the same length reckoning from Araxis to the River Indus a thousand eight hundred and forty English Miles and the breadth from Oxus to the Persian Sea eight hundred and ten Botteras makes the breadth from North to South to be eighteen Degrees a Tract of eight hundred and ten Miles But Olearius confutes all these Writers in this Point and affirms That Persia hath 12 Degrees in breadth from North to South for if you take the utmost Limits or Corners which lie at both the opposite Seas viz. the Caspian Sea and Persian Gulf you will find that the City Hasum by the Inhabitants call'd Resht is situate scarce two Leagues from the Caspian Sea under 37 Deg. and Ormus at the Persian Gulf in 25 Degrees so that the extent of this breadth is but 12 Degrees a Tract of two hundred and eighty German Miles Its Borders This Kingdom hath for Borders in the East the River Indus the Mogol's Countrey as also the Countrey of Zakatey On the West it conterminates with Diarbek and Great Armenia the Countries of the Turks the River Tigris and the Lake Giocho on the North it verges with the Caspian Sea or Bachu besides the Tartars from Usbeki or Zagatey and a part of Muscovy to the Eder or Vola and on the South is partly wash'd by the Persian Gulf the rest limiting with Ormus and a little part of the Indian Sea Cluverius affirms That the Empire of Persia is on the North inclos'd with the Caspian Sea the River Oxos and Mount Caucasus on the East with the River Indus in the South with the Indian Sea and Persian Gulf and in the West with the Euphrates and Tigris the Nifean Mountains and River Araxis The same Borders are set down by Golnitius viz. on the East the Stream Indus and a part of Tartary on the North the Tartars besides the Oxos and the Caspian Sea on the West the Turks the Lake Giocho and Euphrates Tigris and Araxis and on the South the Persian Gulf call'd Elkatist and the Indian Sea In ancient Times Persia also compris'd the Countries of Gedrosia Carmania Drangiana Arachosia Paropamisis Bactriana Marigana Hyrcania Aria Parthia Persis Susiana Assyria and Media most of them in this Age having receiv'd new Names as shall be made appear more at large hereafter The same Cluverius divides the Modern Dominion of the Sofi into the following Countries or Provinces to wit Sark Cusistan Elaran Tarsi Arak Elsabar Diargment Corasan Sablestan Candahar Sigestan Sigesimur Kirman and Goadel besides the Kingdom of Ormuz and the Indian Province of Guzaratte but this last is now under the Great Mogol This Dominion comprehends the Province of Persia or Forsistan which comprises the Regions of Lahor and Sofian Servan Adherbajon Arak or Hierak divided into the Provinces of Casbin and Armadan the Countrey of Guilan or as Texeira saith Gheylon or Kilan Sayabat Strava Diargument besides the Substitute Countries of Mazandaran beyond which Texeira places along the Caspian Sea Bostam Sabzabah and Nixabur formerly Metropolises of so many Kingdoms but of late reduc'd to peculiar Lordships or Dominions But the Persians at this day possess Korazan Candahar the Kingdoms of Sistan and Hucenche besides the three Kingdoms of Curdistan one of which is peculiarly call'd Malaga or Miraga containing part of Chaldea and Assyria and extends to Bagdat Sagistam Tabastan Kablestan or Sablestan Nimruz Stakar Lorestan or Luristan Ciran Eri Kirman and several other Isles are also under the Jurisdiction of the Persians The most eminent Provinces in Persia are at this day as Olearius affirms Pasargadas the most South-East Province of Persia Erak Fars Schirwan Kilan Adirbeitzan Thabristan or Mazanderan Iran or Karabach Chorasan Sablustan Sitzestan Kirman Chusistan Tzisire and Diarbek Others make the Kingdom of Persia to contain the Province of Persia in the Country Language call'd Fars Erak Adirbeitzan Iran or Karabach Drangiane or Sagistan Nixabur Kilan Mokan or Mogan Betziruan Mazanderan Chusistan Carmania Gedrosia or Cirkan Kache Guadel Nakran Mogostan Lorestan Chorazan Siston Aria or Erie Dagestan and Amadan The Province of Persia or Fars THE Province of Persia anciently call'd Persis from which the whole Kingdom is so call'd is in the Country Language nam'd Fars and Farsistan which last properly signifies The Country of Fars for Stam in the Persian Tongue generally signifies A Country Niger besides several others call it Azamia and the Turks according to Megisser Farsik It is a great Country and hath on the East the two Carmania the West part thereof borders at Susiana now call'd Suse or Suster otherwise call'd Kusistan the North verges with Media now Sarch and the South shoots to the Persian Bay or Sea of Ormus The Coast of Persia is every where an open and sandy Plains and without Harbors yet the Inhabitants call all those Places where Boats can put in Brendor that is A Haven The Sea-Coast of this Province comprehends the Country inhabited by the Nautaques Arabians and Mihelus or Nichilu which have their Name from that Sea-Coast and maintain themselves by Piracies They pay Tribute to the Sefi yet some of them own the Portuguese and Sail freely with their Passes which secures them from being molested by the Portuguese Carraks On the Bay of Persia stands the Fort Rexel and more Northward into the Country lies Resh Ceyfadin that is The Tract of Sand of Ceyfadin The Metropolis of this Province is Schiras by the Italians and Sir Walter Raleigh nam'd Siras and according to Mr. Herbert from the pronunciation of the Persians themselves Scheraz By reason of its Situation on a Plain some term it Imurezam that is A Plain-City Ben Jonas calls it Syahaz Osirus Niras Sephanus Cynebatha and Ctelius Cyropolis though mistaken as Mr. Herbert affirms because all the ancient Geographers place the City of Ciropolis near the River Cyrus in Hyrcania lying in 39 Degrees and a half Northern Latitude whereas Sciras lies in 28 Degrees and 44 Minutes Aelian affirms That there is a Ciropolis in India and Pliny hath observ'd a River of the same Denomination in Armenia but none of the Ancients make mention of any City of that Name yet nevertheless Garcias de Sylva and Fiqueroa certainly believes Schiras to be the ancient City of Ciropolis lying in the Province of Pasargadas Herbert would have Scheraz to be deriv'd from the word Sheer which signifies Milk in the Persian Tongue or else from Sherap which is A Bunch of Grapes for no Place in all Asia affords better Vines Some but especially Philips of Ferrara would have Sciras to be the ancient City Persepolis or at least that Sciras was built out of its Ruins on the same Foundation but this is a grand Mistake because Schiras is not an ancient City and the Place where Persepolis stood is above ten Persian Miles to the Northward from Schiras Yet nevertheless Mr. Herbert affirms that Schiras was raised out of the Ruins of Persepolis Some ascribe the building of this City to Jamshid
and Iberia as also a part of Armenia and some of Albania within whose Limits as Strabo tells us is inclos'd the Countrey inhabited by the Moschi for Georgia extends in length from the Eastern Shore of the Black Sea almost to the Caspian Others make Georgia comprise the ancient Iberia and the Countrey of Georgia mention'd by Pliny and Mela. It hath for Neighbor on the East the Countrey of Albania now under the Jurisdiction of the Persians and wherein the Towns of Bacu and Demircapi or Derbend lie and bending from thence a little Southerly it touches upon the Province of Scirvan in the West it verges with the Black Sea Its Bounds in the North fronts the Caspian Mountains which are Branches of Mount Caucasus and extend along from the Black to the Caspian Sea and defend Georgia from the Northern Blasts as also from the Invasion of the Salvages on the South it conterminates with that part of Armenia which borders upon Media and somewhat lower Westerly towards Trebizonde with a part of Cappadocia and is by the Circassian and Caspian Mountains divided from Muscovy It s several Denominations The right Name of this Countrey according to Texeira is Gurgistan that is The Countrey of the Gurgians It is also call'd Garia and Chartuelaba as a Georgian in the Countrey Language Chartueli or Kartueli which word Della Valle affirms to signifie a Christian The Turks name them Kurchin or Gurgin or Jurian to which must be added the Turkish word Lar a sign of the plural Number and is pronounced Jurianu-Lar The Name of Georgia or Georgians some suppose they have receiv'd from St. George whom they highly reverence and carry his Picture in their Standards though Postellus affirms from the information of the Georgians in Constantinople that the Name of St. George is altogether unknown to them Division of the Countrey Georgia is by some divided into several Provinces the chiefest whereof are Imereti or Busciaciuk Cacheti Cardel or Carduel Curiel and Mengrelia This Countrey of Georgia is very fertile It s Fertility and in many places produces plenty of Corn Wine and other Fruits Most of the Vines grow up by the Trees There are likewise many Woods and Mountains and abundance of Mulberry-ttees for the feeding of Silk-worms which furnish Persia with great quantities of Silk Wild Beasts are also here in great numbers Wild Beasts and likewise Faulcons and Eagles which they call Avigi Rivers and Lakes It is water'd by the Rivers Araxes now call'd Aras Cyrus now Cur and the Canak The Cyrus or Cur which the Natives of the Countrey call Ser the Turks Chur and others Elkar takes its original with the Araxes out of Mount Taurus in Armenia from whence it glides down to the Plains of Georgia where augmented with the Waters of many Rivers and at last united with the Araxes disembogues into the Caspian Sea There are also two very eminent Lakes the one call'd Geluchalatdu in the North is four days Journey in circumference and hath on its Banks the Castle of St. Leonard the other nam'd Esechie is taken for the ancient Lake Licinitis The People very courteous The Georgians are very civil and courteous after their manner The Nobles are call'd Asnaure which going continually Arm'd always maintain War against the Unbelievers or Mahumetans But they are not so much inclin'd to Learning as the Greeks neither are they so ambitious proud and subtle but very meek and honest of an affable nature and so easie of belief that their greatest misfortunes have fall'n upon them from the Mahumetans through their too much credulity Cootwick tells us that the Georgians are much inclin'd to Drinking and that they will not Engage with an Enemy before they have drank their Fill. The Women are very courteous civil modest and the best featur'd in all Asia both Men and Women are tall and slender having generally brown Hair black full Eyes white and ruddy Complexions occasion'd perhaps by the abundance of Wine which they drink The Language one through the whole Countrey Through the whole Countrey is but one sort of Language spoken which being peculiar and common to these People is by them call'd Cardueli it is written with two distinct Characters or Letters the one call'd Cudsuri which is us'd onely in godly Books and in their Churches and the other Chedroli is us'd in all other Affairs The Alphabet of the vulgar Georgians hath thirty six Letters shap'd like those represented in the Sculp Figueroa tells us that the Georgian Characters differ from the Caldean Hebrew and Armenian and that they write like the Europeans from the left hand to the right They are of the Greek Church The Georgians receiv'd the Christian Religion in the time of the Emperor Constantine who kept his Court at Constantinople from the Greeks by means of a strange Slavess of whom they relate many great Wonders but to this day none of them know her Name yet the Roman-Catholicks in their Book of Martyrs call her Ancella And as they receiv'd the Christian Religion from the Greeks so they likewise observe their Church Ceremonies and Liturgies They perform Divine Service in their own Language and not in the Greek as Minadoi and others affirm nor do they boast the antiquity of their Church as the Greeks do and though they acknowledge the Patriarch of Constantinople yet nevertheless they are not subject to him for they chuse their own Church-Rulers They bear great reverence to Rome St. Peter St. Paul and the Pope to whom contrary to the Greeks they attribute the antiquity of their Church They shun the company of the Armenians and abhor their Superstition but affect the Latines and Roman-Catholicks and what Conquests soever the Turks and other People have gain'd over them yet they have always remain'd firm in the Christian Faith and though their Princes have very often apostatiz'd and forc'd many after several ways to change their Opinions yet nevertheless the Christian Religion hath gotten the upper hand and the Christians have regain'd the Dominions which they had lost or forc'd their Princes again to embrace Christianity which they had forsaken Many Ways lead into Georgia especially three the first and shortest whereof is through Constantinople from whence they travel thither by Land viz. through Scutarie in Asia with the Caravans who go along the Way of Trabizonde and finish their Journey in a Moneth though it is much shorter over the Black Sea viz. in five or six days more or less according to the Season The second Way is through Persia from whence they go easily with the Caravans into the Prince Luarsab's Countrey The third and last Way is through Poland cross the Black Sea from whence in a few days you arrive in Georgia as we said before This Countrey was formerly Govern'd by a King Government whom the Persians as Texeira affirms call'd Schach of Gurgistan for Anno 1430. Cara-Issuf falling into Gurgistan
colour'd Silks which they use for Carpets Boxes Cabinets and other curious Wood-work Inlay'd with Mother-of-Pearl which by the Portuguese and others are carried from thence to India Tatta is one of the most eminent Provinces for Traffick of all India Many great Barques by the Inhabitants call'd Risles and Capuses come fraighted with all sorts of weav'd Stuffs Sugar Anniseeds and other Commodities down the River Sind from Lahor Multan Agra Dely Nandou Citer Utrad and other Places and putting into the Haven Lowribandel lay the said Commodies aboard of bigger Ships for Ormuz where they are unladen by Netherlanders Portuguese and Mahumetans The Inhabitants are all Mahumetans yet by reason of the great Trade which is driven in this Countrey there are commonly People of all Religions found in the same The Great Mogol Ecbar first conquer'd this Territory The Provinces of Sorit Jesselmeer and Attack SOret The Borders a small but rich Province borders Eastward at Zurratte in the West at Tatta in the North at Jesselmeer and in the South at the Sea The Metropolis is call'd Janagor or Ganagor The Territory of Jesselmer The Limits or Jesselmure verges Southward at Soret Eastward at Bando Northwards at Attack and Westward at Buckor and Tatta The chief City bears the same Denomination with the Countrey The County of Attack conterminates in the West The Bounds with Haiacan the River Indus onely parting them in the North it is bounded with Penjab and in the East with Jenba and Mando The Metropolitan Town bears the Name of Attack The Province of Penjab or Pangab The Name THe next is the Province of Penjab or Pangab which in the Persian Tongue signifies Five Waters for its Situation between five Streams viz. the Ravy Behat Obcan Wiby and Sinde or Sindar all which discharge their Waters into the Indus and make a great Lake somewhat Southward from Lahor The City of Lahor The chief City of this Territory according to Terry is Lahor but others affirm Lahor to be the Metropolis of Multan The City being very large and ancient is one of the most eminent Towns in all India and is no way inferior either in bigness or beauty to Agra It lies in 35 Degrees and 50 Minutes Northern Elevation and hath large and well pav'd Streets The Air in and about Lahor is very healthful The Air. There are also many remarkable Structures in the same as the Palace Mosques Hamans or Baths Tanks or Springs Gardens and many other delightful Places It is a spacious and fruitful Territory and the most pleasant Spot of Ground in all India and is that part of it which according to Della Valle was in the time of Alexander the Great Govern'd by King Porus. There is a Castle which being very large strong and artificially built in a delightful place of white hard polish'd Stones hath twelve Gates three whereof respect the City and the other nine lead into several parts of the Countrey Within this Castle is a stately Palace into which you enter through two Gates and two base Courts and after you have pass'd through the last you come to two parting Ways the one leading to the Durbar or Joreo where the King appears daily before the People and the other to the Diwanchane which is a great Hall wherein he spends part of the Night viz. from eight of the Clock till eleven with his Omrahs On the Walls of this Castle are Engraven the Images of Kings Princes and other Great Men as Schach Selim the great Mogol Ecbar's Son sitting on a rich Carpet under a costly Throne with his Son and his Brothers d' Han Schach or Daniel and Schach Morat on his right Hand and opposite to him Emorza Sherif eldest Brother to Chan Asorn With many other Persons of note The River Rawy which springs out of Mount Caximir and runs through the same with several Rivulets having finish'd a Course of three hundred Miles along a deep Navigable Channel discharges its Water into the Indus near the City Tatta not far from Diul It lies in 23 Degrees and 15 Minutes Northern Latitude The Kingdom or Territory of Caximir THe Kingdom of Caximir or according to some Cascimir and Cachmire by Mercator taken to be the ancient Arachosia or Archotis of Ptolomy and by Herbert for the ancient Sogdiana The Borders borders in the North at Mount Caucasus in the North-West at the Province of Banchish the Indus onely separating them in the South-East at Penjab in the West at Cabul and Northerly at the Kingdom of Maurenahar Jarrick conterminates this Kingdom with that of Rebat It is but a small Countrey and lies as Texeira tells us fifteen days Journey from Lahor and according to Herbert in 41 Degrees and 9 Minutes Northern Latitude about three hundred Miles from Agra Jarrich gives the Name of Syranacar both to the chief City of this Kingdom and to the Countrey it self lying in 30 Degrees Northern Latitude About three Leagues from the City is a Lake or Pool of sweet Water about fifteen Miles in circumference Navigable for great Ships yet not above half a League broad In the middle of it lies a pleasant artificial Island with a Royal Banquetting-house therein whither as Jarrick affirms the King resorts when he intends to recreate himself in catching of wild Geese and Swans Through the midst of this Lake as also through the Countrey glides the Stream Behat or Bhad which by its trending or meeandring Bays makes many Islands and at last unites it self not far from Jahor with the River Indus or as others say with the Ganges which last is somewhat improbable because of its distance towards the East Another River call'd Chanab by Jarrick Chenao and by Terry Nilab having also its original in this Countrey unites it self likewise with the Indus The Countrey abounds in Rice Wheat and other Provisions and also hath plenty of Grass Woods Gardens and Springs Of the Roots of their Mulberry-trees they plant Vines This Countrey formerly lay under Water The ancient Histories of the Kings of Caximir make mention that this Countrey was formerly a great Lake and that a certain ancient Man call'd Cacheb open'd a Passage for the Water through the Mountain of Baramoule But this seems to be incredible yet not but that this Countrey was formerly overflow'd with Water but to open a Passage for it through the foremention'd Mountain is a thing altogether impossible the Mountain being so very high and broad rather an Earthquake to which this Place is very subject opening the Earth swallow'd up a part of the Mountain and so open'd a Passage for the Water But however it was dreyn'd It s Extent and Situation Caximir is no more a Lake but at present a most fertile Soil about eighteen Leagues long and three or four broad interlac'd with many little Hills It is the farthest part of Indostan to the Northward from Lahor and inclos'd by Mount Caucasus the Mountains of the
From the Mouth of Pontus to the Mouth of Maeotis Eratosthenes reckons XV. XLV or 1545 Miles which together comes to XLI LXXXIV or 4184 Miles But Artemidorus and Isidorus reckon the Whole with Aegypt as far as Tanais LXXXVIII or 8800 Miles Pliny himself by whom all these Authors are quoted in more express Terms affirm'd the Length of Asia to be LXIII DCC Miles which to hold proportion with the former Numbers can be but 7050. However here the Plinian Interpreter forgetting himself suffers it to run on to 630750 perhaps because of the DCC that comes after the LXIII But this as it would exceed the Proportion formerly observ'd so it would bring back that Contradiction to common Sense and Reason which he seem'd before to endeavor to avoid The Breadth from the Aethiopick Sea to Alexandria XVIII LXXV or 1875 Miles reckoning the Miles as the manner then was by so many thousand Paces Strabo speaking of the Mountain Taurus running through the midst of Asia from West to East and measuring the Length of Asia by it affirms the Length of the Mountain to be 45000 Furlongs which comes to 5625 Italian or English Mile Matthias Quadus though he almost follows the Words of Strabo yet he makes a longer Mount Taurus for he accounts the Length of it 58060 Furlongs that is 7257 of our Miles and four Furlongs over and without particularizing the Breadth affirms it to exceed the Breadth of Europe and Asia put together Mercator extends the Length of Asia from the most Western Meridian passing through the 57th Degree of Longitude to the most Eastern passing through the 178th Degree including 121 Degrees which reduc'd to Miles comes to 7260. The Breadth he reckons from the Aequator to the 80th Degree of Northern Latitude which amounts to 4800 Miles Cluverius allots to Asia between the Hellespont and Malacca the farthest Emporium of India the length of 1300 German Miles which is of our Miles 5200 And for Breadth between the Mouth of the Arabian Gulph and the Promontory Tabis which is at the Streight of Anian 1220 German Miles which is of our Miles 4880. With this Measure Golnitius and Lucas de Linda exactly agree Martiny determines the Extent of Asia from West to East that is from the Archipelago to the Chinese Ocean to be 1750 Leagues from South to North that is from Malacca to the Sea of Tartary 1550 Leagues P. du Val accounts its Length from West to East that is from the most Western Parts of Anatolia to the Eastern Parts of China 2500 French Leagues the Breadth not comprehending the Isles 72 Degrees that is 1700 of the same Leagues and all under the Septentrional Temperate Zone except some Peninsula's which are found in the Torrid Zone Now to reduce all these several Computations to one Standard viz. of our own Miles there will be no great difference among the three Moderns last mention'd provided we reckon in Martiny's Account three Leagues to a Mile and in P. du Val's two French Leagues to a Mile according to which Reckoning all the Modern Accounts come short of the Ancient which is the more strange in regard late Discoverers have penetrated into such remote Easterly Parts of Asia as were altogether unknown in Strabo's Pliny's or Ptolomy's time and therefore may well be suppos'd to have stretch'd it to a far greater extent But some Mistakes may possibly arise from our not exactly enough accommodating of the Ancient Numbers or Measures to our own as may evidently appear by the vast Error that might easily have slipt from an inanimadvertency of Pliny's Numbers Of the Lakes or Seas of Asia THE greatest Lake if it be not more properly call'd a Sea not onely of Asia but generally so reputed of the World is the Hircanian Lake which contains in Length 270 German Miles in Breadth above 100 and although there be no visible Entrance of any other Sea into it yet in regard its Waters are generally Salt it is suppos'd to communicate with the Ocean or some other Sea by certain Subterraneous Passages as undoubtedly it partakes also of several great Rivers since in many Places it hath Fresh Water and abounds with some sorts of Fresh-water or River Fish The Ancients believ'd this to be a Bay of the Scythian Ocean but Herodotus one of the most ancient of the Greek Writers as also Aristotle and Diodorus were of a different Opinion affirming it to be a particular Sea by it self as being no where mix'd with the Ocean And Ptolomy for that Reason would rather have it call'd a Lake than a Sea to which Opinion of his many other Writers have given their Suffrage However it hath commonly had in times past the Appellation of The Caspian Sea and at present is term'd Mare di Sala or The Sea of Sala The next great Asian Lake is call'd Lacus Asphaltites or The Lake of Brimstone the same which in Holy Writ is call'd Mare Mortuum or The Dead Sea in regard the Water remains fixt and immovable in so vast a Circuit Upon this Lake stood the Cities of Sodom and Gomorra Admah and Zeboim the two first whereof are mention'd in Sacred Scripture to have been destroy'd by Fire from Heaven whereupon it hath been also known by the Name of The Lake of Gomorra And if the fore-mention'd much more this may be term'd a Lake in regard it is but very small in respect of that Over this Lake like as over that of Avernus or Aornus in Campania no Birds endure to fly neither are any Fish able to live in it by reason of the evil and noxious Savour and intollerable Stench of the Water which is not mov'd or stirr'd by any Wind because the Bituminous Quality thereof resists by condensing the Surface of the Water which is so thick that the heaviest Creatures are born upon it without swimming But it is not Navigable by any Ships both in regard of the thickness and immovableness of the Water and the noisomness of the Lake to all Passengers The next is the Lake or Sea in Persia call'd El-Catif The fourth is the Lake of Genesareth otherwise call'd Tiberius and by some The Sea of Galilee The fifth is the Lake Samochonites between which and that of Gennesareth the River Jordan flows Of the Chief Rivers of Asia THERE are many Rivers of Principal note in Asia as Euphrates Tigris Jordan Indus Ganges Ob c. Euphrates riseth in Great Armenia and is call'd by the Inhabitants generally Phrat But in its Progress through several Countries it changeth its Name for some space from its first rising it is call'd Pyxirates towards its entrance into the Mountain Taurus Omira again coming forth from out of the said Mountain it takes the Name of Euphrates afterwards it toucheth upon Mesopotamia on the Left Hand and Syria Arabia and Babylonia on the Right and then divides it self into several Arms one whereof takes its Course to Seleucia and falls into the River Tigris another runs through Babylon and loseth
fifth King of Persia who as the Chronicle makes mention was succeeded by Chedorlaomer not long after the Death of Noah Botterus tells us That Schiras was built when Grand-Cair was but a Village but according to the Registers of the Country it was built not above seven hundred and fifty years ago a considerable time after the Arabians made themselves Masters of Persia Moreover if ancient Traditions may be credited which are there certainly believ'd this City is much elder especially if it be true what is related of an Asian General call'd Jenpsit who is said to have liv'd many Ages before their Account of Time And though they differ amongst themselves in the Time and Reign of the foremention'd Heroe yet 't is very probable that he liv'd a thousand years after the Flood They affirm that he was the Person who made the great and strange cut Channel which so abundantly waters the whole Country of Schiras by undermining and cutting through the great Mountains that lie between the City and Springs and thereby brought them to their present Perfection and by this means they furnish the City with such an abundance of Water that if all the Channels were cut into one they would make a very large River The City of Schiras lying in 28 Degrees and 44 Minutes Northern Latitude is situate about ten Leagues from the Ruins of Persepolis near the Stream Bendamir or Bendimir on a great Plain inclos'd with Mountains except on the side where you go over a Bridge from Pasa into the same two Leagues distant from the City but on the North scarce half a League This City was formerly much bigger and had many more magnificent Buildings than at this day as plainly appears both within and without its Walls And the Arabian Geographer Ulug Becig Nephew to Tamerlane affirms that it was in his Time three Leagues and a half in Circumference The like bigness Contasing ascribes to the same as also the number of twenty four thousand Houses In the beginning of this Age Schach Abbas to punish the Insurrection of one Jacob Chan Governor or Lord of Schiras pull'd down that part of the Wall which was then remaining and fill'd up the Moat and Trench which surrounded the City Both without and within the City are many Mosques or Temples amongst which some are built very magnificent and beautiful and especially one which being of an extraordinary bigness hath a much higher Steeple upon it than any of the other These Towers which the Persians call Alcorons are narrow but high having without two or three Galleries one above another from whence the Marabouts a sort of Priests publickly read their Prayers with a loud and strong Voice three times a day and walking round about the Gallery that they may be the better understood There are very few handsom Structures either without or within the City except the Mosques for besides three Royal Palaces of which one is in the City and the other two in the Suburbs there is not one fair House 't is true that of the Chan or Sultan thoug it be not very beautiful on the out-side yet large and hath many Painted and richly Gilded Apartments within besides Galleries Gardens Orchards and pleasant Walks All the other inhabited by Citizens and other eminent Persons are small and mean the Rooms except the Hall and two or three Chambers are so little that an indifferent Tradesman here hath better Accommodation than a Nobleman there The City hath several Gates one of which respects the River Pasargadas and is call'd Darvaza Pasa that is The Gate of Pasa anciently Pasargadas it is very little and supported only by the Relicks of an old Mud Wall Opposite to this Gate towards the West is another call'd Darvaza Achem that is Iron Gate at which begins a very fair Street above 2000 Paces long and every where exactly 90 Paces broad On each side of this Street is a Wall of about sixteen Foot high Plaister'd over with Mortar and without any Houses behind are spacious Gardens and Orchards full of Fruit-trees and curious Banqueting-houses which belong to the King and are neatly built with large Galleries and pleasant Prospects In this fair Street the Persians run Races and perform their Exercises on Horseback At the end of the Streets stands the King's Palace very handsomly built with Balconies and Terrace Walks Before the Court you ascend by two Steps to a little Plain which is rais'd higher than the Street At the Entrance and near the Gallery in the midst of the Plain lies a fair and large Pool of Water Most of the Inhabitants of the City appear every Friday being the Mahumetan Sabbath in a spacious Plain both on Foot and Horseback and are there Exercis'd and Train'd and afterwards dispose themselves to other Recreations as they think fit Near the King's Palace is a fair House with a pleasant Garden the Work of the Great Ismael Sofi very curiously built three Stories high in the second of which among other very convenient Apartments is a large and spacious Hall having in the middle an Arch'd Lover full of Glass Windows In this Apartment as also in the rest on this Story are divers Pictures of Women most of them Cloth'd after the Italian manner Under the Galleries which surround this Structure two are much bigger than the other one of which being over the Gate looks into the Street and also to that Gate of the City which is call'd Darvaza Pasa The other standing above the first is over the Gate through which you pass to go into the Garden and respects the West Each of these have three Doors one against another so that being in the Hall which is in the middle of the Edifice you have the Prospect not only of the foremention'd Streets and Walks but also of the City Gate and that of the Haram or Seraglio in the middle of the Garden which may justly be accounted a Wood of all sorts of Fruit-trees divided into Walks but those of the Cypress and Palm are the chiefest which begin at the Court Gate and extend nine hundred Paces in length and thirty in breadth the Walks are very straight and even Planted on both sides with tall Cypress-trees which are so big that three Men can scarce fathom them and so high and straight that they represent great Obelisks At the bottom of the Trees is rais'd a Gravel Path or Bank somewhat higher than the middle Walk and about five or six Foot broad where all People walk for they go not into the middle part because that must be kept always green At the bottom of these Cypress-trees on the out-side of the Walk runs a pleasant Brook which afterwards dividing it self into several Branches waters all parts of the Garden At the end of the Walk is the Haram or Seraglio built after the same manner as the House before mention'd but not so large nor high It is erected on a Plain rais'd seven Foot higher than the Garden On
that is The Armenian Stone Amongst many other Beasts which breed in Persia there is one peculiar to this Province which the Persians call Castar and the Spaniards Adives and is perhaps the Hyena of the Ancients They breed for the most part in the Hedges about Schiras and are as Garcias de Sylva affirms a kind of Dogs bred first in Barbary They come in great companies out of the Hedges in the Night to seek for Prey making a hideous howling They are naturally so subtile that if they were not so very greedy they could not be taken They tear up the Graves in the Fields and devour the Dead Bodies and often when hungry they venture into Houses where if they find any thing they call their Companions by making a great noise whereof the Inhabitants taking notice surround and catch them This Province of Persia comprehends the ancient Kingdom or Dukedom of Lar or Lara with a Metropolis of the same denomination from whence the Laryns a Coin so current in all the Eastern Countries had their name as we observ'd before The Province of Lara is by Figueroa accounted part of the old Carmanie as Oëssa commonly call'd the Kingdom of Monbareca the other part besides the Countries of Mogosthan This ancient Dukedom was formerly possess'd by a peculiar Prince who Govern'd with an Arbitrary Power and not subject to the Crown of Persia The last Prince according to Gaspar Bernardino was call'd Abrahi Mochom but by Della Valle Ibrahim Chan by Figueroa Hambrain Chan and by our Mr. Herbert Erahim Cawn an Atheistical and bloody-minded Person But Alvaredy Chan Sultan of Schiras invading him Anno 1602. by the Command of Schach Abbas storm'd the City of Lar and kill'd the King besides all the Nobility and Gentry to the number of five thousand causing also the Castles to be pull'd down and the Walls thrown to the Ground leaving nothing standing that was of any Strength or Consequence And in this manner the Kingdom of Lar was joyn'd to the Crown of Persia and added to the Dominion of Schiras The City Lar at Lara is a very ancient City and of great note amongst the Arabians being the Metropolis as Figueroa supposes of the old Carmanie It is situate in 27 Degrees and a half of Northern Latitude at the end of a great Plain so enclos'd with Mountains that they leave onely a little Opening or Way which leads to Schiras When this City was first built cannot certainly be resolv'd Some ascribe the Age thereof to that of our first Forefathers others say it was founded not much above a thousand years ago The Walls of the Houses are made of Sun-dry'd Bricks and Clay and plaster'd over with a kind of Mortar made of chopt Straw and Earth which the Persians use in all their Buildings especially in the Provinces of Lara Querman and Persia Most of them are but one Story high having few Windows and those very small and cover d with Lattices or stopt with Mats In this City is an ancient Palace formerly the Residence of the Prince with a large Court before it which had stood empty a considerable time when the Chan of Schiras came to Lar to take possession thereof Here are likewise two other remarkable Places The one a Castle or Fort the other the Bazar or Exchange The first being almost half a League in circumference is built of Free-stone on the West side of the City on a little Hill and fortified with thirty eight strong Bulwarks which defend the City from any outward Attempts and also Commands it Figueroa affirms That the Castle covers the whole top of the Mountain which is Oval and fortified with a Stone Wall and a Breast-work with divers Loop-holes for small Shot It is very large in circumference and hath a Well with excellent Water above two hundred Fathom deep for it reaches quite down to the City yet is the Water nevertheless very easily drawn up with a Wheel turn'd by an Ox. The other Place of note in this City is the Bazar that is A Street full or Shops like the Exchange This Bazar was the Work of Alvaredy Chan the before-mention'd Sultan of Schiras and is without doubt one of the fairest and best in all Asia It consists of an exact Square enclos'd within high Walls of white Stone each Square being 150 Paces and in every one a large Gate through which you enter into a fair Walk that opens into four Rows of Shops each twenty Foot broad making a Cross-way in the middle whereof is a very high Turret full of large Windows built on four Arches of Stone which taking their beginning from thence cover the four Walks The Materials so neatly painted and polish'd that they out-vie Marble The Ground is also very curiously pav'd In four other Squares but much less than the former are four other small Cross-ways which have also a Turret in the middle of each from whence as from the great one run four other lesser Arched Walks of fifteen or sixteen Foot broad Almost in the middle under the great Turret or Arch is a Spring of Fresh Water which is brought thither in Pipes from Places far distant and convey'd from thence to all Parts of the City In the Bazar are sold all manner of Merchandises as well in the Shops by the Inhabitants as by Foreign Merchants who stay here all day to vend their Goods and return to their Lodgings in the Evening when the Bazar is lock'd up and guarded by a Company of Soldiers appointed for that purpose In some of these Shops are sold both Green Dry'd and Preserv'd Fruit as also In-land Bread call'd Hapas or Curichas But the Country-People which bring their Commodities to sell have no peculiar Shops but lay their Merchandise on Stalls before the Shops leaving a sufficient space between for the People to pass Near the Bazar is the Mint where they Coin the Laryns before-mention'd There are few Mosques here but amongst those which are there is one built round to represent Eternity after the same manner with the Alcaba or Holy Mosque at Mecha which Schach Abraham is said to have brought from Heaven On some Places thereof are Arabian Letters Cyphers and short Sentences graven after the Mosaick manner It is a low Structure having in stead of Windows onely Carv'd Ballisters The Entrance into the same is through a Copper Gate near which hangs a great Looking-glass There are also many Lamps some of which are kept continually burning and others hang onely for Ornament Some of the Persian Prophets lie here interr'd and amongst others one call'd Emir Ally Zedday Amir who if what they affirm upon Oath may be credited hath been there above 1500 Years viz. 600 Years before Mahomet yet nevertheless they stick not to affirm that he was a good Muselman or Mahumetan At Lar is the usual meeting-place of the Caravans or Cafilas which travel from Persia Querman and other Places to the Isle of Ormus and come from thence and
Arabia to these Provinces Wherefore this City is much frequented by Merchants as well Persians and Arabians as Benjans and Jews and to that purpose are built many Caravanseras for the accommodation of strange Merchants that come thither with their Commodities This City hath been much ruin'd by Earthquakes one of which in Anno 1400. threw down above a hundred Houses and another Anno 1593. above three hundred or as Texeira affirms five hundred at which time also many Water-Cesterns and the greatest part of the City Walls were spoil'd The ancient Castle formerly built by a Georgian call'd Melek on a Stone Rock on the East side of the City was also cast down A League from Lar is a Caravansera call'd Charcaph The last Place in this Dukedom of Lar at the entrance of the Country which belong'd to the King of Ormus when he was absolute Master of his whole Kingdom on the Main Continent of Persia and Arabia is Abi Dunger Concerning the Climate we cannot say there is any great Cold at Lar the Air being so temperate that in March you can scarce get into the City for the abundance of Flies and Gnats which in great Swarms fill the Air. But in June there blows such a hot and dry Wind that on all Places over which it passes it leaves Impressions as of Fire and withal scorches the Faces Hands and Legs of Strangers to their great trouble and pain call'd therefore by the Persians Bad Semum that is An infectious and burning Wind. The whole Country of Lar is very destitute of Water for there are neither Brooks Springs nor Wells onely in several Places on the Road are plac'd Troughs which catch the Rain-water which serves for the accommodation and refreshment of Travellers Mr. Herbert says this Water is very unwholesom and occasions many Distempers as well in the Inhabitants as Strangers viz. Rheums Sore Throats and Worms in the Legs which causes Itching and Lameness and is not to be cur'd without taking out the Worm and this must also be done with great care for if the Worm chance to break it causes Putrefaction and Numbness in the Part affected which is only to be remedied by continual cutting and slashing of the Flesh There is nothing worthy of praise in all the Country about Lar but the Charitable Inclinations of divers of the Inhabitants who besides the Cesterns which the ancient Kings of Lara and their Governors made for the Publick good and Refreshment of the Inhabitants and Travellers which come daily hither in their last Wills appoint certain Persons to build with their Estates Cesterns Caravanseras and Alms-houses some great and others little according to their Capacities and Zeal in their Religion and by this means there are so many Cesterns that the adjacent Plain is full of them and the Water therein is very clear and cool in Summer notwithstanding the great Heat About Lar and the Parts adjacent are several sorts of Fruit-trees as Oranges Lemmons and the best Dates in all Persia Most of the Inhabitants live on Dates partly by making them their Food and partly by selling and bartering them for other Necessaries Between Lar and Gamron grows abundance of Assa Foetida by the Maleyans and Javanners call'd Hin The ancient Inhabitants of this Country were Arabians of which there are yet many living SCHAMACHIE Schirwan or Scerwan in ancient Times call'd Media Atropatia or Little Media The modern Names of Media Atropatia THis Province anciently a Kingdom is at this day in the Countrey Language call'd Schirwan and Xirwan or Xyruan and generally by the Europeans Serwan Magin supposes Xyruan to comprehend all Media though it be onely a part as Minadoi Leunclavius Olearius and others have observ'd who take it onely for old Media or Atropatia Our Mr. Jenkinson will have the same to be Hircania But Schirwan is rather the Northern Media as appears by the nature of the Soil for accordtng to Herodotus and Strabo that part of Media is mountainous as the Countrey now call'd Schirwan is found to be The Bounds This Province conterminates in the East with the Caspian Sea on the West with Georgia on the North with Albany and somewhat higher with the wandring Tartars which inhabit between Mount Caucasus and the River Volga and in the South it juts out against Great Armenia where the River Canack running betwixt serves for a Boundary and thence passes on till at last it comes to limit Great Media It s whole length is accounted about a hundred Miles The Metropolis of this Province of Schirwan is by divers Writers differently nam'd by Bizarro and Barbaro Sumachia by others Samachia and by the Spaniards Namachi but the common Name is Schamachie of which Namet here is but one City in Media or Persia notwithstanding Ferrarius in his short Geography makes mention of two one anciently call'd Ciropolis and the other Samunis It lies in 84 Degrees and 30 Minutes Longitude and 40 Degrees and 50 Minutes Latitude about six days Journey from the City Derbend or Demircapi by reason of the turnings and by-ways which you must travel through the Mountains but it is not above two days Journey along the Caspian Sea through Bacuy and the Mountains of Lahats and very passable either on Foot or on Horseback The Cammels commonly go the first Way finishing the Journey according as they are laden It is situate in a Valley betwixt Mountains which prevent its being seen till you come just upon it The Castle thereto belonging stands on a Hill near the City Walls which together with the City was built as the Persians affirm by King Schirwan Sehach The Description of the City Schamachie This City formerly was much bigger in circumference than at this day having been much ruin'd in King Abbas's time by the Turkish Wars It was anciently divided into two parts each being severally inclos'd with a Wall but the foremention'd King seeing that the Turks aim'd at nothing but strong and well fortifi'd Places for the better maintaining of their Conquest and never medled with open Villages also observing that the Forts lying in the middle of the Countrey and not on his Borders did him more hurt than good he caus'd the Walls of the Southern part of the City to be pull'd down and likewise those that inclos'd the Cities Tauris or Tabris Nachtzuan and Kentze This South part of Schamachie lies like a peculiar Town separated from the Northern by a little Hill which serves as a publick Market-place to both It is said that when the Turk conquer'd this City and went about afterwards to fortifie it he demolish'd the Persian Tombs to repair the City Walls with the Material thereof The North part of the City lies at the foot of another Hill and being somewhat less than the foremention'd South part is surrounded with a sleight Stone Wall so ruin'd that though the Gates which are five in number belock'd you may get into the City at any time of the Night over the
Man of Persia call'd Heid Ibrahim Heid Ibrahims Tomb. held in great veneration amongst the Persians as a very ancient Monument and left undemolish'd by Tamerlane who destroy'd all things else hereabouts It is Chappel-like inclos'd with a Stone Wall having before the access to it two fair Courts in the first whereof appear many Tomb-stones whereon are Engraven in Arabick several Inscriptions under it are also divers Vaults which receive a glittering Light through little low Windows In one of the deepest Vaults stands a high Stone Altar with two Steps on the one side a Door leads into a Penetrale or Withdrawing-Room the Floor whereof is cover'd with rich Tapestry at the upper end hangs a Table of Stone with this Inscription in Arabick To God I commit my Actions he is my Helper On the right-hand is another Vault which contains eight Chappels or sepulchral Monuments and from that you enter into a third wherein stands the Tomb of the Prophet himself round about which are plac'd great Candlesticks with Wax Tapers which are kept continually burning and from the Roof hang also Lamps So choice are the Persians of this Tomb that they do not willingly admit any Strangers to see it Near the Village Pyrmaraas stands another celebrated Monument in a Rocky Mountain Tirihabba's Tomb. in which lies bury'd a Saint call'd Tirihabba the Master or Instructer of Heid Ibrahim over the Door of it stands written O God open this Door This Tirihabba as the Persians say was always on his Knees incessantly praying clad in a grey Coat upon which his Disciple Heid Ibrahim obtain'd from God that his Tutor after his Decease as well as in his Life-time might be found in a zealous and praying Posture whereupon it is reported that after his Death he continu'd in that Posture as if he had been living with other such like Stories not over easily to be credited Round about Tirihabba's Tomb are divers Caves cut in the same Rock furnish'd with Beds where the Pilgrims Lodge when they come to make their Offerings DERBENDT By the said Village next to Ibrahim's Tomb is a Cavern seventy two Foot long and twenty broad Vaulted with square Stones in which the Inhabitants preserve Snow Ice and Water in the Winter against the Summer for themselves and their Cattel because there is little good Water else thereabouts Pyr Mardechan 's Tomb. Two Leagues and a half from Schamachie towards Ardebil stands the Tomb of a Saint call'd Pyr Mardechan whose Memory is also in great Adoration amongst the Persians The City Ere 's On the Borders of Armenia lies the City Ere 's or Aras near the River Aras whence it takes Denomination at this day call'd Arisbar once the first City of Serwan on that side of the Countrey but much ruin'd and in a manner quite desolate On the Borders of Servan towards Georgia stands the City Sequi and on the Confines of Media the City Giavat The Situation of the City Derbend The City Derbend by the Turks call'd Demircapi or rather Temircapi that is Iron Gate lies West of the Caspian Sea in 85 Degrees Longitude and 41 Degrees and 30 Minutes Northern Latitude according to Olearius's observation It extends in length from East to West half a League and hath in breadth from North to South and from one Gate to the other onely four hundred and fifty Paces The Waves of the Caspian Sea upon which it stands beating against the Walls blocks up the Passage on that side which together with the inaccessible Mountains on the other side gives it the foremention'd Name of Temircapi or Iron Gate to the Kingdom of Persia it reaches on one end to the foot of the Mountains on the other to the Sea Not onely several Writers but also the Inhabitants to this day affirm that this City was built by Alexander the Great whom they call'd Iscander as a Retreat or place of repose for his Army and from his own Name call'd Alexandria whereas in truth he onely erected the Castle and Wall on the South side but that on the North side was built by Nawschirwan an ancient King of that Countrey The Walls are high and broad built of that sort of Stone before mention'd which seems commix'd with broken Mussle-shells Over one of the Gates of the Wall which was built by Alexander are certain Lines written in Syriack Characters and in another place Arabick with some strange Hieroglyphicks worn out by Time and not legible d ee Description of the City This City is divided into three parts the uppermost stands upon an acclivity of the Mountain being the Residence of the Governor fortifi'd with Guns and Garrison'd with five hundred Soldiers of two several Nations viz. Ajurumlu and Coidurscha The middle part inhabited by Persians hath been several times ruin'd once by their own King Emir Emse Chodabende's Son when he re-took the City from the Turkish Emperor Mustafa to whom the Townsmen had freely surrendred it The lower part being not five hundred Paces long hath at this day very few Houses left standing being now nothing but a parcel of Gardens Orchards and Plough'd-Lands It is said that this part was formerly inhabited by the Greeks wherefore it is to this day by the Persians call'd Schaher * Junan probably from Iones Junan that is The Greeks City Both the Walls are founded on Rocks The Shore also about Derbend being all very Rocky is altogether unfit for Anchorage and unsafe Harbor for Shipping On the Mountains which are very wooddy above the City appear the Ruines of a Wall which as they say extended fifty Leagues along the Caspian Sea it appears by some parts of it yet remaining of six Foot high to have been of equal breadth with the present Walls of the City which are so broad that a Coach may drive upon them Moreover on the upper side of the City stand several Castles apart on several Hills whereof two the nearest to the Town being built square are kept in indifferent good Repair and well Garrison'd There are also divers woodden Watch-houses from whence they have a clear and large Prospect and can timely see the approach of any Enemy there being continual Watch kept in them Amongst other Remarks near the City Tzumtzume's Tomb. is the Tomb of Tzumtzume of whom the Persians relate this following Story Eissi a great Prophet amongst the Persians passing by there on a certain time and finding a Man's Scull lying on the Ground desirous to know whose Scull it was pray'd to God to make it again a living Person whereupon he became immediately so inspir'd that he breathed the Breath of Life into it and asking who he was he reply'd Tzumtzume once a wealthy King of this Countrey who possess'd a great City abounding with all things That he had spent daily forty Cammels load of Salt A certain number for an uncertain had forty thousand Head of Kine forty thousand Stage-players forty thousand Servants who wore Pearls
or Chambers above it Cush the third Story Tzaufe the fourth Casser and the upper Chambers or Garrets being built like Galleries winding about the top of the House Eiwan which by reason of their coolness serve them for Sleeping-Rooms in Summer the Windows which are almost as big as their Doors and reach down quite to the Floor have no Glass but are onely Bars or Rails like Balconies which in the Winter they close up with Oyl'd Paper Their Winter Rooms are commonly below and have Stoves in them Most of the Houses have Courts through which they go into their several Apartments It is said that the Lanes and Streets were formerly so broad that above twenty Men could Ride abreast in them but since Schach Abbas built more Rows of Houses most of them are become so narrow that two can scarce pass one by another especially not far from the Maidan and Basar where there commonly walk many People who are forc'd when Mules come loaden which frequently happens twenty or thirty one after another to stand still tâ—ll they are all pass'd by Description of the Maidan or Market-place On the East side of the King's Palace is a Maidan or Market-place of seven hundred Paces long and two hundred and fifty broad the like whereof is not in any other City On the West side where the King's Court stands are two Arches built along the Maidan one against another under which Goldsmiths Jewellers and other Handicrafts drive a Trade in Eiwans or open Shops before which stand Trees by the Persians call'd Schin-schad which with their large Boughs shade the Shops before the Trees are long Troughs or Gutters of Stone by which fresh Water is convey'd all about the Maidan The East side which is opposite to it hath a broad Walk Arch'd and supported with Pillars under which also all manner of Artificers have their Working-places for the Persians seldom or never work in their Dwelling-houses Agaâ—nst this Walk near the King's Court is a Structure which having two Entries is call'd Nacarachane where the Kettle-Drums Sackbuts and Cornets are play'd on every Evening at Sun-set and whenever the King passeth either in or out This playing at Sun-set us'd through all Persia in those places where Chams and great Lords dwell hath been in use ever since Tamerlane was Lord of this Countrey Description of the King's Place The King's House or Court which is near the Maidan by the Persians call'd Dowbet Chane or Dor Chane Schach hath a high Wall about it but is not otherwise fortifi'd against any Assault Before the Palace Gate lie several great pieces of Ordnance which Nicholas Hemming a Hollander who travell'd through most parts of Persia affirms to have been brought from Ormus the least carrying a Bullet of thirty six Pound weight the biggest of forty eight Over the Gate is a large Forum or place of Judicature where the Diwanbeki or Judge commonly Executes Justice In the day-time the Gate is guarded by three or four and in the Night by fifteen Halberdeers but at the King's Chamber thirty Men most Chans Sons Watch whil'st as many more go the Rounds The Kischicktzi or Captain of the Guard delivers the King an Account every Evening of such Persons as are to Watch that Night that so he may know what People are near him The said Forum over the Gate is a very high Room glittering with fair Windows on all sides and adorn'd with rich Pictures and gilded Carv'd work The other chief Rooms of the Court are first the Tabchane or great Hall in which the King with his Chans and other great Lords keeps a splendid Feast on Naurus or New-years-day next an open Room call'd the Divanchane that is House of Justice in which the King hears and determines all Businesses of State and gives Entertainment to foreign Princes The Tabchane or Banquetting-house ascended by three Steps is twelve Yards long eight broad and abought six high The Pillars which support the Roof being eight-square are of Wood and Gilded The Room within is also adorn'd with Gilded Sculpture or Carv'd-work The Floor is commonly cover'd with rich Carpets and hath a Fountain in the middle of it Before the Divanchane is a long narrow Walk Planted with Tzinar-Trees These kind of Walks they call Chiewan The third is the Haramchane or Hall for the Women in which his Casseha or Concubines which are at other times kept up in private Apartments come together to Dance before the King to the Musick of several Instruments or the Voices of Eunuchs The fourth is the Deke or place in which the King spends his time most part of the day and ever but at Festival times or when busied about State Affairs Dines with his Queen and the rest of his Wives Besides these there are other fair Apartments which contribute to the splendor and accommodation of a King's Palace besides divers brave Banquetting-houses and pleasant Gardens But above all the rest about forty Paces from the chief Gate is a Door on the right-hand which leads to a great Garden in the middle whereof stands a Chappel This Garden being a priviledg'd Place is by the Persians call'd Allacapi that is Gods Gate Hither Debtors Man-slayers and other Malefactors flie for sanctuary and so long as they can maintain themselves there at their own Cost and Charge they are unmolested but Thieves they will not suffer to be there long Behind the Palace is the Taberick Cale or Treasury being rather a Castle than a House for the word Cale signifies a Castle It is an indifferent large Structure encompass'd with high Walls and Redoubts of Earth which Nicholas Hemmius takes to be Towers This Castle is constandy Garrison'd with divers Companies of Soldiers and the King having a considerable Magazine often keeps his Court in it Moreover on the other side of the Maidan in a peculiar Street is another Sanctuary or priviledg'd House call'd Tseche hit Sutun so call'd from forty Beams or Pieces of Timber all which resting upon one single Pilar which stands in the middle of the Metzid belonging to it support the Roof thereof Hither the Persians flock'd in great numbers when Tamerlane going to destroy the rebelling Citizens resolv'd to spare onely the Temple and all those that were in it for he put to the Sword them that were in the Temple Court and caus'd all the Houses thereabouts to be pull'd down which Schach Abbas re-building made it a priviledg'd Place The Persians Belief concerning Mehedi On the South side of the Maidan is a large and sumptuous Mosque which being begun by Schach Abbas and almost finish'd his Successor compleated it and overlaid the Walls with a rich sort of Marble brought from Erwend Anno 1037. this Mosque was Consecrated to Mehedi the last of their twelve Imams or Saints of the Race of Aali of whom it is vulgarly believ'd that he lies slumbering in a Cave near Cusa from whence he is expected to return at the Day of Judgment and Riding
descend in great abundance from whence there are lesser Pipes that convey the Water under Ground which supplies with much variety several artificial Fountains which gliding from thence fall into a Lake on the farther side of the Garden The Suburbs of Ispahan About this City of Ispahan are several Suburbs the greatest of which they call Tzulpha having in it three thousand Houses and twelve Mosques or Churches which in beauty are not inferior to any within the Walls being the Residence of rich Armenian Merchants whom Schach Abbas remov'd from Armenia thither they pay the King yearly two hundred Tomans for Tribute On the other side of the River Senderuth lie the Suburbs Tabrisabath otherwise Abasabath so call'd because Scach Abbas brought the Inhabitants thither from Tabris Another part of the Suburbs call'd Hassenabath is inhabited by Castilians brought thither from Georgia they are great Merchants and like the Armenians travel from one Countrey to another The Manners and Religion of the Kebbers Another eminent part of the Suburbs lieth on the West side and is call'd Kebrabath and the Inhabitants thereof Kebbers who are also rich Merchants they have long Beards and wear other fashion'd Clothes than the Persians viz. long wide Coats which are open in no place but about the Neck and on the Shoulders where they tie them together with Ribbons The Women go without Shoes and bare-fac'd They are accounted a civil and courteous People Extracted from an ancient Pagan Family and to this day suffering themselves neither to be Baptiz'd nor Circumcis'd They have neither Temples nor Priests neither do they with Hottinger's good leave worship the Fire as the ancient Kebbers did When any one dies they drive a Cock into the Fields out of the House of the Deceased which if it be caught by a Fox then they believe that the Soul of the Deceased is taken up into a better World but if this proof chance to be hindred by any Accident then they try another way on which their assurance chiefly depends viz. they carry the Corps clad with their best Apparel and adorn'd with Gold Chains and other Ornaments to the Church-yard where they set the Body up against the Wall propping up the same by placing a Pole under the Chin where if the Fowls of the Air pick out the right Eye then they assuredly believe the Soul to be ascended to Heaven but if the left they judge it to be gone to Hell They have also two sorts of Graves in one they tenderly lay the Bodies of their supposed Saints and into the other those whom they believe to be Damn'd are thrown headlong In a small circumference about the City Ispahan are reckon'd a thousand four hundred and sixty Villages and Hamlets all inhabited by Weavers The City Jarustan A League from Ispahan and seven from the Village Mahier lies the City Jarustan pleasantly situated as it were in the midst of a Garden on the Bank of a River It is full of Inhabitants and hath plenty of all manner of Provisions and several fair Structures but one more magnificent than all the rest surrounded with a Gallery and containing many handsom Rooms the biggest and chiefest whereof is built after the fashion of the Chappels belonging to the Jesuits Cloysters in Europe with many Windows on the top The Persians tell us that this Structure was formerly a Colledge wherein Schach Thamas's time Disputations were held Near this House is also a Garden with several Springs and Fountains in it but not always flowing KOM SABA In the Way from Casbyn to Ispahan are several Places whence Salmon is brought salted from Kilan where the best Salmon is caught in the Mouth of the River Araxes From Ispahan runs a straight and pleasant Way on both sides of which are several fair Houses and delightful Gardens Situation and Description of the City Cashan The City Caschan or Cashan lies according to the Persians in thirty five Degrees Longitude and thirty four Northern Latitude But Olearius after three days observation found the same to lie nine Minutes more Southerly It being built long extends half a League from East to West and is surrounded with Walls and Bulwarks of a clayie sort bf Earth round about the same is good arable Land On the South side of the City is a kind of a Tilt-yard with a Post in the middle where the Persians use to run at the Ring On the left side of the foremention'd Way is one of the King's Orchards in which are two Banquetting-houses one near the High-way and the other in the middle which last hath very many Windows which according to the manner of the Persian Gardens open the Doors into as many Walks two Doors amongst the rest generally stand open opposite one against another the Walls are a Yard thick When the King comes hereabouts he commonly takes up his Residence in this Garden Cashan is one of the most populous and greatest Cities of Trade in all Persia having many fair Houses stately Caravansera's and above all a magnificent Bazar and Maidan set out with arch'd Portico's and Rooms and being every where so neatly built that no City in Persia is comparable to it It is inhabited by all manner of People but especially Persians and Indians who have every one their peculiar Trade or Manufacture which they exercise in Shops open to the Streets but most of them are Weavers of Cloth-of-Gold and Silks The several Names with the Description of the little Town Natens Twelve Leagues from Caschan lies the little but pleasant Town call'd Natens but by Contareno in the Description of his Travels Nethas and by Clavius and Herbert Natan by Ananâ—as Jesâ—i by Texeira Yazd and by Thevet Jex from whence it is said that this Province hath receiv'd the Name of Jez The several Streams of fresh Water which run through the same make the Countrey very fertile in the production of Corn and Grapes It lies in a pleasant Valley at the end whereof towards Ispahan appears a fruitful Mountain over which they travel to Ispahan The Valley is full of little Villages interspers'd with neat Gardens and lying at so small a distance from each other that they seem to be one entire Town and therefore have no peculiar Names Opposite to the City lie two high spiring Rocks or Mountains on the highest of which stands a Turret which Schack Abbas built in commemoration of a Falcon that conquer'd an Eagle for the foremention'd King travelling by this Place took up one of his Falcons which spying an Eagle broke loose and flying at him after a long and fierce Combat brought him down According to Mandeslo's observation the Tower on the foremention'd Mountain is built of eight-square Brick or Coctile Stone and runs up sharp with a glaz'd Roof about which is a narrow Walk The Arch underneath is eight Paces crossways and by the multiplicity of Windows and Doors is very light Besides this there are several other Structures upon
what occasion built we find not on the said Mountain but the greatest Wonder is how such a quantity of Brick or Stone could be carry'd up such a vast heighth it requiring above three hours time to get to the top by reason of the steepness of the Mountain Situation and Description of the City Saba The City Saba is by the Persians accounted to lie in eighty five Degrees of Longitude and in thirty of Northern Latitude but Olearius hath found the same to lie fifty six Minutes more Northerly and Rui Gonzales de Clavaco places the same in thirty Degrees and eighteen Minutes Northern Latitude The Plains about the City are in some places Morassy the City it self built on a Plain which on the right side hath the Mountain Elwend which rising exceeding high appears very pleasant at a distance This City which is not very big lies inclos'd with a slight Wall and hath many ruin'd Houses The glory of this City is the Gardens and Orchards which are full of Pomegrate and Almond-Trees Not far from the City the Inhabitants plant Rice and Cotton in which their chief Trade consists The City Rhey A day and a halfs Journey Eastward from Saba in the same Latitude lies a City call'd Rhey now very ruinous and the adjacent Countrey red and infertile occasion'd as the Persians say from a War rais'd against Hosseyn one of their great Saints by Omarsand who getting the better and having possess'd the Countrey by right of Conquest suddenly had a Curse upon his impiety in shedding innocent Blood for he had slain Hosseyn in Battel whereupon the City then populous and the Countrey fertile suddenly became desolate and barren Situation and Description the City Com. Eleven Leagues from Saba lies the City Com which according to the Persians observation lies in 85 Degrees and 40 Minutes Longitude and in 34 Degrees and 40 Minutes Northern Latitude but Olearius makes the same to lie 18 Minutes more Southerly viz. in 34. Degrees and 23 Minutâ—o Northem Latitude Com an ancient City and by Ptolomy call'd Guriane was formerly very big as appears by several Ruines of Houses and of an old Wall at a good distance round about it It lies in a Plain like Saba and being inclos'd within a Wall hath the Mountain Elwend on the right side which appears white with sandy tops at a great distance from whence descend two Streams which are convey'd through the City in a broad Chanel which by melting of the Snow in March often overflows much of the Town and some years the Flood hath been so great that it hath wash'd away many Houses but in the Summer it is pretty dry The Suburbs belonging to the City extend half a League When any Strangers come into this City the Women either through Superstition or the Jealousie of the Men are not suffer'd to shew themselves and especially to Frenchmen yet nevertheless they make shift sometimes to procure private access Description of the Village Casmabath A days Journey from Com lies the great Village Casmabath where the Houses are most of them joyn'd to one another with Arches Four Leagues from Com lies another Village call'd Caem Abao According to Texeira Erack comprises also the Cities Nahaoand Targazin and Damaoand formerly counted within the Jurisdiction of Aderbajon Davity tells us that Damaoand is the City which Minadoi names Diagman and places the same on the Borders between Persia properly so call'd and great Media Texeira also writes that the City Taharon is the same with Giem which Davity would have to be John the Persian's Guieche being the Metropolis of a Kingdom near Aderbajon Swaert also places in this Province the Countrey of Thaparstam which he supposes to be the ancient Pathienne a Countrey lying Northward and the Passage through inaccessible Mountains and troublesom Ways into Hircania but this is certainly the Countrey Taberstam which Texeira onely names with Hinel its Metropolis The City Casbin Casbin as the same Texeira and Olearius have it is a City belonging to the Province of Parthia or Erack notwithstanding John the Persian makes it a peculiar Kingdom and is in some Maps plac'd near Aderbajon in others farther towards the North-East than Rey Xarear It s Situation and Description The City Casbin or Caswin by others call'd Casbin and formerly Arsatia lies as the Persians and Arabians inform us in 85 Degrees Longitude and 36 Degrees and 15 Minutes Northern Latitude as Olearius hath also observ'd It is situate on a barren and sandy Plain about half a days Journey from which on the South side begin the high Mountains Elwend which extend South-West towards Bagdat or Babylon The City is a League in circumference hath no Walls nor any Soldiers in Garrison because it lies a great way from an Enemy yet as they say hath a hundred thousand Inhabitants out of which on all occasions a good Army might easily be rais'd The ordinary Houses are built of Stone after the Persian manner which though they seem mean on the out-side yet are handsome and well contriv'd within having several Apartments white or else curiously Painted All the Streets being unpav'd and the Ground naturally sandy the least Wind raises Dust and makes it very troublesom walking to the Inhabitants There are no Springs nor Wells but all the Water is convey'd from the Mountains in Pipes laid under Ground into publick Cisterns where it is free for every ones use There are also many Conservatories wherein they keep Ice and Snow to use in Summer The City hath two great Maidans or Market-places the chiefest whereof is call'd Atmaidan being somewhat longer than that of Ardebil though not so broad On the South side thereof stand large and magnificent Structures built most of them by the Princes or Chans of Persia In the Bazars or Shops of this Market-place as also in the Senke Maidan which lies more Westward commonly all manner of Rarities and rich Merchandizes are to be had at reasonable Rates especially Turkoises Rubies and Granates But after Sun-set another kind of Trade is driven on the East side of the Maidan viz. divers Cahbeha or Girls of Pleasure stand in a long Row with cover'd Faces holding up their Coats and behind every one of them an old Woman call'd Delal who carries a Cushion and Blanket or Cotton Quilt on their Backs and an unlighted Candle in their Hands which as soon as any one comes and discourses with the Cahbeha she lights and presents the Party whereupon he turning up their Vails bids her whom he fancies best follow him In this City are likewise above fifty Metzids or Temples Temples whither the Persians daily go to their Devotions the chiefest is Tzame Metzid towards the South not far from the Maidan where their Sabbath or Friday Meeting is principally celebrated There are also many well built Caravansera's for strange Merchants and likewise many publick Baths The King's Palace Near the great Maidan is a large and
more full Discourse in his Book De Arte Magnetica and we shall have occasion to speak more largely thereof when we come to treat of the Provinces of Italy in our Volume of Europe The Gardens about Com abound with Fruit especially Melons Both within and without the City Com are Gardens full of all sorts of Fruit and amongst others a sort of Melons about the bigness of an Orange speckled with all manner of curious Colours and of a sweet smell wherefore they are call'd Shammane and carry'd in the Hand to smell to like a Nosegay but their taste is not so good as that of other Melons which there are as sweet as Sugar The same sort of Melons are to be found in several other places in Persia as also a very strange kind of Cucumbers which are near three Yards long crooked and about the thickness of a Man's Arm and therefore call'd Schunchiar or Crooked Cucumbers which like Gurkins are laid in Vinegar and Salt and eaten raw Several Fields about the City are Sow'n with all sorts of Grain and Cotton Till within six Leagues to the Northward of Sultanie the Countrey is exceeding pleasant and fruitful the Fields being either Planted with Fruit-Trees or flourishing with Corn They belong to the Lords or Possessors of the several Villages thereabouts Four days Journey from Ispahan near the City Niris the Mountain Demawend incloses an Iron and Steel-Mine The Inhabitants of Cashan and Com are accounted a very thievish sort of People Cutlers and Potters the chief Trades of Cashan and Com. The chief Trades in these Cities are the Sword-Cutlers and Potters the best Sword-Blades in all Persia being made there the richest whereof are valu'd at twenty Crowns apiece The Potters Bake all manner of Earthen Ware and especially Cruises and Jugs which are sent from thence to all the Cities hereabouts that which sets the greater value on them is the Water thereabouts with which being fill'd and let stand a while soon after they are made they are exceedingly cool'd and consequently much hardned Besides the foremention'd Manufactures there are a great number of People employ'd in making of Silk Clothes Embroider'd with Birds and sorts of Imagery as also Lanskips and the like The rich Trade of Ispahan Yasde and Coxom Ispahan as being a Place of great Trade hath many large Caravansera's that is to say Inns or Store-houses where the Merchants with their Horses Cammels and other Beasts of burthen take up their Lodging and lay up their Goods for which the King receives a certain Revenue But the places where the great Riches of this City appear most visibly are the several Shops of the Maidan and Bazar where there are continually to be seen Bars of Gold and Silver Damask Pearls Precious Stones raw Silk and Cloths of all sorts There are also vended here great quantities of Anniseeds and divers other Drugs which the Jews and others put off at a dear Rate The Carpets from Yasde made after the Turkish manner are the richest and finest in the whole World The same Place also produces abundance of Silk and Rose-water Caxom also is very famous for the abundance of Silk which comes from thence Lastly this Province is noted for Horses of an excellent kind both for shape and swiftness of foot which the Parthians for the most part make use of in their Wars SOLTANIE The Province of Aderbeitzan or Aderbajon formerly Great Media or Satrapene The several modern Names of Great Media THe Countrey of Aderbeitzan or according to Della Valla Adherbaigan or as Texeira will have it Aderbajon was anciently call'd South or Great Media Castald who names it Adilbegian takes it onely for a Tract of Media by Ptolomy call'd Daretis and Della Valla for a great part of Media but the Places which Aderbeitzan compriseth sufficiently testifie that it is Great Media yet by some modern Writers this Countrey is call'd Franck-Armenia because the Franck-Armenian Christians inhabit the same The Geography of Nubius makes mention that it was anciently the Northermost part of Assyria for it borders on Curdistan the ancient Assyria The Bounds of Aderbeitzan Aderbeitzan borders in the North and North-West at Schirwan in the South at Persia in the East at the Countrey of Kilan and Parthia or Hierack and in the West at Great Armenia But according to Olearius it juts against Curdistan and is separated from Schirwan by the Desart of Mogam and a by certain nnameless River from Carabach It is accounted ninety Leagues in length and compriseth several other lesser Counties viz. Erscheck Chalchal Meschin Tharumat Kermeruth Suldus Serah Utzan and others The chief Cities are Tabris or Taurus Sencan Sultanie Ardebil Merraga Nachtschuan Merend Rumy Chouy and Selmaseck The Description of the City Tabris The Metropolis of this Province is Tabris commonly call'd Tauris and by the Turks Tebris and is the City Terva of Paulus Jovius the Tigranoama of Nigro but according to Ortelius the same with the ancient City Ecbatane formerly the Seat of the Kings of Persia which is also affirm'd by Ananias Schrotterius and Hornius with many demonstrable Reasons out of Minadoi It lies at the foot of the Mountain Orontes perhaps the Mountain Carabag which Texeira places by Tabris eight days Journey Northerly from the Caspian Sea with which it conterminates on the West and on the South with Persia It hath no Walls but lies open on every side as most of the Cities in Persia do and was formerly according to Minadoi inhabited by about two hundred thousand People but John the Persian lessens the number above a half part before its destruction by the Turks There are many Caves under Ground and most of the Houses being very low are either built of a kind of Bitumen or Clay hardned by the Sun Within the compass of a hundred and fifty years last past this City hath undergone sundry Mutations both by the great Turk and the Persians for in the Year 1514. it was surrendred to Selymus the Turk who contrary to his Word exacted a great mass of Money from the Inhabitants and carry'd away with him three thousand Families amongst whom were the best Artificers in the City Afterwards in the Year 1535. it was by Solyman wholly given up to merciless rage and avarice of his Soldiers who left neither House nor Corner thereof unplunder'd abusing the miserable Citizens with all manner of insolency besides the most stately Palace of King Thamas together with the most sumptuous and rich Houses of the Nobility were by the great Turk's Commandment all ras'd down to the Ground and the greattest part of the best Citizens and beautifullest Persons of what Condition or Quality soever were carry'd away Captives And in the Year 1585. it was miserably spoyl'd by Osman Visier unto Amurat the Third and remain'd near four and thirty years under the Turkish Slavery during which time the poor Inhabitants suffer'd most unheard-of Miseries through the countenanc'd Outrages
from the Caspian Shore and half a League Eastward from the Persichan by the Arabians call'd Husan plac'd in 85 Degrees and in 10 Minutes Longitude and in 37 Decrees Northern Latitude to which Olearius adds 35 Minutes The Houses in the City are not so beautiful as in other places though most of them are cover'd very artificially to keep out the Rain which falls there very often and in great abundance About the Houses are Planted Orange-Trees which bear twice a year There is also a Maidan or great Market-place which is very well supply'd with all sorts of Provision for the Table to be had at a very cheap Rate The Villages that belong to this County are Kisma Pumen or Fumen Tallum Scheft Dilum and Massula This County hath several Rivers which descending from the Hills are very well stor'd with Fish which yield the King a good Revenue by granting Licences to such as take them They discharge their Waters 〈…〉 the chiefest Persichan half a League Westward from the City Rescht More Westward Chestecan a little League farther Westerly Pischeru and Lissar over which lie several high Bridges and at last follows the Stream Tzomus The County Kesker The Territory Kesker borders Eastward with Rescht Northerly with the Caspian Sea and in the West with Lissar In this County are three and twenty Towns and Villages the first and chiefest is Kesker which gives Denomination to the whole Countrey the rest are Schacherruth Curab Enseli Dulab Schab and more Northerly Ruesseru Mianschaker Sengerbasara Howe Choseckkadehene Lenkeran and Kisikgatz and between the Mountains Kuawer Marancu Deschtewend Subel Drich Malule Busler Dubilcha Tifebihi and Talischeran The City Curab Curab vulgarly call'd also Kesker is situated like Rescht in a Wood two Leagues from the Caspian Shore yet hath great Respect and Priviledges as being the Birth-place of Schach Sefi the Son of Sefi Myrsa whose Queen fell in Labor as he went his Progress that way This County of Kesker hath store of fertilizing Streams the chiefest whereof are Feslei and Nasseru and boasts also a great Lake call'd Enseli abounding with Fish The Countrey of Kilan in the South is full of Woods and juts with two Promontories into the Sea one Eastward from Mazanderan and Ferabath and the other Westward from the Province of Astara In the Province of Lissar Westward from the Stream Nasseru run fourteen Rivulets the chiefest whereof are Dinatsar three Leagues from the Stream Nasseru Schiberu Chalesera Alarus and Nabarrus which last runs in the Province Lissar by the Village Sengerhasara More Westerly are many other Rivers the eminentest whereof in the Counties of Howelemur Nokeran und Astara are Lome Conab and Beskeschan over which lie great Bridges In the Province Astara the Stream Choskedehene disembogues into the Sea near a River of the same Denomination Choskedehene signifies properly A Dry Mouth because the Sea in that place is so shallow that no Fish can get over the Sands into the River Decription of Astara In the Territory of Astam lies the Town Astara which though it be the Residence of the Chan yet it hath no Walls Westward beyond Astara lies the Mountain Schindan before made mention of and upon it a Village call'd Schach Sahadan Borders of the County of Langercunan The County of Langercunan borders in the East with the Sea in the West with Astara and in the North at Maschischan This County hath a narrow Passage towards the side of Astara because at the foot of the wooddy Mountains which reach down to the Shore it is border'd by a deep Morass through which onely runs a narrow Cawsey at the farther end whereof a River call'd Serdane glides from the Mountains beyond which is the Village Lenkeran wash'd by a Brook nam'd Warasaruth This County and Village hath the Denomination of Anchor-Ground and Haven notwithstanding there is onely a little Inlet where the Land runs into the Sea with two Horns like a Half-Moon one of them lying before Lenkeran is cover'd with Woods and the other before Kisilagats with Canes None but small Boats can go into the same by reason of the shallow Water and is also very dangerous to Anchor in the Wind blowing hard from the North-East wherefore the Boats are generally hal'd ashore The Curtzibachi or Governor hath this Harbor and adjacent Villages for a part of his Revenue notwithstanding others say it belongs to Ardebil Through this Countrey from the Village Lenkeran to Kisilagats four indifferent deep Brooks under several Bridges râ—n into the Sea In the County Kisilagats about half a League from the Shore lie three or four Isles in the Sea viz. Saru so call'd from the redness of the Soil Alibaluch and Kellechol all which as also the main Shore are cover'd with Reeds The unwall'd Town Kisilagats signifying Red Mold lies two Miles North-West into the Countrey on a Plain near a Brook call'd Willeschi It was formerly bought by Sulsagar Chan of Ardebil and after his Decease Inherited by his Son Hossein Sultan who had possession of it in the Year 1635. The Kilan Mountains extend from hence North-Westerly and lessening stretch to the Desart of Mocan Not far from hence in a Hilly Countrey lie the Counties Cuawer Marancu Deschtewend and others and in the neighboring Mountains the Village Dubil otherwise call'd Chatifekekis which Village those People that inhabited it in the time of Schach Abbas were for their leud manner of living their promiscuous Sensualities Rapes and Incests committed one amongst another rooted out by the said King and the Village re-peopled with new Inhabitants Nature of the Soil The rich Countrey of Kilan hath a fat clayie Soyl and in some places where it is low deep Morasses Moreover between the Mountains and the Caspian Sea is a smooth Plain moistned by many little Brooks and Streams which fall out of the Mountains into the Sea It was formerly a troublesom Way to travel but Schach Abbas caus'd a Cawsey to be made through all Kilan from Astarabath to Astara by which means it is both safe and convenient to travel either on Foot by Horse or with Camels Productions of the Countrey The most peculiar Products of this Countrey are Silk exceeding large Grapes Tobacco Oranges Pomegranates Figs and Calabashes The Stock of the Vines about Astara grow generally to the thickness of a Man's Body the Calabashes are guided up by Poles like our Scarlet Beans for if they lie on the Ground they are apt to rot Wild Beasts The Mountains which look upon the Caspian Sea are overgrown with Woods wherewith indeed the whole Countrey of Kilan is environ'd and they abound with wild Beasts as Hogs Deer Goats with Horns of an exceeding length but not so crooked as those of Europe besides Beasts of prey as Tygers Leopards Wolves and Bears the first of which are so numerous that they are brought ten or twenty at a time to be sold and taught to follow the Chace in
of which so many breed here that the Fishermen dare not go into above four Fathom Water which Pomponius Mela seems to have observ'd when he saith in his Geography This Sea is more dangerous than any other by reason of the many Monsters that breed therein It hath been reported that in Kilan over against the Mountain Sahebelan where they breed most they are taken with Hooks fastned to thick Lines and Baited with Flesh Divers other sorts of Fish Nor doth it onely breed Monsters for contrary to the Opinion of Contareno and Bizarro it produces several sorts of excellent Fish as Salmon Sturgeon Carps an Ell long a sort of Herrings great Breams call'd Chascham Scwit or Schivit and a sort of Barbels a Yard and a half long but others less which are tough and not fit to be eaten The Inhabitants there catch another sort of Salmon-Trouts which they dry in the Smoak and Dress after this manner viz. They lay the smoak'd Fish wrapt in a Linnen or Cotton Cloth upon a hot Hearth and then cover it with Ashes till it be enough whereby it gaineth a most delicate taste This abundance of Fish breeding in the Sea causes the King of Persia to Farm out the Fishing thereof towards the Mouth of the fresh Rivers which brings him yearly considerable Sums of Money This Fishing Farm begins in September and lasts to the end of March during which time the Rivers are shut up to prevent Intruders that have no right to Fish there but all the rest of the year not onely the Rivers but the Sea it self lies free and open to all Persons This Sea in the Summer the Persians Tartars and Russians Navigate in sleight and miserable Vessels with which they dare not Sail but onely before the Wind nor venture from the sight of the Shore There are but few Harbors and those neither good nor safe the place between the Island Tzenzeni and the main Land is counted one of the securest and therefore the Persians always Anchor there in the Night they also us'd to Ride with their Vessels near Bacu Lenkeran and Ferabath according as the Wind favors them But the best in all that Sea is towards the East on the Tartars side and is call'd Chuaresm and Minkischlack but by some nam'd Manguslave This Sea according to Herodotus Ptolomy and Aristotle is distinct from all other being wholly inclos'd within the Land so that it may justly be call'd a Mediterranean from whence appear the Errors of Dionysius the Alexandrian Pomponius Mela Strabo Pliny Solinus Basilius Magnus and others who would make it to mix with the Scythian or Tartarick Sea or else a Bay of the Northern Ocean and not totally surrounded by the Land The Province of Mazanderan Borders of the Province of Mazanderan THe Province of Mazanderan or Mazanderon conterminates in the West with Gilan or Kilan the East Borders upon Estarabat the South touches Erack Media and a part of Gilan and the North verges with the Bacu or Caspian Sea Its length is accounted to be thirty Leagues and Compriseth twenty five Cities the Metropolis of which bears the same Denomination with the Province but Della Valla and Olearius name it Ferhabad and aver that formerly it was call'd Tahona Description of Ferhabad The City Ferhabad which lies about two thousand Paces from the Caspian Sea is in a great Plain and as Della Valla witnesseth in a few years after the first Building grew to the bigness of Rome or Constantinople but was not inclos'd with Walls Nor have the chief Cities in this Countrey any such Inclosures The Teggine Rude that is The Swist-River runs through the middle of the City over which there is but one Bridge but that neatly built in that place where commonly the greatest concourse or People is in other parts a good distance from the Bridge they Ferry over in slat-bottom'd Boats made of one great Tree This Place by reason of its nearness to the Caspian Sea and convenience of the beforemention'd River is accounted a Sea-port Town because the Ships Sail up to the aforenam'd Bridge where they drop their Anchors and though the Vessels are not very big yet all that drive this Trade viz. to the City Gilan Esterabad Bacu Demircapt and to Astracan in Muscovia lade and unlade here King Abbas not long since call'd it Ferhabad that is The City of perfect Joy which is an Arabick word compounded of Fer which signifies Joy and Habad that is Finished Two Reasons induc'd the King to build this City the one was a desire he had to beautifie his Kingdom and extend the Limits thereof for he built divers Cities in several other places the other was his kindness to this particular Region partly because it was the Birth-place of his Mother and partly because it was the strongest part of his Dominions for it lies on one side surrounded with the unnavigable part of the Caspian Sea and on the other with inaccessible Mountains through which none can come but by narrow and craggy Paths besides all which this Countrey lay remotest from the Enemy especially from the Turks The Houses in the beginning were not above a Story high and cover'd onely with Canes to keep out the Weather The Walls consist of a certain Stuff very common in this Countrey which being mix'd with Straw is call'd Calghil that is Straw and Earth to which a quantity of Sand being added and beaten like Mortar makes a most strong and durable Cement But the King's Palace is built of Sun-dry'd Brick which in the time of a great Fire proving a safeguard to it self and all within caus'd the King to command all the Houses to be built of the like Materials The City Eskerf Eastward from thence lies a City call'd Eskerf about two Leagues from the same Sea at the end of a large Plain near the foot of a Mountain which environs the same on the South side This City was also built by Abbas at the same time with Ferhabad It hath many Gardens and a great Bazar or Street full of Shops besides divers other meaner Houses standing without order among shady Groves in a delightful Plain which is full of Inhabitants sent thither by the King and is much frequented especially when the Court Resides there which is the greatest part of the Summer for in Winter Ferhabad was the Royal Chamber and this the King did to draw Inhabitants thither and cause a Trade and likewise because it was well seated for Hunting and other Recreations The Houses are built under high Trees and so shaded with the Boughs that they are scarce to be seen insomuch that one may doubt whether Eskerf be a City erected in a Wood or a Grove inhabited like a City In the middle of the Gardens behind the Houses stand Chambers or rather Galleries because they are onely cover'd on the top which being about a Man's heighth above the Ground are ascended to by Steps and serve both for Eating
a great Wood through which is a broad Way shadow'd by high Trees This Road is very plashy because many little Brooks run in it which in the Winter makes it so deep and rotten that the Camels though they have long Legs often sink up to the Knees Four Leagues from this Village lies a strong large and populous Place call'd Saru where the King hath a magnificent Palace and thereby has gain'd the repute of a City though consisting chiefly of a sort of Thatch'd Houses except a few scatter'd Dwellings that are Tyl'd It is call'd Saru which signifies Yellow from the abundance of Oranges and other yellowish Fruits that grow about the same Beyond Saru lie several great Plains which in former Ages were overgrown with Woods but since that being clear'd and Manur'd they are become very fertile and the Ways which then were very deep are now the Ground lying open to the Sun become very hard and some places of late made into Pav'd Cawseys These Plains are also inhabited by several People most of them Christians sent thither from divers Countreys An. 1620. to make several Plantations especially from Armenia and Georgia The Way from Saru hath all along the sides Houses rais'd onely of Boughs and Mud viz. of the Trees which were cut down in the same place by the Inhabitants to make the Countrey fit for Cultivation This Province is divided from the South to the North by the River Teggine Rude which taking original out of the Mountains more Southward of the Rice-Valley runs through it as also the City Ferhabad two thousand Paces from which it discharges its Waters into the Caspian Sea having in the Way receiv'd so many Brooks Streams and Rivulets that from the City Saru it is Navigable with flat-bottom'd Boats made on purpose of the Bodies of great Trees to Row with Oars Some of them can carry ten or twelve Men or Goods of the like Burthen The Townsmen of Ferhabad often go out a Fishing for their Pleasure into the Caspian Sea with such Boats and make use of them in the City to go from one place to another The Brook Cinon About a League from Ferhabad glides the Erook Cinon which also sends its Water into the Caspian Sea and is somewhat broader than the Teggine Rude The Countrey Lahetzan The County Lahetzan where the best Silk is to be had campriseth the Towns Lenkeru Cutzesbar and Amelekende The Countrey of Chusistan Situation of Chusistan with us several Denominations CHusistan that is The Countrey of Chus lies between Fars or Persia and the Stream Ditzel and was anciently by Mercator and since by Olearius call'd Susiana and as the same Olearius believes comprised Elam from whence came the Elamites Cluverius will have Chusistan to be the ancient Assyria and Susiana the Countrey at this Day call'd Elaran in which he partly agrees with Olearius Bounds of Susiana Susiana as Ptolomy saith conterminates in the North wiâ—h Assyria in the West with Babylon in the East hath * Properly so call'd Persia and in the South Borders at part of the Persian Gulf. Susiana compris'd anciently Meltilene Elimais Cabamene Characene Cissia Chaltapitis and the fertile Countrey of Dera The eminentest Rivers which water'd Susiana Rivers were Moseus Oroates by Ptolomy nam'd Rhunates by Ammianus Vatrochites and Euleus by the Prophet Daniel Ulai both which had such exceeding clear Water that the Kings would have no other to drink The Inhabitants of Susiana were Elamites and Cossites Inhabitants Chief Cities The chiefest City was anciently call'd Susa mention'd by Daniel in the place where he speaks of the destruction of Persia and foretells the beginning of the Grecian Monarchy It is now nam'd Desu not far from which was the Royal Palace Susan lying at the Stream Ulai by Pliny call'd Uleus where Ahassuerus who Reign'd over a hundred and twenty seven Provinces made the great Feast to all his Princes mention'd in sacred Writ The other populous and Trading Cities are Alewas Ramehormus Schabur Asker and Arhan The Inhabitants who have the Mountains to the Northward of them are forc'd by the violent heat to retire amongst them during the Summer Carmania or Kermon otherwise Kirman The several Names THis ancient Countrey by Ptolomy call'd Carmania is at this day nam'd Kirman and by Niger Kerman from its Metropolis According to Cluverius it compris'd anciently these Territories viz. Modomastice Parepaphitis Cabadine and Chantonice but at this day onely Kirman Goadel and Ormus It is inhabited by the ancient People Isaticheans Zuthians Gadanopidrans Camelobocians By what People inhabited Sozotes Agdenites Rhudians Arians Charadreans Pasargades and Armozens The ancient Cities were Carmania Samydace Alexandria and Armuze It is water'd by one River nam'd Samydace hath the Mountain Semiramis and the Wilderness Reobarle Kermon or Carmania is divided into two Parts the one Great Carmania Division which conterminates with the Sea and is by the Persians call'd Erach Ajan the other which lies farther into the Country and was anciently nam'd Wild Carmania hath now the Denomination of Dulcinde or as Corsal saith Rasigut Erack Ajan compriseth yet two Kingdoms viz. Macran and Guadel Besides these two Carmania's this Countrey comprehends Mogostan and the Kingdom of Ormus Wild Carmania borders according to Ptolomy in the North upon Parthia the West verges Persia the South looks upon Great Carmania and in the East it lies terminated by Aria The old Wild Carmania compriseth the well known Kingdoms of Lara and Oessa commonly call'd The Kingdom of Monbareca or Mombareck from the Name of the Governor besides the Countreys of Mogosthan The Countreys which lie to the Northward from the Tigris and Euphrates at the side of Persia were formerly possess'd by one Mombareck Son to a mighty Arabian which Texeira places hard by Bagdad or Babylon where there are many good Cities as Magdon Oexa and Ooreca surrounded with rich Land yet lying waste for fear of the Turks who have many Garrisons in this Mombareck's Countrey to guard those which pay him Tribute The greater Carmania borders in the North upon Wild Carmania in the East faces Gedrosia the West looks upon a part of Persia and a part of the Persian Gulf and the South is limited by the Indian Sea The River Bagrada so call'd by Ptolomy and plac'd in Wild Carmania is now nam'd Bintmir or as others Budmir by Niger Biserti and in the Arabick as Thevet affirms Biquelmick This Countrey Davity tells was possess'd by Zizaerian Arabians that formerly dwelt in Bassora Wild Carmania as Maginus writes hath not one City nor indeed doth Ptolomy mention any therein Great Carmania boasts the River Bassiri and the Cape Jasquette or Jasques about twenty five or twenty six Leagues from Ormus near the Persian Gulf opposite to Arabia Felix Ortelius says Ptolomy call'd it The Cape of Ormus Up into the Countrey lie the Towns Sirgian Tesirco Serent and Kirman or Kirmon the chief City of the Region
According to Olearius Kirman is a great Countrey and lying between Farsi and Sagistan extending Northerly to the Sea and the Isle of Ormus Beyond Kirman Northerly lies a great Desart but Southward towards the Sea Kirman hath much till'd Land and many fine Towns the Names whereof are Bersir Bermasir Bem Chabis Tzirefft and Gamron which lying near the Sea is often call'd Bender or Bander Gamron that is The Haven of Camron for Bender in the Persian Tongue signifies a Haven This Town of Gamron or Bender Gamron by Della Valle call'd Cambru lies in 27 Degrees of Northern Latitude West-South-West about three Leagues from the Isle of Ormus being formerly a little Village inhabited by Fishermen who came thither for its convenient Situation near the Persian Gulf. But since the conquering of the famous Isle of Ormus and driving the Portuguese from thence Gamron being frequented by the English Hollanders and Moors Vessels grew to a handsom Town and is enlarg'd daily by the Merchants and Travellers which come thither in November for then the heat of the Weather is over either from the Court at Ispahan or other adjacent Cities The Houses are built having the Foundation three or four Foot deep in the Sand of Free-stone Manner of bâ—â—lding their Houses joyn'd together after this manner They take Clay chopt Straw and Horse-dung beaten together with salt Water and making Cakes thereof dry the same in the Sun then they lay Brambles or Straw on the Ground to cover them over which again they lay Cakes and so a Layer of Btambles and a Layer of Cakes till it rises to the heighth of a Man and then set fire on the Heap which when extinguish'd they mingle and beat together with salt Water and daubing the Materials therewith make a good Mortar which grows as hard as Flint upon this Foundation they raise their Walls of square pieces of Clay dry'd in the Sun after the manner of our Bricks and then laid in moist Clay in stead of Mortar they likewise make square Pillars of the same Clay after the same manner for Supporters of the inner Roofs and that the Rain may not soke through the Walls they daube them all over with the beforemention'd hard Plaister which makes them seem to be built all of Stone With this Mortar also they make handsom Arches Their Rooms of Office are even with the Ground and for want of Stone unpav'd Over these are their Lodgings open round about for coolness The Streets are very crooked narrow and dirty The chiefest Houses as those of the Sultans the English and Hollanders Store-houses stand on the Shore against which the Sea oftentimes beats with great violence yet they are very convenient to lade and unlade Goods The Ships Ride about a Cannon shot from the Land in five or six Fathom Water There are also many little Huts of Boughs and Date-tree Leaves which are much us'd here and because there are no hard Stones hereabouts and the Timber extraordinary scarce many stately Houses have been pull'd down on the Isle and the Materials thereof carry'd away to build Houses on the Main On the East side of the Countrey stands a Fort built after the ancient manner with Towers Upon the Shore also about a Gun-shot from the Water is another Fort built of Free-stone surrounded with a dry Trench a low Vaumure and on the West side a Stone Redoubt of sufficient Strength against any sudden Onset Description of the Village Cambru The great Village Cambru according to Della Valle stands upon the Sea-shore in 27 Degrees of Northern Latitude The Streets are generally very narrow and the Bazars on Shops but indifferently furnish'd with Wares The Walls of the Houses are of Lime or Clay and may rather be call'd Barns than Houses being nothing but large and inclosed places cover'd with a Roof for a shelter in bad Weather and to keep off the heat of the Sun which in these Countreys is very powerful Here is a general Toleration of Religion for besides the Mahumetans there are abundance of Jews Banians from India and many other People of divers Beliefs The Fort Cambru There is a Fortress in a low Tract of Land near the Sea and not far from it the Fort of Cambru which being square is encompass'd with a double Wall the first hath no Redoubts nor Flankers but the outmost hath some Sconces and Curteyns sufficient to bear Musquet-shot The inner Wall is somewhat higher and hath several little round Turrets built at certain distances one from another between each of which lies a great Stone which in time of need may be thrown down on the Enemy Over the Gate appears a square place like a Gallery full of Port-holes through which the Soldiers with Musquets defend the Passage to the Gate Outermost is abroad and deep Moat fortifi'd with Half-moons and Breast-works but so weak that they may be batter'd down with a small Field-piece On the Shore of Cambru lie abundance of Sea-Cockles by which the Coast may easily be known The Ferry from Cambru to Ormus is not above a days Sailing in Vessels as big as Sloops by the Persians call'd Cuibet The Portuguese in former times had another Fort near the Shore which the Persians after their Conquest pull'd down but they built the foremention'd Fort in stead thereof farther up in the Countrey and afterwards in the Year 1623. in January they rais'd another on the Shore in the same place where that belonging to the Portuguese stood finding that so far up into the Countrey unable to defend the Ships and Haven which is much frequented from several Places in Persia India and Arabia There is also a Governor of the Town and another of the Fort and a Judge call'd Cadhi Once a year commonly there happens an Earthquake in Cambru which often overturns several Houses In the Way from Schiras to the Haven of Cambru whither the English come yearly with the Caravan to ship their Silks are the following Places viz. the Burrough of Passa the Plain of Gigangli the Village Haian Havask the Caravansera of Mamui the City Passa Tambustan or Temerista the barren place between the Mountains Seciah that is The three Pits because of certain Pits there and beyond that the Village Zirevan some Leagues from which the Way parts into two the one runs to the City Darabghierd and the other to Dechair a Village a days Journey beyond this parting of the Road. The many Dates and other Trees which grow in Darebghierd make it seem a very pleasant Place which extending a great way hath abundance of Inhabitants There is nothing remarkable in the same but a Brook which running through the Market makes a standing Pool in the middle However it is very eminent for its Antiquity and Name which it hath preserv'd to this day viz. from the ancient Persian King Darius who built it and call'd it Darab according to the Name which this Place bears viz. Darabghierd or Darabkera
River which waters this Countrey is now call'd Barbarum and formerly Arabis Commodities of Cache The Kingdom of Cache produces plenty of Hemp and Flax of which the Inhabitants make Linnen Cloth and affords Oyl of Gegelin and other sorts in great abundance There are likewise many Horses call'd Cachis from the Name of the Countrey which are as good as the Persian or Arabian Guadel hath its peculiar Xeque or Vice-Roy and Macran a particular Prince but Cobinam is under the Jurisdiction of the Sophy The Province of Moghostan Bounds of Moghostan THe Province of Moghostan which signifies Date-Tree Wood because that Tree grows all over the Countrey conterminates on one side with the Dukedom of Lar and extends from thence East and South of the places which verge with the Persian Gulf. There is another Moghostan anciently so call'd for the reason before mention'd but quite differing from this by Diodorus Siculus mention'd to lie in Arabia Felix not far from the Arabian Gulf. The Village Ciuciululion The first place in this Province as you travel out of the Countrey of Lar is Ciuciululion consisting of about forty Houses built a good distance from each other in a Wood of Dates Olive and other Trees which bear no eatable Fruits but onely Leaves from whence this Village hath receiv'd its Name Five Leagues from Ciuciululion passing towards the Metropolis Mina is a very mean Hamlet call'd Dazrack Near the Sea lies Benderi du Ser a small Town that is A Haven with two Mouths Not far from which is the Shore of Scechierri or Sechierri The Haven of Combru is about two days Journey from Mina and was formerly so call'd by the Portuguese but the Persian King Abbas taking it from them gave it the Name of Abassi from his own Name The Metropolis Mina The Metropolis of Moghostan call'd Mina which is two days Journey from Ciuciululion and twelve with Camels from Lar lies in 26 Degrees and 35 Minutes Northern Latitude and hath two Fortresses on the East side inclos'd within a Wall which runs directly through the Town and at a certain distance having some sleight Towers the biggest hath two great Gates one respecting the North and the other the South and almost quite surrounded with Water In the City Mina are two Baths near neighbors to each other the first is very large and formerly had several Shops and Houses about it which were most of them ruin'd Anno 1632. the other being much less is built upon a Hill on the East side of the great one and being wash'd by a little Brook is inhabited by the Beigh and his Guard which keep Watch all the Night and call aloud at certain hours according to a Custom amongst the Eastern People Not far from Mina lies Binder Ibrahim that is The Haven of Ibrahim Cuhesteck is a Town lying on the Coast of Mina near Ormus where the Air is so unwholsom that most Strangers coming thither are afflicted with the Disease of the Countrey in so violent a manner that few escape The Houses in Mina are made of the plash'd Boughs of Date-Trees In this Province grow abundance of Trees Trees by the Arabians call'd Nebo and by the Persians Conar which bear a small Fruit with a Stone in the middle like our Cherries the dry'd Leaves thereof rubb'd to Powder and put in Water not onely turn the same white but make it Lather like Soap which most People use when they Bathe themselves Here also grows a Tree call'd Amba brought from India In Moghostan and other Places in Persia Beasts breeds a strange sort of Beast in colour and shape like a Tyger but hath a Head and Snout like a Hog it makes a great screeking in the Night and desires to prey upon the dead Bodies of Men which it endeavors to scrape out of the Graves wherefore Della Valla believes it is the same Beast which the Latines and Greeks call Hyena or a Mungrel Wolf The supream Governor of Moghostan is styl'd Sceheriari and being subject to the Chan of Schiras keeps not his Court in the Metropolis Mina but in a neighboring Village where one Schach Sefi Reign'd Anno 1630. Lorestan BEsides the Provinces before mention'd those of Nimruz Sichar and Lorestan are reckon'd Members of the Crown of Persia though we onely know the Names of the two former but Lorestan some call Luristan and Paulus Venetus onely Lor which perhaps is the Name of its Metropolis for Stan is a vulgar word in Persia for Land or Countrey John the Persian places Lorestan ninety Leagues from Casbin and makes Cormana to be the Residence of the King of Persia but Texeira who calls it Cormatu and Cormavat affirms that it is onely a strong Place in this Province the Kings of which paid as a yearly Tribute fifty thousand Ducats The Province of Chorazan THe Province of Chorazan or Carason by Olearius taken to be the ancient Bactriana contrary to Davity who makes Bactriana a part of Zagatey or Usbeck Carason according to Davity compriseth the ancient Countrey of Margiana bordering upon the River Gehun by some styl'd Geichon and by others Oxus which according to Ptolomy conterminates in the North with Margiana Chorazan saith Davity comprises also a great part of Aria and Texeira places Kerman or Carmania between Persia and Carason and Ptolomy borders Carmania in the West with Persia and in the East at Ery Cluverius nevertheless takes Margiana for Elsabat which is accounted a part of Tartary and Zagatey Castaldus calls the ancient Margiana Jezelbas or Jesilbax that is Green Head the general Name given by the Tartars to Zagatey who formerly possess'd this Countrey and was first taken from them by Ismael Seff but afterwards being lost was by Schach Abbas re-taken and ever since kept Herbert divides Chorazan into three great Territories viz. Hery Farihan and Tocharistan anciently call'd Aria Paropamisa and Tocharia Chorazan according to Olearius conterminates in the East with Mazanderan and is divided into many lesser Counties amongst which Hery is the chiefest Chorazan taken for the ancient Margiana borders in the East upon Bactriana m the West faces Hircania or Starabat the South verges with a part of Aria and the North looks upon a part of Tartary or Scythia viz. from the Mouth of the River Oxus to a part thereof near Bactriana The City Mesched This Countrey comprehends many large Cities the chiefest whereof is Mesched otherwise Maxad and by the Persians call'd Thus. This City standing on a Hill near the River Habin is environ'd with Walls and strengthned with Moats Towers and other Fortifications insomuch that Texeira affirms there are three hundred Towers a Musquet-shot from each other and that with the Gardens and Banquetting-houses the City is accounted to be six Leagues in circumference and inhabited by a hundred thousand People In this City may be seen a stately Tomb of one of the twelve Persian Imams or great Saints of the Family of Aaly call'd Imam
abundance of Cooks Shops Abundance of Cooks Shops wherein they sell Meat ready drest which is so common that Persons of great Quality though they have Cooks in their Houses when desirous of Varieties of Meat well drest they send to those Shops for them Those tyfeats which they baste with their Butter at first seem very ill tasled to a Palat not accustom'd thereto but afterwards obtain a more pleasing Rellish They also have a Bak ' d-meat call'd Perian and another call'd Carik dress'd after the Indian manner There are also preserv'd Cucumbers which are very palatable and in the midst of Summer cooling They have likewise a dainty Dish call'd Peluda made up of Ameldonk or Amelcores in the manner of a Tart either made white like Snow or else they colour them with Saffron The Tart cut in pieces is put into a China-Dish and Rose-water and Sugar pour'd over it and a great piece of Ice laid by it which melting in the Rose-water with the Sugar makes a delicious and cool Liquor into which are put Almonds and the Herb Purslan cut into small pieces which give it a very pleasing Rellish This Liquor put into the same Dish with the pieces of Tart is both Meat and Drink and a choice Delicate in the midst of Summer In the Southern Countreys especially Westward about Ormus they use many Herbs in their Drinks as also Brandy and other hot Liquors amongst which one call'd Jarkin which is in great esteem in the Island of Java and all the Southern Provinces of the Eastern Countreys they use also much Sale and though between Ispahan and Ferhabad there is a large Plain that yields great quantityes the Soyl being full of Salt yet they use another sort contemning this though good by reason of it's great plenty Before and after Meals the Persians both in Winter and Summer have warm Water to wash their hands which they wipe with their Handkerchiefs After Supper They paint their Skins they commonly present their Guests with dryed Leaves of Hanna or Alkanna to colour their Hands and this Ceremony is as much to the satisfaction of the Eastern Countrey-people as a Ball with Dancing or Musick after a Banquet Some discolour their skins all over in this manner when they please viz. they lay the Alkanna tempered in water on their Hands or that part of the Body which they intend to colour and binde it on with a String that it may not fall off this the Women do for the most part after Supper before they go to Bed that so the Colour lying on all Night may make the better Impression in the Morning the Paste being dry falls off and leaves an Orange-tincture on the Skin but if over-dawb'd it makes them Red or Black Amfion or Opium Thee Coffee and Tobacco MOst Persians use Amfion or Opium that is Juice or Oyl of Poppy by them call'd Offiuhn and Tiriak as the Berry Chas Cehask and by the Turks onely Maslac which they making up in little Pills like Pease swallow Those that use themselves to it may take a quarter of an Ounce or more at a time Some take it every other or third day onely to set them into an intoxicating Extasie where they please themselves with strange Imaginations They are gathered in several Places of Persia especially about Ispahan after this manner The white Poppy being cut produces a milky Juice which having stood a while and becoming black is taken and made fit to be used The Druggists and Apothecaries make great advantage thereof But Opium is not onely used much in Persia but also in Turky and India It is also said that some Women when their Husbands and they cannot agree contrive their dispatch with a Dose of Opium Coknar a sort of Drink and the use thereof From the Husk or Shell the Persians also extract a Juice which they call Coknar much drunk by the Soldiers especially in the time of Schach Abbas when they were forbidden to drink Wine for it revives the Spirits for the present but is nothing so wholsome for soon after their Bodies are so debilitated that they are unfit for Service wherefore Schach Abbas prohibited upon pain of Death either to make or fell this Liquor Moreover all Vessels with this Liquor wherever they were found were broken no and stav'd immediatly before their Doors But after all this and the before mention'd first Law made by King Abbas he preferring an Inconvenience before a Mischief permitted the People to drink Wine again as formerly in stead of Cocknar Take much Tobacco They are great Takers of Tobacco insomuch that People of all sorts and Degrees Smoak it in their Temples and other publick Places They have it from Bagdad or Babylon and Curdistan but so ill preparâ—d that they desire our European Tobacco which they call Inglis Tambacu because the English bring the greatest quantities thither They take it not as we do but suck it through two Pipes joyn'd together but first they take a Glass Bottle or Indian Nut or a Cabach which is a kind of Shell that holds about a Pint into which they put more or less sometimes sweet Water leaving sufficient room for Smoak then they put the two Pipes through the Mouth of the Bottle the one contains the Tobacco in one Bowl and through the other goes the Smoak the end of one Pipe stands as far from the bottom as the end of the other is from the Water viz. about a Thumbs breadth The Persians generally with their Tobacco drink Coffee made from the Arabian Caowa or Persian Cahwee which they dry and pulverize and after decoct as we now use and have learn'd from them of which we shall enlarge when we come to Arabia the Place where it grows They use also Tee or Tea being very common and sold in publick Houses by them call'd Chat tai Chane that is Houses of Catayan Tzai or Thee of which likewise in its proper place Of their Marriages Use Poligamy PErsons of Quality in this Countrey are seldome satisfied with one Wife and of old had many which they may turn off when they please which as Strabo relates was anciently for the Childrens sake for the Kings gave Annually Presents to those that had most Children But at this day they affect not this Multiplicity having not so many Wives as formerly yet they make no more of Wedlock than a Play of Fast and Loose turning them off when they please and are still for Variety and this Liberty they take the rather because Mahomet in his Alcoran allows Polygamy Rich Merchants who Trade in divers Places in the Countrey make a great Convenience of it having at their Countrey-houses and where else they Trade not onely Furniture but a Wife so that where e're they come they are still at Home They Marry their nearest Relations but not so incestuously as of old they were wont to do for in antient times as Brissonius affirms out of several Writers they
his Successors have us'd that Title and though there are a great number of Sophies through all Persia yet we must know they are all Ecclesiasticks The right Name which the Persians give to their King is Schach or Sa after the Italian pronunciation which signifies King or Patxa which others write Padischa that is The supream Schach or King of Kings They also call him Sahib that is Lord or Governor Some also affirm that the Kings are likewise nam'd Choda or Chodohon which in the Persian Tongue signifies God but that is onely a mistake for Choda or Chodabende as the Sir-name of Schach-Abbas's Father the natural signification of the word is one that is oblig'd to God At the Persian Court are many which bear the Title of King as Chan and Sultan have the significations of King the one in the Turkish and the other in the Persian Tongue which proceeds from hence because the chief Princes of Persia to make themselves the more eminent will have Subjects that are styl'd Kings though in truth they are but Vice-Roys Mirza its signification Mizza or Mirza is in the Arabick properly a Title of Honor and signifies Prince or more peculiarly A Prince of the Blood according to which signification the eldest Son who is Heir apparent to the Crown bears no other Name being generally call'd Sultan Mirza i.e. Prince of the Realm Persons of Quality generally bear two Names besides a third which is a Title of Honor which last is commonly put behind as Assa Chan Beid that is Isa or Jesus Chan Lord which is quite contrary to the Christians who always place their Title before their Name How the Turks style the Persian Kings The Turkish Emperor in his Letters to the King of Persia doth not style him Schach but Schach Ogli that is A holy Mans or Prophets Son The King to be distinguish'd from other Persons wears a red Turbant differing in fashion from others with twelve Ribbons instituted by Schach Ismael in commemoration of the twelve Sons of Aaly from whom he boasted his Extract This Turbant which some call Tage or Tache is as much with them as a Crown with us Minadoi tells us that the first Calif or Mustaed Dini puts the said Turbant on the King's Head at his Coronation or taking upon him the Government The King also wears his Turbant after another manner than other People for that which they wear before he wears behind which none in all Persia dares do but himself upon pain of Death The Kingdom descends by Inheritance This Kingdom is Hereditary and the King 's eldest Son always succeeds him in the Throne So long as there be any Heirs of the lawful Wife they Inherit but for want of such those that are begotten on the Chassees or Concubines and for defect of such it devolves upon the deceased King's nearest Relations These as also those that boast themselves to be deriv'd from the old Sefi are call'd Schach Elwend or Schachavends that is Successor of Schach and have great Priviledges in the Countrey yet for the most part live very sparingly The Houses in which the King's Children are born they make priviledg'd places and if it be from the Court and in any remote place the House is immediately inclos'd with a Wall The Kings Arms. In ancient times the Kings of Persia bore a Crescent proper for their Coat of Arms as the Greeks the Sun but now it is quite contrary for the Persians bear a Sun and the Turks which possess Greece a Half-Moon But Schach Sefi bore in his Great Seal which was about the bigness of a Half-Crown nothing but this Inscription I Schach Sefi am a zealous Servant of the onely God and about the edges was Engraven Aaly they may say of you what they please I am always your Friend who before this Seal doth not account himself Dust and Earth though he be an Angel may he be turn'd to Dust and Ashes His Coronation The Coronation is celebrated in Ispahan though formerly at Cafa or Cufa near Bagdad but remov'd from thence by reason of the too near neighborhood of the Turks the manner of it is as followeth On a Table an Ell high they lay as many rich Carpets as there have been Kings of that Dignity since the beginning of Schach Ismael Sefi upon these they set their new King to whom the chief Chans carry the Crown which he kisses three times in the Name of GOD Mahomet and Aaly and then rubbing his Forehead with the same his Chamberlain whom they call Lele sets it upon his Head at which they all cry God save the King God grant him to Reign from one to a thousand years then kissing his Feet they bring him great Presents and spend the day in Mirth and Jollity Minadoy tells us that the chief Calif sets the Turbant or Tage on the King's Head at his entring into the Throne but they take no Oaths nor have any Restrictions laid upon them Their Burying-place The Kings and those of the Royal Family are generally bury'd at Ardebil and lie interr'd round about Schach Sefi's Tomb. When the King appears at any publick Meeting he is generally accompany'd besides twelve Courtiers with the Seder Minatzim and Hakim The Hakim is his Physician and tells him what Meat is wholsom and what unwholsom The Minatzim is his Astrologer who acquaints him with all the good and bad Hours wherein he is to undertake any great Design and is herein credited like an Oracle the King undertaking nothing without his Advice The Seder is the chief of the Clergy and is as the Muffi amongst the Turks elected by the King and Casi being generally a Learned Man well skill'd in the Alcoran and must be ready to give his Opinion on all such things as are demanded of him because according to his Judgment they pass Sentence Some Decrees are also Pass'd by the Seder himself who Sealing them with his own Signet sends the same to die King who writes under him This is the Opinion of the Seder which We confirm under which he puts his Great Seal The Causes of Citizens are Judg'd by other Lawyers who are call'd Orf and are under the chief Judge Diwanbeki who is no less experienc'd in the Mahumetan Tenents than the Seder Their Juridical Courts The Days on which they keep their Courts of Judicature are Mondays and Thursdays on which they meet at Ispahan near the King's Palace in a publick arch'd place where they hear and determine Causes and if any thing chance to come before them which they judge to be of too great consequence for them to decide then they order it to be heard before the King The Punishments of Offenders All Offenders or Criminals are punish'd with extream severity the manner whereof is several and many times invented by the Judges according to the nature of the Crimes but the most asual are to cut off their Noses Hands and Feet ripping
diligent in their Employments and not be idle and others were Commanded to prevent the Soldiers or any Enemy from oppressing the Inhabitants In this place it will not be amiss to subjoin the several Dynasties of the Kings of Persia that have had the Government of this renowned Empire wherein by way of Entrance we will note That when this Countrey was first peopled the several Tribes were under the Command of their own Princes among which was Chedorlaomer who was overthrown by Abraham as holy Writ mentions By this means their Princes were scarce known till the time of Perses who wrested the same from Sardanapalus the Assyrian Monarch and first laid the Foundation of this great Empire in whose Race it continu'd six Descents in this Order The first Dynastie Anno Mundi 3590 1. PEerses the Conqueror of Sardanapalus who Reigned Anno Mundi 3059. succeeded by his Son 2. Achaemenes from whom his Successors were termed Achaemenides and his Subjects Achaemenii as Propertius witnesses where he writes Non tot Achaemeniis armantur Susa sagittis where by Achaemeniae sagittae he means Persian Arrow he left the Royal Seat to 3. Cambyses by Herodotus sometimes call'd Darius 4. Cyrus the Ancestor of Darius Histaspis as we will shew anon 5. Cambyses the Second the Son of Cyrus 6. Cyrus surnam'd the Great Son of Cambyses and Mandane the Daughter of Astyages King of Media who overthrew the Babylonian Monarchy and translated it to the Medes and Persians Of his strange preservation from his Grandfathers cruelty Education amongst Rusticks acting the King among his Playfellows with several other remarks we have at large in Herodotus and Justine His first Expedition was against his Grandfather Astyages whom having vanquish'd he march'd against rich Craesus of Lydia whom he overthrew took and made one of his Council then fell upon the Greeks of Ionia afterwards set upon Babylon as we said before and lastly going against the Sâ—ythians was by Tomyris slain as most Histories agree Institut Cyr. lib. 8. yet Xenophon gives him a peaceable departure in his Bed with an excellent Farewel to those about him His Successor was his Son 7. Cambyses the Third 3423 Herodot lib. 3. who overthrew the Egyptians with their King Psamniticus the Son of Amasis His deriding and wounding Apis their God This was he that overturned the whole Learning and Religion of the Egyptians and open'd the unviolated Conservatories of their long preserved Princes then becoming Mummies worshipp'd in the likeness of a Calf and the flaying of Sisamnis an unjust Judge and hanging his Skin over the Tribunal to be a warning to his Son Othanes whom he put in his Place to do better are Passages worth the taking notice of His Death came by a wound in the Thigh from his own Sword falling out of the Scabbard as he was taking Horse to go against the Magi who had rebell'd against him He dying without issue the seven Counsellors of State or Magi resolv'd to chuse one from amongst themselves and by that consent and the timely neighing of his Horse at Sun-rising the Scepter was obtain'd by 8. Darius Histaspis descended from Cyrus the fourth King of Persia He Marry'd Atossa Cyrus's Daughter for the strengthning of his Title recover'd Babylon by the Stratagem of Zopyrus over-ran a great part of Asia and assail'd the Greeks who by their General Miltiades totally routed him at the Battel of Marathon Herod lib. 6. Justin lib. 2. registred as Plutarch saith by almost three hundred Historians which Loss while he study'd to repair the Quarrel of his Sons about the Succession broke his Heart and the youngest Son carry'd it viz. 9. Xerxes the Grandchild of Cyrus by his Daughter Atossa This was that Emperor whose Queen was Vasthi who made that great Feast mention'd in the Book of Hester He went to revenge his Fathers Quarrel upon Greece with an Army of seventeen hundred thousand Men Sir Waâ—â—er Rawlegh but was so terrifi'd by several Defeats that he return'd towards his Countrey over Hellespont in a Cock-Boat This was he that pretended to put a Bridle upon the Sea and at last was slain in his Bed by Artabanus his Uncle leaving to succeed him the Son he had by Queen Hester nam'd 10. Artaxerxes surnam'd Longimanus His entrance was good doing Justice on his Uncle for the Death of his Father and Brother His Generosity likewise is much commended to that great Captain Themistocles who was forc'd by his ungrateful Citizens to cast himself upon such an Enemy Though he was more favorable to the Jews in regard of his Mother yet such strong opposition was made by the Faction against them that the building of the Temple was by his Decree prohibited After him follow'd 11 Darius Nothus Son-in-law to Longimanus by Marrying his Daughter Parysitades In his time Amyrteus the Egyptian rebell'd and deliver'd his Countrey-men from the Persian Servitude He is noted in Scripture for setting forward the building of the Temple Ezra 6. which by his Father had been interrupted By his Wife Parysitades he had two Sons of which the elder 12 Artaxerxes Mnemon so call'd for his great Memory succeeded He slew in Battel his Brothee Cyrus surnam'd the Younger who affecting the Empire had made War upon him and call'd in the Greeks to his aid whose memorable Retreat back to their own Countrey is describ'd by Xenophon a principal Commander in this Expedition Lib. 7. de expedit Cyr. Justin lib. 10. This Mnemon is said by Plutarch to have had a hundred and sixty Sons by Concubines onely three in Matrimony of which Darius was Executed for Rebellion with fifty more of his Brethren whom he had drawn into the Conspiracy This breaks the Father's Heart his youngest Son 13. Ochus takes Place He recover'd Egypt by his Generals Mentor and Bagoas and subdu'd Assyria Cyprus and some part of India But his Tyranny growing intolerable he was slain by Bagoas who set up in his Throne 14. Arses one of his Sons otherwise Arsames who was in a short time sent after his Father by the same Hand and was succeeded by 15. Darius the Third surnam'd Codomannus Cousin-german to Arses who being set upon by Alexander the Great and vanquish'd in three pitch'd Battels viz. at Granwick Issus and Arbela was the last of this Race of Persian Kings After this the Name of the Persians was almost forgotten how it was reviv'd you may read in Herodian in these words After Darius had lost his Kingdom to Alexander and the Victor himself was dead also the more potent Captains shared Asia amongst them till at length Arsaces of the Parthian Nobility perswaded the People of the East and amongst them the Persians to cast off the Grecian Yoke To which purpose he took upon him the Title of King and became the Head of the Arsacidan Family of Parthia who successively held the Crown in this following Order The second Dynastie Anno Mundi 3718 3741 1.
Mengrelia from whence if Marshal may be credited the Argonautes carry'd them into Greece There are all manner of Birds of prey but especially Goshawks Birds which they teach in eight days time and use for the taking of Quails whose Season being over they set them at liberty to seek for their Food where they can get it Eagles are likewise very common here and are taken by the Inhabitants onely for their Wings the Feathers whereof they fallen to their long Arrows Every Man in Mengrelia though never so poor Beasts keeps a Horse for it costs them nothing Some Noblemen have two hundred and the Prince himself two thousand which are every year Train'd in the Field they never shoe them but in the time of War Sheep do not thrive well in this Countrey by reason of the moistness thereof yet their Wooll is exceeding fine In the Mountains breeds also a certain Beast which is half like a Goat and half like a Stag and of the same bigness with brown Hair its Horns are like a Goats bending backwards The Flesh of this Beast is very delicate and accounted better than that of a Stag. They also breed in Circassia There are likewise all sorts of wild Beasts which are in Europe and many white Bears especially on the Mountain Cyrus which seem to be peculiar to that place because there are none in any of the neighboring parts On the Borders of the Abcassians are said to breed wild Buffalo's and Wolves which do great mischief to the grazing Cattel which get together in a Body and defend themselves with their Heels There are no Foxes but a Beast call'd Tourra which resembles them but are somewhat bigger and hath more shaggy Hair they go together in Herds and make a great noise in the Night they are very mischievous besides their Prey carrying away Shoes Boots or other Apparel from such People as lodge in the Fields This Countrey hath great variety of Fruits On the Banks of the River Fasis grows sweet Wood. In this Countrey is also the best Honey in the whole World Honey although Strabo and some of the ancient Writers affirm that it is very unwholsom and causes vertiginous swimmings in the Head They have also another sort of white and hard Honey like Sugar Its colour perhaps caus'd Pliny to affirm that there bred white Bees about the Pontus Euxinus or Black Sea which the Inhabitants contradict affirming that the Bees which make this Honey are like others and that the whiteness thereof proceeds from the abundance of Dew which falls in this Countrey out of which the Bees extract the Honey This white Honey is much coveted in this Countrey but not carry'd to Constantinople like the other because gather'd in Winter when they drive no Trade the Sea being lock'd up The Inhabitants oftentimes put their Honey into the Rind or Shells of bitter Citrullen from whence Strabo writes that the Honey which is gather'd on the Mountains in the time when the Lawrel blossoms makes all those vomit that eat of the same and therefore is taken by them for a Vomit in Physick It is certainly believ'd that there is plenty of Gold and Silver on that part of Mount Caucasus which verges this Countrey but the Inhabitants conceal it because they would not intice the Turks thither They get abundance of Gold near the City Arudan in the Province formerly subject to the Prince Artabegi There is also Antimony Some have reported that the Prince of Imereti keeps divers Men at work in the Mines in his Dominions but so privately that he caus'd one of his Subjects resident in Dadian at his Return from Constantinople whither he had carry'd a Proof of the Gold and Silver which was digg'd out of those Mines to have his Hands and Feet cut off as a Punishment for his holding Correspondence with the Turks They say there is also a Gold-Mine in the Bishoprick of Cavis Several sorts of Mengrelians The Mengrelians are of several Degrees and Qualities the first call'd Ginasca are eminent Lords the second Ginandi are Nobles the third Sakkurs are the Rich and the fourth nam'd Moinalli are the Commonalty The Ginasca onely attend upon the Prince and are themselves serv'd by the Ginandi and these again are waited upon by the Sakkurs and Moinalli None can attain to a higher degree of Honor than the Family in which they were born for he that is born amongst the Commonalty can never rise higher though he be the richest Man in the whole Countrey The Moinalli or common sort of People do all servile Offices for the Nobility viz. chop their Wood follow them on foot carry their Baggage when they travel and the like The richest of them must give a Cow a Basket full of Corn Bread Wine and Fruits for an acknowledgment of their Vassalage nay further they must Lodge all Strangers which the Nobility send to them and also Entertain their Landlords whensoe're they are minded to visit them When a Family of the Peasants is wholly extinct their Lords inherit their Goods and sometimes when all are dead except one they sell him to the Turks so that their greatest Riches consists in having many Slaves All the Mengrelians spend their time in Tilling and Manuring their Lands and the rather because they have no manner of Corn brought them from any other Parts Their greatest Labor after they have Sow'd their Corn is Weeding to which purpose the Fields are always full of Workmen who are Entertain'd by their Master with great Feasting for after their Day-labor is finish'd they go Singing to his House where is provided for them great store of Meat as also Wine which that they may not want at that time they generally in Harvest-time Consecrate some Tuns of their best to St. George with promise not to taste it till the Feast-day of St. Peter and St. Paul which is the time before mention'd but when that is come they bring a Priest in all his Habits into their Wine-Cellar where reciting some Prayers he broaches the Cask and sends a Pot full of the Wine to St. George's Church Their first Money Before Prince Dadian invited the Armenians to Trade in his Countrey there was no Money but they barter'd Commodities for Commodities but this Prince to his great benefit and advantage caus'd a Coin to be made with Arabian Hieroglyphicks like that which passes in Persia and is call'd Abassi notwithstanding the Inhabitants rather affect Pieces of Eight and other strange Coin They Trade with the Turks in several places and at several Fairs the biggest whereof is kept in September just before the Church of Cipourias and the other in St. George's Church Trade with the Turks The Turks about this time coming from Constantinople bring Carpets Stools Bowes Arrows Cloth Iron Copper Wooll Cotton-Clothes Salt c. for which they carry back Honey Flax Yarn Swords Beaver Skins Slaves and Box-wood by which they gain great Sums of Money for
Mengrelians for accounting them delicate Meat They have no Corn neither do they make use of Salt There are an innumerable company of Hawk sand Falcons which they teach so well in eight days that letting them flie at the Game they return with the same upon the gingling of a Bell and are from thence lent to Constantinople Persia and Georgia Their manner of living Hunting and Hawking is their chiefest Business and Recreation They inhabit neither in Towns nor Castles but fifteen or twenty Families together who erect Tents or Huts on the top of some pleasant Hill which they fortifie with a kind of Pallisado's that they may not be suddenly surpris'd and taken by their own Natives Some affirm that the Woods are their places of Residence and that when once they setlte themselves in any one place they never desert the same They endeavor to take away and sell one another for Slaves to the Turks who highly esteem these Countrey People Riches and Trade Their Riches and Merchandise consist in all manner of Skins Wax Honey and Slaves Their Nobles commonly sell their Vassals to the Turks in Barter for other Commodities There come yearly into the Haven of Eschissumuni several Ships from Lazi Trebizonde Constantinople and Caffa where they stay sometimes all the Winter The Merchants which come in them go not ashore with their Commodities but sell them aboard having beforehand given Oath or Hostages not to hurt one another Amongst other Customs peculiar to these People one is That they neither bury nor burn their Dead but put the Corps into the Body of some hollow Tree hanging up the Arms and Garments of the Deceased about it They go Cloth'd after the manner of the Circassians onely their Hair they wear otherwise Habit. They let their Mustacho's grow but shave their Beards On the contrary the Papari let all their Beards grow They maintain constant Wars against the Circassians and Mengrelians Wars and are good Soldiers both on Foot and on Horseback knowing well how to manage Fire-arms as also Simiters Bowes and Arrows The Alans and Zichi agree for the most part in their manner of Living with the Sovanians and Abcassians The Caracholians dwell also to the Northward of Mount Caucasus Some call them Caraquirquez that is Black Circassians for Cara is Black in the Turkish Language But they are of a fair Complexion and therefore we may rather suppose that this Name was given them because the Air of that Countrey which they inhabit is always dark and cloudy and full of Snow They speak the Ottoman Tongue notwithstanding they dwell in the midst of so many several forts of People but so exceeding quick that they can scarce be understood The Jesuite Archange Lamberti affirms that these People had their original from the Hunnes At the Black Sea dwell a sort of Mahumetans call'd Lesgi who acknowledge no Prince abroad but being divided amongst themselves are under many petty Governors in their Language call'd Myrza or Princes of which some have scarce twenty Men under their Command Moreover they are a robust and rude kind of People chusing rather to live in Villages in the Countrey than in wall'd Cities They are salvage and cruel and implacably hated by their Neighbors as a People that live by robbing and stealing The People call'd Lazi or Curten The Curten are Herdsmen THe People call'd Lazi otherwise Curten border upon Georgia and the Countrey of Trebizonde They inhabit the high Mountains along the Shore of the Black Sea They are a laborious People bred in the Woods and spend their whole Lives in no other Employment but keeping of Cattel The Black Sea The several Names of this Sea THe Water known to us by the Name of the Black Sea perhaps from the Example of the Greeks who according to Bellonius call'd the same Maurothalassa that is Black Sea or as Niger affirms by the Grecian Navigators Maurum is by the Inhabitants of Mengrelia and by the Italians call'd Mar Majore that is The Great Sea and by the ancient Greek and Latine Writers is mention'd under several Denominations for Herodotus sometimes calls it The Cimmerian Sea then The North Sea and in his fourth Book Auxiotheaton that is Worth the seeing Plutarch in the Life of Pompey and Eumenes and after him Ptolomy and Jornandes call it The Pontick Sea Pliny Pontus Axenus that is A Sea without Harbors But the common Name which the Latine Writers give it is Pontus Euxinus which in the Greek signifies A Sea with Harbors and is so call'd per antiphrasin as Ammianus Marcellinus affirms or that afterwards her Shores were provided of Harbors Towns and other Accommodations whereas before it was inaccessible and desolate and that so this Sea from Axenus or Harborless became Euxenus or Receptive It is subject to Storms The Black Sea is subject to many Storms and tempestuous Weather especially in Winter when the North Wind blowing cross the same fills the Skie over this Sea with Clouds and Darkness whenas inother Countreys it makes a serene clearness so that Horace justly said Illic umbrosiae semper stant aequare nubes incerta dies that is There always lie dark Clouds on this Sea from whence probably the Name of The Black Sea which is given to it proceeds There are no Islands in this Sea unless some small Rocks mould be nam'd Isles which lie near the Coast The Cossacks from Poland come into this Sea as Pyrates to meet with the Turks Frequented by the Cossacks and are absolute Masters thereof their place of Residence is at the entrance of the River Niger beyond the Mouth of the Black Sea Aelian tells us that there are many Tunneys caught in the Black Sea though Archangel Lamberti during his stay in Mengrelia never saw more than one of them which was brought as a strange Fish to the Patriarch's Table neither did the Fishermen of the Countrey know it but Aelian may perhaps have mistaken a Sturgeon for a Funny The Province of Circassia Who the Circassians are THe ancient People Zyches or Zyges according to Stephanus and Strabo whom Pliny places in the Asiatick Sarmatia about the Lake Meotis are at this day as George Interian and Scaliger affirm call'd Circassi or Circassians but amongst themselves Adiga and by the Poles Pient-Zorsti that is Inhabitants of the five Mountains Bronjof calls them Pythagoreans Ananias Pitorses Ramusco Comans and their Countrey Comania but Comania comprehends Colchis or Mengrelia Georgia and Albania These Circassians are those which are call'd Mamelus or Mamelucks and by the Turks in the time of the Soudans Zerhars There are two remarkable Streams The Rivers the one call'd Pisi which falls into the Lake Calbane the other Sil glides by Cabarta There are many other Rivulets of little note because a Man may wade over them The Countrey of Circassia shews it self like a Semi-circle from the South-West to the North Bounds where a large Inlet
Sobai Chobartei and Abacuas Ananias places also in this Countrey the City Derbend which he takes for the ancient Alexandria but Derbend is by others justly plac'd in the Province of Schirwan Niger makes the City Scamachie which he supposes to be the Samunis of Ptolomy in Albania but Olearius and others place the same rightly also in Schirwan One of the fairest Cities of this Countrey is Zitracha which Thevet calls Zitrack at present a City of great Trade Thevet makes the Metropolis of this Countrey to be Bambanach but Boterus Stran or Stranu formerly call'd Getara or rather Gagara which Niger supposes to be the City Bachu Ananias places here the Countrey of Hanse and Paults Jovius Gorgora of which he makes the Royal City Agazapes though Davity will rather have it to be the Gagara or Gangara of Ptolemy than the Stran or Bachu of Boterus The Air of this Countrey The Air of this Countrey is very healthful and temperate notwithstanding there is a Valley near Hanse constantly cover'd with thick Mists The Countrey near Armenia is partly low and partly mountainous and exceedingly fertiliz'd by the Rivers Cur and some others producing all sorts of Fruit-trees and Plants which are always green and with small trouble yield a fifty-fold increase Vines also thrive here nor want there tame and wild Beasts Scorpions and Spiders otherwise call'd Tarantula's Paulus Jovius tells us that the Albaneses are a valiant People and exceed herein the Mengrelians but Niger on the contrary that they are for the most part Herdsmen and take no delight in Matters of War Anno 1492. Mahomet the Turkish Emperor march'd with an Army against this Countrey from whence he return'd without effecting any thing by reason of the Cliffs and high Mountains over which the Horsemen were not able to pass About the Year 1500. Agasappas Govern'd Albania or at least a part thereof Government and pay'd Tribute to the Sophy of Persia This Countrey according to Thevet is under the Jurisdiction of him who Governs the Tartars which perhaps is the Chan of Zagatey The Inhabitants are Christians who live like the Georgians after the manner of the Greek Church The Province of Curdistan CUrdistan that is The Countrey of the Curdes by Davity reckon'd to be in Great Armenia was anciently by Ptolomy nam'd Gordene by Dion Corduene and by others The Countrey of the Cordiaques or Gordians Della Valle supposes this Countrey had no peculiar Name but was divided amongst many People of several Nations and that the Carduchans deserting the Army forc'd Xenophon with his Army to return back from whence he came They possess according to Purchas the City Bitlis and some other Villages and Mountains of the Countrey of Curduene as also the City Manuscute The Bounds of Curdistan The Curdes are a People who have their Residence in the Mountains which divide Media from the Province of Susiana now call'd Suster It also divides Turky from Persia and bordering at Aderbeitzan hath from East to West not above ten or twelve days Journey in breadth but extends a vast way in length from the North to the South It begins between the Countrey of Babylon and the Province of Chusistan towards the side of the Caspian Sea and extends Northward beyond Ninive between Armenia and Media near the Black Sea It is a strong Countrey and very difficult to come into by reason of the many Mountains which inclose the same It might justly be call'd an Arm of Mount Taurus which parting from it runs through Asia in this part quite into the Caspian Sea so that Nature seems to have delighted her self in making this Countrey as a Bulwark between these two great Realms of Persia and Turky as it was anciently a Boundary between that of the Romans and Parthians Some will have these People deriv'd from the Chaldeans and Mesopotamians for we find what they alledge many Princes of the Curdes in the Countrey of Bagdad Chaldea Carahemid and Diarhekir Moreover Chaldea is by the Turks and Persians call'd Curdistan from the People Curdes who Planted it The Habit of these People agrees with that of the Turks and Persians but is very mean The Habit of the People The Women go bare-headed and are very familiar with all manner of People Their Language and Living Their Language is peculiar and different from the Turks Arabian and Persian but hath most affinity with a certain course Speech of the Persians Many of them live in Huts in the Countrey and range up and down with their Cattel like the Tartars others live in Caves but all that have any Knowledge or Breeding dwell in the Towns They have no manner of Fruits but Feed on Butter Milk and Flesh They are very quiet and free from Pride The Government thereof The Eastern part of Curdistan which separates Media from Susiana or Suster near the City Hamadan and a Boundary of Persia was Anno 1618. Govern'd by one Hilao Chan who besides the annual Tributes and Acknowledgements sent his Son Myrza Chan to the King of Persia thereby to manifest the zeal he had to his Majesty's Service but because of the nearness of the Turks on the side of Assyria and a part of Susiana gave some suspicion to the King he resolv'd to assure himself of the Sons Inclination by placing him in his Father's stead in order to which the King sent for Hilao Chan to come with speed to Casbin where he then kept his Court there being a Report at that time that the Turk intended with a strong Amy to fall into the Countrey through the Borders of Media Hilao Chan not daring to disobey the King's Order fearing to run the same fate of many other Curdistan Lords his Neighbors who unawares offended a Prince that never let any Injury pass unpunish'd went with his Wife and Children and the rest of his Family to the Court where he no sooner arriv'd but the King receiv'd him very graciously telling him that he had great need of his Counsel on all occasions and therefore sent for him to stay by him whil'st his Son should Govern in his stead When the King went from Casbin to Sultania he told him that he would not give him the trouble to follow him in his Journey in respect of his age but order'd him to repair to Ispahan where he expected to find him at his coming thither The Nobility and primest Persons are free from this kind of Servitude Some of the also exceeding the rest in Might and Power are able to bring an Army of ten or twelve thousand Horse into the Field The Powerfullest of the Nobles shew not that Obedience as the Deputies and Subjects to their supream Governors in Europe for theirs consists onely in an acknowledgment that they live under the protection of one of the two Lords for notwithstanding they acknowledge them yet they live free Out of hopes of Gain the Curdes often change their Masters and as Cezy makes mention in his
Journal ten thousand Curdes Subjects to the Turk deserting their Countrey went and desir'd other Lands of Schach Abbas King of Persia who giving them a sufficient Maintenance occasion'd a War between the Turks and Persians They have absolute Command in some parts of their Territory as in Gozire a City of Mesopotamia built on an Isle in the River Tigris and in the Mountains by the Inhabitants call'd Tor. The Inhabitants are very valiant and are look'd upon to be able to do great prejudice to the Turk against whom they commonly maintain War Their Arms are Bowes Arrows Shields and Simiters Their Religion Their Religion is that of the Mahumetans either according to the Turkish or Persian way as they see convenient Moreover they are strongly inclin'd to divers Superstitions which are peculiar to them and savor much of Idolatry Some affirm that they worship the Devil because he should not do them or their Cattel any hurt Many Chaldean Christians of the Sect of the Nestorians or Jacobites live in the Dominion of the Curdes and Serve them in the Wars THE EMPIRE OF THE Great Mogol AND INDIA Of India in general India why so call'd INDIA is so call'd from the River Indus and the Word East generally added to India because it is the most Easterly part of Asia and hence America or the New-found World has borrow'd the Name of West-India in opposition to it It s Division Extent and Bounds Ptolomy affirms that anciently and to this day India is divided into two great parts whereof one which extends from the River Indus to Ganges is by the Persians call'd Indostan that is The Countrey of Indus and by the Greek and Latine Writers India intra Gangem or India within Ganges The other part is call'd Mangi or India extra Gangem or Without Ganges The first comprehends all the Countreys under the Great Mogol's Jurisdiction as also the Kingdom of Narsinga or Bisnagar Kannara Orixa the Coast of Cormandel and Malabar the Kingdom of Golconda and many others The second part without Ganges contains the Kingdom of Bengala Arracan Pegu Siam Malacca Cambaya Champa or Tzampa Lao Cochinchina besides many lesser and lastly the vast Empire of China Both these parts also comprehend divers Islands amongst which Japan if so it be is the most Eastern as also the most eminent This whole vast Countrey according to the ancient and modern Writers conterminates on the West with the River Indus the Countrey of Arachosia and Gedrosia on the South with the Indian Sea on the East with the Eastern Shore and on the North with some Branches of Mount Taurus or Imaus a part of Taurus Texeira tells us that India begins at the end of the Kingdom of Macran The largeness of its Circuit lying in 106 Degrees of Longitude and extends to 159 from East to West a Degree being reckon'd to be fifteen Leagues a Tract of eight hundred Leagues in a direct Line India also extends from North to South from the Equinox to the Cape of Malacca almost to the 40. Degree the utmost part of China a Tract of about six hundred Leagues not reckoning the Indian Isles some of which lie a great way to the Southward of the Equinoctial The most eminent Rivers of India are the Indus and Ganges Rivers which come from the Northward out of the Mountains Imaus and Caucasus by the Inhabitants according to Castaldus call'd Dalanguer and Nangracot and both as the Inhabitants affirm spring from one Head though some Geographers make the distance between them to be a hundred and eighty Leagues and others but a hundred and thirty though the first seems most probable because the Ganges takes its course Easterly and the Indus Westerly Philostratus places the Head of the River Indus in Mount Caucasus and makes the same in some places to be a League and a half broad and transplanting abundance of Soil along with it which like the Nile in Egypt makes the adjacent Grounds exceeding fertile MAGNI MOGOLIS IMPERIVM The Course of the River Indus The Indus or Send thus enrich'd with the Waters of other Rivers takes its course Southward through the Provinces of Attack Backor and Tatta and near the City Dul which gives its Denomination to the same it discharges its Water through two Mouths into the Ocean and not through seven as Texeira affirms These Openings are in 23 Degrees and 35 Minutes Northern Latitude Most Maps and many Geographers are greatly mistaken in placing this River as if it fell into the Sea near the utmost Point of the Gulf of Cambaya but this is a great error and as wide from the truth as the whole Countrey of Zuratte is broad for the Indus runs not from the East to Zuratte as it should do if it disembogu'd at Cambaya but the River which discharges its Water into the Bay of Cambaya is another call'd Mehi The River Indus hath divers Isles especially near its Mouth which are very pleasant and fruitful and one City nam'd Varaxes Pliny affirms that nineteen Rivers contribute their Waters to the Indus the chiefest whereof are the Hydaspes now call'd Moltan which receives four other lesser Streams the Catabra the Hypasis and Acesina The Course of the River Ganges The River Ganges now call'd Gangia arises from Mount Caucasus and bends its course to the South through or between the Rocks of the Province of Siba and soon after becomes very broad then proceeding on its course Southward it receives by the way the Waters of thirty Rivers as Ananias saith or according to Pliny ninety so that it swells exceedingly and spreads above four Miles in breadth yet not above eight Fathom deep and at last after a long course falls through many Mouths into the Sea the chiefest whereof and most Westerly is Satigan or Satiguam so call'd from a City of that Name built on its Banks a Sea-port Town where the Portuguese us'd to drive a great Trade the other being the most Easterly is also near a famous Sea-Harbor and is call'd Chatigan both which are under the Jurisdiction of the Kingdom of Bengala The Ganges at last discharges its Water through two noted Mouths into the Bay of Bengala These Mouths Ptolomy places in the eighteenth and nineteenth Degree of Northern Latitude but Barros and Linschot set them in twenty two or twenty two Degrees and a half Accounted holy and why Those of Bengala as the same Linschot writes affirm the Head of Ganges to be in the terrestrial Paradise and therefore account the Water thereof holy and for that cause the Benjans and other Indian Heathens go thither in Pilgrimage to bathe themselves and to drink of it and the Inhabitants of Bengala lying on their Death-beds cause themselves to be thrown into the said River or at least to have their Feet dipt in A Pint of Water a thing very remarkable of the Ganges Lighter than other Water is not above half so heavy as that of
way of living are separated from the others are call'd Jaques All other People that live so retiredly are either the Wanaprasta's or Sanjasies or Avadoutes The Wanaprasta's go with their Wives and Children into the Wood where they live on Roots and Fruits without doing any kind of Labor Some are of so scrupulous a Conscience that they will not pluck the least Root out of the Ground fearing to sin and be the occasion of disturbing a transmigrated Soul which perhaps might be in the same This kind of living in the Woods is amongst them accounted a great piece of Religion and the Maintainers thereof look'd upon as a very holy People The Sanjasies are a People that pretend to despise the World and all earthly things and are much more retir'd than the Wanaprasta's and are not permitted to Marry to chew Betel or eat and drink above once a day and then not out of Copper but earthen Vessels Moreover they live on the Alms of others They go Cloth'd in Linnen colour'd with red Earth and carry a long Cane in their Hands they may not so much as touch Gold or Silver much less be Possessors of any Money They judge it unholy to stay above one Night in a place and therefore are continually travelling from one place to another They are also oblig'd to conquer five Enemies viz. Cama that is Desire Croota Anger Lopa Covetousness Madda Pride and affection for transitory things and lastly Mattzara Concupiscence In this Conquest they are to persevere all the days of their Lives studying spiritual things Those that lead this kind of Life and are of the Family of the Brahmans are call'd Sanjasies for their excellency but Permaansa if of the Tettrean or Weinsjan Tribe and Jogies of the Soudrean whlch last take more freedom in their manner of living than the true Sanjasies The Avadouta's The Avadouta's being the third sort of Brahmans that live retiredly not onely forsake their Wives and Children like the Sanjasies but pretend to greater Holiness abstaining from many things which the Sanjasies regard not viz. the Avadouta's wear onely a piece of Cotton Cloth before their Privities Their manner of living and some though few nothing at all but go stark naked without the least shame neither do they use Earthen Vessels nor walk with a Cane or any other kind of Staff all which the Heathens look upon as a sign of their Perfection and as a testimony of their despising the World and all things therein They also strew Ashes over their Bodies and when hungry go into a House without speaking and beg Alms by holding out their Hands which the Pagans immediately understanding for they know them by their going naked give them part of what they have in the House which they presently eat up before they stir Some of them will not so much as go into the Street to get Alms but are contented to sit down by some River or other which the Inhabitants accounted holy and there expect such Food as the People that dwell thereabouts will bring them which indeed is done in a plentiful manner for they furnish them with Milk Fruit and other Food because they account it a very pious Work Those amongst the Brahmans that live most reserv'd and are earnest in maintaining of their Law The Boti perform the Office of Priests and are call'd Boti being had in great honor and reputation they live on Alms never Marry despise all transitory things and to all outward appearance live very precisely yet many of them commit most abominable Crimes in secret In most parts of India there reside a pensive sort of People who either through the passion of Love or the death of a Relation whom they highly esteem or some other Misfortune forsaking their native Countreys out of a desperate humor take great Journeys and range about like Vagabonds nothing at all considering or fearing any ill that may befall them These kind of People if Idolaters are call'd Giogi The Giogi otherwise Jogies but if Mahumetans Derwies and Abbali and Abdalla's the last go almost stark naked wearing onely a piece of Leather on their Backs like a Badge and carrying a Staff or Cane in thir Hands Their Habitations and Study These Giogi have no other Dwelling-places than the Portals of the Pagodes or Temples or under the Shades of large Trees or the open Skie They chiefly study Natural Magick and the several Vertues of Herbs Plants and the like as also Sorcery and Conjurations boasting thereby and by Prayer and Fasting to do great Wonders and that they have strange Revelations whenas indeed they attain not to the knowledge of any thing by any other Art than the help of the Devil who appearing to them in several Shapes deludes them nay they have familiar Conversation with him yet imagine the contrary affirming themselves to be onely familiar with certain immortal and unknown Women to the number of forty which they distinguish by their several Shapes and Names assum'd by them They honor them as Goddesses and not onely the Indians but also the Moorish Kings shew them great Reverence keeping great Festivals and making annual Offerings to them in certain deep Pits wherein they say they reside Wherefore if any of these Giogi after long Fasting and Praying can attain to the presence of one of the said Women and by that means have future things reveal'd to them they are for ever after highly esteem'd amongst their Sect but much more if he can attain to that degree of being her Brother or any other step of Relation to her but most of all if he can attain to be her Husband for then he is cry'd up as a Saint and said to have gotten more than humane Nature Live under one Head These Giogi are very exact in their Prognostication and live in common under the Obedience of one supream Head but stand not in that awe of him as the Roman-Catholicks of their Superior neither is he onely respected by his Followers but also held in great esteem by Persons of Quality who also shew Obedience to him kiss his Hands and often stand by him in a melancholy posture to hear him speak accounting his Voice like that of an Oracle The Giogi go all naked onely covering their Privities with a small Lappet They wear their Hair very long and let it hang carelesly over their Shoulders and oftentimes out of a strange superstitious humor paint their Foreheads with Sandal Wood Saffron and other colours either yellow white or red but keep the rest of their Body very neat and clean Another sort of Giogies There are likewise other Giogies who lead a more strict Life but are very slovenly first colouring their Bodies black and afterwards whiting it with a Stone like Chalk They also frequently strew Ashes upon themselves to put them in mind of their mortality They let the Hair of their Heads and Beards grow very long wearing them very carelesly and often
which might defile them by touching any dead thing neither as they believe can the Devil approach any that wear it The Water Tiertum they say cleanses them from all their sins which they have committed from their very Childhood When the Brahmans have thus wash'd and mark'd themselves they sprinkle a little Tiertum towards those that are near them and burn some Myrrh These Ceremonies perform'd they go again to their Idol strew Flowers upon him or else Toleje setting Meat that is dress'd for them before it for they are not allow'd to eat any Meat but what hath first been plac'd before the Idol After Dinner they cleanse themselves again Towards the Evening before the Sun set they wash and mark their Bodies as before and also say their Japon that is naming God twenty four several times and throw Water upon the Ground in honor of the Sun as in the Morning In this manner the Brahmans are by their Law oblig'd to behave themselves though many of them give themselves more liberty Those which do not perform all these ceremonies in stead of their Heads wash their Bodies and in stead of their Bodies their Hands and Feet but are by no means to neglect the repeating of Gods Name twenty four times nor the Tiertum yet if onely one Person in a House performs the foremention'd Ceremonies it is sufficient and look'd upon as if every individual Person had perform'd the Service The ridiculous Tale of Gasjendre Mootsjam The History of Gasjendre Mootsjam which the Brahmans Sing in the Morning doth briefly declare that the Heads of the Elephants are preserv'd for Gasjen signifies an Elephant Indre a Head and Mootsjam Preserv'd or Preservation of which they tell this ridiculous Fable viz. In the Sea which they call The Milky Sea is a Mountain call'd Tricoweta Parwatam very high and ten thousand Leagues broad with three Spires the first of Gold the second of Silver and the third of Iron each adorn'd with all manner of Precious Stones a Deweta call'd Indre Doumena who with a Charriot travell'd through the Heavens and all the World as swift as the Wind coming upon this Mountain to a Lake Bath'd himself with his Wives when at the same instant there pass'd by a Mouswara who are accounted a holier People than the Deweta's of whom the Deweta taking no notice so highly incens'd the Mouswara that he passionately said You shall become an Elephant and instead of your Wives You shall converse with the Elephants whereupon the Deweta terrifi'd with this Saying not onely shew'd him Reverence but begg'd his pardon for his neglect yet nevertheless he was transform'd on the Mountain into an Elephant and had ten Lack-Coti of Females each Lack is a hundred thousand and every Coti a hundred Lack with whom he liv'd a long time without fear of Lyons Tygers or other ravenous Beasts nevertheless it hapned that a Crocodile took fast hold of the Deweta's Foot as he was drinking out of the Lake in the shape of in Elephant yet after much pulling he got loose again but was afterwards seiz'd by the same Crocodile as he came to drink a second time and held so fast that the Deweta spent two thousand years in striving with the Crocodile whose power being in his own Element the Water still increas'd whil'st that of the Elephant decreas'd but when the Deweta was almost quite tir'd out Witsnow passing by on Garrouda came to him and gave him his Weapon call'd Jeckeram which was richly set with Precious Stones wherewith striking he broke the Crocodile's Head and immediately fell down and shew'd Reverence to Wistnow who seeing of him weary touch'd him and thereby restor'd him to his former strength and shape A vain Conceit of the Brahmans The Brahmans affirm also that God himself spake to them saying Those which read these your Histories daily shall have forgiveness of their sins for which words and promise of God they read the History of Gasjendre Mootsjam every Morning The Brahmans and other Indians never Let-blood when they fall sick though the abundance of Blood be the occasion thereof but they make their Patients Fast several days not permitting them to eat the least bit of any thing They Pray over the Dead When any one lies a dying a Brahman reads several Prayers by the Bed side for which he receives Alms from the sick Persons Relations whil'st the dying Man calls upon the Name of God till his Speech fail but if the sick Person dies with the Name of God in his Mouth not breathing afterwards he is certainly suppos'd to go immediately to Heaven for God according to their Vedam or Law-Book promises to be with those in their greatest extremity that call upon his Name If a Person that lies a dying hath not lost his Reason he asks his Wife if she will accompany him after his Death she according to the Custom of the Countrey is oblig'd not to refuse for the Women when they enter into the state of Matrimony promise to their Husbands in the presence of a Brahman and before the Fire Homam that they will never forsake them They also believe that a Woman cannot live after her Husband without great sin except she hath Children for whose sake she may be spar'd and if she seem to be afraid to leap into the Fire she cannot beforc'd for no honest Woman that loves her Husband will refuse it their Vedam affirming it the duty and part of an honest Woman to delight in all things that her Husband delights in and not to despise that though it be bad which pleases her Husband and to this purpose to work the more upon their easie Beliefs they tell us this fabulous Story viz. One Draupeti who in her life-time was a very religious Woman was withal affectionately loving to her Husband being never displeas'd at him although he had spent his whole Estate and so weakned his Body that he was no longer able to visit his Strumpets yet his inclinations were still such that he declar'd he could not live unless he might see his Mistresses whereupon Draupeti out of extraordinary affection taking him one Night on her Shoulders carry'd him to his Concubines but going along in the Dark she unawares ran against a Stake on which a holy Man nam'd Galowa sat and hit him with such force that she overturn'd and hurt him whereupon he cry'd He that did me this Injury let him die before the Sun rises which Draupeti hearing and pitying her Husband said Then let not the Sun rise and so it hapned the Sun not rising for several years after Hereupon the People pray'd to Indre and Deweta to permit the Sun to rise but they either could or would not grant their Request Then they address'd themselves to Bramma who with the Deweta's went to the fore-mention'd Woman saying What will you have and we will satisfie you that the Sun may rise whereto she reply'd The Sun may rise but I desire my
Valiant Massaaan Boyling Miniehi Singing Pingan A Dish or Platter Ecot A Tail Lari To shun or avoid Macanan Spittle Negri A City Cuntsican To whistle Basiudi To play Molam In the Evening Tombo Pounding Maganti A Cobweb Baiki Sending Connyt Saffron Pandecan Striking on an Anvil Pande bissi A Smith Totan To be indebted Becatta Saying Jemma Sunday Tydon Sleeping Timor Sweet Tompa To spill Tsiusi Pure or clean Gapit Snuffers Calmari Since yesterday Pande contsi A Lock-maker Gyla Folly Brossu A stink Ini brossu To stink Baiparas Fair. Sappangan A Piece Mansuiri To stick Caiu A Stick Antra To play Paian The Sight Coran Small Barat Heavy Sadab To taste Pangali A Spade Caersia baiki To furnish Sompa To swear Tsiarri To tear Battu A Stone Jurtilis A Secretary Tidor To sleep Fellimo A Sheet Andrior To melt Becatta To speak Terran To shine Prande rebor A Musician Boatsiamar To defile Romal A Napkin Suruan Sending Matti Dying Barnan Swimming Cappal A Ship Oran tua paran A Mariner Antrante To spin Itam Black Gallam To stop Campon manaro To save Dosa Sin Pucol To beat Jalan The Street Marri Tearing Tiaermin A Looking-glass Malon Disgracing Manys Sweet Addeparapas A Sister Doduer To look Baon The Shoulders Dyem To be silent Apon Fair. Matary Salt Peca Silver Tehylacca Sin Corni Business or Affairs Negle Steel Bantatan Dying Pienning A Dish Goethieng A pair of Scissers Calvenetten To pin Padang A Sword Salwacke A Shield Pockul To stand Byte secate I am sick Cras Strong Domba A Sheep Prau A Boat Dia She. Gergafien To saw Lear de caesia To look in a Glass The Speech the same but the Character different According to Della Valle all the Provinces in India have one and the same Language though peculiar Letters for notwithstanding that the Language or Speech is understood in divers Countreys yet the Characters are different The Learned sort or Brahmans have a Language and Letters by Kircher call'd Nagher which being accounted Sacred is onely known to their Tribe or Family and us'd amongst them as Latine amongst the Learned in Europe Their Characters are fair and large taking up much room They also differ much from the Letters us'd by the Benjan Merchants in Surat According to Mr. Edward Terry the Vulgar Tongue of the Countrey of Indostan hath great Affinity with the Persian and Arabian Tongues but is pleasanter and easier to pronounce It is a very fluent Language expressing many things in few words They write and read like us viz. from the Left to the Right Hand The Court-Language is wholly Persian In India and the Countreys under the Mogol's Jurisdiction the Persian Tongue is more common Indian being generally spoken by the Nobility at Court and us'd in all Publick Businesses and Writings which cannot seem strange to any considering the Mogollean Princes have their Extract from Tartary and Samarcand whence the Persian Tongue was first brought The Vulgar Mahumetans Peruschi tells us speak the Turkish Tongue but not so eloquently as the natural born Turks Learned Persons and Mahumetan Priests speak the Arabick in which the Alcoran and other Books are written The Malayan Tongue much us'd But no Language extends further and is of greater use than the Malayan so call'd from the City Malacka from whence it hath its Original It is spoken in all the Isles lying in the Straights of Sunda and through the adjacent Countrey but especially us'd by Merchants Linschot tells us That many People of divers Nations which came to build the City and settle in Malacka made this peculiar Language of all the other Indian Tongues consisting of the most pleasing Words and neatest manner and way of speaking of all other the Neighboring People which makes this Language to be the best and most eloquent of all India and also the most useful and easiest to learn For there is not one Merchant which comes from the neighboring Countreys to Trade here but learns this Tongue The Netherland East-India Company have lately printed a Dictionary of the Common Discourse in that Tongue as also the New Testament and other Books in the same Language Moreover the Holland Ministers in their several Factories in India teach in the Malayan Tongue not onely in their Churches but Schools also The Creation of the World in Ten Bodily Appearances of Wistnow or Mahadeu The Creation of the World THe Creation of the World as we have already mention'd the Brahmans ascribe to one Bramma by the Power given him from Wistnow or Mahadeu But these People rest not in the making of one for they form divers imaginary Worlds which in the form of an Egg drive on the Water which being without the Principal World is God himself as shall be declared hereafter more at large Some have not stuck to affirm That Bramma made fourteen Worlds agreeing with the Parts of Humane Bodies viz. the first and uppermost Celestial World out of the Brain the second out of the Eyes the third out of the Mouth the fourth out of the Left Ear the fifth out of the Roof of the Mouth the sixth out of the Heart the seventh out of the Belly the eighth out of the Privities the ninth out of the Left Thigh the tenth out of the Knees the eleventh out of the Legs the twelfth out of the Toes of the Right Foot the thirteenth out of the Toes of the Left Foot and the fourteenth out of the Air round about him Out of these Worlds he also created Man according to the qualities of Humane Bodies viz. Out of the first he created Men with Prudence and Understanding out of the second with Conduct in Transitory things out of the third good Orators out of the fourth subtile and crafty People out of the fifth Gluttons and debauch'd Persons out of the sixth Noble and Famous Men out of the seventh Slovens and Ill-natur'd out of the eighth Lascivious and Venerial Humorists out of the ninth Handicrafts and Husband-men out of the tenth Gard'ners and Rusticks out of the eleventh poor Laborers out of the twelfth Murderers Robbers and Thieves out of the thirteenth Oppressors of the Poor and out of the fourteenth People endued with all manner of excellent qualities In this manner they describe the great Bramma Creator of so many People and Worlds which they believe so firmly in every particular that they represent his Image in all their Pagodes or Temples with a Circle on every of the foremention'd Parts in stead of a World The World as we said before they affirm to drive on the Waters in the form of an Egg which incloses Heaven Earth and Hell In this Egg they also know how to find the fourteen Parts of the World Under the Earth they place Patalam that is The Infernal Pit above it the Surgam that is Heaven or Brammar-Lokon and above that Kailosom Lilaweicontam and Weicontam in which three last Places they say God himself resides The Earth or Globe of the
Arrow who by that means was bereav'd of all his Strength insomuch that he was afterwards no more than an ordinary Brahman Thus with Prasseram's Power also ended his Altar after a Reign of a thousand years after which Ram's Altar immediately commenc'd Ram's or Ram Kata's otherwise Dajeratha Rama's Altar the Seventh Rams of Ram Katas anders Dajerratha Ramas autaer de zevende There was at the same time in the Countrey of Assouthan a Ragia or King call'd Dasserat who had three Wives one of which nam'd Consila bore him a fair Son which by the Brahmans was call'd Wissote Ram who grew up in extraordinary Wisdom and Knowledge The second Wife Keggy bore a Son nam'd Barrat the third nam'd Sonnettry bare two Sons the one call'd Lekkerman and the other Setteroukan Ram was by the Brahman Wismawerter instructed in all Arts and Sciences in which he made so great a progress that after many extraordinary Atchievements he went up to Heaven and left his Authority to Hanneman a great Ape who had been his Assistant on Earth to whom he promis'd that he should be immortal that consecrated a Pagode in honor of him and that he would always protect his Servants on Earth This concluded the whole work of Ram's Altar and also the Tretangke or second Age which had lasted one Million two hundred sixty nine thousand years of which Ram had Reign'd two thousand years For the good Services done by the Apes to Ram in his time they are held in great veneration by the Indians and in the Kingdoms of Pegu Ceilon and other Places they set up several Figures of Apes in their Pagodes and this is affirm'd by Linschot who saith That in former Ages there was no greater nor more precious a Relick in all India than an Apes Tooth which being tipt with Gold and beset with Precious Stones was kept in a Pagode on the Mountain Piko d' Adam on the Island Ceilon to which place the Indians went in Pilgrimage from all places thereabouts nay some came thither out of several Countreys lying four or five hundred Leagues from thence The Portuguese coming to this Island about the Year 1555. to assist the lawful King who was depos'd by a Rebel they went up the foremention'd Mountain where ruining the Pagode they found nothing else but a small Cabinet full of Precious Stones and the Apes Tooth all which they carrry'd to Goa which when the Kings of Ceilon Bengala Bisnagar and others heard they sent Agents to the Portuguese Vice-Roy at Goa to request the restauration of the Tooth proffering as a Ransom for the same besides many Presents a Sum of seven thousand Ducats of Gold which upon the perswasion of the Arch-bishop was refus'd by the Portuguese who burnt the Tooth and threw the Ashes into the Sea Kistnas or Cristnas or Krexno the eighth Altar IN the beginning of the third Age Duapersingke a Ragia call'd Cans otherwise Campsa of the Family Brommerakkes who are a degree above the Deytes in the City Mottara lying about twenty or twenty five Miles beyond Agra the Court and Metropolis of the Great Mogol near the River Siemmena or Jemni This Ragia having a young Sister call'd Denki otherwise Deweki whose time being according to the Custom of the Countrey near at hand to be Marry'd he sent through all the City to find a young Man that might deserve her but what care and diligence soever he us'd he could meet with none whom she could fancy wherefore he sent some Persons on the same Errand to the next City Goggel or Gokalam lying three Miles from Agra on the opposite side of the Stream Siemmena The Agents at their return brought word that they had sound a pious Brahman call'd Wassendeu or Wassoudewa whom they judg'd might very well deserve her The Ragia Kans upon their recommendation sending for him gave him his Sister in Marriage and when she had attain'd to the twelfth year of her age and the Brahman to the nineteenth or twentieth the Chan according to Custom shew'd them to all his Subjects after which he commanded Denki and a certain Brahman call'd Naret experienc'd in the Art of Astrology or rather Cheiromancy and lately come into that Countrey to come before him requiring the said Brahman to look in Denkies Hand and to tell him whether she should be fortunate or unfortunate rich or poor have few or many Children be short or long liv'd live joyfully or sorrowfully what degree of Honor she should attain to and in short what would happen to her strictly charging him to declare the plain truth without flattery or dissimulation The Brahman looking into her Hand upon the Kings Command and having view'd the same bespake him after this manner My Lord and King according as the Lines appear here she will be the Mother of seven Children viz. six Sons and one Daughter the last whereof will bereave you of your Life and Crown and Reign in your stead This Prognostication of being destroy'd by his own Blood made the King exceeding sorrowful insomuch that he commanded Denki to depart out of his Presence as not worthy to see his Face nay he gave order to lock her and her Husband up in the Castle and to set strong Guards about the same and commanded all the Midwives that as soon as ever Denki was Deliver'd of a Child it should immediately be brought to him which was accordingly perform'd for no sooner was the unhappy Denki Deliver'd but the Infant was instantly carry'd to her Brother who forthwith kill'd it Thus he did six several times viz. to five Sons and one Daughter and when Denki had Conceiv'd the seventh time and Kans inform'd thereof he caus'd a stricter Guard to be kept upon her than before locking her up in a Chamber with seven Iron Doors and setting a hundred Soldiers to guard them strictly charging them that as soon as they heard the Child cry they should give him notice thereof that he might dispose of it as he had done of the rest In the Moneth Sawanne or Srawanam which is our August on the Day Aerhem being the eighth of the dark Moon the time of her Delivery approaching she was exceedingly troubled to think that this her last Child of which she expected to be Deliver'd should be so cruelly murder'd as all the former had been Sitting thus melancholy she was on a sudden without pain about Midnight deliver'd of a most beautiful Son whose Face was resplendent like the Moon in the Full insomuch that he enlightned the whole Room At this Denki rejoyc'd exceedingly and wondred not a little at her beautiful Son but very much lamented to think what hard fortune was decreed him But Mahadeu who had inspir'd this Child with his Divine Power gave him also Speech so that he comforted his sorrowful Mother with these Words viz. That she should rest satisfied and he would find means to escape his Uncles bloody Hands and also deliver her from her Imprisonment And turning to his Father he
Persons of Quality drink is Persian Wine they also drink Spirits distill'd out of Dates and Sugar also Palm-Wine call'd Terri or Tori which they drink when fresh tapt out of the Palm-trees The Habits of the Mogollans The Habits both of Men and Women are almost of one and the same fashion and made either of Cotton-Linnen or Silk or Cloth of Tissue each according to his Degree and Quality Their Coats call'd Cabaya are narrow at the top and close about their middle hanging down to their Knees Their Breeches hang in divers Pleits down to their Feet Their Shoes made after the fashion of the Countrey either of Leather or rich Silk they tread down at the Heels that they may pull them off with the more ease when they go into their Temples or Houses or sit down on their Floors which are cover'd with white Carpets On their Heads they wear Turbants after the Turkish manner generally made of fine white or red Callico wrought with Silk and Gold which they never take off when they salute one another About their Shoulders both noble and ignoble wear in stead of a Cloak a yellow red green white or other colour'd Cloth call'd Pomerys against the Cold or Rain About their Middle they wear a Girdle wrought with Gold and Silk and over it another small white Linnen one pleited Persons of Quality wear a short Sword or Dagger by their Sides the Hilt and Scabberd being of Gold and often beset with Precious Stones this Weapon they call Ginda or Kitteren The Women commonly adorn themselves with Diamonds and Pearls and also wear Gold and Silver Pendants and Armlets each according to their Qualities Christians disperced all over India In divers places of India are many Christians from all parts of Europe as also Jews and native Heathens converted to Christianity by the Catholicks and Protestants residing amongst them Moreover there are Thomists or Followers of St. Thomas in the Countrey Language call'd Armenians Abyssines c. each of a peculiar Sect. In Zurratte is a Sect or Tribe of Heathens which the Moors call Guenure the Persians Atexperes Zarduxt Kebbers and Gauri and the Indians Persi which Name they give themselves because they derive their original out of Persia Thus much concerning India in general we shall now give a Description of the Mogol's Realm and Kingdom in particular running through all the Provinces in order into which this whole Kingdom is divided The Realm of the Groat Mogol otherwise Hindostan or Indostan The Bounds of the Kingdom THe Kingdom of the Great Mogol or Mogor which for its bigness and Power over the Substitute Kingdoms deserves the Name of Empire is on the West bounded by the River Indus and Eastward by the Ganges in the South it verges with one part at the Ocean and with the other at the Kingdom of Cuncan or Visiapour in the North it borders at Usbeck the Mountains of Tibeth and the Kingdoms of Srinagar Caparangue and Radock and lastly in the East at the Kingdom of Neckbal Edward Terry makes this Kingdom border in the East at the Kingdom of Maug or Mavy in the West at Persia in the South at the Ocean the Kingdom of Decan and Gulph of Bengala and in the North at the Mountains of Caucasus and Tartary Texeira conterminates the same on one side onely with the Indus and on the other with the Ganges According to Peruschi the Mogols Kingdom is properly the Main Land lying between the Indus and Ganges just like the Holy Land between the Tigris and Euphrates Others as Bulaye le Gouze and Daviti bound this Kingdom in the North at the Countrey of the Great Cham of Tartary and at Samarcan in the South at the Kingdom of Visiapour the Gulph of Bengala the great Indian Sea Diu and Damaon both Countreys lying under the Jurisdiction of the Portuguese in the East at the Kingdom of Pegou Edrabat and Thebet in the West at Agemistan or the Empire of the Schach or King of Persia But there can be no certain Boundaries ascrib'd to this Kingdom because of the continual losing of old and taking in of new Provinces Anno 1582. the Mogol's Dominions extended Northward to the Mountain Imaus now call'd Cumae which separates the Mogol's from the Tartars in the South it border'd at Calecut the Gulph of Bengala and the Indian Sea along Cambaya in the East at the utmost Borders of Bengala in the West at the Stream Indus and the Border of Persia This Countrey of the Mogols compris'd within these Bounds viz. from the River Indus to Ganges the Ancients call'd Inward India or India within the Ganges otherwise Indostan or Hindostan that is The Countrey of the Indus for Stan signifies Countrey The Circumference and Extent The Circumference of the whole Realm was at that time 900 French Miles the Length from East to West 600 and the Breadth from North to South 400. Others affirm That it is at least a thousand Cos from East to West two Cos being an English League or three Miles Terry tells That this Kingdom 1615. had in length from the North-west to the South-west above 2000 English Miles and from North to South about 1400 laying the utmost South Point in twenty and the utmost North Point in forty three Degrees of Northern Latitude And that the Breadth at that time from the North-east to the South-west was about 1500 English Miles The Division Purchas according to the Instructions of Mr. Hawkins divides the Realm of the Great Mogol into five Kingdoms the first whereof is call'd Pengab by Davity taken to be the Countrey lying near the River Hind otherwise call'd Pangab which signifies Five Waters the Metropolis whereof is call'd Lahor the second Bengala its Metropolis being Sonargham the third Malua with its Metropolis Vagain the fourth Decan whose Chief City is Barampor the fifth Cambay with the City Amadavar Boterus maintains That the Great Mogol Governs over forty seven Kingdoms According to Edward Terry the Great Mogol Anno 1615. had thirty seven Provinces anciently peculiar Kingdoms under his Subjection the Names whereof being by him copied out of the Mogol's Books of Account are these Candahor Cabul Multan Haiacan or Bolochi Buckar Tatta Soret Jesselmeera Attak Peniab Chismeere Banchish Jengapore Delii Bando Malway Gwaliar Ayra Sanbat Bakar Chytor Guzarat Chandis Berar Narvar Nagrakat Siba Cacares Gor Petan Canduana Patna Jesuat Mevat Udessa and Prugale A Province is by the Inhabitants call'd Soubach The South side of the Mogol's Countrey between the Bay of Cambaya and that of Bengala extends a vast way Southerly in the form of a Triangle There are neither Gold nor Silver Mines in Hindostan Bengala a fertile and rich Kingdom The Kingdom of Bengala is exceeding fruitful the whole Countrey being stor'd with rich Commodities as Silk Cotton Indico and the like This spacious Countrey possesses fruitful Plains and abundance of all sorts of Provisions it lying between the two great
murder their Fathers are ty'd to the Tail of an Elephant and dragg'd along the Streets so long till they die Others are kill'd by Elephants wild Beasts and Serpents No Malefactor lies above one Night in Prison and sometimes not at all for if he be apprehended in the Morning he is immediately carry'd before a Judge who either discharges him or passes Sentence upon him which if it be to be whipt he is immediately stript naked receiving his punishment in the presence of the Judge if to die they instantly carry him to the Bazar or Market-place This sudden way of punishing Offenders keeps the People in such awe that they seldom commit any Crime to deserve it The King's Robes given to the Omrahs It is said that the Mogol never wears a Sute of Clothes above one day after which he sends the same with great Ceremony to such Omrahs as are his Favorites who account it a great honor to be clad in the King's Robes He is weigh'd upon his Birth-day The Mogols Birth-day is kept as a great Festival on which he is weigh'd in the Scale against some Jewels Gold Silver Cloth of Tissue Butter Rice Fruit and many other things each of them successively being put into the Ballance all which falls to the Mollas or Priests share This is done in great state whil'st several Elephants hung with Chains Bels Gold and Silver Caparisons and Breastplates beset with Rubies and Emeraulds are brought before him From the weight of the King of which the Physicians take an exact Account they boast to know his Abilities When the Mogol is thus weigh'd he throws small pieces of Silver amongst the Spectators as also some Gold in the form of Flowers Cloves or Nutmegs but very thin and hollow which done he drinks with his Nobles Their way of Salutation The usual Salutation which the Indians shew to their King as also to one another is in the Persian Tongue call'd Teslim in the Indian Sumback and by a corrupt Name amongst the Europeans Sombaya The manner of Salutation is perform'd with the right Hand without taking off their Turbants with which they almost touch the Ground and lifting it up again very leisurely to their Mouthes as if they would kiss it and so still higher and higher by degrees till they hold it above their Heads After the same manner but with both Hands folded together they Salute and shew Reverence to their Gods and other Consecrated things The Indian Heathens in stead of wishing one another Health or a good Day salute one another with the Name of their Idol Ram. The Reverence they shew to their Prince When the King 's Vice-Roys come to the Court or any other place where he is they bow down their Heads to the Ground and touch the same with their Hands after which approaching him by degrees they bow several times one after another till they are very near him when they are search'd by those whose Office it is to see if they carry any Arms about them after which they go to touch his Feet whil'st he stands as if immovable The greatest sign of Friendship that he can shew them is to lay his Hand on their Shoulders Moreover the rest of the Kings of India who are not his Substitutes when they speak of him bow their Heads in sign of Reverence All the Mogol's Provinces are Govern'd by Sultans or Vice-Roys either Moors Heathens or others In the chiefest Towns and Sea-Ports are three Governors or Officers of the Kings viz. the Omar or Nabab who is the Governor or Lord of the City the Governor of the Castle and the King 's Confident call'd Vakea Nevis who oversees the other two The Omar being the Lord of the City Commands also in the Countrey round about and takes care to receive the Customs Excises and other Revenues of which he gives an Account to the King He bears the Title of Nabab which signifies My Lord and keeps two Deputies viz. one in the Countrey call'd Cavasioram whose Office it is with several hundred Bow-men to keep the Ways clear from Robbers and the other in the City nam'd Cotonal or Cutwal who performs the Office of Provost-Marshal seising on all Malefactors and committing them to Prison but his Power extends not without the Liberty of the City except by express order from the Governor The Omar or Nabab Treats of Peace and Matters of Traffique on the Boundaries and Sea-coasts Amongst them also is a Sabandar or Master of the Cinque-Ports The Governor of the Castle who seldom comes out of his Fortress takes upon him the Title of Omar The King 's chief Officers in Cities and Sea-Ports and may refuse the Nabab entrance into the Fort if he comes thither without the King's Order or with too great a Train He also orders the People to Watch and Ward causes the Drums to beat and Trumpets to sound three times a day and as often in the night at each time an hour and a half The Vakea Nevis or Inquisitor General takes notice of the Actions of the Nabab the Governor of the Castle and other eminent Officers inquires into all disorders and informs the Mogol by Letters every eighth day of what happens in that time in the City where he resides The Mahumetan Princes never give any Lands to their Officers for Inheritance nor do they enjoy their Employments any longer than their Princes please The Mogol's Eldest Son inherits the Crown unless for some misdemeanor or want of ability he is by the Father in his Life-time and with the Consent of his Council judg'd undeserving thereof The Indians derive their right of Inheritance from the Mothers side notwithstanding the Men commonly have the whole Conduct of the Realm as being fittest to command Of the Name and Title of Mogol The reason of the Name Mogol THey give their King the Name of Mogol because he is extracted out of a Tribe or Family of the Giagatian Tartars for there are many Tribes of Tartars which is properly call'd Mogol and belongs to the City Samarcand in the Province Giagata or Zagatai otherwise Usbeck which is the ancient Sogdiane and in the Persian Maps call'd Soghd For this reason many of his Subjects and especially the Mahumetan Soldiers which are in his Service though Native Indians call themselves Mogols or Mogolleans because they are deriv'd out of Tartary It s signification Terry tells us That the Name or Title of Mogol signifies Circumcised as he himself is and all the Mahumetans and from hence he is call'd the Great Mogol as being the Chief of the Circumcis'd Some also call him the Emperor of the Ganges The Provinces and Countreys between the Bay of Cambaya and that of Bengala as Telengone or the Kingdom of Visiapour Decan Golconda and many other Territories were not Govern'd in ancient Times by peculiar Princes but by one Supreme Head or by two at the most viz. The Southern Parts were Govern'd by the
restor'd Hamayon to his Kingdom and slew the Rebel Xyrcan A Tartarian Prince settles in India and becomes Founder of the Royal Family there Della Valle writes That a Nephew of one of the Tartarian Princes after Tamerlane had distributed his vast Dominions amongst his Children and Grandchildren travell'd over the Mountain Imaus or Taurus to seek his Fortunes in India at a Prince's Court who possess'd a great part of the Countrey where by means of the chiefest Persons in the Kingdom and many good Services done for the State he so insinuated himself that he got firm footing in the Countrey insomuch that in process of time and several vicissitudes one of his Successors attain'd to the Throne and was made the Founder of the Royal House which Reigns at present and of which Schach Selim who Reign'd about the Year 1620 was the Fourth The Successor of Hamayon Myrza was his Son Gelaladin Eckbar or Ackbar or Akebar otherwise Achabar that is Great or Most powerful Peruschi calls him Mahomet Zelabdin He was born in a Territory call'd Chaquata which lies Northward between the Tartars and Persians and borders Southward upon India SCHACH SELIM Ecbars Death and Character This Eckbar dy'd on the twenty seventh day of October Anno 1605. in the sixty third year of his Age He was belov'd by all his Subjects fear'd by his Nobles and courteous to all he deported himself with equal moderation to Strangers and to the Natives whether Christians Mahumetans or Heathens which oblig'd all Parties to him and rendred them devoted to his Service He Pray'd to God constantly every Morning and Evening Noon and Midnight abhorr'd Cruelties insomuch that by virtue of a Law made by him none were to die unless Sentence had been pronounc'd against them three times and easily pardon'd Criminals if they could but make any reasonable Excuse Mean Presents he receiv'd with as great kindness as those of biggest value regarding onely the good will of the Presenter He fed sparingly eating Flesh not above three or four times in a year the rest of the time his Diet being Rice Milk and Preserves He gave Audience to his Subjects and others twice a day out of a Window He could neither Write nor Read yet nevertheless understood very well all the Affairs of his Realm for the News that his Deputies writ him from all Places he caus'd to be read to him as also several Books He made strict enquiry of Strangers concerning the Power of their Princes and manner of Traffick He order'd a silver Bell to be hung at a Chain of fifteen yards long to the end that all those who could not obtain Justice from his Officers should come and complain to him thereof giving him notice of their being there by pulling the Bell which he no sooner heard but immediately came forth and saw that they had Right done them He had three Sons and two Daughters the eldest who succeeded him in his Throne was Scieco to which as a Title of Honor was added Gio which in the Countrey Language signifies Soul so that Scieco-Gio signifies The Soul or Person of Scieco The second was call'd Pahari by Jarrick Sultan Morad and by Peruschi Sultan Horad who being deliver'd to some Jesuits to be instructed by them in the Romish Religion was slain in the Wars of Decan The third was call'd Dan or Daniel Texeira calls the eldest Xequa Patxa the second Pary Patxa who dy'd of some Distemper Anno 1602 and the third Sabelxa Patxa But the eldest is by Purchas Della Valle and others generally call'd Selim. Scieco Gio succeeds his Father by the Name of Schach Selim. When Scach Selim was born his Father nam'd him Sceichu for Eckbar who till that time had no Male issue believ'd that he had obtain'd him from God by the Prayers of one Schach a Man accounted very holy and religious But his Father about the twelfth or thirteenth year of his Age changing his first Name according to the Custom of the Countrey call'd him Schach Selim which in the Arabick signifies A Peaceable King supposing this Name to agree best with his Temper and Disposition On the the eighth day after Eckbar's Death Selim in the beginning of his Reign to gain the favor and good opinion of the Mahumetans whom he had promis'd to defend their Laws caus'd their Temples to be cleans'd and took upon him the Name of Nurdin Mahumed Jahanair or according to Della Valle Nura Eddin Muchamed Gihon Ghir that is The Light of the Belief of Mahomet and Conqueror of the World because he publickly declar'd to be a Mahumetan notwithstanding in his heart he neither esteem'd Mahomet nor his Laws nor did he regard any Religion yet he kept the Name of Schach Selim by which he was call'd amongst the common People This Scach Selim amongst all his Women had one who was acknowledg'd as a Queen and being honor'd above all the Ladies of his Court bore a great sway nothing being done in the Kingdom but by her Conduct and Power She was a native Indian but of Persian Blood viz. Daughter to a Persian who deserting his native Countrey came into India to serve the Great Mogol as many Persians do who for the many good Services which he had done him made him a Chan and Vice-Roy of a Province A Persian Lady gains to be made Queen by her resolute Carriage This Queen was first Marry'd to another Persian Nobleman who was also in the Mogol's Service after whose Death by some means or other she came acquainted with Schach Selim who falling in love with her desir'd her to go into his Haram or Seraglio amongst his other Concubines which she modestly refusing said That she had once been the Wife of one who in all Places had given proofs of his Valor being never daunted by any of his Enemies Moreover that she was the Daughter of such a Father as accounted Honor the greatest Good wherefore she could never be brought to forget her self so much as to be guilty of any unchaste Action neither would her Birth and Quality permit her to be put into the King 's Haram and us'd as a common Slavess but if the King had so great an Affection for her as to make her his lawful Consort she should never be wanting in the Duty which she ow'd to the King but at all times be subject and ready to obey his Commands This her bold Answer so incens'd the King that it wanted very little but he had forc'd her to Marry one of those Persons call'd Halalchor who are those that without scruple eat of all sorts of Meat and are the most despicable and scorn'd People of all India yet nevertheless she remain'd so firm and constant that she resolv'd rather to die than change her Mind The King more and more overcome by her Beauty at last consulted to Marry her as his lawful Wife and caus'd her to be acknowledg'd as Queen and chief of all the King 's Haram which
Garden Fruit. Barley mix'd with chopt Straw serves in all those Eastern Countreys the Horses in stead of Oats there growing none here Candahar often changes its Lords The Territory of Candahor hath many strong holds viz. Calabust on the Borders of Persia Samandower lying between Calabust and Candahar and many others The Countrey and City of Candahar lying between Persia and the Mogol's Realm often changes its Lord being one day under the Jurisdiction of the Persians and another under the Mogols though at present under the first and hath in this later Age been the occasion of a great War between the Mogols and Persians Ananias from the information of a Persian call'd Anvadat saith that the King of Balassy first gave this Countrey to the Persian for assisting him against the Mogollans and Tartars yet Jarrick tells us that the King of Candahar whom he calls Candazar gave his Realm to the Great Mogol when he was not able to defend it any longer against Abduxan King of Usbeck The King of Persia himself pretends in a Letter written to the Chans of Sciras that the Province of Candahar always belong'd to the Crown of Persia and that the Mogol had unjustly taken it from him which is confirm'd by F. Bernier who saith that the Mogol King Ecbar taking Candahar from the Persians by force kept the same during his Life When it became subject to the Great Mogol and its several vicissitudes Anno 1618. the City of Candahar became subject to the Great Mogol for the Persian Governor thereof whether out of dislike to the Persian Government or whether Brib'd with a great Sum of Money selling the Countrey and Garrisons to the Great Mogol entred into his Service according to the Examples of other Persians Chorazans and Usbecks who Listed themselves in the foremention'd Prince's Service The Persian hath often demanded the same again by Ambassadors as in the Year 1622. a little before it was re-taken by Schach Abbas King of Persia who march'd thither some Months before with a mighty Army to Fight against the Great Mogol According to the Letter which the King sent to his Peers the City Candahar was not taken by violence but the Townsmen surrendred themselves and most of the Inhabitants de serted the same with all their Goods because they were sensible that the City could not be defended against so vast an Army there being not above eight hundred in it After this Candahar fell again into the hands of Schach Jehan not by force of Arms but by means of the Governor Alimerdancan who also surrendred himself he having before been suspected of Treason by the King of Persia who had sent for him to give an Account of his Transactions Anno 1649. in February the Fortress Candahar after a Siege of forty days and discharging of many great Guns which made two Breaches in the City Walls was taken again by Schach Abbas the Second The Indostans had not surrendred the Fort so soon had they not wanted Provisions and Gunpowder It is a wonder that this Fortress of Candahar standing on the Borders of two mighty Kingdoms and having been so often contested for was not better furnish'd with Ammunition and Provisions but perhaps the Mogol suppos'd that his Ambassadors whom Schach Abbas put off with Delays would have concluded a Peace the Soldiers in Garrison else fighting very valiantly insomuch that they could not be discern'd to abate any thing of their courage notwithstanding the foremention'd want After the conquering of the City a Persian Horseman or Quizilbasci was commanded to stand upon the Guard without the Gate till such time as all the Indostan Soldiers were come out of the fame as a testimony of the Persians Victory against the Indostans he was Accoutred in this manner viz. On his Back hung a Tyger's Skin on his Head in stead of a Turbant he wore a round Copper Helmet with a Plume of Feathers hanging down behind on both sides of the same in his Hand he held a Truncheon On the fifth day after the Conquest the Indostan Soldiers march'd out of the City to Cabul lying eight days Journey from Candahar They were according to the Agreement not allow'd to take any thing with them more than what each Man could carry on his Horse and not without being search'd because some things were forbidden them to meddle with The Citizens for the most part promising to be obedient to the King of Persia staid in the Town Myrub Chan who had conquer'd the Fortress Bust was made Governor of Candahar and charg'd on pain of Death to be very careful in the preservation of it After Schach Abbas had conquer'd the City and Fortress of Candahar and given order for repairing of the demolish'd Walls he went with his Army back to the City of Herat. Some days after Myrub Chan the new-made Governor of Candahar sent a flying Post to the King to inform him That it was certainly reported the Mogol was coming towards Candahar with six hundred thousand Men and that one of his Sons was already entred into the City Cabul with ten thousand Men which being affirm'd by several Messengers that came one after another the King sent his Chans back with the Army immediately to Candahar where the Persians in good order expected the Mogol to give him Battel The Mogol's Army coming thither three days after Encamp'd at first about half a Mile distant from the Persians whilst the Trumpets sounding the Indostans with loud shouts fell in amongst their Troops which consisted most in Oxen and some ordinary Tartarian Horses the Persian Horses being too dear for a common Mogol Trooper to buy The Battel being very fierce at first the Persians behav'd themselves very valiantly and when their Reserve came up with them they unawares fell upon both Wings of the Enemy breaking their Ranks and killing their General who had behav'd himself nobly but ventur'd too far amongst the Persians and putting them to flight kill'd great numbers of them in the pursuit yet there were about six thousand Persian and not above two thousand Indostans slain in this Battel The Indostans left all their Ammunition and Provisions to the disposal of the Persians whilst the Mogol having no mind to adventure any farther march'd back with his Army The Persian Chans leaving half their Army before Candahar Encamp'd themselves before the City and march'd back to Herat with the other half Candahar Besieged Whilst the Persians possess'd Candahar it was twice Besieg'd in vain by the Mogol Schach Jehan the first time it escap'd being taken partly by ill Conduct and private Correspondence of the Persian Omrahs that were in the Mogol's Service and the most eminent at his Court and partly by the Respect they bare to their native Prince for they all behav'd themselves very ill and would not follow the Raja Roup who had already planted his Standards on the Walls towards the side of the Mountains The second time it was hapned not to be taken
by means of Oranchzef who would not Storm that part of the Wall where the English French Portuguese and Dutch had planted great Guns for which this was his reason viz. because he would not have it to be said that the Fortress of Candahar should be conquer'd in Darasja's time who was the first Agitator of this Design and at that time resident with his Father in the City of Cabul Schach Jehan some years before these last Troubles was also resolv'd to Besiege Candahar a third time had not Emir Jemla and Aly Merdaman disswaded him from it and advis'd him to send his Forces towards Decan Lastly King Oranchzef like his Predecessors in these later years made Preparations to Besiege Candahar whether because he was provok'd thereto by Letters which the King of Persia had sent to him or for the bad Entertainment and Disgrace which his Ambassador Tarbietcan receiv'd from him is uncertain but being inform'd of the King of Persia's Death he retreated alledging as some say that he would not War against a Child but this seems not very probable for Schach Soliman who succeeded his Father was then twenty five years old Calabust taken by the Persian An. 1649. the Persians took the Fortress Calabust from the Mogol which hapned after the following manner viz. On the fourth of January in the Afternoon the Persian Army came before the Fortress which was Garrison'd with seventeen hundred Indostans under the Command of an Indian Prince call'd Bourdelchan the principal Officers were Alichan of Meschet and Asolachan from Kilan with twenty thousand Men but the chief Command was given to Myrub Chan because he had formerly surrendred the said Place to the Mogols upon Articles of Agreement Mean while Schach Abbas King of Persia went from thence to his grand Army at Candahar ten days Journey with the Cafili or Caravan from Calabust Moreover they cast up onely one Battery having no convenient place to raise any more from whence they daily play'd their great Guns at the Walls being continually answer'd not onely with great but small Shot This continu'd one and twenty days when having made a Breach in the Wall they Storm'd three several times yet were beaten off with the loss of three hundred Men. On the same day a Tzapor or Royal Messenger came with a Letter to the General who in the presence of two other Chans opening the same with great Reverence they read it one after another Whereupon all the prime Commanders as also some of the chief Quizilbascies being sent for the Letter was publickly read before them all the Contents whereof was to this effect Myrub do you eat the King's Bread and Salt and not press on with the Souldiers under your Command Remember that you formerly surrendred Calabust to the Mogol Cleanse your self from your Crime and look you gain me the Fortress in a few days which if you do not expect to receive a Sword from me The next night they Storm'd more fiercely than before and Myrub Chan whether out of fear of the threatned Punishment or out of Despair press'd on daily more and more nay resolv'd to lose all his Men rather than break up the Siege but after a sharp Encounter the Persians forc'd their way into the City and slew above ten thousand Men the rest flying into the upper Castle the Governor of which nam'd Bourdel Chan coming down alone with his Sword drawn was espy'd by Myrub Chan who saluted him with the word Hoschammedi but Bourdel Chan making no answer still advanc'd towards him and laying down his Sword fell at Myrub Chan's Feet who bid him rise up then Boardel standing up said There lies my Sword at your Feet I am conquer'd I am your Slave do with me what you please onely spare my Wife and Children Myrub Chan hereupon commanded his Men not to hurt him nor any that belong'd to him and stretching out his Hands laid them under Bourdel Chan's and withal kissed him Then causing the Trumpets to be sounded he commanded all the Indostan Soldiers that were remaining to lay down their Arms and acknowledge themselves the King's Slaves which if they refus'd to do they must expect no Quarter But the Indostans not regarding this Threatning would not lay down their Arms and so were every Man kill'd Many of the Quizilbascies deoculated the slain Indostans cut off their Hands and then flead and stuft up the Skins The Heads they carry'd on their Launces as Trophies of their Victory some carried four or five stuck one above another on long Pikes to Candahar for amongst the Persians he who brings home most of his Enemies Heads is not onely accounted a brave Soldier but also advanc'd to the highest Offices As to what concerns the Countrey of Balassy it is also as Ananias affirms a part of the ancient Paropamisa The City of Balassan The Metropolis of Balassy is Balassan a great City lying on the River Gehun or Gelcon An Arabian Writer nam'd Abulfeda Ismael Prince of Hamah seems to call this City Balassagun and places it over the River Sihun near Cashgar It lay formerly on the Turks Confines but was afterwards reduc'd to the Tartars Jurisdiction On the Banks of the foremention'd River stand also Semergian and Bocan the Residence of the Kings of Balassy wherefore he is call'd The King of Bacan Eastward from these Places is the Indus near which lies the great Mountain Bellor and the far spreading Countreys of the Mountain Pamer The Goverrment of Balassan Balassan is a Place of great Trade many Merchants resorting thither from China and all parts of India and a very strong Town fearing neither Persian nor Tartar It is Govern'd by peculiar Kings who call themselves Dulcarneim or according to our pronunciation Zulcarneim which Name the Eastern People gave to Alexander the Great from whence these Kings perhaps boast their Extract The Towns and People of Sablestan Sablestan lies Eastward bewond Chorazan The Towns which it comprehends are Becksabath Meimine Asbe Bust and Sarevitz The Inhabitants thereof are a rude ill natur'd and ignorant People destitute of all kind of Civility The Kingdom of Cabul THe Kingdom of Cabul The Borders otherwise Caboul is the utmost Northern part of the great Mogol's Dominions It borders Eastward at Caximir being separated from it onely by the River Bhat Southward it faces Penjab Westward Candahar and Northward verges upon the Usbeck Tartars The Derivation of the Name Cabul is deriv'd from a Syriack word which signifies Unfruitful as indeed the Countrey is very barren cold and subject to great Winds except along the Banks of the River Nilab which rising in this Countrey glides Southward and falls near Lahor into the Indus The City Cabul very large The chief City is Cabul of the same Denomination with the Territory which some as Ananias take to be the ancient City Arachosia or Cosen and is as big according to the relation of a Persian nam'd Aviadat as Cairo the other
Kingdom of great and little Tibet and those of the Raja Gamon which are its next Neighbors The first Mountains that inclose it viz. those which lie nearest the Plains are of an indifferent heighth and overgrown with Trees and Grass which serve for Pasturage for divers sorts of Beasts as Oxen Cows Sheep Goats Horses Stags Hares and a certain Beast which produces Musk as also Bees in great abundance But there are which is a strange thing in India no Serpents Tygers Bears nor Lions or but very rarely to be found here Beyond these indifferent high Mountains rise others which being very high are cover'd all the year with Snow and reaching above the Clouds and the usual foggy Damps carry upon their tops calm and serene Weather These Mountains of Caximir cannot be travell'd without great difficulty with Camels they being so very steep and craggy Eleven or twelve days Journey from Lahor and five from Caximir are the Mountains Bember which are high spiry black and barren and are as a mighty Wall of that part of the World Great Heat in March and the effects of it Between Lahor and Caximir near Bember it is intolerable hot in March which proceeds from those high Mountains that lie Northerly and prevent or break off all the cool Winds which come from that side and reflecting the Sun-beams back on the Fields scorch and burn them neither are there any Clouds seen nor one Blast of Wind stirring insomuch that the Horses often fainting fall down under their Riders Strangers that travel this way break out full of red Pimples which prick like Needles all over their Bodies nay many of them die of the extream Heat When you travel in March out of the Mountains of Bember into those of Caximir you come out of a torrid into a more temperate Climate and that which is more strange Travellers find so great an alteration as if they were transported out of India into Europe the Fields being overgrown with all kind of European Plants Grain and Herbs except Hyssop Thyme and Rosemary the Woods full of Elms Ash Chesnut and Palm-trees whenas there is not one Shrub to be seen in the scorch'd Fields of Indostan Difference of Air in one Mountain A days Journey and a half from Bember is a Mountain which on both sides is overgrown with Plants but with this distinction viz. on that side which respects the South towards India is a mixture both of Indian and European Plants but on the North side grow none but European just as if the Southern part of the Mountain did participate with the Temperature of the Air of Europe and India and the North side onely of Europe In the Valleys and deep Precipices between these high Mountains lie hundreds of Trees one above another some wither'd and others rotten with age and also many young ones which are sprung out of the Roots of the rotten There are likewise some scorch'd Trees either set on fire by Lightning or by the motion of the Wind in the midst of Summer which causeth them to clash one against the other or as the Inhabitants say they take fire of themselves when grown old and dry The highest Mountain of all is call'd Pirepenjale from which at a great distance you discover the Countrey of Cachemire and travelling over this Mountain in March you are sensible in less than an hours time both of Summer and Winter for in ascending it your are exceedingly perplex'd with the intolerable heat of the Sun but coming to the top you find frozen Snow through which you must cut your way being often so extraordinary cold that it chills the Traveller An odd Hermite Anno 1664. F. Bernier travelling over this Mountain found an ancient Recluse on the top thereof who had dwelt on the same ever since the Time of Schach Selim his Religion was not known to any but he had the power as the Inhabitants affirm to perform great Miracles viz. to cause Thunder Lightning Wind Hail Rain and Snow whensoever he pleas'd He appear'd to Bernier who went to visit him in his Cave like a Salvage with a long grey Beard asking Alms of him and desir'd that his Pitchers which he had set together on a great Stone might be fill'd with Water after which he beckned with his Hand to him and his Company that they should not stop but pass over the Mountain with all the speed they could and frown'd at those who stood still or made any noise alledging that it would occasion great Tempests there and told Bernier that Oranchzef had done well in not suffering any to make a noise there as also his Father Schach Jehan but that Schach Selim scorning his Advice caus'd Drums to be beaten and Trumpets to be sounded there whereupon there arose such a mighty Tempest that he despair'd of getting alive from thence In or between the Mountains which belong to Cachemire are many fertile Plains and amongst others one which pays Hides and Wooll for Tribute which the Governor sends for yearly The Women here are very handsom chaste The Women handsom and Laborious The Merchants of Cachemire go yearly from Mountain to Mountain to buy up the Wooll of which they make a certain Stuff call'd Chales There is yet another Place very remote from Cachemire which also pays Tribute in Hides and Wooll and possesses very many pleasant and fruitful small Plains and Valleys which produce Wheat Rice Apples Pears Apricocks Melons and Grapes of which the Owners make excellent Wine The Inhabitants have often refus'd to pay Tribute on the account of the troublesom and almost inaccessible Ways that lead into their Countrey but there have ever been means found to get into their Jurisdiction to reduce them to Obedience Moreover in the Mountains which lie farther off and not under the Jurisdiction of Cachemire are very pleasant Tracts of Lands inhabited by a white and well shap'd People who seldom come from thence There are some that are under no King nor have they any Religion onely some account it a sin to eat Fish Out of all these Mountains rise many Springs and Rivulets which the Inhabitants convey to their Rice-Fields along great Ditches which having fill'd many lesser at last make a great navigable River for Ships of a considerable Burthen This Stream having pass'd round about the Kingdom and through the middle of the chief City Caximir seeks a passage out at Boramoule between two spiry Rocks from whence falling with great force it receives by the way the Waters of many little Brooks which also spring out of the Mountains and at last discharges its Waters near Attack in the River Indus All these Rivulets gliding from the Mountains make the low Lands exceeding fertile insomuch that the whole Kingdome is like a Garden which being all over green hath here and there some Villages situate amongst the Trees and is divided into several Beds Sow'n with Rice Wheat and other Grain besides Saffron and Hemp interwoven
with Water-courses Channels and some little Lakes and Rivulets and every where planted with European Trees and Flowers as Apples Pears Plumbs Apricocks Nuts and Vines European Plants and Herbs here in great abundance In the private Gardens of this Countrey grow Musk-melons Patequos or Water-melons Beets Raddishes most of our Potherbs and some which we have not yet these Fruits are not so good as those in Europe which proceeds rather from the ignorance of Gardners than the Soil wherefore the Mogols have not improperly call'd this Countrey The Terrestrial Paradice neither did the Great Mogol Ecbar without just reasons take so much pains to get it from the lawful Kings and his Son Schach Selim was so much taken therewith that he could not possibly forsake it often saying That he would rather lose all his whole Kingdom besides than Cachemire When Oranchzef came Anno 1664. from Deli to recreate himself in this Countrey in the Month of March all the Poets strove to exceed one another in making Verses in praise of the same which Oranchzef receiv'd rewarding the Authors of them very bountifully The Description of the City and Lake of Cachemire The chief Town of this Countrey bears the same Denomination with the Kingdom and being without Walls is three quarters of a Mile long and half a Mile broad It is situate in a barren Field about two Leagues from the Mountains which seem to make a Semi-circle about a Lake of sweet Water of about four or five Leagues in circumference This Lake is made by running Springs and Brooks which glide from the Mountains and discharges its Water through a navigable Channel into a River which runs through the middle of the City and hath two Bridges over it This Lake is also full of Islands which resemble so many pleasant Gardens with delightful Walks and Arbors and are surrounded with Poplar and other Trees which have Leaves about two Foot broad and are as tall as the Masts of Ships with Boughs onely on the top like Date-trees On the other side of the Lake upon the hanging of the Mountains are also abundance of Banquetting-houses and Gardens for which that place is most convenient because it hath a delicate Air a Prospect on the Lake Islands and a City and is full of Springs and Rivulets The best of all the Gardens being the Kings is in the Persian Language call'd Schach-Limar that is The King's Garden Out of the Lake they go into this Garden through a Channel between two rows of Trees planted along its Banks about five hundred Paces long This Channel leads to the King 's Sugar-house which is also in the midst of the Garden where begins another brave Moat reaching to the upper end of the Garden The bottom of the foremention'd Channel is pav'd with Freestone and the sides thereof rais'd also with the same Stone in the middle thereof are many Springs of Water which being in a row fifteen Paces distant one from another shoot up above the other Water Moreover there are Receptacles of Water like Ponds out of which by means of several Springs the Water rises up in many small Streams which make divers Figures This Channel ends at another great Banquetting-house not much unlike the former The foremention'd Pleasure-houses built almost like Cloysters lying in the middle of the Moat are surrounded with Water between the two rows of Poplar Trees they have Galleries or Balconies built round about them and four Doors opposite one to another two whereof fronting the two rows of Trees have two Bridges which lead cross the Water one on each side the other two front the two ends of the Channel Each Summer-house consists in a great Room in the midst of four lesser which make the Square the Walls of both the great and small Rooms are richly Gilded and Painted and full of Inscriptions in large Persian Characters the four Doors are very stately of large Stones with two Columns fetch'd out of the ancient Pagan Temples which Schach Jehan caus'd to be ruin'd The value of these Stones is not known nor of what species they are unless Marble or Porphyrie Most of the Houses are built of Wood two Storeys high not for want of Stone there being many old ruin'd Deuras or Temples but for the cheapness by reason of the abundance of Wood which grows on the adjacent Mountains from whence it may be fetch'd for a small matter and carried to the City along a little River The Houses built along the River side have each of them a Garden which hath a Prospect on the Water The other Houses that do not stand near the River have Gardens also and many of them a little Channel which runs into the Lake into which they can Row from their Houses in small Boats At one end of the City appears a very steep Mountain at the foot whereof are many fair Houses with Gardens and on the top a Mosque with an Orchard and Garden belonging to it In regard whereof the Inhabitants in their Language call this Mountain Hary Porbet that is Green Mountain Opposite to this appears another Mountain being also crown'd with a Mosque and likewise an ancient Structure which seems to have been a Deura or Pagode but it is call'd Tackt Souliman that is The Throne of Salomon because as the Mahumetans say Salomon built it when he came to Cachemire A wonderful Spring At the Confines of this Kingdom two or three days Journey from the City Cachemire a Spring near the foot of a Mountain works Wonders as the Mahumetans affirm in May when the Snow melts on the Mountains viz. it ebbs and flows for fifteen days together three times in a day in the Morning at Noon and at Night after the first fifteen days its Course is not so exact and after a Months time it stops altogether the remaining part of the year except in the time of great and long Rains when it overflows like other Springs The Heathens have on the Brink of this Spring a little Deura or Pagode built in honor of one of their Idols wherefore they have call'd it Send Brary as if they would say Water of Brary whither many People go in Pilgrimage to Bathe themselves Many strange Relations they give concerning the original of this Spring the Mountain at whose foot it springs extends in length from North to South and appears at a distance like a Plain somewhat rising in the middle and is about a hundred Paces broad on the top the North side hath some Verdure but quickly decaying for want of the Suns influence the other side on the West is shaded with Trees and Brambles Some distance from the High-way is a pleasant Seat of the ancient Kings of Cachemire and at present of the Great Mogol call'd Achiavela The most remarkable thing belonging thereunto is a Spring whose Water runs round about the Structure and through all the Gardens in many little Channels This Spring boyls with such great force out
They make them of two several sorts of Stuffs namely Inland Wooll which is much softer than the Spanish and another sort of Wooll or rather Hair call'd Touz which grows on the Breasts of wild Goats which breed in Tibet These last are much dearer than the first the Hair of Beaver not exceeding it in softness but it is very subject to Moths and Worms if not beaten and air'd They are much worn by the great Omrahs who give for some of them a hundred nay a hundred and fifty Ropias each Ropia being 2 s. 2 d. whenas those made of Inland Wooll cost not above fifty It is said that the King of Caximir Govern'd formerly over all the Mountains which extend to Tartary and over all Indostan quite to the Island of Ceilon The Histories of this Countrey make mention that the Dominions of the Raja of Gamon Cachguer and Serenaguer were anciently under the Jurisdiction of this Kingdom the Inhabitants whereof were all Heathens till about three hundred years ago that the Mahumetan Religion was instituted so that the greatest part are now Saracens Caximir conquer'd by the Mogol To prevent all Invasions the Great Mogol keeps four thousand Soldiers in Caximir which was formerly a Kingdom by it self and was Govern'd by an absolute King who pay'd Tribute to none till Anno 1665. that Ecbar conquer'd the Countrey at a time when the Inhabitants were at Difference and maintain'd War one against another for otherwise he could never have master'd it because Caximir is the most powerful of all the neighboring Kingdoms At present Caximir is Govern'd by a Vice-Roy of the Great Mogol's The present Governor is call'd Diaretcan sent thither by Oranchzef Moreover the Great Mogol Ecbar took this Countrey by force from the last King Justef Chan after the following manner viz. When Ecbar was about to conquer the Kingdom of Maurenahar and the King of Caximir lying between was preparing to prevent him he sent Alli Myrza to tell him that he should immediately come to Lahor and bring his Son with him where he should be well Entertain'd and receiv'd with as much kindness as could be expected from a neighboring Prince and Friend who would leave him in quiet possession of his Countrey and assure him of his Fidelity but if he resolv'd to hazard his Fortunes on an uncertain War he would not onely drive him out of his Realm but also make him his Slave and banish his Son The King of Caximir affrighted with these Threatnings surrendred himself immediately to Ecbar But Jacob Chan his Son who was not able to brook this Oppression fled and was immediately followed by so many Friends that he had Strength sufficient to drive the Indians out of his Fathers Kingdom and caus'd himself to be proclaim'd King yet he enjoy'd the benefit belonging to that Title not long for Ecbar being exceedingly enrag'd at his rebelling sent Ally Myrza and Cassem Chan with thirty thousand Men against him with Command to give him Battel But the young Prince not daring to Engage with such unequal Forces fled into the high Mountains of Bunkery whither Cassem Chan pursuing him by the guidance of some of the Natives made himself Master of all the Mountains and forc'd Jacob Chan to flie to Serenaguer where in a short time after he was Besieged and though the Place was very strong and he had Men enough he was forc'd to surrender himself and being bound Hand and Foot was carry'd to Indostan The Territories of Banchish Jangapore and Jenba Their Situation and Bounds THe Territory of Banchish lies Eastward a little Southerly from Chismeer from whence it is separated by the River Indus it borders Northward upon the People Cackares and Southerly at Jangapore The chief City thereof is call'd Bishur The Province of Jangapore lies on the Stream Caul one of the five Rivers which water Penjab It hath Siba on the East Banchish on the North Jenba on the South and Penjab on the West The Territory of Jenba Eastward from Penjab hath Jangapore on the North Nagracat on the East and Dely on the South The Metropolis thereof is Jenba The Countrey is very mountainous The Kingdom of Dely. Situation and Limits THe Kingdom or Province of Dely or Delly is by Terry call'd Dellee and by others Dely which signifies A Heart because it lies in the heart of the Mogol's Dominions and as Terry saith between Jenba and Agra Maginus places this Kingdom between those of Decan Narsinga Orixa and Cambaya and extending about the Province of Narsinga is separated from the Kingdom of Cambaya by great Mountains The River Jeming running along one side thereof serves for a Moat over which a Bridge with ten Arches leads into the City The ancient Metropolis being also call'd Dely was once a fair and large City and the Seat and Burying-place of the Mogol Emperors who afterwards remov'd from thence to the new-built Dely. Its Glory consisted in many Tombs in which above twenty great Kings and Lords lie buried The superstitious Indians flock thither in Pilgrimage It hath plenty of all things and was anciently the Seat of King Porus who near this Place was conquer'd by Alexander the Great when he came to Invade him with Elephants and abundance of Horses Three Leagues from the City on a place call'd Old Dely where King Homayon Father to Ecbar lies buried stands a great Marble Pillar or Pyramid which having a Greek Inscription is the greatest Remark in all the Province notwithstanding the Letters are almost worn out with age About fifty years ago Schach Jehan Father to the present Great Mogol Oranchzef causing a City to be built not far from Old Dely call'd it Schach Jehan Abad that is The Peopling of Schach Jeham and made the same the Metropolis of the Realm in stead of Agra where he said the Heat was too great in Summer Jehan Abad 2 new City how seated By reason of the nearness of the two foremention'd Places the Ruins of the old City hath serv'd for the new one and there is at present scarce any mention made of Dely but altogether of Jehan Abad which is a new City lying in a barren Field on the Banks of the River Jemna and built onely along one side of the Stream there being but one Bridge over the same which is laid cross several Hulks It is quite unwall'd on that side which respects the Water The Walls are of Stone yet not very tenible or defensive there being no Moats nor any Breastworks but round Towers after the old fashion about a hundred Paces distant from one another and behind them a Mud Wall about four or five Foot thick The circumference of the Wall with the Castle which is inclos'd in the same is about two Leagues and a half but if you include a long Suburb which runs to Lahor and being a Rellick of the old Dely is inhabited it will make above a League in a direct Line and a Circumference which cannot justly
valiant of them use they often put their Enemies to flight This Countrey was formerly Govern'd by a peculiar King and belong'd not long since to the King of Pattan but of late hath been subdu'd by the Great Mogol who in the beginning kept his Court in the Metropolis thereof The Inhabitants are most of them Moors or Mahumetans the rest Heathens who live very miserably for being subdu'd by the Moors who bereav'd them of what they formerly possess'd they are forc'd to range up and down the Countrey from one place to another and are therefore call'd Joguez The Kingdom or Province of Mando or Bando THe Province or Kingdom of Mando otherwise Bando by the Inhabitants according to Texeira call'd Mandou and by Purchas Mandao borders in the East at Agra in the North at Dely in the West at Jesselmeer and in the South at the Province of Malway The Description of the City Maudo The Metropolis which bears one and the same Name with the Province hath six Miles in circumference It lies on a high Mountain the top whereof is flat and spacious The Ascent to the City is very high and steep and troublesom to walk up Not far from the foot of the Mountain is a large Town call'd Achabar Pore by which glides a broad River call'd Narbodag The top of the Mountain is overgrown with shady Trees in such a manner that it is very pleasant to â—â—hold either from the foot upwards or from the top downwards This wooddy Mountain serves as a Recess for Lions Tygers and wild Elephants In this City the Great Mogol hath a House or spacious Palace built of square Stone in which he often resides Not far from this Palace is a Cave cut in a Rock which is no less artificial than pleasant by reason of its coolness The Countrey is barren sandy and mountainous full of Lions Tygers and wild Elephants and produces great plenty of Costus in the Malayan Tongue call'd Pucho and Amphion or Opium There is also abundance of Azur with which the Inhabitants Trade to China Cambaya and Ormuz It is said that the valiant Amazones Reign'd in this Countrey but at present they retain nothing of their Predecessors Qualities but onely to Ride well on Horseback with half Boots and Spurs Whenever the Queen Rides abroad she is accompanied by at least two thousand Women on Horseback The Province of Malway or Malva THe Province of Malway or Malva bordering in the East at Narrat in the South at Chilor and in the North and West at Jesel is very fruitful The chief City thereof is call'd Rantipore the other Towns are Toda and Upen which Thomas Rohous makes to be the Metropolis A pretty way from the City glides the Stream Cepra which is a Branch of the Ganges which is said to fall into the Bay of Cambaya Near this Stream lies the City Callenda formerly the Court of the Kings of Mando or Bando The Territory of Sanga or Chitor and Vtrad THe Territory of Sanga or Chitor formerly a great and ancient Kingdom borders in the North-East and East at Malway in the West at the Mount Ranas and Jesselmeer and in the South at Zurratte and Chandi half way between the Towns Chitor and Asmeer The City of Chitor anciently a glorious City The Metropolis is also call'd Chitor but anciently Taxila and was the chief City of India when King Porus went to Fight against Alexander the Great It lies in 25 Degrees Northern Latitude on the top of a high Mountain inclos'd within a Wall of about ten Miles in circumference Before the ruine thereof it was a fair City not onely for its Buildings but also its Bulwarks and Walls for which reason it was in the Countrey Language call'd Citor that is The Fan of the World It may compare for antiquity with any City in India but at present it is not above three Miles in circumference There are yet above a thousand ruin'd Temples seen in the same several large though decay'd Palaces besides many stately Columns There is onely one Ascent which leads up to the City to which they go through four stately Gates along a Path cut in a Rock The chief Inhabitants at this day are Birds and wild Beasts which the Benjans hold in great veneration By whom destroy'd This City was formerly possess'd by an ancient Prince call'd Ranas whom King Gelaladin Acbar forc'd in the latter end of the former Age to leave his Kingdom and to flie into the Mountains from him call'd Ranas where he setled in the City Odipore to which he was forc'd by a long Siege which the Inhabitants werre not able to hold for want of Provisions The City when surrendred was by the Conqueror laid waste and so continues at this day Others affirm that Badur Sultan of Cambaya Besieg'd the City and that when the Inhabitants saw no likelihood to preserve it any longer they burnt all their Gold and Silver Precious Stones and other things and also themselves insomuch that above seventy thousand perish'd by the Fire which lasted three days together after which Badur enter'd the City Not long after the Kingdom of Cambaya was totally subdu'd by the Great Mogol The Province of Utrad conterminates with that of Chitor and lies near the City of Sinde The chief City thereof bears the same Denomination Productions of the Province of Vtrad This Countrey affords Sal Gemmae or Stone Salt by the Inhabitants call'd Geucar a Name deriv'd from Geu which signifies Barley and from Car which signifies Salt This Province also produces a certain Dreg or Gum by Physicians in the Latine Tongue call'd Assa Foetida and in English for its ill scent Devils-Dung Avicenna and other Arabians call it Altit the Indians Juden and the Benjans Inguh or Hing That which grows here is the least bitter of any The Plant which produces it is of two sorts the one is a high Tree or Bush with little Leaves not unlike those of Rew the other is like a Raddish and hath several great and small Stalks with Leaves almost like the Fig-tree This Plant grows best in Mountains and barren places it is gather'd in Harvest for about die latter end of the Summer the Gum begins to run out of it Theophrastus Dioscorides and others take this Gum to be the Juice of a Plant which they call Laser or Laserpitium The Benjans of Zurratte use this Gum in all their Meat and account no Dish or Sawce to be well made without it They also anoint all their drinking Vessels therewith nay they are so us'd to it that the strong scent which turns the Stomach of others is sweet and pleasant to them The Kingdom of Zurratte or Cambaya THe Kingdom of Cambaya hath receiv'd that Denomination from the Portuguese who so styl'd it from the City of Cambaya which being a Sea-port Town is better known to the Portuguese than any other in this Countrey by reason of the vast Trade which they drive there
Hoggi's or Saints There likewise go yearly from Surrat Brotchia and Cambaya several lesser Vessels to Persia laden with the same Commodities which are carried to Arabia and Aden and they bring back also the same Returns besides abundance of Gold and Silk Stuffs Chamlets Cloth Velvet Pearls Fruit viz. Almonds Raisins Nuts Dates and some Rose-water and other Persian Commodities The Ships set Sail in January or February and return in April or May. There also go yearly Ships of about a hundred two hundred and three hundred Tuns to Achin and Quedda laden with Anfion Cotton and all sorts or Clothes made in Surrat and bring in return Brimstone Benjamin Camphire Porcelan Tin Pepper and other Spices Many lesser Vessels of sixty eighty or a hundred Tuns Trade also to Goa Diu Daman and other Portuguese Factories with Corn melted Butter in Pots and other Provisions for which they bring in return Course Salt from Ormus and a sort of Sedge or Rushes whereof they make Paper The Portuguese used formerly to drive a great Trade to these Places but at present are bereav'd of most of their Chief Factories by the Hollanders It cannot certainly be said what the just Revenues are which the Mogol receives yearly from Surrat but it is related that they amount to 150 Tuns of Gold The Customs of Brotchia onely raise 134400 Mamoedys or 6720 l. a Mamoedy being reckoned at 12 d. The Customs of Brodera 400000 Mamoedys The Government of Surratte Surrat being formerly a Kingdom of it self was Govern'd by a peculiar Pagan King not at all subject to the Mogol And amongst others of these Kings Maffeus makes mention of two the one called Madrafa Scha and the other his Son Mamud who Reign'd Anno 1508. both of whom maintain'd great Wars against the Portuguese But when the Great Mogol Ecbor had driven all the Patans out of Bengala he also Conquer'd the Kingdom of Surrat and bringing it under his Jurisdiction caus'd the same ever since to be Govern'd by a Vice-Roy whom the Moors generally call'd Sultan or else by a Supreme Governor sent thither by the Great Mogol Under him are all other Petty Governors of the peculiar Towns and Provinces which are obliged to give him an Account of all The time of enjoying their Places is at the King's will and pleasure and therefore they commonly make good use of their time minding more how to enrich themselves than regarding the welfare of their Countrey and oftentimes especially at the coming of a new Governor Accusations are brought against Rich Merchants so to get great Sums of Money put of them by Imprisonment and other kinds of cruel usage The State of Chan or Supreme Governor The Supreme Governor lives in great State keeping commonly four hundred Men to wait on him which are all fed out of his Kitchen When he rides abroad which for the most part is on a well-caparison'd Elephant he is attended by all the Nobility and several Horsemen to the number of two hundred Persons armed with Bowes Pikes Shields and Swords Before him are led several Elephants with rich Trappings adorn'd with Pennons and Flags and accompanied with Drummers Trumpetters and others Yet nevertheless he goes but mean in Apparel and commonly in Black Cotton Cloth whilst on the contrary his Servants go very rich and gay The Chan is obliged always to keep 1200 Lescheri or Troopers for the Mogol and fifty Elephants besides fifty for his own use The Revenues with wich they are maintain'd are rais'd from the Towns and Villages under their Jurisdiction as likewise the Forces with which the Chan is guarded the City Amadabat eighteen substitute Towns and a thousand Villages being able to raise 140000 Men. There is likewise a Tziabander or Farmer of the Customs in each City He is Royally attended and served in his Palace none daring offer without his leave to speak to him He gives publick Audience once a Week seated on a Royal Throne and administers Justice to all Persons that make their Complaints to him He is not allow'd any Counsellors or Judges from the King but in Businesses of Consequence he calls some of his Nobles to consult with Yet whatever he thinks fit is decreed so that these Counsellors signifie little All Forfeitures Revenues and Customs which amount to an incredible Sum of Money come into the Chan's Treasury besides which he receives Pay for 12000 Horse when as he seldom keeps above 2000 So that all the Remainder is spent in his Court. All petty Businesses 〈◊〉 decided by the Cowtewaels or Sheriffs who generally shew most favour to the Plaintiff whether he deserve it or not The Punishment of Criminals Matters of Life and Death are determined by the Magistrates of the Towns who refer giving the Sentence to the Coutewaels But if they be rich People that are condemn'd they commonly come off for a Sum of Money which they give to the Governor Poor Criminals are for petty Thefts and other small Offences whipp'd several days together with a great Whip call'd Siambak but for grand Faults as Breaking open of Houses and the like they have their Hands and Feet cut off or some other severe Punishments inflicted upon them Robbers on the High-way if they buy not their Lives with a great Sum of Money are Decollated and their Bodies put on Stakes plac'd alog the Roads Murder is amongst them accounted an unpardonable Crime as also Adultery especially in Women of Quality And for the preventing of the last Common Whores are freely permitted to dwell in every City who with permission of the Sheriff to whom they pay a certain Acknowledgment may go to any Person that sends for them or be visited in their own Houses which rather tends to their Honour than Disgrace for there are no Feasts accounted Compleat and Noble unless there be present some of these Common Women to Dance and Sing before the Guests The Religion of the Surratteans As to what concerns the Religion of the Surratteans some of them especially the Chiefest are Moors or Mahumetans the rest Benjans Brahmines and other sorts of Pagans There are in Surrat many Gioghi's a People much resembling the Romish Monks being in severity of Life and outward Penitence inferior to none for they go stark naked in the coldest Weather and sleeping on Horse-dunghils cover their Heads and Faces therewith and wear very long Hair which makes them look frightful and deform'd The People are very Charitable being much inclin'd to the giving of Almes to the Poor very Pious and sollicitous of their Salvation though deluded by their Teachers some giving twenty five others fifty Ducats at a time and some more Perushi affirms That Anno 1595. there was on one day viz. the eighth of January above a Tun of Gold given in Alms. The reason of this great Charity on that day is upon the account of some grand Tradition mentioned in their Law-book Their two main Duties next to giving of Alms are Pilgrimage
God had wholly destroy'd the Family of the Kutteries therefore he resolv'd to renew the same by a Prince and ordain'd that the Kings for the future should be Extracted out of the Family of the Brahmines the chiefest whereof that were then living having been preserv'd by Wistney were call'd Ducerat The first Child which was born after this universal Destruction was ordain'd to be the Race of Kings and Princes who being zealously brought up manag'd both the Affairs of State and Religion Governing the People with great Wisdom and Piety according to their several Tribes perform'd many heroick Acts and was a Protector of all Brahmines and other Spiritual Persons His Name was Ram and by his Just and Pious Life attain'd to that Dignity that his Name is to this day exceedingly honor'd amongst them for in their usual Salutations they with a loud Voice cry Ram Ram that is I wish you Health and all Happiness 'T is certain many Just and Pious Kings Reign'd after him but as all things do daily degenerate so in process of Time receding farther and farther from their original Purity they grew proud and ambitious insomuch that they acted daily contrary to the Commandments comprehended in the Book of Bremaw These hainous Enormities did once more so highly incense the Almighty that he gave Power to Ruddery to open the Earth that it might swallow them up alive except a few of each of the four Tribes which he preserv'd to re-people the World anew with And in this manner ended the third Age of the World Soon after God commanded that the World should be re-planted by those that were preserv'd which was one Kysteney or Kistna who was a famous King Wise and Religious and one of the most comely Persons of the former Age. He propagated Religion with great Zeal insomuch that during his Life there was great Reformation amongst the People and very hopeful beginnings of Piety and Honesty When by Kysteney's coming Wistney's time was expir'd God as they relate took him up to Heaven there being no further need of his Service here below because there would be no other World after this fourth Age which now in being will according to the Opinion of the Brahmines last much longer than any of the former and that after its ruine Ruddery will be taken up to Heaven likewise They call these four Ages by four several Names viz. the first Kurtain the second Dnauper the third Tetrajos and the fourth Kolee The manner of destroying this last Age will as the Brahmines relate be much more terrible than any of the former to wit by Fire at what time Ruddery will gather all his Powers together as absolutely necessary for the execution of so grand a Destruction The Moon will shine red the Beams of the Sun will be like the Flames of burning Brimstone Thunder and Lightning will make a dreadful noise the Sea will change into all manner of Colours and Fire and Smoke will cover the surface of the Earth the four Elements of which the Heavens were first made will maintain War against one another and the World being thereby utterly destroy'd will resolve into its first Primordia The World will be destroy'd by Fire as they suppose for this reason That it must be extinguish'd by that which gave it beginning and because it consists of Earth Water Air and Fire therefore it must be destroyd by these four Elements for the former Ages on which this Opinion is grounded were destroy'd the first by Water the second by Wind and the third by Earth therefore the fourth and last must be consum'd by Fire This being finish'd Ruddery shall carry all humane Souls up to Heaven there to rest in the Bosom of the Almighty but all Bodies will decay for they deny the Resurrection of the Body affirming That Heaven is too pure a Place for such gross and unclean Bodies The Kingdom or Territory of Chandish or Sanda THe Kingdom or Territory of Chandish otherwise call'd Sanda is by Robert Covert call'd The Land of Heathens or Countrey of the Great Can of Canouwe formerly the Overseer of the Great Mogol's High-ways Jarrick calls this Country or a great part of it The Kingdom of Brampour or Brampore or Barampour from its Metropolis It borders in the West on the Kingdom of Surratte in the South at Dekan having the Dukedom of Parthapsha between in the North at the Provinces Chitor and Malway and in the East at Berar A certain English Writer borders the same on the one side upon the Kingdom of the Benjans from which it is separated by the Tynde or Tasy and on the other side upon the Country of Bulloits having the great Stream Andre between and is suppos'd to lie in 28 Degrees Northern Latitude Terry affirms this Kingdom to be a mighty and populous Country and the South part of the Mogol's Dominions It is divided in the middle by the River Tynde or Tasy which makes the Country conveniently pleasant and fruitful about those Places through which it flows though for the most part it is a barren unwholsom sandy and dry Tract of Land the Metropolis thereof is call'd Brampore or Barampour by Herbert and Jarrick Breampour and lies in 28 Degrees and 3 Minutes Northern Latitude 220 Miles Eastward from Surratte 420 from Asmeer and 100 from Agra Herbert holds the same to be the ancient City Baramatis of Ptolomy and signifies Brachmans Pous or The City of the Brachmans because it was formerly and is still to this day an University of the Brahmines Jogues or Gymnosophists The City lies low in a healthful and spacious Plain it hath many Streets but very narrow their Houses are indifferent handsom though low Purchas renders the same to be a very fair City much bigger than London and the most famous and richest which the Mogol possesses On the North-East side of the City is a large strong Castle or Fort on the Banks of the Stream Tapy This City was formerly the Metropolis and Residence of the King of Dekan who was in process of time driven from thence Not far from thence is a Garden or Chan Channa in which are many delightful Springs and Fountains The City is for the most part inhabited by Benjans Before the Town in the River Tapa stands an Elephant most curiously Carv'd of Marble which the Benjans worship Anno 1600. the Great Mogol Ekbar after having conquer'd the Kingdom of Dekan made himself Master of this City Brampour which was then desolate and deserted by King Miram who was fled to the Fort Syr which for its Situation and Strength is the most considerable of all the Country and impregnable for it lies on the top of a high Mountain and is three Leagues in circumference surrounded with three Walls which are so made that the one may conveniently defend the other for though Ekbar besieg'd King Miram with a hundred thousand Men yet he could not conquer the same by Force but only by Policy and Treachery In
the Mogol continually employ'd who after he had us'd all possible means in vain having no great Guns at hand wherewith to batter down the Walls at last resolv'd to try if he could purchase the Inhabitants to a Surrender by great Sums of Money which to accomplish he sent to the Governors very considerable Presents of Gold and Silver whereby he did so cool and abate their Courage that none of the seven Successors of the Realm durst assume the Government for they perceiving the Generals to be fearful and their Courage no longer to exert it self could foresee and expect nothing but the sudden loss of the Place and accordingly it so fell out for after a few Days the Fort was surrendred and with it the whole Kingdom was subjected to the Mogol who got peaceable possession thereof with an invaluable Treasure He received all the Inhabitants favourably except the imprison'd King and the seven successive Princes whom he dispersed into several Provinces allowing King Miram three thousand and each of the other two thousand Ducats per Annum for their Maintenance The Province of Berar and Narvar THis Country of Berar lies on the South side of the Kingdom of Chandâ—â— and Borders on Surratte and the Mountains of Rana The Metropolis bears the Name of Shapore The Province of Narvar is moistned by a great River which discharges its Water into the Ganges The Chief City is call'd Gehud The Province of Gwaliar or Gualier THe Province of Gwaliar or Gualior otherwise Gualier hath a City which bears the same Name The Mogol hath a vast heap of Treasure which he keeps in this Country in a very strong Castle Garrison'd by a Company of well Disciplin'd Soldiers who also Guard such of the King's Prisoners as are Persons of Quality The Kingdom of Agra or Indostan THe Kingdom or Province of Agra is so call'd from Agra the Royal Metropolis of the Great Mogol's whole Kingdom besides Dely and Lahor Others call it Indostan or Indoustan which signifies The Country of Indus for Stan in the Country Language is A Country or Province and Indus is the Name of the River Indus which moistens the Country It borders on one side upon the Stream Paddor which separates it from the Henderons and conterminates on the other side with the River Tamliko or Tamlou which is a Boundary between this and the Country Inhabited by the Bulloits The Metropolis bears the same Name with the Province of Agra and lies in 28 Degrees and 7 Minutes North Latitude on the Banks of the River Jemini which glides by its Walls and disembogues near the City Andakoda into the River Ganges two days Journey from Agra According to Herbert this City was formerly call'd Nagra and anciently Dionysia and was built by Bacchus but this seems incredulous because within this hundred years the City Ratipor was far more beautiful and bigger than that of Agra which is believ'd to have had its Denomination from the River Arrany which as Arrian affirms falls into the Ganges It was built by King Ekbar after his Conquest of Surratte and for its pleasant Situation made choice of for the Mogol's Court and chief Place of Residence It lies almost Triangular or as Herbert saith Semi-Circular surrounded with a strong Walk of Free-Stone and a Moat of a hundred Paces broad The Circumference of the City is reckon'd to be twelve German Miles The Streets which are very straight are dirty and three Leagues and a half long In the Northern part of the City not far from the River lies the great and famous Royal Castle or Residence of the Kings which is the most beautiful and glorious Piece of Work in all Asia It appears outwardly like a City containing five hundred and twenty Paces in circumference The Structure is for the most part built of Free-stone with many Galleries and Piazzaes very stately after the manner of the Country At the Entrance of this Castle stands the Royal Court of Judicature in the Persian Tongue call'd Diwanchane before which is a large square Maidan or Plain planted about with Trees under which Persons of Quality in hot Weather walk to cool themselves In the middle of the Plain stands a Pole having a Bird on the top of it at which they shoot with Bows and Arrows Opposite to this Court stands a large square Building call'd Karchanay Schah that is The King's Treasure-house with eight Arch'd Vaults in which are kept the greatest part of the Mogol's Treasure Two of these Cellers are reported to be full of Gold and two of Silver in the seventh are kept Pearls Gems and other such like Rarities and in the eighth are contain'd all such Presents as are sent from forein Princes by Ambassadors Behind this Treasury stands another large square Palace with a very delightful Garden and is call'd Hara Michan that is The King 's Womens Lodgings for in it are kept twelve hundred of the King's Concubines which are guarded and waited upon by six hundred Eunuchs Others describe this Court thus It is three or four Leagues in circumference surrounded with strong Walls of red Stone and broad Moats with Draw-Bridges it hath four Gates one on the North which is very strong the second on the West side is call'd Citsery near the Bezar or Market Within this Gate is the King's Court of Judicature where he decides all Differences and behind that is the King's Hall the Seat of the Vice-Roys Within this Gate is also a Street built full of Houses and about a Mile long The third Gate call'd Achabaerbederiwage that is The Gate of King Achbaer lies on the South side and and leads to the King 's Derbaer the Royal Throne or inner Court before which is a small Court surrounded with Golden Rails and cover'd on the top with Carpets to keep off the heat of the Sun beyond it is a Gallery in which stands the King's Throne adorn'd with Gold Diamonds and Pearls and all sorts of Precious Stones No Person is permitted to approach this Place without being call'd except the King's Sons which standing near him cool him by continual fanning of him with Fans in the Country Language call'd Pankhamh and the Chief Secretary Within the foremention'd Court none are suffer'd to enter but Ommirades or Omrahs which are Dukes and great Lords Opposite to this Place hang golden Bells which are rung by those that have sustain'd any prejudice and are thereupon admitted to speak to the King to make their Complaints to him but not without great danger if their Cause be not just In this Place the King appears every Afternoon between three and four a Clock besides thousands of other People which take their Places according to their Qualities and with the King stay there till the Evening hearing all forein Letters which are read by the Setretary and determining all other Businesses Hither are also brought his Horses and Elephants which are try'd by some of his Servants appointed for that purpose Within this third
call'd Banda or Dando but by Della Valle Danda Rajiapori Near this lies the City Ziffardan or Zeferdani the utmost Limits of the Kingdom of Decan In the same Tract towards Banda is a Bay call'd Kelsi the Country on the South side whereof is very Mountainous In Decan is also a City call'd Petan or Patan which produceth abundance of fine Callico The Country of Decan is very fertile producing all things in great plenty and agrees in most things with that of Cuncan and the Inhabitants also agree in their Constitutions Habits and manner of Living Wherefore we will here give an accout of them promiscuously and at large The Air at Chaul is more hot than cold The Soil thereabouts plentifully produces all things except Raisins Nuts and Chess-nuts Oxen Cows and Horses are here in great numbers The Inhabitants of Decan are call'd Decanyns as those of Cuncan Cuncanyns After what manner the Countries of Decan Ballagate and Cuncan or Visiagour which were formerly under the Jurisdiction of one Prince are become subject to several Lords I shall here give this brief Account About three hundred years since the King of Dely brought all the neighboring Kingdoms but particularly those of Decan Cuncan and Ballagate and the Country of Goa under his Subjection At the same time when the Country of Cambaye was conquer'd by the Mahumetans who treated the Reisboutes Inhabitants or the Country very tyrannically The Kingdoms of Ballagate and Decan were formerly govern'd by Heathen Kings and inhabited by a mighty People of which the Venasars and Collers the present Inhabitants are Successors They joyn themselves with the Reisboutes and commit many Robberies forcing Tribute from the Inhabitants of Decan and Ballagate without being punish'd for the same by their King After the King of Dely had made these Conquests the Mogols took up Arms and made themselves Masters of the greatest part of Dely. About the same time there was an eminent Lord of Bengale who to revenge himself of his King for putting his Bother to death unjustly bereav'd him both of his Crown and Life and afterwards fell into Dely forc'd the Mogols to fly and at the same time made himself Master of all the Country of Ballagate and Cuncan extending to the Borders of Cambaye But he not being capable of Governing so many Countries and being also desirous of qâ—iet resolvâ—d to return back to Bengale and committed the Care of Governing the Kingdoms of Decan Ballagate and Cuncan to one of his Nephews who being a Lover of Strangers divided those Countries amongst several Lords of divers Nations as Arabians Turks Rumeans and Corasons giving to one whom the Portuguese call'd Idalcan the Country of Cuncan otherwise call'd Visiapour or Gingive lying eight Leagues from Goa He also gave to one of his Captains nam'd Nizzamaluko the Country of Siffardan which extends it self six Leagues to the North along the Coast of Negotana He divided the Kingdom of Ballagate into Provinces and gave one part thereof to Imademaluko another to Coralmaluko and a third to Melik Vervide But all these immediately rebell'd against their Lord and Benefactor and marching to the Metropolis Beder took the King Prisoner committing him to the custody of Melik Vervide They also procured several other Heathen Princes to joyn with them in this Conspiracy amongst whom were Mohade Koja and Veriche who possess'd rich Countries replenish'd with Towns and Villages Amohade got the Cities Visiapour Solapor and Paranda lying near Goa but not long after the City Paranda was taken by Nizzamaluko and Salapor fell into the Hands of Idalcan who was also call'd Sabayo that is Lord. He possess'd the Island Goa of which the Portuguese afterwards made themselves Masters His House or Palace stands yet at Goa but is now converted to a House of Inquisition The Place lying between the Great Church and the said House bears the Name of Sabayo Idalcan who Reign'd Anno 1535. was Grandson to one of those foremention'd Kings After this Division thus made there was a Quarrel between Idalcan and the King of Narsinga his Neighbor who by his Power subduing Idalcan and the other Kings of Decan made them Tributaries to him But in process of time Idalcan or his Successors subdu'd all those Countries which were possess'd by peculiar Kings or Lords except that of Melik which the Mogol had conquer'd F. Bernier relates That all this great Island of Hindoslan reckoning from the Bay of Cambay to that of Bengale near Jagannate and from thence to the Cape of Comori was all some Mountainous Parts onely excepted about two hundred years agoe under one particular Lord or King who was a very great and Powerful Prince But at present it is divided into many Dominions and the People are likewise of several Religions The Reason of this Division was as followeth A certain Raja or King nam'd Ramras the last of those which Reign'd absolute in this Country imprudently promoted three of his Slaves to too great Dignities by making them Governors viz. The first he made Governor of a great part of that Country which the Mogol at present possesses in Decan round about Daulet-Abad from Bider Paranda and Surratte to Narbadar To the second he gave the Government of all those Countries which are now comprehended in the Kingdom of Visiapour and to the third that Part which is known by the name of the Kingdom of Golconda These three Slaves growing very Rich and Powerful and being supported by many Mogols which were in the Service of Ramras and of the same Religion with the Persians agreed together to rebell against and kill their Lord and Benefactor which having effected they return'd into their several Dominions each of them taking upon him the Title of Schah or King The Successors of Ramras finding themselves not able to engage in a War against these Usurpers were content to retire and seat themselves in a Place call'd Carnateck or Bisnaguer where to this day they Reign as Rajas or Kings The three Slaves and their Successors defended their Kingdoms very valiantly so long as they agreed among themselves and assisting one another maintain'd great Wars against the Mogols but when they went about to defend their several Countries they were immediately sensible of their Division to their great prejudice being soon after reduc'd under the Subjection of the Mogols Decan belong'd formerly to a peculiar King but is at present Govern'd by one of the Great Mogol's Vice-Roys The Great Mogol Akebar or Ecbar was the first which conquer'd the Kingdom or Country of Decan He sent his Son Sultan Morad Anno 1595. against Melik Amber Vice-Roy of Decan to whom belong'd formerly the City of Chaul who setting forth from Cambaye as being the nearest Place to this Province was kill'd with many of his Officers After this in the Year 1598. he sent one of his youngest Sons to maintain the Wars against Melik and revenge the Death of Sultan Morad And soon after he follow'd in his own Person
resolving to be present at the Conquest but he staid about a Year in the City of Agra from whence he march'd Anno 1600. to the Kingdom of Decan But the Queen of Decan who Reign'd at that time being a Woman of great Spirit and Valour and being also assisted by the Portuguese and some great Lords oppos'd him with so much Courage and Resolution that many of his People were slain at their entrance into the Kingdom of Barara at a Pass near the Mountains by which they were to come into the Country of Decan Yet nevertheless the Decanyns after the death of this Princess divided themselves into divers Parties from which proceeded their overthrow and total subduction for some being corrupted by Money and others by Promises they all upon hopes of greater Employments contributed their Assistance to the Great Mogol in his Conquest of the Kingdom of Decan Having by this means at last added this Kingdom to his Territories he elected one of his Sons to be his Vice-Roy leaving with him a considerable Garrison Texeira says the King of Decan was formerly by the Inhabitants call'd Nezal al Malucho that is The Lance or Spear of the Kingdom and also Malek or Melik which signifies King Della Valle affirms that the right Name of the Kings of Decan is Nizam Sciah which some translate King of the Spear induc'd thereunto by the Portuguese Word Nize which signifies A Spear but falsly because the King calls himself Nizam Sciah and not Nize Sciah as this explanation requires Others call him according to the signification of the Word Nizam King of Falcons for Nizam in the Indian Tongue signifies A Falcon or other Bird of Prey because this King before he was made a Governor was perhaps Falconer to that Great King under whose Jurisdiction all this Country was so that he retains that Name to this day The King which Reign'd Anno 1623. being a Child of about twelve Years of age gave the Government of his Realm to one of his Slaves call'd Melik Amber by Extract an Ambassine and of the Mahumetan Religion who Govern'd with so much Policy that this Country was more known by the Name of The Dominion of Melik than that of the Kingdom of Nizam Sciah He Govern'd with great Fidelity and Obedience to the King and not as some pretended like a Tyrant Neither did he keep the King as a Prisoner though it is said by some that he design'd to marry his Daughter to the young King that so he might the better hold his Governor-ship and make his Heir his Successor He was a Man of great Prudence and Understanding yet not without the Name of being very wicked and inclining to Sorcery of which some affirm he made use to continue himself in his Princes Favor It is also said That for the accomplishing his Designs he would offer to the Devil several hundreds of Children that were his Slaves with abundance of other People hoping thereby the more easily to obtain his Desires These and other such barbarous Wickednesses and Impieties have been reported of him This Melik Amber maintain'd at that time great Wars against the Mogols not sparing his own Person but himself engaging often very valiantly The Kingdom of Ballagate THE Kingdom of Ballagate lieth between and beyond the Mountains of Gate as some Writers affirm These Mountains are about nine Leagues from the City Banda they are very high and extend from the Country of Decan to the Coast of Choromandel they also reach to Dabul with many Points and Inlets which render them altogether unfit to be Travell'd over either by Men or Beasts On that side towards Decan is upon the top a Plain of an extraordinary compass planted on the Way-sides with Mangas and other Fruit-Trees Ballagate in the Persian Tongue signifies High Mountains for Balla is High and Gate A Mountain Some also call this Country The Kingdom of Decan The Cities of Lispor and Ultabad or Dubtabad are very famous for the great numbers of Merchants that resort thither The Kingdom of Cuncan or Visiapour THE Kingdom of Cuncan is by Linschot call'd The Kingdom of Dialcan and by others from Visiapour its Metropolis The Kingdom of Visiapour and by Della Valle The Country of Telengone or Telanga It takes its beginning on the Sea-shore of Ingediva or Angedive twelve Leagues Southward from Goa or according to John de Barros from the River Aliga in Sintacora which is a Boundary between Cuncan and the Country of Canara and extends Northwardly to the Land of Decan or the Land of Siffardan a Tract of sixty Leagues Westward it runs to the Sea and Eastward to the Mountains of Gate or to the Kingdom of Bagenael or Golconda and is by a Stream separated from the Island Goa Della Valle makes Telengone the Metropolis of this Kingdom to border Southerly next that which belongs to the Portuguese in Goa Some reduce the City Visiapour and Goa under the Province of Daman and place the Province of Telanga much further to the Southern part The most eminent Sea-Towns are Geytapour Rasapoue Carapatan and Dabul besides which there are several other very good Bays Rivers and Roads The Chief City of this Kingdom the Court and Residence of the Kings is call'd Vasiapour Bizapor and Visipor or peculiarly Vidhikpor notwithstanding Linschot places the King's Court at Solapor but it is probable he keeps his Court sometimes at the one and sometimes at the other Visiapour lies up into the Country about 30 Gau each Gau being three Leagues or 90 German Miles from Dabul and 25 from Goa It is surrounded with high Walls of hard Stone and deep Moats which nevertheless are dry in several places Round about on the Walls and some Platforms made for that purpose are mounted above 1000 Brass and Iron Guns some whereof are of an incredible bigness De Stadt VISIAPOER About a League and a half from Visiapour lies another City call'd Nouraspour formerly the Residence of King Abrahim Chan whose Palace besides several other fair Structures are to be seen at this day but quite ruin'd the Materials of them being employ'd for the building of the present King's Houses and Palaces Travelling from Visiapour to Dabul you pass through these Cities From Nouraspour you come to the City of Sirrapour and Tickota six Kos from Visiapour Three Kos beyond Tickota is the City Honnowaere and three more beyond that a City call'd Calesen Six Kos further is a great and Trading Town nam'd Atteny two days Journey from Visiapour Four Kos from Calesen and two from Atteny between both lies the Village Burgie and two Kos from Atteny the great Dorp Agelle Six Kos and a half from Atteny is the City Areka with two Bary or Villages lying upon the side of the Road about four Kos and a half from Areka and one and a half from Atteny Three Kos from Areka lies the City Berek with a small Village in the way one Kos and a half from Areka and is under the Jurisdiction
which have no peculiar Name but belong to other Villages are in general call'd Bary One Kos from hence lies the Village Worry and two and a half further another call'd Attrowaad adorn'd with a Pagode built on a Mountain which may be seen at a considerable distance Two Kos and a half further lies the Village Badaraly and as much beyond that the Dorp Kerwes two Kos more from which is Secoery Five Kos from hence is a Pagode from whence you may plainly see the City Mirsie with its Castles and Towers Seven Kos from the Village Secoery lies Raiabaeg a pretty large and Trading In-land City fortified with a Castle and belonging properly to the King's Consort About one Kos from the City is a fair Well and two Kos further runs the River Gagni Three Kos and a half from this City of Raiabaag is another City call'd Gotterny which hath a Fortification at one of its Gates A Cannon-shot from thence are two Villages call'd Coetesy and Omgar and half a Kos further the eminent River Corstena one Kos and a half from which is the Village Eynatour beyond that the Dorp Caterna and one Kos and a half further the River Agery with the Villages Tangely and Erary Three Kos from Erary is the City Atteny and one Kos beyond the City Bardgie from whence to Agger is three Kos and a half more three Kos thence to the City Talsenge and as much from thence to Hamowaere Tickocata lies three Kos further and about six from Visiapour having Nouraspour and Sirrapour between both Tickocata is an In-land City provided with a large Sarry or Publick Inn for Travellers The Kingdom of Cuncan is water'd by several Rivers viz. A little to the Northward of Goa is the River Madre Dios and beyond the City Banda the River Dery falls into the Sea and is Navigable in small Vessels Two Kos from the City Kaiabaag glides the River Corstena which passes through the whole Country of Cuncan to the Jurisdiction of Masilipatan about three Kos from whence the Stream Agry hath its Course Between the two Towns Great and Little Graeen runs a large River call'd Coecenna on whose Banks those Towns are situate The River Coyna which signifies Great Water passing through the Village Helewaek hath its Original near the City Chaury lying twelve Gau or thirty six Leagues up into the Country and extends it self in several Branches beyond the Metropolis Visiapour and the whole Kingdom of Cuncan The River Ghayhkeer discharges its Water into the River Helewacko whose Shore is border'd by many Dorps and planted with Cocos and other Trees very delightful to the Spectators This River hath its rise out of the Mountains of Ballagata and posses by the City Eabul into the Indian Sea where it makes a convenient Bay From the North to the South Point cross this Bay is a Bank which at low Water is quite dry so that those which sail up the River to the City must pass along close by the South Point At the entrance is commonly five or six Fathom Water at low Tide Four Leagues to the Southward of Dabul and thirty to the Northward of Goa glides the River Zanguizar by Barbosa call'd Cinguicar Its entrance into the Sea is in 17 Degrees and 13 Minutes Northern Latitude and makes a large Bay or In-let with several commodious Roads for Shipping Next is the River Bardes which runs by a Town call'd Banda The Stream Aliga of Sintacora which rises in the Mountains of Gate from thence taking its Course to the Westward falls into the Sea opposite to the Island Anchedive in 14 Degrees and a half of Northern Latitude The many Rivers and Brooks which flow through this Country of Cuncan make the same very fruitful especially in the production of Rice which is sow'd in such Grounds as lie low and are overflow'd in the Winter Yet it produces but little Corn but abundance of Areka and Betel especially on the Banks of the River Betel The Fruit Mangas growing in Ballagate are highly esteem'd weighing about two Pound a spiece and are of a much pleasanter taste than those which grow in Charanna Quindor Mandanagor and Dultabado and especially those of Nisamoxa Ballagate and Decan produce also abundance of Grapes but inferior to those of Spain and also great Quantities of Cotton and Silk There are likewise divers sorts of Stones found in Ballagate as Amethysts Chrysolites and Hemathites or Blood-stones and by Decan beyond Ballagate very rich Diamonds are found on the Mountain which the Portuguese call Rocca Velha that is The Old Rock Some of these Precious Stones which are cut naturally are in the Country Language call'd Naiffez and are by the Indians esteem'd above all others By Ustabado is a certain Stone found by the Arabians call'd Hageramini and by the Portuguese Pedra Armenia that is The Armenian Stone because the same sort being of a blueish green are found in Armenia The Moors make use of them in their Sickness to provoke Urine About the Countries of Ballagate is a sort of excellent Varnish Here are also many Tygers and Serpents of a prodigious length and bigness The Natives of Decan and Cuncan are either Decangeans or Cuncanyns and corruptly by the Portuguese call'd Canaryns and Corumbyns but besides there are Moors Persians Benjans and other Heathen People which far exceed the Natives in Number Linschot tells us That the Inhabitants both in Complexion Constitution and Clothes do very much resemble those of Zurratte and the Benjans But Barbosa makes them Black and Barthema Sallow or Swarthy They are naturally Valiant being for the most part extracted from Strangers excellent Horse-men and well skill'd in managing of Elephants but they are very proud insolent and self-conceited Their Women are much enclin'd to Venery Their Clothes are either of Silk or Cotton except their Shoes which are open at the Toes and lac'd over their bare Feet on the top yet Pyrard saith That they are Red sharp-toe'd gilt and open on the top The Women walk with their Faces veil'd and the Children stark naked till their seventh or eighth Year They eat all things without distinction except Cows Hogs and Buffaloes which Beasts according to an ancient Custom of the Brahmines are accounted Holy nay they are so superstitiously grounded in this belief that they sleep a nights under these Beasts and catch their Dung in their Hands imagining that thereby they do their Gods great Service They also abstain from all sorts of Fish Most of their Houses are built of Straw with such little Doors that they are forc'd to creep in and out Their Furniture is inconsiderable for a Mat spread on the Ground serves them in stead of a Bed and a Hole digg'd in the Earth for a Mortar to stamp their Rice in There are many Gold and Silver-smiths among them and also very good Artists in the working of other Minerals besides many other Handicrafts and Tradesmen Physicians Chirurgeons Carpenters Masons and the like Every Child is
taught the Trade or Calling of his Parents The Rusticks maintain themselves with sowing of Rice and Fishing on which they live very poorly inhabiting near the Sea-shore and the Banks of Rivers for the convenience of the Coco-Trees which grow along the same The Decanders which dwell near the River Zanguizara maintain themselves with Tillage and keeping of Cattel People of more Ability Traffick in Pepper in which the chiefest Trade of this Country consists which coming out of Canara is sent by Sea to Persia Suratte and Europe They deal likewise in all sorts of Provisions for this Country is the Store-house for all its Neighbors The Inhabitants also drive a great Trade in Calico and another sort of Cloth call'd Beirames which being brought by Land from Indostan Golconda and the Coast of Choromandel is sold to great advantage for in most Towns are kept Weekly Markets to which the Merchants carry all their Commodities but especially Corn and Provisions which are generally bought up by a valiant sort of People call'd Venesars and transported through the whole Country of Indostan which they penetrate with Cafilas consisting of three four nay sometimes eight or ten thousand Beasts of Burthen accompanied with Women and Children which follow them like an Army In Visiapour dwell many Jewellers which Trade in Diamonds that come from Golconda and Pearls of a great value There is also a great Market wherein nothing but Diamonds are sold which are bought by the Benjans of Surratte and Cambaye and by them dispos'd of again at Goa and other Places Out of this Country is also carried great store of Betel to Ormus Aden and Cambaye The Portuguese of Goa drive a great Trade with the Inhabitants of Cuncan but chiefly with the Merchants of Ditcauly and Banda In the City of Raiebaag dwell many eminent Dealers which Trade in Pepper and other Commodities The Coins and Current Moneys of Cuncan are of different Valuations there being two sorts viz. Laryns and Pagods A Laryn of Dabul coyn'd of the ordinary Metal is valued at ten Pagods whereas those of Persia make but eight Moreover the Pagods are likewise of a different Value for some are worth seven and a half or eight Persian Laryns and ten In-land Their small Money is of Copper and is call'd Basarucus and Paysas two hundred and ten Basarucus and in some Places a hundred and eighty make a Laryn and twenty eight Paysas are of the same value Every Town and Village hath for the most part a peculiar Coin and Value on their Money in which is great deceit especially in Laryns and Pagods which the subtle Benjans make so artificially of Copper and other Metals that they cannot be distinguish'd from the good Wherefore few will receive Money without the presence of a Xaraf or Exchanger who for a small Reward looks over all the Money and makes good the Damage if there happens to be any bad Money among that which he receives And if it be found that an Exchanger so entrusted as is before-mention'd shall designedly put away bad Money he is immediately condemn'd to have his Hands cut off and all his Estate forfeited to the King notwithstanding which they practice it daily The Weight of this Country is like that of Surrat having onely some small difference for twenty seven Maons of Cuncan make but twenty Maons of Surrat The ordinary Maon of forty Ceeres a Ceer is sixty Peysses is about twenty seven English Pounds with which Weight they weigh all heavy Goods and with another Weight call'd Goemy each Goemy being twelve Maons they weigh their Pepper A Quintal which is also a common Weight makes four Maons and five Quintals or twenty Maons one Candy which is five hundred and forty English Pound weight There are many other Coins and Weights in use among them which every Person in buying or selling of Goods agree upon at their pleasure but these before-mention'd are the most common and generally us'd through all the Country The Arms which the Inhabitants of Decan and Visiapour use both for Horse and Foot are broad Swords Pikes Lances with a square Iron at the end about a Span long Bows and Arrows Shields Darts which they throw with great dexterity at their Enemies Their Defensive Arms are Coats of Mail and Coats lin'd with Cotton which they call Landaâ—hes When they march into the Field they carry with them Tents of Callico under which they sleep They make use of Oxen to carry their Baggage Their common way of Fighting is on Foot though when they march some walk others ride on Horses and some on Elephants of which the King keeps a great number for that purpose The King of Cuncan is said to be very powerful and able in a short time to bring eighty thousand or as some say two hundred thousand armed Men into the Field both Horse and Foot He keeps many Persians and Mogols constantly in his Service which commonly enjoy the most eminent Places under him He likewise maintains many valiant Rasepouts There are four very eminent Castles or Fortresses in Cuncan known by the Names of Ponda Perinda Salpoure and Bellegam Chapour The King hath divers great Guns in his Magazen and about two hundred Cannons Demi-Cannons and Culverins Round about the City and Castle-walls of Visiapour are planted many small Pieces as Drakes and the like In the City of Visiapour is a Copper Gun of an incredible bigness its Chamber being large enough to contain above five hundred Pound of Powder It was found in a conquer'd Castle call'd Perando from whence it was convey'd to Visiapour by ten Elephants fourteen hundred Oxen and an incredible number of Men. The Founder of this Piece is reported to have been a Roman who undertook the same to make his Name Immortal and that his Work might be admir'd by the whole World which is the more talk'd of because after he had finish'd this prodigious Piece he kill'd his own Son and sprinkled his Blood over it for an Offering It hapned also that whilst this Gun was Casting Braman the King's Treasurer coming to demand an Account of the Charge from the said Roman he caus'd a Fire to be made in the Pit wherein the said Gun was Cast and throwing the said Braman into it bid him take an Account of the Fire which consum'd the Silver and Copper The News carried to the King by the Relations of the Deceased he seem'd not at all concern'd thereat but rather displeas'd with the Complainants telling them he never gave his Treasurer any Order to demand an Account With this Cannon the King took an almost invincible Castle call'd Salapoure making a Breach in the Wall at the first Shot of fifteen Ells long and at the next batter'd down the whole side of the Wall which so amaz'd the Besieged that without any further resistance they surrendred the Castle The Inhabitants relate many strange and ridiculous things of this Gun as that it formerly Prophesied like the Oracle at Delphos They
the King's Grandfathers Seal The right Coronation of their Kings is perform'd at Chirer Ridder a principal Place in the Realm of Visiapour When the old King lay a dying Chan Channa was sent for to him by the Queen who being come the Queen told the King Here is Chan Channa but she receiv'd no Answer Soon after Fettechan being also call'd thither the Queen spoke to the King saying The Lord Fettechan is also here present but the King not answering lift up his Eyes and departed this life which when Fettechan perceiv'd he threw himself after many mournful Expressions on the Ground and shew'd great signs of sorrow The young King was committed to the Care and Government of Chan Channa being the second Person in the Realm whilst Fettechan sorrowfully repair'd to his House where he mourn'd eight days for the King's death no Man being able in that time to perswade him to come to Court notwithstanding the new King had several times invited him But at last Chan Channa sent him word That it was then no time to mourn the King's death any longer That there was a necessity for him to make his appearance before the new King which if he again refus'd to do he should be necessitated himself to fetch him and to bring him before his Majesty Upon which Message Fettechan made his appearance before the King and in all humility fell down at his Feet but was immediately taken up and embrac'd by the new-Crown'd Prince The Queen sitting â—ll this while silent behind a Curtain at last spoke thus to Fettechan Why would you obscure your self in this juncture of time when your Presence is so much requir'd in all Business 'T is true here wants no Counsel but we cannot in these dangerous times repose any Confidence in them Whereupon the young King added You must banish the death of his deceased Majesty out of your mind I intend to promote you higher and bestow more Honor upon you than hitherto you have enjoy'd Immediately after he gave him the Cane whereby he held his former Offices which Fettechan humbly receiving was presented by the King as a Testimony of his Favor with eight thousand Penas which he modestly refus'd saying That it was customary the Present should be made to Chan Channa Among several other Persons of Quality the Lord Abdullachan came to Complement the King with a Present of nine thousand Penas and to wish him a long and prosperous Reign But the King would not accept his Present telling him That in stead thereof he should encrease the number of his Horse The King likewise commanded all Officers that were unde his Subjection to appear at Court charging them on forfeiture of a hundred thousand Penas constantly to maintain a thousand Horse The Inhabitants were at this time in a great Consternation fearing to be surpriz'd by the Mogol Prince Oranchzef But the King causing an Edict to be publish'd commanded them to be at quiet and encourag'd them with the hopes he had to lie down in a short time with his Army before Agra The King professes the Mahumetan Religion as also the greatest part of his Subjects the rest are Pagans and Idolaters of which Opinion are the Canaryns of Goa the Naires and other Indians They observe several Fasts and other Religious Ceremonies like the Bramans Linschot mentions a sort of Religious Persons among them call'd Jogues In most Parts of the Country reside Portuguese who are permitted to Trade and enjoy all Privileges except Religion yet nevertheless they privately make many Proselites The Kings of Decan Visiapour and those of Golconda maintain the Religion establish'd by Mahomet after the same manner with the Turks and are therefore call'd Soanies yet the King of Golconda is said to encline to that of the Persians But notwithstanding they are all three Moors and have instituted the Mahometan Doctrine in their Countries yet they still retain many Idolatrous Customs of the Heathens The Netherland East-India Company have a Free Trade through the whole Kingdom of Visiapour and Store-houses in several Places the chiefest whereof is at Wingurla The Bay of Wingurla lies in 15 Degrees and 17 Minutes Northern Latitude Northward from Goa and three Leagues Southward from Ilhas Quimadas or The Burning Island It hath a pretty large River which runs some Leagues up into the Country and is Navigable by small Vessels At the entrance of this River several Streams of Fresh Water which come down from the Mountains fall into the Bay The King allows the Netherlanders great Privileges which are confirm'd to them by a Letter dated the tenth of May 1655. viz. That they may lawfully claim as their proper Goods all such Commodities or Things whatsoever as shall happen to be Stranded coming out of any of their Ships cast away upon his Coast And they are likewise freed from all manner of Taxes and Impositions as will appear more at large from the following Firman or Letter written to the Lord General John Maetzuiker GReat Firman to all Honweldares Tannadares and other Inferior Officers under the Jurisdiction of my Crown on the Request of Leonard Johnson Merchant who desires That if any Ships belonging to the Lord General John Maetzuiker which Trade along this Coast should happen by Storm Fire or other Misfortune which God forbid to be Cast away or Stranded near any of my Harbors nothing might be lost or taken away from them but all their Goods be deliver'd to them again Which Request I freely grant them Therefore I charge you by vertue of this Letter that no Honweldares or other Inferior Officers which have any Command in any of my Sea-Port Towns shall presume directly or indirectly to keep or detain any Goods or Merchandises which by the casting away of any of the Hollanders Ships shall happen to be found Stranded or floating on the Sea but on the contrary assist them in the saving of any of their Goods and Merchandize and freely without any Money restore such Goods as shall be taken up or found by any of you He that transgresseth herein shall be punish'd as an Example to all others I have also receiv'd lately several Complaints from the Hollanders concerning the paying of Customs and the detaining of their Servants of which they were formerly freed and Traded without any Molestation which is contrary to my former Edict Therefore I charge all those whom it may concern a second time not to demand any Custom or Duties of them nor trouble them in the least that I may not have any more Complaints concerning it And that they may freely Trade without any molestation through my whole Dominions let several Copies be taken of this Letter and sent to the respective Places that this Great Firman may be exactly perform'd in every particular Given at our Court at Visiapour the eighteenth day of the Month Jumandelaer in the 1055 Year after Mahomet's Death The End of the First Volume of Asia A TABLE OF THE KINGDOMS PROVINCES CITIES TOWNS
describe the manner of the Conception of Pearl in those sorts of Shell-fish which ingendred them of which in those days great Traffick was made by the Natives that were expert in diving for them But at present as there is much more of India and other Parts of Asia discover'd than was formerly so we have a more perfect and certain Account of all the Chief Places of Trade and what the peculiar Productions and Exportations are of the several Provinces and Emporiums of Persia India c. Olearius Tobacco in Asia For the Province of Chilan in Persia abounds with Silk Oyl Wine Rice Tobacco Lemons Oranges Pomegranates and other the most delicious sorts of Fruit. The Provinces of Iruan Nachtxuan Kerabath Aderbeitzan and Chorasan bring forth in very great plenty Cotton which the Persians call Pambeh The Trade of Pearl-fishing is most especially eminent in three Places near the Isle of Baharem in the Persian Sea near the Isle of Manar upon the Coast of India and near that of Ainan towards China Near the City Saha in the Province of Erac grows abundance of Cotton and Rice in which the Inhabitants drive a great Trade In the City Katschan is a great Trade driven of Silk Stuffs and Gold and Silver Brocados At Caswin the Chief City of Erac are bought Turqueses which the Natives call Firuse and which are found near Nisabur and Firusku as also Rubies and Granats very cheap At Scamachie the Principal City of Media Atropatia the Chief Commerce lies in Stuffs of Silk and Cotton as also Gold and Silver Brocadoes and rich Scymitars The Provinces of Kilan and Sahetzan are noted for Silks Near Baku are several Sources of Nefie From the Salt-pits of Kutb Urum Kemre Hemedan Bisethun Suldus and Kilissim there is drawn out great quantity of Salt as clear as Crystal The Country of the Malabars in India Mandelslo i. e. from the City of Goa as far as the Cape of Comory is very fertile of Spices but particularly of the best Pepper of the Indies The principal Commerce of the City of Cochim is in Pepper Ginger and Cinnamon The Isle of Ceilon produces Cinnamon all sorts of Precious Stones except Diamonds Pearls somewhat-inferior to those of Baharam but the best Ivory of the World It abounds also in all sorts of rich Fruits as Ananas Bananas Cocos Jacques Mangas Citrons and hath whole Forests of Oranges and Lemons and also Mines of Brass and Iron and it is thought of Gold and Silver especially in the Kingdom of Candy The Soil also is very Productive of Corn Wine Oyl Cotton several Roots for Dyers Ginger Nutmegs Cardamoms Mirobalans Corcoma and divers other Medicinal Drugs In the City of India the Chief City of the Province Odya the principal Commerce consists in Stuffs brought from Suratta and the Coast of Coromandel all sorts of China Commodities Precious Stones Gold Benzoin Wax Copper Lead Indico Calamba Wood Brasil Wood Cotton Saphires Rubies Likewise great quantities of Rice are hence transported to the neighboring Islands and Deer-skins to the Japoneses The Isle call'd Java Major is term'd by Julius Scaliger in his Exercitations against Cardanus The Compendium of the World because there is not that Animal Plant Fruit Metal nor Drug which is not here in greater plenty than in any other part of the Universe beside Particularly the costly Drugs of Java are Wild Cinnamon Carcapuli Costus Indicus Zorumbet Galanga Benzoin Sandale Ginger Anacardium call'd by the Portuguese Java di Malacca the Wood call'd Pala di Cuebra Lignum Aloes call'd Palo d' Aguila and by the Indians Calamba the Drug Pody the Root Carumba the Wood Conjuapi the Root Samparentam the Fruit Gatogamber with innumerable others At Bantam they vend great store of Gum Lacca of which they make Spanish Wax and the curious Varnish wherewith the Cabinets and other choice Pieces of Art of China and Japan are overlaid also Anil or Indico Sandal-wood Nutmegs Cloves Tortoise-shell whereof they make Cabinets and Ivory which the Mandorins who have their Chairs made of it prefer before Silver The Island of Sumatra is rich in Diamonds and other Precious Stones Silk Spices Wax Honey Camphire Cassia White Sandal in great abundance and Cotton There is said to be also in this Island a Fountain of Balsom incessantly running It likewise contains rich Mines of Gold Silver Copper Iron Brass and abounds with Rice Millet and the most delicate of Fruits as Oranges Lemons Bananas Tamarinds Batalas and that rare Tree call'd in the Malayan Tongue Singadi by the Persians and Turks Gul and by the Portuguese Arbor triste di Dia of which we shall speak more particularly in its proper place having already spoke sufficiently concerning the Riches of Asia in general Of the several Religions profest in Asia OF the four Religions profest in this Quarter of the World viz. The Jewish the Mahumetan the Pagan and the Christian the last is here of the smallest extent and the Mahumetan of the greatest But here it was that they were all first planted Idolatry or the Pagan Religion was first broach'd among the Syrians Judaism among the Hebrews Christianity began in Palestine or the Holy Land Mahumetanism in Arabia Several Missions have been appointed by Christian Princes for the Propagating of the Christian Religion that is to say Those of Turkie under the Protection of France Those of India under the Protection of Portugal Those of the Philippines under the Protection of Castile In the East-Indies are four Archbishopricks and seven Bishopricks There also the Jesuits have three Provinces that of Goa that of Malabar and that of Japan From France the Bishops of Heliopolis Metellopolis Beritus and Coesarea were sent to propagate the Christian Religion in China Mahumetanism hath been receiv'd by the four Principal Nations of Asia Turks Arabians Persians and Tartars The Turks are the most free the Arabians the most superstitious the Persians the most rational and the Tartars the most simple Of the Mahumetans there have been reckon'd sixty two Sects which nevertheless are reduc'd to two Principal ones that of the Turks which follows the Doctrine of Homar and that of the Persians following the Doctrine of Ali. The Persians have their Patriarch at Ispahan the Turks theirs at Bagdat The Christians of these Parts are principally those of the Greek Church who have also their two Patriarchs the one at Antioch the other at Jerusalem The other Chief Sects are the Jacobites who have a Patriarch at Caramit the Nestorians the Cophites the Georgians the Sirians so call'd from Sirus their first Teacher not from the Country of Syria the Armenians who have their two Patriarchs the one at Massivan in Media the other at Ciz in Cilicia and lastly the Maronites who have theirs at Canobin in Mount Libanus Of the Ancient and Modern Division of Asia THE Ancients divided the whole Continent of Asia into Asia the Less or Asia properly so call'd and Asia the Greater which is also subdivided into the
more Westerly Part and the more Easterly part The more Westerly Part into India the Less and India within the Ganges the more Easterly Part into India the Greater and India without the Ganges Ptolomy in his fifth sixth and seventh Books reduceth the Provinces of Asia which he makes to be forty eight into twelve Tables In his fifth Book are comprehended these Provinces Pontus and Bithynia properly call'd Asia Phrygia Magna Lycia Galatia Paphlagonia Pamphylia Cappadocia Armenia Minor Cilicia Sarmatia Asiatica Colchis Iberia Albania Armenia Major the Island Cyprus Coelosyria Phoenicia Palestina Judaea Arabia Petraea Mesopotamia Arabia Deserta Babylonia In his sixth Book Assyria Susiana Media Persis Parthia Carmania Deserta Carmania altera Arabia Faelix Hircania Margiana Bactriana Sogdiana the Sacians Scythia within the Mountain Imaus Serica Aria Parapomisus Dranchiana Arachosia and Gedrosia In the seventh India within the River Ganges India without the River Ganges China which is by him call'd Sinarum Regio and the Island Taprobane The Modern Division of Asia is generally into those five Great Kingdoms already mention'd viz. The Turkish Empire in Asia The Kingdom of Persia or the Territory of the Great Sophi The Tartarian Empire or the Territory of the Great Chan the Empire of China which is now in the Possession of the Tartar and the Empire of the Great Mogol But to be more particular Our first Part of Asia we shall divide as followeth viz. into 1. The Kingdom of Persia containing the Provinces Schirwan anciently Media Atropatia Erak anciently Parthia Aderbeitzan anciently Media Major or Satrapeni Iran or Carabach Sagistam anciently Drangiana the Country of Nixabur Kilan or Gilan Mazanderan Chusistan anciently Susiana Kirman or Caramania Circan anciently Gedrosia Moghostan Lorestan Chorasan Siston Aria or Ery Dagestan or Tagestan the Kingdom of Amadan 2. The Country of Georgia anciently Colchis and Iberia c. containing the Provinces of Imereti or Basciaciuk Cacheti and Cardel or Carduel Guriel Mengrelia anciently Colchis with that of Avogastes or Avogasie 3. The Province of Circassia with Albania and Curdistan 4. India and particularly the Empire of the Great Mogol containing these following Kingdoms and Territories viz. Parapomisa or Candahor Sablestan and Balassy the Kingdom of Cabul Territory of Multan the Kingdom of Ballochi or Hangichan the Province of Buckor the Kingdom of Send or Sind the Provinces of Sorit Jesselmeer and Attack the Province of Penjab the Kingdom of Caximir the Territories of Banchosh Jangapore and Jenba the Kingdom of Dely the Kingdom of Mando the Territories of Sanga and Utrad the Kingdom of Zurratte or Cambaya the Kingdom of Candish or Sanda the Provinces of Berar and Narvar the Province of Gualiar the Kingdoms of Agra or Indostan Decan Ballagate Cuncan or Visiapour the Country of Bulloits the Provinces of Hindows Nagracat Siba Kakares Gor Pitan Canduana and Patna PERSIA Sive SOPHORVM REGNVM THE DESCRIPTION OF THE KINGDOM OF PERSIA Description of Persia THE Kingdom of Persia hath for several Ages by that Name been known to the ancient Greeks and Romans and at this Day to most People of Europe and it may properly be so call'd from Perseus Son of Jupiter and Danae The Inhabitants term it Agem or Agiam By the Turks it is call'd Agem Vilager or Agem Memlaket the first signifies The Countrey and the second The Kingdom of the Persians But the proper Name as Texeira affirms is Agem or Pars and that of the Inhabitants Parsey or Agemy though the Name of Pars belongs peculiarly to the Province of Persia It was anciently a Noble and very famous Country having for two hundred and thirty Years been the Head of the second Monarchy nay it rose to that heighth that according to Brisonius no Kingdom upon Earth could either in Power or Riches compare with it wherefore the Governors were call'd The Great Kings or Kings of Kings as appears by Plato Strabo Suetonius and other eminent Writers The Borders of this Kingdom formerly extended very far many populous Provinces being under its Jurisdiction as amongst other Remarks appear'd by the great Army and the mighty Train thereto belonging with which King Darius prepar'd to oppose Alexander the Great as Quintus Curtius hath related at large How far the Limits of this Empire anciently extended may be found in Strabo Pizarrus and other ancient Writers It s ancient Limits and Extent Persia in former Times compris'd most of the Countries of Asia towards the East as also a part of India and Egypt which then was within the Bounds of Asia viz. it extended in length from the Hellespont beyond the Mouth of the River Indus two thousand eight hundred English Miles and in breadth from the Pontus to the Jaws of the Arabian Gulf two thousand in which Circumference were comprehended many Provinces and Kingdoms But since the downfall of the second Monarchy of Persia which flourish'd two hundred and thirty years from the first rise thereof by Cyrus This Kingdom partly by Intestine Wars and partly by the Invasion of Forein Princes was so much abated in its former Splendor that the Inhabitants thereof were absolutely enslav'd and after the Arabians had Conquer'd them forc'd to deny their Name and from that time forward were not permitted to style themselves Persians but Saracens Not long after which it was subdu'd by the Tartars and first brought under Subjection of the Chinguis Chan and then under Tamerlane yet at length it began again to flourish and regain'd much of its ancient Lustre in the last Age by the Valour of Ismael Sefi and is now reckon'd amongst the most powerful Monarchies of the East As to the present Extent of Persia it cannot certainly be said because of the various Alterations in the Frontiers by means of the War against the Turks and Tartars divers times losing a Province or two and sometimes regaining them or others in lieu thereof from the Enemy The Extent of Persia Olearius from his observation of the Persian Maps makes Persia to extend taking in all the circumjacent subdu'd Provinces from the North to the South from the Caspian Sea to the Bay of Persia from East to West from the Borders of Candahar to the River Euphrates or Moratsu nay it extends half way on the West side from the Caspian Sea upward to the Armenian Mountains and Eastward towards the River Ruth Chane formerly Oxun on the North side whereof dwell the Usbeki and Bucharian Tartars who partly pay Tribute to the Persians Maginus makes Persia extend from East to West 38 Degrees because its Longitude from the Meridian of Tenariff is in 82 Degrees and the most Eastern in 129. but from the North to the South to 20 Degrees viz. from the 23. to the 43. Degree So that the Dominion of Persia hath five hundred and sixty Leagues in length and three hundred in breadth a Degree being reckon'd to contain eighteen German or sixty English Miles According to Cluverius and Golnitius it makes out
take them away On the North side of the City as you go to Ispahan lies a Mountain over which you travel along a Stony Road through which runs a Stream which waters all the adjacent Gardens and Orchards Three Leagues to the Northward of Schiras stood a large Caravansera which though half ruin'd yet by its great Walls and Arches sufficiently testifies its former Magnitude This Province contains four great Cities besides Schiras viz. Casirum Bunitzan Firusabath and Astar as also the Towns Arboy Chiminar Sava the Metropolis of Savas formerly the Country of the Massabates It comprises likewise Firusbate Berdezzil Senorgande Cazaran by Texeira call'd Carriu and by Ananie Casrum also Camara Zemilen Bendarepe Serustan Agiane c. Texeira also places in this Province these Towns and Villages viz. Tarum Iaharom or Jarum Lasta or Lastan Stahabanon Neriz Pacah Daragued and Duzgun near Lastan between Comoron and the City Lara eighteen Leagues from Ormus There are also the Cities of Rey and Gibal The first City of this Province according to Figueroa is Guin as also Benaru with the Ruins of the Castle Gabriel in the utmost Confines of the Kingdom of Lara though both Places lie very near one another in a great Plain The City Guin is separated from the rest of Persia by high Mountains over which you must travel to go to Jarum and thence with the Caravans through the Desart It is apparent that this City hath been built many Years and Peopled by a Colony of Persians because the Inhabitants are of a better Spirit and more Morallised than the neighbouring wild Arabians Their Complexion also is whiter and the Habit of the Women neater and more Civil On the left Hand going from Guin lies a Village call'd Denia full of fair Houses About two days Journey from Guin lies the little City Horum so call'd from its Beauty and great plenty of Dates as also another of the same denomination between Cabrestan and Lara Between Guin and Horum you meet with a barren and uninhabited Desart of three days Journey not having in all that way above two Pits of Water The Village Tarum which is the Chief of many Villages was much decay'd Anno 1630. The Inhabitants thereof are subject to the Prince of Lar. It hath under its Jurisdiction the Village Seid Geuder beyond which is a large Plain and at a small distance runs the Brook Absciur which signifies Salt Water A little further is a Village call'd Pelengon that is A Panther so nam'd from the great number of that sort of Beasts breeding thereabouts Two Leagues from Pelengon you come to a narrow way between the Mountains in the Persian Tongue call'd Der Tenghi Cebar Rud that is The narrow Gate of four Streams because in Rainy Weather four great Currents which come from several Places unite their Waters there After three or four Leagues travelling through a pleasant Way you come to a Place call'd Curihazirgon that is The Merchants Grave perhaps so call'd because a Merchant died and was buried there Four Leagues further lies a solitary and ruin'd Place nam'd Ser Zehi Rizevon about which stands onely a few Huts shaded on one side by a Grove of Date-trees And four Leagues further is Tastek inhabited by none but the Rabdary or Watchmen to guard the Way Two Leagues from Tastek along an even Way between the Mountains lies a Place call'd Abi Dungher the utmost extent of the Dukedom of Lar and the beginning of the Country which belong'd to the King of Ormus when he was absolute Master of Persia and Arabia The Road from Schiras to Ispahan Travelling from Schiras to Hispahan you pass by these Places viz. First the Village Zargan in which is a handsom and well-built Mosque Four Leagues further you come to Mahin which being an open Town contains between five and six hundred Houses but is so inclos'd with Gardens and Orchards of all sorts of Fruit-trees that it rather seems at a distance a shady Grove than a Town A little forward from Mahin you come to another Village call'd Amanzada consisting onely of a few Houses all enclosed within a Wall'd Caravansera in which stands also a rich Pagode out of whose Revenue all Travellers that rest there are maintain'd for three days The whole way from Mahin to this Caravansera is very craggy and troublesom to travel and is border'd on the left Hand by a high Mountain whose top lies crown'd with Snow till the middle of Summer Three Leagues from Amanzada lies Ugion a Village on a Plain and between both a very steep Mountain whose Southern side is full of Lentisk Trees out of which drops Mastick In this Place stands a Mosque to which the Natives shew great Reverence by reason of a Tomb in which lies Interr'd one of Aly's Successors and the Villagers report that many sick blind and decrepit People have receiv'd Health and been restor'd to their Sight and Limbs by imploring the aid of the foremention'd Person whom they account a Saint The Plain on which this Village is situate is water'd by a small River whose Stream though muddy is yet very full of Fish Four Leagues from Ugion is Acopas a small Village enclos'd with a Mud-wall and surrounded with high Mountains In the middle of the Village on a Mount stands a small decay'd Fort round about which and within the Walls are above a hundred Houses most of them Inhabited by Circassians Hard by stands a large Caravansera and not far from it a Garden planted with divers sorts of Fruit-trees and curious Walks of Cypress and Palm-trees which one Alavardy Chan planted a little before his death Four or five Leagues from Acopas lies Curcuzar a small Fortified Town with a Caravansera adjoyning All the way between Acopas and Curcuzar is low and Morassie the Air also is unwholesom Wherefore the Persians have not without great reason call'd this Place Curcuzar which signifies Infectious Air. Beyond this is the Village Dergriger three Leagues from which stands a Caravansera and another pretty Town next to which follows Comixan containing about fifteen hundred Families A little beyond Comixan lies the Dorp Mahiar And lastly between that and Hispahan about a League from the latter is a Village nam'd Jarustan The Province of Persia is water'd by a large River call'd Cur which is a corrupt Name of Cyrus Philip of Ferara in his Geography Olearius and others will have this to be the same River which the Latins call'd Begradas But Della Valle contradicts this Opinion affirming That Bendemir is the Name of a Bridge which lies cross the River near the way coming from Ispahan to Schiras but its right name is Curis as is before mention'd for Bend-Emir signifies The Bridge of Emir because the Persians call a Bridge Bend and Emir was the Name of the Builder The ancient Writers make mention of two Rivers in Asia which bear the Name of Cyrus the one whereof having washt Armenia and Albania discharges its Water into the Caspian
Sea and as Olearius says is at this day call'd Cur or Aras The other which we now speak of glides from the North to the South through Persia by the Walls of the City Schiras and falls into the Persian Gulph From the Banks of this River the famous Cyrus was thrown in his Infancy and gave his Name to the Place and not to that where he was born which was call'd Agradat Most of the Persian Geographers as Olearius Garcias de Sylva Figueroa and others judge the River Cur or Bendemir to be the same with Araxes This Araxes is the biggest of all those Rivers which water the Provinces of Persia and Lara notwithstanding which it is not very broad but runs in a narrow Channel in many Meanders between high Mountains being well replenish'd with all sorts of Fish This River takes its Original out of the Mountain Jessel lying between the famous Cities Suster and Margascan formerly call'd Susa and Persepolis and first directingits Course Southward bends afterwards to the East separating the ancient Province of Susiana from the Western part of Carmania and so enters into the Kingdom of Persia and after having receiv'd the Waters of many little Rivolets and divided the Province of Kerman and the ancient Caramie Foelix finding its Current to the Sea stopt by the exceeding high Mountains it returns with great force to the North-East being grown bigger than before and much deeper by the Waters which fall from the fore-mention'd Mountains thence it again runs Southward visiting the ancient Gedrosie and at last falls into the Indian Sea making a spacious Bay Near the Ruins of Cehil Minar and the ancient Persepolis glides the River Pelevar which takes its Course towards the South and falls into the Cur after having first water'd one of the fruitfulest Parts of Persia Persia is very Mountainous in several Places but they are not altogether sterill for the Mountains of Neriz have many Iron Mines and some relate that many Smaragds are found in this Province About ten or twelve Leagues from Schiras are several high Hills full of Palm and Lentisk-Trees where breed many Wild Hogs The Inhabitants of Schiras which is common to all the other Provinces of this Kingdom are very white the Women generally beautiful and the Men well-proportion'd There is also a great Trade driven in Schiras occasion'd by the Caravans which coming from Samarcand and Zagatay pass through this Place with great Quantities of Silk Musk Rhubarb and Turcoises all which those of Chorazzan receive from the Merchants which come from Catay or the Northern China And by this means Schiras furnishes other Countries with Provisions as Wooll Copper and many other things besides Distill'd Rose-water for they make another sort than we in Europe by decocting the Roses They also get abundance of Silk from the Silk-worms they breed here and have likewise Rubies Balayses which come from the City Balasan and great store of Lazuus Stones and Tutty Persia or Fars is not very cold though its Situation be more Northerly than the other Provinces for in December all the Gardens about Schiras are green and the Trees retain their Leaves because the Ground being moisten'd by so many Rivers is not onely preserv'd from all extraordinary Scorchings but so cooled and the Fruit becomes ripe so late that it may be preserv'd all the Winter and kept very good till March. The Country about Schiras and the Plains between the Mountains and the River Pasa is naturally dry and barren The Country about Rexel near the Sea-coast yields very excellent Wheat and also good store of Fruit That Tract of Land which extends Southerly produces abundance of Dates as also the Ground about the City Com but no Vines The Country of Tarom with the other neighboring Places are all planted with Date-trees under whose the Inhabitants sow Cotton There is also abundance of Sweet-briar out of whose Flowers the Inhabitants distill a sort of Water which they call Gulaep that is Rose-water Out of the gaping Ciefts of a high Mountain in the Country Stahanon distils a Liquor or Juyce which the King of Persia causes to be gather'd by Persons sworn for that purpose which yearly take up thirty Meticals or about forty or fifty Ounces of the said Distillation which by the Persians is call'd Monmaky Cony that is Precious Water and is kept onely for the King's Use it being as they affirm an excellent Antidote against all Poyson and an infallible Remedy against inward Bruises as also outwardly apply'd for Sinew-strains Contusions and the like The King many times bestows some of it upon those Princes that are in League with him as an extraordinary Mark of his Favor In stead of this the Turks use Terra Sigillata the Mahumetans of the Eastern Countries Pazar Cony which is a kind of Jews-Gum gather'd at Maxulpata or Musulipatan in India but is not of that Vertue and Power as this of India About Schiras the Persians find a sort of bitter Root by the Apothecaries call'd Cost from the example of the Arabians and Persians though they generally add the Word Talk to the same viz. Cost-Talk that is Bitter Cost to distinguish it from the common Indian Cost which they call Cost Xerir that is Sweet Cost The Bitter Cost hath a Root very hard and firm of a yellow Colour somewhat inclining to white if it be fresh and good but if it be digg'd out of season or carelesly dry'd it becomes blue or brown The Shell or Rind is streak'd and the Pulp white and bitterish The old Roots are very unsavory and ill-tasted It is brought into Europe either in round Pieces or else in long Slices The Country about Lastan produces abundance of Ingo by the Apothecaries call'd Assa foetida In Fars and Persia especially about Schiras they have very excellent Wine the best in all Persia which they call Xarao or Charab and it is sent to all Parts of the Country especially to the Court for the King and his Nobles drink no other and if any Person of Quality entertains another he always treats him with this Wine This Province also produces Bezoar-stones which the Persians properly call Pazahar which is a Compound Word of Pa and Zahar the first signifying Against and the other Poyson They are chiefly found in a County call'd Stabanon three days Journey from Lara where also grows in the Fields a Plant like Saffron which the Goats eating causes the foremention'd Stones to grow in their Stomachs and are esteem'd above all other Gems by the King of Persia Nay the Fields wherein the said Goats graze are constantly guarded and the collecting of the Stones look'd after by Officers appointed particularly for that purpose There is also a Stone by the Physicians call'd Lapis Judaicus that is The Jews Stone and by the Persians and Arabians Ager Alyud that is The Stone of Judas There is likewise the Armenian Stone otherwise call'd Lapis Lazuli and in the Persian Tongue nam'd Ager Armeni
Walls The Streets in both Towns are narrow and the Houses built of Stone or Earth are very low after the Eastern manner The Caravansera's or Royal Inns. Hard by the Market-place stand two great Caravansera's or * Built at the Kings Charge Royal Inns provided with many Galleries and large Rooms in which the Merchants of other Countreys dispose of their Commodities which they sell by whole-sale The one call'd Schach Caravansera is appointed for the Muscovites who lay up their Goods in the same The other nam'd Losgi Caravansera is built for the Circassian Tartars who also bring thither their Merchandise which for the most part consists in Horses Women young and full grown Maids and sometimes little Children which they either buy or take from the Russians on their Borders or else from one another Moreover the Jews have their Residences in the Caravansera Losgi bringing very fine Wooll thither from Tabessaran The Hamans or publick Baths There are likewise three publick Hamans or Baths in the City which are very much frequented by the Persians two of them stand open in the day-time for the Men and in the Night for the Women The third call'd Hammam Schech being onely for Men near which stand two large Trees which are held in great veneration by the Persians as having been planted there by one of their Saints call'd Schich Murith who not far from thence lies bury'd in a Metzit or Temple to which the People flock more than to any other in the City which contains in all six Metzits or Temples The Revenues which the Baths produce yearly are bestow'd on those things which go to the setting forth of their Funerals and what happens to be over and above is distributed amongst the Poor The Bazar or Market-place On the South side of the City is a Bazar or Market-place with several little Streets or rows of Shops furnish'd with all sorts of Cotton Stuffs Silk Cloth-of-Silver Bowes Arrows Simiters and other Manufactures which are all to be bought at easie Rates The Inhabitants are generally Persians Armenians and Georgians speaking each their peculiar Languages besides the vulgar Tongue of Scervan which is the Turkish There is nothing remarkable or of Antiquity in this City excepting the great Tower which Mr. Cartwright affirms to be built of Free-stone and Flint intermixt with the Sculls of their ancient Noblemen who being overcome and taken Prisoners in a War against the King of Persia were put to death and had their Heads so fixt for a signal Mark of terror to prevent future Insurrections But this Assertion is by some deny'd and judg'd to have been grounded upon the appearance onely of Heads carv'd there in Stone Half a League Northward from the City on a pretty high Hill call'd Caleculistan appear the Ruines of a decay'd Fort where there is a large Cave Vaulted with Free-stone and near it a deep Well Culistan whence denominated The Persians have a Tradition that Schirvan an ancient King of this Province caus'd this Castle to be built in memory of Culistan one of his Concubines from whom it also took Denomination They add moreover that it was taken by Alexander the Great and afterwards by him demolish'd But it is more probable that it receiv'd the Name of Culistan from an adjacent Valley made very fruitful by a Brook and exceeding pleasant in the Spring from the variety of Tulips and other diverse colour'd Flowers Culistan signifying a Valley of Roses Tulips or whatever sort of curious Flowers and Cale a Castle or Fort. Not far from Cale-Culistan towards the side of Schamachie stand two Chappels on another high Hill In the first and chiefest which is built in form of an oblong Square appears a high Sepulchre Rail'd about each Bar arm'd at the top with an Iron Spike and adorn'd with Tassels or small Pennons of divers colour'd Cloth In the other Chappel are other Tombs bedeck'd after the same manner being the Sepulchres of their Saints to whom the Persians often kneel and pay their usual Devotions This last Chappel leads to a deep Vault Amaleck Canna ' s Tomb. in which they say Amaleck Canna one of their King's Daughters lies bury'd who being forc'd by her Father contrary to her Inclination to Marry a Tartar Prince slew her self and some have reported that all Virgins thereabouts come yearly to the foremention'd Burying-place of Amaleck Canna to Mourn there over her Tomb. 'T is true indeed the Inhabitants of Schamachie and those also of the neighboring Villages in some Weeks in the Summer do repair to the foremention'd Mountain not for Amaleck Canna's sake as some imagine but rather for the coolness of the Air which at that Season they find upon the tops of those Hills when at the same time it is intolerabe hot below Some Artificers and those of the meaner sort that use Manufacture go thither in the Morning and having tarry'd there all day at their Work return to their Houses in the Evening but the Nobility commonly take up their Residences there for three Moneths together during which time the Heat continues The Cattel at that time also are driven to Mount Elburs where there is not onely a temperate Air but also good Pasturage The Elburs is part of Mount Caucasus bordering on the side of Tabesseran and Georgia and may plainly be seen from Culistan and other Mountains The Worshippers of Orimasda fled to India It is said that in ancient times the Persians preserv'd and worshipp'd their Orimasda or ever-burning Fire on this Elburs but at this day neither the Fire nor the Worshippers thereof are according to Texeira and others to be found in all Persia nor Jesche but some relate that they are fled from thence to India where they affirm is at this day a sort of Fire-Worshippers At Schamachie is yet to be seen a Cross of hard black Wood which some believe was a piece of Noah's Ark. The Village Mordow To this City belongs a Village call'd Mordow which in the Turkish Language signifies Morass because the Countrey about it is Fenny and all drown'd with abundance of Water which descending with the concourse of many Brooks and Rivulets falls with such violence that the disturbed Waters never freeze in the hardest Winter The Rusticks live here like the Tartars in Astracan in little Houses like Huts In the foremention'd Village and in others thereabouts dwell a People call'd Pedar which speak a peculiar Dialect though not much differing from the Turks and Persians and are of their Religion with some different Perswasions for they account it a great Crime to eat their Meat hot holding it as an Abomination that any should breathe upon it which if any one chance to do they will not touch it but judge the same to be defil'd by their prophane Breath Three Leagues from Mordow lies the Village Tachousie and three Leagues from Schamachie lies Pyrmaraas in which is the Tomb of an eminent Saint or Holy
in their Ears and as many more inferior Servants Then said Tzumtzume to Eissi Who are you and what is your Religion To which the Prophet answer'd I am Eissi who teach the true Belief Tzumtzume reply'd hereupon Then I will embrace your Belief After which he begg'd of Eisi that he would permit him to die again for he rather chose to die than to be depriv'd of that happy Life he formerly enjoy'd Whereupon his Request was granted by Eissi and Tzumzume suffer'd to return a lifeless Carcase to his Grave Near the same Tomb stands an old Tree on a Bank rais'd in form of a Stage inclos'd within a Wall four Yards high and seven in the square to which rhere is an Ascent by several Degrees or Steps One side of Derbend is noted for Tomb-stones and Monuments amounting to several thousands most of them three Foot broad and on the top of them Arabick and Syriack Characters Engraven The Persians relate the following Story of the foremention'd Tomb viz. That not many Ages after after Mahomet a King call'd Cassan Reign'd in Media who in a Battel against the Tagestan Tartars whom the Persians call Lesgi losing many thousands of his Men caus'd the chiefest of his Officers to be bury'd in the foremention'd place with Tomb-stones and Inscriptions to perpetuate their Memory There is yet another peculiar Coemeterie or Burying-place towards the Sea surrounded with a Wall within which are to be seen four of the foremention'd kind of Tomb stones together by the Persians call'd Tziltenan and by the Turks and Tartars Kerchler They say also that forty Princes all devout Men who dy'd in the aforesaid Fight lay bury'd there Wherefore the Persians both Men and Women come daily to kiss the Tomb-stones and laying their Hands upon them Pray very devoutly In the City Derbend dwell no Christians but onely Mahumetans and Jews of the Tribe of Benjamin There is no considerable Trade driven here except that the Tartars bring their stoln Children as also full grown Turks and Russians to sell which afterwards are sent farther into Persia The Tombs of Pyrhr Mucur and Imam Churchud A quarter of a League from the City where the Borders of Persia and Tagestan are separated by a small Brook are two Sepulchres of Mahumetan Prophets The first being that of Pyrhr Muchar stands in a Plain and the other of Imam Curchud in the Mountains of whom the Tradition goes that he was ally'd to Mahomet and that being always with him he was instructed by him and liv'd three hundred years after him Moreover that going to the King of Cassan he so prevail'd with him by playing on a Musical Instrument and Singing that he drew him to side with the Lesgi or Tagestan Tartars But when he undertook to Convert the Lesgi who were Heathens and began to Preach amongst them they conspir'd against him and murder'd him His Grave is in a great Cavity cut in a Rocky Mountain the Coffin being onely four Planks nail'd together without any Ornaments and to be seen by all People onely with the leave of an old Woman who sits continually by to watch it But when they come hither to make Offerings they cover the Floor with Straw Mats and hang Tapestry before the Cavity in which the Coffin stands Women and Maids repair thither in great numbers from the City and other remote places and go bare-footed into the Sepulchre kiss the Chest and kneel down to Pray by it which done they make their Offerings to the old Woman who is reverenc'd as a holy Person and keeps a Lamp burning all Night long in the Tomb. Their Offerings consist in Cheese Butter Milk Bread Money Wax and the like The City Bachu Another City call'd Bachu or as others write Bacuse lies also near the Caspian Sea and is a safe Harbor for Ships insomuch that some Writers have given this Sea the Name of Mare de Bacu or The Sea of Bacu. The Mountain Barmach Three Leagues from the Village Tachousi lies the Mountain Barmach which appearing at a great distance is round and hath a very high steep Rock on the top which in the Turkish Language they call Barmach that is A Finger because it reaches above other Mountains like a pointing Finger From the Valley there leads a Way up to the same which is dangerous to be ascended by those that are unacquainted with it On the top of this Mountain the Air is so cold that the Grass and Herbs are as it were candy'd or crisp'd over with Ice when yet it is very pleasant and warm Weather below The broken Walls and other pieces of Ruine sufficiently testifie that it was anciently crown'd with a strong Castle and is said to have been built by Alexander and ruin'd by Tamerlane for at the foot of the high Rock is a Plain of fifty Rods square about which are to be discern'd the Foundations of an ancient thick Wall with Bulwarks In the middle thereof is a deep Well wall'd about and not far from thence two Tombs cover'd with great round Stones On the North side also and at the going up to the Rock stands a great piece of a Wall and heaps of Stone which without doubt are the Ruines of another Castle from whence several Steps lead to the top of the Rock where there is another Arch which serves for a third resting place Near the old Wall on the Stone Rocks grow Fig-trees in several places The Trade of this Province The Inhabitants of this Countrey drive a great Trade in Silk especially in the City Serwan where it is sold in such abundance that it is Transported from thence through all Muscovy and the East Countrey The City Ere 's also was formerly famous for the abundance of white Silk which the Merchants call'd Mammodees but through the long Wars and destruction of Serwan both Staples formerly so famous are now fail'd The Military Strength The Military Strength of this Province of Schirwan herein chiefly appears that the City Schamachie alone is able in time of need to set forth eighteen thousand Horse The natural Fortifications are also no less considerable the chief whereof is that foremention'd Pass call'd The Iron Gate being one of the strongest Bulwarks in the whole Province securing the Way against the Albains Russians Turks and Tartars Change of Government The ancient Kings of this Province with their several Dynasties and Revolutions are sufficiently known in History but the last of the native Median Kings was Aydar who was slain by Farrock Yacar whose Son Xa Ismael Sophi reduc'd the Kingdom to a Province since which time it hath been Govern'd by his Chans or Lieutenants There belong to the Province of Schirwan the Territory call'd Muscur extending along the Caspian Sea from Derbend to Kilcan comprising two hundred Villages But the chief Town in this Territory which is Govern'd by the Sultan of Derbend and lying near the Sea is call'd Schabran Description of the Countrey of
Muscur This Countrey of Muscur is every where very pleasant to the Eye affording a green Prospect till November The Soil is fertile producing plenty of Barley Rice and Wheat besides all manner of excellent Fruit and Trees of delightful shade and harbor to melodious Birds The Cattel lie abroad in the Fields as well in Winter as in Summer so that they have little need of providing Hay more than what just serves for Travellers and Strangers The Vines grow up and down without Planting and run upon the Elms or such like Trees as in Italy There is likewise variety of wild Fowl here especially Pheasants also store of Hares and a sort of Foxes call'd by the Inhabitants Schacal having thick Wooll on their Backs white Hair under their Bellies black Ears and a less Tail than ordinary which they call Tulki In the Lakes and Pools about the Village Mardow are abundance of wild Swans which are commonly taken in the Winter much esteem'd for the fineness of their Down The Rusticks keep Buffalo's which are us'd in their Draughts their Fodder is Schenbile or Grecian Hay with which whole Fields are Sow'd it is Mow'd when green and given Seed and all to the Buffalo's which makes their Milk so rich that it yields Cream two Inches thick of which is made excellent Butter They never make Cheese of Cows Milk but all of Sheeps ISFAHAN The Province of Parthia or Erack The modern Names and Bounds of Parthia THe Province anciently nam'd Parthia is at this day call'd Arach Harach or Erach as also in the Countrey Language Erack and by some Jex but according to Texeira its proper and true Name is Hyerack or as Olearius will have it Erack But it is to be observ'd that the Name Hyerack or Erack is given to two distinct Provinces one whereof lies in Arabia or as Olearius says it comprises Bagdat or Babylon and was anciently Assyria and is by some nam'd Eracain the other lying in the middle of Persia and is generally call'd Erack Agemy or Erack Atzem whereas the first hath the Denomination of Erack Araly This Province of Erack borders Eastward at Arie and by a long Road at Corazan on the West it conterminates with Media on the North with Hircania and juts Southerly towards the Wilderness of Caramia The Metropolis of Erack is Ispahan the other chief Towns are according to Olearius Casuwin or Casbin Solthanie Sencan Caschan Ebbeher Saway Rey Hemedan Com Scha-Herrisur Dercasin and Theheran The City Ispahan by Josaphat Barbaro is call'd Spahan by Contareno Spaa or Spaam by Peter Bizarro Aspacham Spaha was by the ancient Greeks for its largeness nam'd Hecatompolis that is A hundred Cities A little before Tamerlanes time it was call'd Sipahan partly from its populousness and partly because there the Armies had their Rendezvous for Siphan is the same with the ancient Persian word Sipa which signifies an Army wherefore they at this day call the General of an Army Sipesalar but since Tamerlane's time it hath had the Denomination of Ispahan by transposing the Letters and placing the I before the S. An Arabian Writer call'd Ahmedbin Arebscha who writ the Life of Tamerlane calls this City Isbahan and some modern Writers of the Persians Isfahan Situation and Bounds of the City Ispahan This City lying in 32 Degrees and 26 Minutes North Latitude and 86 Degrees and 40 Minutes Longitude is situated upon a Plain and half environ'd with Mountains at three or four Leagues distance viz. towards the South and South-West with the Mountains Demawend and towards the North-East those of Jeilack Perjan It is eight Leagues in circumference with its Suburbs but it is fenc'd onely with a a slight Wall of Earth six Yards thick at the bottom and not above a Foot on the top with several Stone Redoubts The Moat about the same is almost quite dry insomuch that one may go over it dry-foot in several places both in Winter and Summer The Castle which is also the Treasury is built pretty strong and Plaister'd over with Lime On the South-West side of the Town runs an indifferent large Stream call'd Senderuth which springing out of the Mountain Demawend divides it self into two several Branches call'd Haws and Burke Besides which there are divers Wells and Springs up and down so that the whole City is very well serv'd with Water Out of the same River runs a third Branch just above the City into a Park of Deer call'd Hazartzirib and in another place it is convey'd in Pipes under Ground into the King's chief Garden call'd Tzarbag a little below which Allawerdich Chan of Schiras built a fair Stone Bridge cross the Stream Schach Abbas during his fourteen years Reign made it his principal Business to lead another Stream which passes on the other side of the Mountain Demawend through the said Mountain though in a manner all Rock into the River Senderuth employing daily a thousand Men about it allowing each man four Abas a day but by reason of the excessive Cold and abundance of Snow which falls thereabouts they were never able to work above three Moneths in a year which very much retarded the Work yet through the alacraty of the Nobles and Grandees in assisting the King it was brought to a great forwardness and had been quickly finish'd had Schach Abbas liv'd but after his Death his Successor never employ'd a Man about it The Description of the City This City was also twice laid waste by Tamerlane first when he conquer'd it and next when it rebell'd against him In Schach Ismael's time it began to flourish a little but when Scach Abbas by reason of its pleasant Situation remov'd his Royal Seat from Casvyn thither he not onely enlarg'd and beautifi'd the City with fair Buildings but also made it very populous by reason of the great concourse of People that flockt thither from all parts insomuch that at this day the Inhabitants thereof are estimated to be above five hundred thousand Every House of the City which much enlarges it hath two fair Gardens being generally much esteem'd by the Persians who though they beautifie them not so much with all manner of various colour'd Flowers as is usual in Europe yet they Plant them very handsomly with divers sorts of Fruit-trees Vines and especially the Tzinar Tree besides which they adorn them with pleasant Fountains and conveying the Water from one Pipe to another cause them at their pleasure to overflow the whole Garden Persons of Quality have also commonly two or three Pleasure-houses in every Garden which are better furnish'd than their Dwelling-houses Besides the Citizens ordinary Habitations there are several Palaces in the City which are not so beautiful without as within they are for the most part built of Sun-dry'd Brick and square Tile and after the Persian manner many two some three and others four Stories high each having a peculiar Name the Cellar they call Sirsemin the lower Story or Hall Chane the Rooms
the troublesom Valley of Perdelisk and the other extends Eastward Three Leagues from Chivi lies another Village call'd Hoin and beyond it a Valley that is scatteringly inhabited Five Leagues from the before-mention'd Hoin appears the City Scial at the foot of a Mountain so inconsiderable that it is scarce worth the mentioning from whence you go through narrow Roads very foul and troublesom which brings you first to Derram in the Countrey of Taron where all the Fields quite to Caswin are Planted with Cotton Eight Leagues from Derram is the Village Ibrahim so denominated from the Builder thereof A League farther runs the Stream call'd Chizil-Uzen which augmented with several Brooks and Rivulets falls into the Caspian Sea From thence you soon arrive at Caswin The Province of Iran or Carabach Situation and Description THe Province of Iran by most especially by the Vulgar call'd Carabach lies between two famous Rivers viz. the Araxes and Cyrus now call'd Aras and Cur It compriseth part of Armenia and Georgia or Gurtz and is divided into sixteen Counties viz. Cappan Tzulfa Schabus Sisian Keschtas Sarsebil Eruan or Iruan Kerchbulach Achstawa Aberan Schorgel Sarschat Intze Thaback Meleck Thumanis Alget and Vzilder In these Counties are several fair Cities Villages and Fortresses of which the best known are Berde Bilagan Schemcur Kentze Bercuschat Nachtschuan Ordebat Bajefied Macu Magasburt Tiflis and Tzilder It is a very fertile Countrey abounding especially in Silk and hath been often Invaded by the Turk who borders upon it Drangiane or Sagistam Borders of Sagistam DRangiane at this day call'd Sagistam borders in the North and West with Aria in the East with Arachosia or Cabul and in the South at a part of Gedrosia The several Names of its Metropolis According to Olearius and Ananias the Metropolis of this Province is call'd Sistam which Ananias will have to be the City Propstasia of Ptolomy otherwise nam'd Phrada whereas Davity saith Sistan and Sagistam are two several Provinces and will rather have the City which Anaâ—ias calls Asiam to be the Propstasia of Ptolomy by reason of the similitude in the Names which will not hold good if as some are of opinion Sistan be a contraction of Sagistan The other Towns according to the same Ananias are Bigui which is the Begis of Ptolomy Canasi Mulete Bachagi Aeloud perhaps the ancient Aricada of Ptolomy and Timocaim of which last Marcus Paulus Venetus makes mention The chief Towns The chiefest Towns in this Province according to Olearius are Sistan Chaluck Ketz c. Ptolomy also places the River Drange in this Province which glides Southerly from the side of the Mountain Bagoe In the Maps and by Ananias this River is call'd Ilment but the whole Countrey being surrounded with Mountains hath so pent it up that it can scarce find any Passage There are but few Towns in this Province the People are under the Subjection of the Persian Sophi and use Persian Manners and Customs Here Texeira makes us believe contrary to the receiv'd Opinion that there is a Mountain on which some of the Persians to this day worship their ancient God Orimasda or the never-dying Fire The Countrey of Nixabur or Nisabur Situation of Nixabur THe Countrey of Nixabur is by Texeira plac'd between that of Carason Usbeck Tartary and Turkestan The Metropolis is also call'd Nisabur and according to Olearius not far from Mesched being in 102 Degrees and twenty Minutes Longitude and in 38 Degrees and 40 Minutes Northern Latitude The Countrey is full of Sandy Desarts which are in a perpetual motion as if they boyl'd though there be no Wind. Near the City Nisabur lieth a Mountain on which are found excellent Turkoises so call'd perhaps from the Name of the Countrey in which the Hill lies namely Turkestan The Province of Kilan or Gilan Denomination and Situation of Kilan THe Province of Kilan or Gilan by the Ancients call'd Hircania hath receiv'd that Denomination from a peculiar People nam'd Kileck It lies between high Mountains and the Caspian Sea like a Cross on an even Plain which being clayie Ground is much fertiliz'd with many Brooks and Rivers that fall from the neighboring Mountains but in some places it was heretofore unpassable by reason of the Water untill King Abbas rais'd a Cawsey which crosses the whole Countrey from Astarabath to Astara so that you may now travel with great ease It conterminates in the South with the Province of Erack in the North with the Caspian Sea and in the West and North-West at Schirwan or the Mountains of Schamachie and the Plains of Mocan This Province af Gilan is divided into twenty Counties Division in which there are several Towns Villages and Hamlets viz. Kisilagatsch Maschischan Buladi Cilekeran Disekeran Rihk Lahetzan Deschtewend Lengercunan Schichkeran Howe Lissar Kesker Masanderan Marancu Astara Nokeran Lemur Tzeulandan Rescht and Astarabath You enter this Province on the South from Erack through a narrow but well known Road by Writers call'd Caken or The Straight of Hircania but in the time of Alexander it was call'd Pylae and is the same which Olearius calls now The Caspian Gate The Way is very narrow through which you come into the Province of Kilan At the Mouth of this Pass are two Streams that coming from the right and left side of Erack conjoyn their Waves and gliding along come at last to a Stone Bridge which being Vaulted and accommodated with several Rooms of Entertainment supplies the place of a Caravansera and passing thence divide again and fall by two Mouths into the Caspian Sea Beyond the Bridge you come into a fair Road which presently divides it self into two Ways one leading to Ardebil and the other to Kilan the first is very troublesom and dangerous by reason of many Rocky Descents and steep Passages incumbred with great Stones and often so narrow that a Camel and a Horse can scarce pass one by another but the right Way that leads to Kilan is rather worse having such Caverns and Precipices that Travellers are forc'd to walk afoot and lead their Horses over the Mountains of which at the same Season one side is very cold and the other extream hot but more Northerly through Kilan are very pleasant Shades with all manner of Fruit-Trees and others fit for Timber In a Valley near the Stream Isperuth lies a Village call'd Pyle Rubar encompass'd with Hills Though this Village be at the Entrance into Kilan yet the Persians will not allow it to belong thereto but to the Mountains of Tarum A League from Pyle Rubar in the middle of the River Isperuth are to be seen the Ruines of an old Wall and Bridge destroy'd as they say by Alexander the Great The Country of Rescht The County of Rescht borders North on the Caspian Sea West with Kesker and East with the River Isperuth It hath a City of the same Name which is also the Metropolis it stands two Leagues
the aged People wear Cotton Coats They are taken to be a kind of Salvages divided into several Tribes The Habitations on this Plain are little Cottages and very mean according to the Nature of the Persians by the Tartars call'd Olack built of Straw and Bushes and within furnish'd with as bad Implements Five Leagues from the Entrance upon the Plain from the South towards the North stands a Chappel wherein lies bury'd Bairam Tecle Obasi who in the time of Schach Abbas when the Turks under the Command of the Bashaw Tzacal Ogli fell into Persia was a famous Robber and having under his Command a great company of the like Shifters turn'd his Praedatory Practise upon the Enemy for which the King not onely pardon'd his former Crimes but made him General of an Army of twelve thousand Men with which he did the Enemy more mischief than the King with all the rest of his Persian Forces and withal rais'd him to the Dignity of a Prince and gave him many Villages hereabouts On this Plain breed also a sort of wild Beasts not seen any where else in Persia which keep together in great Herds and are by the Turks call'd Tzeiran and by the Persians Ahu they are very swist-footed and shap'd like a Roe-Buck In most places of Mocan grows abundance of Liquorice to the thickness of a Man's Arm the Juice boyl'd out of the same is much better than our English or that which grows in Germany Ten Leagues up into the Plain from the River Cur flows a Brook call'd Baharu where many * Vulgarly call'd Turtles Tortoises are found which lay their Eggs on the high Banks and in the Fields in Holes made in the Sand against the Hills but always towards the South that so they may be the sooner hatch'd by the heat of the Sun Stream Aras Through Mogan or Mocan runs a River now call'd Aras and by the Ancients Araxis but not the Araxis in Persia by the Inhabitants call'd Cur and by some miscall'd Beademir The Ancients have perhaps given the Stream Araxis that Denomination from the Greek word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is To break off or Rent asunder because by the violence of its Course it often takes away pieces of the Land leaving the Banks steep and jutting It springs from the Mountain Ararat in Aâ—menia and carries the Water of many Streams along with it the chiefest whereof are Carasu Senki Kerni and Arpa and at last sinks into the Ground near Carasu afterwards appearing again not far from Ordabath falls with great noise and violence which may be heard into the Province of Mocan for Mocan in respect of Armenia and Schirwan lies very low through Mocan it runs very slow towards the Caspian Sea and unites about a quarter of a League beyond the Village Tzawat six Leagues from the Sea in 39 Degrees and 40 Minutes Northern Latitude with the Stream Cyrus now call'd Cur which comes out of the North from Georgia or Gurstan Both these Rivers are very large each being a hundred and forty Paces broad the Water thereof smooth deep and brown-colour'd runs between two high Banks The conjoyn'd Streams of Aras and Cur are by the Inhabitants call'd Causchan The Village Tzawat The Village Tzawat hath receiv'd that Denomination from the Arabick word Tzawas which signifies a Passage or Through-fare because at the same place there also lies a Bridge cross the River over which none are permitted to come into Persia without a Pass Every Spring in March when the Water rises they have an Art to remove this Bridge left it should be broken for then the River overflows its Banks and the adjacent Plain above a League so that none can travel during that time The Province of Betziruan Description of Betziruan ON the West side of the Plains of Mocan lies a Countrey and Mountain call'd Betziruan which is water'd by a winding River so that those which travel through this Countrey to Ardebil are forc'd to cross the same Amongst several others there is one Village call'd Schechmuras where the Front of the Houses are built of Stone and the Back-parts cut into the Mountain but cover'd over with Canes Straw and the like On the top of the Mountain rises a clear and sweet Spring which passing between the Rocks breeds abundance of Craw-Fish Not far from hence are other Mountains of two Leagues long and behind them a Village call'd Disle in which the Indians that come to Trade at Schamachie built a Caravansera Anno 1639. Between these Mountains in divers place grow abundance of Fig-Trees Five Leagues from Disle lies the Caravansera Aggis built very large In this Way the Travellers never suffer their Horses or Camels to eat by reason of the poysonous Quality of the Grass of which some that have tasted dy'd soon after Somewhat farther lies the Village Tzanlu near a pleasant Hill surrounded with Gardens and Orchards Beyond Tzanlu lies Tzizetlu a Mountain three Leagues over By the foot of it glides the River Carusu which coming out of the Kilanean Mountains falls into the Aras It also runs by the Village Samiam under a Stone Bridge with six Arches Half a League from which and two little Leagues from the City Ardebil is the Hamlet Tzabedar Little Fewel is to be had hereabouts wherefore the Inhabitants burn Cows Horses and Camels Dung in stead thereof having first dry'd the same sufficiently in the Sun Having in this our Relation hitherto often made mention of the Caspian Sea it will not be amiss to give a short Description of it The Caspian Sea The several Denominations of the Caspian Sea THe Caspian Sea or Lake hath several Denominations from the divers adjacent Villages and Countreys viz. The Russians call the same Chualenca or Gualenscoi More the Moors Bohar Corsun that is Inclosed Sea which Name they also give to the Arabian Gulf the Persians Culsum a Name agreeing with the Red-sea the Latines both ancient and modern following the Greeks Mare Caspium and Hyrcanum as others from the City Bacuje in Schirwan Mare de Bacu also Kilan Giorgia Terkestan Corasum and Cunsar It s length and breadth The length of the Caspian Sea is by most Writers accounted fifteen days Voyage and the breadth eight in Boats with Oars without the help of the Wind. The length from the Mouth or Entrance of the Sea from Astrachan to Ferabath is accounted eight Degrees or a hundred and twenty German Miles and the breadth from the Province Churesin to the Circassian Mountain six Degrees or ninety Leagues Paskeart vande CASPISE ZEE The great Fish Naca There is a great Fish call'd Naca taken in this Sea having a short Head and Belly wide Mouth and round Tail three or four Yards thick This Fish doth great mischief to Fishermen for it will hang with its Head under Water and overset a Boat with its Tail if not opportunely prevented The White-Fish No less dangerous is the White-Fish
that is Darius's City Beyond Darabghierd we see the Villages Dechair and beyond that the Wilderness of Moghokiel Next you come to a Mosque of an Imamsade's Tomb who was call'd Meir Abas Son to Iman Giafer Sadick a Man highly esteem'd amongst the Persians yet the Mosque is quite ruin'd notwithstanding it is near a Village About it are pleasant Gardens with all sorts of Fruit-Trees water'd by a little Brook At the entrance is a Court where several People superstitiously desire to be bury'd In the middle of this Court stands a great Palm-Tree by whose Foot runs another Brook replenish'd with all sorts of Fish for the Service of the Court. Meir Aba 's Tomb. On one side of the Mosque is Meir Abas's Tomb cover'd with sleight Turkish Linnen Here Della Valle says he found a bound Book and also some Leaves of an old Book with certain Medals which were brought from Kierrila and the famous Hossein's Tomb on which were Imprinted in Arabick Letters the name of GOD and some other pious words as Elhemdu lillah that is God be praised Beyond this Tomb you come between narrow Mountains which formerly serv'd for the Boundaries between the two Provinces of Persia and Lar when Lar was a peculiar Dukedom and not subject to the Persians Somewhat farther you come to the Village Furg and beyond it to several Heaps of Rubbish being the Ruines of an ancient Structure by the Vulgar call'd The Mountain of the King of Behmen who as they report Reign'd a considerable time in Persia before Darius was conquer'd by Alexander the Great Next you approach the Village Tascui and Seid Geuder in the County of Tarom the salt Water of Absicur the Village Pelengon and the Tenghi Cebarrud or Narrow Gate beyond which a Brook glides gently into a Moat near which Travellers commonly resting themselves cut their Names and Verses on the Rocks which shadow this Brook from the heat of the Sun all the day Hence you go to Pise or Pisce a little Village in the Countrey of Gurhe not far distant Next appears the Town Curihazirgon and Serzehirevevon the Mountain of Ginan and Countrey of Issur where the Way again parts into two one running by the Village Abidunghur to the City Mina and the other to Cambru In the Road to Cambru lies the Village call'd Ciah Ciacor the common Resting-place for Travellers beyond which is a Row of Houses nam'd Pailulon or Pailuli Dagheli that is At the foot of the Lulen full of Leaves for by these Houses grow abundance of Trees by the Inhabitants call'd Kuli Dagheli as if they would say Trees full of Boughs for out of the great Branches grow many lesser down to the Ground which taking Root produce new Trees which being very common in India are by the Portuguese nam'd Arbores de Raiz that is The Rooting Trees Lastly you come to the Fort and City Combru at present by the Persians call'd Abassi The nature of the Inhabitants of Wild and Great Carmania The Inhabitants of Wild Carmania are most of them Thieves and Robbers but in Great Carmania the Women work all sorts of Shapes on Cloth of Tissue or Silk of divers colours as also on Curtains Hangings Cushions and the like In this Province are made also excellent Saddles Bridles Spurs and all manner of Weapons for War The Inhabitants drink a kind of Beer in stead of Wine and make use of the Arabian Abe The Inhabitants in the Wilderness Reobarle which lieth in this Province live by Pilfering and are great Sorcerers like the Arabians Their Turbans are long but narrower than those of the other Persians with a great Lappet behind Herb Daru Kermon Amongst many other soveraign Herbs growing here there is one exceeding good against Worms call'd Daru Kerman or Daramnack Kermony which is to be understood two several ways viz. for a Medicine for Worms or for a Medicine from Kermon for Kermon is a compound word signifying not onely This Province but A Worm and Daru or Daramnack is a Physical Herb. The chiefest Commodities with which the Inhabitants Trade are Rose-water Wormwood or Daru Kermon and the Stone Surmah Commodities of the Countrey The Carpets made here are by the Persians call'd Caluchey by the Portuguese Alcatifas and commonly by other Europeans from their Example corruptly Alcatifs which are made in three several Places in Persia viz. the richest finest and dearest are made in Izad a City in Hierack where some are sold for a thousand Ducats the second sort are those of Kerman and the third from Carason There is also a black and glittering Stone found in this Countrey which looks as if it were strew'd with File-dust or Sand and is call'd Surmah of which there are two sorts one is found in Kerman as also in Carason which is of greatest value and the other Moches because it comes from Mochi or Mecha The Arabians Indians and Persians use this Stone much against the Distemper of the Eyes for the cure of which it is very prevalent being prepar'd with other things It is good to preserve Beauty insomuch that both Men and Women wiping their Eyes with the Stone wetted account themselves much younger and fairer Gedrosia or Circan Cache Guadel and Macran The several Names of Gedrosia THis Countrey by the Ancients call'd Gedrosia is at this day according to Castaldus nam'd Circan and by Olearius and Melam taken to be the Kingdom of Tarsus of which the Psalmist speaks Niger thinks it is compris'd in Carmania Maffeus calls the Gedrosians Nautaques which are the same the Portuguese call Motages Cluverius will have Gedrosia to comprehend Kesimur and Guzaratte and anciently the two Provinces of Paradene and Parisene and several People as the Orbites Parsires Musarnes and Rhamniers The chiefest Towns were Parsis the Metropolis Chief Towns Arbis and Cuni. Ptolomy borders Gedrosia in the North Borders at Drangiana or Cagisan and Arachosia or the Countrey of Cabul Carmania bounds the West the East borders upon India or the Kingdom of Cambaya and the South fronts the Indian Sea and includes the City Guadel with the Lands belonging thereto and the Towns Calamare and Partinis beyond the Mouth of the River Ilment sometimes call'd Arke near which the Motages and Nautaques reside The County of Mecheran In the same Tract in the Province of Kirman lies another County Eastward call'd Mecheran otherwise Macran and by Texeira Macron who hath given it the Name of a Kingdom with the Denomination of Kyche or Chike by the Portuguese call'd Cache between the Dominion of Guadel and the Abindes of Indostan and betwixt the Countreys of Persia and Send or India and to the Eastward of the Kingdom of Sistan The known Towns of Mecheran are Thir Kitz and Chalack The Metropolis is by some nam'd Mecheran The Inhabitants of Erack seldom come into this Province There is also a City by some call'd Cobinam where very excellent Looking-glasses or Mirrors of Steel are made The
Risa or Eman Reza that is Holy Son of Aaly and is no way inferior in beauty and costliness to that of Schach Sefi at Ardebil John the Persian places Mesched which he calls Maxet sixty Leagues from Hery adding moreover that there is a Tower eighteen Foot high consisting wholly of massy Gold Arch'd on the top with Precious Stone on whose Pinacle if you will believe him is fix'd a Diamond about the bigness of a Chesnut which glittering in the Night may bee seen a League off The City Herat. Not far from Mesched lies the City of Nisabur but not to be compar'd with Herat which is the second best and biggest whither Schickhard supposes the ten Tribes of Israel were led into Captivity whence they never return'd Texeira affirms it built by Alexander the Great but Davity supposes it to be the City Aratha of Ptolomy Those that travel from Ispahan to Candahar must come through this Place The other Towns in this Province are Thun Tabeskileki Thabes Messinanalle all great Cities as also Sebsewar Turschis Cain Puschentz Badkis Meru Merwerud Tzurtzan Fariab Aschurcan Belch Barman Semcan Thalecan and Susen all populous and Cities of great Trade Merwerud by some call'd Marwoh was built by Alexander near the River Jehun or Oxus though Davity will have it to be the Antioche of Ptolomy in Margiana first call'd Alexandria the rest are by Davity call'd Tubas Cahem Tirbeth and Chirazza The River Oxos or Jehun which runs between the Province Turkestan and Usbeck and that on the other side call'd Maurenahar makes the Countrey exceeding fruitful especially near the City Herat where the best Manna is gather'd This whole Countrey abounds with Assa Foetida in the Persian Tongue call'd Inghze Production of the Countrey which is little esteem'd there sa also Surmah The Land about Thun abounds with Mulberry-Trees and consequently produces much Silk and about Cahem Saffron grows in great quantities In this Province are a sort of Cats which for their handsom colour and shape are sent through all Persia they resemble our Tabby or Cyprus Cats There are also Sheep of several colours some with grey or black others with white Hair or Wooll curl'd at the ends which is oftentimes three Inches long or more yet some have Wooll above an Inch long and others so short that it but just curls round some of them have long grey and shining Wooll white at the ends which curling behind appears at adistance like Strings of Pearl The Natives of Chorazan are Whites and very valiant but not civilis'd Nature of the Inhabitants The Inhabitants of most Cities make several Stuffs and drive a great Trade with the Indians Muscovites Tartars and others In Heart dwell many Indian Merchants who Traffick in Carpets made after the Turkish manner Silks Manna Inghze or Assa Foetida Saffron Surmah Precious Stones and other things The Goverment Chorazan is partly the Subjection of the Usbecks or Tartars of Zagatey who seeing the King of Persia Engag'd with the Turks made themselves Masters of most Places thereabouts notwithstanding they have been driven out of many parts of this Province by Schach Abbas The few Christians which are here are Melchites of the Greek Church and use their Liturgy Herbert places the Mountain Albors or Elburs in this Countrey but Olearius in the Province of Schirwan on which the ancient Persians were said to have built their Temple for their ever-burning Fire The Province of Siston Situation and Description of Siston THe Countrey call'd Siston or Sistam lies South-East from Chorazan towards the Sea or Gulf of Persia having Persia on one side and the Kingdom of Macran near India on the other Siston extending thirty Leagues in length comprehends fifteen Towns of which the Metropolis bears the same Denomination with the Countrey and lying according to Hues in 105 Degrees and 30 Minutes Longitude and 28 Degrees and 40 Minutes Northern Latitude is inhabited by five thousand People This Countrey is Morassy and unwholsom though Mountainous and the People hardy and much inclin'd to the Wars being within the Jurisdiction of Chorazan under the Subjection of the Sophy Aria or Ery The several Names and Bounds of Aria ARia or Ery by Pinetus Billius and Olearius taken for Turkestan Mercator calls it Sernere but Giravar and Herbert Hery though others as Niger Minadoi and Texeira affirm that it hath retain'd its ancient Name or at least that of Hery or Ery It lies Bounded according to Ptolomy with Paroparmisade in the East Parthia and Wild Carmania in the West Drangiane by Sagistam in the South and Margiana and a part of Bactriana in the North and as Strabo writes it extends to a certain part of Persia and Media and to the Northern Sogdia The chief Towns The prime City of this Province call'd Ery anciently Aria and by the Persians Sargultsar i. e. The City of Roses boasts that it can shew six or seven thousand Houses The other Towns are Sazuar or Sapzoar Cauran perhaps the Chadurine of Ptolomy Bachachi beyond which lies Caffa and Jarsadman the Lake of Burgian and the River Aria Temperature of the Air and Fertility of the Soil The Air in this Province is very hot and would be much hotter if not refresh'd by the Northern cool Breezes The Countrey is encompass'd with Woods and Mountains and in many places very fertile in the bearing of several sorts of Grain and Fruits especiall Vines the Wine whereof well Cask'd will as they say keep almost a hundred years About Ery grow likewise abundance of Roses and in the City Silk is so plentiful that it may be bought at a reasonable Rate three or four thousand Camels loads being vended in a day Moreover there is store of Rhubarb and Musk sold by the Inhabitants who are Mahumetans Dagestan or Tagestan Situation of Tagestan THe Countrey of Dagestan as Ptolomy Dionysius the Alexandrian and Strabo write was a part of the Province of Albania comprehended between Iberia and the Caspian Sea though Cluverius and Golnitius would have Albania lying betwixt Iberia and the Caspian Sea to be the Eastern part of Georgia Some joyn this Countrey to Persia as a part thereof notwithstanding Ptolomy hath separated them Others affirm that Dagestan was formerly call'd Susiana and Golnitius that it was old Susiana and now Elaran but Olearius avers that it is Chusistan It lies divided from Cincassia by the River Bustro and Southward a quarter of a League from Derbend by a small Brook from * Properly so call'd Persia and extends Northerly with Mountains along the Caspian Sea to the City Terki Tagestan signifies A Mountainous Countrey for Tagh in the Countrey and Turkish Language is a Mountain and Stan in the Persian a Countrey Moreover the Inhabitants call themselves Tagestan Tartars that is Highland or Mountain Tartars but the Persians name them Lesgi for they dwell between the Mountains twenty and thirty Leagues Westward from the Caspian Sea
overgrown with Brambles and Thorns which the Inhabitants wanting Wood use for Fewel But in the low Grounds where the most Villages are built it is green and fertile for the Inhabitants convey the Brooks which are not above four or five Foot broad and spring out of the Mountains about and through all their Lands and Gardens which they water therewith for as we said before there is little Rain falls in Persia Their Fields are generally ten or twelve Rods in the square which being surrounded with Water and inclos'd with Banks about a Foot high they stopping their Sluces drown the same when they please and can let the Water out of one Trench into another nay oftentimes when occasion requires they let their Lands lie under Water in the Night and in the day-time drain it off again to be dry'd by the Heat of the Sun Every Chile of Land affords ten Truss of Hay Plants Plants and Grain THe Grain which the Persians commonly Sowe are for the most part Rice some Wheat Barley Rye and Oats though of no great esteem they have also French Wheat Tares and Pease which are of two sorts the best they call Nagud and the worst Culul and likewise whole Fields of Ricinus by the Arabians call'd Kicaion Santjone Alcaroa and Kerva by the Persians Cuntzut by the Italians Gira Sole and with us The Sun-Flower which in those Countreys continues many years but with us dies every Winter Out of the Seed they press a sweet and delicate Oyl call'd Schirbache which the Persians poure on certain Meats The Rusticks eat the Seed whole mix'd with Currans in stead of Sweet-meats Cotton by the Persians call'd Pambeh by the Indians Algodon Cotton abounds in Persia and by the Arabians in Egypt Gotne Mesegiar is Planted in most Provinces in great abundance and grows on a Sprig of a Yard long having Leaves like those of the Vine but much bigger On the top of the Stalk grows a Cod about the bigness of a great Walnut which when ripe opens in three or four places through which the Cotton appearing is gather'd and much thereof made into Cloth and the rest sold in Bags There are several Villages which do nothing else but plant and sell Cotton which most of all grows in Armenia Iran Nachzuan Carabach Adirbeitzan and Chorazan In Kilan because there grows no Cotton they Sowe much Line-seed which they Spin into Thred and make Linnen thereof The Plant Gontscheh There is also a sort of Grass in the Countrey Language call'd Gontscheh which being Sow'n grows a Yard and a half high and having Leaves like Clover bears blue Flowers and being twice Mow'd in eight Weeks grows up again six years one after another without new Manuring but in the seventh Year the Land must be turn'd up and Sow'd afresh This requires also as much Moisture as that of Rice or Wheat Of this Grain they make Hay for Great Mens Horses as their best Food but in some places where it is warm and moist especially in Muscur near the Caspian Sea where there is no want of Grass either in Summer or Winter they have no occasion to make such Hay Here also are whole Fields of Faenum Graecum Fenugreek or Fenugreek in the Persian Tongue call'd Schembebile It is excellent Fodder for Oxen Cows and Buffalo's which are fatned therewith The Persians say that if Butter lose its taste and become rank being melted with the Seed of this Plant and a piece or two of Onion put therein it recovers its former rellish By reason of the Heat in Persia where it is more Summer than Winter and in the Summer much constant and Sun-shiny Weather there are many excellent Garden Fruits not onely for the Kitchin but to delight the Palate as also all manner of Herbs which we have in Europe and among others great and delicate Colliflowers In the Province of Tarum grow Onyons of three pound weight Several sorts of Melons The Persians esteeming Melons Plant them in great abundance and being very delicate eat them before Meals There are several sorts of Melons viz. Summer and Winter the first call'd Kermeck from Kerm that is Warm are the sweetest and ripen in July the Harvest Melons call'd Charbusei Pasi are ripe in September and weighing from thirty to fifty pound not onely keep good all Winter but the whole Year if hung up between green Canes or Reeds where they are well preserv'd till they have new ones and are not known from them but by the softness of the Rind After the same manner they keep Grapes and other Fruits a whole year so that they have them fresh as if from the Trees in the midst of Winter There is yet another sort of Melons call'd Schammame about the bigness of an Orange with red yellow and green Spots between which the Rind glitters exceedingly and though they smell very sweet yet taste unpleasantly and therefore they are onely carry'd in the Hand for their curious colour and smell which hath given it the Arabian Name of Schammame There is also a sort call'd Tochmesksems being half Persian and half Arabian and signifies Grain or Seed of the Sun which is of an excellent scent and taste There are likewise Water-Melons nam'd Hinduduane from their original out of India as also many sorts of Calabashes among which one call'd Cabach is bigger than a Mans Head with a long Neck and round Knob on the top The outermost Rind of the ripe ones areas hard as the Bark of a Tree and tough as Leather The Pulp dry'd affords nothing but the Seed which taken out they use the Shells in stead of Bowls or Cups to put Water or Drink in The Fruit Badinstan There is another sort of Fruit not known to us in Europe call'd Badinstan in bigness form and manner of growing like our lesser Melons the Fruit is commonly grey except at the end of the Stalk where it is of a Violet colour the Seed is round and long and by reason of the bitterness not eaten raw but being boyl'd or fry'd with Butter is a pleasant Dish Many Vines grow also in Persia and in all the Provinces thereof which bear large and sweet Grapes of which Texeira says the Inhabitants make excellent Wine in the Turkish Language call'd Xarao or Charab But the Mahumetans are forbidden either to make or drink it The Persians of the Lees of this Wine compose a Syrrup The Persian Composition Duschab by them call'd Duschab after this manner viz. They boyl the Lees a sixth part away till it comes to a thick Oyl which being mix'd with Water and Vinegar makes an excellent Liquor and sometimes they boyl their Duschab so thick that it may be cut with a Knife which Travellers commonly carrying with them and putting the same in Water to dissolve Drink Moreover the Persians often put this Duschab in their Wine especially those of Kileck because their Wine there is not so sweet as that in
dry'd They cover them also with a Hair Cloth Lin'd with Wool The Persians have been Masters of these excellent Horses since the Death of the Sultan Borisir whom the King of Persia caus'd to be put to death after his coming from Carmania into Persia with many beautiful Horses to the number of ten thousand of all which he made himself Master and from them the Persians have had such excellent Breeds that the Turks are inferior to them They bring up and diet their Horses for the Race and those that are swift-footed they style Badpay that is Wind-footed they also colour the Tails Mayns and Bellies of their white and dapple Horses red or yellow They are very curious in their Furniture and therefore Persons of Quality Embroider their Sadles Bridles and Cloths with Gold and Silver which is an ancient Pride of the Persians ever since the Reign of Xerxes These Horses though employ'd night and day in a Battel can endure thirty hours without Meat There are also a sort of Stags by the Turks call'd Tzeirra and by the Persians Ahu of a sad colour have great Horns and being very swift-footed are to be seen in no place but the Province of Mocan and by Schamachie Carabach and Mearaga The Inhabitants likewise keep many Mules especially to Ride on being us'd by great Lords nay by the Kings themselves to travel on they are valu'd at as dear a Rate as the Horses and those that are any thing handsom are sold for a hundred Crowns Moreover some have reported that there are wild Mules found in several places in Persia but being very rare they are onely sent as Presents to the King and Chans and as Asia breeds more Asses than any other Place in the World so Persia exceeds any of the Eastern Countreys The several sorts of People IN Persia are divers sorts of Inhabitants viz. First Strangers of several Nations which come thither to Traffick amongst which the Indians are the most as also Banians who come thither out of the Province of Guzaratte There are likewise several sorts of Christians Assyrians Nestorians and Maronites but the greatest number are Georgians and Armenians who drive a very great Trade and by reason of their Wealth monopolize as it were most of the Commodities into their own hands especially the Silk in the Countreys near the Turks and dwell in great numbers in the Suburb Zulfa in Ispahan where several People out of Europe have their Residences as English Hollanders Portuguese and others to Trade The Natives of Persia are of two sorts viz. Persian Mahumetans and Gauren that is Unbelievers notwithstanding they name themselves Behdun Description of the Gaures that is People of a true Faith Olearius calls them Kebbers and others the true Offspring of those ancient Persians that liv'd in the time of Alexander the Great they are by their Wars with several Princes reduc'd to a small handful of People which live onely in three or four Towns in Persia and among others in Ispahan where they reside as Olearius saith in one of the four Suburbs call'd Kebrahath or as Della Valle hath it in Gauroston for Gauroston signifies The Countrey or Residence of the Gaures which Place according to Della Valle is very well built the Streets straight and broad and much better than those in the Suburb Ciolfa but the Houses are not above one Story high without Ornaments according to the State of the Persians that dwell in them for the Gaures are a poor People iâ— outward appearance driving no Trade and Till onely so much Land as will maintain their Families They are strong Limb'd like the modern Persians but shave not their Cheeks and Chins after their manner but suffer their Beards to grow like the Turks moreover they wear long Hair on their Heads like the ancient Persians as Herodotus describes them in former times The Men go all after one fashion in their Habits their Caps are round like those of the present Persians commonly quite white without any other colours The Women are also Cloth'd after one manner but their Apparel hath greater resemblance with the Arabian or Chaldean than the Persian On their Heads they wear a handsom long Veyl of a green colour which hangs down to their Wastes before and touches the Ground behind they always walk unvey'ld in the Streets for a distinction from the Mahumetan Persian Women They are very simple and speak a peculiar Language differing from the modern Persian and use different Characters which they Carve on the Doors of their Houses They worship and keep to this day the Orimasda or ever-burning Fire after the same manner as the ancient Priests did in the time of Cyrus and Darius They never go to Wars without the consecrated Wagons adorn'd with Gold wherein the Fire was kept burning on Silver Altars They also Pray three times a day viz. Morning Noon and Evening and Believe in one onely God Creator of all things who is invisible and omnipotent wherefore the Mahumetans have unjustly given them the Name of Gauren or Idolaters It hath been written by several that they worship the Sun Moon and Stars for lesser Angels or rather as they say them-themselves by the Names of Angels They curse Mahomet and take him and all his Followers for Unbelievers They abhor and are afraid of Frogs Tortoises Lobsters Crabs and the like They neither bury nor burn their Dead but keep them above Ground in a certain Wall'd place where setting them upright with their Eyes open as if living they prop them up with Forks and so leave them till dropping down they dissolve by putrefaction The Agemi Della Valle makes the Mahumetans in Persia of two sorts the one are those properly cay'd Agemi or Agiami Extracted from Agem or Agiam which hath the same signification with the word Pars or Fars though the Learned use the Name Agiami to express in general and without distinction all Inhabitants of this Kingdom of what Province soever for the Name Persi belongs properly to those in the Province of Persia The Quizilbasci The second sort of Mahumetans are the Quizilbasci or Nobility and Gentry in high esteem in Persia who being Extracted from the Turks made themselves Masters of the Countrey and assum'd the absolute Government thereof till Ismael Sefi's time the first Raiser of the present Royal Family They are call'd Kisilbasch that is Red-Heads which Name was first given them by the Turks in derision but of late they delight therein and are proud to be so call'd pretending that a great Mystery of their Religion is express'd thereby The word Kisilbasch is by Eurorean Writers spell'd several ways but the right Name according to Olearius is Kisilbasch being a Turkish word compounded from Kisil that is Red and also signifies Gold and Basch that is A Head and apply'd to them by reason of the several sorts of red Caps they wear According to Jovius and Bizarro the first Inventer of these Caps amongst
Philosophy Notwithstanding there are not so many in Persia as in Europe which learn the Liberal Arts and Sciences yet they highly esteem those that study therein which they corruptly call Filosuf The Persian Phylosophers in Matters of Phylosophy and other Sciences highly esteem the Christian Books especially such as treat of Morality natural Phylosophy and Religion They also hold Disputations with great Confidence concerning the Mystery of their Religion with People that are or another Opinion quite contrary to the Turks who out of stubborness will not admit any to speak thereof Their Universicies For the Instruction of their Knowledge there are several Universities or Schools in the Cities which they call Madresia or Madressa and the Scholars Mederis the Chiefest whereof are at Ispahan Schiras Ardebil Mesched Tebris Casbijn Com Jest and Schamachie to all which the Sedder or Governor must allow a sufficient Maintenance which he receives from such Countreys as are free from Tribute and other Taxes to the King as Cochtzeh by Erwan Utzatznik near Carabach Tabachmelick lying between Georgia and Carabach and also Agdasch and Kermeru What they study The Learning in which they instruct them is Geometry Surveying Poesie Astrology moral and Natural Phylosophy Physick and Law They have all Aristotle's Works translated into Arabick and call him Danja piala that is The Cup of the World for as we may use the Cup to refresh our selves so we may likewise to inebriation so according to their opinion we may use and misuse Phylosophy for they say that strong Liquor and Phylosophy make good Orators but excess of both makes wise men Fools They teach their Youth Arithmetick so soon as they can write and read the Common-people use the Indian Figures but the Learned the Arabian Their Poesie and Orations are comprised in short Lessons and are studied both together because their Histories and Disputations are mixt with Verses and other Eloquent Expressions Their chief Book is as we said before Culustan that is Rose-Valley made by the famous Poet Schich Saadi Their chief Books and some Years since Translated into the German Tongue by Olearius it consists not onely in pleasant Prose but delightful Verses and therefore every Persian hath this Book in his House nay some there are which carry it in their memory and are therefore accounted very learned this they repeat at all Feasts and other Merry-meetings Delight in reading Histories Moreover they delight much in reading of Histories especially those of Aly's Life and Death as also of Hossein Aly's Son which are written in a lofty Style They have likewise several other Books as Chronicles as well of their own Kings Reigns and Wars as other eminent Transactions and these are term'd Mirchond Emveri Tzami Walehi Nussegri and the like amongst which the chiefest is Mirchond who in an excellent Style hath written a Persian Chronicle in Four Volumes which are there sold for two hundred Crowns but we cannot credit the Persians much in their Histories and Matters of Religion because they often mix fabulous Invention with real Truths The number of Books that treat of Philosophy are but small in these Countreys and those few are in the Hands of the most learned Persons who keep them as a great Treasure The Books that are generally sold there are either Romances or Verses treating of their Law besides which they have no Books worth mentioning Arms. THe Persian Horse-men are arm'd with Bowes The Housemens Arms. Arrows and a bending Sword like a Scymetar their main strength consists in the Cavalry and though their Horses are small and lean yet they are strong and swift The Hilt of their Swords is onely a cross Bar yet sufficient to defend the Hand and for the most part set forth with inchased work the Scabberds are either of red or black Leather and plated after the same manner as the Hilt their Belts are narrow and plain without any other Ornament or Colour than the skins naturally bear their Bowe-men are call'd Curtschi and their Musquettiers Tufenktschi for they have Musquets and also Pistols which they say Schach Abbas first brought in use among them They also have some great Guns which they use more in their Fortifications and Sieges than in a Field Battel Yet Anno 1604. Schach Abbas had one hundred and fifty Cannons when he beat off Vlutzali Bassa from Cigale They use many Stratagems In former times the Persians always engag'd their Enemies on Horse-back but since the use of Musquets was brought amongst them they have made a Body of Foot which in these last Wars hath done them great Service Moreover they are very subtile in contriving Plots and Stratagems to circumvent their Enemies At the Siege of Iruan Anno 1633. the Persians had a sort of Poyson in little Glasses which they shot with Darts into their Enemies Forts by which means they so infected the Air that it swell'd the Inhabitants Arms and Legs to an extraordinary thickness and by that means made them unable to resist Their defensive Arms are Brest-plates Shields Coats of Mail and Helmets The Soldiers of Persia made up of three Bodies The Soldiers of Persia are made up of three sorts The first sort are Turkomans which are like Hirelings and have Ziefs that is Pensions which the Sons inherit from their Fathers and are bound to furnish the King with a certain number of Horse as often as occasion shall require The second sort is that which Leunclaivus and Soranzo call Corrises or Coridsches but in the Turks Language might more properly be call'd Curchins or Georgians which receive no pay but have onely their Dyet Horses Apparel Arms Tents and all other Necessaries The third sort are Friends and Allies viz. Armenians and other Georgians who are Enemies to the Turks Four Degrees in their Militia In Persia are four Orders or Degrees in their Militia the first are Musquetiers or they that use Fire-arms not many years since brought in by King Abbas through the perswasions of Sir Anthony Sherley one of our three famous Sherleys so much celebrated in former times All the Musquetiers are Natives and Inhabitants of the Cities Musquettiers Towns and Villages though more dwell in the Villages than the Towns or Cities and they are accounted Tat or ignoble and may not wear the Tag but the common Turbant Formerly they continually fought on Foot yet march'd on Horseback like our Dragoons All the Captains of these and other Companies are by a Turkish Name call'd Juzbassi that is The Head of a Hundred for Juz is a Hundred and Bassi the Head notwithstanding they often have above two hundred and sometimes under one hundred in their Companies Those that dwell in several Provinces or Places meeting at a general Rendezvouz march together to the Army either with the Chans of the Province or else alone especially those that have no Chans Those of Mazanderan are accounted the best Musquettiers but there are more beside them
Sweet-meats and Snow in the midst of Summer to such places where they expect the Army to come For their better accommodation the Inhabitants of those Countreys in hopes of gain store up great quantities of all manner of Provision against the time that they expect the Army to come thither where they dispose of them at their own Rates which is not ordinary The Pay which a Trooper receives Their pay amounts yearly to five Tomans each Toman is sixteen Crowns with which he may maintain himself very handsomly there the Officers pay is either more or less according to their places Olearius tells us that the yearly pay of a private Soldier viz. of a Curtschi or Bow-man is three hundred Crowns with which he must maintain himself and his Horse and that of a Tufenktschi is two hundred The pay allow'd certain persons of Quality exceeds all the rest and extends to two or three hundred Tomans a year these also maintain whole Companies at their own Charge notwithstanding these Grandees are listed but as private Soldiers in the King's Book All the Persian Soldiers which receive the Kings pay are oblig'd to be ready upon his Command and if need require immediately to go to such places as they are call'd to No orderly Discipline in Battels The Persians observe no order of Marshalling their Forces in Field Battels the King onely placing the Chans over the Sultans and other Commanders according to the number of men which they have under them The Office of a Captain is onely to guard the place where he is appointed The Soldiers are not drawn out in good Order but confusedly mixt together and it often happens that the Musquettiers Bow-men Pikemen are all intermingled after a confused manner March close near an Enemy They for the most part make a running fight and turn about so soon as they have discharg'd upon their Enemy like our Men who retreat so soon as they have fir'd to make way for others Moreover when they draw near the Enemy or they come to a place where they apprehend any danger they keep close together in one Body Their Bag and Baggage with their Wives follow them at a good distance Their Train and Baggage riding on Camels if they go to meet the Enemy but at their return they ride before and the stoutest men between them and the Enemy their Encamping themselves is also in a confus'd manner and without Order taking up as much room as they can which though it be for their ease yet many times proves dangerous By this means the Ordu that is The Camp like a City the Army or Camp is like one of the greatest Cities in Persia and stor'd with all manner of Provision like a Market They cut off the Hair of their slain Enemies and carry the same about with them according to the Custom of the Countrey as a certain testimony of their Victory and Valor Rewards of valiant Men. Such Commanders as behav'd themselves valiantly are Presented with Suits of Cloth of Tissue as a requital for their good and faithful Service which as soon as they have receiv'd they immediately put on and give that which they put off to the Bearer Their Tents They use certain little Huts Tents or Pavilions in the Fields which are call'd Scervanli from the Province of Scervan where they are made They are for the most part cover'd with a strong Stuff and wrought like a Quilt which is very substantial against the Cold and Rain as also against excessive Heat they are round on the top like a Canopy and oval in form at the bottom There are likewise other smaller places of repose call'd Saivan or cover'd Places which serve onely as Tilts to keep off the Weather and the Sun Their Coyn. Their several sorts of Money THe currant Money in Persia is Silver and Copper The Silver Coyns are an Abas or Abascy Garem Abas or Chodabende Schahi Bisti Laryns or Lari Piasters and their Copper Coyn call'd Pul or Casbechi An Abascy is about a Crown in value though not above a quarter of an Ounce in weight These Abascies have their Denomination from Schach Abbas who caus'd them to be Coyn'd as also the half Abas and the Chodabendes because Schach Chodabende was the first maker of them The Schahis make each a quarter of an Abas and two Bisties and a half being the least Silver Coyn one Abascy The Laryns or Lari are two pieces of Silver of a certain weight bow'd together in two parts and stamp'd at the end with the Governor of Lar's Arms and hath its Name from the City or Dominion or from the Princes of Lar when they were absolute and not subject to the Kings of Persia And because the value of this Coyn consists onely in the weight and goodness of the Silver it passes currantly through all the Eastern Countreys and not onely allow'd by the Chans and Princes of Lar who first Coyn'd it but by all the Princes of Asia for the Turks Persians Mogulls and others Coyn the same with their proper Names But after the uniting of the Dukedom of Lar with the Persian Realm this Coyn hath much declin'd as Olcarius affirms In former times they had another Coyn call'd Lari which was of bended Silver Plate beaten out and stampt in the middle Some account five Laryns to make a Spanish Ryal and one Laryn passes amongst the Hollanders on the Island of Ceilon for twelve of their Stivers In Persia as also in all other Countreys passes a Coyn call'd Piaster each piece whereof is valu'd at a Crown Their Copper Money is in general call'd Pul and in particular Casbechi of which forty make an Abascy Each great City hath its peculiar Copper Coin which goes in no other Place and no longer than one year because the Stamp is alter'd every year The Coyn of one City is mark'd with a Deer and of another with a Goat Satyr Fish Serpent or whatever they fancy Moreover against their new Year which happens in February the old Casbechies are either call'd in or cry'd down after which two are not worth one and are forc'd to be brought to the Mint again where they are beaten out and stamp'd anew A Pound of Copper is sold here for one Abas of which they make sixty Casbechies They have also Xerafs or Xerafies or Xerafins of Gold which make eight Laryns and likewise Deniers which are about one Spanish Ducat and a half apiece But Texeira doth not clear this Point because in one place he saith that a Million of Gold Deniers makes almost twelve Millions of Spanish Ducats and in another place that fifteen hundred Deniers are near upon two thousand Spanish Ducats and in another place that fifty thousand Deniers are about seventy thousand Spanish Ducats But a Xerafin is by the Hollanders on the Island Ceylon accounted to be four Shillings Others affirm that the Coyns in Persia are Besorchs Pays Soudy Chay Mamoudy Laryn and
Tomams Ten Besorchs make a Pays which is Copper and made like a Dutch Doit four Pays a Chay or Four-pence-halfpeny English twenty Pays a Mamoudy or Nine-pence English twenty five Pays a Laryn five Laryns a Crown and a hundred Mamoudies a Tomam which is sixteen Crowns How they value Commodities Rich Commodities are valu'd by Tomans or Tumains each Toman reckon'd at fifty Abascies and notwithstanding this sort of Money which amounts to so much is not stamp'd yet they reckon them by the number as the Russians do their Rubbles and we here by Pounds Sterling A Toman is six Rixdollers or Three Pound twelve Shillings English Anno 1644. according to the Kings Command no Person whatsoever durst carry or convey any Ryals Ducats or new Money to Hindostan on pain of extream Punishments because the old Money was much lighter and of worse Metal than the new Their Weights and Measures AS for their Weights and Measures they are of two sorts the one is the King 's and the other that of Tebris the King's Weight or Measure is double to that of Tebris though the last be much more us'd First there is a Weight call'd Patman which according to the Measure of Tebris weighs compleat nine Venetian Pounds This Patman is divided into nine Cehareck or four Quarters the Quarters into Siahs the Siahs into Mithicali But Manchia is a Weight about ten Pound and a half Texeira also makes mention of a Weight call'd Man or Men perhaps one and the same with Patman which the Portuguese in the East-Indies call Mano but the value and weight thereof is distinct according to the several Countreys and is by Zacharia King of Chorazan who made a great Book of the Weights and Measures of Persia call'd Mim Davity will have this Mano to be the Batman which Vincent Della Alexandri makes mention of in his Relation of Persia and that ten of them make forty Venetian Pounds each Pound being twelve Ounces so that one Batman should make four such Pounds Others will have three sorts of Man viz. a Man which contains seven Pound Dutch a Man Cha of twelve Pound and a Man Sarat of thirty Pound Olearius tells us that they weigh their Goods all with Batmans which according to the several Places are different A Batman of Tebris contains six Pound a Schach's or King 's Batman which is most us'd in Kilan is twelve Pound a Schamachies or Carabachs Batman is sixteen Pound Howi they reckon the distances of Places The distance of Places from one to another through all the parts of Persia is reckon'd by Miles which they call Ferseng deriv'd from the old Name Parasanga of which Herodotus Xenophon and others make mention The length of a Furlong is according to Della Valle about one Spanish or four Italian Miles as also in the time of Herodotus who affirms that a Parasanga compris'd thirty Furlongs of which according to Strabo's Account eight make an Italian Mile In the Turkish Language which is spoken through the whole Countrey the Miles are call'd Agag that is Trees Their Trade What Merchants Trade into Persia with the Commodities they carry thither and what they bring back in Return THe English Netherlanders and Portuguese Trade through the whole Countrey of Persia onely the Portuguese though having the same Trade are not permitted to come to Ormus Gamron Lareca Cismy c. At Bander-Gamron the Netherlanders have their Factories as also in Lar and Ispahan The Persian Trade being very considerable to the Holland East-India Company doth not a little add to their Gain from the Indian Commodities for the Trade which the said Company drives from the Island Ceylon and the Coast of Malabar to Persia is not onely for the utterance of their Pepper Cinamon Cardamom and other Commodities which are Transported to Persia and turn to a good Account but chiefly for the ready Money which they carry from Persia to Ceylon for they Import yearly unto Persia about eight hundred thousand Pound weight of Cardamom seventy thousand of Japan Wood and between twenty and thirty thousand of Cinamon The Hollanders us'd also from Taiowan to send Chinese Commodities to Persia as Pepper Sugar-Candy Japan Camphire Porcelane Preserv'd Ginger China Roots China Anniseeds Tee c. They also carry'd thither Cloves Nutmegs Mace round and long Pepper Cinamon from Ceylon Gum Wax Benjamin Sandal Ebony and Aguil Wood Copper Cubebs Cauna and most of the Indian Commodities but especially Cloves Tin and Sugar The Merchandise which the Netherlanders bring in Return from Persia to Batavia consists in Pearls which are purchas'd in Barain and Congo red Skins dress'd red Earth from Ormus pack'd up in Bales several Jewels compos'd of Diamonds and Rubies Emeraulds Rings Rose-water and other Commodities but especially Silk which is most plentiful in the Northern Provinces of Persia and also their so much esteem'd Persian Carpets But they are not the onely Traders there for the Banians Moors and other Eastern People supply their Markets with the like Merchandise For the promoting of Trade in Ispahan the Hollanders are forc'd every year to make great Presents to the King and his Courtiers who believe that they are oblig'd thereto if they receive but a Grant to buy thirty or forty Cara's or such inconsiderable quantities of Silk from peculiar Persons for else they are bound to Deal onely with the King for their Silk which they Transport without paying any Custom The Portuguese having a Factory on the Island of Barain receive half the Custom there as also divers Sums of Money of all Moorish Vessels and Arabian Pearl-Ketchers extending their Trade into the Persian Bay near Bassora Congo Bander-Gamron Cabo de Jaques and several other Places From Persia are likewise Transported to India abundance of Tukoises which are to be had there at reasonable Rates What the Persian Metchants carry out and whither The Persian Merchants carry also great store of Wine in Flasks and Cases to Mogostan and Ormus whither they Travel in like manner with great Cafiles or Caravans from the particular Provinces to Trade with the Christians and other People there resident The Merchandise which they carry thither are Gold Silver Silk Silk-Stuffs Brocades Carpets Horses Allom Tutty Rhubarb Rose-water and the like which they barter for Cinamon Cloves Pepper Cardamom Ginger Nutmegs Mace Sugar Tin Sandal and Japan Wood Chinese Porcelane Musk Amber Aloes Precious Stones Pearls Indigo Wax and the like The Inhabitants and Foreigners may travel whither they please and Trade to all Places paying onely the Custom and some small Imposts to the Crown But this is of special remark that by virtue of an Agreement made between the Turks and Persians they drive an unmolested Trade both in or out of the Countrey as well in times of War as Peace the Caravans travelling from place to place without any disturbance to the great advantage of both Countreys Their Artificers Manufactures and several Employments THe Employments which
piece of Marble unpolish'd and of an unhandsom shape for all the Asian People take but little care to beautifie their Houses on the outside The Rooms of Entertainment are generally open before like Galleries and look either into Gardens or other spacious Walks At the farther end of the Hall opposite to the Entrance is an Apartment cover'd on the top with glaz'd Tyles so also is the Floor and Walls but the last not above four Foot high that those that sit on the Ground may lean against them with their Backs After the same manner the Kitchin Walls and Floor are also Pav'd in the Floor are several round Holes into which putting Fire they either stew or bake Meat or keep it hot The Fire being under the Floor like a Stove you can neither perceive Smoak nor Flame because the Smoak hath a peculiar place to go out at Under these round Holes are little Springs which spouting up the Water is receiv'd in Troughs and serves to wash their Meat with as also for other occasions after which it runs away through private Drayns The Houses are but indifferently Furnish'd having neither Chests of Drawers Their Furniture Cabinets Tables Chairs Stools or other Lumber as is usual amongst us but onely Carpets Cushions Mats Quilts and the like to sleep and sit upon The Floors of the Lodging Rooms are cover'd with very fine Carpets on which they sit and walk without their Shoes eitheir when they talk one with another or eat together and also sleep on them In these Chambers no Dogs are suffer'd to enter and to keep them clean they have always a Tuftan or empty Platter standing by them into which they throw all their Bones Shells and the like These Tuftans are much us'd at Meals being set betwixt every two Persons Caravansera's what they are There are likewise two kind of Buildings in Persia call'd Caravansera's which are erected at the King's Charge the first up and down in the High-ways for the accommodation of Travellers and the others in the Towns for Merchants Goods Those which are in the Countrey are common Inns and built like Cloysters viz. with a spacious Court in the middle and many Chambers round about As to what concerns the Place it self any one may dwell therein a whole year and not pay any thing for his Lodging Those which are in the Towns and serve for Store-houses have many large Rooms on the Doors whereof hang great Padlocks In these the Merchants keep their several Goods for very small Rent which is bestow'd upon Locks In these Rooms are nothing but the bare Walls He that comes first thither makes choice of as many empty Chambers as he hath occasion for and for as long time as he intends to stay Their Summer-houses In the Villages especially between Eskerf and Ferhabad in the Province of Mazanderan are divers Summer-houses built against the heat of the Sun which are call'd Balachane consisting of high Poles cover'd both on the tops and sides onely with Mats made of thin Reeds which they use like Curtains rolling them up or letting them down according as they find it for their convenience They go not up to these Balachanes by Steps but on a piece of Timber which lies sloaping and at easie distances hath several Notches to set their Feet on in stead of Stairs Houses like Beehives The Roofs of the Houses in the Villages Aranzague and Polesofium are round on the top like a Bee-hive after the manner of the Arabian Huts and Tents Their manner of making Fires In Ispahan and other places where there is but little Wood and likewise through all Curdistan necessity hath taught the Inhabitants a means to keep themselves warm in Winter in their Houses viz. they make a Hole in the Earth which they call Tenur or Tennor whereinto they put burning Coals over it they set a kind of Table with a broad Carpet upon it about which setting themselves they cover half their Bodies with the Carpet and also sleep about it in the Night It warms a Room very considerably with a few Coals and for conveying away the Smoak Pipes are laid under Ground from the Tenur to the Garden or base Court The Fewel which they burn is according to the nature of what the Countrey affords either Wood and Shrubs or else Cows and Camels Dung Amongst the Nobility in the Diwanchane or places of Audience are us'd long Wax-Candles which weigh about three pound apiece and serve three or four Evenings the remaining Ends being us'd in other places that are not so much frequented Their Candles and other Lights They also burn Tallow in Candlesticks made of Silver or other Metal like Lamps under which is plac'd a Bason or Platter to receive that which drops down that it may not fall on the Carpets They also use round Iron Fire-pans in which they burn old Rags dipt in Grease which kindling instantly give a greater light than our Links or Torches These Pans they commonly carry about on Sticks which serve them in stead of Flambeaux they sometimes set them on Poles in the open Air before the Diwanchane nor may they be carry'd in the Night before any other than Persons of the greatest Quality Lastly it is a sure sign that the King or at least his Haram is near the place where three such Fire-pots are set out Of their Travelling How the Persians travel THe Persians travel after this following manner viz. By reason of the time that is spent in lading the Camels they cannot not go far the first Night but when they are once laden and upon their Journey they unlade no where till they come to the place where they design to Lodge They journey for the most part in the night and in the day rest in cool and shady places for they certainly believe that if any one should begin a Journey in the day especially in the midst of Summer he would undoubtedly lose his Life or at least fall into a great Fit of Sickness The King and Noblemen travel after this manner viz. The Haram and Women go before with all the Camels and Carriages The Attendance of the Haram attended by a great Train of Servants who are well Arm'd the Overseer of the Women or Captain of the Haram also accompanies them on Horseback well Arm'd and is most commonly an Eunuch so also do the rest of the Officers They onely use Oxen and Cows for Carriage in some places The Rusticks in Adirbeitzan and about Ardebil neither use Mules nor Horses for the carrying of their Goods but onely Oxen and Cows which are for the most part black or spotted and less than ours neither do they put Saddles upon them but cover their whole Bodies with a course Linnen Cloth quilted with Wooll or the like and that is all their Furniture Their Religion The divers Sects THe King of Persia's Subjects are either Mahumetans Xiahies otherwise call'd Scheichs or Schiati or
their Mouths and Nose The Persians with their wet hands stroke twice over their Heads from their Necks to their Foreheads and afterwards cross their feet to their Ancles The Turks pick their Ears with their foremost Finger and rub round them with their Thumbs then scratch the Nape of their Neck over their Heads to their Throats these Ceremonies are perform'd at Home before their going to Church The Persians oftentimes in their Praying hold before their Foreheads a made Stone consisting of a greyish Earth digg'd up near Cufa where Hossein is imagin'd to have been bury'd with Aaly his Father from whence the Stone have great Power It 's eight square about four Inches over in the middle thereof in a Circle are written the Names of the foremention'd twelve Imams with that of Fatima Aaly's principal Wife of whom the Imams sprang These Stones are made by the Arabians who bring them to sell amongst the Persians But the Turks esteem them not entring in the Mosque they begin the Prayer of Aaly Ekber The Persians let their Hands hang downwards and cast their Eyes on the Ground but the Turks keep their hands on their brests Moreover the Persians lay their Hands on both Ears and turn their Faces to Kible that is the South because Mecha and Medina are opposite to Adirbeitzan and Ardebil lying towards the South which when the Persians respect they begin their Ahlhemdo Lilla and holding their Hands on their Knees Their Prayers stand bent and pray the Subhanna Rebbi c. repeat the Alla Ekber then kneeling on the ground they strike their Heads on the foremention'd Stone and say the Subhanna Rebbi again after which they hold up their Hands this done they repeat their last Prayer kneeling then rising up they turn to the right side saying to themselves Ssalom alecum Ssalom alecum with which words they salute the Guardian that hath stood by them and defended them from the Devil that he should not disturb them in their Devotion as if he were present Whence this difference proceeds This difference in Religion between the Turks and Persians is said to proceed from this Cause viz. Mahomet on his Death-bed made his Brother and adopted Son Aaly for he was espous'd to Fatima Daughter to his first Wife Cadie to be his Successor as the Persians affirm not onely in the Dominion of Spiritual but worldly Affairs giving him the Title of Calif. But the Arabians say that Abubeker Omar and Odsman being great amd mighty Lords and in high esteem with Mahomet took the Government upon them alternately after his Death alledging that he had so commanded them which Aaly and his Friends judg'd not onely untrue but unjust and therefore oppos'd them but at length was forc'd by reason of his inconsiderable strength to submit to Abubeker Omar and Odsman's Proposals nay to be contented to see himself bereaved of his whole Inheritance But Abubeker not long after dying Omar succeeded who being killed by his Slave a Persian made room for Odsman who was also slain by a Soldier belonging to Aaly who on the same day that Odsman dyed was made Calif. After a Reign of four years and two hundred sixty two days Aaly was kill'd as he was going to Morning Prayer by Abdurahman Son to Melgjem and his Body bury'd at Tuhafa or Cufa in a Castle On the same day his Son Hossein was made Calif but he resign'd his Dominion to one Muavias and dy'd in the sixth year and fifth day of his Reign they say that his Wife by the Instigation of Muavias poyson'd him But Della Valle tells us that Hossein was by his Antagonists which are bannish'd by the Persians as Vagabonds set upon in the High-way and kill'd with his whole Retinue of seventy or eighty men viz. In a place in wild Arabia call'd Kierbula where his Tomb is yet to be seen and highly honor'd and visited by many Mahumetans which come thither from Remote Countreys who account him a Martyr and a great Saint nay the true Imam and the Sophy of Persia himself boasts that he was lineally descended from him Moreover many to honor themselves assume the name of Hossein-culi that is Hossein's Slaves The Original of Scheich Sofi In this posture Affairs continued till the year 1343. at which time a learned man call'd Sofi or Scheich Sofi started up in the City of Ardebil who boasted that he was the Successor of Aaly as being extracted from Musai Casim one of the twelve Sons of Hossein This Sofi gave many Testimonies of great Holiness and prudence and therefore caused himself to be nam'd Schich or Scheich liv'd a reserv'd Life seeming to despise the World and the glory therof went cloth'd in a Sheep-skin and never would put on a Garment of Silk but onely of Wool from whence some suppose because Suf in the Arabick Tongue signifies Wool he receiv'd that Denomination of Sofi This Schich Sofi began to teach in publick that the Succession in the place of Calif belong'd rightly to Aaly as being Mahomet's adopted Son and accordingly his true Heir and that Abubeker Omar His Doctrine and Opinion and Odsman had unjustly depriv'd Aaly and his whole Family of that Honor to the great dishonor of Mahomet himself which had exceedingly enrag'd God and made him to awake Sofi and endue him with ability to regain Aaly's Right which had so long been trampl'd under foot And as a Sign that Aaly was a true Prophet Sofi related many Miracles wrought by him which the Turks had kept in obscurity In the next place he declar'd that Aaly made an exact Explanation of the Alcoran which he left to his Successor Tzaferfadack in Manuscript The Persians being a People much inclin'd to Novelties easily embrac'd Sofi's Doctrine especially certain Mahumetan Slaves who thereby obtain'd their Freedom by which he got so great an Esteem They are generally embrac'd and receiv'd that they all turn'd to Scheich Sofi as their Redeemer and Protector By this means he soon perswaded them to his Opinion and thereby increas'd the Number of his Followers Whereupon he commanded his Doctrine and Ceremonies to be observ'd in the Mosques which being somewhat contrary to the Turks they began to rage exceedingly against him and persecute the Persians with Fire and Sword who nevertheless promoted Alay and added to their Articles of Faith these Words Aaly Welli Alla. There is no other but the onely God Mahomet his Prophet and Aaly his Successor and General Nay they stick not to say that though Aaly be not the Godhead himself yet he was as one of the Almighty's Brothers That the Alcoran which God design'd to give to Aaly was by a Mistake deliver'd to Mahomet in which Saying they prefer him before Mahomet and the Clark standing on the top of the Mosque at the time when he calls the People thither speaks aloud to this effect Curs'd be Abubeker Omar and Odsman God be merciful to Aaly They also have a deriding Proverb
viz. Kiriseck der deheni Abubeker Omar Hanife bat That is A Dogs T in Abubeker 's Teeth which to the Turks seems so great an abomination that it makes them exceeding inveterate against the Persians Another ground of difference Della Valle tells us that the greatest differences between the Persians and other Mahumetans proceeded from this occasion viz. When Mahomet in his last Expedition with his Army between Medina and Mecha riding upon a Camel before all his Followers taking Aaly by the Hand commanded him to get up behind him saying to his People Those that have had me for their Veli shall also have Aaly my adopted Son The word Veli in the Arabick hath two significations and may be taken either for the Chief or Head of a Church or for a Friend or Favorite Aaly and his Successors believ'd the first signification and ever since maintain'd that Mahomet by this Saying chose Aaly to succeed him as well in the Government of Spiritual as Temporal Affairs and that by the Power of this Declaration Aaly and his Successors ought for ever to be the Governors of Mahomet's Race but after Mahomet's Death a Will was brought forth wherein Abubeker Mahomet's Father-in-Law for Mahomets last Wife Aisne was Abubeker's Daughter was nam'd Heir and Califa or spiritual and worldly Successor which Will was made by the Practice of Aisne or as the Persians say forg'd by her but the Turks and Arabians say that Mahomet himself chang'd his opinion because Aaly was too yong and unexperienc'd whereas Abubeker was aged and a man of prudence and good conduct so that they conclude that Mahomet by the foremention'd discourse never intended to make Aaly his Heir or Successor but onely to make known to him that they should shew the like respect arid honor to Aaly as they had done to him And in truth they do little less for they reverence Aaly as a great Saint and account him the chief Head of their Religion nay for the true Calif or Successor of Mahomet though not the first immediately after him as the Persians relate but the fourth in order viz. after Abubeker Omar and Odsman A great Feast in Honor of Aaly The Persians celebrate yearly that Day of the Moneth on which Mahomet chose his adopted Son Aaly to be his Successor as a great Feast and call it the Sheep roasted Now in regard the Persians promote Aaly to that Dignity and ascribe divine Vertues and Powers to him they judg'd it fit that his Successors which were undoubtedly inspir'd with the like Graces ought to have more Honor shew'd them than other Common-people and therefore they visit their Tombs and pray at them with great devotion and make rich Offerings to them They also give Aaly the Name of Mortoza which is a name of Holiness or at least hath some such signification Moreover His Offspring the Persians say that Aaly had the mark of Mahomet's Seal-Ring on his back He had two Sons call'd Hassan and Hossein from whom sprang Seinel Abedin Mahumet Bagur Tzafer Saduck Musai Casum Risa Mahumet Taggi Alli Naggi Hossein Askerri and Mehedi which ly all bury'd viz. Hassan Seinel Abedin Mahumet Bagur Mahumet Taggi Alii Naggi in Medina Tzafer Saduk in Babylon Maer Hossein Musai Casum and Hossein Askerri in Kelbula or Cufa But Mahedi they say never dy'd but went into a Cave near Cufa before which he left his Shoes which when they shall be turn'd with the Heels towards the Hole as already they are half way he will put them on again and coming forth convert the people to the Alcoran The Persians call all these twelve Imams that is Maintainers of their Religion and are at this day with Schich Sofi accounted Holy-men and offerings made at their Shrines especially by those that travel to Mecha and Medina They also keep several Feasts in honor of these Saints but especially Aaly and Hossein Their Saints which the Turks do but laugh at but on the contrary reverence Abubeker Omar and Odsman Nor is Hanifa the Explainer of the Alcoran in less esteem among them but by the Persians accounted a Seducer and false Expositor adding that he was Tzafer Saduks Boy and held up the Water with which the Saints wash'd themselves that he went into Turky and with the foremention'd Water gave sight to many blind people and other Miracles that made him so highly esteem'd amongst them Hanifa dig'd up and his Tomb destroy'd When Schach Tamas conquer'd Babylon he caus'd this Hanifa who lay bury'd there in a stately Tomb to be digg'd up and turn'd the Masar or Chappel into a Stable and of the Grave it self he made a Jakes The Persian Legends The Persians believe many strange Fables mention'd by their Writers viz. That Aaly's Horse Duldul proceeded from a Stone That the Angel Gabriel bringing him his Two-edg'd Sword Dhulfacar he perform'd great Miracles with the same that he kill'd a Seven-headed Dragon and drunk with the Angels in Heaven That Sultan Mahmed Chodabende hunting near Cufa digg'd a Chest out of a Hill on which was written Herein lies Adam Noah and Aaly bury'd and at the same time he built the City Netzef and made Aaly's Tomb there with other such like stuff But besides this they ascribe something of a divine Power to Aaly and to that purpose relate many of his Miracles viz. that being in his Infancy in the Village Sahedam in Kilan he went to Scheich Sahad a holy man and observing the people to weed the till'd Lands he commanded the Weeds to wither of themselves which accordingly they did Scheich Sahad observing it said Not so my Son for though you know this Art yet you must not practise the same lest you should make the People lazy and unwilling to work Sofi who judg'd this Reason very rational entred into his Service and staying seven years with him learn'd much Wisdom and from thence the Village was enfranchis'd with great priviledges and so remains to this day This Sect greatly spred According to Texeira this Sect or Doctrine spread it self a vast way in the time of Sultan Xeque Juneyd who liv'd in the Reign of King Joonxa Son to Cara Issuf which Juneyd being daily visited by many Persons Joonxa began to suspect him and commanded him not to admit so much company Hereupon Juneyd left Ardebil and went to Ozun Acembeck otherwise call'd Usum-Cassan Lord of Diarbeck or Mesopotamia who gave him his Sister Cadijacatum to Wife who was after Mother of Xeque Ayder Juneyd thus grown Eminent over-ran many Countreys with his Army and in all the places where he came he made those he took Prisoners imbrace his Religion After this Scach Haider Son to Juneyd marry'd Hasan Beig Usun who bare him a Son and call'd him Ismael who was Sir-nam'd Sofi because he promis'd to live a holy Life and being come to be absolute Master of Persia he establish'd this Sect of Aaly and commanded all his new Subjects
are more in number than all the Christians of the East and yield Obedience to the Patriarchs of Constantinople Antioch Alexandria and Jerusalem The Opinion of the Manichees concerning two Gods Manichees viz. one good and one bad of which the bad Governs all things on Earth without contradiction of the good reigns still in Persia and likewise in many other Countreys of the East Besides all these Religions there is also that of the Franck-Armenians so call'd because they are of the Opinion of the Latine Church who by the Eastern People are call'd Francks as also all other European People except the Greeks One Bartholomew Petit a Dominican Dominicans was Anno 1330 sent by Pope John the Twelfth to Convert the Armenians and was the first Arch-bishop Naxivan lying in Parsamenia or Adherjon from which Petit the Inhabitants of this Countrey receiv'd the Roman-Catholick Religion which they preserve to this day and are call'd Franck-Armenians of whom there are several thousands under the Obedience of the Arch bishop of Naxivan These Franck-Armenians reside in the Towns of Naxivan Abbaran Abbragon Calva Saltach Hascassent Carsan Xabunis Giahug Caragus Chensug and Artach where there are many Cloysters of the beforemention'd Order of St. Dominick Their Festivals Their Festivals THe Persians keep several Festivals and amongst others one in commemoration of Aaly celebrated every year with great Ceremony especially at Ispahan on the twenty fourth of the Moneth Ramadan on which day they make two Processions whereat are present not onely many Persons of Quality but also the King himself The Procession therein In the Head of this Procession are lead two Horses richly caparison'd after the manner of the Countrey on the Saddles lie Bowes Arrows Shields and Swords and on the Pummels thereof hand two Turbants and which things represent the Arms of the Deceased Aaly then come several Men carrying huge Pennons or Flags next follows the Bier cover'd with black Velvet under which lie all manner of offensive and defensive Armor as also Plumes and other such like Ornaments about this go divers sorts of Musical Instruments and Singers Persons of Quality follow on Horseback but the vulgar sort on foot Those that accompany this Procession take a turn about the Maidan stopping a while before the Gate of King's Palace and also before that of the great Mosque where after having pour'd forth their Prayers every one returns to his own Habitation The Visier of Ispahan and the King's Treasurer also appear on the Maidan one on one side and the other on the other accompany'd by many Horsemen which keep off the throng of People and likewise prevent Quarrels The Festival of Roses The Festival of Roses is kept when Roses blossom and continues as long as that Season lasts At this Feast they have peculiar Dances after their barbarous Musick not onely in the Evening but at Midinight and Noon-day in publick places and Coffee-houses the Servants whereof being all expert in their manner Dance from Street to Street with great delight and use several postures like our Morris-Dancers follow'd with great Acclamations of the People with lighted Torches Lanterns and Basons full of Lamps which they carry on their Heads and strewing Roses in all places as they pass for which every one that meets them gives them a small piece of Money In other places especially out of the City the Men and Women flock together Frolicking and making Garlands of Roses so that this Feast seems to have some resemblance with that of the Goddess Flora. All the Mahumetans according to an ancient Custom make many Offerings on the tenth of the twelfth or last Moneth Difilhatze killing two or three Lambs in each of their Houses where they eat one part thereof and give the other part to the Poor Customs in Persia differing from the Turks But they have another Custom in Persia much differing from that us'd among Turks and Arabians for in all eminent Towns and Places where the King resides whether in a City or in the Camp they Offer a Camel with great Ceremony because they say Abraham in stead of his Son who they believe was Ismael and not Isaac Offer'd a Camel and not a Ram as the Scripture makes mention but the Turks affirm that it was a Ram and not a Camel and therefore mock at the Persians Offering of Camels though perhaps they agree in that of Ismael They Offer their Camels after the following manner Three days before the Biram they lead the Camel prepar'd for Offering about and through all places of the City The manner of their Camel-Offerings and being hung full of Garlands and cover'd with Flowers and Herbs is attended by several Men playing on Pipes and beating on Drums which are follow'd by a Molla or Preacher who Sings their Creed and several Hymns whil'st the Spectators endeavor as the Camel passes by to pluck off some of the Hair which if they obtain they judge themselves born in a happy hour and preserve the same as a holy Rellick wherefore if those who are appointed to clear the Way did not prevent them the poor Beast would undoubtedly be torn in pieces before it could possibly be brought to the place of Offering or at least come thither with a naked Skin After having thus led the Camel about three days all the Nobility together with King go on the fourth or Biram day richly Habited to the Muffale that is The House of Prayer which every City hath a little distance from it set a part on purpose for this Offering whither the Camel being brought one of the chiefest amongst the Company being Porter to the Kings Haram or some other noted Person takes a Spear and runs it into the Camels right side being laid bound on the Ground whereupon several fall on promiscuously with Battel-Axes Clubs Knives and Swords cutting the Beast into a thousand pieces What remains of this Camels Flesh is boyl'd some part of it fresh and the rest salted and kept which they looking upon as Consecrated preserve with great care as being an infallible Cure against all Distempers and therefore never eat thereof but when sick onely the Head is according to the Custom of the Countrey sent to the King 's Court. This Biram Day is proclaim'd at the rising of the Sun with Trumpets Drums and other Instruments as also by the discharging of great Guns The great Feast Asciur On the first day of the new Moon which happens in the latter end of December or in the beginning of January or if the Moon appears first in the night on the succeeding day they begin to keep the high Feast Asciur in commemoration of Hossein which lasts ten days during which the Persians manifest their sorrow for his unhappy Death the manner whereof hath been already related They Habit themselves like People overwhelm'd with Grief and Despair neither shaving the Hair nor bathing themselves not onely abstaining from what their Law forbids but
up of the Belly flaying alive and hanging up by the Heels which last is perform'd after this manner They make two Holes in the Malefactors Legs behind the Ancle between the Bone and the great Tendon through which they put a Rope whereby they hang them on a Tree so high that their Heads do just touch the Ground in which manner if the Malefactor be condemn'd to die they let him hang two or three days till after an intolerable number of Pains he gives up the Ghost or if he die not in that manner then they shorten his time by ripping open his Belly Others for smaller Offences are hang'd up an hour or two with their Head downwards He that Ravisheth a Woman and is convicted by her Swearing three times or commits Sodomy hath his Genitals cut off Usury forbidden Their Laws forbid the putting of Money out to Use which nevertheless they do privately but if any one be accus'd and found guilty thereof he is accounted worse than a Jew and not permitted to come in company with any Persons of note In Ardebil dwelt one who lending Money by the Moneth at a Dollar and a half per Cent. had his Teeth knock'd out with a Hammer Such Persons as practise this are call'd Suchur which signifies Usurer But at they permit the Mortgaging of Lands for a Sum of Money which the Lender repays himself by the Rent without receiving any other Interest Schach Abbas and Schach Sefi us'd strange and horrid ways to punish Criminals some they caus'd to be made fast betwixt two Boards and then Saw'd in two in the middle A Persian Ambassador being on a time sent to the King of Spain and treating his Servants ill in his Journey thither and they complaining of it the King at his Return into Persia with his own Hands cut off his Nose and Ears and a piece of Flesh out of his Arms which he forc'd him in his Presence to eat It is also a very common Punishment at Ispahan to throw down Malefactors from the Steeple built on the Mosque Haron Viliaier and afterwards to burn them To this Death Women which have committed any hainous Crimes are condemn'd When any Person of Quality that is in the King's Service hath committed a Crime which he supposes may hazard the loss of his Life he goes with a naked Sword hung about his Neck before his Majesty's Privy-Chamber to beg pardon for his Offence Robbers and Highway-men are set in the Ground up to the Middle and the upper part of their Bodies inclos'd with great Posts six Foot high and so starv'd to death Good travelling in Persia But because Persia is inhabited in most places it is very secure travelling insomuch that the whole Countrey is free from Thieves If any be robb'd in his Journey though it be by his own Servants the Villages near which the Fact is committed or the Magistrates thereof upon the Complaint of the Person robb'd either pay the value or restore to him the like Goods taken from him There is also Guards for the security of the Roads which are call'd Rabdari to whom Travellers give small Sums of Money Strangers enjoy their own Lawes As all the strange people in Persia enjoy the Liberty of Conscience so they also judge and determine Causes amongst themselves according to the Laws of their native Countreys as well in Matters of Life and Death as Debts and the like insomuch that the King's Courts of Judicature have nothing to do with them which Custom is at this day so common that not onely the People but also every person of Quality that is a Stranger in Persia as Agents and Ambassadors from Forreign Princes c. enjoy the same Priviledge unquestion'd as if they were at Home The several Officers of the Court. At the Court are divers Officers which have each a Title according to their employments and follow one another in their several Degrees Eahtemad-Dowlet is the Chancellor whose business it is to look after the Revenue of the Realm and to increase the same from whence he bears his Title and is like a Vice-Roy and not onely publick but also all manner of private Business doth pass through his Hands A Curtzibaschi is a Commander over ten or twelve thousand Bowe-men which being first rais'd by Schach Ismael dwell in several Parts of the Countrey as a Free-people and upon any occasion march to a known Rendezvouz where the said General meets and commands them Meheter is a Gentleman-usher who is constantly with the King in his Chamber or at any publick Meeting and in the Seraglio and therefore is often permitted to speak with more freedom than the Chancellor Wakeunis is a Privy Councellor and Secretary who writes the King's Letters and Edicts and also keeps an Account of the Revenues of the Crown to which purpose he hath eleven Clarks or Under-Secretaries allow'd him Every Precinct or Ward of a City hath a peculiar Governor or Magistrate whom they call Aksacal that is Grey-beard though never so young which amongst other Affairs take care of the King's Guests that are lodg'd in any Caravansera standing within their Liberty that they want nothing they are desirous to have Assas is a Constable of the Watch but hath greater Power for he is not onely authoriz'd to take or apprehend any suspitious Persons but also to punish them nay take away their Lives according to Martial Law provided the Offender be taken in the Fact The Diwanbeki though a Supream Judge and often sitting on the Bench with the Seder and Casi is forc'd when the King punishes any person of Quality with Death to perform the Office of Executioner himself The Culargasi bears Command over the Culams that is Slaves or Servants who have sold themselves to be the King's Servants who performing the Office of Soldiers are eight thousand in Number and like the Curtzi are Quarter'd in the Countrey at the King's charge Eischicagasi-Baschi is the chief Marshal or Commander of forty Eischicagasi who though they dwell in several Parts of the Countrey wait by turns five at a time and generally stand at those Doors through which you must go into the presence of the King from whence they are call'd Door-keepers When any strange Ambassadors have Audience before the King then the Eischicaga-Baschi having a Dekemek or Staff leads them up by the Arm. The Jesaul Sohebet or Master of the Ceremonies places all Strangers that are invited to eat at the King's Table in their proper Places wherefore he always attends with a Staff in his Hand before the Pallace Gate to receive and complement such strange Guests The Nasir is the Steward whom they also call Kereckjerack who provides all manner of Necessaries for the Court The Tuschmal or Purveyor takes care for all sorts of Provisions and commands the Kitchin Mohurdar is the Lord-Keeper of the Great Seal The Dawattar is the Secretary who always carries a little Ball like our Printing Balls with which when
stay all the Avenues and Ways are guarded to keep out the men whil'st the Women sometimes spend whole Nights in several Pastimes by Torch and Candle-light All places fitted for the King's Reception and the Reason why The King's Gardens in all his Royal Cities as in Ispahan Casbin c. are provided with Concubines Slaves and all manner of Necessaries because the King stays not long in one place neither goes with much Company for he often travels with onely two or three Horse-men which many times ride so hard that they finish a Journey of thirty days in five or six to which purpose he keeps exceeding swift Horses at appointed Stages where they always stand ready saddl'd and bridl'd because they are uncertain of his coming and because his Train cannot follow him with that speed therefore he hath a House in most of the wall'd Cities of his Realm furnished with all manner of Necessaries The Kings Palace a priviledg'd place The King 's Douletchane or Pallace in Ispahan is a priviledg'd Place or Sanctuary for all Malefactors that fly thither and touch the Ring Hammer or Knocker of the Gate which is in such esteem or Veneration that the whole Court receive it's Name Astane from it and as a Token thereof when they name this Royal Knocker they add the Word Doulet thereto that is good Luck and say Astane Doulet that is the Knocker of good Luck and understand the King's Court by the same Another priviledg'd place The Alcapy is also a priviledg'd Place where no Person nay not the King himself hath power to touch any Malefactor or Debtor wherefore many flying thither stay there till they have compounded with their Creditors The Familiarity of the King The King as also most of the Nobility in Persia cause most of their Meat to be drest in their Presence nay prepare the same with their own Hands nay more than this he for all his greatness sometimes makes himself very familiar amongst his Subjects eats as he passes along the Streets and in the midst of the Bazars or Exchanges often standing still before a Cooks Shop and sees what Meat they dress and sometimes goes unexpectedly into a Tradesman's House where sitting down he eats with great and unimaginable freedom The King's Lodgings In the Chambers or Tents in which the King sleeps are always eight or ten Beds made ready so that no person knows which he intends to lie on nay sometimes when he wakes in the night he goes from one Bed to another and so lies on three or four in one Night which he doth to no other end but to prevent sudden Assassination and that by that Means he might have time to Arm himself for his Defence In many of the High-ways the King hath divers Houses and Gardens the Houses for the most part are built and furnish'd after one fashion viz. small with many little Chambers which have divers Doors The Walls and Cielings being very smooth are Painted and richly Gilded yet without Order or Art The Kings Houses The King hath many handsom Houses but his chiefest Court is kept at Ispahan in the Summer and in the Winter in Ferhabad In the beginning of the Moneth Ramadhan His Hunting which is our Lent the King goes to Abicurrong in the Mountains to take the fresh Air and to Hunt in which Sport he spends several days attended by some thousands of People At the Ears of those Beasts which the King takes alive he hangs golden Plates on which are Engraven certain Marks and then setting them at Liberty again often re-takes them nay some have been taken who have had the Marks of King Thamas Ismael Sefi and other ancient Princes In all the Provinces of Persia Bull-baiting Bull-baiting is very common but especially about Caxem the Inhabitants whereof travel up and down into several Countreys to find out the strongest and fairest Bulls which they bring to Ispahan where upon the Maidan or Market-place naked Men Encounter with them Musical Instruments among the Persians In the Kings Palace at any Entertainment as also at Entertainments in Noblemens Houses are commonly young Women who Dance to the sound of a Diara or little Drum but their common Instruments are Cymbals and Citterns yet besides these they have another call'd Scig made of Copper round and hollow within which holding in one Hand they strike upon it with the other but the chiefest Instrument is a Tabor hung round about with Bells This Instrument is very common in all the Eastern Countreys but especially in Persia the Inhabitants whereof take such delight in them that the King never makes any great Entertainment but he always hath several who Dance to the sound of it Their Dancing The manner of Dancing us'd by the Persians is not unpleasing for they Sing and Dance together in a King he that leads the Dance Sings a Verse or two of some merry Song the rest bearing the Chorus or Burden The Nobles also at the Kings Court every Evening at the sound of several Instruments play at a certain Game with a Hammer and Ball not unlike our Palmall which every one that pleases may come and see The Recreation of the Nobles The King often invites mean Persons that are well experienc'd in this Game to play at it which is perform'd after this manner viz. The Gamesters divide themselves into two Parties on Horseback one at each end of the place where the Game is to be play'd and with a woodden Hammer which they hold in the right Hand they strike a light woodden Ball not with the flat Head of the Hammer but with the side which is somewhat hollow'd out at the set Mark in which the winning of the Game consists without any wrangling or dispute but the chiefest part of the Game is to follow the Ball and strike it beyond the Mark before those at the other end can prevent them Great dexterity is requir'd in this Game and also exceeding swiftness as well of he Horse as the Rider and this is the onely way whereby the Persians learn to Ride so well Those that play are also dress'd after a peculiar manner in Clothes of several colours with rich Turbants adorn'd with Plumes of Feathers and other Ornanents They have another Exercise call'd The Baiting of the Wolf Wolf-baiting but it is us'd by none but the inferior sort of People viz. A Wolf being let loose the People having each Man a Cloak on encompass the Beast in great numbers shouting and hollowing and if at any time the enraged Wolf falls in amongst them and seizes any one the whole Croud rescue the Person in danger and assail the Beast And these two are the chiefest and most esteemed Exercises amongst the Persians The Furniture of their Tables at Meals All the Chans and other great Lords residing at the Kings Court being prime Officers of State have their Tables spread with a large eight corner'd Carpet
of Cloth-of-Gold or embroider'd Sattin with rich Fringe The Dishes wherein the Meat is brought to the Table are of massie Gold as also their Drinking-Cups which hold about a Pint and a half But Schach Abbas had all his serv'd up in Glass for a distinction from others They deliver with every Cup a great woodden Spoon or Ladle with a long Handle which they use more to drink out of than to eat withal neither do they make use of any other Spoons but what are made after that manner and of sweet-smelling Wood which having been once us'd are never brought to the Table again They never use Forks or Knives but the Steward who performs the Office of a Carver cuts the Meat with a great square Golden Slice which he always carries in his Hand How their Meat is serv'd up In the setting the Meat on the Table the Servants bring not the Dishes together but standing in a row from the Kitchin they hand them from one to another to the Table They commonly have but one Mess for they set all their Dishes at once upon the Table Each Person also receives Wine from a Waiter in order according to his Quality out of a golden Tumbler Every one is permitted to rise from Table without shewing Reverence to any and if their Occasions chance to call them out of the Room they go away without taking leave of any though the King himself be present The Water with which they wash their Hands is brought in gold en Basons The King and other great Persons seldom drink any Wine without Ice or Snow The Ice which they use is made of the clearest Water after this manner viz. Not far from the City in a great Plain a Bank is rais'd or cast up directly from East to West which being about a hundred and fifty Foot long and very thick is so high that it shadows the Plain from the Sun-beams when the Sun is at the heighth At the end of this Bank are two Arms which extending from the South to the North are full as high as the main Bank and about twenty four Foot long and keep off the Morning and Evening Sun so that this Plain lies shaded all the day long In this shady place is a Moat of about twenty or thirty Foot deep extending from the one Arm of the Bank to the other In the midst of Winter when it Freezes hardest they Plough this Plain which lies open to the Northern Winds full of small Furrows about three or four Fingers deep and so letting in the Water overflow it which in one Night freezing to the bottom is the next Morning before the rising of the Sun thrown into the Moat and Water pour'd upon it to make it condense the harder and this Practice they continue for a whole Moneth together or longer till the Moat is fill'd to the top with Ice then they cover it with Straw to prevent the melting thereof by the heat of the Sun and to keep it from Rain In the Summer this Ice being broken with Pick-axes is carry'd through the City to be sold on Horses or Mules two or three pieces being a sufficient Burthen The Ice being broken with a Hammer into greater or lesser pieces is either put into the Vessel with the Wine or into the Cups when they drink They also lay pieces of Ice in their Dishes with Fruit and other Cates which is very pleasing to the Eye especially if that which lies under the Ice appears through it The King's Dishes Urns and Drinking-Cups which he uses at his Table are all of massie Gold The Chans and other Nobles have their Pilao or Rice colour'd black and yellow and made savory with Herbs or else dulcifi'd with Sugar brought on their Tables also in Gold and Silver Dishes The Government of the peculiar Provinces How the Provinces are Govern'd ALl the Provinces in Persia which are remote from the King's Court are Govern'd by Chans Sultans Calenters Darago's Visiers and Caucha's The King chuses the Chans who are as much as Princes or Vice-Roys and makes them Governors of what Provinces he pleases but commonly he elects them who by their valiant Exploits Piety or other noble Vertues have gain'd the love of their Countrey wherefore many in hopes to attain to that Honor behave themselves very valiantly in any Engagement and desperately venture their Lives for the Title of Chan. But the Children of those who are thus chosen Inherit not amongst the Persians for though they are held in great Respect and enjoy their Father's Goods yet they are not honor'd with his Title nor succeed him in his Office except they are judg'd worthy thereof by their own Merits But Della Valle tells us that the King gives the Dignity of Chan to one of his Subjects not onely for his Life but also permits his Children to succeed him after his Death and that there are Families found that have enjoy'd this Title above two hundred years As soon as the King hath made any one a Chan he immediately gives him Lands and Men to support his Grandeur which he enjoys as long as he lives but if at any time he chance to be suspected by the King he is immediately turn'd out of his Employment and all his Goods seiz'd Each Province hath a Chan and a Calenter who resides in the Metropolis thereof The Chan being the King's Vice-Roy Executes the Law doth Justice to all and passes Sentence of Death on Criminals without any special Order from the Court. The chiefest Chan is he who Governs Sciras the Metropolis of the Province of Persia properly so call'd who is able to bring an Army of thirty thousand Men into the Field the Countrey which he Commands being said to be bigger than Portugal The Calenter is as a Collector or Treasurer of the Province gathering all the Revenues and giving an Account thereof either to the King or Chans A Darugo or Darago otherwise Hacom is like a Governor or Mayor of a City every City having one A Caucha is as much as an under Sheriff The Equipage of Ambassadors The King usually sends the Chans and Sultans as Agents to foreign Princes and fits them out after this manner viz. The King orders them to give great Presents to those Princes unto whom they are sent of which the one half is given out of the King's Treasury and the other part as also all other Necessaries the Province which the Chan Governs is to provide which often causes great disturbance and confusion In some Provinces the Chans must maintain a certain number of Soldiers for the King which besides their own must be ready for Service on all occasions but then the King receivs no Tribute from them The Chans make great Presents to the King The Chans commonly on New-years-day make great Presents to the King Some Provinces especially where there are no Chans but onely Darago's and therefore no Soldiers kept as in the Towns of Caswin Ispahan
slew Constantine in Battel who then was King of the Countrey An. 1507. it was Govern'd by a King call'd Pancrace after which the King dividing his Kingdom into four parts gave the same to his four Sons giving them equal Power leaving onely the Superiority to the eldest to whom he had given the best and biggest part wherefore this Prince is respected by all the other and being of greater eminency is honor'd with the Title of Mepet-Mepe which in the Countrey Language signifies The King of Kings the rest being contented to be call'd Princes of Georgia which at this day are six in number for besides the four before mention'd Extracted from Royal Blood there are two others who at first were Deputies to Mepet-Mepe being Governors of two great parts of hâ—s Dominions beyond the Black Sea but at last rebelling against him made themselves Masters thereof as we shall hereafter relate more at large The Province of Imereti or Basciaciuk THe Province of Imereti or being the Centre and strongest part of the Countrey was without doubt the ancient Iberia It is fortifi'd with several Mountains especially towards the South side of Persia wherefore the Persians never make any Inroad that way It borders on the West at Dadian or Mengrelia and at Gunel This Countrey hath a City of the same Denomination besides many other inferior Towns The King's Title The King or Prince or King that Governs this Countrey is call'd Ghiorghi that is Georgian and with a shorter Title of Mepet-Mepe which they use onely in writing but speaking they generally call him Giorghi Mepe that is The Georgian King but the Turks call the Princes as well as the Countrey People thereof Basciascive or Basciaciuk that is Bare or Uncover'd Head Formerly the Princes of Dadian and Guriel were subject to the Prince of Basciaciuk or Imereti and serv'd him as Gentlemen of the Horse one holding his Stirrup and the other the Bridle when he mounted on Horseback but being of late grown more powerful they have not onely freed themselves from his Authority but made themselves his Equals nay by their Warring against him are fear'd not onely by him but by other neighboring Princes Anno 1622. when the Prince of Dadian had obtain'd a Victory against the Prince of Imereti and done him much hurt he forc'd him to send Agents into Persia to request Aid there with promise to become Tributary to the Sofi if he would send him the Soldiers which lay in Garrison in the Towns of Teflis and Gori under the Command of a Georgian Nobleman call'd Battoni Mehrab but Schach Abbas receiv'd the Message with much displeasure refusing their Presents and Request saying that they did it out of a private Design and treacherous Intention yet proffer'd him some Persian Soldiers but the King disliking to admit Strangers into his Countrey refus'd that Offer and Espous'd one of the Prince of Dadian's Sisters so closing the Breach that had been made upon him The Province of Cacheti Situation of this Province EAstward from the Province of Imereti lies Cacheti which being a part of Iberia and perhaps also of Albania was the Dominion of the youngest Brother of the four before-mention'd call'd Teimuraz who kept his Court in a City nam'd Zagain or Zagam which is one of the chiefest in this Countrey and next to that Grim or Grien The King and Nobles whom they call Asnauri take more pleasure in living in Huts in the Countrey than in the City which they account a fit place for Handicrafts Mechanicks and the vulgar sort of People to dwell in All the Georgians are wedded to this Opinion that all those who are not Asnauries or Noblemen will not debase themselves to live in the City or drive any manner of Trade but leave it to be perform'd by Strangers as Armenians Jews and many other the like People themselves spending their time either in the Wars or in Tilling of their own Lands for which reason they were by the ancient Greeks justly call'd Georgi that is Agricultors or Husbandmen The reason of the Name Georgian For this reason also there are but few Cities in this Countrey and those but of small consequence yet is it every where well inhabited and full of large Timber Houses after the fashion of the Countrey and likewise many handsom and well built Churches This Countrey was formerly Govern'd by peculiar Princes the last whereof was call'd Teimuraz The Province of Cardel or Carduel The Bounds of this Province THe Province of Cardel or Carduel lying Southward from Cacheti or Imereti borders with its South side upon Persia a extends Westward to that of Teimuraz and lies near Great Armenia of which perhaps it is a part The chiefest City call'd Teflis lies in a very secure place which being water'd by a small River nam'd The Chiur gliding from an adjacent Mountain and falling into the Araxes is accounted to be the Zogocara of Ptolomy a City of Great Armenia and as Joseph Barbosa affirms there are yet to be seen the Tombs of the Kings who Rul'd this part of Georgia which in the beginning of this Age had a Prince call'd Simon who afterwards dy'd in Prison at Constantinople and afterwards another nam'd Luarzab Heir and Nephew of Simon who with Teimuraz Prince of Cacheti was by the Persians driven out of his Countrey and carry'd alone to Persia where he dy'd without Issue After him about the Year 1622. the King of Persia plac'd a Mahumetan Son to a deceased Bagred Myrza and Nephew to the Prince of Luarzab in this Dominion not to possess it as supream Governor but as a Deputy or Chan as all other Chans of Persia the occasion whereof hapned thus How the Kings of it came to be dispossess'd In the War between the Turks and Persians whil'st they Treated about a Peace and the Armies of both Parties stood each on their Defence and disputed the Business of the two aforesaid Georgian Princes under whose Subjection they were to stand for the Turks would have them under their Jurisdiction the King of Persia told the Turkish Agent who Treated with him about Peace That Teimuraz and Luarzab were and ever had been his Subjects in testimony of which he could command them into his Army when he pleas'd Whereupon the Agent reply'd That they should be his if he could make them come Upon which the King sending for them they in obedience to his Command were coming but seeing the Turkish Army so near durst not declare themselves for the Persians but flatter'd the one as well as the other excusing themselves to the Persians but came not into his Army which highly incens'd the King against them and as soon as a Peace was concluded and the Turkish Army gone out of his Dominions the King of Persia growing subtilly malicious and plotting Revenge sow'd the Seeds of Contention between Luarzab and Teimuraz and at last wrought it to that heighth that they fell to open War one with
Caspian Sea and many more are at this day so full of Georgian and Circassian Inhabitants amongst whom the Vulgar who are the greatest number remain Christians yet are but meanly instructed by reason their Pastors are both few and ignorant but the Nobles and most of the Soldiers as also many of the common People stirr'd up partly by ambition and partly out of covetousness hoping that by changing their Religion they might obtain something from the King who was always favorable to such Apostates and gave them Gifts continually to draw them to his Opinion and partly forc'd thereto by necessity are turn'd Mahumetans With these kind of People the King's Army was so much increas'd that Anno 1622. he had above thirty thousand Georgians besides a great number of Circassians and some strange Armenians some of which bore the chief Command as well in the Army as Civil Government of the Countrey and were rais'd to many of the highest Dignities as Sultans and Chans But besides these a great number of them not onely of the Vulgar but also of the Nobility who resisting the Persians at their coming into Georgia were subdu'd and by force brought from thence and made perpetual Slaves the number whereof was formerly so great that there was scarce a House in all Persia which was not full of them The Georgian Women much desir'd by the Persian Nobility None of the Persian Nobility but covet to Marry with a Georgian rather than their own Countrey Women because they are generally more beautiful and well Limb'd King Abbas himself had his Court full of them both Men and Women and scarce made use of any other But to return to Teimuraz Teimuraz flies to the Turks who assist him with an Army who spent some time in ranging through the Countreys of other Princes at last he went into the Turks Dominions where staying some years he was made Governor of the City Cogni and some other places of Cappadocia being for the most part inhabited by Greek Christians During his abode here he study'd how to revenge himself on the Persians and to get footing again in his own Countrey and at length in 1618. obtain'd a potent Army of Turks and Tartars besides his own Militia which for the most part consisted in the Nobility of Georgia who had declar'd themselves on his side and many others who had always faithfully serv'd and accompany'd him during his Misfortunes These Nobles also took their Wives Arm'd and Mounted on good Horses along with them who following the Examples of their Husbands performed many heroick Acts. Teimuraz thus reinforc'd march'd farther into Persia than ever any of the Turks Armies had done before and at last came up to the City Ardebil which being by the Persians accounted a holy place or Sanctuary because of the Tomb of their prime Saint Schach Sefi and the Royal Seat of the King he endeavor'd by all means possible to destroy whil'st the Serdar or General Hali Bassa should with another Army of three hundred thousand Turks and Tartars keep the Persians employ'd in another part This General had also Command that however it hapned he should endeavor to make himself Master of Ardebil and afterwards settle Teimuraz Chan and Dellu Melik again in their Dominions and also to Winter in some convenient place in Carabag and re-take the Province of Scirvan and the Metropolis Schamachie This Dellu Melik was a Melik or Armenian Lord and formerly a Christian but apostatiz'd and became Substitute to the King of Persia against whom he rebell'd for the King having commanded him to carry all the Armenian Christians to Ferhabad he on the contrary carry'd them to Georgia where he united himself with Temuraz Chan who both submitted themselves to the Turks protection and by this means Melik became a great Enemy of the Persians and had himself been in the last Fight Mean while two Capigies or Messengers came into the Turkish Army with great speed from the Grand Seignior at Constantinople to the Serdar or General to tell him that he should endeavor to make as advantageous an Agreement with the Persians as he could possible and return with all expedition to Constantinople because the Europeans had invaded him in other parts so that this great preparation of the Turks came to nothing to the loss of many of his Men whil'st the Persian return'd Conqueror to his Court Teimuraz also march'd back to his Countrey which the Turk had given him to Govern The Province of Guriel Situation of Guriel Southward from Mengrelia and beyond the Black Sea on the Borders of Cappadocia Trabizonde and Cogni lies a Province call'd Guriel which as Della Valle affirms being a part of Cappadocia or Colchos and lying more Southerly from Imereti than Mengrelia was Anno 1620. Govern'd by one of the two last Princes call'd Jese and the other Prince Govern'd Mengrelia The Province of Mengrelia anciently Colchis The Borders of Mengrelia THe Countrey which the Ancients call'd Colchis is at this day by the Inhabitants nam'd Dadian and Odisci and by the Turks Mengrelia It borders in the East upon the River Fas or Faso by the Inhabitants nam'd Rione near the Province of Imereti or Basciaciuk in the South looks upon Guriel in the North touches the Countrey of the Abcassians in the West conterminates with the Black Sea and Circassian Mountains and in the North-East respects at some distance Mount Caucasus Niger and Ananias make it to border in the East upon Georgia in the West at a Bay of the Black Sea in the North at the Asiatick Sarmatia and in the South on a part of Cappadocia and the Countrey of Trebizonde towards the side of the Black Sea and a part of Great Armenia From Constantinople they can travel in less than eight days by Water into Mengrelia which is the best and most populous Countrey of all Georgia The Air of this Province is very moist by reason of its Situation The Air. for on the one side it hath Mount Caucasus out of which flow many Streams The Woods with which it is overgrown prevent the swift passing of the Clouds and the nearness of the Sea and constant Winds which blow from the same bring commonly Mists and Rain The Inhabitants afflicted with many Diseases The Inhabitants are generally troubled with the Spleen which turns to the Dropsie if they use not good Medicines The Tertian and Quartan Agues are also very common here Ancient People commonly die of Rheums and Apoplexies Youth of the Jaundise and Dropsie The Cold is also very great here though there is no appearance of it till the latter end of December from which time there likewise falls abundance of Snow till April The Countrey is very Morassie near the Sea but very Hilly up into the Inland Rivers in this Countrey Mengrelia is also divided by several Rivers which like most of the great Rivers of Asia have their head Springs in Mount Caucasus and disembogue into the
Parties who make Responces one to another often repeating the word Ohi. This time of Mourning sometimes lasts three years The Bishop also celebrates Mass for the Deceased to his great benefit getting many times five hundred Crowns After Mass is finish'd they all give the Bishop a Treat and new Habits to all the Priests which attended the Funeral for the greatest Costs and Charges which they bestow on any thing is on these Solemnities They also invite the Prince or Lord of the Countrey to mourn over the Deceased whose Dogs they place under one Pavilion his Horses under another and under a third his Sword as also other things which he us'd when he was living The Prince being naked from his Middle upwards and bare-footed falls on his Knees under each Pavilion where giving himself several blows on the Face he cries prays and sighs after which rising he goes to the House of the Person which invited him where a Feast is prepar'd for him and also a Present Commemoration of the Dead The next day after Easter-day is the Commeration of the Deceased on which they carry Meat to the Graves where they set a Chest strew'd on the top with Flowers putting also a lighted Wax-Candle thereon The Priest having Consecrated the Mâ—at they carry it to a great Tree which stands before the Temple where each Family eat their own This kind of making Merry they believe to be a very meritorious Act. Physicians are highly approvâ—d here There is no Place in the World where Physians are better receiv'd and approv'd of and especially French and Italians of which when they get one they endeavor by all means to stay him in their Countrey and the reason of this may be because they have none of their own but a sort of Women who pretend experience and knowledge in the Vertue and Preparation of some medicinal Plants and Drugs They give no other Food to their Sick but stamp'd Barley mix'd with some Leaves of Coriander and a little Wine In the greatest Feavers they cover the Patient with Willow Leaves They never Purge them unless desir'd and then give them the Juice of Tithimal or Devils-Milk They also make use of Rhubarb infus'd into some kind of Liquor proper against Feavers and Agues Those that have onely Physick to provoke Seige pass for able Physicians in this Countrey For Feavers they have learnt this Medicine from the Abcassians viz. They put the Patient into the coldest Water that can be got in all the Countrey and hold him a considerable time therein by two lusty Fellows and this they account an infallible Remedy How they go to War All the Mengrelians go to War insomuch that the Prince notwithstanding the Countrey is but small is able in a short time to raise thirty thousand Men but commonly every House provides one Man but all the Nobility in general are obliged to follow their Prince As these People are mightily inclin'd to Warring so they carry all the best things they have with them They never make any Attempts in the Night but spend it in Mirth and Jollity They keep no Order or Discipline in their Battels yet nevertheless they gain daily remarkable Conquests on the Prince of Imereti or Basciaciuk's Subjects and force the Prince himself to be always in a posture of Defence sometimes driving him to the City of Cottis and compelling his Subjects to secure themselves in the Mountains whensoe're the Dadians make an Invasion into his Countrey The Dadian having of late years endeavor'd to make himself Master of his Countrey and to that purpose caus'd his Guns to be carry'd thither but having no Persons that were able to manage a Siege he was forc'd to desist The Women as well as the Men travel on Horseback with a sharp Crown'd Hat made of Cloth Lin'd with Sable Skins and with Embroider'd Coats Ladies of Honor according to the Custom of the Countrey generally follow their Princess in rich Habits Page also comes after with a Foot-stool cover'd with Velvet and Embroider'd with Silver on which they mount and dismount their Horses When the Court travels it is a most pleasant Sight to behold the several troops of Ladies all mounted on stately Steeds follow the Prince They are very hospitable to Strangers The Mengrelians are for the most part very civil and hospitable to Strangers the greatest Lords accounting themselves oblig'd if a Stranger request any thing of them When they salute any Person they kneel down on the Ground To those that bring them good tydings they give a Spoonful of Sugar which the Prince with his own Hand puts into the Mouths of his Messengers Their Govement The Countrey of Mengrelia is at this day Govern'd by a supream Prince who is styl'd Chesilpes Dadian Chesilpes signifies King and Dadian is the Name of his Family he is one of the powerfullest Princes of this Countrey yet not deriv'd from the Kings of Georgia but from one of his Commanders or Servants who took this part of the Dominion into his possession of which he was Eristave or Governor The Royal Seat of the Dominion The ancient Kings of Georgia kept their Seat in the City Cottis and sent Deputies into the several Provinces to manage Affairs of State and Government the most eminent whereof was the Eristave of Odisci or Colchis call'd Dadian One of these Kings of Georgia which then posses'd the whole Countrey between the Caspian and Black Sea to Mount Taurus and Azerum and Northerly to Caffa divided his Dominion amongst his Children keeping nothing for himself but the Territories of Basciaciuk or Imereti Odisci Samsche and Guriel which also were Govern'd by his Eristaves The Turk on the one side sensible of his weakness took from him the City Teflis eight days Journey from Azerum and on the other side the Persian took Taurus and all that part of his Realm which lies between Taurus and Gaguete The State thus impair'd the Eristaves or Vice-Roys of the other Provinces found themselves to be almost as powerful as the King himself and therefore let slip no opportunity to make themselves absolute Matters of the Places which they Govern'd The occasion of the first Revolt Upon a Set-day on which all the Kings Deputies sat with him at the Table his Cup-bearer after Dinner proffer'd him Drink as also all the other Nobles in order according to the Custom of the Countrey by virtue of which all those that had the Cup presented to them are oblig'd to make Presents to the Cup-bearer each according to his Quality Next after the King the Cup was presented to Dadian who before he made his Present ask'd Artabeg one of those that sat near him and accounted the most ingenious and eminent Person at the Court what Present he intended to give the Cup-bearer whereupon Artabeg answering A hundred Crowns mov'd Dadian to make one far greater which Artabeg observing promis'd the Cup-bearer a thousand Crowns upon the delivery of the
Cup to him When Dadian saw himself thus deceiv'd not regarding the Kings Presence he fell upon Artabeg and cut off his Beard which Injury Artabeg respecting the King's Presence would not at that time revenge but not long after Dadian pursuing a Stag into the Governor Artabeg's Dominions his Subjects finding him separated from his Company seiz'd on him and brought him to their Lord who put him into a Dungeon under Ground in the mean while his Followers suspected that he had broke his Neck by Riding down some steep Rock and accordingly bemoan'd his Death but at length having remain'd a considerable time in Prison Artabeg went to visit him where amongst many other Discourses Dadian declar'd his intention that he had to make himself absolute Master of his Territory shewing him also the easiness to accomplish it Whereupon Artabeg promis'd him his aid and assistance telling him that he had the same Design so they both invented ways to execute their intent and made their Subjects to acknowledge them their Kings who before had the same Power though derivative under the Title of Eristaves The King himself was forc'd not being willing to hazard the remaining parts of his Kingdom to acknowledge his Servants for his Companions insomuch that his Successors entred into a League with them yet nevertheless they went to War with him The present King of Mengrelia The Chesilpes or King which now Governs Mengrelia nam'd Levan Dadian is the fifth of that Family and Son to thc King of Munacchiar who upon a certain time going a Hunting Rode with such force unawares againft another Horseman that his Horse tumbling backwards broke his Rider's Neck whil'st Prince Dadian was yet very young so that one of his Uncles nam'd George Lipardian Govern'd the Realm during his Minority This young Prince Marry'd afterwards a Daughter of the Prince of the Abcassians of the Family of Sciarapsia which is very much affected by this Nation Lipardian though very ancient also Marry'd a young Virgin who Name was Dareggian out of the Family of Ciladze but this Lady delighted more in the company of Dadian who was equal to her in years than in her Husband Lipardians of which Dadian taking notice and resolving to slip no opportunity to satifie both his own and her desire took advantage of this occasion One of his prime Nobles call'd Paponia insinuated himself into the Queens Favor which being nois'd abroad about the Countrey was fo ill resented by the King that according to the Custom of the Greek Church he Divorc'd her cut off her Nose and sent her in the Head of an Army to her Father and committed Paponia to Prison under the custody of the Prince of Guriel his Nephew After this more publickly declaring his Amours towards his Uncle's Wife he took her out of his House and made all his Subjects acknowledge her for Dalboda or Queen In the interim whil'st Dadian kept his Nuptial Feast with all the signs and testimonies of Joy Lipardian in his House perform'd all the Funeral Ceremonies as if his Wife had been dead going with his whole Court into Mourning and crying for forty Days together according to the usual Custom each Person also sympathizing with him he was also visited daily by many of the Nobles till at last being poyson'd his Wife became absolute Queen After this the Countrey had remain'd quiet a long time had not Paponia to revenge himself of Dadian perswaded the Prince of Guriel to proclaim War against him and also contriv'd a Plot betwixt him the Abcassians and the Prince of Basciaciuk the design of which was to kill Dadian and to Crown one of his Brothers nam'd Joseph in his stead to which purpose they hir'd an Abcassian who on a set-day as Dadian was looking over a Balcony ran him through the Back with a Lance which done the Assassinate immediately fled and was never heard of after but one of the Officers that stood by when the King received the Stab which was not mortal being committed to Prison discover'd the Plot upon which Paponia was Strangled and his Body being cut into divers pieces was ramm'd into a Cannon and shot into the Air his Brother also was condemn'd to have his Eyes put out and committed to perpetual Imprisonment the Prince of Guriel was likewise taken Prisoner and his Eyes put out his Wife and Children taken from him and his Territory given to the Patriarch his Uncle call'd Malachia Moreover Dadian afterwards Warred against the Abcassians Dadian conquers the Abcassians who during these Disturbances had made Incursions into his Dominions in revenge of the Disgrace done to his first Wife their Prince's Daughter but he in a short time reduc'd them and made them pay Tribute Makes War upon Imerets Dadian having finish'd the Civil Wars bent his study how to conquer Imereti and accordingly proclaim'd War against it and though to this day he hath not made himself absolute Master thereof because the foremention'd Prince always secures himself in the Castle of Cottis which could never yet be conquer'd yet he hath miserably harras'd all his Territories Dadian an excellent Ptince This King Dadian which now Governs this Countrey is of such excellent Parts that had he been bred amongst a civiliz'd People he would undoubtedly have been one of the greatest Princes in his time for he abhors Gluttony and Drunkenness to which the Natives are much inclin'd often dispensing with his Dinner to dispatch Business he is of an undaunted Courage Prudent Generous and a great lover of his Subjects whom he supports and assists on all occasions suppressing all manner of Tyranny and Oppression And that the Turk his too near Neighbor may not have an itching desire towards his Countrey he uses this policy When he expects Agents from Constantinople he sends several of his Nobles to meet them upon his Borders and to conduct them through Mountains Woods and the worst Ways they can find and also to Lodge them in mean Huts where they have nothing but a little Straw to lie on and Cheese to eat When they are admitted to Audience he receives them sitting under a Tree on an old Carpet in mean Clothes with a great many Servants in pitiful Habits standing about him After Audience they are Lodg'd in a House which will scarce keep the Weather out where they are so ill Entertain'd that the Agents returning to Constantinople affirm this Countrey to be the meanest in the World 'T is not long since he caus'd one of his Noblemens Eyes to be put out for endeavoring to extol his Subjects He Entertains both Jews and Armenians in his Dominions and by that means gains a considerable Trade he also sends for Workmen out of all the adjacent Countreys whom he obliges to stay by giving them Wives and Lands He also makes daily great Presents to the Temple and Spiritual Persons and wants nothing but Architects to build magnificent Churches The Panishment of Malefactors Of all Punishments which
they inflict on Malefactors they account the bereaving them of their Sight the worst which they do after this manner viz. They drive four Stakes into the Ground to which they tie the Malefactor's Hands and Feet in such a manner that he is no way able to stir then they take two sharp Plates of Iron about the bigness of a Shilling made fast to two Irons which have one woodden Handle which making red hot they put them upon the Malefactor's Eyes so bereaving him of his Sight with the greatest torment imaginable which appears sufficiently by the sad effect thereof for the whole Face and Breast swell putting the Malefactor into such a condition that it renders him uncapable of eating in three or four days after They also cut off their Criminals Hands with a red hot Iron thereby to prevent the effusion of Blood and with a Stick take away the Marrow from the Bone that the Flesh may not putrifie If the Crime be small and any one be apprehended for stealing of a Cow he is bound to restore fifteen times the value thereof before he can be freed of which the King receives one third part the Court of Judicature another and the injur'd Person the rest If the Offender be not certainly known then they lay a Cross in the bottom of a Kettle of Water which they hang over a Fire till it boyls and then force the suspected Person to put his naked Arm into the same and pull out the Cross which done they put his Arm into a Bag and Sealing up the same let it remain on three days after the expiration whereof they open it and if no signs of scalding appear then the accused Person is released When the Evidence is not clear and the Crime but small they cause the Person whom they suspect to swear by the Images of their Saints They also make suspicious Persons to fight one with another after this manner viz. They run a Tilt at each other and he that is first wounded is punish'd as Criminal How they determine Difference The Mengrelians have no written Laws yet what they follow are justly executed In Matters which are of no great difficulty the Prince himself is the Judge and decides the fame either at his Table when he is Hunting or in any other place where he is when it is brought before him but Matters of consequence are heard and determin'd after this manner The Parties concern'd chuse each of them an Arbitrator to whom they refer the Controversie these also chuse a Solicitor they often meet in the Fields under a Tree where the Plaintiff appearing first makes his Demand and then gives room to the Defendant to whom the Solicitor declares his mind whereupon the Defendant also with the same freedom gives his Relation then the Plaintiff is call'd again and the Solicitor acquaints him with the Defendant's Answer to his Demands and if after this both Parties are silent then the Judges pass Sentence They also maintain another Custom in their Differences which is never to go directly to the Person of whom they demand any thing but always to make use of a Friend in such a Case The People formerly acknowledged the Patriarch of Antioch but now him of Constantinople yet they have two Patriarchs of their own Countrey whom they call Catholicks the one from Georgia and the other from odisci He of Georgia hath under him the Provinces of Cardueli Gaghetti Baratralu and Samsche he of Odisci the Territories of Odisci Imereti Guriel the Abcassians and Suaniers The Wealth of their Patriarchs These Patriarchs have almost as great a Revenue as the Prince himself for he continually visits his substitute Places and in stead of taking care to preserve his Flock he fleeces them by his frequent Visits for whenever he comes all are oblig'd to make him great Presents neither doth he make any Man a Bishop without a Reward of five or six hundred Crowns The Grand Visier gave him for one days Service eighty Crowns yet he was not satisfi'd for not long after the same Visier lying sick sent for him who return'd Answer That it was not worth his while to go to him since he gratifi'd him so ill at first yet at last upon promise of a more noble Reward he went to him Every three or four years the Patriarch carries all the Money which he hath thus gotten to the holy Sepulchre at Jerusalem verily believing that by these Offerings he shall purchase for himself an entrance into Heaven Bishopricks in this Courtrey There were formerly twelve Bishopricks in this Countrey of which there are now but six remaining the other six being turn'd into Abbacyes The first Bishoprick call'd Andra lies at the River Carax the second Moquis the third Bedias the fourth Kiais so call'd from the Mountain Kiais near which it lies the fifth Scalingicas hath a Cathedral which is Dedicated to our Saviour and is the Burying-place of the Princes of the Countrey the sixth is Scondidi the Church whereof is Dedicated to All Saints The Bishopricks translated into Abbacyes are Chiaggi Gippurias Copis and Obbugi where formerly the Princes were bury'd but since carry'd to Scalingicas the fifth is Sebastoli ruin'd by the Floods the sixth Anarghia was formerly call'd Heraclea The Bishops are richer than any Lords of the Countrey some of them having three or four Wives nay more It hapned some years since that a Bishop being in Love with a Woman he sold her Husband for a Slave to the Turks that he might with the more freedom enjoy her And notwithstanding these Extravagancies yet because they keep their Fasts very strictly they account themselves better than the Prelates of the Roman Church They believe that there is no Sin but what may be wash'd away by the Satisfaction of good Works neither do they Pennance but very seldom but when they find their Consciences troubled for some hainous Crime which they have committed then they make a Present to the Church believing that so their Sin is expiated ThePriests veyr ignorant The Abbots and Priests are no whit better than the Bishops but generally more ignorant for the Priests are forc'd to say Mass in the Georgian Language because they understand not so much as their A B C. This Ignorance being common amongst all their Clergy hath made them lose the form of the Sacraments They never Baptize their Children till they are three or four years old How they Baptize when carrying them into a Cellar which is the place where this Ceremony is perform'd the Priest clad in his Vestments consecrates a great Vessel full of Water according to the direction of the Greek Liturgy out of which he onely reads what is written in the fame not once offering to do what it directs or commands which he leaves to his Clerk to perform who then taking a little of their Mirom or consecrated Oyl marks the Child therewith in the Forehead with a Cross If the
Church-doors be lock'd then they say Mass in the Church-yard Their Caps are of Wooll and Calabashes serve them for Oyl-pots They believe to have perform'd all the Christian Commandments by strictly observing the Fasts On Easter-day they do no Pennance nor receive the Sacrament but go two hours before day-light to Church and so quickly return to Feasting Their greatest Festival is that of St. George being celebrated on the twentieth of October at the Church bearing his Name St. George's Feast whither on the Feast-Eve the Prince after Sun-set goes accompany'd with a great Train and sets his Seal on the Church-door which finding untouch'd in the Morning he again takes off and opening the Door discovers an Ox which is certainly believ'd by the common People to have been put in there by St. George miraculously and presage from the motions thereof future Events viz. If the Ox defends himself against those that endeavor to touch him then they believe there will be Wars in the Countrey If he be very dirty it is a sign of a fruitful year If he hath red Hair great Sickness will rage both amongst Men and Beasts of all which they write to every part of the Countrey as a Matter of great consequence There is also one Family amongst these People which hath the priviledge to kill this Ox and distribute the several parts thereof in this manner The Head with the Horns they send to the Prince who adorns the fame with Gold and Precious Stones afterwards each Tribe or Family in the Countrey hath a part thereof the rest being cut into small pieces is divided amongst the People who dry the same and keep it as an infallible Remedy against all Distempers They strictly maintain their Fasts Their Fasts as we said before on the three last days whereof for they continue seven Weeks together beginning on the Monday after Quinquagesima they eat no Flesh On Saturdays and Sundays they eat three times a day the rest they keep after the manner of the Greeks eating nothing till the Stars appear There is not a more superstitious People under the Sun than the Mengrelians Superstions which sufficiently appears by their Conceits which they hold of the Moon accounting all their Misfortunes to proceed from thence and therefore they abstain from all manner of Food on Mondays He that first discovers the new Moon gives notice thereof to his Neighbors whereupon he that wears a Sword draws it out or else a Knife wherewith they threaten it They also keep Fridays for it is certain that those who in the time of Constantine embrac'd Christianity also kept that day in commemoration of the Passion of our Saviour At the Birth of their Children they advise with their Priest asking him what they must do to make them Happy who pretending to consult with their Books counsels them to abstain from Venison and all things of the like nature Ceremony at a Funeral They carry not the Corps of their Dead into the Church but onely into the Church-yards after which they perform Divine Service in the Church where in stead of the Corps they set up the Spade with which they made the Grave They adorn the Front of their Churches with the Heads of Stags and wild Bears which they account an Ornament very acceptable to God and believe that it is of great consequence to have a good Fishing Season if their Boats be made in a lucky time When they are out at Sea and the Wind fails them all that are in the Vessel blow to fetch it again and when the Wind is good they permit no body to Sew any thing Aboard or use any Needle or Thred alledging that the Wind with the turning backward and forward of the Needle would be at a stay They commonly impute all their Misfortunes which befall them from the Curses of their Enemies which to prevent some of the Nobility cause the Images of their Saints to becarry'd before them that so they may clear the Air. When they buy any thing they always give a Present to the Seller to bless the same neither do they ever give the thing which they sell into the Hands of the Buyer but fetor lay it before him being perswaded that if they should do the contrary all things would be lost out of their House without being able to prevent it When they wish for Rain to refresh their Corn they take an Image of one of their Saints and set it every day in Water till it Rains and the first which falls they conclude to proceed from hence Avogastes or Avogasie Names and Borders A Vogastes formerly the Territory of the Saono-Colchans of Ptolomy is by some call'd Vocasie and by others Avocasie but peculiarly Afgasie which is a part of Mengrelia and from which Government onely separates it as being under a peculiar Prince It borders an the North and East at Circassia with the Stream Faso between both Towns as likewise at Mengrelia by the River De Cupa The Towns thereof are Pezzonde which Niger calls Prezunde and takes it to be the Dioscurias of Ptolemy as Sevastopoli for the ancient Siganeum the other Towns are Sothia and Matriga The several sorts of People about Mengrelia and Mount Caucasus The Inhabitants of Mount Caucasus MOunt Caucasus is inhabited by a wild sort of People of several Languages The nearest to Mengrelia are the Lesgissian Tartars Sovanians Abcassians Alans Circassians Ziques and Carocholians They all boast themselves Christians though they have neither Faith nor Religion amongst them The most civiliz'd are the Sovanians who willingly desire to be instructed they possess a great part of the Mountains towards the side of Odisci and Imereti and serve the Prince of Imereti Vice-Roy to the King of Dadian They are of a large Stature and well Limb'd but ill Featur'd they are valiant Soldiers good Archers and have the Art of making Guns and Powder but yet they are so very slovenly that it would be loathsom to any nice Person to touch them They have plenty of Provisions yet come every Spring to Georgia where they enter into Service work in the Fields and after Harvest return carrying away with them Copper Plates Kettles Iron Linnen Cloth Carpets and Salt but with Silver they will not meddle and about the beginning of Winter carry Wood to Odisci which is much wanting there The Inhabitants of Mount Caucasus which dwell more Northerly by the Turks call'd Abasses or Abcassians are well proportion'd of a good Complexion and strong for all laborious Employments The Countrey which they inhabit is very healthful pleasant and full of fruitful Hills A fruitful Countrey and is water'd by two Rivers the one call'd Soutbesu and the other Subasu There is also a brave Harbor nam'd Eschissumeni They possess great Herds of Cattel They never eat Fish though they have great quantities thereof both in the Sea and Rivers and utterly abhor Lobsters and Crabs mocking their Neighbors the
Skin glittering Eyes sharp Teeth Claws with Talons and long Hair upon the Lips which is so poisonous that if either a Man or the Beast it self should swallow one of them it would certainly kill him and the Inhabitants have observ'd that it never goes to drink in any River but always with its Mouth before the Stream and never against it that so the Water infected by its poysonous Hair may not occasion its own death and for the same reason it never drinks out of Lakes Pools or any standing Waters and therefore all Persons are forbidden by the Great Mogol to keep any of the Bristles of a dead Tyger but on pain of death must send them all to his Court where by the King's Physician most poisonous Pills are made thereof which are given to those whom the King condemns to die at his pleasure The Tygre exceeds all Beasts in ravening for he is said to be the most voracious and fiercest Creature in Bengala and that he will follow a Ship from which he receives the least injury above thirty Leagues along the Shore and therefore the Inhabitants are greatly afraid of him and call him by several Names Pliny saith the Tyger is a Beast of wonderful swiftness which Bontius contradicts affirming that he is very flow and therefore lurks or rather watches for Man-kind who are not so swift as Stags wild Swine and other Beasts which may easily escape from him by flight wherefore he never catches any Beast except it be by surprize lying sculking in a Hedge or Thicket from whence he leaps suddenly upon them and if he chance to miss his prey then he returns growling back and runs into the Wood to see what he can find there he generally strikes his Tallons into the Necks of those Beasts he seizes and beats the strongest down with one stroke and having first suck'd out the Blood drags the remaining part into the Wood to satisfie his Hunger with the Flesh by Meals He keeps generally in the Woods water'd by Rivers that when other Beasts come to drink he may surprise and prey upon them There are likewise Jackalls in the Greek call'd Hyena Camelions and Lizzards besides vast numbers of Ravens which flying into the Houses if the Windows be open carry away the Meat from the Table The Rats of this Countrey are as big as sucking Pigs which do much mischief to the Houses by undermining the Foundations and eating through the Walls Another fort of Rats which are lesser and have red Hair smelling like Musk also molest this Countrey and therefore the Inhabitants set their Chests and Cupboards on four Pillars a good distance from the Wall placing Tubs with Water underneath for else they would immediately swarm with the said Insects Besides these there are other Pismires which being a Finger long do great mischief to Plants This Countrey stor'd with Plants This Countrey is stor'd with all manner of Plants and though there grows little Wheat yet it abounds with Rice and Barley as also Maiz or Indian Corn and abundance of Shell-fruit There are few or no Apples Pears Cherries Plums Peaches and fewer Grapes except in China But in stead of them there are many other Trees Plants and Fruits unknown in Europe The chiefest of the Trees is the Coco-tree which bears Coco-nuts and affords many other Commodities The other Plants Fruits and Drugs are Banana's or Pisang Anana's Jaca Mangas Kaions Jambes Jambolins Jangomas Carambolas Brindoins Durions Papaios Injâ—mes Areka Betel Cubebs Tamarind Myrobalanes Ambare Caranda's Mangostans Pepper Ginger Cloves Cinnamon Nutmegs Cardamom Galanga Cost Spikenard Aloes Camphir Calambak Sandal-wood Benzoin Amphion or Opium Indico Ambergreece Musk Civet Assafoetida China Roots Great Canes and many other Plants and Fruit. Chewing of Betel very common with its Description The chewing of Betel with Areca and Chalk is very common through India and therefore ought to be briefly described The Betel or Betre is by the Arabians as Avicenna testifies call'd Tembur or Tambul by the Turks Japrach Industani by those of Decan Zuratte and Canaria Pan. This Betel runs up by Poles like our Hops and also on the Bodies of Trees Some to their greater advantage permit them to grow up by the Pepper or Areca Trees They constantly water their Betel the Leaves whereof are like those of the Lemmon-trees but a little bigger longer and sharper at the end This Plant according to Garcias resembles that of the Pepper so exactly in Twigs Leaves and manner of growth that one who doth not very well know it cannot distinguish them The Betel also produces a Fruit like that of the White and Long Pepper or rather like a Rats Tail which the Malayans call Syriboa and is for its strange shape in greater esteem than the Betel Leaf it self The Description and Use of Areka The Fruit Areca or Arecka so called in general by the Indians and by the Portugues with a corrupted Name Arequero is in Zurratte and Decan call'd Suppary on the Island of Zeilan Paoz in Malacka by the Javans Pinang in Cotzyn Chacany by the Arabians Fausel and by Avicenna Filfel and Fufel on the Coast of Malabar by the Vulgar Pak but by the Nobles Areca Vartoman calls the Tree Areca and the Fruit Coffol The Tree it self on which this Fruit grows shoots up with a straight Body having so smooth a Bark that none can climb up without some help The Boughs shoot not downwards but upwards and also turn up at the ends and therefore at some distance seem Globular The Leaves thereof grow like the Teeth of a Comb one by another The Fruit grows on the undermost Boughs ten or twelve of them in a Cluster at a thick long Stalk and being cover'd with a rough yellow Shell is about the bigness of a Nutmeg or small Acorn and before it grows hard it is like a Date full of pale red Veins and flat at one end Yet nevertheless there are three several sorts of it the first is flat on one side and on the other broader and bigger the second being less blacker and harder is by the Indians call'd Checanum and grows for the most part in Cotzyn It draws the Rheum Its Vertues and makes the Mouth look of a reddish black colour like the Mulberry The third sort makes a man giddy and intoxicates the Brain though this quality is ascrib'd only to the unripe Fruit There is also a white sort which grows in great abundance in Zeilan Out of the great Fruit by the power of Fire and Glass Instruments the Inhabitants distil a Water which is a most excellent Medicine against a Flux The Fruit grows very plentifully in Malabar on the Island Zeilon and also in Zurratte Decan and Malacka but the best of all on the Island Mombain and in Basaim How they use it The Indians break this Fruit into four pieces if it be pretty big or else into two and roul them up in a Betel Leaf with a little Ashes
Their Midwives which they call Dayas use also the dry'd beaten Fruit by mixing Betel amongst the same to force away the Secundine Many Precious Stones found here Between the Island Zeilan and the Cape of Comori near the Island Manar the Natives Fish for Pearl The Kingdoms of Decan and Golconda afford the Inhabitants excellent Diamonds India also produces Topazes Berils Rubies which the Arabians call Yacut Hyacinths Granats Smaragds Chrysolites Amethysts Agats Bezoar-stones and Borax Some Places also yield Gold and Silver and all manner of other Metals The Seasons in India are much differing from ours and one Coast from another Little Rain in India In Suratte and through all India there falls little or no Rain excepting at the Season in the Countrey Language call'd Pausecal which lasting about three Months begins in June and by reason of these constant Rains some name these three Months Winter Notwithstanding at this time as well in India as in other Countreys lying in 23 Degrees from the Equinoctial Line they feel the greatest and powerfullest Heat On all the Coasts of India the Rainy Seasons begin not at one time 's for it begins first in the Southern Countrey from the Cape Comoryn and runs from thence to the Northern Parts wherefore it begins later in Cambaya and other Northerly Places than at Goa where it appears on the eleventh of May. Wherefore the farther the Places lie to the Northward the longer it is before the Rainy Season comes thither And for the same reason the Persians in their Table-books and Almanacks set the down the Rainy Seasons to begin in India on the fifteenth of their third Month which they call Cordad and according to our Account of Time falls out on the twenty third of May For these Almanacks are made suitable to the Latitude of the Northern Countreys as to Cambaya Surat and many other Places where the Portuguese drive the greatest Trade The beginning of their Winter and Summer From the Kingdom of Cambaya which is the first Westward to the Cape of Comoryn along the Coast of Malabar Winter begins about the latter end of April and continues till August and at the same time from this Cape to the Coast of Cormandel it is Summer and the contrary in the following Moneths when it is Summer every where else for from August to April so long as it is Winter in the Eastern parts of India or on the Coast of Cormandel the Inhabitants Westward on the Coast of Malabar enjoy plenty of Summer Weather whenas both these Places lie under one Climate and in one Latitude Benefit of the great Rains Many years since it hath been found by experience that this Rain having continu'd some days in India and ceasing and fair Weather following for many Weeks after it begins to Rain with greater violence than before and therefore without doubt this Rain is the onely work of Divine Providence because India without these great Rains would not be inhabitable in those times by reason of the exceeding Heat and Drought which is made temperate by the Rain which also moistens the Ground being before parch'd and burnt and not onely makes these Countreys habitable but also fruitful causing the Ground to produce all things in a plentiful manner whil'st the Air grows much sweeter and pleasanter and much healthier for all Persons There is also this difference in respect of the several remote Countreys viz. the Rain being sooner and much more in one place than the other as in Bagnola and along the Coast of Cormandel to the Island Ceilon it begins and ends a Moneth sooner than on the Coast of Malabar In Bagnola the rainy Season continues four Moneths and sometimes it Rains eight days and Nights without ceasing whenas in Doly and Agra it is nothing near so vehement nor of that continuance three or four days passing together without a drop of Rain and commonly from Sun-rise till nine or ten a clock it Rains very little or not at all But the most remarkable difference is that the Rain which falls in these several places comes out of divers parts of the World as towards the City of Dely it comes out of the East in which Bengala lies whenas there and on the Coast of Cormandel it comes out of the South and on the Coast of Malabar always out of the West According as the Summer Heats come earlier or later or are hotter or milder so the rainy Season comes also sooner or later falls in more or less abundance and continues longer or shorter It seldom Rains at Dely till after several days abundance of Clouds are driven Westward Lastly this rainy or tempestuous Season is commonly by a corrupt Arabick word call'd Mauzon Mausem Anciently five thousand great Cities in India Ancient Geographers relate that in former Ages five thousand great Cities flourish'd in India the best of which was Nysa in which as the Natives affirm Father Liber or Bacchus was born and to this day all the Towns and Cities in India are very large and populous which is no wonder considering the Indians an ancient People never went out of their native Countrey Bacchus was the first that marching with his Army into India subdu'd them after which the Persians vanquish'd and possess'd the Countrey lying between the Indus and Ganges till Alexander having vanquish'd Darius defeated Porus King of India after this it enjoy'd the happiness of a luxuriant Peace every one under his peculiar King till they were invaded by the Portuguese the first whereof was Vasques de Gama who setting Sail Anno 1497 from Spain discover'd the Sea-Coasts from India after which others of the same Nation and lastly the English and Hollanders about the latter end of the last Age have made farther Inspections into these Countreys Their general Name All the Inhabitants of India are by a general Name call'd Indig or Indians though they have several other Titles given them according to their several Qualities or the divers Countreys wherein they reside All the Indians along the Coast of Cormandel Division and other Countreys thereabouts are divided into four Tribes viz. those of the Brahmanes Settrea's Weinsja's or Benjans and Soutra's others add a fifth but themselves think it not worthy to be reckon'd amongst them Diodorus Siculus and Strabo anciently divided these People into seven Tribes who all follow'd several Employments or Studies and amongst these the first were the Philosophers which without doubt were the Brahmans or Brahmines concerning whom they say that as amongst Beasts The Brahmans highly esteem'd the Cows amongst Birds the Gorouda which is a red Sparrow with a white Circle about the Neck amongst Trees the Rawasistow is the most esteemed so likewise amongst Men the Brahmans are best belov'd of God and therefore are highly reverenc'd and honor'd by their own Natives The Vedam or Law-Book hath not a little added to the Honor of this Tribe for by that Law no Brahman can be put to death
let his Crime be never so hainous but if for some capital Offence he hath deserv'd to die they onely put out his Eyes for they account it one of the five deadly Sins that cannot be pardon'd to put a Brahman to death wherefore whoever kills a Brahman must according to the Order of the Vedam go in Pilgrimage twelve years and beg Alms with the deceased Brahmans Scull out of which he must eat and drink whatsoever is given him and after expiration of that time be bountiful in giving Alms and build a Temple in honor of Eswara The Settrea's The second Tribe in order is that of the Settrea's consisting in the Nobility of the Countrey who are call'd Raies or Ragias and are as we say Comites Regis the King's Companions or Cousins who therefore writes in his Letters Raja of Raja's In ancient times this Tribe had onely two Branches the one call'd Souriwansjam and the other Somowansjam Souri signifies in the Countrey Idiome Samscortam or the Sun and Somo the Moon Besides these two there are at this day many other though of less Dignity because they degraded their Pedigree by mixing with other inferior Tribes wherefore those of the two Branches will not contract any Marriuges or affinity with them The Noblemens duty The Office of these Noblemen is to defend the Countrey oppose their Enemies take care for the maintenance of the Brahmans see that the Laws be not violated and in short to inspect the Government of the whole Realm The Weinsja's The third Tribe is that of the Weinsja's and comprehends some which are call'd Comiteia's and others Setti Weapari They maintain themselves by Merchandizing and Broakage which Office they are bound to perform with great fidelity and be contented with a reasonable Gain Most of them live after the manner of the Brahmans and like them never eat any thing which hath life when as those of the second and fourth Tribe eat Fish and Flesh Beef onely excepted which in the Vedam or Law-Book is generally forbidden to all the Tribes Moreover this Sect is also call'd Vanjans or Banans The Soudra's The fourth Tribe is that of the Soudra's and consists of the vulgar or common sort of People but most especially of Tradesmen and Artificers This Tribe is also divided into many several Branches distinguish'd by peculiar Names Of these the Family of the Wellaca's are chief whereof some Govern the Countrey and others live upon their Estates The Ambria's Next to these follow in order the Ambria's being for the most part Husbandmen the rest either Serve the Nobility or live by their Labor The Palla That Family styl'd Palla is the meanest of all the Soudra's The Cowrea's The Cawrea's are a very great Branch being styl'd The three hundred Warehouses from a Barthwuherri who after his parting from 300 Marry'd Women or Wives became a Samjasy and gave them leave to Marry other Men with promise that it should not redound to the disgrace of them nor their Successors From these Marriages this Family sprang into which are receiv'd all such as have lost their Pedigree and therefore they compare it to the Sea which receives the Waters of all Rivers and yet never becomes full Some of this Family are Governors but the most are such as Paint on Cotton which is partly us'd for Clothing in their own and partly transported to foreign Countreys The Sitties are Chapmen or Pedlars and some of them wanting Estates to Trade perform the Offices of Porters The Paly are either Drovers who sell Cattel Husbandmen Painters or Soldiers and were anciently accounted a valiant People The Cottewaneni Sitties and Illewanies Trade in all manner of Fruit and Jagara or brown Sugar The Caiclle are a despicable People most of the Women being Strumpets which they account no disgrace The Catalja's are Smiths working both in Gold and Iron Masons Carpenters and Bricklayers The Carreans Patnouwa's Maccova's and Callia's are Fishermen the first and third Fish with great Nets the second with small ones and the last after a different manner The Conapule are Scriveners the Gurrea's and Bargurrea's Herdsmen and the Berga's though the last are accounted a noble Family The Kiddi are generally Husbandmen but some of them Soldiers the Camawaers are also Farmers the Inmadi and Montrea's are for the most part Military and the Berga Willala's are Drovers The Family of the Corewa's have no setled Habitations nor City to dwell in but range up and down the Countrey with their Wives and Children sleeping in small Huts which they build in those places where they come and at their removal pull them down and with the rest of their Goods carry them away on Asses which they keep for that purpose They maintain themselves by making of Soupen and Tatous which are little Fans wherewith they winnow their Rice and Potlids to cover it when it boyls they also fetch Salt from the Seaside on their Asses Custom-free because they are poor and their Asses carry but small Loads The Women who generally go with a Basket under their Arms boasting themselves to be Fortune-tellers get great Sums of Money from ignorant People The Perrea's who are the Men for the Women are call'd Perresies are a very despicable People amongst these Heathens not being accounted worthy to be styl'd a Family nor suffer'd to live near others but dwell all together in a corner of the City and in the Countrey have not their Habitations in Villages but in Houses built at a large distance neither are they permitted to fetch Water out of any Wells or Pits belonging to the Villages but forc'd to dig some near their own Houses nor may they go through any Street or Village wherein the Brahmans dwell nay are forbidden to enter the Pagode or Temple of their Gods Wistwow and Eswara they do all manner of Drudgery which none else will undertake and eat Horseflesh and the like Carrion so that 't is no wonder why the other Tribes not onely despise but account them unclean especially the chief Brahmans This Family is divided into two Parries the one call'd Perrea's and the other Siripera's which last are Tanners Potters and the like The Perrea's being the first are of better esteem than the Siripera's and therefore will never eat in any of their Houses but the Siripera's are permitted to eat in the Perrea's where they shew them reverence by lifting up their Hands and rising from their Seats These upon the decease of one of the Comittys Ritties Palies and others are oblig'd for a small Reward to shave off their Beards and follow the Corps when it is carry'd out of the City or Village to be burnt Every one of these Tribes must perform the Office which he hath once undertaken as long as he lives without changing his Condition and neither expect to be promoted or fear to be degraded The Family of the Pulia's also is accounted unclean and are much despis'd for the other Tribes
Bason about with them proffering their Service Many also as soon as their Service is done in the Temple go immediately after to the publick Stews maintaining nevertheless that they are faithful Servants to God and their Prophet Some to be reputed zealous Pray on the Roofs of their Houses No Women are permitted to go to their Temples but are kept lock'd up in their Houses so that they neither know nor hear any thing of Religion more than what their Husbands acquaint them with They Circumcise their Children not before the eighth year wherein they differ also from the Persians who do it in the seventh eighth and ninth years They Pray five times every day like the Turks viz. first two hours before the Sun rises secondly about noon thirdly at four of the clock in the afternoon fourthly about six and fifthly at nine at all which times they are summon'd thereto by a kind of Sexton who cries aloud from the Steeple of their Temples But for what reason they Pray thus often they give this ridiculous Tale viz. In the Creation God created Mahomet's Light in the shape of a Peacock which Light God afterwards put into a great white Pearl hanging it on a Tree whereby the Creator was magnifi'd above a thousand years after which God made a Glass of life and set before Mahomet's Peacock who when he saw his curious shape worshipp'd God five times from whence it comes to pass that the Mahumetans Pray five times aday but the Persians Pray onely three times Amongst these Hassanists are also a sort of Monks who by the Arabians are call'd Derwis and by the Persians Abdalles they agree with those by the Heathen Indians call'd Jogues or Jogiis The Order of the Derwises amongst the Hassanists These Derwises range up and down through Towns and Countreys having no setled Residence in any place but sleep wheresoever they go in the Metzids their Bed being onely a Sheep-skin which in stead of an upper Garment they wear on their Backs They are of several Orders each bearing the Name of their chief Saint after the same manner as amongst the Persians No Person of whom they Beg may turn them away without giving them something They are for the most part ingenious and well learn'd in their Books They stand oftentimes in the Market-places where calling the People about them they extol their own Religion and despise that of the Christians and Heathens Some of them scruple not to affirm that by Hassan's means so much interest they are perswaded he hath with God the Devil may obtain mercy but not the Christians because they believe not in Hassein Any Man may enter into this Order as those that cannot live by their Trades commonly do and under that Name commit all manner of Villanies yet some of them voluntarily undergo very great hardships either living like Hermits on the tops of Mountains overgrown with Trees and Brambles and remote from all People where they spend their Lives without ever stirring from the place where they once seat themselves except it be to be to disburden Nature continually saying these or the like words I affect You and not the World I do all this for Your sake therefore look upon me O Almighty God Those People that betake themselves to this kind of Living never shave themselves nor pair their Nails but let them grow like Claws they will rather endure hunger than go out of their Huts wherefore those that know their Abodes out of compassion will send them Food and Raiment which must be of the meanest or else they will not eat it and no more than they can eat at once Some take up a resolution to Fast a certain number of days and will eat no kind of Meat during that time till they have in a manner quite starv'd themselves Others go stark naked except a Cloth before their Privities and beg for their Food These People by some strange means or other prognosticate wonderful things which makes the Vulgar flock about them and hearken with great earnestness to what they say There are some some amongst them call'd Mandees who as a pennance for their sins cut and slash their Bodies and others wear such Chains about their Legs that they are scarce able to stir going bare-foot on the hot Ground with blue Cloaks about them in Pilgrimage to the Burying-places of their Saints There are also a sort of Jogues amongst the Moors who according to Texeira are call'd Calendares that travel to colder and more populous Countreys especially through Persia and Turkestan and therefore taking greater care of themselves than the other Jogues cover their Bodies with Sheep-skins and also make Stockings and Shoes of them They also act the parts of Juglers carrying a green Purse with Flowers or the like in their Hands which proffering to those they meet with they read some Arabian or Persian Verses to them by that means to get some Alms. The Diet of the Hassanists The Hassanists eat onely once a day viz. about three a clock in the afternoon not sitting on Stools at high Tables like us but the Floor cover'd with a Carpet serves them not onely for Stools but a Table also sitting on the same with their Legs under them being thus seated especially at Feasts a Servant comes with a Bason and Ewer and going from one to another pours out the Water for them to wash their Hands after which the Meat is brought in Copper Dishes Tinn'd in the inside and about three yards in circumference they are commonly fill'd with Rice boyl'd with Butter Flesh Onions Garlick Pepper Almonds Raisins and the like They often colour their Rice green yellow brown blue and red according to the Persian way After the Meat is set before them they fall to eating thereof saying no other Prayer but this In the Name of God gracious and merciful which words stand before every Chapter in the Alcoran They have no Bread there growing onely a little Wheat and no Rye in all the Countrey and therefore eat scalded Rice in stead of Bread Their Trenchers are Cakes bak'd thin which many after they have Din'd also eat or put them up in their Handkerchiefs Their common Drink is Water which they drink not till after their Meals when it is brought to every one by a Servant in a Copper Cup they never drink standing but always sitting accounting it very unwholsom to do the contrary After Meals they have again warm Water brought them to wash their Hands which done some rise up and go away without speaking a word or returning thanks to the Master of the Feast others especially if they are Friends or intimate Acquaintance stay and smoak a Pipe of Tobacco and drink a Dish of Coffee Though the Hassanists are temperate at Meals yet most of them are inclin'd to Drinking in private and commonly in the Night that they may not be discover'd for to be Drunk is accounted an abomination amongst them The best Liquor which
for if a Father Commanded over a thousand Horse he will make the Son Commander over fifteen hundred and afterwards increase or decrease his number according to his Deserts The King's Treasure is not a little increas'd by the many Presents which are made to him for none whether Stranger or Subject may appear before him without a Present especially on Neuruz or New-years-day for then rich Presents are sent him from all parts of his Dominions They make their Presents with great Ceremony and Cost some giving ten nay a hundred and twenty thousand pound Sterling worth in Jewels Moreover he receives Custom from the Commodities of his Countrey and causes all Travellers to pay Toll at every Town through which they pass Weight Measure and Coin THe Weight in Zurratte being all of one sort is call'd Mao that is A Hand with which they weigh Butter Flesh Sugar Indigo Wood Salt and the like each Mao containing forty Ceer that is thirty pound and a half English and a Ceer eighteen Peyses a sort of Copper Money like our Farthings each Peyse weighing three quarters of a pound Troy weight In Measuring they use two sorts of Ells nineteen of the biggest making about seventeen Yards and a half The least differ onely an Inch from the Dutch Ell or three quarters of a Yard The Mogol Coins several sorts of Money in divers places of his Dominions viz. Mamoedys and Ropias both of Silver The Mamoedys which are Coin'd in Zurratte of course Silver are worth about an English Shilling and go currant onely in the Towns of Brochia Cambaya Brodera and Zurratte The Ropias otherwise Ruky Rupias and Copias Chagamy make each 2 s. 2 d. they are good Silver and pass through all Zuratte There are also Tols Savoys and Jagaries the Tols make each a silver Ropia and ten Tols a golden Ropia a Savoy is one Tol and a half and five Jagaries six Tols On the Coast of Cormandel is a Coin call'd Pagode from an Idol which is stamp'd on the same and goes for 7 s. 8 d. There is likewise a Coin call'd Fanos of ordinary Gold which are pieces like the Scales of Fish and go for Five-pence-halfpeny Their small Money being of Copper is call'd Peysa and resemble our Farthing but are heavier according to the common Accompt ten Peny Weights five or six and twenty of them make a Mamoedye and three or four and fifty a Ropia Moreover Almonds in the Shells pass for Money thirty six of them making a Copper Peysa as also a sort of Cockles with a black Speck in the Countrey Language call'd Cauries which are found on the Shore along the Sea-coast eight whereof make a Peysa There are also Laryns a Persian Coin of good fine Silver of an oval fashion each worth 1 s. 6 d. Moores or Xeraphins Eckbars so call'd from King Eckbar who first Coin'd them is a golden Coin worth thirteen Ropias and a half but are not very common the Nobility usually hoarding them up There is also another sort of Coin call'd Jeckas or Jeckai The Money of this Countrey doth not always bear one Price but rises and folls very often according to the Exchange in which many Benjans drive a vast Trade to their great advantage for they buy all the Gold and Silver upon the coming of the English Dutch and other European Ships and the Moors Vessels from Aden and Persia when commonly they are at the lowest and afterwards raise the Money when any quantity is to be sent up to the places lying up in the Countrey All the Gold and Silver both Coin'd and uncoin'd which is brought thither out of other Countreys is melted and Coin'd into Money stamp'd with Persian Characters expressing the Name and Dignity of the Kings But there is great deceit in this Coin wherefore in many places and corners of the Streets sit Benjan Exchangers of Money call'd Parastes who for a small Reward looking upon the Money try the same with such nimbleness and exactness that they distinguish all the good from the bad so that few receive any Money without shewing it to these Parastes who are oblig'd after it hath been shewn to them if there be any clipt or nought amongst it to make it good but this seldom happens because they are very exact in the telling and looking of it over They reckon great Sums by Crous otherwise Carroras or Caroor and by Lecks though there be no Coin of so great a value a Carrora being a hundred thousand Tun of Gold or as others affirm a hundred Lecks a Leck being a hundred thousand Ropias They reckon also with uncoin'd Gold or other precious things by a certain Weight call'd Barman or Maun which is fifty five pound English Their manner of Travelling They travel on Horseback Mules and Camels both Men and Women as also in Coaches or Chariots The Grandees use Elephants and Palakins which are carry'd on the Shoulders of several Men especially Noblemen and Persons of Quality who account it a great Disgrace to go on Foot In Zurratte and several other Places in India and most part of the Mogol's Countrey they travel in a pretty sort of Chariots with two Wheels the bottoms whereof are square and rais'd very high from the Ground above the Wheels there are no Seats in the same but they sit on the Floor after the Eastern manner with their Legs across under them both before and behind are Cushions to lean against These Chariots are very like those us'd by the ancient Indians and mention'd by Strabo they are for the most part us'd in the Plain-Countrey to travel withal from one Town to another and also to ride abroad in for Recreation they being very light and easie When they come to a bad Way or Hills they take out their Oxen and the Wheels from the Chariot which also if occasion require may be taken in two pieces and with ease carry'd by two Men on the top of a Mountain or Hill and put together again when they are past the troublesom Way After our manner of sitting two would scarce be able to sit in one of these Chariots but after the Indian manner four with ease They are drawn by Oxen in stead of Horses two to each Chariot generally fastned to the Axletree which is made like a Yoke These Oxen are of a curious shape and colour the best are generally white and some speckled black they are very slender and have on their Shoulders towards their Necks a Bunch like the Camels they trot and gallop as fast as Horses and are able to travel thirty five or thirty six Miles in a day they are guided by a Cord run through Holes made in their Noses and are as easie to be commanded therewith as Horses In like manner the Chariots are neatly adorn'd with the like crimson Cloth or else with Velvet When any Women ride in these Chariots they shut them close round about to keep them from being seen Persons of Quality who are allow'd
King of Bisnagar and the Northern by the King of Sceherberder Those that afterwards came to be the Chief Princes thereof were formerly but mean Officers who took the Dominion of their Supreme Lords upon them and dividing the Countrey amongst themselves Govern'd as Absolute Princes over their several Territories not owning any Person to be above them Amongst all these Princes the Chiefest were the Kings of Decan Golconda and Telengone who lay nearest to the Mogol's Countrey possess'd large Territories and were able to bring great Armies into the Field Adil Schiach a King of Golconda having an Army of a hundred thousand Men. The King of Persia was generally in a League with all the three and they often corresponded by Ambassadors and Presents and were always in Amity one with another which Leagues they maintain'd onely to be the better able to resist the Mogol whose Power they dreaded exceedingly The signification of Chan. These three Princes were formerly call'd Nizam Chan Adil Chan and Cutb Chan for Chan among the Turks hath the same signification with Meleck or Malack which signifies King in the Arabick after the same manner as Schach among the Persians And in regard these three Languages are very common amongst the Moors therefore they use these Words without distinction But it seems that the then reigning Princes have since laid aside the Names of Meleck and Chan and taken upon them that of Schach that is King which they like best as being newer and better agreeing with their Authority wherefore they have lately been call'd Nizam Schach Cutb Schach and Adil Schach But at last all these peculiar Princes and Kings besides many other Governors in India were one after another reduc'd under the Mogol's Jurisdiction The Extract and Descent of the Mogol Kings The Great Mogol from whom descended THe present Great Mogol and his Predecessors boast their Descent from Tamerlane or rather from one of his Nephews or Grand-children But after what manner this hapned deserves to be declar'd here at large When the Mogols whose greatest or most powerful part were by a peculiar Name call'd Giagatynse or Zagatayse Tataas or Tartars dwelling South-east beyond the Mountain Imaus had brought all the other Tartars or Scythians for so they were anciently call'd especially the Eastem by the Conduct of the General Amochtan Chan under subjection he having setled his Dominion took upon him the Title of Chingiz or Tzingiz and was the first that had the Sirname of Great Chan which was about the Year of our Lord 1214. This Tzingiz Chan drawing out his Army consisting of four hundred thousand Horse after a peculiar manner viz. into Parties of eleven thousand one hundred and ten in each Company the one part he order'd to march towards the East and the other towards the West where falling upon China Machina and Catay he conquer'd the powerful King of the Chorasmians Gelalodan Another Expedition After this Anno 1224. he made another Expedition to Catay though with the loss of many of his Men three Years after which he dying was succeeded by his third Son Ocotay Chan or Octay Cahon who by Abraham Zacuth is call'd The King of the Catayans He being setled in his Dominions by Laws Arms and Conquest also died and was succeeded by his Son Gayung Chan who likewise Reigning but a short time was with the consent of the Princes and Supreme Governors succeeded by Mango Chan who being Nephew to Tzingiz Chan was chosen Emperor Anno 1255 he sent his Brother Hulako Chan with an Army beyond the River Oxus to Assyria to compleat the Conquest whereof he took Bagdad or Babylon and destroy'd all the Inhabitants thereof in the space of seven days and here fell Mustasem the thirty fifth Calif or Emperor of the Abbasidas After the death of Mango Chan his youngest Brother Coblai Chan was Crown'd in his stead After the expiration of four years Prince Hulako Chan eldest Brother to Mango Chan also dying left his Son Abgai Chan to Govern the Western parts of his Dominions being Media and Assyria Next Coblai Chan Temur Chan Nephew to Coblai and youngest Son to Mango Chan succeeded in the Throne All these six Chans or Princes Govern'd over Cathay and China besides a great many other Countreys The eleventh was Buzengir Chan or Bugancan the original or first Parent of the Mogol Kings and Father to the famous Temur Chan by some call'd Teimurlang and Tamerlane that is Teimur the Decrepit or Maimed This Tamerlane the thirteenth in order from Chingiz Chan who dy'd on the Mogol's Borders at a Place call'd Anzar Anno 1403 had four Sons viz. John Guyr who being the eldest dy'd a year before his Father and left two Sons the one call'd Mahumed Sultan and the other Pyr Mahumed the last of whom succeeded Tamerlane in the Kingdoms of Oaznehem and India and being afterwards slain by Pyr Aly left a Son call'd Abusaid The second Son of Tamerlane nam'd Hamar Xeque being Governor of Persia was in his Father's time kill'd in a Wood belonging to Chormatu now call'd Cormawata in Orestan The third nam'd Mirunxa succeeded his Father in Governing of the Countreys of Hierack Aderbajon and the Lands extending to Damas he was slain by Cara Issuf Anno 1401. or as others say Anno 1407. This Mirunxa had two Sons viz. Homar Lord of Bagdad was taken by his Brother but at last getting his Liberty he conquer'd him and became King of Tabris or Tebris Not long after which he was defeated by Cara Issuf in the Year 1407. and forc'd to flie first to Corman and afterwards to Siston from whence coming the next year with a great Army he was kill'd The fourth Son to Tamerlane being Myrza Xarack always accompanying his Father succeeded him in the Throne Abusaid succeeding his Father Pyr Mahumed Son to John Guyr conquer'd Myrza Adulla King of Maurenahar of whose Kingdom he became Master in the Year 1452. After the death of Abusaid his Son Myrza Sultan Hamed became King of Maurenahar and having Reign'd twenty eight years dy'd Anno 1495. Myrzah Babor Nephew to Hamed inheriting the Kingdom of Maurenahar was driven thence by Xaybeck Chan King of Usbeck in the Year 1500. and forc'd to flie to Garnehem and from thence into India where he setled himself and after a Reign of thirty eight years dy'd An. 1532. leaving two Sons Hamayon Myrza and Camoran who were both created Kings after his Death This Myrza Babor is by some as Peruschi call'd Baburxa who drove the Patanes from Indostan of which they had made themselves Masters and forc'd them to flie to the Isles before the Bay of Bengala After Babor's Death Hamayon Myrza obtaining the best and richest Kingdom of India kept a Vice-Roy call'd Xyrcan who mutinying maintain'd War against him and forc'd him to desert his Kingdom and flie to Persia where King Schach Tamas Son to Ismael Reigning at that time lent him twelve thousand choice Soldiers under the Command of Byrancam who
Wound in his Head by a Stone which strook him down but recovering himself again and the Eunuch having bound up the Wound with his Turbant they afterwards escap'd by the shelter of the Woods RAUCHâ—â—â—ARA BEGUM Mean while the Servants of Sultan Banque with some of the foremention'd Mahumetans laid another Plot not unlike the former but the day being come one of the Conspirators being half drunk began the Work too soon and so spoil'd the whole Design But this incens'd the King so exceedingly against the unfortunate Family of Chasausa that he commanded the same to be quite rooted out sparing not so much as the Daughter he had married though she was suppos'd to be with Child Sultan Banque and his Brothers had their Heads cut off with blunt Axes and the Women being lock'd up in several Rooms died miserably with Hunger And thus ended the War which ambition of Rule had kindled amongst these four Brothers after the expiration of five or six Years viz. from Anno 1655 till Anno 1660 or 1661 and left Oranchzef in the peaceable Possession of this mighty Empire And now Ambassadors were sent to Oranchzef from several Neighboring Princes and States Oranchzef sick to congratulate his happy Victories but having scarce Reign'd two Years he fell sick of a violent Fever insomuch that it was reported he was dead and several were contriving to release his Father Schach Jehan which to prevent and to undeceive the People he caus'd himself in the height of his Distemper four several days to be carried into the Assembly of the Omrahs where calling for Pen Ink and Paper he wrote to Etbarcan and sent for the Great Seal which was kept by Raichenara Begum and commonly enclos'd in a small Bag seal'd with a Seal he always wore about his Arm fearing she had already made use of it for her Designs But soon after recovering he settled all things in good Order preferr'd those that had assisted and been faithful to him in the Wars especially Emir Jemla whom after he had vanquish'd Chasausa and drove him to the Sea side as was before mention'd he made Mir Ul Omrah which in this Realm is the highest Degree of Honor any of the Kings Favorites can arrive at and also Governor of Bengala and his Son Mahomet Emircan was made Great Bakchis that is General of the Horse and the second or third Place in the Kingdom And not long after he sent Emir Jemla with a mighty Army to the Raja of Achan whom he forc'd to flie towards the Mountains to the Kingdom of Lassa Emir Jemla's death But Emir Jemla was no sooner return'd from this Expedition but the Bloody Flux hapning amongst his Army he also died thereof Many other Remarkable Passages hapned in this Empire from Anno 1661 to 1667 of which we will only mention these sew viz. In the Year 1664 on the fifth of February the Mogol's Vice-Roy of Surat call'd Enachat Chan was inform'd by one of his Officers which liv'd two Leagues from the City That a great Army was advancing towards the Town the General whereof call'd himself A Servant to the Mogol and pretended to March with ten thousand Men to the City Amadabad but it afterwards appeared that this was only a Pretence he being in truth a great Robber nam'd Sawasi Which not a little amazing the Governor he caus'd immediately the Bridges which lay cross the Moat that inclos'd the City to be pull'd down notwithstanding it was dry in most places neither was there one Gun planted for a Defence which made him send to the English and Hollanders there residing for aid in this extremity which seem'd not a little strange to them for they having not above forty Men apiece in their Factories were forc'd to take each seventy or eighty Men more into their Service The next Morning Sawasi was advanc'd within a League and a half of Surat where resting near the Village Utena the Governor sent Messengers to request him That he would not come any nearer the City because many of the Inhabitants fled already for fear and that the Great Mogol would resent it very ill if he should offer the contrary But Sawasi not regarding this kept the Messengers in custody and still drew nearer the City in which about midnight there hapned a sudden Fire which burnt so furiously that it consum'd a considerable number of Houses Surat taken by a Robber Sawasi's People taking this opportunity march'd into the Town without any resistance though they might easily have been oppos'd The Governor having ten thousand Horse of the Mogol's went with them and his Chief Officers to the Castle whence he fired several Guns but did more mischief to the Houses than the Enemy who minded nothing but Plunder breaking open Windows and Chests which lasted several days till Sawasi having gotten a vast Treasure left the Place saying Long have I wish'd to get into Oranchzef 's Beard which I have now obtain'd For this rich and brave City Surat is for its Beauty and Stateliness by the Moors call'd The King's or Mogol's Beard The Robber taken and committed to Prison but escapes The Mogol seeing what a mighty Enemy Robber and Destroyer of his Countrey Sawasi was and that he could not hope to overcome him by force he having already an Army of a hundred thousand Men he thought to work that by Policy which his Power could not effect and therefore to get him into his custody he made him large offers of Honors and Preferment promising him the third Place in his Realm which Design taking effect according to his desires he was no sooner come to Court but he was there apprehended and committed to Prison But about three Months after he cunningly made his escape and although Oranchzef sent Agents after him to excuse his being kept a Prisoner and promising upon his Royal Word that he would prefer him to a high Degree of Honor yet he having been once caught in the Snare would not be taken again but reply'd That he thank'd him for his Proffers but he had rather be his own Master than another Man's Servant and that at one time or other he would pay Oranchzef for his kind Entertainment and so went again with his Army to Wingerla a Place which he had taken from the Mogol Mean while Oranchzef keeping his Father Schach Jehan close Prisoner in the Castle at Agra let him want nothing of Recreation or any thing else that he could possibly expect in such a place yet the good old Prince being worn out by age The Death of Schach Jehan dy'd Anno 1665. to the great grief as it is said of Oranchzef who shew'd all demonstrations of sorrow which a Son could express for the loss of his Father At the same time he went to Agra where Begum Saheb his Sister Begum Saheb receiv'd into Favor and formerly the chief Favorite of Darasja caus'd a Mosque wherein he was to stay some time before he went to
the Castle to be hung with rich Tapistry and at the entrance into the Seraglio she proffer'd him a great golden Bason fill'd with her and her Father Schach Jehan's Jewels and receiv'd him so splendidly and courteously that she obtain'd pardon for all her former Offences and participated of his Favors The Mogol's Ambassador abus'd Anno 1666. the Great Mogol sent an Ambassador to Schach Abbas King of Persia for the negotiating an Affair not very pleasing to the the said King who quarrell'd also at his styling himself in his Letters King of all the World which the King of Persia resented so ill that he caus'd the Mogol's Ambassador's Beard to be pull'd off and the Presents which he had sent him to be burnt all which made the Ambassador resolve to go away without taking leave But the Persian Chancellor acquainting the King that this was a Business of great consequence he dismiss'd the Agent with rich Presents and amongst others forty brave Persian Horses and many Pieces of Gold and Silver Stuffs sending also with him a Herauld at Arms to proclaim War against the Great Mogol who when his Agent told him the Disgrace he had sustain'd he was so exceedingly offended at him that he caus'd him by an Allegoer or common Executioner to be driven out of the City and the Horses which the King of Persia had sent him to be kill'd publickly as also the Gold and Silver Stuffs to be burnt and speaking to the Herauld which came from the King of Persia said thus unto him Go tell thy Master that I will treat him thus in his own Realm Whereupon raising a mighty Army he march'd to the Borders of Persia the King whereof came also to meet him with a puissant Army but coming within two days Journey of the Mogol The King of Persia dies he dy'd and immediately his Son Schach Soliman aged about twenty five years and present with the Army being proclaim'd King sent an Agent to acquaint the Mogol with his Father's Death requesting him that he would not impute that to him which had hapned between him and his Father he being no way guilty thereof and desiring nothing more than to live in Peace with his Neighbors The Great Mogol granting his Request made Peace with him and so each march'd back to their own Jurisdictions Thus having given you an Account of the Mogols Countrey and India in general we will now give you a particular Account of all the Kingdoms and Territories which it comprehends and begin from the West side towards the North with Candahar which though it be said to be under the King of Persia's Jurisdiction yet it may conveniently be describ'd here partly for its Neighborhood to the Mogol's Countrey and partly because it anciently belong'd to the same Paropamisa or Candahar Sablestan and Balassy THe Countrey of Candahar was anciently by the Greeks according to Cluverius and Golnitius call'd Arachosia by Minadoi Paropamisa though as Niger writes some call Paropamisa Dacha Castaldus Ananias Della Valle hold Sablestan or Sabelestan for the ancient Paropamisa but Della Valle will have Candahar to be Paropamisa or at lest a part thereof so that the ancient Paropamisa seems to contain two several Provinces as Candahar and Sablestan Ananias places in Paropamisa the Kingdom of Balassan by Pol call'd Balassan Bounds of Paropamisa and the Inhabitants The Territory of Paropamisa hath as Ptolomy saith in the West Aria in the East a part of India and in the South Arachosia The ancient Inhabitants of Paropamisa were the Bolites Aristophilians Ambants Parietes and Parsiers who were all call'd by one general Name Parapomisades or Paropamisades from the Mountain Paropamisus which Castaldus calls Calichistas and is a part of Mount Taurus and as Pliny saith rises to an exceeding heigth Arrianus and Diodorus Siculus tell us that Alexander the Great 's Soldiers call'd the said Mountain Caucasus though improperly for the real Caucasus lies between the Euxine and Hircanian Sea The utmost parts of these Mountains are according to Strabo by the Barbarians call'd Eodae and Himaon The Head of the River Indus Out of this Paropamisus the River Indus hath its Spring being by Pinetus and Gerard Mercator call'd Pamer This is also said to be the highest part of the Earth Coropius Becanus tells us contrary to the opinion of the Fathers that Noah's Ark rested on this Mountain This Territory of Candahar The Extent so call'd from its Metropolis lies according to Mr. Edward Terry Northwest from the Mogol's Jurisdiction and borders Westward upon the Kingdom of Persia at the Stream Abi Saba or Abi Bust Don John of Persia reckons the length of it to be sixty Leagues and some affirm the circumference thereof to be thirty days Journey The chief Towns Ptolomy places in the ancient Paropamisa the Towns of Nacka Belcas Eadras Canda Aclama and Bagsius the Metropolis of the County of Basoia from whence they enter into Balassan But the Metropolitan City of Paropamisa or Candahar is call'd Candahar or Candor or according to Jarrick Candacar from the Province it self Castaldus affirms that the ancient City Carure of Ptolomy or Ortospane of Strabo is the modern City Candahar which though it be but small yet it is very strongly situated and surrounded with two Mud Walls and a Moat ten Foot broad between both It stands on the Borders of Aria now call'd Arat and on those of India near the High-way by which the Merchants travel when they come from Persia and Chorazan to Sinde as on the other side those that come from Lahor to Agra and the Countreys of India travel along the same to Chorazan Media and Persia the Caravans being forc'd to make use of this Way either in their going to Persia or coming from thence to go for India SEGUM SAHEB The King of Persia esteem'd this Place to be of great consequence because he intended in the beginning of this Age to make it the Metropolitan City for the Trade which was formerly driven in the Red-Sea and to Ormus to which purpose he kept a strong Garrison in the City of Candahar under the Command of a loyal Person A Place of great Trade In peaceable Times the Persians Jews Armenians and Benjans drive a great Trade in this City especially with Indian Commodities Moreover there come Merchants thither from China and all Parts of India Temperature of the Air. The Province of Candahar is naturally warm and hath no hard Winters and though it Freezeth there a little in the Nights in January it Thaws again at the rising of the Sun the Inhabitants also keeping their Cattel abroad both Winter and Summer which is the reason they make no Hay But nevertheless it is so cold in Winter in the Mountains Bellor that Strangers cannot travel though them without great Fires It is a very fertile Countrey producing abundance of Barley Wheat Rice French-Beans Pease Negur and Cotton besides all sorts of Indian and Persian
noted Towns are Sim the Chief of a County Sapurgan and Baglian Most of the Inhabitants are Benjans Their Houses are low and small They possess two strong Castles in one of which King Babar was born By reason of the abundance of Robbers spread through all the Countrey they us'd to spend three Moneths in the Journey from Cabul to Lahor whereas now they finish it in twenty days for a certain King of Cabul to prevent all Robberies caus'd very strong Houses to be built along the High-way in stead of Inns at a certain distance one from another and put Soldiers to inhabit the same by which means many of those Places are grown very populous and become Towns This Countrey produces a certain Fruit by the Druggists generally call'd Mirabalones It hath this many years been under the Mogol's Jurisdiction and generally maintains twelve or fifteen thousand Men in Arms for a Defence against the Persians Augans Balouchs and other Inhabiters of the Mountains Between Candahar and Cabul dwell a People in the Mountains call'd Afgans or Augans which range up and down the Countrey without having any certain Habitations but live onely by Robbing like the Arabians and demand Toll from such as travel through their Countrey The Territory of Multan THe Territory of Multan The Borders by Texeira Multon borders on the North at Candahar and Cabul on the West at Persia on the South at Haiacan or the Countrey of the Balouchs and in the South on Penjab Daviti Texeira and others place it far into the Countrey from Indus or Indostan and as it were in the heart of this great Countrey making it to border at the Kingdom of Mandou and the Countrey of the Hindouns but certainly they understand by Multan the Kingdom of Lahor otherwise Penjab which lies farther into the Countrey The Metropolis thereof according to Terry and Ananias bears the Name of Multan though Texeira makes Lahor the chief City of the Kingdom and affirms that the Multans dwell in the Countrey of Lahor Excellent Bowes and Arrows This Countrey is famous for the many excellent Bowes and Arrows which are made in it and are better and much neater than any other in all India The Bowes are made of Horn curiously joyn'd the Arrows are of small Canes both richly colour'd and varnish'd The Countreys of the Bullochs or Bobochs or Kingdom of Ballochy otherwise Haican or Hangi-Chan THe Countrey of the Bullochs is properly call'd Haiacan The Borders or Hiacan and by others Hangican It borders Northerly at the Province of Multan Eastward at the Province of Penjab and the River Indus South-East at Buckor Southward at the Territory of Taffa and Westward at the Mountains which separate Persia from India Some make this Countrey border on one side of the Pattans or Bottans Terry saith that this Countrey hath no nominated City but Davity calls the Metropolis Buckara which lies on the midst of an Island in the River Indus Others make Seckara the first City towards the side of the Kingdom of Multan But Buckara and Seckara seem to be one and the same City and is by Terry made the Metropolis of the Province of Suckor Next you come to the City Gorra after having travell'd three days through great Woods and five days farther to that of Norry the least Town in this Countrey towards the side of the Pattans This is perhaps that City which Ananias from the information of the Persian Anvadet calls Negariot The nature of the People The Bullochs who are Neighbors to the Pattans are a very resolute strong valiant and mighty People like Agents though mild in their Conversation yet stubborn Man-eaters Robbers and Pyrates yet some affirm that they are a very faithful People and will rather lose their Lives than suffer any as they travel in the Caravans to have their Goods taken away by Robbers They maintain themselves by carrying of Goods from Place to Place on Camels and other Beasts of Burthen of which they keep many They also till their Lands and worship the Sun The Province of Buckar or Buckor THe Province of Buckor or Buckar The Borders is divided by the River Indus to its great benefit It borders on the North on the Territory of Haiacan and Astack in the East at Jesselmeer in the South at Tatta and in the West at Haiacan before mention'd Terry calls the chief City of this Province Buckor-Suckor lying in an Island on the River Indus Others call this City Buckara or Buckero and Suckera and make it to be the Metropolis of the Countrey of the Bullochs and some as we said before make it to be the Metropolis of Multan The Trade of Suckera At Suckera a great Trade is driven with Indian Clothes and other Commodities The Inhabitants are Mahumetans The Chan or Governor which the Mogol keeps at Buckor-Suckor generally keeps a great number of Soldiers in the Castle to curb the Bullochs who are exceedingly addicted to Mutinying The Kingdom of Send or Sind otherwise call'd Diu and Tatta The Name and Borders THe Kingdom of Send or Sind so call'd by the English Portuguese and Spanish from its chief River Send or Sind anciently Indus near which it lies and by Terry from its Metropolis Tatta or the Countrey of the Abinds and by the Arabians The Kingdom of Diu Maffaeus seems to call it Dulcinde and makes it border in the South upon the Kingdom of Cambaya But Terry makes it border in the North with Buckar in the East upon Jesselmeer and Soret in the South touches the Indian Sea in the West faces the Mountains lying on the Borders of Persia and the Mogol's Countrey It is divided by the River Indus otherwise Sind which in its course through this Countrey makes many pleasant and delightful Isles and at last falls into the Sea near the City Sinde famous for many Handicrafts Tatta a Place of good Trade The Metropolis Tatta is very eminent for the Trade there driven formerly by the Portuguese Some English Travellers call'd it Gutu Netgar Tutta though commonly by the Natives Tutta onely without addition of the other Names The other Towns lying on this River are Cossompacco and Callitallowny and the Fortress of Seyvon beyond Tatta This Fort prevents the passage of such as come down the River The chief Harbor The chiefest Harbor is Lowribandel or according to Texeira Singlybandel three days Journey from the prime City Tatta This Haven of Lowribandel hath one Property beyond the rest viz. the Ships that come to an Anchor in the same are not eaten by the Worms as in the Havens of Sovally Chaul Dabul Daman Goa and other Places This Countrey is rich and fruitful and frequented by the Indians Portuguese and other People for Trade Here are divers sorts of fine Cotton-Linnen made The Commodities which the Inhabitants call Jarrin Turbants Oyl of Coco-nuts and abundance of Butter It also affords plenty of Sugar-Canes Pitch Rosin Leather-works wrought with
But the Inhabitants call it Gazoraste or Zurratte and the Persians The Countrey of the Gaores or Cow-Worshippers because they adore those Beasts Some suppose Zurratte though improperly to be the ancient Gedrosia because Gedrosia is without the Limits of India and this Countrey or Kingdom within wherefore the King of Cambaya is call'd King of the first India The Extent and Limits of Zurratte This Countrey extends into the Sea like a Peninsula having a great Bay on each side the one lying towards the South is eighteen Leagues broad at the entrance of the Mouth but grows narrower and narrower and runs up North-East and by East above forty Leagues It verges in the West and South at the Indian Sea in the North it hath a broad ridge of Mountains and beyond them the Territories of Soret Jesselmeer and Bando in the East Chitor and Candish in the South the Kingdom of Decan with the River Gate between Maffaeus borders this Countrey in the East upon the Kingdom of Mando and other Provinces belonging to the Tartars or Mogols in the West with the Countrey of the Nautaques or Gedrosians in the North at the Kingdoms of Dulcinde Sanga and Chitor and in the South at the Indian Sea and the Province of Decan The Limits of this Countrey extended formerly much farther viz. from the Indian Sea to Gualor or Gualer eight days Journey from Amadabat The Sea-coast of this Kingdom which is very large extends according to Twist above four and forty Leagues along the Sea according to Maginus a hundred and fifty Italian Miles viz. from Circan to the River Bat yet Zurratte doth not extend to Circan lying beyond the Indus which proves the Limits of Maginus to be erroneous This Countrey is full of Towns Villages Hamlets and People and reckon'd formerly twenty thousand inhabited Places besides many more ruin'd by the Wars and at present under other Dominions The Sea-port Towns The chief Sea-Ports are situate on both the Bays as followeth Between Cape Jaquete eighteen Leagues from the River Sinde to the City Diu a Tract of thirty Leagues lie Gigat Cortiane Mangalor Choras Pattan Patepatan Corimer and Diu between which and Cambaya being a Tract along the Sea of thirty three Leagues are the Towns of Madrelaba Mocas Talaia Gundim Goga and Cambaya Next you come to the City Goga lying twelve Leagues farther from Cambaya In these two Promontories of the City Cambaya and Jaquette is comprehended a part of the Kingdom of Zurratte with the mountainous Countreys of the Resbites From the City of Cambaya to the Stream Bate or rather to that of Nagotava are seventy Leagues in which space lie the Towns Machigan Gan and the City Baroch where the River Narbada hath its original Eight Leagues farther is the Mouth of the famous Stream Japety or Tapte on whose Banks lie the Towns Zurratte and Reinier or Reiner Farther along the Coast towards the side of Decan are the Towns Noscary Gandiu by Robert Covert call'd Gandeve and Balsar all three lying about two Leagues up into the Countrey the first six the second nine and the last fourteen Leagues Southward from Zurratte with great Havens convenient for many Ships Next you come to Daman Danu Tatapor Quelmain Agacim and Bazain There are yet along the Coast the Towns Maim and Nagotava four Leagues from Chaul which belongs to Decan and also the Town Bate near a River of the same Name in the utmost Limits of this Kingdom Besides this City there is another call'd Sabaja six Leagues from Gandiu and Nawdon three days Journey from Zurratte between which Towns you travel two days Journey through pleasant Fields without any Villages Many other Towns there are which lie up into the Countrey and amongst others Amadabat the Metropolitan of this Kingdom which deserves a large Description The City Amadabath or Ahmedabath THe Metropolis of this Kingdom of Zurratte is not the City of Cambaya though the Portuguese have given the whole Kingdom its Denomination from thence But Amadabath or Ahmedabath otherwise Amadavar and Hamed Ewat that is The City of Homed or Amad for Bath in the Persian Tongue signifies a City and Amad or Hamed is the Name of the King who laid the first Foundation thereof nine hundred years ago Mr. Herbert tells us That the City Amadabath is very ancient by Ptolomy call'd Amastis and by Arrianus Amadavastis and that King Hamed onely enlarg'd the same Anno 375. after Mahomet's flight from Mecha Amadabath is one of the four Cities where the Mogol as a peculiar Favor keeps his Court. It lies in the middle of the Countrey in a delightful Plain on the Bank of a small River call'd Saker Mati a Branch of the Indus in 33 Degrees and 10 Minutes Northern Latitude or according to Herbert in 23 Degrees and 18 Minutes but according to Mandeslo in 24 Degrees and 109 Minutes Longitude eighteen Leagues from Cambaya sixty two or as some say forty five Leagues from Zurratte and sixteen from the Sea It is surrounded with a Wall of Free-stone about six Miles in circumserence forty Foot high and fifteen thick and fortifi'd with many round Turrets About the Wall runs a Moat about six Paces broad though quite decay'd and in many places dry The Streets are streight and broad yet lie unpav'd and very troublesom to walk in by reason of the Dust which by means of the continual Drought is very great The chiefest Streets are planted on both sides with Coco Terri Orange and Tamarind-trees The Houses which are for the most part built of Sun-dry'd Brick are pretty large but very low and flat after the Eastern manner There are likewise several Bazars or Exchanges the biggest and most eminent whereof is call'd Bazari Colam that is The great Bazar or Exchange It is a broad streight and long Street full of Shops on both sides in the midst thereof stands a Stone Structure cross the Street like a Bridge on three Arches in a triangular manner Beyond this Edifice is also in the midst of the Street a great Well inclos'd within a square Earthen Bank the Water in it is very useful to the Inhabitants who flock thither in great numbers to fetch the same Near the end of this Street stands a great Portal with its Front towards the Street between two Towers and is the Gate of a small Burrough in the Persian Tongue call'd Cut. Near this Burrough at the end of the Street Maidan are two Galleries one on each side rais'd a little from the Ground where the King's Edicts or Proclamations are generally read going from hence through a great Gate on the right hand you behold at a little distance from thence on the left side the Vice-Roy or Governor's Palace or Castle which as others say lies in the midst of the City on the Bank of the River inclos'd within a Wall of Free-stone This Castle which is accounted the best and strongest Fortress which the Mogol hath in all India except that
of Cabul and Candahar is commonly fortifi'd with eighteen great Guns besides many lesser and hath a large square inward Court in the middle whereof stands a high Pole on which placing an Arrow they shoot at it with a Bowe The King's Lodgings which are on the left side at the entrance into this Square are very low and none of the most beautiful Under the Windows of these Lodgings appear several Officers call'd Mansebdars which Command each a thousand Horse and within the Rails under the Penthouse stand two artificial Elephants colour'd according to the Life Opposite to the King's Lodgings are many other such like Ornaments according to the custom of the Countrey The Martial Officers and those which serve in the next Places under the Mansebdars as the Chans and others of like Quality keep Guard on the King's Roofs or Balconies or in some Rooms near them those that are of a lower Degree and Command onely over two or three Horses walk up and down the Court without the Inclosures On the other side of the foremention'd Lodgings stands another Structure with an Inclosure opposite thereto but without any Ornamentals where the King's Life-guards and other Officers keep Guard Out of this Court passing through a Gate you come into another Court which being surrounded with Lodging-Rooms and Kitchins is not so neat and clean as the other There are likewise several Caravanseraes and amongst others one call'd Terri Caravansera or The Taylors Caravansera The Moors also have thirty great Metzids or Temples in this City besides a great many little Pagodes The Benjans likewise possess twelve eminent Places in the City besides other lesser in the Suburbs where they meet to perform their religious Offices The Brahmans have also four Churches the Armenians and Abyssines each of them one and the Jews a Synagogue At the end of the great Street Bazari Colan stands a Pagode built in honor of Mahadeu to which a great number of People resort daily moreover the Street which leads thither is always full of People not onely those that go thither to their Devotion and those that return from thence but also abundance of poor People who standing on both sides of the Street beg Alms of those that pass by The Pagode which is an indifferent large Building hath a long narrow Entry almost under Ground for it goes down with several Steps which makes it seem to be rather a Way leading into a Cave than a Pagode By reason of the abundance of People that flock thither and the narrowness of the Way there is always a great Crowd At the Entrance hang several Bells which the Pilgrims gingling at their going in make a continual noise with them In the Pagode are several Gioghi or Priests which go stark naked having onely a Cloth about their Privities they wear long Hair which they seldom or never Combe they colour their Foreheads with Saffron and strew Sand upon them but keep the other parts of their Body very clean yet some of them painting themselves with several Colours sprinkle Ashes over the Painting The Descri-of a stately Pagode The chifest and most stately Pagode which the Benjans have in this City was as Mandeslo affirms built by a rich Merchant call'd Santides of the same Sect who dwelt at Amadabad The Court of this Pagode being very spacious is inclos'd with a Wall of Free-stone along which are cover'd Walks and under them many little Chambers in each of which stands the Image of a naked Woman some of white and some of black Marble with their Legs according to the fashion of the Countrey across under them In some of the Chambers are three such Images the middlemost whereof being large is of white Marble and they other two lesser of black In the middle of the foremention'd Court stands a Pagode on each side of whose Entrance are plac'd two great Elephants of black Marble on one of them sits the Image of the Founder of this Structure the Roof whereof as also of some of the other Buildings are round like a Vault The Walls at the Entrance are painted with several Images of Men and Beasts Within you see nothing but three obscure Angles at the further end in every one of which stand three of the foremention'd Images and before the middlemost of them a burning Lamp A Brahman or Priest commonly performs their religious Service after the following manner First he adorns the Images with Flowers and Garlands which those that come thither to their Devotion bring along with them for an Offering No Man or Woman is permitted to approach this holy Place unless barefoot and they are to make their Offerings kneeling before the Rail which incloses the Images The Offerings consist in all manner of sweet-smelling Flowers Oyl to burn in the Lamps and Rice and Salt which they strew on some little Bells that hang amongst several Lamps before the Rail whilst the Priest lays the foremention'd Trifles before the Images with a great Cloth over his Mouth that no unclean thing may come from his Breath upon the Image he mutters many things before it to himself and sometimes going to the Lamps holds his Hands a considerable time over the Flame and rubs them as if he wash'd them with Water and sometimes rubs them over his Face which they affirm serves to purifie them because they say that the Fire cleanses all things Both within and without the City are many pleasant Gardens and Banquetting-houses and in the midst of them Ponds and Wells of clear and sweet Water in which the Inhabitants Bathe themselves in hot Weather By reason of Gardens and Orchards in and about the City it seems to Strangers to be rather a pleasant Grove than a City It hath also very large and populous Suburbs and amongst others one call'd Begamboer Eastward from the City the Benjans have built an Hospital wherein they cure all wounded Birds Beasts and other Animals There are twenty five eminent Villages under the Jurisdiction of Amadabath and under them two thousand nine hundred ninety eight Hamlets which pay Tribute to the great Villages On one side of the City runs a Way which is six Leagues long call'd Bag-Schaban to a great and pleasant Village and being planted on both sides with standing Trees hath many cross Ways all which are as cool and shady as a Wood. A stately Tomb. Near the City is a Tomb erected by King Reer in honor of a Tutor whom he lov'd exceedingly in hopes to make immortal by this stately Structure whose Walls and Floors are all of polish'd Marble There are three Gardens belonging to the same one of which is surrounded with four hundred Pillars of Porphyrie Stones of the Corinthian order Near it is a large Tank or Pond of Water inclos'd with a Stone Wall in which are many Windows which yield a pleasant Prospect on the Water At Sesques not above half an hours walking from thence are the sepulchral Monuments of several Princes of
Cambaya erected in a Temple which is much frequented by the superstitious Benjans A Mile from the City is the Garden and Palace of Chanchonna Son to the great Byram Chan of Persia The Countrey of Cambaya to Amadabat is for the most part desolate and uncultivated In the Way are several Pits each above thirty Yards deep in which is salt Water though at a great distance from the Sea it is drawn out by Oxen. The Countrey about Amadabath is nothing but a vast Wilderness and the Ways very dusty and troublesom for Travellers The High-ways are Hedg'd in on both sides with a certain Fruitless and Leafless Plant which shoots forth onely little long Stalks of a deep Green both Winter and Summer out of which when broke asunder drops a milky Juice like that of green Figs and being very sharp eats into that part of the Skin on which it drops The Fields which border the High-ways are full of Ambe-trees which bear a Fruit like great Olives and also af Tamarind-trees Without the City are many great Tombs of Marble erected by the Moors and are much statelier than their Houses A League and a half from the City lies a great Village call'd Zirkes or Sirkesia where there is a very magnificent Tomb the whole Structure with its Floors being all of polish'd Marble and distinguish'd into three parts one whereof rests on a a hundred and forty Marble Pillars each thirty Foot high curiously adorn'd with Festunes and Pedestals after the Corinthian Order This Structure is said to be the Tomb of one Cacis Tutor to one of the Kings of Zurratte to whom they ascribe great Sanctity and Wonders and that the said King who with three other Kings lies buried in another Chappel built the same in commemoration of his Tutor At a certain time of the year most of the Mahumetans come hither in Pilgrimage firmly believing thereby to obtain pardon for their sins On one side of it is a large Pond About a Mile from the City is another fair Tomb of an eminent Mahumetan Merchant call'd Hajom Majom who being enamor'd of the Beauty of his Daughter and threupon Ravishing her was Beheaded by the King's Command and buried here with all his Family wherefore the Inhabitants to this day call the same Betychint that is The uncover'd shame of your Daughter De Stadt Souratte The Water of the foremention'd River is convey'd round the said Banquetting-house not far from which you come into another Garden over a high Stone Bridge four hundred Paces long and though this Garden be but small yet it is very pleasant and high and hath also at the end against the Bridge a brave Banquetting-house The Water in the droughty Season is drawn up but of the Wells by Oxen and put into two great Stone Cisterns before the Banquetting-house This Garden wherein commonly young Women Bathe themselves in the foremention'd Cisterns is call'd Nicunabag that is The Garden of Precious Stones and is said to have been made by a beautiful and rich Lady There is yet another delightful Garden with a Banquetting-house which was built by the Great Mogol Ecbar in commemoration of his conquering the last King of Zurratte call'd Sultan Mahomed Begeran in that very place whereby the Kingdom of Zurratte became subject to the Great Mogol Ten Leagues from Amadabath lies a little Town full of pretty Houses and Pagan Temples call'd Niervant Six Leagues from the said City also lies another Town call'd Mamadabad on the Bank of a pleasant River on the North side of it is a fair Palace The Inhabitants of this Town are for the most part Weavers Description of Suratte The City Surat or Surratte according to Davity the Village Surastra or Syrastra of Ptolomy is for its neatness by the Moors call'd The Mogol's Beard and lies in about 21 Degrees and about 30 Minutes Northern Latitude near the River Reinier or Reunier otherwise call'd Pani Hind that is The Water Indus and Tapi or Tapti and Tyndee two Leagues up into the Countrey from the Bay or Gulf of Cambaya The City extending along the Banks of the foremention'd River built square lies open towards the Water but inclos'd on the Land-side with Mud Walls and dry Ditches It hath three eminent Gates which are lock'd every Evening the one leads to the Village Brion which is a Throughfare for those that travel to Brotcha Cambaya and Amadabat the other to Brampour and the third to Nassary It is adorn'd with many fair Houses with flat Roofs built after the Asiatick manner There are also many stately Palaces in this City which for its defence hath a strong Castle near the River built after the manner of the Romans and surrounded with Walls of Free-stone and deep Moats which receive their Water out of the River Reinier It is an ancient Structure built by the Inhabitants long before the coming of the Portuguese into these Countreys or as some say by the Romans According to the Relation of the Inhabitants to Mandeslo the Turks coming thither with many Ships out of the Red-Sea and conquering several Places built this Fort which hath but one Gate towards the side of a great Plain or Market and is very strongly guarded none daring to come into the same but those that are upon Duty nor are any Persons Listed to serve in the same but native Indostans the Rasbutes though valiant Soldiers often mutinying against the Mogol the Benjans and Usbecks being accounted Enemies and the Benjans and Cambayans never serving for Soldiers accounting it a great sin to shed Blood Next to the Castle is the Nabab or Sultan's House and next to that the Custom-house and the Market to which the Inhabitants of the neighboring Villages and Strangers bring their Goods to sell The City Surratte is very populous and inhabited partly by native Indians and partly by Strangers and Foreigners for Trade The Indians of these Parts consist generally of Zurrattans Cambayans Benjans Brahmans Decans and some Rasbutes who are all generally Idolaters or Mahumetans the last mention'd are the smallest number and the Benjans are the richest driving the greatest Trade All these People live very quiet one amongst another for the Great Mogol though himself a Mahumetan makes no distinction amongst his People of several Religions but gives them Offices alike both at his Court and in his Army Amongst the Foreigners or Strangers the English and Hollanders drive the greatest Trade here besides which there are Portugueses Arabians Persians Armenians Turks and Jews wherefore Suratte is accounted one of the most eminent Cities for Trade in all India both in respect of its Haven and because the convenience of carrying the Commodities through all Suratte from Cambaya and other Places draws the Merchants thither The English and Dutch Traders have many fair Houses in the City very convenient to dwell in and also to stow their Goods The People of several Nations have each of them a Church here and their own Teachers Without
which they have given sufficient testimony for about the Year 1644. when the Great Mogol's Son Besieg'd this City with ten thousand Men they behav'd themselves so bravely that the said Prince having lost a great number of his Men was forc'd to retreat from thence in a confus'd manner The Portuguese possess several Isles near Daman which pay Tribute to the King of Salsette wherefore he is call'd Choura of Daman Southwards from which lies a Place near the Sea call'd Dary beyond which is the Bay Kielme Mahi so call'd from two Villages lying near the Sea the one nam'd Kielme and the other Mahi and beyond them appears the City Bazaim The City Bazaim Sixty Leagues Southward from Deman near the Island Salsette lies the City Bazaim which Mercator affirms to be the Borace of Ptolomy in nineteen Degrees and a half Northern Latitude By reason of the many Rivers and Brooks the Way between Bazaim cannot be travell'd in less than three days The City being pretty large hath a convenient Harbor The whole Coast produces much Rice Pease and other Grain Oyl and Coco-nuts In the beginning of this Age many Houses were swallow'd up by an Earthquake in the room of which none have since been built On the Main Continent near the Island Salsette de Bazaim the Portuguese have a Fort call'd Manora and also a Village with many Hamlets near it â—â— Bay ende Stadt DABUL gelegen â—â—de noorder breetsâ—â—â— The Rock Asserim The Fortress or Rock of Asserim lies up some Leagues farther into the Countrey up which they generally climb bare-foot that so they may take the surer footing it being very high steep and slippery insomuch that those who ascend the same are in great danger of falling from the top to the bottom or else if they ascend on the other side they climb up by Ropes with which they hoise up Cows and other things which they want And though this Rock lie between many other which may easily be ascended yet it is so high above them that it seems to be a Fortress which Commands over the rest And as this Place is the Key to all the rest which the Portuguese possess to the Northward in India so it is likewise a great Eye-sore to the neighboring Kings who have for that reason practis'd divers ways to conquer the same which to prevent the Portuguese are continually upon their Guard especially at those Places which yield a good Prospect On the top of the said Rock is a large Plain surrounded with many great Stones which they throw down upon those that come to invade them Not onely the Soldiers but also the Inhabitants of the Place watch every Night and carry Torches made of a kind of Wood like Canes which last a long time and cannot be put out by any Wind or Rain which rather makes them burn the better This Place is also a Sanctuary for all Criminals who repairing thither for shelter are receiv'd and kept there for Soldiers which with their Wives and Children amounted formerly to about seven hundred The Portuguese conquer'd this Rock in the time of the Governor Francis Borrero The Countrey of Surratte The Countrey of Surratte is interlac'd by many Rivers viz. the Nardabat which takes its course by the City Brotcha and divides it self into two Arms about four Leagues from the City towards the South near the Village Hansoot in some places it is one and in others two Miles broad and is divided by many other Streams which have Passages into the Sea The Soil is for the most part clayie and mix'd with Sand except near the City where it is all Sand it extends East North-East and West South-West The other Rivers are Wasset and Bate which last springs out of the Mountains of Gate and falling into the Gulf of Bambain divides the Kingdom of Decan and Countrey of Surratte or Cambaya The Tapta otherwise Tyndee also glides between the Countrey of Surratte and that of the Benjans The River May otherwise Mehi or Guandari along whose Banks the City of Cambaya is built is dry at low Ebb except in three or four places which having always about four or five Foot of Water are dangerous to wade through without a good Guide because of the strong Current that is in them This River ebbs and flows daily seven Fathom perpendicular At High-water the Ships come to an Anchor close before the City but are left quite dry at Low-water The Ground being sandy and mix'd with Clay is much better and easier for those Vessels that lie dry upon it than if it were hard Sand. About a League Southward from Cambaya glides the River Mihi whose Shore must be travell'd at the low Ebb of the Sea and not without great danger because the Sea rising flows up above five Leagues and at low Tide you are forc'd to wade through two or three deep places if any one should venture to wade through at the coming in of the Tide he would undoubtedly be swallow'd by the Sea for when the Water flows with greater strength and higher than ordinary for it observes no Rule but rises and falls more or less according to the course of the Moon it carries and washes away both Horse and Man and oftentimes with such force that an Elephant cannot withstand the same nor all his weight prevent him from being carried away wherefore all travellers wait for a certain time to wade through the same viz. when the Sea is low which is at the new Moon at which time they may go over it in Coaches or on Horseback without any danger Coaches are commonly held fast on both sides that they may not be overturn'd by the Waves those that go on foot strip themselves naked and tying up their Clothes carry them on their Shoulders many times a whole Caravan with abundance of People travel over the same some in Coaches some in Waggons some on Horseback and others on foot both Men and Women stark naked accounting it neither shameful nor immodest The Soil between both viz. between the said River and the City Cambaya is firm and hard and is not overflown though plain and not far from the Sea In most Places of the Kingdom is excellent Water except in the City of Cambaya where there is great want of it There are several Pools of Water in the Towns and some of them so big that the Inhabitants filling them in the Winter have enough to serve them all the year In those Countreys which lie near the Indian Sea is a certain rainy Season or Winter viz. four Moneths in the year beginning in June when the Sun enters into the Tropick of Cancer and ending in September If it Rains out of the Season it is unusual but betokens a fruitful year for in the other eight Moneths the Weather is so serene and clear that there is scarce a Cloud seen in the Skie neither doth it rain constantly during the foremention'd four Months as in Goa but
onely sometimes especially at the beginning of the New and Full-Moon The Winds blow also here six Moneths Northerly and six Months Southerly The Weather is exceeding hot here in April May and June and very unhealthful occasioning Feavers and other Distempers but when it begins to Rain the Wind blows very strong and tempers the excessive Heat but in the dry Season it it hath this inconveniency viz. it draws up the Dust like a Cloud and disperses the same on Travellers to their great annoyance In the rainy Season especially in May and June they Till their Lands and Sowe their Corn which being moistned by the Rain produces so rich and plentiful a Harvest and such abundance of Grain that all the adjacent Countreys are supply'd therewith for Surratte according to Linschot is the fruitfullest Spot of Land in all India The Countrey produces great quantities of Beans and Wheat but much bigger and whiter than ours also Barley Rice Tares and Pease which are less than those which grow in Europe Linseed and a small Seed call'd Thill out of which they press abundance of Oyl There is likewise a sort of Beans or grey Pease which they call Danna growing on little Stalks along the Ground and serving the Horses in stead of Oats The Inhabitants Sowe abundance of Mustard-seed and Tobacco which is much better than that of other Places but they cannot prepare the same so well as the People in the West-Indies The Productions of the Countrey In the Gardens which are very pleasant and near the Towns grow divers sorts of Herbs both for the Pot and Salleting also Raddishes Turnips Cucumbers Garlick Onions Beet-roots Potatoes and Colworts besides eight or ten sorts of Drugs and little Herbs as Turbith Galanga Spica-nardi Assa Foetida or Devils-dung Boran and some others There is much Cotton Silk Sugar Wax many Fruit-trees and Plants as Oranges Pomegranates Lemmons Limes Citterns Ananas Bananas Figs Jackas Coco-nuts in great abundance and in some peculiar Gardens Grapes though not in very great plenty and therefore are dearer than other Fruits The Fruit Mangas is much better here than in Ormuz but not so big yet of a more delicate smell and having a small Kernel in the middle They are transported to many Places especially to the Village Chirches two Leagues from the Metropolis Amadabat from whence it hath receiv'd its Name This Countrey hath plenty of Indigo Cassia Mirobolans Calamba Opium or Amphion two sorts of Cummin white and black Ginger which being Preserv'd is sent to Persia and other Places as also certain Leaves by the Indians call'd Tomalapatra Tamarinds and Palmito-trees besides many other wild Trees not known in Europe About Bazaim grows a Tree which bears the Fruit call'd Jangomes The Countrey near about Brotcha which is very low and without Mountains hath many Gardens planted with Palmito-trees out of which the Natives press a Wine in the Countrey Language call'd Terry or Tory which is drunk by many The Wine which drops from the foremention'd Tree in the Night is pleasant and wholsom but that which drops out of the same in the day-time being spoil'd by the Heat is very hurtful for the Brain It produces likewises plenty of Rice Wheat Barley all sorts of Rice and Cotton but not in such abundance as in Nederbaer and the adjacent Countreys The Mountains of Pindaetche are fertile in the production of Corn and other Grain the Soil being Clay mix'd with black Earth The Inhabitants of this Place make little Cheeses which are very dry and Salt In Surratte are few Date but many Coco-trees found The Trees and Fields are green all the year but the Grass in the Summer is scorch'd up by the Sun neither is the Grass Mow'd here as in Europe but just when they have occasion for it and as much at a time as may serve two or three days The Fields abound with a sort of Roses and Rosmary which have no scent nor have they have above two sorts of Flowers more all the year viz. the Mogeri which is white and the Schampi which is yellow both smelling very odoriferously and worn by Women about their Necks and strew'd in their Beds The Countrey round about Brodera and the adjacent Villages is very fruitful and produces Wheat Barley Rice and other Grain as also Cotton in great abundance The whole Coast of Bazaim hath plenty of Rice Pease and other Corn besides Butter Oyl and Coco-nuts There are many Hiacinthes in this Kingdom as also Diamonds Pearls Granads Topas's Cornalines Spinellaes and Amethists besides Alabaster red Marble Hematites or Blood-stones and Jaspers which are but little regarded The Inhabitants make green Dishes of their Jaspers and Plates which resemble those of Smerads There are likewise Bezoar Stones and also a Stone by the Portuguese call'd Olhos de Gata or Cats-Eyes and Agats in great abundance of which they make curious Hafts of Knives at Cambaya and many other Curiosities Abundance of Sealing-wax is made about the Village Amadabat but the greatest part in the Village of Sindickera eight Leagues Eastward from Brodera and in many other Places in Surratte It drops first out of several sorts of Trees not unlike the Thorn and Plumb-tree When the Wax is raw as it drops from the Tree it is of a dark-brown colour but being afterwards beaten to Powder and melted with red green or black colours according as they please and put on Sticks it is sold here in Europe to Seal Letters with They varnish many Ships therewith as also Tables Cabinets Stools Bedsteads and other Wood-woork which is the occasion that great quantities thereof are us'd in Surratte The Enamel which they use with their Silver and Gold-works as Hafts of Knives and the like they fill up with Wax within and cover the same with Gold so neatly that unless a Stranger were inform'd thereof he could not discover it from massy Gold Near the Village More twenty nine Leagues from the City of Surratte is a Spring which casts up boyling hot Water at the foot of a Mountain out of a hard Rock a piece of Meat wrapt in Callico is boyl'd in a short time therein neither need they put Salt to it because the Water is Salt yet of a good taste as if Alants Roots had been boyl'd therein Six clays Journey from the City Cambaya is a Mountain which produces Cornalines and Chalcedony which last the Inhabitants according to Barbosa call Bacayores A League from the City Brotcha is another rich Mine of Chalcedony and white Agats which are commonly carry'd to Cambaya and not to Brotcha they make abundance of round and oval Dishes and other small Vessels of the same for an Ornament in their Chambers In most Places of Surratte are abundance of Oxen Cowes Sheep from Persia with large Tails Goats and Buffaloes which yield good Milk and Butter and Flesh which tastes like Beef though spoil'd by the Heat of the Countrey The Oxen no way differ from ours onely they have a Bunch on
their Shoulder Between the City of Amadabat and Surrate are many Goats Stags and wild Swine Geese and other Fowl in great abundance the Inhabitants seldom kill any of them especially the Benjans There are also many Horses not onely of the Breed of the Countrey but divers others which being brought out of Tartary Persia and Arabia are sold at a dear rate because they are accounted the best of all India and they not onely take care to provide a Servant for every Horse but also give them good Provender viz. a sort of ground and boil'd Beans call'd Danna and both Morning and Evening two pound of Barley Meal mix'd with a pound and a half of Butter and a pound of Sugar They also keep many Camels Mules Rhinocerots Drommedaries and Elephants which are kept by the Mogol and Nobility in the Woods There are an innumerable company of wild Beasts as Stags Goats Elands wild Hogs Asses whose Flesh the Mahumetans eat in stead of Lamb and Hares which all Persons are permitted to catch except at the time when the King and his Nobles are Hunting for then it is forbidden on pain of Death Moreover the Woods are also the Recesses for Lyons Tygers Leopards but neither Bears nor Wolves mad Dogs which are call'd Jekkalla abundance of Catamountains and a Beast which being almost like a Ferret with a Tail like a Squirrel doth great mischief to the Fruit insomuch that the Husbandmen are forced to watch adays in the Fields when their Corn is ripe to keep them from spoiling it There are likewise abundance of tame Fowls as Hens Cocks Capons Peacocks Geese Ducks and Crop-Geese which breed near the Rivers or Pools besides Partridges which are there tame and Pigeons The Birds of prey are these Falcons Hawks Kites Parrots and other Birds not known to us in Europe Both within and without the City Amadabat are great numbers of Catamountains which breeding in the Woods fearlesly frequent the Houses and do great damage to those that deal in Fruit as Dates Almonds Figs Raisins and the like of which they take what they like best Between the City Cambaya and Amadabat near the Village Mater are abundance of excellent blood-colour'd Squirrels with curious large Tails which breeding on Trees leap nimbly from one to another Many Bats which are as big as Hens and have Heads resembling those of Cats frequent the Woods and are by some call'd Flying-Cats Between Cambaya and Amadabat are likewise Bats as big as Ravens There are also great numbers of Crows which flying through the Windows into the Houses take the Meat out of the Dishes without any fear of the People that are present They commonly sit on the Backs of the Buffaloes and peck off their Hair which is the reason that most of the foremention'd Beasts in these Parts are bald nor have they any other way to free themselves of the said Fowls but to run up to their Throats into a Morass Rats also breed here in great abundance and some of them are so big that no Cats dare venture to seize on them and oftentimes throw down Houses by undermining the Walls and Foundations thereof they do likewise great mischief to the Plants and Trees The Inhabitants are daily much infested with Bugs which filling the Houses in great swarms sting the People The Rivers especially the Indus and others abound with all manner of delicate Fish viz. Carps Bremes Eels Trouts Shrimps and many other European Fishes besides such as are peculiar to those Parts In the Stream Indus breed likewise many Crocodiles or Caimans Serpents and other noxious Creatures About Amadabat are abundance of poysonous Serpents and Scorpions which in all parts of India are not alike venomous for the Sting of a Scorpion on the Island of Great Java occasions great swelling and exceeding pain but is easily cur'd if Medicines be apply'd thereunto within the space of twelve hours after but if any one be stung by a Scorpion on the Main he certainly dies within the space of three hours if he doth not instantly cut the wounded part till it bleeds and then anointing it with Oyl of Scorpions sear it with a red hot Iron Moreover the oylie moisture which is extracted from the Scorpion which hath stung the Party is also an excellent Remedy if immediately laid on the Wound The Scorpions resemble in shape the Cra-fish or Lobsters Before they are boil'd they have a little round Tail which erecting it self reclines backward at the end thereof is the Sting which they never draw in or put out like other venomous Creatures but always have the same ready to sting those which approach them The Sting is very hard sharp and long like an Iron Hook The Scorpions and another sort of Vermin call'd Millepes from its number of Feet breed for the most part on old decay'd Walls There are also a sort of Scorpions with two Heads viz. one before and the other behind the Tail and it is said that they move one Head one year and the other another year and are by some in Greek call'd ' 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which signifies a thing that can go backwards or forwards These two-headed Serpents have occasioned great Disputes amongst the Philosophers for some as Aelianus Pliny Lucan Galen Nierenbergh and Olearius certainly believe that there are really such Serpents But Andreas Matthiolus in his Explanation of Dioscorides and John Faber Linceus in his History of Mexico contradicts this Opinion and looks upon it as a fabulous Tradition judging this mistake to proceed from hence viz. because the forementioned Serpents are as thick at their Tail as at their Head so that there can be no distinction made moreover that they creep as well back wards as forwards and have venomous Stings in their Tails as well as in their Heads Yet Nierenbergh relates that an eminent Philosopher call'd Cortavilla had one of the foremention'd two-headed Serpents at Madrid Moreover Gesner that a two-headed Serpent was taken in the Sea near the English Shore This Countrey is also exceeding pester'd with little Pismires which are no small annoiance to the Inhabitants who can scarce set any Meat out of their Hands but in a moment several hundreds crawl upon the same which to prevent they generally keep in their Houses stone Troughs full of Water in the middle of which laying a great Stone they lay their Meat upon it in a Cupboard made for that purpose By reason of the many Woods and Trees that are about and near Amadabat there are great plenty of wild Beasts and Fowls especially Parrots of all sorts some whereof are very big and are by several Europeans call'd Indian Ravens and some being no bigger than Pigeons are for their sweet Voices call'd Cacatu They are of a yellowish colour and have a Tuft of Feathers on their Heads They make their Nests under the Roofs of Houses and are found in great numbers in most Towns of all India Others which are less are red and green
and building their Nests of long withered Grass make them fast to the Boughs of Trees that so they may be freed from Vermin These Parrots do great mischief to all Fruits and Corn especially Rice The Ancient and Modern Inhabitants of Surratte The ancient Inhabitants and Natives of Surratte being formerly all Heathens were by a general Name call'd Hindous but are at present either Heathens distinguished by the Names of Benjans and Brahmans Mahumetans or Moors which have Setled here since this Countrey hath been brought under the Mogols Jurisdiction The other Inhabitants are Persians Tartars Arabians Armenians and many other People of Asia and Europe except Chineses Japanners and Jews which are seldom found there In most Places of Surratte dwell a sort of Persians or People derived from the ancient Persians which the Benjans and other Heathens call Garoisdees and Persees or Parsis which last Name according to the testimony of Bollayle le Gouz they give themselves the Moors Guenure the Persians Atech Peres Zarduzts Kebbers and Gauri They boast their Extract from Persia and have for several Ages before Mahomet been Governed by peculiar Kings of their own Countrey till the Wars which commonly occasion great Revolutions in States and Empires reduc'd them at last under another Government which hapned after the Birth of our Saviour Anno 640. in the twenty ninth Year of the Reign of the last Persian King call'd Jazdgerd or Yesdegerd otherwise Jesdagird Son to Xarear who resided in the City Yesd near the old Ispahan The Turks coming from Turkestan or Turky through the Province Naohaad into Persia ruin'd all the Countrey and forced Jasdagird who went with an Army to meet them with the assistance of the Arabians who fell into Persia at another Place to retreat to Corazan where after a Reign of twenty nine years he deceased when most of the conquer'd Persians which would not embrace Mahomet's Doctrine nor suffer themselves to be Circumcised left their native Countrey and travell'd towards India there to enjoy Liberty of Conscience under the Rajaâ— and coming to the Persian Gulf a Fleet consisting of seven Ships was order'd to carry them and their Followers which some affirm consisted in eighteen thousand Persons Men Women and Children as Merchants over to India Five of the said Fleet arriving safely at St. Johns-Land in the Haven of Swaly they resolv'd to go to the Raja who then resided at Nuncery where they declar'd the Occasion which forc'd them to come thither and requested the Raja that he would please to receive them as a People that would willingly live under his Government provided they might enjoy their own Religion whereupon they were received on paying Tribute and taking the Oath of Allegiance One of the remaining two Ships went to a Raja residing at Baryacy near Surratte where the People aboard her were receiv'd upon the same Conditions as the former But this Raja being at Wars with another Raja was defeated his Countrey taken from him and all the Persians as his Abetters destroy'd by his Enemies The seventh and last Vessel Sailing along the Coast touched at Cambaya where the People that were in the same were receiv'd on the same Conditions as the former So that these People after what manner soe're spread through India had certainly their Extract from one of the foremention'd Places where they liv'd so long that they forgot their Original and Religion nay they could not remember from whence they were Extracted till at length after the expiration of many years the Name of Persians was made known to them by those that having remain'd in Persia disclos'd to them the History of their Predecessors instructed them in their ancient Religion and taught them how to serve God for the future so that at present wheresoe're they are they strictly maintain their ancient Religion or Sect and many Persians have since Setled themselves along the Sea-shore where they have liv'd quietly among the Natives But Herbert contrary to the opinion of all Historians tells us that King Jazdgerd banish'd them to India because they refus'd to embrace the Mahumetan Doctrine and to be Circumcised The Apparel or the Persians of Surratte As to what concerns the Apparel of these Persians they are Clothed after the same fashion as the Inhabitants except that they ware a Girdle or Sash of Camels Hair or Sheeps Wooll which going twice about their Middle is ty'd behind with two Tassels This Sash or Girdle is by them call'd Cushee and worn as a publick testimony of their Faith in the nature or our Baptism or the Circumcision of the Mahumetans and is given them at their being initiated into their Religion in the seventh year of their Age. When accidentally they lose one of these Girdles or Sashes they are not permiâ—ted to eat drink work speak or stir before they have obtain'd another And these Girdles are to be bought of their Priests As well Women as Men are obliged to wear these Sashes from the seventh year of their Age or as others affirm from their twelfth year which is from the time of their being initiated They live here like the Natives free and undisturbed and drive what Trade they please They are very ingenious and for the most part maintain themselves with Tilling and buying and selling all sorts of Fruits tapping of Wine out of the Palm-trees which Wine they sell in Houses of Entertainment for their Law debars them not from drinking strong Liquor so it be not the Juice of the Grape Some also Traffick and are Exchangers of Money keep Shops and exercise all manner of Handicrafts except Smiths-work for they are not allow'd to quench Fire with Water In point of Eating and Drinking their Law hath given them great Priviledge Their Diet. but to avoid displeasing of the Benjans amongst whom they live and the Moors under whose Jurisdiction they stand they abstain from Wine that is the Juice of the Grape and Swines-flesh but of the Palm-Wine they drink very greedily insomuch that it is usual among some making up a Palm-leaf in form of a Tunnel to let the Palm-Wine run through the same into their Throats They always eat alone by themselves judging that they are able to live pure and undefiled that if they should eat with any person they would certainly be defiled They also drink out of several Cups and if any Person chances accidentally to drink out of anothers Cup they wash the same three times and set it away for a considerable time before they use it again Some affirm that their Law forbids them to eat of any thing that enjoyed Life except in times of War or great Necessity for then they are permitted to eat Mutton Goats-flesh Venison Poultrey and Fish and all manner of Flesh except that of Cows Oxen Horses Camels Elephants and the like Beasts which they account a deadly sin to kill but they chiefly abstain from Cows or Ox-flesh affirming that they will rather eat their Father or Mothers
another especially we that ought to be preserv'd Certainly your Valor will not be abated when I shall declare unto you my Condition and divide my Strength and Power with you nay rather being Friends we shall be capacitated for the Undertaking the greatest Enterprizes whatsoever and valiantly revenge all Injuries that shall be offer'd us Know then That the World is yet but like a young Child having far greater need of being replenish'd with People than bereft of them by force of Arms. Love and Nature teach us to study our own Preservation which may better be accomplish'd by being at Union than at Variance one with another Let us not therefore endeavor by forceable and unlawful Means to seek a Glory which may prove Mortal to both but let us rather study to settle a happy and everlasting Peace between us Toddikastre having with great attention hearkned unto a Proposal grounded on so much Reason after a little silence reply'd That notwithstanding she plainly discover'd sufficient marks of his Rage and Fury which might provoke her to Revenge yet she submitted to his Argument readily and freely consenting to his Proposal of Peace VVhereupon giving each other their Hands to confirm their new Friendship they of mortal Enemies became the greatest Friends in Nature and resolving to live and die together begat many Children producing a Race of Valiant and Heroick Spirits And thus was the VVestern Part of the World Peopled by these two Generous Enemies Shuddery the third Son of Pourous was sent Northward to Traffique as a Merchant taking with him his Weights and a Pair of Scales wherewith to weigh whatever was bought or sold Having travell'd a considerable way wishing to meet with an Adventure sutable to his Calling he came at last to a Mountain call'd Challa when beginning to Rain very hard he was necessitated to seek for shelter in a small Cave which was in the said Mountain The Rain ceasing the Sky began to clear up but the Water having cover'd most of the Ways kept Shuddery from Travelling that day But no sooner had the thirsty Earth drunk up the Water and the Sun dry'd up the remaining Moisture when in order to proceed on his Journey he leaves the Cave and scarcely arriv'd at the bottom of the Valley but he found several Shells which out of Curiosity opening he concluded by their Brightness and Beauty that they ought carefully to be preserv'd though altogether ignorant of the Value so putting them up very safe he went on and having scarce pass'd through the Valley he found himself near another Mountain upon which appear'd a Rock of Diamonds wich having been wash'd by the great Rain appear'd very glorious and sparkling causing a great admiration in Shuddery who judg'd it to have been a great Fire Passing on and perceiving the suppos'd Fire did not spread it self yet encreas'd in Lustre he was curious to be satisfied what it might be by touching the same with his Finger whereby he perceiv'd that though these glittering Diamonds sparkled like Fire yet they had not that Heat with them wherefore he resolv'd to expect the next Morning to see if he could make any further Discovery of this great Mystery But the Day caus'd a far greater alteration than he expected which no sooner appear'd but the Light of the Diamonds vanish'd nothing remaining but a Rock of whitish Stones of which he took as many as he could carry carefully observing the Place against his Return in case he should be better inform'd of the Value Whence proceeding he at last espy'd the Nymph that was ordain'd for him walking by the side of the Wood which border'd on the Plain he was crossing He directed his Course towards the Object which at that distance appear'd to him most pleasing and beautiful The Nymph was not a little surpris'd at the sight of him remaining in suspence whether to fly or stay till Shuddery approaching near her thus express'd himself Most admirable and beautiful Creature so nearly resembling me I beg your Company not onely for the likeness between us to our mutual admiration which I hope may oblige you to love me and entertain a good Opinion of one that follows you with no bad Intent but that I may be happy in your Conversation since the Similitude between us seems to challenge a more intimate Familiarity Visagondah for such was her Name express'd by her silence the pleasure she took in Shuddery's Presence no way distrusting her Safety at last she demanded of him how it came to pass that two Persons having never seen one another before could so perfectly understand each others Language To which Shuddery reply'd That God who had given their Bodies a like Shape had also endued them with one Tongue thereby to assist and discover their Secrets one to another Having thus shew'd great Testimonies of Friendship to one another staying some time in the Place Shuddery related to her his Adventures after which living many Years together they begat divers Children which grown up became Merchants with whom Shuddery work'd in the Diamond-Rock he had discover'd laying up great Quantities thereof and prizing them at a high Value made them so esteem'd of through the whole World And from the Issue of this Shuddery according to the Tradition of the Indians the Northern Parts of the World were Peopled Wyse the youngest of the four Brothers took his Journey towards the South taking with him the most useful Instruments which he had invented for the Benefit of Mankind for God had endu'd him with far more Understanding than any of his Brothers He was the Inventor of all Arts and taught his Children to Build Houses Towns and Castles to Till the Groud and all other things necessary to Humane Life for which reason he was call'd Viskarmah that is A Vertuoso because nothing was difficult to him that could be done Being endu'd with this great Knowledge and Skill in Husbandry and Building God order'd him to Travel Southward where in his way he pass'd by seven great Lakes leaving at each of them Marks of his Ingenuity and having pass'd the last he found himself in a Country call'd Derpe where he built a fair House near the Lake with many Apartments and a flat Roof Here he staid some time alone to refresh himself but he had not long enjoy'd the sweetness of his Repose when he was disturb'd by a strange Accident The Woman which was appointed for him passing by a neighboring Wood near the side of the Lake stood still to admire the Magnificent Form of the new-built Structure which she approach'd to view more narrowly having never before seen the like Wyse espying her so earnestly view his Habitation found himself struck with admiration at the sight of so surprising a Creature her Body being perfectly White and her Hair resembling the Colour of Gold wherefore he approach'd nearer the Person who at a distance had wrought a very great alteration in him whilst she was not a little abash'd to
Moreover when they had all things granted them wanting nothing but to put in execution those Commandments which God had laid upon them Bremaw began seriously to consider with himself after what manner he might behave himself most honourably in the Employment that God had put him upon when on a sudden he felt a strange alteration in his Body accompanied with a general Pain through all his Parts such as that with a Woman in her Travel foretelling some strange and wonderful Event his Body was in an instant swell'd after a strange manner and his Intrails grew sensibly bigger than before At last his Body open'd in two Places viz. on his Right and Left Side out of which came two Twins the one a Male the other a Female both of their full growth Bremaw having receiv'd Strength again instructed them in things concerning Religion and call'd the Man Manow and the Woman Ceteroupa who after they had worshipp'd God thank'd Bremaw that brought them into the VVorld and having receiv'd his Blessing they travell'd towards the East setling on a Mountain call'd Munderpurvool to the end that those which they should beget might spread themselves East West North and South No sooner were they come to the foremention'd Mountain but Ceteroupa was deliver'd of three Sons and three Daughters whereof the eldest Son was call'd Priauretta the second Outanapautha the third Scomeraut the eldest Daughter was nam'd Kammah the second Sooneretaw and the third Sumboo As soon as they came to Age they were sent to several Places Priauretta and Kammah to the West to a Mountain call'd Segund Otanapautha and Soonurettaw to the North to the Mountain Ripola Someraut and Sumboo to the South to the Mountain Supars all which Countries they made very populous By this means Bremaw was the first Father of all the Inhabitants of the Earth whilst Wistney took care for all necessary things for the preservation of humane Creatures which Bremaw had made by affording them all the Blessings that make Men happy in this Life till at last Ruddery sent Sickness Death and a Curse among the Children of Men who by their wicked Lives had justly merited God's Vengeance This was the manner of Government which God us'd for the restoring of the World and all humane Creatures which were to inhabit in the second Age. Furthermore God according to the Relation of the Benjans taught Men to serve him after this manner When God saw that there could be no Order nor lawful Government in those Places where his Worship and Service was not Establish'd he resolv'd to make Laws for the preventing of Man's committing those Crimes which were the destruction of the first Age In order whereunto he descended upon the Mountain Meropurbatee to which Place he call'd Bremaw to whom he appear'd in his Glory through a dark and thick Cloud telling him That he was necessitated to destroy the first Age by reason Men would not obey his Commands which were contain'd in the Book he had given to Brammon At the same time God gave Bremaw another Book and commanded him to teach all things that were contain'd therein Bremaw to Execute his Office publish'd God's Commandments to all People on the Earth The Benjans call this Book Shaster that is The Book of Written Words which contains three Treatises or Parts the first whereof contains their Fundamental Laws with an Explanation of each Commandment The second treats of the Ceremonial Law and teaches them the Ceremonies which are to be observ'd in their Religion The third Treatise distinguishes all Men into certain Families or Tribes and comprehends the Commandments of each Tribe in particular which is all that is contain'd in the Book Shaster out of which we will here set down the chief Heads thereof The first Treatise in which is describ'd the Fundamental Laws which Bremaw taught contain'd the following eight 1. Thou shalt not kill any Creature that hath Life in it for thou art one of the Creatures and so is that thou art endu'd with a Soul as that is therefore thou shalt not take away the Life of any thing whatsoever it be which belongs to me 2. Thou shalt make a Contract with the five Senses First with thy Eyes that they may not see any thing that is ill Secondly with your Ears that they may not hearken to any bad thing Thirdly with your Tongue not to express any ill words Fourthly with your Pallat that you taste nothing unclean as Wine or the Flesh of living Creatures Lastly with your Hands that they may not touch any thing to defile them 3. Thou shalt exactly observe and keep all the Days and Times appointed for Devotion as likewise Cleansing with Worshipping and Praying which thou must perform with an upright and zealous Heart 4. Thou shalt not give any false Testimonies or speak Lies by means of which thou mightest defraud thy Brother and enrich thy self by fraudulent means when thou Tradest with him 5. Thou shalt be merciful to the Poor according to thy Power and assist them in their Necessities with Meat Wood and other things they may stand in need of for their support 6. Thou shalt not oppress the Poor and serve thy self with that Power which is given thee to destroy thy Brother unjustly 7. Thou shalt keep certain Feasts and Holidays without pampering thy Body and feeding thy self with Laciviousness but on the contrary spend certain Days in Fasting and in stead of Sleeping over much Watch often to be the better prepar'd for Praying and for the performance of all other Holy Offices 8. Thou shalt not take any thing from thy Brother whatever it be wherewith thou art entrusted but content thy self with what he shall give thee for thy Reward remembring thou hast no Right to that which belongs to another These eight Commandments are prescrib'd to all the four Tribes in general but besides them they have two more which are particular to each Tribe First Bramines and Schuddery that is the Priests and Merchants are strictly oblig'd to observe their Religious Commandments and have near Relation one to another in Matters of Religion as there is between those of Kuttery and Wyse that is the Magistrates and Handicrafts They ascribe to the Bramines which are the Priests the first and second Commandments because they place the chief of their Religion in these two things first to prevent the killing of living Creatures and next to abstain from all forbidden things as eating of Flesh drinking of Wine and the like which the Kutteries and Benjans are also strictly to observe They attribute particularly the third and fourth Commandments to Schuddery as being very suitable to his Office because it may possess the People with Devotion and prevent those fraudulent Practises which are common among Traders To Kuttery they prescribe being the Governors or Magistrates the fifth and sixth Commandments because they admonish the People of Love and Compassion to the Poor well knowing that Oppression is a common Sin among those that
or Fatipor by Jarrick call'd Fateful or Pateful by Cowert Fetterbat and by Herbert Fettipour was anciently call'd Tzikkerim or Sykary and lies twelve Kours or four Leagues from Agra This City was upon the following occasion built by the Great Mogol Ekbar viz. At his Return from Asmer whether he went to visit the Tomb of Mandy he visited St. Derwis or a poor Monk call'd Seid Selim that is Seid Selim who accounted himself highly honor'd that God had employ'd him to tell Ekbar that in a short time he should be the Father of three beautiful Children and indeed Ekbar to acknowledge the Kindness would have his eldest Son call'd Selim the second Chan Morad or Amurath and the third The Haen Schach or Daniel nay this Prophecy was so acceptable to Ekbar that he caus'd a fair Mosque to be built there and inclos'd both that and the ancient City Tzikerim or Sykary with a high Wall and from that time caus'd it to be call'd Fettipore that is A Place of Delight nay his Affections were so strongly inclin'd to this City that he built a Palace there and also a Bazar or Exchange the fairest in all the Eastern Parts resolving farther to make it the Metropolis of the whole Kingdom for which it stood very convenient being seated on the Bank of a River yet the unwholsomness of the Air forc'd him to leave the same since which time it is become a ruin'd and desolate Place Robert Cower affirms that this City is much bigger than London and is adorn'd with a Temple very artificially built though much decay'd The whole Tract of Land between this City and Agra is always throng'd with People like a Market The City Bian is four Leagues from Fatipor beyond which are the Towns Ladana Mosabadan and Bandason next lie Asmeer or Esmeer where the Great Mogol Ekbar had a large House or Stable in which he commonly kept six hundred Elephants and a thousand Horses The City Asmeer lies in 35 Degrees and 15 Minutes Northern Latitude on a high and inaccessible Mountain twenty five Leagues from Agra The greatest part of the City lies at the foot of the Mountain well built but ill fortifi'd notwithstanding the Wall is of good Stone A Prophet one of Mahomet's Disciples lies buried there in a stately Tomb to which belong three pleasant Yards pav'd with Free-stone polish'd after the Persian manner Not far from hence is Godach formerly the Residence of an eminent and very valiant Rasbout Some place the City Fatipor in the Province of Bando At every half Leagues distance between Agra and Asmeer stands a Pillar or Column resembling those which the Romans us'd to erect at the distance of a thousand Paces At the end of every twenty five Mile there is an Inn or Place of Entertainment for Men and Horse where certain Women constantly give their attendance and get ready such Victuals for every one as they desire for which and their Horse-meat they pay Three pence There are also fair Houses at every ten Miles distance which were built by the Great Mogol Ekbar for the convenience of his Women when he took a Journey to Asmeer to visit the Tomb of Mandy Mahomet's Disciple The whole Country being water'd by the Stream of Jemna aboundeth with Corn Lemmons Oranges Cherries Pears Apples Plums and other Fruit amongst which are Grapes which being preserv'd are as big as Damas Pruins There also grows abundance of Anil or Indico and store of Cotton Saltpetre is likewise very plentiful here and all sorts of Poultry Falcons Pheasants Partridges Hearns and Wild-ducks Here are also great store of Goats Cows and Hogs and Fish in such abundance that Eighteen pence will purchase enough to feed three hundred Men. In Agra are generally kept four Markets where besides Provisions divers other Goods are sold From Persia and China are Transported hither considerable Quantities of Gold and Silver Cloths which though slighter are yet dearer than those of Europe In this City as also in Lahor the Inhabitants drive a great Trade in Anil or Indico and at Bandason there is vast quantities of Course Wooll Cotton Lances Bowes Javelins Swords and other Arms. In Lahor are commonly kept two Markets The Inhabitants drive also a great Trade to Forein Parts When the King resides at Agra no Stranger is permitted to stay there above twenty four Hours unless they give him an account of their Business and of what Quality and Country they are but none are permitted to see him without a Present In this City the Netherlanders keep a Factory for their East-India Company who maintain four or five Persons which formerly made a great advantage on Scarlet Cloth great and small Looking-glasses and other Merchandises and also by buying of Indico which grows about Agra but especially at Bianes two days Journey from thence whither travelling twice a Year they have built a Lodge or Store-house there where they buy in all those Stuffs or Cloths which come from Jelapour and Laknau about six or eight days Journey from Agra But at this time it is said the Gain is nothing so considerable whether it be because the Armenians drive that Trade themselves or because Agra lies so far from Suratte that one Accident or other doth generally befal their Caravans which are constrain'd to travel by the City Amadabad through the Raja's Country to avoid the bad Ways and Mountains which lye on the side of Govaleor and Brampour which is the shortest way The Country of Bulloits THE Bulloits which by Robert Covert are call'd Pythagoreans border on one side at the River Andere which seperates them from the Country of Kanawe or Brampour otherwise Chandisch and Surratte and on the other side at the River Tamlao or Tamliko which is the Boundary between them and the Kingdom of Agra The Towns of this Country are Gorra Sandaye Erasmie Zingrene Barrandon Tranado Zajoberdee and Haud Gorra lieth a days Journey from the River Andere and is about two Leagues in Circumference Two of the King's Sons formerly maintain'd a long War about this City till Thei le King of Ostlohm obtain'd the Victory and after a seven year peaceable possession thereof he was also conquer'd by the Great Mogol the sixth of Tamerlain's Successors who made himself absolute Master of all this Country Two days Journey from Gorra is the City Sandaye beyond which about twenty two Leagues further lies Erasmie and seven Leagues further Zingrene eight Leagues from which is the City of Barrandon After six days Journey from hence through a thick Wood you come to the City Tranado eight Leagues beyond which is Zajoberdee and nine Leagues further Haudee which hath a Castle built on a Rock and fortified with many Guns A days Journey from thence flows the River Tamliko which falls into the Indus at the Place where it separates the Indostans from the Bulloits In this Country near the City Zajoberdee is great plenty of Corn and about Zingrene great abundance of Oats and Beasts But
especially near Sandaye where the Fruit call'd Mangas and Sugar-canes grow in such abundance that they give them to their Horses in stead of Hay Sheep are here in incredible numbers whose Wooll being like the Spanish is by the Inhabitants us'd to make Cloth The Woods abound with Elephants Lions Tygers Apes and other Beasts There are Inns in most Places where Horses Camels and other Beasts are set up and fed at the Expence of the Publick without any Charge to the Traveller In the City of Gorra are kept four Publick Schools The Bulloits were formerly a deceitful and cruel People At this day they retain that barbarous Custom of burning the Women alive after their Husbands decease but if any Woman refuse thus brutishly to sacrifice her self they then cause her Hair to be cut off and clothe her in Black and she is ever after accounted so ignominious and dishonorable that not the meanest Person will vouchsafe to assist or visit her In Sandaye is great store of Wooll and Cotton with abundance of Swords Lances and o her Weapons Many Merchants have likewise recourse to this City as Benjans Mesulipatans and great Caravans come to Barrandon where are sold all sorts of Arms Hats made of Wooll and Elephants Teeth The Province of the Hendowns or Hindous THE Country of the Hendowns or Hindous hath on the one side the Kingdom of Agra or Indostan where it is separated by the River Paddar which also divides the Country Zurratte and discharges it self into the Persian Gulph On the North it conterminates with the Kingdom of Multan or as others affirm they Inhabit the Northern Parts of Asmeer and those Parts that lye next to Multan They are also spread through all Surratte and are employ'd as Soldiers to Garrison Towns and Fortresses they being stout and undaunted People and not inferior to the Raspoutes and Patannes The Metropolis according to Daviti is Hendowne which bears the same Denomination with the whole Country The next Town is Rimala and the great City Mearta then follows Towri and about twenty two Leagues from thence the City Geissemer seated in a very delightful Place The Country yields plenty of Corn Cotton Fodder for Beasts and abounds with Sheep and Fowls The Inhabitants are generally great Robbers They dress and eat their Meat in a round spot of Ground into which while they are about preparing and eating their Food they suffer no other Person to come The Women from their Infancy wear little Silver Copper and Iron Chains about their Legs and Pendants in their Ears in which they make holes as big as they may easily thrust their Fingers through and Armlets from their Wrists up to their Elbows In Mearta are weekly kept seven Markets where they drive a great Trade in Indico Callico and Woollen Cloth as also at Gasmeer Moreover the Hindous though abstracted from Heathens eat all sorts of Meats both Flesh and Fish except that of an Ox or Cow When they pray they strip themselves stark naked and maintain a Doctrine different from the Benjans The Province of Sanbat or Sanbal and Bakar THE Province of Sanbat or Sanbal or Sanbe borders on the North at Bakar on the West at that of Agra and is separated on the South by the River Jemni from the Province of Narvar Some as Herbert call this Province Doab that is Between the Waters or Streams for Ab in the Persian Tongue signifies Water and Do Between It lies triangular and is encompass'd by the Streams Ganges and Jemni which make the Country very fruitful and 't was anciently mighty Populous The Metropolie is also call'd Sanbat In this Province twenty five Leagues from the City Agra near the Place where the Jemni falls into the Ganges lies a stately Palace now call'd Helabassa but formerly Praye and founded by the Rajas of that Place in testimony of their Subjection to Ecbar when they submitted themselves to his Jurisdiction The most remarkable thing near this Palace is a large and dark Valley wherein are kept as precious Relicks some Images which the Inhabitants affirm to be of Adam Eve Seth Enoch Methusalem and others which as they relate liv'd in this Place Great Companies of Benjans come daily hither from all Parts to bless themselves here and purifie or wash themselves from all their Sins in the River Ganges which they account Holy They shave off all their Hair and ease themselves thereof as an unclean and unnecessary Burden and promise to themselves great Benefits by the loss thereof The Palace is surrounded with a treble Wall whereof the first is of square Red Stones the second of White and comprehends an Obelisk of seventy two Foot high erected by Alexander the Great The King spent above twelve hundred thousand Ropias to build this Palace of which the Kings of Patan have often endeavor'd to make themselves Masters because of the conveniency of the Rivers which are so near it There is also a Sanctified Tree which the Kings of Patan have endeavor'd to root out but could never attain to it Near Helabas is a magnificent Tomb which King Sanghir built in honour to his first Wife the Raja Maminseng's Daughter who poyson'd her self when she heard of her Son Sultan Gosrou's Insurrection The Territory of Bakar borders on the West at the Stream Ganges on the South at Sanbal on the West at Nagrakat and hath Bikaneer or Bikameer for its Metropolis The Province of Nagrakat THE Province of Nagrakat or Nakercut borders Westward at that of Bakar and at the Stream Ganges It is a Mountainous Country and the utmost to the Northward of the Mogol's Jurisdictions The Metropolis call'd also Nagrakat is adorn'd with a splendid Chappel for the Cieling and Floor is In-lay'd with Plates of Silver in divers Forms which are continually kept scoured It was built in honour of an Idol they call Matta which is erected in this Chappel whither the Indians repair to their Devotion and out of Zeal often cut a piece of their Tongues off as an Offering to the Idol In this Province is another eminent Holy place built on a Rock and call'd Jallamakee where from the cold Springs which run out from between the Rocks are daily seen to arise Flashes of Fire to which the Idolaters kneel down and worship The Provinces of Siba Kakares and Gor. THE Province of Siba lieth to the Northward of Nagrakat and is divided by the River Ganges from North to South The Metropolis call'd Hardware is seated near the Ganges which gliding thereabouts through great Rocks soon after makes a large River The most eminent Rock through which the Ganges takes its Course hath according to the supposition of the superstitious Heathens the form or shape of a Cows Head and they come hither daily in great numbers to wash themselves for they ascribe a certain Divine Power to the Water especially of the Ganges The Territory of Kakares lieth Northward beyond that of Siba and being separated from Tartary by the Caucasian Mountains
is the utmost Northern part of the Mogol's Jurisdiction The Chiefest Towns thereof are call'd Decalce and Purhola The County of Gor lieth North-east from Kakares and is very Mountainous The River Sersily takes its Original in this Country and after long Course Southerly discharges it self into the Ganges The Metropolis bears also the name of Gor. The Provinces of Pitan Canduana and Patna THE Province of Pitan conterminates Northwards at that of Kakares Eastward at the River Sersily Southward at the Territory of Patna and Westward at that of Siba It is water'd by the Stream Canda which empties it self on the Borders into the Ganges The Chief City is nam'd Pitan The County of Canduana verges Westward on the River Sersily which divides it from Pitan This and the Territory Gor are the furthest Limits of the Mogol's Jurisdiction to the North-east The Metropolis is call'd Carhacatenca The Province of Patna borders Westward at the River Ganges Eastwards at Sersily and the County of Jesuat and Northwards at Pitan The Territories of Jesuat Merat and Vdessa THE Territory of Jesuat borders on the West at that of Patna and on the East at Merat The Chief City thereof is call'd Raiapore Merat joyns On the East to Udessa and on the West to Jesuat It is a Mountainous Country and hath Nariel for its Head City The Province of Udessa is the furthest part of this Jurisdiction Eastward and hath Jekanat for its Metropolis The Kingdom of Decan THE Kingdom of Decan is according to Juan de Baroes generally taken for the whole Extent which the Country of Cuncan comprehends because the Inhabitants call that Tract of Land Cuncan which extends it self along the Sea from North to South to the River Aliga and from East to West from the Sea to the Mountains of Gate So that these People are call'd Cuncanyns and not as the Portuguese improperly stile them Canariins But the Coast of Decan which extends Eastward to the Mountains of Gate is call'd The Kingdom of Decan and the Inhabitants Decanyns and as Linschot hath it this Country is also call'd Ballagate that is The Upper Gate for Balla signifies Upper and Gate A Mountain Or rather the Country of Ballagate by Ananie call'd Bilagate is that Land which extends over and among those Mountains as appears by the Description of Linschot who makes three Kingdoms of this Country dividing it into Ballagate Decan and Cuncan All these three Countries taken together border on the North at the Kingdom of Cambaye or Zurratte with the Stream Bate between both and also at the Kingdom of Orixa on the East at the Kingdom of Narsinge on the West at the Sea on the South at Canara being parted by the River Aliga This Country extends it self along the Sea above 250 Italian Miles or as Ananie saith full sixty two German that is from the Mouth of the Stream Bate to that of Aliga or rather as Juan de Baroes hath it from Chaul to the River Aliga in Sintacora is sixty five Spanish Miles But Texeira and other Modern Writers rightly distinguish the Country of Decan from that of Cuncan or Visiapour by its extent to the North calling that Country Cuncan which extends to the South and that which lies more to the North and nearer to Cambaye Decan Decan borders on the North at Cambaye on the East at the Mountain of Ballagate on the South at Cuncan and on the West at the Sea It extends from the South to the North along the Sea-coast of Sifferdan to Negotana a Tract of twenty Leagues and runs up into the Country near Cambaye The Metropolis of Decan according to Texeira is call'd Hamedanager by Ananie and some others singly Danager by others Amdadanager who place it up in the Country and make it the King's Residence affirming That he made this the Seat of his Realm because of the pleasant Situation of the City and the delightful Gardens about the same Yet there are some that make Beder or Bider by Barbosa call'd Mavider the Metropolis of all Decan and Residence of the Kings Next to this is reckon'd the City of Decan In this Kingdom lies also a City built near the Sea-shore which Texeira calls Chaul but Baroes Chiaul by Della Valle Ciul and Chaul and by Barthema Ceuul which by Castald is taken for the ancient City Camane of Ptolomy It lies ten Leagues to the Southward of Bazzain in 19 Degrees and 50 Minutes of Northern Latitude two Leagues from the Sea near a River which by the help of the Flood coming from the Sea brings up Ships close to the Walls of the City It runs up a great way into the Country from whence it takes its Course trending through Hills and Valleys till it discharges it self into the Sea making a spacious Haven in the midst of the Bay below the City The Portuguese have two Forts here whereof the one was built Anno 1520. by Diego Sequeira who obtain'd leave of the King for it The other built by the Moors is on the other side of the Haven viz. on the Right hand when you enter into it To the Southward of this Haven lies a famous Mountain in the Portuguese Tongue call'd Il Morro di Ciul that is A Member of Ciul which commands both the City and Harbor having a Fortress built on the top which is in a manner inaccessible and belong'd formerly to the Moors of Decan that is to Nizam Schiah King or Lord over all the adjacent County This Fortress was conquer'd by the Portuguese who with discharging their Musquets at an Elephant which was by the Moors plac'd to defend the Gate with a great Chain in his Mouth so frighted him that he remov'd to one side and permitted the Portuguese to creep under his Belly and make themselves Masters of the Place But others relate that the Place was taken after this manner viz. When the Portuguese had first with a handful of People defeated a considerable Party of the Moors and put them to flight they retreated to the Fort Il Morro di Ciul where they thought to be secure from the fury of the Portuguese but an Elephant being wounded in the Battel and retiring amongst them towards the Fort fell down dead at the entrance of the Gate which then could not be shut against the Portuguese who by firing boldly upon their Opposers soon made themselves Masters of the Place which since that time they have made much stronger and by that means defended the City Chaul from the continual Assaults of the Moors Pyrard tells us That there are two Cities call'd Chaul in one of which inhabit abundance of Handicrafts and Tradesmen In this City is a famous Temple dedicated to the Goddess Crangene Without the City is a Toll-house Also the Chief Church of the Portuguese stands near the Sea-shore not far from which is a Cloister of the Jesuits with a Church dedicated to St. Peter Southward from Chaul by the Sea lies a Place by Barbosa
and other Special Remarks Treated of in This First Volume of ASIA THE Description of Persia Fol. 1 It s Ancient Limits and Extent ibid. It s Present Limits and Boundaries Fol. 2 The Province of Persia or Fars Fars why so call'd Fol. 3 The Description of the Chief City Schiras ibid. The Description of Maragascan Fol. 4 The Tower Tzehilminar ibid. The Ruins of the Ancient Persepolis Fol. 5 The Cities and Towns contain'd in this Province Fol. 6 The Description of the Road from Schiras to Ispahan Fol. 7 The Dukedom of Lar with the Description of its Metropolis Fol. 8 The Temperature of the Air Nature of the Soil c. ibid. Schirwan or Scerwan in Ancient Times call'd Media Atropatia or Little Media The Modern Names of Media Atropatia with its Boundaries Fol. 9 The City Schamachie with its Description ibid. Culistan Castle why so call'd Fol. 10 Amaleck Cana's Tomb. The Village Mordow Heid Ibrahius's Tomb. Tirihaba's Tomb ibid. The Cities of Ere 's Sequi and Derbend with their Description and the Story of King Tzumzume Fol. 11 The Tombs of Pyrhr Muchur and Imam Curchud Fol. 12 The City Bachu ibid. The Mountain Barmach ibid. The Trade Military Strength and Change of Government of this Province with the Description of the Country of Muscur ibid. The Province of Parthia or Erack The Modern Names and Bounds of Parthia Fol. 13 The Situation and Bounds of the City Ispahan with its Description ibid. The Description of the King's Palace and of the Famous Market-place Fol. 14 The Persians Belief concerning Mehedi ibid. Places of Games and Exercises Houses of Entertainment The Famous Coffee-house in Ispahan The Garden Tzarbag Fol. 15 The Suburbs of Ispahan The Manners and Religion of the Kebbers Fol. 16 The City Jarustan ibid. The Situation and Description of the Cities of Cashan Saba Rhey and Com with the Description of the Village Casmabath Fol. 17 The City Casbin its Situation and Description The King's Palace with the Bath Haman Charabe made famous by the Story of Lockman Fol. 18 Schahesader's Tomb Fol. 19 The Village Achibaba whence denominated ibid. The Temperature of the Air and Nature of the Soil ibid. Scorpions of Cashan ibid. The Tarantula of Persia describ'd and compar'd with that of Puglia in Italy Fol. 20 The Chief Trade of Cashan and Com the exceeding Rich Trade of Ispahan Yasde and Caxome ibid. The Province of Aderbeitzan or Aderbaijon formerly call'd Great Media or Satrapene The several Modern Names of Great Media The Bounds of Aderbeitzan The Description of the City Tabris Fol. 21 The Towns and Places of Note in Aderbeitzan The Situation of the City Sultania ibid. Sultania built by Sultan Chodabende The Description of Chodabende's Tomb and Schach Ismael's Mosque Fol. 22 The Chief Streets and Market-place with their Temples and a Description of Schach Sefi's Tomb Fol. 23 By whom this Tomb was built and the great Revenues belonging to it Fol. 24 The Description of the Tomb of Seid Tzeibrail ibid. The Villages of Basun and Sengoa Fol. 25 The City Caxem The Village Cencem Places lying between Ardebile and Caswin ibid. The Situation and Description of the Province of Iran or Carabach Fol. 26 Drangiane or Sagistam its Borders and the several Names of its Metropolis and Chief Towns ibid. The Country of Nixabur or Nisabur with its Situation ibid. The Province of Kilan or Gilan The Denomination and Situation of Kilan and its Division Fol. 26 The County of Rescht The County of Kesker The City Curab and Town of Astara with the Borders of the County Langercunan Fol. 27 The Nature of the Soil Productions of the Country Wild Beasts Fish Constitutions of the Inhabitants their Apparel and Language Fol. 28 Their Religion and Government Fol. 29 The Plains of Mocan or Mogan with a Relation of their Inhabitants ibid. The Province of Betziruan with its Description Fol. 30 The Caspian Sea The several Denominations of the Caspian Sea with the Length and Breadth thereof ibid. The divers sorts of Fish found therein Fol. 31 The Province of Mazanderan Its Borders and a Description of the Chief City Ferhabad ibid. The City Eskerf The Apparel of the Inhabitants of Mazanderan Their Language and Government The Nature of the Soil and Temperature of the Air Fol. 32 The Country of Chusistan The several Denominations and Bounds of Susiana with its Chief Cities Inhabitants Rivers c. Fol. 34 Carmania or Kerman otherwise Kirman The several Names and by what People Inhabited with its Division ibid. The manner of their Buildings With the Description of the Village Cambru and the Fort there Fol. 35 Meir Abbas Tomb ibid. The Nature of the Inhabitants of Wild and Great Carmania and the Commodities of the Country Fol. 36 Gedrosia or Circan The several Names of Gedrosia with its Chief Towns The Country of Mecheran with its Commodities ibid. The Province of Moghostan The Bounds of Moghostan The Village Ciuciululion The Metropolis Mina Of their Trees Beasts c. Fol. 37 The Province of Lorestan ibid. The Province of Chorazan The Cities Mesched and Herat With the Production of the Country Nature of the Inhabitants and their Government Fol. 38 The Province of Siston It s Situation and Description with the Nature of the Inhabitants and Temperature of the Soil ibid. Aria or Ery The several Names and Bounds of Aria with its Chief Towns Temperature of the Air and Fertility of the Soil Fol. 39 Dagestan or Tagestan It s Situation Division Metropolis The Diet Nature and Customs of the Inhabitants ibid. The Kingdom of Amadan The Description of its Principal City call'd Amadan c. Fol. 41 Persia in General Of the Air ibid. The Nature of its Soil Its Plants and Grain Fol. 42 43 The Beasts breeding therein Fol. 44 45 Its several sorts of Inhabitants Fol. 46 Their Complexion Nature Shape and some peculiar Customs Fol. 47 48 Of their Venery Their Apparel Fol. 49 50 Their Oeconomy or House-keeping Fol. 51 52 Amfion or Opium Thea Coffee and Tobacco Fol. 53 Of their Marriages Fol. 54 Of their Funerals Fol. 55 Astronomy Fol. 56 57 Of their Poesie Fol. 58 Their Lawyers and Physicians and their Language Fol. 59 60 Their Arms and Militia Fol. 61 62 Their Coins Weights and Measures Fol. 63 Their Trade Artificers Manufactures and several Employments and the King's Revenue Fol. 64 65 Of their Buildings Travelling and their Religion Fol. 66 to 72 Of their Festivals Fol. 72 The Policy in Government Oeconomy and Splendor of the Court Fol. 74 Government of the Peculiar Provinces Fol. 80 The Dynastie of their Kings Fol. 83 The Country of Georgia Extent of Georgia Fol. 85 The Division of the Country Its Fertility Wild Beasts Rivers Lakes and Language c. Fol. 86 The Province of Imereti or Basciaciuk It s Extent and the King's Titles c. Fol. 87 The Province of Cacheti The Situation of this Province and the Reason of its Name ibid. The Province of Cardel or Carduel The Bounds of
this Province How the King came to be dispossest The Persians Invade Georgia Luarzab Imprison'd and Murther'd Fol. 88 The Persian quits the Country The Georgian Women much desir'd by the Persian Nobility Teimuraz flies to the Turks who assist him with a potent Army Fol. 80 The Province of Guriell with its Situation Fol. 90 The Province of Mengrelia anciently Colchis The Borders of Mengrelia The Air The Inhabitants afflicted with many Diseases The Rivers in this Country ibid. Their Sturgeon of divers kinds Their Venison Birds Beasts c. Fol. 91 Several sorts of Mengrelians Their first Money Trade with the Turks Houses c. Fol. 92 Their Habits Their homely Manner of Entertainment Recreations Nuptial and Funeral Ceremonies Fol. 93 Of their Physicians How they go to War Their Charity to Strangers Their Government The Royal Seat of the Dominion The Occasion of the first Revolt Fol. 94 The present King of Megrelia call'd Dadian Conquers the Abcassians and makes War upon Imereti Dadian an excellent Prince Their Punishment of Malefactors Fol. 95 Their manner of determining Differences The Wealth of their Patriarchs Their Bishopricks Of their Priests Of their Baptism St. Georges Feast Fol. 96 Their Fasts Superstitions and Ceremonies at Funerals Fol. 97 Avogastes or Avogasie Its Borders and several Names with the Chief Towns thereof ibid. The several sorts of People about Mengrelia and Mount Caucasus The Inhabitants of Mount Caucasus their manner of Living Riches Trade Habit Wars Fol. 98 The People call'd Lazi or Curten and what they be ibid. The Black Sea The several Names of this Sea Subject to frequent Storms Why frequented by the Cossack c. Fol. 98 The Province of Circassia Who the Circassians are The Rivers Bounds and Lords of the Country How they are Govern'd The Situation and Description of the City Terki Fol. 99 How Garrison'd The Habits of the Circassians Their Employments Language and how they Govern their Children Fol. 100 Their manner of Living What Arms they use Their Encouragement of Theft Their different Opinions in Religion Ceremonies us'd at the death of the Nobility Their Degrees c. Fol. 101 Albania The Cities and Chief Towns of Albania The Air and Government of this Country Fol. 102 The Province of Curdistan Its Bounds and the Habit of the People ibid. Their Language Living Government and Religion Fol. 103 THE EMPIRE of the GREAT MOGOL AND INDIA Of India in General INDIA why so call'd It s Division Extent and Bounds The largeness of its Circuit Its Rivers Fol. 104 The Course of the River Indus The River Ganges with its Riches The Lake Chiamay Fol. 105 Their floating Bridges Mountains Beasts c. Fol. 106 Their Fruits and Plants as Betel Areka Cate with their several Uses Fol. 107 The general Name of the Inhabitants Their Division into several Tribes The Brahmans highly esteem'd Fol. 110 The Original of the Brahmans Fol. 111 The several Sects of the Brahmans Fol. 112 Their way and manner of Living with their Habitations Study and Government Fol. 114 The Ceremonies at the Birth of their Children c. Fol. 116 A strange Fable of their Immortal Elixir The manner how they Marry their Children Fol. 117 The Punishment of Fornication Their great Observation of Good and Bad Days c. Fol. 118 Their Account of Time Fol. 119 The Fabulous Story of Gasjendre Mootsjam and their several Superstitions with the Sick and at the Funerals of their Deceased Fol. 120 The Liberty of their Women and in what manner they are oblig'd to accompany their Husbands into the other World Fol. 121 Burning not allow'd by the Mahumetans The Funeral Ceremonies of the Brahmans Fol. 122 123 A pleasant Quarrel betwixt a Christian and an Indian Fol. 123 Cages for Birds like Hospitals Their great love for Cows ibid. Strange Marriages of Bulls and Cows Fol. 124 Why the Indians have Cows in great esteem ibid. The Brahmans forbid the eating of Flesh and why ibid. The Soudras and Settreas condemn'd by the Brahmans for eating of Flesh The Brahmans Diet c. ibid. The Fast-days of the Brahmans The Fast Dauli The Diet of the Indians Fol. 125 Their several sorts of Liquor c. Fol. 126 Their Apparel Places of Recreation Furniture of their Houses The Indians go always Arm'd The manner of Living of the Nobility and Persons of Quality Fol. 127 The Women good Dancers Their Games and Pastimes The manner of the Great Mogol's Hunting What Beasts they chiefly Hunt Fol. 128 The manner of Hunting the Lion by the Great Mogol Their Language and manner of Writing Fol. 129 A brief Vocabulary of the Malayan Tongue ibid. The Court Language is wholly Persian Fol. 134 The Creation of the World in Ten Bodily Appearances of Wistnow or Mahadeu Of the Creation of the World ibid. The Mountain Merowa The four Ages of the World The ten Appearances of Wistnow They acknowledge in some measure a Trinity Fol. 135 They believe a general Conflagration of the World ibid. Matsias or Matx Altar the First The Charge of Bramha ibid. Caurams or Courmas Altar the Second The Riches of the Sea ibid. Waras or Warrahas Altar the Third Mahadue's strange Shape in his third Appearance Fol. 136 The Giant Hirnac's Representation ibid. Narsings Altar the Fourth Hirenkessep's Request to Bramma His Edict ibid. Vannams Altar the Fifth begins with the Second Age call'd Tretrsingke The Request of Vannam to Bell Ragia c. Fol. 137 Prasserams or Paresje Ramas Altar the Sixth Braman and Braminin a Married Couple she being barren they both retire into a Wilderness and there pray to Mahadeu to give them Children who grants their Desire Fol. 138 Reneka Murther'd for what Reason and how restor'd to Life again Fol. 139 Rams or Ram Katas otherwise Dajaratha Ramas Altar the Seventh Rawan's Request to Mahadeu Fol. 140 Kistnas or Cristnas or Crexnos Altar the Eighth Narret's Prognostication of Denki c. Fol. 142 The Opinion of the Wonders of Kistna ibid. Bhodes or Boudhas Altar the Ninth The Description of Boudhas c. Fol. 143 Callenkyns Altar the Tenth It s Description and Continuance c. ibid. Of their Religion in general A General Toleration in India Their Vedam or Law-Book what it contains ibid. The Brahmans Opinion of God The Extract of Garrouda and Annemonta Mahumetanism profess'd in some Places Their high esteem of Ramma Idols giving Answers like Oracles Their Belief and Opinion of the Immortality of the Soul Fol. 144 The Commandments imposed by the Brahmans The several Pagodes of Wistnow and Eswara in Carnatica Strange things related by the Brahmans of their Pagodes Fol. 145 The manner of Worshipping Wistnow and Eswara Fol. 147 The Feasts Gawri Dewi and Tsewartre with divers other Festivals peculiar to several Sects Fol. 148 Their Worship of several Deities Fol. 149 The Brahmans Belief concerning the Transmigration of the Soul Fol. 150 Places accounted Holy and visited by the Brahmans Fol. 151 The Religion Customs and Constitutions of the Hassenists or
it self in certain Lakes of Chaldaea but afterwards shoots it self forth again and from thenceforth anciently it ran directly towards the Sea where it disembogu'd it self with a great Mouth but since having that Course stopt by the People thereabout for the fertilising of the Ground it was forc'd to take its way through the Tigris again This River swelling like Nilus in some places useth to overflow the Fields of Mesopotamia and make them very Fruitful The River Tigris by the Inhabitants call'd Tigil in like manner hath its Source in Great Armenia in a plain Champaign place There where this River runs with a slow gentle Stream it is call'd Diglito where it carried with a swift precipitous Course Tigris which in the Median Language signifies A Dart. It breaks through the Lake Arethusa and a little after the Mountain Taurus hindring its Course makes it self a hidden way under Ground and rises on the other side of the Mountain then having pierc'd through another Lake nam'd Thospites sinks again under Ground and with another Subterranean Course measures six German Miles After it hath taken in other Rivers in Assyria and Armenia it separates Assyria from Mesopotamia and at Seleucia is divided into two Branches one whereof glides to Seleucia and the other to Ctesiphon and so makes as it were an Island though of no great Magnitude As soon as its Streams conjoyn into one again it is call'd Pasitygris At length it insinuates it self into a Lake of Chaldaea out of which having broken forth with great violence it directly tends to the Persian Gulph in which it terminates with two Out-lets The River Jordan springs from two Fountains though not far distant frnm each other the one of them nam'd Jor the other Dan of the contexture of which two Words is fram'd the Name of Jordan This River is extremely pleasant and beautiful in its Prospect About twelve Miles from its Source it runs into the Lake Samochonites thence into the Lake Genesara or Tiberias after which it waters Judaea and Samaria and lastly is immerst into the Lake Asphaltites or Dead Sea in the way making several Turnings and Windings as if loth to lose it self and its sweet Waters in such a noisom Sea In India are two most Noble Rivers Indus and Ganges Indus vulgarly Hiind or Inder rising from the Mountain Parapomisus takes in nineteen Rivers whereof the Chief are Hydaspis and Hypasus The greatest Breadth of this River is fifty Furlongs and the Depth of it fifteen Paces With seven Mouths it empties it self into the Sea Ganges now Guengam ariseth out of the Scythian Mountains affords in many places very rich Pearl and plenty of Gold-dust The least Breadth of this River is said to be two German Miles and its least Depth 100 Foot The grand Rivers of Tartaria Asiatica are Ob and Parapomisus now Orchardus both which fall into the Northern Ocean Rha now Volga Jaxartes now Chesel and the River Edel which disgorge into the Hircanian Sea Of Persia Oxus now Abia or Abiamu Arbis now Ilment and Samydaces Not to omit in Media the Rivers Cyrus Cambyses Amardus Strato and Corindas Of China Cantao Of the Chief Mountains of Asia THE Principal Mountains of Asia are in Colchis under the Turkish Empire Corax Not to speak of Caucasus which is accounted part of the Mountain Taurus as likewise Imaus in Scythia in Media Coronus Jasonius Orontes Zagrus and Choatras In Galatia Olgasis Didymus and that call'd The Tomb of the Celaeni In Bithynia Orminius In Phrygia the greater Cadmus In Mysia the lesser Mount Ida In Lydia Sipylus Tmolus Mesogys and Mimas In Caria Phaenix Mycale and Larmus In Phoenicia Mount Libanus Antilibanus and Carmelius In Antiochia Casius and Pieria In Mesopotamia Masius and Singaras In Arabla Petraea Sinai and Horeb In the Isle of Cyprur Mount Olympus In Palaestine Mount Gilead But the Mountain Taurus which extends from the Coast of Pamphylia over against that of the Isle of Rhodes through the whole length of Asia as already specified is certainly the biggest Mountain not onely of Asia but of the whole World if it be not rather a Conjuncture of several Mountains into one for so it seems to be by taking several Names as it passeth through several Places as Imaus Emodus Parapomisus Circius Chambades Pharphariades Croates Oreges Oroandes Niphates Caucasus Sarpedon Coracesius Cragus and at last Taurus again Those Gaps where the Mountain divides and affords Passage through are call'd Pylae i. e. Gates as the Pylae Armeniae Pylae Caucasiae Pylae Ciliciae which last is famous for that grand Overthrow given by Alexander the Great to Darius Codomannus King of Persia Of the Productions of Asia NO wonder the Luxury of the Persian Empire still overcame those that were Conquerors by the Sword as being anciently the Chiefest and still one of the Principal Kingdoms of that Quarter of the World which besides its fruitfulness of all things necessary for Humane Sustenance produces also all those richest of Commodities that have in all Ages been sought for from other the remotest Parts of the Earth and which especially at this day now that much more of Asia is discover'd than was formerly known render the Levantine Trade the richest and most flourishing of all others The Ancients were not silent of the great Riches of Asia but seem'd not to have that particular knowledge thereof that the late Voyages and the Relations of those who Traffick thither give us Pliny writes of great Quantities of Crystal found in several Parts of Asia particularly at Alabanda and Orthosia and Xenocrates of Ephesus is quoted by him to affirm That in the Isle of Cyprus and divers Parts of Asia great Pieces of Crystal have been thrown up in the Plowing of Lands The same Pliny makes mention of the Stones Alabastrites and Coralliticus the first to be found about Damascus in Syria the other in some other Parts of Asia Solinus having describ'd those two rich Gums of Arabia Frankincence and Myrrh and those two rare Birds the Phoenix and Cinnamolgus comes to speak of the Gems or Precious Stones of this Country and in particular of that famous Sardonix Stone which from the Coast of Arabia was presented to Polycrates King of Samus The other Stones he mentions are the Molochites something resembling in Colour a Smaragdus or Emerald onely of a deeper Green the Iris so call'd because held in the Sun it represents all the Colours of the Rain-bow the Androdamas so call'd as partaking something of the Nature of the Adamant or else because it abates the force of Anger and Passion and the Paederotes a very beautiful Stone and by some thought to be the same with the Opal Neither forgets he the Balsom of Judaea which indeed is generally accounted the richest of all other Balsoms not that of Peru it self excepted nor in India the Pepper and Eben-wood which are produc'd about Mount Caucasus nor in other Places the Adamant Magâ—â—â— and Lychnites Stones Neither omits he to
Rivers of Indus and Ganges which with their Branches water the whole Countrey like a Garden besides many other Rivers which make this Countrey exceeding fertile The Tract of Land from Surat to Brampore is exceeding pleasant and full of Rivulets and Springs but the way from Brampore to Agra is Mountainous and troublesom for the Camels to Travel yet it is free from Robbers The Countrey affords good Wheat Rice and Barley besides many other sorts of Grain and Bread-Corn which may be bought at easie Rates Of the Wheat which is fuller and whiter than the European the Inhabitants bake good and savory Bread upon the Lid of a Pot which hangs over the Fire The Countrey is beautified with many Woods Orchards and Gardens Yet nevertheless in this vast Tract of Land are many Places which are nothing but sulphureous and unfruitfut Mountains and therefore uncultivated and desolate From Cambay to Lahor are sandy barren and unfrequented Desarts but twenty Leagues on this side of Lahor the Ground is fruitful and fat There are very few Springs or Rivulets in all this way and nought but dry Sand which being often rais'd by impetuous Winds up into the Air blows into Travellers Eyes and is ready to smother them partly by reason of these great Wildernesses where there is no Provisions nor Water to be had For fear of robbing most People in India travel in great Companies which the Arabians call Caravans and the Persians Cafila sometimes to the number of four or five thousand People Caravan in the Arabick signifies properly a Company of Travellers Out of the whole Caravan they chuse a Guide who when it is time to proceed forward on their Journey beats three times upon a Drum at the first beating they put up all the Tents under which they sleep in the Night at the second beating they prepare their Camels and Wagons and at the third they set forward When they travel in the Night to prevent all Persons from going astray they give notice by beating on Drums when they shall stand still as also when they meet with any Water-pits by the way which sometimes are digg'd above forty Cubits deep out of which they draw the Water with Oxen. Indostan supplied with Elephants and Horses from other Parts There are many Elephants in the Mogol's Dominions which are us'd in War and for other occasions of the King and the Nobility they also serve them for Carriage in stead of Camels of which there are but few And though the Elephants do not breed here yet they are brought hither in great numbers from the Kingdom of Bengala and Siam and from the Island of Zeilan There are also few Horses or Mules here but what are brought from Persia and Arabia Those Horses that breed here are small and well-truss'd like those of Norway fit to carry Loads like the Asses of which there are great numbers in the Countrey There also many Buffaloes which are put to very hard Work Their Flesh is not edible but their Milk is accounted very wholesom especially for sick People Caravanseras or Houses of Entertainment In the Countreys of Indostan and Surat are no Inns to entertain Travellers onely in the greatest and chiefest Towns and in some Villages are uninhabited Houses in the Arabick call'd Caravansera's that is Caravan-houses otherwise Serrays or Sarraas which are whole Streets and Wards appointed for strange Merchants and other Travellers who take up what Rooms they please and put Locks upon them Each Caravansera hath a Backal or Porter who at set times every Evening locks up the outward Gates which are not opened till the Sun rises This Porter also keeps a Cooks Shop where Travellers may either have Meat ready dress'd or dress it themselves When they set forward on their Journey again and leave the Town they pay a Jeckas of Copper for a Beast to carry their Goods besides their Diet. But in the Caravanseras which are built in the Countrey they need not give any thing for their Lodging whilst the have their Meat from the Porter but these words Salom alecun Peace be with you These Serrays or Caravanser as are built by some eminent People out of Charity for the accommodation of Strangers Idostan very rich Hindostan possesses great quantities of Gold and Silver notwithstanding it hath neither Gold nor Silver Mines but is all brought thither by Strangers never returning out again For they melt down the European or Forreign Coins and recoin them with the Mogol's Stamp Moreover all Ships as well Indian as English Portuguese and Hollanders which carry Commodities yearly from Hindostan to Pegu Tanasseri Siam Zeilan Achem Maoassar Maldives and other Places carry also much Gold and Silver back to Hindostan the Hollanders also carry great quantities of Silver thither from Japan Lastly for all the Gold and Silver which is transported thither from England Holland and Portugal nothing comes in return thereof from thence but Commodities the Money being all kept in the Countrey They have no Pepper Copper Cloves Nutmegs Cinnamon Lead Cloth nor several other Commodities but what are brought from Japan the Molucco Islands Zeilan and Europe Moreover Hindostan is destitute of Fruits which are carried thither from Samarcand Balk Bocara and Persia as Almonds Apples Pears Grapes Raisins which are sold all the Winter long at Dely though very dear They have also from the foremention'd Places several sorts of dry'd Fruits as Almonds Pistachioes Nuts Plums Apricocks Raisins c. There are also little Sea-Cockles taken near the Island of Maldivia which in Bengala and other places go currantly for small Money They have also Ambergreece from the same Island and from Mozambick and likewise Rhinocerots Horns Elephants Teeth Ethiopian Slaves Musk Porcelane Pearls besides many other Commodities The Indians manner of Sailing Texeira affirms That the Mogol's Ships carry greater Burdens than those of Europe and may be compar'd to those Gallions of the Grand Signior which go from Constantinople to Alexandria but are built after another fashion They use neither the Compass nor Quadrant but Sail from India to Persia Bassora Mocha Mozambick Mombas Sumatra Macassar and other Places onely by the help of the North-Star and the Rising and Setting of the Sun The Inhabitants of Indostan There are divers sorts of People in the Great Mogol's Dominions the Chiefest and most numerous whereof being the Natives are Heathens or Idolaters and next them the Moors otherwise call'd Mahumetans from Mahomet the Instituter of their Religion also Mogols or Mogolleans from the Tartar Tribe Mogol from which the real Mogolleans are deriv'd for not all those which at this day bear the name of Mogols are extracted from the Tartar Mogols but also those are call'd Mogols who though Mahumetans are in the Mogol's Service notwithstanding they are Turks Persians or Arabians But there are generally a hundred Heathens to one Mahumetan The Inhabitants of Indostan were anciently all Heathens and are generally call'd Hindoes or Hindous but
by the English and Hollanders Indostans They shave off all the Hair of their Heads but the Baldness thereof is not seen because they always keep them cover'd with Tulbants which they never take off in saluting one another as we do our Hats The Manufacture of the Countrey The Handicrafts Men of this Countrey though naturally lazy follow their Employments very close being either forc'd thereto by necessity or otherwise and make Carpets Embroideries Cloth of Gold and Silver and all manner of Silk and Cotton Stuffs and Linnen which is worn in the Countrey and transported to other Places The Great Mogol or King is necessitated by reason of his many Inland and Forreign Enemies to keep continually a mighty Army as well in time of Peace as War a considerable Body whereof are always near his Person either of Natives as are the Rajas and Patans which for several Reasons he is necessitated to keep in his Service as is before mention'd more at large or chiefly of Mogollers as he himself is or at least those which are taken for such though indeed Strangers For the King's Court is not now as formerly all of real Mogols deriv'd from Tartary neither are those which officiate in Offices and Places of Honor in the Wars all of the Tribe of the Mogols but are Strangers and People of other Nations most or them Persians some Arabians others Turks of their Children though the Children or the third and fourth Generation of the Mahumetans before-mention'd are not so much honor'd and esteem'd as the new-come Mahumetans and are but seldom preferr'd to any Degree of Honor and therefore seem very well satisfied to be ordinary Troopers or Foot-Soldiers It is sufficient in these later times for any one to be accounted a Mogollean though he be a Stranger if he haue but a white Face and be of the Mahumetan Religion to distinguish him from the Indians who are brown and Heathens as also from the Christians of Europe who are call'd Franks or Franguis The Mogol is necessitated to keep strange Soldiers that go by the name of Mogols as we said before because the chief Power of his State consists therein but it stands him in an incredible Charge The strange Soldiers as well Horse as Foot are divided into two Parties whereof one is continually near him and the other scatter'd up and down into all the Provinces In the Troops which attend the Mogol are first Omrah's which are the highest Officers in the second Place Mansehdars in the third Rouzindars The Omrahs Children inherit not their Fathers Estates The Omrahs or Lords of the Mogol's Court are not as we might suppose the Sons of Omrahs or of the House or Family of Noblemen inheriting their Fathers Estates and Honors as here and in France for since all the Lands in the Kingdom are the Kings it follows that there are neither Noblemen nor any other Families that have Estates in Lands Goods or Offices by Inheritance Insomuch that the Children or at lest the Nephews of the most powerful Omrahs are after their Fathers deaths reduc'd to great Poverty and forc'd to List themselves for Common Troopers under the Command of other Omrahs Indeed the Mogol commonly leaves a small part of the Estate to the Widows and sometimes to the Children But if their Father lives long they are oftentimes promoted by him especially if they are well-shap'd handsom-bodied have white Faces and not having gotten too much of the Indian Customs pass for real Mogols Though of late this kind of preferring their Children hath been less observ'd than formerly by reason it is become a general Custom to rise from small Offices to great ones and accordingly their Pay is more and more advanc'd Therefore these Omrahs are nought but Adventurers and Strangers of all Nations and Degrees nay sometimes Slaves who going to serve at the Court are by the Mogol for some or other piece of good Service promoted to that Degree of Honor of which they are again bereav'd at his pleasure Amongst these Omrahs are some call'd Hazary others Dou-Hazary and others Penge Hecht and Deh-Hazary The King 's Eldest Son was also a Dovazdeh Hazary that is A Lord or Commander over 10 or 12000 Horsemen The number of the Omrahs reckoning as well those which are scatter'd up and down in the several Provinces as those which attend at Court is very great and not justly to be set down At the Court are generally from 25 to 30000. The Office and State of an Omrah These Omrahs attain to the chiefest Places at the Court and Offices in the Army and are accounted the Supporters of the Realm and Splendor of the Court They never come into the Street but in very rich Apparel riding either on Elephants Horses or in a Palanquin and attended by a great number of Horsemen which keep Guard before their Houses besides several Footmen who going before and on each side of them make room and by fanning them keep off the Wasps Flies and Dust with the Wings of Peacocks All those that are at Court are bound on pain of forfeiting some of their Sallary to appear twice a day before the King when he sits on his Throne or else visit him every Morning at eleven a Clock and every Evening at six Moreover they are oblig'd to watch once a Week in the Castle by turns for the space of twenty four Hours and therefore carry their Beds Carpets and other Houshold-stuff with them the King providing nothing for them but meat which they receive with great Ceremony viz. they bow three times with their Faces towards his Chamber first holding their Hands over their Heads and next on the Ground They are also oblig'd to attend on the King to all Places when he goes abroad what Time or Weather soever it be either in Palanquins on Elephants or on Tacravans or Thrones carried each of them on eight Mens Shoulders Yet nevertheless the King favors some by reason of their peculiar Offices their Age or Indisposition or to avoid too great Attendance as he doth commonly when he goes a Hunting or to some Banquetting-house near the City or rather when he goes into his Mosque for then he takes no other with him than those that have the Guard that day The Mansebdars Mensebdars are Officers of those Troops Manseb and have a competent Salary yet not comparable to that of the Omrahs but exceeding those of inferior Degrees and therefore they are accounted little less than Omrahs being in the degree of those which are next to that Preferment and the rather because they acknowledge no Superior but the King and are in general oblig'd to do all things which the Omrahs do nay they would be perfect Omrahs had they but a considerable number of Horses under their Command but they have onely six which wear the King's Badges and their Salary also is generally no more than from five to seven hundred Ropies a Month. The number of them being
Garrisons like the Omrahs but in their Tents for they cannot brook being lock'd up twenty four hours together in a Fort nor do they ever go into any of them but with a great Company of resolute Men which have sworn to die by them on the Spot as it sometimes happens when any Design has been plaid upon them The Mogol is oblig'd for several Reasons to keep these Rajas in his Service First because the Rajas People are very warlike and valiant and there are several of them able to bring above twenty thousand Horse into the Field Secondly that he may be the better able to keep in Subjection those Rajas which are under his Pay and force them to pay Tribute when they refuse or when out of fear or otherwise they will not venture out of their Country to come into the Field when the Mogol has occasion for them Thirdly to heighten or increase their Jealousies one among the other the more by shewing greater Favor to one than to another Fourthly to employ them against the Patans or his Enemies the Omrahs and Governors in case any should offer to rebell against him Fifthly to use them against the King of Golkonda when he refuses to pay Tribute or against the King of Visiapour when he offers to Plunder them or bring them under his Subjection at which time the Mogol cannot repose any confidence in his Omrahs which are most of them Persians and of another Religion viz. not Sounnys but Chias as the King of Persia and the King of Golkonda is Sixthly and chiefly to employ them against the Persians when any opportunity presents for then he cannot confide in his Omrahs who as we said before are most of them Persians and consequently can have no inclination to Fight against their natural King The Country of the Resbutes borders on the side of Persia to the Motages on the sides of the River Indus at the City Cambaya also to the Kingdom of Dely and Southerly to the Sea According to Purchas this Country lies in the Road that leads from Surratte to Agra and as Maffee affirms borders on the West at Carmania though more probably as Davity hath it Gedrosia or the Country of the Motages or Nautaques The Towns of this Country are Agra Crodi Vamista Argeng and Saurou which last hath a very strong Castle besides the great City Sarruna from whence it is fourteen Leages to Sinde the Metropolis of this Kingdom The Inhabitants also possess several strong Places amongst which is Dewras This Country is very fruitful and of an exceeding fat Soil producing abundance of all sorts of Provisions having plenty of all things on the very Mountains The Resbutes or Subjects of these Rajas or Indian Princes were anciently in the time of the Heathens Kings of Countries and Peers of this Realm who defended their Country against Invaders maintaining a continual War but â—ow they live in the Mountains maintaining Wars against the Moors to avoid paying Tribute This Tribe hath spread it self very much and is extreamly inclin'd to Robbing and Stealing from whence in India they call a Robber Resbut or Rasapout Ram granted them the liberty of taking as many Wives as they pleas'd as also other warlike Families that so the Soldiers might not settle their Affections in one Place but might be the freer to make Conquest and propagate wheresoe're they came for were they confin'd to one Woman they might perhaps take her along with them to their conquer'd Places and setling there be unwilling to depart thence The Resbutes are a rustick deceitful ill-natur'd but yet a strong valiant and undaunted People fearing no Dangers though threatned with Death whereas other Indian Heathens are mean spirited and timerous carrying their Arms in their Mouths and esteem Railing before Fighting They are very famous for Robbing and Stealing for they Plunder the Caravans and murder all Travellers they meet with if they make the least Resistance They have several little Harbors for small Barques with which they Pyrate along the Coast They go naked from their Navel upwards and wear Turbants which differ in fashion from the Mogols Their chiefest and only care from the eldest to the youngest is how to handle a Sword well The Rajas or Kings of the Ragipous give their Subjects Lands for their Subsistance on condition they shallal ways be ready to Fight when call'd to it so that they might properly be styl'd a sort of Nobles if the Rajas gave them Lands for them and their Children They drink Amfion in great abundance which they use from their Infancy and when at any time they go to meet their Enemies they take a double Portion for Amfion emboldning or rather inebriating makes them fearless of any Danger so that they maintain a Battel like so many ravenous Beasts never retreating but die resolutely at the Feet of their Raja They want nothing but good Discipline to make them good Soldiers for Strength and Valor they have enough It is very pleasant to see them intoxicated with the foremention'd Amfion how they embrace and bid each other farewel like Men making account of nothing but Death For among so many Sects of Hindouns or Heathens subject to the Mogol there is only one Tribe of Soldiers or Fighting People call'd Resbutees of whom the Great Mogol for their Valor and some other Reasons is necessitated though a Mahumetan and consequently a Heathen to entertain a great number in his Service treating them like other Omrahs and making use of them in his Army as if they were Mahumetans nay they are promoted to the greatest Offices and highest Employments under the Great Mogol as also under the King of Visiapour and Golkonda Their Arms are Half-pikes Swords or Simiters and Shields which being large and hollow are fashion'd like a Bee-hive and serve them to feed their Horses and Camels out of Most of the Rajas use Horses which are swift of foot handsom and strong and are always rid unshod The Resbutes eat all manner of Meat except Beef and the Flesh of Buffalo's which Beasts they hold in great Veneration They drink Palm-Wine and Brandy but not out of a Vessel out of which any other Tribes have drank before They are all of them Heathens and would never permit any Mahumetans to mix amongst them The Women resolutely leap into those Fires in which their Husbands were consum'd The third Tribe or Family which is that of the Schudderies derives its Name from Schuddery the third Son of Pourous and Parkoutee who was design'd for Trade for all Traders are comprehended under that Name and Tribe That which the Book given to Bremaw exprest concerning this Tribe consisted only in a few Commandments instructing them how to live Honorably in their Emyloyments to be Just as well in Words as Deeds and not to practise any Deceit or Fraud in their Trades either in Buying or Selling. Amongst this Tribe are those which by the Portuguese according to Texeira are call'd Beneans though he
affirms their right Name to be Vaneans but their common Name is Benjans Some ascribe a peculiar Country to the Benjans and border the same on one side of the Kingdom of Brampous from which it is separated by the River Tynde and on the other at the Country Surratte The Towns of this Country are Daytaote near Surratte and a Days Journey from Naubonne Netherbey and Saylote five Leagues from Netherkey The Country yields all sorts of Grain and Fruit in great abundance especially Lemmons Sugar-Canes and Cotton Under the Name of Benjans are comprehended all those that are Merchants and Broakers for there is nothing bought but by the Mediation and Approbation of those which are call'd Benjans which in the Language of the Brahmines signifies An Innocent and Just People for they cannot endure that a Wasp or Flye or any other living Creature should be hurt enduring patiently to be beaten without resistance They manifest themselves to be a very Just and Pious People for which reason and because they are well acquainted with the Country the English and Dutch Merchants employ them as Broakers to Buy and Sell for them They range all over Asia in great numbers to Traffick but reside chiefly in Surratte Moreover they Buy and Sell after a strange and peculiar manner quite different from any other People for the Benjan or Broaker that treats with the Seller making a Price of the Goods appears with a little Board full of Figures which is ty'd about his Waste and laying it on his Knee points to the number of Guilders which the Buyer is willing to give after which the Seller in like manner expresses his Mind by pointing to the Number which he will have for his Commodity Thus they Buy and Sell without speaking a word according to the Commandments of their Law The fourth Tribe or Family which is that of the Wyses hath its Denomination from Wyse the fourth Son of Pourous and Parkoutee who was sent to invent all Arts and Handicrafts wherefore all Artists and Mechanicks are comprehended under this Tribe The Commandments relating to them and contain'd in the Book deliver'd to Bremaw tend chiefly to instruct them how to behave themselves justly and honestly in their Employments The Name Wyse signifies A Hireling or one that is us'd like a Servant because these People work for those that have occasion for them as Wyse did and all those that deriv'd from him This Tribe consists of two sorts of People for some like the Benjans abstain from Flesh and Wine or use them very sparingly The others are the Heathens of Visceraun which they call Defil'd or Unclean Pagans because they allow themselves the liberty of eating Flesh Fish and other Creatures that had Life These are generally the Rusticks and meanest sort of People which are Coulees And as the most zealous of these Heathens have the greatest resemblance in Points of their Religion with the Kutteries so do they likewise agree in the number of their Tribes which are thirty six equal to the Trades among them In all Mechanical Operations they use as few Tools as is possible performing every thing they do in a contrary manner to that of the Europeans and Christians This is in short the Contents of the third Treatise of the Book of Bremaw concerning the four Tribes or Families according as they live to this day This Book which contain'd the Grounds of their Religion and Rules of Government being first given to Bremaw and by him deliver'd to the Brahmines who publish'd the same among the People by teaching them the Precepts of Religion and Rules of Life which each Tribe were to observe in order to which those who had Power to Govern kept their People in subjection causing every one duly to perform his Office the Priests or Brahmines instructed the People in their Religions the Merchants drove the Trade and the Handicrafts follow'd each their several Callings to the great satisfaction of all those that made use of them Affairs being thus manag'd in the second Age all things went very well Religion was strictly observ'd and honor'd Prayers were directed to God and the three Persons Bremaw Wistney and Ruddery the Banks of Rivers were frequently visited and the daily and usual Cleansing never neglected But after the World increased the Inhabitants thereof grew wicked and degenerated from their first Principles the Brahmines became Dissemblers the Kutteries or Governors grew proud and ambitious oppressing their Subjects and abusing their Authority the Merchants dealt fraudulently the Handicrafts grew idle and set too high a Price upon their Lahor The World thus degenerating God was extremely incens'd thereat and descended on the Mountain Merapurbatee where he acquainted Bremaw how hainous the Sins of Mankind were that he might admonish them to turn from their wicked Ways and warn them of the approaching Judgments which their Offences had justly merited The World hearkned a while to his Admonitions but soon after slighted them and return'd to the commission of their former Crimes which oblig'd Bremaw to intreat God for them but God being unwilling to be reconcil'd to them took him away his limited time being expir'd that so he might not be a Witness of those dreadful Judgments that soon after were to fall upon the Children of Men. Then God acquainted Wistney with his Resolution to destroy all humane Creatures wherefore Wistney interceded for them but God not hearkning to him commanded Ruddery who was appointed to punish all Offenders to raise a great Wind out of the Earth to destroy the People and blow them away like Dust from the Ground Ruddery hereupon provok'd the Winds which were imprison'd in the Bowels of the Earth causing them to break forth with great violence insomuch that they shook the Foundations of the Earth the Day grew as dark as the Night the Hills and Mountains were turn'd topsie-turvy and the River Ganges remov'd out of its place so that this terrible Storm destroy'd all Mankind except a few Persons whom God permitted Wistney to preserve for the propagating and re-peopling the World in the third Age the second being ended in this dismal manner When Ruddery had asswag'd the rage and fury of the Winds all things were still and quiet yet in a deplorable Condition to see the World thus depriv'd of its Inhabitants and utterly ruin'd some were bruis'd against the Rocks others lay heap'd one upon another in the Fields which the Almighty seeing was troubled at it and Ruddery also very much griev'd to have been the Instrument of so great a Destruction Now since these great Misfortunes and Punishments proceeded from the bad Conduct of the Kings and those who Govern'd God utterly destroy'd the Tribe of the Kutteries Those that were sav'd by the Prayers of Wistney consisted in a small number and were only of the three other Tribes But because the four sorts of Tribes were so perfectly necessary for the Governing of the World insomuch that it could not be without them and