had not the quality of Dayro nor consequently the Character for which the Iaponnesses have so great a veneration Accordingly this war had the same success with the former for the Usurper was defeated and executed But this second General took the same course as his Predecessour had done so that by this second Usurpation the Countrey was reduced to an absolute Anarchy wherein all were Masters there being no Prince nor Lord nay hardly a Village but was engaged in war against some other These disorders gave occasion to a Soldier of Fortune named Taycko to appear at first in the head only of fifty men with whom he did such exploits that he soon improved that handful to a very considerable Army His first adventures were the taking in of several Castles and small Cities but within a while after his thoughts flew much higher and he proved so fortunate in his designs that within less then three years he became absolute Master of the whole State He left the Dayro the external part of his former greatness and thought it enough to be in effect what the other was only in appearance The Dayro on the other side perceiving it was impossible for him to prevent that establishment comply'd therewith and chang'd the quality of General of the Army to that of Emperour Taycko who could not expect much quietness in his newly acquired fortune if he removed not those Lords of whom he conceived any jealousie resolved to keep them at a distance from the Court and to that end he sent the chiefest of them with an Army of sixty thousand men into the Countrey of Corea with order not to return thence till they had conquered that Province They there met with such resistance that they were near seven years reducing that Nation to obedience Taycko in the mean time feeding them with fair hopes and animating them to prosecute a design of so great concernment to the State They were forc'd to obey but being impatient to return to their own habitations they committed such exorbitances as made the Inhabitants of Corea desperate insomuch that not able any longer to endure the burning of their houses the murthers and other violences done them they sent an Embassadour to the Court who to deliver his Country out of the miseries it had suffered for so many years made a shift to poyson Taycko who some days after dyed The Army in Corea was immediately disbanded and the Lords who had the command of it return'd to their several homes Taycko being on his death-bed and considering with himself that he could not hope to derive the succession to his Son who was but six years of age if he made not some powerful Person Protector during his Minority sent to Ongosschio one of the greatest Lords of the Country desiring him to undertake the tuition of that young Prince Ongosschio accepted it and to give Taycko the greatest assurance he could expect that he would be faithful to him promised him by an act signed with his blood that he would deliver up the Crown to Fidery so was the young Prince called assoon as he were come to the fifteenth year of his age and that he should be Crown'd Emperour by the Dayro The disorders of the late Civil Warrs were yet fresh in every mans memory so that there was a general joy conceiv'd to see the Regency in the hands of a person excellently qualified for the execution thereof Ongosschio was indeed a person of very great endowments but he had withal too much spirit and ambition to be reduced to a private life after he had been possessed of the Soveraign Power for so many years He had obliged Fidery to marry his Daughter yet could not so near an alliance smother so that predominant passion in him Whence it came that he immediately gave out that Fidery was grown so distrustful of him that he was forc'd to stand upon his guard and to raise an Army to oppose that which Fidery was going to get together against him He gave out also that Fidery would needs be treated as Emperour and discharge the Functions thereof before the Dayro had acknowledged him to be such or Crown'd him in that quality Accordingly
University But indeed this Nation is so punctual in point of Ceremony that it goes beyond any other even to importunity The first Lectures they make to Youth are those of Complements whereof there are whole Books that they may be sure to have them upon all occasions If a man hath but once seen a person he is obliged to salute him and this is not done with the Hat but closing the left hand they put it into the right and so both to the breast with a low inclination of the head accompanied with protestations to confirm what they would express by their gestures Persons of Quality meeting in the Street make a stand joyn their hands by putting the fingers one within another and stretching out the arms bow-wise they do their reverences with low inclinations and continue a good while in that posture proffering one another the way When there is no equality between the persons who meet the inferiour gives way to the other does him reverence and lets him pass by He who goes to speak about any business to a Loytia at his own Lodgings kneels down as soon as he comes into the Room and advances and continues in that posture till he hath done speaking or delivered his Petition and having done his business he retires still kneeling without turning his back on the Loytia If a man standing at his own Door or in the Street espy a Kinsman or Friend coming out of the Country if he who lives in the City thinks not himself well enough clad to welcome his Friend as he would he will pretend not to have seen him go into his Lodging put on his best Clothes and then will come and meet his Friend and salute him as if he had not seen him before If he meet him in the Street at some distance from his own House the first question he makes is whether he hath din'd or supp'd if not he will carry him to the next Tavern and treat him magnificently with Fish and Flesh if he hath din'd he will give him only a Collation of Fruits and Conserves They are very sumptuous in their Treatments and have a custom different from what is done in all other places They set up as many Tables as there are guests but instead of cloths which would hide the beauty of the gilding and painting wherewith they are enriched they have only carpets of Damask Taffata or some other Silk stuff which covering only the edges thereof hang down to the ground At the four corners of the Table they set a paper of Fruits and Conserves for the Desert and several figures of Sugar made and painted to the life and flowers for the divertisement of the Eye and they set the meat in the midst They use either Silver-plate or Porcelane and have no Napkins in regard they make use of their forks so neatly that they never have any occasion to wipe either their hands or mouths They drink often but little at a time whence it comes their drinking cups are very small and whereas they serve up many dishes they are very long at meals but that the guests might not be weary they give them all manner of divertisements as Musick Plays tricks of Legerdemain and Puppet-showes If it be a person of quality that is invited they set up in the Hall where the treatment is made several other Tables on which are all sorts of tame and wild Fowl all which are carried away by several servants marching in a file before him when he returns home whither having brought them they with great Complements oblige him to suffer them to leave at his own house what he had not consumed at their Masters The treatments they make for a Governour of a Province lasts sometimes fifteen days or three weeks and costs them a years Revenue who undertake any such thing what ever their Estates may be Their entertainments are commonly in the night making choice of some time about the change of the Moon especially that of March with which they begin their year That day they all spend in merriment put on their best clothes hang their houses with the richest stuffs they have cover the streets with Roses and other flowers adorn their triumphal Arches with branch'd works Damask and silk Tapestry beset with Torches and plant before the door a tree so enlightned that though there were but one in a whole street it might give light to the whole quarter Their Priests are present at these publick rejoycings and adde to the solemnities of the day by the Sacrifices they make to their Gods Speaking of their civility I shall here give an accompt of that which they have particularly for the Embassadours of Forreign Princes for whom the Chineses have the same veneration and respect as they might express to their own Masters They do not look on the occasion of the Embassie but the quality of the Prince who sends the Embassadour who is received at the entrance of the Kingdom by the Governour of the first Frontier City who meets him with all the persons of Quality within his Government They suffer him not to set his foot on the ground but assoon as he comes out of the Ship he is put into an Ivory Chair and carried by eight men to a house appointed for that purpose which is furnished at the Kings charge and so spacious that several Embassadours may be lodg'd therein at the same time without any inconvenience The next day the Governour of the City goes to wait on him and endeavours to learn of him the occasion of his Embassie to be communicated to the Governour of the Province who immediately sends to the Embassadour to desire his Credentials that he may dispatch them to the Court and get thence the Pass-port requisite for the prosecution of his journey This Pass-port is upon Parchment with the Kings Seal in Gold which is carried before the Embassadour with the Credentials written upon a board having over head in Golden letters the name of the Prince who sends him The Governours of Provinces make provision for his expence by the way and when he is come near the Metropolis there meets him the President of the Privy-Councel who receives him in the head of all the Councellors and most of the Courtiers and conducts the Embassadour to his Lodgings and as he takes leave of him he empowers him to create a certain number of Loytias and to set at liberty some Condemn'd persons the number whereof is regulated sutably to the greatness of the Prince who sends him They allow him a certain time to repose himself and then the same persons who met him at his entrance conduct him to his Audience which the King gives him as often as he desires it and is present at all the Propositions he makes The entertainments they make at Weddings are very great for the Brides Father gives her no other Portion then what he spends the first day in treating the
or the Canaries but this hinders not but it may be affirmed that Salt and Oyl only excepted which are brought thither from Portugal this Island hath not only what is necessary but also what may be accounted delicacy since that besides the Wheat whereof there is sufficient to maintain all the Inhabitants they have Apples Pears Citrons and Oranges but especially plenty of Peaches and of all the kinds thereof They have also Cherries Plums Walnuts and Chesnuts but not such quantities thereof as of other Fruits Nor do they want any Pulse or Pot-herbs They have also a Fruit they call Battatas which spreads its root just under the uppermost Superficies of the Earth as the Vine does and brings forth a Fruit much like a Raddish save that it is much bigger there being some Roots that weigh a pound or more It is much esteemed in Portugal but in the Island it is of no account so that only the poorer sort live on it They have also a certain Plant which grows up five or six foot high and is fastned to the Earth by an infinite number of Roots yellow as Gold and as small as the Hair of Mans Head The Inhabitants use it instead of Wooll and Feathers to fill their Beds and Mattresses withall but would they take the pains to spin it they might make very good Stuffs thereof Cattle is extreamly multiplied there as also all the several sorts of Poultry brought thither and there are abundance of Quails and such multitudes of little Birds like the Canary Bird that some of the Inhabitants trade in nothing else But there is neither wild Fowl nor Venison and consequently no hunting nor any divertisement of that kind though there be Forrest enough which might be sufficiently stored in a short time The Wheat there is very good but will not keep in so much that they are forc'd to put it under ground to preserve it to the end of the year Whence it comes that every Family hath a pit in some part of the City the entrance whereof was so big that a man may go in into which they dispose their Wheat seal it with the mark and seal of the Owner and leave it there till Christmass and then they have it conveyed to their Houses and put it into Chests of Bull-rushes where it keeps the remainder of the year so as that there is no need of ever stirring it There is no Province in Europe where Oxen are so fair and so strong as in the Island of Tercera or have fairer and larger Horns and they are withall so tame that they impose names upon them as we do on Dogs that they may go or come when they are called To hear the noise which the Rocks make when people go over them as if they were going over a Cellar a man would think the Island were all hollow and its probable that the Air which is raâ—ified in its Concavities occasions the frequent Earthquakes whereto it is subject as are also most of the other Islands There happened so great a one in this of Tercera on the 24. of May 1614. that it overturn'd in the City of Angra eleven Churches and nine Chappels besides private houses and in the City of Prayâ— it prov'd so dreadful that there was hardly a house left standing and the 16. of Iune 1028. there happened so horrible an Earthquake in the Island of Saint Michael that not far from it the Sea opened and thrust forth at a place where there was above a hundred and fifty fathom water an Island above a League and a half in length and above sixty fathom high There are also in these two Islands certain places out of which there issues forth a sulphurous smoak whence it may be inferred there is fire hidden under the earth that gives heat to the Springs of scalding water which are to be seen thereabouts There is a Spring within three Leagues of Angra which petrifies Wood whereof there is an evident demonstration in a Tree the root whereof is absolutely petrified as far as it was covered by the water whereas otherwise it is not changed at all In the Island of Pico there is a certain Wood called Texio which is as hard as Iron and being cut is full of Waves like Chamlet and as red as any Scarlet The Cabinets made of this Wood are so highly esteemed that the Wood is kept for the Kings use Cedar is so common that they do not only make all sorts of Houshold-stuffe thereof but also Waggons and Boats Nay sometimes it serveth for firing The Trade of these parts is not very great for Woad only excepted whereof they make great quantities in these Islands the Inhabitants have few other Commodities to Trade withall unless it be some provisions which they sell to the Ships that are bound for the East-Indies and take in refreshments at these places in their way The Island of Saint Michael whereof we spoke before lies at twenty seven or twenty eight Leagues South-east from the Island of Tercera and is above twenty Leagues in length It s Metropolis is called Punta Delgada and its Soil is incomparably more fertile then that of the other and produces such plenty of Wheat that it is able to relieve its Neighbours There are made yearly in this Island above two hundred thousand Quintals of Woad wherewith the Inhabitants drive a great trade though it hath neither Haven nor Road where Ships may ride secure from all wind Twelve leagues South from that of Saint Michael lies the Island of Saint Mary which is about ten or twelve leagues in compass and affords only Provisions and Potters-earth wherewith the Inhabitants trade into the neighbouring Islands The Island Gratiosa is not above five or six Leagues in compass and lies North-north-east from that of Tercera from which it is about seven or eight leagues distant The pleasantness of it and the Fruits which grow there in great abundance occasioned its having that name given it The Island of Saint George lies about eight or nine Leagues North-west from that of Tercera and is twelve leagues in length and two or three in breadth It affords plenty of Provisions but little Woad The Country is rough and full of Mountains which yeild great store of Cedar wherein the Inhabitants drive a considerable Trade with the Joyners of Tercera where most Tradesman have settled themselves in regard there it is the Ships put in and that they can best put off their Commodities Seven leagues from Saint Georges Island to the South-west lies the Island of Fayal which is seventeen or eighteen Leagues in compass and is no doubt the best of all the Assores next those of Tercera and Saint Michael The Inhabitants drive a considerable Trade in Woad as also in Provisions and Fish whereof they carry whole Caravels loaden to the Island of Tercera where they are distributed among the Fleets which put
Capital City and hath for Frontier on the North-side great Tartary In this Province rises the River Nibal which changes its name into that of Begal and falls into the Indus as we said before It is conceived by some that this is the Coa or the Suastus of Ptolomy The Province of Multan owes its name also to the principal City and is seated along the River Indus having on the West-side the Kingdom of Persia and the Province of Candahar The Province of Haca-chan or Hangi-chan lies towards the East and hath on the West the River Indus It is called also the Kingdom of Balochy as we shall express elsewhere but it hath no considerable City Bachar or Buckar the chief City whereof is called Bacherhukon lies also along the River Indus which divides it in the middle and makes it one of the most fertile Provinces in the Kingdom It hath on the South-south-west-side the Province of Tatta and towards the West the people called the Bolaches a cruel and warlike Nation The Province of Tatta which hath also its name from the chief City is divided into several Isles by the River Indus This Province hath the reputation of having the most industrious Tradesmen of all the Kingdom Soret is a small Province but very well peopled It s chief City is Iangar and it reaches Eastward to the Province of Guzarata and Westward to the Sea The Province of Iselmere hath but one City in it of the same name and hath for Frontiers Westward the Provinces of Soret Bachar and Tatta That of Attach and its capital City from which it is so called are seated upon the River Nibal which coming from the West falls into the Indus which divides it from the Province of Haca-chan The Province of Pang-ab is one of the greatest most fertile and most considerable of all the Kingdom The five Rivers we spoke of which pass through it give it that name Lahor is the chief City thereof The Province of Chismer or Quexmer the chief City whereof is called Syranakar is seated upon the River Bezat or Badt which makes a great number of Isles in this Province and after a great compass falls into the Ganges It touches some part of the Province of Kabul and is cold enough by reason of its Mountains though it may be affirm'd that in comparison of the Kingdom of Tliebet which is as it were its Frontiers on the East-side it is very temperate About eight Cos which make four Leagues from the chief City in the midst of a Lake which is three miles about there is a little Isle where the Mogul hath built a very fair House for the convenience of hunting the wild Goose. All along the River which runs through the middle of this Lake there is a kind of tree whose leaves are like that of a Chesnut but the wood which is somewhat of a brownish colour is checquer'd with small streaks of several colours which makes it much sought after by persons of Quality The Province of Chismer hath on the East-side that of Bankisch the chief City whereof is Beibar or Beithus The Province of Iengapar or Iemipar so called from its chief City lies between the Cities of Lahor and Agra The Province of Ienba or Iamba which hath also its name from the Metropolis thereof hath on the West-side the Province of Pang-ab and is very hilly all over The Province of Delly and its chief City of the same name lies between Ienba and Agra towards the source of the River Gemini by some called Semana which passing by the City of Agra falls into the Ganges The chief City of Delly is very ancient and was sometime the Metropolis of all Indosthan as may be seen by the ruines of its palace and other magnificent Structures The Province of Bando and its Metropolis of the same name hath on the West-side the City of Agra The Province of Malway or Malwa is very fertile its chief City Ratipore though Thomas Row an English Gentleman calls it Vgen The River Cepra upon which is seated the City of Calleada the ordinary residence of the ancient Kings of Mandoa passes within half a League of it and disembogues it self into the Sea by the Gulf of Cambaia The Province of Chitor was heretofore a very considerable Kingdom but the Metropolis from which it derives its name and whereof the walls were heretofore six Leagues about is now so ruin'd that there is to be seen but the Relicks of what it hath been with the sad remainders of its sumptuous Mosquies and magnificent Palaces The great Mogul Achabar great Grand-father of Schach Chiram reduc'd it to that condition and conquer'd it from one of the Successours of Rana who forc'd to make his escape came to a capitulation with him and acknowledg'd the Soveraignty of the Mogul in the year 1614. This Province hath on the East-side that of Candisch and on the South that of Gusuratta The Province of Gusuratta which the Portuguez call the Kingdom of Cambaya upon the account of its chief City where they have their main trading is without all question the noblest and most powerful of all the Mogul's Country It s Metropolis seated in the midst of the Province is called Hamed-ewad that is to say the City of King Hamed who built it It is now corruptly called Amadavat or Amadabat whereof we shall have occasion to speak more at large hereafter The Province of Candisch the Metropolis whereof Bursampour or Brampour was heretofore the ordinary residence of the Kings of Decan before the Great Mogul united it to his Crown is very large and well peopled The River Tabet or Tapte which falls into the Sea by the Gulf of Cambaya divides it from the Country of the Prince of Partapha who is also a Vassal of the Great Moguls The Province of Berar whereof the Metropolis is Shapore or Shaspour reaches Southward and touches that of Gusuratta and the Mountain of Rana In the Province of Gualor or Gualier which hath its name from the chief City there is a Cittadel wherein the Mogul confines such as are Prisoners of State and those Lords of whose carriage he conceives any jealousie and keeps there also some part of his Treasure and abundance of Gold and Silver The Province of Agra which derives its name to the Metropolis thereof which is not very ancient is at present the chiefest of all the Mogul's Country according to the account we shall give of it hereafter The Province of Sambel or Sambel so called from its Metropolis is divided from that of Narvar by the River Gemini which falls into Ganges near the City of Halebasse where these two Rivers meeting make a kind of an Isle Whence some have taken occasion to call this Province Doab that is to say between two waters as if one should say Mesopotamia or Interaquas The
Province of Bakor lies on the West-side of the Ganges its chief City is called Bikameer The Province of Narvar the Metropolis whereof is call Gehud hath running through it a most noble River which falls into the Ganges The Province of Nagracut or Nakarkut is one of the most Northerly Provinces of the Mogul's Country In the chief City thereof from which it hath the name there is to be seen in a sumptuous Chappel the floor whereof is covered with plates of Gold the Effigies of an Animal or rather a Monster called Matta which brings thither every year a great number of Indians who go to do their devotions there and offer unto it a little snip which they cut out of their own tongues In this same Province is the City of Kalamaka famous for its Pilgrimages which are the more frequent there by reason of the flames cast forth by the cold Springs as they come out of the Rock which flames the Inhabitants adore The Province of Siba whereof the Metropolis is Hardwari gives its rise to the River Ganges The Inhabitants of the Country imagine that the Rock out of which it issues hath a Cows head for which Beast they have a certain veneration and that there is somewhat divine in that production Whence it comes that they bathe themselves every day in the River This Province is no less mountainous then that of Nakarkut though it be not so much towards the North. Kakares the principal Cities whereof are Dankaler and Binsola is a very spacious Province but very full of Mountains Mount Caucasus lies between it and Tartaria The Province of Gor which hath its name from the chief City is also full of Mountains and gives its rise to the River Perselis which falls into the Ganges The Province of Pitan or Partan and its chief City which gives it the name hath running through them the River Kanda which also falls into the Ganges This is also a very mountainous Province and hath on the West of it that of Iamba The River Iderclis divides the Province of Kanduana the chief City whereof is Karaeh by some called Katene from that of Pitan This Province and that of Gor are the further-most of the Mogul's territories towards the North. The Province of Porena is as fruitful as the two last named are barren It lies between the Rivers of Ganges Perselis Gemini and Candach and is so called from its chief City The City of Rajapore or Reyapor is the Metropolis of the Province of Iewal The Province of Meuat the chief City whereof is called Narnol is a Country barren enough reaching from the Ganges Eastward The Province of Voessa or Voeza the chief City whereof is Iascanat is the uttermost Province of the Mogul's Kingdom towards the East The Province of Bengala may no doubt be numbred amongst the most powerful of all the Country giving its name to the Gulf into which the Ganges disembogues it self by four several channels or mouths It s principal Cities are Raymebel Kaka or Daeca Philipatan and Satigam It is subdivided into many other lesser Provinces the most considerable whereof are Puna and Palan from which several Kings have not thought it much to assume their Titles Texeira in his description of Persia speaking of certain Provinces of the Indies names that of Vtrat with its chief City but he only names it without giving any account of its scituation He speaks also of the Kingdom of Caeche and sayes it is considerable for the Race-horses it breeds near Cambaya towards the North but certainly it is no other then the Province of Candisch before spoken of The extent of the Mogul's Country from East to West is about six hundred Leagues and from North to South about seven hundred French Leagues since its uttermost Frontiers towards the South are at twenty and the furthermost towards the North at forty three degrees As concerning the Province of Gusuratta which the Portuguez improperly call Cambaya it lies all along the Sea-side extending it self much like a Peninsula into the Sea and having on both sides a Gulf or Bay one whereof is eight Leagues broad at the entrance and grows narrower and narrower for forty Leagues thence The Land extends it self Westward along the Sea-coast and Northward it hath the Provinces of Soret Quismer and Bando Eastward those of Chitor and Kandish and Southward the Kingdom of Decan Heretofore its Frontiers reach'd along the Sea-coast as far as Gualor eight dayes journey beyond Amadabat and Southward as far as Daman But though its extent be not so vast at present as it hath been yet it is now a very great Province it being certain that it reaches above sixscore Leagues along the Sea-coast and comprehends above twenty thousand Cities Towns and inhabited Villages besides the places which were laid desolate some years since by War or Famine It s principal Cities most whereof are Maritime are Surat Broitschia Gandeer Goga Cambaya Diu Patepatane Mangalor Gondore Nassary Gandivi Balsara or Belsera The City of Hamed-Ewad or Amadabat which is the Metropolis of the Province is at a great distance from the Sea The principal Rivers of this Province are the Nadabat which passes by Broitschia the Tapta and the Wasset besides these conveniences it hath two of the best Ports in all the Indies which are that of the Com of Suhaly to wit that of Surat and that of Cambaia There is no Province in all the Indies more fertile then Gusuratta nor any that affords more Fruits and Provisions which grow in such abundance there that all the neighbouring Provinces are thence suppli'd 'T is true indeed that in the year 1640. the great drought and the year following the continual rains reduced it to so deplorable a condition that the particular account might be given thereof would deprive the Reader of the diversion which it is our design to find him in this Relation But the Province hath since that time well recover'd it self of that desolation yet not so as but the marks of it may be seen every where But to prosecute our Relation as to what happened to me during my stay at Surat While I was at Ispahan having fixt my resolution to travel into the Indies I took into my service a Persian who was to serve me as an Interpreter for the Turkish and Persian Languages which I then began a little to understand He was born of Christian Parents his father and mother having been of those whom Scach-Abas had caused to be translated from Georgia to Ispahan where his brethren then lived in good rank Which considerations oblig'd me to treat him with the greater civility and to promise him by way of wages four Crowns a moneth He had made me believe that his engaging himself into my service was partly out of this respect that he might thereby have the convenience of re-imbracing