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
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
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
great Copper Spout made fast in the Wall is convey'd thither in Pipes from the Mountains lying a League from thence and serves those for Drink that are Dieted there At the end of the Garden on the same side is a fair spacious and round Arch of green and blue Stone in the middle whereof are two great Copper Candle-sticks Round about the Walls are Seats wherein the Priests Cloth'd in white Apparel us'd to Sing It is a Tradition that Schach Sefi us'd to sit every year forty days together here Fasting and Praying his daily Sustenance being onely one Almond and a little Water from whence it is call'd Tschillachane Out of this Court you pass through another Gate where there also hangs a Silver Chain given by Allican Chan of Gappan The Entrance into the Tomb is under a pretty large Room over which is a round Tower through a Door Plated with Silver and adorn'd with thick Silver Rings The Floor at the Entrance is spread with Carpets on which those that will pass to the Tomb must walk bare-footed When Schach Abbas came to visit this Tomb he pull'd off his Shoes half a League before he came to the City and walk'd thither bare-footed in testimony of the great zeal he bore to this Saint This Entry hath a little Wicket on one side cover'd with Plates of Gold which leads to a stately Room It is said that Schach Abbas made this Door as also another at the Meschet in Chorazan before Imam Risa's Tomb upon the making of a certain Vow at the time of his marching against the Usbechies in Chorazan viz. That if these Saints would help him to drive the Enemy out of Chorazan he would give each of them a Golden Door which he accordingly perform'd after his Victory The Vault is forty eight Foot long and thirty broad and set round with many Silver and Gold Branches for Lamps of an extraordinary large size near which commonly sit twelve Singing Priests call'd Hafisan with little Stools before them on which lie great Parchment Books in which as they look they move their Bodies after the same manner as those in the Tschillachane Passing through this Vault you come into a kind of Sacristy ascended unto by three Silver Steps with Rails and Balasters likewise of Silver The Persians commonly kiss these Stairs before they go up the same This Room is exceeding costly and rises with another Step upon which a Rail of massy Gold runs cross the Room and behind it the Tomb of Schach Sefi made of polish'd Marble not of Gold as some say three Foot high from the Ground about nine long and four broad The Door of the Golden Rail is always lock'd and may not be open'd to any mortal Man not to the King himself On the left hand of this Room is another Vault in which Schach Abbas the First with several other Kings lie bury'd On the right side of the foremention'd Entrance is a great Vaulted Room curiously Gilded and resembling a Church the Cieling adorn'd with several pieces of Carv'd Work but not supported by any Pillars This Room being call'd Tzenetsera is the Library where the Books lie in seveveral Chests not set side by side but heap'd one upon the other and lock'd up they are most of them in Arabick but some in the Persian and Turkish Language written neatly either on Paper or Parchment and the Histories adorn'd with various Sculptures In divers corners of this Room are Shelves and Cupboards full of Porcelane Dishes and other Vessels of which some contain the quantity of three Gallons wherein the King and other Lords are serv'd when they come hither for this being a sacred Place and a holy Gift no Silver or Golden Vessels are to be us'd in it and it is said that Schach Sefi was wont out of zeal and humility to eat here out of woodden Platters Opposite to the Library or Tzenetsera is the Kitchin the Door whereof Schach Abbas causâ—d also to be Plated with Silver Every thing in the same is kept very neat divers large Cauldrons or Boyling-places are made in the Wall with great Covers to them The Water convey'd in Pipes round about the Kitchin and let into great Vessels by Copper Cocks Out of this Kitchin above a thousand Servants belonging to the Temple besides a great number of Alms-People receive their Allowance three times a day namely Morning Noon and Night The two first times of Serving are from Schach Sefi's Donation in which are daily spent about a hundred and fifty Aba's or three Tomams which is fifty Crowns but the third Service is on the King's Account These Meal-times are proclaim'd by two Officers who go about beating on Kettle-Drums which as 't is said were us'd by Mahumed and brought thither by Schach Sedredin together with Medine's Flag upon which Signal every one repairs thither and receives from the Butlers and Manciples in a Dish Broth Flesh and Rice in such plenty that many not able to cat all themselves sell it to those that are asham'd to fetch it Out of the Kitchin you go into the Garden where are the Graves of Sultan Aider Schach Thomas and other Kings that lie bury'd under the open Skie without either Tomb-stone or any thing else The chiefest Persons that lie bury'd in several places of this Meschaich are Schach Sefi Son of Seid Tzeibrail Schach Sedredin Son of Sefi Schach Tzinid Son of Sedredin in the European Histories by a mistake call'd Guined Sultan Aider Son of Tzinid who was flay'd alive by the Turks Schach Aider Son of Sultan Aider Schach Ismael Son of Aider Schach Thomas Son of Schach Ismael Schach Ismael the second Son of Schach Thomas Schach Mahumed Chodabende Son of Ismael Ismael Myrsa and Chodabende Hemsa Myrsa Brothers and Sons to Schach Abbas By whom this Tomb was built The Persians relate that a Platform of this above described Tomb was dictated by Schach Sedredin to the chief Architect whom he employ'd in building it after a wonderful manner that is to say he caus'd him to shut his Eyes and shew'd him as in a Dream a stately Edifice according to which he built the foremention'd Structure which Schach Tzinid hath enlarg'd adding a base Court and several Houses to it so that now it is like a great Castle with a continual concourse of People walking up and down there as in a little City It hath great allowance from the King The great Revenues belonging to it besides other Revenues and daily Presents which makes it worth many Millions nay 't is said that this Metzid is able in time of War with ready Money to raise more Men than the King for besides the great Sums in yearly Money it hath many Houses and Lands belonging to it which either pay Rent or Taxes to the same which amounts in all to to a considerable Treasury viz. in Ardebil are two hundred Houses nine Hamans or Baths eight Caravansera's the great Vaulted Exchange with all the Shops and Walks
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
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