Silver or Iron so polished they might be taken for Silver The King of Cambodia is nothing so powerful as the two Kings whom we last mentioned for an Army of twenty five or thirty thousand is the most he can draw into the Field so as were the Siameses more Martial they might with small trouble make Cambodia subject to their King The Nobility of the Court are divided into Ockinas Tomimas Tonimnes Nampras and Sabandars each in his degree but for the best part without any particular charge except the first who are most considerable in publick Assemblies distinguished by little Cabinets of Gold carried after them wherein are Cardamum and other Drugs to rub their Lips Cissars to cut their Bettele by them called Pynang and for the Lime Areca and Bettele which they chew continually In the presence of the King whether it be for Councel or Complement they stand in a semi-circle and behind them the Tommaes known from the others by their Bottles of Silver No address is made to the King but by mediation of these Ockinas for though the Priests are next his Person between him and the Ockinas and converse familiarly with him they esteem it notwithstanding a king of Sacriledge for an Ecclesiastick to meddle in secular Affairs so as none but the Ockinas communicate general or particular Affairs to him of which 't is their Office to take cognizance as also of the Kings Orders upon their report In the whole Town there is but one Pagode or Mosquee wherein there are three bigger and three lesser Statues It is supported with wooden Pillars varnished black with a folliage of Gold and the floor covered with Mats Their Priests have no houses near the Pagode and when the chief of their Ecclesiasticks dyes they build him a Monument of Stone which at the bottom is four-square and upwards to the top grows round like a Pear The Portuguez are so well settled here that the Hollanders cannot hope to carry on any Trade till they have first destroyed that of the Portuguez At their first Arrival in the year 1637. they committed the management of their Affairs to an adoptive Son of the Queen to whom the King had given the name of Tisnecha and the honour of Nampra and they used the credit of the Chabandar of the Iaponeses in hope by this means they might gain a small establishment But the friendship they had contracted with the King of Siam and the Artifices of the Portuguez bred them difficulties they could not master otherwise they might have laded there yearly eighty or a hundred thousand Deer-skins besides Neat and Buffles hides above a hundred Picols of black Lacque at ten Thails the Picol above three or four hundred Picols of Benjamin at seventeen or eighteen Thales the Picol and might have vented their Cotton-yarn and Cloath for above sixty or seventy in the hundred profit Provisions in these parts are so plentiful that the Inhabitants having so much more then they have use for sell them in a manner for nothing specially Venison Beef Pork Goats Hares Kids Cranes Herns and all sorts of Poultry as likewise Oranges Citrons Mangas Cocoes c. but to judge the better of the fertility of this Soyl take notice that the people of Quinam alone fetch yearly thence two thousand Coyangs of Rice five Coyangs making four Lestes or eight Tuns at seventeen or eighteen Thails the Coyang And so much by way of Account of the small Kingdom of Cambodia That Tongue of Land is called Malacca which in form of a Peninsula extends it self from the Kingdom of Siam from the South-east towards the North-west even to the Equinoctial Line betwixt the Gulfs of Bengala and Siam or Cambodia and contains besides the City of Malacca whence it derives its name the Kingdom of Iahor and Patana The Country was discovered by Alphonso d' Albuquerque in the year 1511. since when the Portuguez have kept their ground there so firmly that none yet can supplant them Malacca is scituate upon the strait that divides the Isle of Sumatra from the Continent on this side the Line two Degrees and half in a large Plain where there is but only one Mountain the foot whereof is almost wholly taken up with the Town leaving only a small space open towards the North-east About eighteen hundred paces may be the compass of it for six hundred whereof it lies on the Sea-coast enclosed with a good Wall as likewise on the River-side which bounds another third of the Town and on the Land-side 't is fortified with four regular Bastions The first which is on the River-side is called the Bastion of Saint Domingo another on the Sea-shore Saint Iago and two more betwixt these two called Madre de Dios and Vnze mil Vergenes from that of Saint Iago to that of Madre de Dios there is a good Pallisado of eighteen foot high and between those of Madre de Dios to Saint Domingo a sufficient Ditch The Colledge of the Iesuits also called Saint Pauls which serves likewise for a Parish Church stands on the top of the Hill whence it commands the Town and the Country near about it There is likewise another rising ground about a Cannon shot from the City where there is a Convent of Iacobins The River there which runs North-west is not very broad and at high-water it mixes with the Sea but is fresh at low-water There is a Bridge over it though one side is without comparison much higher then the other by reason the Land South-east is so low and marshy that it cannot be broken but water comes in immediately and in some places 't is absolutely drown'd No week passes but it rains two or three times unless it be in Ianuary February and March The Ebb there leaves open above two thousand paces of shore which being nothing but a deep mud affords no landing at low-water Before the City lye two Islands one the Portuguez call Ilha da Naos about a Canon-shot distant from the City the other Ilha de Pedra for the Quarries where they get Free-stone for their building and lyes something more remote The Caracks and Gallions cast Anchor betwixt these Islands at four or five fathom water but Frigots and Barks enter the River and Vessels of a middle rate shelter under the Ilha da Naos between the River and the City In the City of Malacca its Suburbs and the neighbouring Towns possessed by the Portuguez there may be about twelve thousand Inhabitants thus accounted in the Parish of Saint Thomas in the place they call Camp clein a thousand in the Suburbs towards the River eighteen hundred in the Parish of Saint Lawrence two thousand and in Senhora Nossa de Pidaede as many in Nossa Senhora da Guadalupe five Leagues thence about seven or eight hundred and within the walls of the City three thousand making at most not above three thousand fighting men Amongst them there are not above three hundred
their Hands on their Knees and in that stooping posture they say the Prayer Subhanna Rebbi and repeat the Alla Ekber Then they kneel down touch their foreheads with the grey stone and repeat the foresaid Prayer of Subhanna Rebbi stretching out their Arms. After all this they make the last Prayer upon their Knees then rise up and turning to the left and right hand they pronounce with a low voice Salom alekom Salom alekom saluting the Angels who have assisted them and kept the Devil from disturbing them in their Devotions The Turks salute the Angels before they have quite made an end of their Prayers The Religion of the Persians obliges them to say their Prayers five times a day to wit in the morning at Sun-rising at noon in the afternoon in the evening and as they go to bed Their chief Prayer is the Fatah and next to that the Allhemdo lilla which Translated is to this effect Glory be to the Lord of all Creatures to the King of the last judgement We honour thee we invoke thee assist us in our necessities Lead us in thy wayes bring us into the path of those to whom thou hast done good and not into the way of those upon whom thou hast poured out thy wrath nor into that of such as thou suffrest to go astray Amen And whereas all the Chapters of the Alcoran begin with these words bismilla rahman rahim in the name of God c. the Persians accordingly never undertake any thing but they pronounce the bismilla and sometimes say benahm ohnki namesch heres tzanehaft that is in his name who is the refuge and protection of Souls they express a great attention and devotion in their Prayers insomuch that going sometimes into the great Metschid Mehedi at Ispahan at the time when they were at Prayers I could never observe that they so much as took notice of me but they had their eyes either fastened on the ground or lifted them up to Heaven according to the subject of their Prayers There are some among them who pray with such violence at their own houses that they put themselves out of breath and many times fall down in a swound I remember to this effect a story of one of my Neighbours at Scamachie who was so earnest in his Devotion that having said his Prayer very loud and pronounc'd with all his might above fifty times the word Hakka which signifies God he at length could not pronounce it without a great deal of difficulty and at last his voice quite fail'd him There are some who at their Prayers use a certain kind of Beads which they call Moher Thebish consisting of three dozen distinguish'd by so many great Beads Upon Friday which is their ordinary Festival their Chaltib or Preacher gets up into the Pulpit and reads certain Chapters of the Alcoran with the explication thereof They make no account at all of our Bible and say it hath been falsify'd by the Iews and Greeks and that for that reason God sent the Alcoran as a Corrected Bible or the true word of God While I was at Scamachie I shew'd the Minatzim Chalil the Pentateuck in Arabick He knew the book well enough but said of it Chrabdur that is it is a book that 's corrupt and abolish'd the Alcoran is much the better They have very strange and extravagant opinions concerning the Creation of the World the first man the stories of the Bible the last judgement and eternal life They affirm among other things that at the beginning God made seven Hells as many Paradises but that to the foresaid number there was an eighth Paradise added upon the following occasion At h King of Persia and Grand-father of Nimroth one of the most powerfull Princes of his time grew so vain-glorious and proud that he would be respected as a God and to the end there should not any thing of Magnificence be wanting he lay'd out several Millions of Gold in building the noblest and most Sumptuous Palace that the Wit and Art of man could imagine which was to serve him for a Paradise But the King being upon his way to go and see it and take possession thereof there rose up such a thick Mist which so cover'd the House and Gardens that were about it that it seemed to have quite vanish'd so that it could never yet be found and that this is the eighth Paradise which God hath joyned to the other seven The Persians have also the custom of dedicating or devoting their Children to some Saint as soon as they come out of the Mother's Womb to which Saint they are to be as it were Slaves as long as they live As a badge of this slavery they make a hole in their Ears as soon as they are born and thence it is they have the name of Mahumedculi Imanculi Aaliculi that is the Slaves of Mahomet Iman and Aaly This they ordinarily do when they are some years married before they have Children or when the Children thrive not well There are also some who devote them to a Monastical life and promise to make them Abdallas And yet if the Children that have been so design'd express no inclination to a Monastical life they may go to some holy place and for a sum of money be dispens'd of their Father's vow They have also a Lent or Fast which lasts a moneth every year They call it Rusch or with the Turks Orutz and they begin and end it according to the prescription of the Alcoran with the Moon of the moneth Ramesan They observe it with somewhat more austerity than the ordinary Fasts in as much as they neither eat nor drink between Sun-rising and Sun-set but they have all the night to do what they please in and they commonly spend it so well that they never fast less than they do at that time For having sufficiently furnish'd themselves with Meat and Wine in the night they ly down in the morning and sleep away part of the day Such as are unwilling to fast may for money get a dispensation There is in Persia a sort of people whom they call Seid and they are of the Posterity of Mahomet and Aly and enjoy several particular Privileges and Exemptions They do not shave their heads as the other Persians do but onely cut their hair about the breadth of two fingers and let the rest grow which they tie up together in a tress They are not permitted to marry out of their own Family in regard the Alliances they might make elsewhere would much diminish the King's Revenue They are clad in white and their shooes are low and flat-soal'd They are forbidden not onely the drinking of Wine but also being in the place where any is Drunk so that if they are invited to any entertainment the other Guests must be content with Duschab or onely water The touching of a Dog renders them unclean One untruth would forfeit all their Privileges and
relations and friends of his Son in Law and the next day those of the Bride The Feasting being over the Husband delivers to his Wife in the presence of her kindred the Portion he promised her and she gives it her Father or Mother as a requital of the pains they had taken in her Education so that by this means such as have most Daughters are the happiest especially if they be handsom Maids are married very young and the Father may dispose of the Dower given his Daughter if any necessity oblige him thereto but if he keep it it is due to the Daughter all the other Children being excluded from having any benefit thereof Polygamy is lawful among them but incest severely forbidden in a direct line to infinitie and in a collateral to Sisters and Nieces The first is the only lawful Wife the rest Concubines insomuch that they do not only not live in the same Lodgings with the first but also her eldest Son Inherits as much of the Estate himself as all the rest put together If the first wife have no Son or having any if he die before the Father the eldest by the other wives succeeds him in his right and represents the heir apparent of the Family A man seldom hears of any Adulteries committed among them for the women are kept in such restraint that they are in a manner inaccessible The Husband hath the same power as in other places to kill the Adulteress and her Gallant if he take them in the Act but in regard it is a self-ended and self-conceited Nation they choose rather to make their advantage otherwise of such an accident then defame themselves by a severity which saves their reputation only in appearance The Government of the King the Emperour of China is Monarchical and it may be said to be in some respect despotical in as much as the Soveraign is so absolute that no Law checks his Power and yet his Government is so mild that there is not any Democracy where the Inhabitants are less burthen'd then they are in China Nothing is more destructive to a State and more obliges Princes to have recourse to extraordinary wayes to the cost of their Subjects then War Whence it comes that the Kings of China considering that no forreign War can be carried on but at the cost of the people and that by that means the foundations of a House are dig'd up to cover the roof of it have made it a Fundamental Law that no War should be made to extend the Frontiers of the Kingdoms And to the end their Subjects may give forreigners no occasion of making any War against their Countrey they are forbidden upon pain of Death to go out of it without express permission from the Prince or Governour of the Frontiers They call their Emperour Tie'neu that is Son of Heaven or Son of God not that they believe him descended from Heaven but being the chiefest of men they look on him as a gift of Heaven and a person dear to the Gods He assumes to himself the quality of Hoang which signifies Emperour of dirt or earth so to be distinguished from Xanhi who is the great Emperour of the Universe They say that he who first took the name of Hoangthir lived many ages before the birth of our Saviour and that his successours were desirous to continue the same name as they did who succeeded Iulius Caesar in the Empire That dignity is hereditary in the Family of him who now Reigns so as that the eldest Son only succeeds him the younger brothers being wholly excluded who yet have the Title of King and a Royal retinue with some City of their demean where they are lodg'd and treated as Kings but have so little Authority that the Governour who hath it wholly himself suffers them not so much as to go out of the City nay le ts them have their allowance but quarterly lest having it paid in altogether they might employ it in making friends to the disturbance of the Publick The Councel of State consists of twelve Councellours and a President who next the King hath most Authority Besides this there are in the City of Xuntien six other Councellours to wit one for the administration of Justice which they call Lyp'u The second for the Revenue which they call Hup'u The third for Ceremonies which are essential in that Kingdom and is also called Lyp'u The fourth for Military Affairs and is called Pingp'u The fifth for publick Structures called Cungp'u And the sixth for criminal affairs called Hingp'u The Councellours employed in these Counsels deliberate about those things whereof they are to take Cognizance and come to some resolution but they neither publish nor execute any thing without the Emperours express permission who reserves the decision thereof to himself as indeed he doth that of all other affairs of the Kingdom Once in three years he sends Visitors into all the Provinces who particularly inquire into the lives and actions of the Governours and the state of the Provinces whereof they make him a faithful report and by this means he perfectly knows what is done all over the Kingdom though he never stirs out of his place The members of that Councel of State which they call Colao or Caisiang that is Auxiliary Governours or Ministers of State are all Philosophers and most of them well skil'd in Astrology inasmuch as it is expected they should fore-see the Events of things not only by the help of civil Prudence but also by the course of the Stars which they think more infallible then those of reason grounded on experience The President of this Councel and in his absence the most ancient Councellour reports to the King the debates of the Councel speaking to him on his knees and looking down to the ground never lifting up his eyes though the audience should last two hours All the Provinces of China have a Viceroy whom they call Comon only Peking and Nanking excepted which are Royal Provinces and have only Governours whom they call Insuanto's and are as King's Lieutenants inasmuch as they have the chief Authority in the Province next the Viceroy yet each within his own jurisdiction which extends only over the great Cities where they reside and the lesser ones which depend on them These last have also their Governours whom they call Tutuam and the Portuguez Mandorines They call him who is receiver of the King's Revenue in a Province Ponchasi him who commands the Soldiery thereof Toloc The President for the Administration of Justice Anchasi and the chief of a Councel of War Aytao All these Officers have their several Counsels who all meet in the Vice-roys Palace who takes Cognizance of all Affairs passed therein and if they be of importance he sends an Express to give notice thereof to the President of the Councel of State The most eminent persons next the President whom they call Colao are
l. 2. daies 114 The 8. to Sabackzar 8. l. 1. day 115 The 9. to Kocks-chaga 5. leagues 1. day ibid The 13. to Suiatzki and the same day opposite to Casan where they find a Caravan conducting a Tartar-Prince and a Factor of the King of Persia's ibid The description of Casan its situation buildings Castle how the Province of the same name conquer'd by the Muscovites which occasions a pleasant diversion the exemplary fidelity of a Weywode the Great Duke forc'd out of Muscovy takes the City of Casan by storm ibid. Melons of extraordinary bigness 116 The 15. they leave Casan come the 17. to the mouth of the River Kama which falls into the Wolga on the left hand 12. leagues from Casan 117 The Iland of Sokol ibid The 18. they come to the River Serdick and afterwards to that of Vtka and see as they pass by the City of Tetus 25. leag from Casan 118 The 19. they pass before the Iland Staritzo which is three leagues in length ibid The fishing of the Muscovites and Tartars ibid Botenska Iland the Cape of Polibno the River Beitma and several Cities ruin'd by Tamerlane ibid The mountain Arbeuchin ibid The River Adrobe the Salt-mountain the River Vssa the mountain Divisagora ibid Iabla-neu-quas or the Cider-valley ibid The mountain Sariol-Kurgan and that of Savobie 119 S. Nicholas's red Snakes ibid The 28. betimes in the morning they come to the City of Samara 60. l. from Casan upon the River of the same name within two wersles of the Wolga ibid The same day they come to the mountain of the Cosaques and opposite to the fall of the River Ascola 120 The River Pantzina the Iland of Zagcrinsko ibid The 30. to the River Zagra the Iland of Sosnon and the mountain Tichi ibid The 31. to the Iland Osino and that of Schismamago to that of Koltof the mountain of Smiowa and the 40. Ilands ibid The fabulous metamorphosis of a Dragon kill'd by a Heroe ibid. SEPTEMBER The 1. they come to the City of Soratof which lies upon a branch of the Wolga 70. leagues from Samara 121 The 2. pass by the Ilands Kriâ—sna and Sapunofka and come to the mountain Achmats-Kigori 10. l. from Soratof ibid 4. leagues lower to the Iland Solotoi and the mountain Solottogori or the Golden mountain that of Craye the mountain of Pillars the River Ruslana the mountain Vrakofskarul 30. l. from Soratof the mountain Kamuschinka and River of the same name ibid. At this place the Don or Tanais is within 7. leag of the Wolga Visits from the chief Persons of the Caravan 122 The River Bolloclea 18. l. from Kamuschinka The first branch of the Wolga 123 The 6. they come to Zariza 70. l. from Soratof on the right side of the River ibid Thence to Astrachan there are only barren lands and heaths The Iland Zerpinske behind which there falls a River into the Wolga whereby there might be a communication with the Don. ibid The 7. they come to the Iland and mountain Nassonofsko 124 Tziberika a Fish of a rare figure ibid The 8. to the Cape Popowizka jurka 14. l. from Zariza and the mountain Kamnagar 8 l lower the Iland and River Wesowoi and that of Wolodinarski-Vtzga Achtobenisna Vtsga a second branch of the Wolga the Iland Ossino an extraordinary kind of Liquorice ibid. The 9. to the little City Tzornogar 40. l. from Zariza its original ibid Carps weiging 30. pound Sandates c. 168 The 10. leave Tzornogar come to the mountain Polowon and the Iland Kissar 125 The 3. and 4. branches of the Wolga the Islands of Coppono and Katarniski ibid The Iland Peruski the 5. branch of the Wolga the excellent fruits of Nagaia Cormorants the 6. and 7. branches of the Wolga ibid The 15. the Ambassadors having pass'd by the Ilands Itziburki and Basan and the River Biltzick come to Astrachan ibid The 7. branch of the Wolga maketh the Iland Dolgoi in which Astrachan lies From Moscou to Astrachan there are above six hundred German leagues A description of Astrachan where they stay neer a month 126 A description of Nagaia the Iland of Dolgoi the Salt-pits 127 Astrachan 12. l. from the Caspian Sea the fruits of Nagaia ibid Its Inhabitants Nagaia when conquer'd by the Muscovites the greatness of the City its Structures Ammunition Garrisons Governours the Tartars not permitted to come into it their manner of life and cloathing wars with the Kalmukes and Tartars of Buchar 128 Their Princes Religion food 129 The Ambassadors visited by the Persians who came along with the Caravan ibid The Cuptzi's Present a visit of the Tartar-Prince and his reception ibid The Cuptzi's visit the Weywode's Present to the Ambassadors the Ambass visit to the Tartar-Prince 130 The Cuptzi's Feast 131 The Tartars much addicted to Hawking the treatment of another Persian Merchant Brugman's imprudence the visit of another Tartar-Prince 132 The Weywode's Present ibid OCTOBER The 1. the Secretary sent to the Weywode Provision made for the continuation of the Voyage ibid The 10. the Amb. leave Astrachan and embark upon the Wolga Simples of extraordinary bigness neer Astrachan 133 The 12. come to Tomanoigor or the Snaky mountain ibid Many Ilands at the mouth of the River the Sepulchre of a Tartar-Saint the Sacrifices of the Tarters dog-fishes several sorts of Birds ibid The 15. come to the mouth of the Wolga and to the entrance of the Caspian Sea where it is very troublesom sailing 134 A Muscovian Slurrâ— the civility of a Persian Pilot an ominous day 135 NOVEMBER The 1. they come before the City of Terki in Circassia having sailed but 60. l. in 16. daies the situation of Terki upon the River Timenski its fortifications Garrison ibid The Cuptzi's Present to the Ambassadors a mutiny in the ship an Eunuch belonging to the King of Persia visits the Ambassadors their Present to the Weywode 136 Their message to the Tartar-Prince his house his reception of those sent to him a collation the curiosity of the Tartar-Ladies 137 The Princess's Present to the Ambass The Tartars enclin'd to theft ibid The Weywode's Present ibid Nov. 10. the Ambassadors leave Terki An Iland in the Caspian Sea 138 A description of the Iland Tzetlan by the Persians called Tzenzeni ibid Come in the sight of the mountain Salatto which is the Caucasus of the Autients in Mengrelia or Colchis mount Ararat 139 Are forc'd by a tempest upon the Coasts of Persia. ibid The Ambass dis-embark with part of their retinue 140 The Ship run a ground 141 A description of the Caspian Sea its names It is a particular Sea having no communication with any other 142 Above a hundred Rivers fall into it yet is it not known what becomes of them ibid The length and breadth of it contrary to the common opinion of Geographers its water is salt Curtius's error the Caspian Sea not known to the Antients 143 It neither ebbs nor flows hath few Havens its fish and fishing
ibid A description of the Province of Shriwan which is the antient Media 145 A description of Persia its etymology greatness frontiers Provinces the Province of Erak ibid Fars Schirwan Iran Aderbeitzan 146 Kilan Mesanderan Labetzan Rescht Kesker 147 Chorasan Sablustan Sitzistan Kirman 148 Chasistan Tzifire or Diarbeck 149 A particular description of the Province of Shirwan ibid The houses of Persia the Governour of Derbent'ss Present to the Ambassadors which is refus'd through Brugman's uncivility 150 A Mehemandar sent to the Ambassadors to conduct them through the Country ibid The Cuptzi comes to Niasabath ibid The Tartar-Prince of Dagestan visits the Ambassadors Brugman's indiscretion 151 DECEMBER The 22. the Ambassadors leave Niasabath by land and lodge at the Village of Mordou its Inhabitants a people called Padars 152 Caravansera what it signifies the mountain Barmach described ruins of the Fortresses antiently called Portae Caspiae the opinions of the Persians concerning the said Fortresses ibid The 26. leave Barmach and come the next day to Pyrmaraas a place famous for the Sepulchre of a Persian Saint A description of it as also that of another 153 An error of I. Caemerarius Varro and Ammianus Marcellinus ibid Shells in mountains far from Sea false Miracles wrought by the Persian Saint the superstition of the Persians 154 The 30. come to Scamachie ibid The ceremonies of their reception there the kindred of Aly distinguish'd by their habit the Chan's retinue 155 The Musick of the Persians the Chan treats the Ambassadors the services of the Feast the Napkins ibid The cleanliness of the Persians the Chan an excellent Marks-man One of the company a Persian kills himself with drinking Aquavitae the Chan's present to the Ambassadors 156 We continued at Scamachie three months M.DC.XXXIII IANVARY Ths enterment of the fore-said Persian Gentleman the Ceremonies of the Armenians consecrating of the Water on Twelf-day 157 The Calenter's Feast the Ambassadors Present to the Chan the Governour permits the Armenians to build a Church 158 The Schach's orders for the Ambassadors 159 The 28. the Muscovian Envoy leaves Scamachie ibid FEBRVARY A College for the instruction of Children 160 What taught in the said College Another School the Persians have Euclid and make use of the Astrolabe ibid The Prior of a Monastery of Augustine Friers at Tiflis visits the Ambass 161 A Feast in memory of Aly a Persian Priest pleasantly dress'd a Procession after Sermon ibid The 14. ended the Persian Lent which began Jan. 16. the Amb. treated by the Chan hunting with a tame Leopard 162 MARCH The 1. the Persians celebrate a Feast their New-years-day their Epoche their year consists of 12. Lunar moneths 163 The Chan makes his last visit to the Ambass their Persian Intepreter turns Renegado 164 The 24. the Chan sent his New-years-gift to the King the Ambassadors reimburs'd their expence ibid A description of Scamachie 165 Its name and situation is the Metropolis of Media Atropatia its Founder Streets Houses Inhabitants Commerce Market-place Caravanseras ibid Its Hamams or publick stoves the Chan's charge a character of the Chan and Calenter 166 A ruin'd Fortress named Kolekulesthan two sepulchres of Saints the tomb of a Princess of Persia. ibid The perpetual fire of the Persians kept in the mountain of Elbours 167 The 18. the Ambassadors leave Scamachie the Sepulchre of a Persian Saint ibid The 30. come to Kasilu the 31. to Tzavat the conjunction of Cyrus and Arares 168 APRIL The 2. the Ambass cross the River Cyrus by a bridge of Boats change their Mehemandar a kind of Deer not known in Europe ibid The torrent of Balharu Tortoises how they hatch their eggs the Inhabitants thereabouts Tartarian hutts 169 Ill weather a venemous herb the Schach sends another Mehemandar to meet the Ambassadors ibid The mountain Tzizetlu ibid The 10. of April the Ambassadors make their entrance into Ardchil having travell'd 45 leagues in 12. daies 170 They continue there two months The ceremonies of their entrance the Chan and Calenter of the City their names and qualities the Chan's Collation ibid The Chan's house described the veneration the Persians have for their Prince Thaberick what Is serv'd without wine the allowance of the Ambass during their stay at Ardebil 171 The Governour 's visit that of an Armenian Bishop Christian Churches in Persia the Kurban or sacrifice of the Persians ibid The Pilgrimage of the Turks and Persians to Meca 172 The fabulous story of the sacrifice of Abraham 173 Prayers for the Dead the Chan treats the Ambassadors and acquaints them with the violent death of the Grand Seignior 174 MAY. The 4. the Chancellor of Persia's son visits the Ambass ibid The 14. a particular Feast kept only by the Persians ibid A strange kind of devotion a false Miracle the last Ceremonies of the Festival 175 Persian Poets Fire-works ibid The enterrment of Hossein represented a bloody devotion 176 A description of Ardebil its situation air and soil ibid Its streets market-place the sepulchre of Schich-Sefi its Metzids of Mosqueis 177 The Ambassadors visit Schich-Sefi's sepulchre lay down their Arms at the entrance of it 178 Laicks not permitted to approach the sepulchre its miraculous Vault the Library belonging to it 179 The Kitchin the charity of the place the sepulchres of the Kings of Persia. Commissaries for the reception of the profits belonging to the sepulchre 181 The Insolence of a Favorite punish'd ibid Another Saint's sepulchre 182 The tomh described the Governour of Arbil administors an Oath to the Religious Men belonging to the sepulchre Medicinal waters ibid Sulphureous sources Springs of hot water the wholesomness whereof discover'd by the Serpents the pool of Scherkol ibid The Ambassadors Presents to the Chan. ibid IVNE The 1. there came another Mehemandar from the King 183 The 12. the Ambassadors leave Ardcbil the Chan takes leave of them the Province of Chalcal the corruption of the Persian Officer strange Grass-hoppers ibid Kisilosein the Mehemandar's complaint the Ambassadors come to Kcintze to Kamahl 184 The Persians set upon the Ambassadors Guard they come to the City of Senkan a Gentleman on horse-back who had neither hands nor feet Senkan destroy'd by Tamcrlane 30. leagues in seven daies 185 A branch of the mount Taurus ibid The 21 they come to Sulthania 6. l. one day its description built by Chodabende 186 There they stay three daies A paraphrase of the Alchoran the superstition of the Persians Artillery a Mosquey founded by Schach Ismael ibid Tamerlan's respect for the Mosquies the Persian Ladies travel in great Chests 187 The 27. the Ambassadors come to Caswin 188 The Situation Inhabitants Language is the antient Residence of the Kings of Persia. ib. It s Palace Market-places Turqueses and Rubies very cheap there Turqueses and Rubies very cheap there the Sepulchre of Hossein's son Its Caravanseras ibid The fabulous story of Locman Risa a false Prophet the History of the Indian-Prince 189 Schach-Tamas's evasion the Ambassadors send to visit the
Indian-Prince 190 IVLY The 2. the Chan gives the Ambassadors a divertisement the errour of the Antients concerning the Elephant the mountain of Elwend 191 A pleasant story ibid IVLY The 13. the Ambassadors leave Caswin and come the 17. to Saba 20. l. four dayes the situation of Saba 192 Leave Saba the same day and come the 19. to Kom 11. leagues in two daies 163 Their entrance into Kom its situation it is the Guriana of Prolomey Its fruits traffick and Inhabitants ibid The 21. they leave Kom and come the 24. before day to the City of Kaschan 18. l. in three daies 194 Their entrance into Kaschan the Daruga's advancement ibid Its situation the house with a thousand doors It s publick structures its soil and fruits ibid Venemous Creatures the remedy against the stinging of Scorpions the Author stung by one another venemous insect its venom and the operation of it the remedy 195 The Fable of Schutza Adin Hassan Kalchi an Arabian Author Elmacini another 196 The 26. they leave Kaschan and come the 28. to the little City of Natens 12. leag 2. daies ibid They Travel on the 29. and having got ten leagues in six daies come to Ispahan the 3. of 197 AVGVST The Ambassadors continue at Ispahan above four months and a half ibid Their entrance into Ispahan they are ledg'd in that quarter of the Suburbs where the Armenians live and visited by the Dutch Factor of the East-Indy Company ibid A quarrel with the Indian Ambassadors domesticks which occasion'd an engagement wherein many were kill'd on both sides ibid The King interposes his Authority 199 The Indian Ambassador dismiss'd his aboad at Ispahan his Presents the occasion of his Embassy ibid The Ambassadors change their quarters which they fortify against the Indians have their charges defraid by the King their allowance 200 They go into Mulcovian Habits their first Audience the Presents made in the Prince his name the Presents from the Ambassadors themselves the Persians observe no order in their ceremonies 201 The Reception of the Ambassadors the Hall for Audience silver pails to water Horses the King's person age aspect stature dress retinue ibid The particulars of their Audience they dine with the King 202 The gold-plate Schiras-wine the Carver the manner of sitting at meat silence at meals Musick 203 Their first private Audience at which the King is in person 204 The 28. of Aug. the Ambassadors are treated by the Augustine Friers at their Monastery ibid. SEPTEMBER The Ambassadors highly treated by the Armenians 205 Porcelane-Musick de magnificence of an Armenian Lord. ibid The 19. the Ambass have their second private Audience they are treated by the English Merchants Indian Dancing-Women their dress 206 The Ambass are treated by the French Merchants ibid OCTOBER The 1. the Ambassadors make a Feast running at the Ring the scuandalous life of one of the Ambassadors 207 Ceremonies of Marriage among the Armenians their Communion ibid The Baptism of the Armenians the Tragical history of a Clock-maker 208 His execution his barial the King takes the Ambassadors along with him a-hunting 209 An Astrologer Crane-hunting Duck-and wild Goose hunting 210 Leo pards a Persian Lord turns executioner ib. Wild-Ass-flesh esteem'd in Persia Present from one of the Ambassadors to the King 211 Pidgeon hunting the King carries the Ladies of the Court a-hunting his liberality in his debauches 212 NOVEMBER The 19. the Chancellor treats the Ambassadors a Hall set all about with Looking-glasses the Persian treatments have all diversions ibid A character of the Chancellor his Fortunes and Advancement the same of an Armenian Lord a second conference with the Chancellor the visit of two Armenian Lords 213 DECEMBER The King's Presents to the Ambassadors their last treatment at Court the Chancellor's Present to the King the Ambass take leave the Muscovian Possanick dimiss'd 214 The Presents from some Persian Lords to the Ambassadors Brugman's imprudence one of the Gentlemen of the retinue takes Sanctuary 215 Brugman's insolence the King's patience ibid A description of Ispahan the Metropolis of Persia. 217 Its greatness the River Senderut 218 Ispahan destroy'd by Tamerlane its gardens its fountains ibid The houses stoves streets the Maidan or Market-place 219 The King's Palace his Guard and the several appartments 220 The Sanctuary the Cittadel another Sanctuary the chief Mosquey of Ispahan 221 The exercises of the Grandees Taverns and other drinking-drinking-houses ibid The The or Tea-houses those for Tobacco and Coffee Barbers and Surgeont the Basar 222 Ispahan a place of great Trade the Persian money 223 Caravanseras or publick Inns or Storehonses the Monasteries 224 The King's Stables his Garden fruit-trees the Suburbs ibid The Religion of the Kebbers 225 Villages neer Ispahan the fields about it the air of Persia. 226 The diseases of the Country its soil ibid Cotton domestick Creatures 227 The reason why the Persians ab hor Swine 228 Camels several particulars of them 229 Horses c. Fruits 230 Why the Mahumetans drink no wine 231 Their ordinary drink which is Duschab c. 232 Fruit-trees ibid Nefte salt iron the stature of the Persians 233 They paint their hands and nails their cloathing 234 Kisilbachs what 235 The habit of the women the Persians are very neat ingenious and complemental 236 Addicted to lying constant in their friendships 237 Luxurious the King of Persia hath several Wives and Concubines Sodomy not punish'd in Persia Polygamy allowed ibid Their house-keeping house-hold-stuff 238 Their ordinary food and drink they take Opium 239 And Tobacco they drink 〈◊〉 or Coffee two pleasant stories concerning the effect of it 240 The use of The or Tea 241 Where the best stuffs of Persia are made ibid What silk it produces yearly ibid Trading not obstructed by War the inconveniences of Polygamy 242 Incest tolerated 243 Their ceremonies of Mariage ibid The watch in the night 244 Mariage for a certain time the superstition of the Persians 245 Their Iealousy Adultery punish'd Divorce lawful stories to that purpose ibid The education of their Children their Authors for reading their writing Ink Pens the Persian language 247 The Persians learn the Turkish language their characters their Vniversities their best Authors 248 A fabulous history of Alexander the Great c. 249 The Persians addicted to Poesie their best Poets 251 Their Law Medicine Astronomy ibid The Lunar and Solar year 252 They are much addicted to Iudiciary Astrology 253 The political Government of Persia. 254 The quality of Sophy the Kingdom of Persia hereditary the Arms of Persia the Coronation of their Kings 255 A short history of the late Kings of Persia Ismael 1. Jacup ibid Schach Tamas 256 Ismael II. Mahomet Chodabende 258 Emir Hemse Ismael III. Schach Abas ibid He engages in a war against the Tartars 259 Another against the Turks ibid His severity puts to death his eldest son 261 His voluntary penance for the said murther 262 Several other particulars of Schach Abas of his cruelty
c. 263 Schach Sefi succeeds his Grand-father Schach-Abas 265 Several examples of his cruelty kills an Vncle and his three sons 266 Kills Seinel-Chan with his own hands ibid Puts to death his Chancellor and others 267 Causes 40. Ladies to be buried alive among whom his own Mother 269 Express'd more temerity than courage in his actions is subject to wine ib. His Wives Concubines death 270 Schach Abas succeeds his Father dignities not hereditary in Persia the Persian Armies consist most of horse ibid Their Military Officers they hate Cowards 271 The Schach's revenue the Officers of the Court their names and places 272 The administration of Iustice Vsury forbidden their punishments 275 The Religion of the Persians the signification of the word Mussulman Circumcision the difference between the Religion of the Persians and that of the Turks ibid The initials of the Religion of the Persians their Saints 276 Their Festivals Commentators upon the Alcoran 277 Their Miracles 278 Their purifications and prayers 279 The Persians very devout their opinion concerning Heaven and Hell 280 They dedicate their Children to Saints their Lent the kindred of Mahomet ibid Another sort of lewd Religious men called Abdallas 281 The enterrments of the Persians 282 THE RETURN of the AMBASSADORS From Persia through Tartary and Muscovy to Holstein M. DC XXXVIII DECEMBER Some of the retinue takes Sanctuary 284 The 21. the Ambassadors leave Ispahan and take their way back by the little City of Nalens whence they come to Kaschan 285 IANVARY The 3. come to Kom the 6. to Saba the 11. to Caswin 60. leagues in 14. daies 286 The mountain Kilissim and other salt-mountains ibid They meet with a Polish Ambassador ibid The superstition of the Persians 287 The Ambass leave Caswin ib. Fauces Hyrcaniae a Caravansera upon a Bridge a dreadful road Summer and Winter the same day 288 The Province of Kilan described its fruits ib. Its Inhabitants ib. The history of Karib-Schach a strange punishment 289 The Kilek disarm'd their habit and language the Thalischs the different imployments of men and women in those parts 290 The Ambassadors come to Rescht the Metropolis of Kilan a feast in honour of Myrza's Sanctuary they leave Rescht 291 They come to Kurab Metropolis of the Province of Kesker ibid FEBRVARY The 1. they leave Kurab and come the 11. to Kisilagats in the Government of Astara 50. l. in 8 daies They cross several little Rivers among others that of Dinatzar which divides the Provinces of Kesker and Astara 292 Come to the Province of Lenkerkunan leave Lerkeran the City of Kisilagats 293 The Inhabitants of a Village extirpated for their incest a false Miracle of Aly A barbarous action of the Ambassador Brugman 94 Causes a Kisilbach to be kill'd in cold blood ibid A Robber General of an Army and Governour of a Province 295 The River Aras some errors in Geography corrected by the Author 296 The mountain of Scamachie the Chan treats the Ambassadors 297 MARCH Several treatments given the Ambassadors by the Chan and others how the King of Persia assures the Chans of his favour ibid The ceremonies of that assurance ibid Ceremonies of the Armenians their Easter the Ambassador from the King of Persia for Holstein comes to Scamachie 298 The Ambassadors leave Scamachie March 20. and come the 7. of April to the City of Derbent 42. leagues in 9. daies 299 APRIL Padars a people otherwise called Kurs who are high-way-men ibid Above 30. sources of Nefte black and white Derbent described ibid Built by Alexander the Great ibid The Fable of Tzumtzum and his Sepulchre Many other Sepulchres upon occasion of the defeat of Kassan King of Media the Inhabitants of Derbent 300 The Chan of Tarku proffers to convoy the Ambassadors they take order for their departure the Governour hinders it Other Saints Sepulchres 301 The 14. the Ambassadors leave Derbent enter into Dagesthan pass through the Country of Osmin and the Seigniory of Boinack and come the 16. to Tarku the Metropolis of Dagesthan 18. l. in 3. daies 302 There they continue in much danger and with great inconvenience neer a month ibid The Tartars ot Dagesthan their Habit 〈◊〉 the Prince of the Tartars ibid The Country of Osmin the Lordship of Brugman's impertinence a Polish Ambassador kill'd 303 The Author in danger to be taken by the Tartars ibid The Ambassadors in great danger are treated by the Prince of Tarku their drink 304 The Present sent to Surkou-Chan who invites the Ambassadors to Dinner particulars of the entertainment Another Tartarian feast 305 The Governour of Terki refuses a Convoy 306 MAY. The Ambassadors leave Tarku enter the 18. into the Circassian Tartary and come the 20. to the City of Terki the Metropolis thereof 26. leag in 9. daies The Schemkal grants the Ambassadors passage ibid The River Koisu the Albanus of Ptolomy they come to Andre 307 The Schemkal's Present to the Ambassadors their to him Brugman's policy they leave Andre and cross the Rivers Ascai and Bustro which last divedes the Dagesthane from the Circassians 308 They enter Circassia abundance of Serpents a kind of Field-Mice ibid The Government of Circassia the language habit the dress of Widdows their women very familiar yet chaste 309 Their Religion sacrifices enterrments their mourning 310 IVNE The 4. the Ambassadors leave Tarku and travel over a great sandy Plain and come the 15. to Astrachan 60. leagues in twelve daies The desert of Astrachan in which being 11. daies journey they saw neither City nor Village nor House nor Tree nor any River but that of Kisilar nor meet with so much as fresh water 311 They cross the Wolga to get to Astrachan the Weywodcs Present to the Ambass theirs to him 312 There the Ambassadors continue from the 14. of Iune to the 7. of September ibid A pernicious design of one of the Ambassadors the Muscovian Ambassador leaves Astrachan poisons himself ibid AVGVST The 1. was celebrated the Reduction of Astrachan the Persian Ambassador's entrance into it 313 SEPTEMBER The Ambassadors divide their Baggage Brugman buies two young Girls the Persian Ambass buys him a wife ibid The 7. the Ambass leave Astrachan and embark upon the Wolga come to Tzornogar to Sariza ibid OCTOBER The 6. came to Soratof the 24. to Slamara ibid NOVEMBER The 6. they come to the River Casan the Wolga being frozen up and go to the City of Casan 314 There they continue five weeks DECEMBER The 13. they leave Casan by Sledges are drawn along the Wolga and come the 21. following to Nisa The 16. the Muscovites celebrated the feast of their Patron St. Nicholas 314 M.DC.XXXIX IANVARY The 2. the Ambassadors make their entrance into Moscou It was according to the accustomed manner they have several conferences with the Officers of the Court The 8. the Czaar's second Son dies ibid The Ambassadors continue at Moscou six weeks FEFRVARY The 3. the Persian Ambassador made his entrance into Moscou ibid MARCH The
be carried away But they have been since baptized and have embrac'd Christian Religion by the means of a Bishop of Vladimer which the late Great Duke sent among them with some Priests to instruct them The Author who hath here made one digression to speak of the Samojedes though not falling under the Subject of his Travels thinks he may make another to say somewhat of Groenland as well in regard of the consonancy there is between the people of that Country and those he had now spoken of and also the Tartars of whom he will have occsion to speak hereafter as for that he hath seen and discoursed with some Inhabitants of Groenland who have told such particularities as would not be undelightful if M. de la Pcreire had not said before himall that could be said of a Country which is as little known as those parts of the World that have not yet been discover'd The Treatise he hath publish'd upon this Subject is such that we shall not need to repeat what he hath clearly and elegantly express'd but only add together with the opinion of our Author who thinks Groenland is a Continent and borders upon Tartary towards the East on one side and on America Westward on the other That Frederick III. King of Denmark coming to the Crown in the year 1648. had besides all other Royal Vertues a great desire to advance the Trade of Groenland Henry Muller Farmer General of the outland customs of Denmark a curious person and rich undertook it and to that end set out a Ship in the year 1652. commanded by Capt. David Dannel one of the most experienc'd Masters of his time The first Voyage having had the success was expected from it the said Muller sent him again to Groenland the next year 1653. But as men of business how curious soever they may be are carried away with some other predominant passion there was nothing learnt in these two Voyages at least those employ'd in them neglected to make any relation thereof that ever could be seen but in the year 1654. a Ship was set out which going from Copenhagen in the beginning of the Spring arriv'd not on the Coasts of Groenland till the 28 of Iuly at a place where the mountains were still cover'd with snow towards the shore the waters frozen and the bottom so hard that it being impossible the Anchor should fasten they were forc'd to let the Ship float upon the water because there were Rocks all about As soon as this Ship appear'd upon the Coasts of Groenland the Inhabitants set out above a hundred Boats and came to view that strange structure which was much different from what they ordinarily saw At first they would by no means come near it but seeing they were intreated to come into the Ship they at last came and in a few days were so familiar that with their commodities which they truckt for such toies as we had they brought also their Wives out of an intention to make advantage of them by another kind of Commerce which though it be not less known elsewhere yet is not so publickly practis'd as among them where fornication is neither crime nor sin The Danes thought this freedom of the Groenlanders a good opportunity to carry away some of them The Ship being ready to set sail for its return and the Savages coming still aboard with their Commodities a VVoman that had a great mind to a pair of knives which one of the Sea-men wore at his Gâ—rdâ—e offer'd him for it a Sea-Dogs skin which the Sea-man refusing as too little she proffer'd him a kindness into the bargain The Sea-man had no sooner express'd his being well satisfy'd with the proffer but she begins to unty the point for they as well as the men wear Drawers and would have laid her self down upon the Deck But the Sea-man made her apprehend that he would not have all see what they did and that she must go under Deck The Woman having got her Father's leave follow'd the Sea-man with two other aged Women a young Boy and a Girl of about 12 years of age who were to be present at the consummation of the bargain But as soon as they were down the hatch was shut they laid hold also of another Man and set sail The Savages perceiving they were trappan'd made a hideous noise in the Ship Those who were upon the Deck got into their Boats and follow'd the Ship a great way into the Sea to see if they could recover the Prisoners The Boy who went down with the Women got out at one of the holes the Cable is put out at and swam ashore They also sent back one of the Women as being too old to be transported so that they had but four persons one Man two Women and a Girl The trouble they were in to be among people they knew not was extraordinary but at last the kindness and good cheer wherewith they were entertain'd won their hearts together with the hope they were put into that within a short time they should be brought back again into their Country so that when they came to Bergues in Norway their affliction seem'd to be quite over nay the Man thought the Women of the Country so handsome and was got into so good a humour that a Lady of quality being come out of curiosity to see these Savages he proffer'd to try what she had under her apron This man dy'd in the Ship before we came to Denmark His Daughter seeing him in the agony of Death bound up his head in his Casaque and so let him dy His name was Ihiob aged about 40 years The older of the two women aged about 45 years was called Kuneling she by whose means they were taken was about 25. her name Kabelau and the Girls name was Sigoka The Plague then very rife all over Denmark had oblig'd the King to retire to Flensbourg in the Dutchy of Holstein where these Groenlanders were presented to him He boarded them at a Chirurgeons and order'd them to be well entertain'd as that at their return to Groenland whither he intended to send them with the first opportunity they might have occasion to celebrate the liberality of his Majesty and the civil entertainment of his Subjects The King honour'd the Duke my master so far as to send them to him to Gottorp where they were lodg'd in my house for some days which I spent in sifting our their humour and manner of life They were all three low of stature but strong being well proportion'd in all parts save that their faces were somewhat too broad and their eyes little but black and very lively especially the more aged of the two women and the Girl their hands and feet short in all things else like the Samojedes or Tartars of Nagaia save that they were beyond comparison much more black those being of a brown Olive-like colour their bodies much more swarthy than their faces and their skins much
house of Slick in Bohemia and that he had lost his Estate upon the accompt of Religion which the King of Denmark and the Duke of Holstein believing gave him Letters of recommendation to the Great Duke of Muscovy He was no sooner come to Moscou but he gave out that it was purposely to change his Religion and to be a servant to his Czaarick Majesty The Patriarch and Muscovian Lords were the more glad to receive him because he was accompted among them a person of noble extraction and great worth which yet was further heightned in him by his being vers'd in several Languages especially the Latin and Polish They receiv'd him with great joy caus'd him to be baptis'd and the Great Duke gave him with the name of Leo Alexander Slick and the quality of Knez a Pension of 200. Crowns a moneth He made his Addresses to the Princess Irene Michaelouna and was so fond as to think the Great Duke would have bestowed his own Sister on him so that hearing there were two persons of quality dispatch'd away to Negotiate the Princesse's marriage with a forein Prince he fell into such a melancholy that he came not to himself again till they had given him a Daughter of one of the greatest Bojares in the Kingdom The King of Denmark coming afterwards to hear of this man's carriage and understanding withall that far from being of the Illustrious house of Slick he was a subject of Count Gaspar's of Denhof in Poland and that he had surpriz'd him in his recommendatory Letters he sent notice thereof to the Great Duke who reproach'd him with his dissimulation and imposture but suffer'd him to enjoy what he had bestow'd on him which he does still under the name of Knez Leo Alexandrouits Slakouseskie Colonel Lesley fell into that misfortune out of weakness He had in that quality serv'd the Great Duke during the first War of Smolensko by which he had gotten a very great sum of money But those of his profession being not alwayes the best husbands he soon spent what grew every day less and less To repair the breaches of his fortune he thought it his best course to return to Moscou which he did upon occasion of an Embassy which the Queen of Sueden sent some time since to the Great Duke whereof Eric Gillenstiern a Senator of the Kingdom was the chief But for as much as there was at that time no likelyhood of any War in Muscovy and that the Great Duke was unwilling to burthen himself with Pensions Lesley sent him word that he would be content with some Lands which he would make what advantage he could of and thereupon got a noble Mannor upon the Wolga He was now in such a condition as that he might have lived like a Lord all the rest of his dayes if his Wife 's niggardly humour had not exasperated the Countrey-women against them She treated them so hardly that being not any longer able to endure it they complain'd of her alleging that she forc'd them to eat flesh on fasting dayes that she allow'd them not the time to make their inclinations before the Images much less to go to Church and what was worst of all that she had taken the Images from the Walls and cast them into the fire There needed no more to make her odious to the whole Nation They immediately sent for Lesley and his whole Family and the Countrey-women and the Colonel's Wife were brought face to face she confess'd indeed that she had forc'd them to work hard but deny'd all the rest All the Servants that were strangers took their Oaths on her behalf and yet the others proffering to make good their accusation by enduring the torture she could not so far clear herself but that the Patriarch taking cognizance of the business oblig'd the Great Duke to take those Lands out of the Strangers hands and to put out an act whereby it should not be lawful for any to be possess'd of such Mannors if they were not Muscovites either by Birth or Religion Lesley finding himself reduc'd to his extremity and having not wherewith to maintain his Children and Family declar'd that if the Great Duke would continue him in the said Mannor he and his Family would change their Religion They take him at his word and he his Wife and Children are put into a Monastery where they are instructed and re-baptized Ilia Danilouits Miloslauski and his Wife were pleas'd to answer for them at their Baptism and to be at the charge of their Wedding it being necessary they should be married a-new The Great Duke made them great Presents and among other things bestow'd on them the sum of six thousand Crowns in ready money But the Peasants hearing that by this change of Religion they were to be reduc'd to their former slavery petition'd His Majesty that they might have another Lord and pitch'd upon Monsieur Groin who had revolted at the same time and had some pretence to those Lands as having had a promise made him of some of that nature So that Lesley was forc'd to content himself with a Pension of 90. Crowns per mensem which is the ordinary pay of a Colonel in times of Peace and another somewhat less for his Son I shall here make a short digression for a Lady's sake who hath by an admirable constancy made it appear that if Men are many times subject to the weakness of Women it sometimes happens that Women have those Virtues which may be exemplary to Men. There is this to be said in commendation of the Muscovites that they never force any to profess their Religion unless that in a Family the Husband or Wife be of it in which case they suffer not the other to continue his former profession We said the Baron de Raymond was one of those that chang'd their Religion after the first War of Smolensko He was married to an English Gentleman's Daughter who had liv'd many years at Moscou and whose name was William Barnesley being the handsomest Woman of any Stranger that was in the Country and had chang'd his Religion rather out of fickleness and to comply with the Great Duke than out of any conscientious motive was re-baptised and took the name of Iuan instead of that of Peter which had been given him at his first Baptism According to the Law of the Country his Wife was to follow his Example which to effect her Husband used all means imaginable but found so great a constancy on the other side that he was forc'd to recurr to the Authority of the Great Duke and Patriarch These at first went mildly to work offering her very great advantages in their Religion but the young Gentlewoman though but 15. years of age was inflexible cast her self at the Great Duke's feet and entreated him rather to take away her life than force her to embrace a Belief which she was not satisfy'd of in her Conscience The Father us'd the same submissions but the Patriarch
great Guns and small shot which we ordered to be discharged thrice That done we had a Sermon and did our Devotions About noon we were visited by our new Mehemandar whose name was Netzefbce he was a person of an excellent good humour He came to Complement us upon occasion of the Festival and brought us a Present of five fishes dry'd in the Sun a dish full of Bread Pomegranates Apples and a sort of Pears I had never seen before fashion'd like a Citron and full of a very pleasant juyce and having a sweet scent pickled Cowcumbers preserv'd Garlick and Schiras-wine which is the most esteem'd of any that grows in Persia. April 10. being Easter-Monday we made our entrance into Ardebil for the most part with the same Ceremonies but with greater Pomp and Magnificence than we had done at Scamachie About noon we met with a party of Horse which having saluted and taken a view of us immediately returned towards the City Near the Village of Kelheran which is so noble a place that viewing at a distance its Steeples or Towers whereof there are a very great number and they make a very great shew in regard they are built of stones of several colours we took it for the City it self though they are distant one from the other above half a league we met with in the head of a body of Horse the Calenter of Ardebil whose name was Taleb Chan an aged and very spare man Having saluted the Ambassadors he rid on one side of them Having pass'd by the Village we saw in a spacious Plain abundance of horse and foot who opened to make us way Some paces thence we saw crossing the fields towards us at the head of a Brigade of above a thousand Horse the Governour of Ardebil whose name was Kelbele Chan. He was a low man but of a good aspect and pleasant humour After the Complements reciprocally past between him and the Ambassadors he rode in between them Before our Troop there march'd two youths clad in Sheep-skins of several colours upon their clean skirts and carrying each of them upon the top of a long and very slender pole an Orenge The poles we were told were made of a Date-tree These youths read and sung out of a Book certain Verses made in honour of Mahomet Aly and Schach Sefi They were Sons or Disciples to a certain Abdalla of whom we shall speak hereafter After them came others who were cloathed in white and had a wonderful Art in imitating the Notes and singing of Nightingales and other birds On both sides march'd the Timbrels and Hawboies in some places there were people dancing and singing at the same time and at others were some dancing after another manner Some cast their caps up into the air and caught them again with cries and exclamations of joy There were some danc'd with little Garlands about their heads much like those we had seen at Scamachie when they celebrated there the death of Aly. Near the City stood the Guards in two files having their Bows and Arrows in their hands Coats of Mail about their bodies and their heads cover'd with little Caps like Calottes which they call Aratskin in which they had plac'd abundance of Feathers the ends whereof some thrust through their Caps into the skin Many of them were naked down to the waste and though they had the flesh of their Arms and Breasts pierced with Daggers or Ponyards yet did they not seem sensible of any pain thereat whence we inferr'd there might be something of Charm in it and that they were Sorcerers there being abundance that deserve that name in Persia. There was also a Company of Indians who as we pass'd by saluted us after their way with a low inclination of the head putting their hands to their breasts When we were come somewhat near the City there was so great a confluence of people that we could not get a hundred paces forward without making a halt insomuch that they were forc'd to drive them away with Cudgels and Bulls-pizzels so to make them give way And within the City all the Windows Houses-tops Steeples and Trees were full of those who came from all parts to see our passage through it The Governour brought us through a spacious Garden into a fair Summer-house to which there were ten stairs to get up and treated us with a sumptuous Collation in a very stately Gallery honouring all those who came up with the Ambassadors so far as to present to every one of them with his own hands a Vessel full of Wine while all the rest of the Retinue were treated below in a Tent which had been purposely pitch'd there to that end The Collation was accompany'd with the best Musick the Country could afford as also with a Dance performed by their Ochtzi or Archers who dancing in cadence with their Bows in their hands represented a kind of Ball which their exactness of the observance of time made more delightful divertive than had been the singing of those two youths the sons of Abdalla who with their Orenges in their hands very seriously celebrated the praises of their Prophet After the Collation and Divertisement the Ambassadors were conducted to very spacious Lodgings which had been taken up for them in one of the noblest parts of the City which Lodgings had sometime belong'd to Sara Chutza high Chancellor of Persia. The rest of the Retinue were Lodg'd not far from them in the neighbourhood where they were well accommodated by those into whose houses they were receiv'd This Summer-house being one of the noblest Structures I ever saw deserves I should give in this place a more particular description of it Sulfagar Chan the Predecessor of Kelbele Chan in the Government of Ardebil a Person of infinite wealth had built it according to a modell he had brought out of Turkey The figure of it was Octagonal and it was three Stories so rais'd that Art had not left any thing to be desir'd Every story had its Fountains which cast their water higher than any part of the House The Walls were built of a sort of Glittering stones of all Colours Blew Green Red and of all sorts of Figures and all the Floors were cover'd with the richest Tapistry the Country could afford All about the House there was a spacious Gallery all built with Marble and adorn'd with Painting representing Flowers and Leaves At one of the corners of that Gallery there was a little Couch or Chair of State four foot square cover'd with Embroider'd Tapistry having in the midst a Quilt wrought with Gold and Silk to signifie that the King passing one day through Ardebil had rested himself there which made the place so Venerable that to the end none should come near it it was encompass'd with an Iron rail The said Sulfagar Chan had built also another House of Pleasure or Summer-house in a great Garden near a stone-Bridge without the City but at the time
in the Persian and Turkish Languages but all excellently painted richly bound and cover'd with Plates of Gold and Silver carv'd and branch'd The books of History were enrich'd with several representations in colours In the Neeches of the Vault there were above three or four hundred Vessels of Porcelane some so large as that they contain'd above 40. quarts or Liquour These only are used at the entertainments which are brought from the Sepulchre to the King and other great Lords who pass that way for the holiness of that place permits not that they should make use of any Gold or Silver Nay it is reported of Schich-Sefi that he out of an excessive humility made use onely of Woodden Dishes Thence we were brought to the Kitchin the Door whereof was also cover'd with Plates of Silver and all things within it were so handsomly ordered that it was not a little to be admire'd The great Cauldrons were all set in a row and seal'd within the Wall along which pass'd a Pipe which by divers Cocks supply'd all the Kitchin with water The Cooks of all degrees had every one his place according to their functions and employments This Kitchin maintains every day above a thousand persons accompting those belonging to the house and the poor among whom they distribute thrice a day Pottage Rice and Meat to wit in the morning at six at ten and in the after-noon at three The two morning-meals are upon the accompt of Schich-Sefi who to that end lay'd a foundation of fifty Crowns per diem and the third is an Alms bestow'd there by order from the King of Persia. Besides these there are so many Alms distributed there upon the accompt of private persons that there is not only enough to maintain the poor but there is much over and above which is sold to those who are asham'd to beg At the time of these meals or distributions they sound two Timbrels which as they say were brought from Medina with the Banner of Fatima by Schach Sedredin Going out of the Kitchin we entred into a very fair Garden where we saw the Sepulchres of Sulthan Aider Schach-Tamas and several other Kings of Persia which were in the open air and without any thing over them but a smooth stone The principal Lords whose Sepulchres are to be seen in this Meschaich are 1. Shich-Sefi the son of Seid-Tzeibrail 2. Schich-Sedredin the son of Sefi 3. Schich-Tzinid the son of Sedredin whom some Europaean Authors erroneously call Guined 4. Sulthan Aider the son of Tzinid who was flead alive by the Turks 5. Schich Aider the son of Sulthan Aider 6. Schach-Ismael the son of Schich Aider 7. Schach Tamas the son of Schach-Ismael 8. Schach-Ismael the second of that name the son of Schach-Tamas 9. Schach-Mahomet Choddabende son of Schach-Ismael 10. Ismael Myrsa brother of Choddabende 11. Hemsa Myrsa 12. Schach Abas sons of Choddabende Schich-Sedredin ordered his Sepulchre to be built after the death of his Father by an Architect whom he had brought along with him from Medina and according to a Model which he drew of it himself by Miracle for the Persians affirm that both he and his Father wrought many which was that having commanded the Architect to shut his eyes he ravish'd him into an extasie during which he gave him a sight of the Model according to which he would have that Structure built and according to which it was afterwards done Schich-Tzinid adding thereto the great Court and several Houses augmented it so as that now it seems a very noble and spacious Castle whither there comes every day so great a number of persons to Discourse or Walk that there are few Princes Courts where there are more seen The foundations of several Kings its vast Revenues and the Presents which are daily made thereto do so augment the Wealth of it that some conceive its Treasure amounts to many Millions of Gold and that in case of necessity this Mesar might raise and maintain a very powerfull Army and that it would furnish more ready Money than the King could himself Besides the Farms and Dairies which depend on it it hath within the City of Ardebil two hundred Houses nine publick Baths eight Caravanseras or Store-houses that great Vault which is called the Kaiserie all the Meydan with its Vaults and Shops a hundred other Shops in the Basar and the Market-places where Cattel Wheat Salt and Oyl are sold. The Astasnischin or Regraters and Hucksters and those who sell Commodities in open Market having neither Shops nor Stalls pay certain duties thereto It is possess'd about Ardebil of thirty three Towns or Villages and in the Province of Serab of five Villages In the City of Tauris it hath sixty Houses and a hundred Shops and two Villages without the City several Caravanseras and Baths in the City of Casuan as also in the Province of Kilan and Astara The duties of Abschur and Eleschur in the Province of Mokan belong to it and one moyety of those of Chalchat Kermeruth and Haschteruth not accounting what the Tartars and Indians who make profession of the Persian Religion send thither nor the Presents which are brought from all parts in consequence of the Vows which they are wont to make in great Journeys in their Sickness nay indeed in any business of Importance which they very Religiously perform Besides all these there are so many Gifts Donations and Legacies made to it that there passes not a day but a man shall see going thither Horses Asses Camels Sheep Money and other things All these things are receiv'd by two Persons who are oblig'd by an Oath to be faithful to that sacred place and they are called Nessurtzchan from the word Nesur which signifies a Vow and they have an allowance out of the revenue of a fair Village which is within half a League of the City called Sultanabath which was granted by Schich Ismael to that purpose These Commissaries are every day in an apartment on the left hand as a man goes into the Metzid Tzillachane and are set on both sides of a Chest or Box cover'd with crimson Velver into which they put the Money that is brought them as they do also that which arises by the sale of those Horses Camels and Asses which are bestow'd on the Sepulchre for the Oxen and Sheep are kill'd and distributed among the poor They give those who bring them a small Present which is a handful of Anniseed and they are given to understand thereby that their Souls shall enjoy serenity and blisse in the other VVorld They also give the Pilgrims who come thither to do their Devotions a Certificate of their being there and of the Prayers they said there which serves not only for a Testimony of the profession of their Religion but also for a protection against several disgraces and misfortunes nay which is more for the saving of their Lives Accordingly our Interpreter Rustan having resolv'd to leave us and
fearing what might follow upon the complaint which the Ambassadors should make to the King of him took three authentick Copies of such a Certificate whereof two were found among his Cloaths after his departure and presented at our return by the Ambassador Crusius to his Highness of Holstein in whose Library they are still to be seen The Persians call these Certificates Sijaretname and they are given not only here at the Sepulchre of Schich Sefi but also at Meschet at that of Iman Risa and these latter are as efficacious and have the same authority as the former Now that it may be understood how Certificates are able to save the Lives either of a Malefactor or a person fallen into disgrace at the Court I shall here allege an example of it Not long before the time of our Travels into those parts it happened that Tzirra-Chan who was a person of quality and one so highly in favour with Schich-Sefi that he concluded a Marriage between him and one of the Ladies of his Seraglio coming one day somewhat late to Dinner the King ask'd him the reason of it and said to him smiling that it must needs be the caresses of his new Married Wife kept him away so long He had the boldness to make answer that his Majesty had not miss'd the mark much that indeed he had been dallying with a Woman but that it had been with the Wife of Agasi-Beg who was then in the room and discharg'd the Office of Steward when Tzirra-Chan told the story The King was so startled at that insolence that blushing out of vexation and shame together he knew not how to lift up his eyes to look on either of them which Tzerra-Chan observing and inferring thence that he had said too much rose from Table and went to his own House As soon as the King had taken notice of his departure he call'd Agasi and said to him Thou hast seen Agasi after what manner Tzirra not thinking it enough to have dishonour'd thy House must needs make ostentation of his lewdness and reproach thee with thy infamy and have the confidence to do it in my presence Go thy ways and bring me his head Agasi obey'd and went his way but about some two hours after the King much wondring to find that Agasi was not return'd sends after him to know what was become of him The King had this account brought him that Tzirra and Agasi had been found like very good friends making merry and drinking together Whereupon the King not able to forbear laughing cries out ja Kurrumsak O the poor Cuckold but immediately after reflecting on their procedure and imagining that it was joynt design between them to put the affront upon him and that they laugh'd at him in their sleeves he Commanded Aliculi-Chan Brother to Rustan Chan of Tauris Divanbeg or Judge of the Province to go and fetch both their heads In the mean time Agasi coming to himself and considering that the King never jested in things of that nature and that he might well come to repent his neglect in executing his Commission took leave of the company and withdrew but Tzirra confident of the King's favour and presuming on the familiarity there had been between them was so imprudent as to stay as it were expecting the effects of his Prince's indignation and had his Head cut off Agasi making his advantage of Tzirra's death went in the mean time to the Sepulchre of Iman Rise whence he brought one of those Certificates wherewith some moneths after he presented himself before the King who perceiving him coming at a distance could not forbear laughing and said to him I commend thee for thy wit my honest kind hearted Cuckold go thy ways I pardon thee for Iman Risa 's sake come kiss my foot Thus did this Sijaretname or Certificate save Bek's his life who was afterwards entertain'd again into the Schach's service not indeed in the quality of Steward but only as a Gentleman belonging to his Chamber Yet is it not to be thought but that these Secretaries of whom such Certificates are obtained are gulity of frauds and connivances in the disposal of them by delivering them signed and sealed with blanks to put in the names of such as may have occasion for them as may be seen by the Copy which is in his Highness's Library at Gottorp Of Schich-Sefi his Life and Miracles we shall give an account hereafter when we come to treat of the Religion of the Persians In the same Village af Kelheran about a League and a half from Ardcbil there is another sumptuous sepulchre built in honour of Seid-Tsebrail the Father of Schich-Sefi He was a poor Peasant who not able to pretend to any thing particular which might distinguish him from the other Inhabitants of the place had also his Burial common with them But Sedredin finding the reputation of his Father's Sanctity so well establish'd that it was become in a manner Hereditary in his Person would needs have it return backwards to his Grand-father and to that end caus'd his Relicks to be uncover'd and honour'd them with a Sepulchre at the place where it is now to be seen Some affirm that in the same Tomb are kept the bones of Seid-Sala and Seid Kudbedin Father and Grandfather of Tzebrail but others would have all the honour done to Seid Tzebrail alone And it is possible they may be all mistaken it being very hard that after so many years their bones and ashes could be distinguish'd from those of so many others The Tomb it self stood in the midst of a large Garden and was built absolutely round rais'd ten steps from the ground adorn'd all about with glass of all sorts of colours which are preserv'd by Iron-grates and had in the midst of its Roof a great round Tower built of blew and green Stones Those of our retinue who were desirous to go into it were forc'd to leave their shooes and Boots at the door as also their Swords and their Canes The building within was of admirable Architecture The Roof which was Azure Gilt was joyn'd by bowing-Pillars through which the light came in The floor was cover'd with the richest kind of Tapistry and the Walls which were open of all sides had in them other little Partitions or Vaults where they taught Children to read and sing the Alchoran so to enable them in time to become Hasisans or Guardians of that Holy Sepulchre We found here and there upon little seats Books lying open in order to the singing of their Service after the same manner as we had seen at the sepulchre of Schich-Sefi The Tomb was about a man's height and an Ell and a half in breadth of Joyners work all the Junctures being done over with little plates of Copper and all cover'd with a piece of green Velvet Over the Tomb hung four Lamps whereof two were of Gold the other two of Silver which two Tziragts Chihan or snuffers were
which amount to seventy five French Pistols But coming afterwards to the Crown he caus'd him immediately to be redeem'd and with the quality of Sulthan bestow'd on him the Government of Katschan The Persians put this City of Katschan at 84 degrees longitude and at thirty four distant from the Line After an exact Observation of three days I found that it is distant from it thirty three degrees and 51 minutes that is nine minutes less The City is of a great length reaching from East to West above half a German League Its Walls and bastions are of a kind of Potters day and it lies in a great Plain the ground of which is good enough for Tillage and there may be discover'd from it on the right hand Mount Taurus which the ' Porsians call Elwend As you come to the City you pass through a place appointed for tilting and running at the Ring which hath on both sides several Pillars and in the midst a high Pole for shooting at the wooden Parrat On the left hand of that place or Carriere you leave the King's Garden wherein there is one summer-Summer-house standing in the midst of it and another near it upon the High-way We were told that the former hath a thousand Doors belonging to it comprehending in that number the Windows through which they pass into the Galleries and Balconies It is to be observ'd withall that there is no Door but hath its Counter-door in regard the Wall being above two foot thick there is a Door on each side of it so that the number is not so great as it seems to be at first In this House the King is Lodg'd when he comes to Katschan The City is no doubt one of the most populous and most eminent for Trading of any in Persia and the best Built of any we were yet come to whether in regard of its private Houses or its Palaces and Caravansera's but the Basar and Maidan and the other publick structures which have all their Store-houses Galleries and Rooms for the Merchants as well such as live within the Kingdom as Foreiners are the noblest I met with in all my Travells into those parts There is in this City at all times a great number of forein Merchants and above all Indians who are assigned there a particular place for their Habitation and Traffick as are also all the other Merchants Tradesmen especially such as make Silk-stuffs and Weavers of Gold and Silver Brocadoes work in open places where all the World may see them The Valleys are very fruitfull in Wheat Wine and Fruits which grow in such abundance there that I find no difficulty to acknowledge what Cartwright sayes of these parts to wit that the poorest and most indigent of the Inhabitants have not only what is requisite for their subsistence but also somewhat of delicacy and that what they most stand in need of is fresh water For there is not any to be had without digging very deep into the Earth and what there was so got we thought very distastfull to the Palat and so corrupt that had there not been an extraordinary necessity we should have been much troubled to swallow it I must withall confess that I could not observe that excellent order and commendable policy which Cartwright sayes he had seen there in the Institution of Youth nor that they are more carefull there than in other places to accustom it timely to pains-taking so to avoid idleness and the inconveniences consequent thereto True it is that the great number of Children which are ordinarily to be found there in Families which by reason of Polygamy are very numerous obliges the Parents to be the more carefull for their subsistence but the Persians for the most part are so little inclin'd to pains-taking that commonly you shall either see them walking in the Maidan or discoursing in the Shops while they leave most of their work to be done by their slaves Which happens hence that being themselves very temperate and content with little and on the other side Provisions being very cheap they conceive they ought not to take much pains for what is superfluous and those things whereof there is no great necessity So that there are even in these parts idle Persons and Beggers as well as in other places What the same Cartwright sayes concerning the Scorpions and other venemous Creatures is very true For of these there are about Katschan more than at any other place of Persia and such as are so dangerous that they have occasion'd that Malediction Akrab-Kaschan be destet senet may the Scorpion of Kaschan pinch thee by the hand We found some of them in our Lodging as black as cole about the length and compass of a man's finger and we were told that these were the most dangerous of any sort of them They are somewhat like our Crabs or Crevisses save that their Bodies are shorter they go faster and they have their tails alwayes sticking up Whence it comes that the Inhabitants never lay their Mattresses or Beds upon the ground as they do in other places but they set them upon a kind of Trevets or Frames which they call Tzarpay They affirm also that these Beasts have a certain respect for strangers and that to prevent their stinging they are only to pronounce these words Menkaribem I am a stranger But for my part I am of opinion that strangers who stand more in fear of them than the Inhabitants are only the more oblig'd to themselves for the care they have of their own safety though I never could hear that those who are stung by them dye of it For they have a present and easie remedy against this kind of poison by applying a piece of Copper to the place affected for which Cure they ordinarily make use of that Money which they call Pul and thence it comes that they carry some of it alwayes about them and having left that piece for the space of 24. hours upon the part stung they take it off and put on the Wound a Plaister made of Honey and Vineger It was my misfortune to be the only man of all our retinue that had occasion to make triall how venemous this Creature is For lying down upon my Bed at Scamachie in our return from Ispahan a Scorpion stung me in the throat where it made immediately a swelling about the length of my finger which was attended with insupportable pain As good fortune would have it our Physician who lay in the same Chamber immediately apply'd thereto the Oyl of Scorpion gave me some Treacle and put me into a sweat which deliver'd me from the greatest of my pains at the end of three hours but I had still some pain for the two dayes following but by intervals and it was as if I had been prick'd with a Needle nay indeed for many years afterwards I have been troubled with the same pains at certain times especially in Autumn much about the
between the last of Iuly and the first of August we travell'd four leagues further and came the next day to a Village called Kuk We were lodg'd in the house of the Kaucha or Judge of the place where we continu'd all that day and the night following August 2. we departed thence two hours before day the Moon shining bright and got but two leagues further to one of the Kings houses where we took up our quarters in a very fair Garden which was our last nights Lodging in our passage to the City of Ispahan For very betimes the next morning being the third of August horses were sent us to make our entrance into the Metropolis of the Kingdom Within a quarter of a League of the City we found one of the principal Officers of the Court named Isachan-beg in the head of 200 horse and some paces thence two great Armenian Lords named Sefaras-beg and Elias-beg who conducted the Ambassadors to their Lodgings The dust which the horse and the people who came to meet us had rais'd was so thick that we were got to the Gates before we imagin'd we could have seen the City Not only the streets and windows were full of people who out of curiosity were come to see our entrance into the City but also the tops of the houses were covered with them We were conducted through several streets through the Maidan and before the Kings Palace to that part of the Suburbs which is called Tzulifa where we were lodg'd in the Quarter of the chiefest of the Armenian Merchants who are Christians and have their habitations there We had hardly alighted ere there were brought us from the King's Kitchin the ordinary Presents of Provisions for our welcome thither They laid upon the floor of the Ambassadors Room a fine silk Cloath on which were set one and thirty Dishes of Silver fill'd with several sorts of Conserves dry and liquid and raw fruits as Melons Citrons Quinces Pears and some others not known in Europe Some time after that Cloath was taken away that another might be laid in the room of it and upon this was set Rice of all sorts of colours and all sorts of Meat boyl'd and roasted to wit Mutton tame Fowl Fish Eggs and Pyes in above fifty Dishes of the same metal besides the Sallet-dishes great Porrengeâ—s and other lesser Vessels Presently after Dinner the Commissary or Factor for the Dutch Commerce whose name was Nicholas Iacobs Overschle who was afterwards Governour of Zeilan for the East-India Company came to visit the Ambassadors who being then looking upon the unlading of the Baggage though that should have been the employment of their Steward or some other Officer would have wav'd the visit upon that pretence But the Dutchman would not be put off his visit wherein he ingenuously acknowledg'd that he had received Orders from his Superiours to oppose our Negotiation but that nevertheless as to what concern'd the Ambassadors themselves he should do them all the civilities they could expect from him He seem'd desirous to drink and we had the Complyance to give him his load ere he went away The joy we conceiv'd at our having at last arriv'd to a place where we hoped to put a period to our Negotiation was soon disturbed by a most unhappy accident and the Divertisements intended us were within a few days after our coming thither changed into a bloudy Contestation with the Indians occasion'd by the insolence of one of the Domesticks belonging to the Mogul's Ambassador who was Lodg'd not far from our Quarters with a Retinue of three hundred persons most of them Vsbeques One of their Domesticks standing by and looking on our people unloading and putting up the Baggage our Mehemanders servant named Willichan said to him jesting that it would speak more good nature in him to come and help them than to stand as he did with his Arms a-cross whereto the other making answer somewhat too snappishly as he conceiv'd the Persian struck him over the pate with his Cane The Indian incens'd at the affront ran to some of his Camerades who were lying hard by under the shade of a Tree and made his complaints to them of the injury he had receiv'd upon which they all got up and fell upon Wellichan whom they wounded in the head with stones Our Domesticks perceiving this tumult brought our Steward notice of it who taking along with him five or six Soldiers and some others of our servants charg'd the Indians whole number was augmented to hear thirty so home that they mortally wounded one and pursu'd the rest to their Quarters but what most troubled the Indians was that in this engagement they had lost a Sword and a Poniard whereto a little Purse was faste'd in which there was some small money which our People brought home as a sign of their Victory The Industhans at that time thought it enough to threaten how highly they should resent that affront and that they should take occasion to revenge their Camerade Nor indeed were they unmindful of their threats for the Ambassadors having resolv'd to change their Lodgings by reason of the great inconvenience it was to them that their Domesticks were scatter'd up and down the Suburbs and quarter'd at a great distance from them and having appointed the seventh of August for their removal the Indians took their advantage of that occasion to be satisfy'd for the affront they imagin'd they had received We had sent before a Lacquey belonging to our Steward and some of our Seamen with part of the Baggage to be by them conducted to the Lodgings we had taken up which were within the City a quarter of a League or better distant from the former Certain Indians who were lying under Tents to keep their Master's Horses which were then feeding between the City and Suburbs knew him as having seen him in the former engagement set upon him and though he gallantly defended himself with his Sword and Pistol at last kill'd him with their Arrows which done they cut off his head toss'd it up and down in the Air and bound his body to his Horse-tayl which dragg'd it to a certain place where the Dogs devour'd it The news brought us of this Murther was enough to assure us that the Industhans would not think that revenge enough but that they were resolv'd to set upon us with all their forces Whereupon the Ambassadors sent out Orders that all of their Retinue should stand upon their Guard and come with all expedition to their Lodgings But before this Order could be put in Execution the Indians had already possess'd themselves of all the Avenues of their Quarters which they had in a manner block'd up in so much that none could get in without running the hazard of being kill'd However reflecting on the imminent and inevitable danger it was to lie scatter'd up and down in several quarters most of the Domesticks thought it their safest course though with some
cover'd with all sorts of Fruits in dishes of Porcelane and the Cloath was all strew'd with Flowers Every one had his dish of Meat by himself plenty of all things and all very well dress'd yet not without some respect to frugality After Dinner which lasted not so long as we had been at the entertainments of the Persians or those we were invited to by some forein Merchants we return'd into the Garden where we pass'd away the remainder of the day under the shade of the same Tree VVith the beginning of September we began to be sensible of a change of the weather The great heats were so much abated that the Nights began to be tedious and troublesome especially to those who had not been carefull to provide themselves good Coverlets About this time Seferas-beg Governour of Armenia accompany'd by his two Brothers came to see the Ambassadors with a design to make acquaintance and contract Friendship with them They were all three persons of an excellent good disposition free in their Conversation and Civil which gain'd so much upon the nature of the Ambassador Brugman who lov'd people of that Kidney and was himself of a free Humour that he presented the two Elder each of them with a handsome Fowling-piece and the younger with a Case of Pistols They took those Presents so kindly that to express their gratitude they resolv'd to make an Entertainment for the Ambassadors for which they appointed the 18 of September and entreated them to bring all their Retinue along with them They sent us Horses to bring us and some of the Armenian Merchants to accompany us We brought along with us two Portuguez Monks the Prior of the Augustines and our ordinary Interpreter Seferas-beg receiv'd the Ambassadors at the entrance of the Church in the Suburbs called Tzulfa where he had the service said by the Patriarch of the place who had about him a Cope of Cloath of Silver with flowers of Gold beset with great Pearls and a Mitre of the same Stuff cover'd all over with round Pearls The Body of the Church was adorn'd with several large Pictures the floor was cover'd with the Tapistry of the Country and they had placed benches all along the walls for our more convenient sitting They had also a kind of wretched Musick Having done our Devotions we got on horse-back again to goe to the place where the entertainment was prepared for us Seferas-beg having receiv'd the Ambassadors with much respect and done his civilities to the chiefest of the Retinue conducted them through a spacious arched Gallery into a great Garden at the end whereof we found an open hall according to the fashion of the Country where we were intreated to sit down on the ground The Cloath which was of Gold and Silver Brocado was cover'd with all sorts of Fruits and Conserves and we drank of a certain prepar'd water much like Ros Solis but incomparably more delicate and more precious Having taken away the Fruits they laid an Indian Cotton cloath and the Meat was brought up in silver Dishes It was excellently well dress'd according to the Persian way of dressing with this difference only that at this entertainment there was brought in Pork and some other sorts of flesh for which the Persians have an aversion We had hardly eaten so much as allay'd our first hunger ere we were forc'd to rise from the Table to be conducted through a very noble apartment into another hall which look'd into the Garden It was arched all about and there were on the Walls certain Pictures representing the Women of most Nations in the World dress'd according to the mode of their several Countries The floor was cover'd with rich Tapistry on which were laid Cushions of flower'd Satin the ground-work thereof Gold and Silver In the midst of the hall there was a Fountain the Basin whereof was of white Marble the water was cover'd with Flowers and it was beset all about with Flaggons and Bottles of Wine We were invited to sit down and to eat of the Fruit and Conserves which were brought in during which we had the Divertisement of Musick and Dancing And as a further honour to us the Patriarch was sent for who came in immediately having about him a Cassock of water'd Chamlet of a Violet Colour and attended by two Priests clad in black with Caps on their Heads He was no ill Company but the second of the two Brethren whose name was Elias-beg made the best sport of any in the company For to heighten the Divertisement of the Ambassadors he would needs play on the Tamera which is an Instrument used by the Persians instead of the Late and then he call'd for seven Porcelane Cups full of water and striking them with two little sticks he accorded them with the Lute While we were hearkning to this Musick Seferas-beg told us that he would give us a kind of Musick which should be as delightful as the other and thereupon rising up he ordered to be brought him by two Pages in two great wooden Dishes several Chrystal Glasses which he distributed among the Company to whom he began the King of Persia's health The whole day was spent in these divertisements till that the Ambassadors perceiving night approach took leave of their Hosts but these pretending to conduct us out of the house brought us to the other side of the Garden into a Gallery where we found the Cloath laid and cover'd with all sorts of Meat Flesh Fish Pies Fruits and Conserves for the Collation We sat down again but it was only out of compliance for it is not to be imagin'd we could have eaten ought Nor indeed can I believe that he by whom we were entertain'd had any other design therein than to shew his Magnificence and the Gallantry and Freedome of his Nature especially in his Conversion of the darkest Night to bright Day The Hall was all full of Lamps which hung by a string fasten'd to the Roof there being so great a number of them and those so near one the other that their Lights were so confounded as that they made but one There was also in the Garden a great number of Torches and Candles which wrought the same effect there Having with much ado and many Complements taken our leave we could not by any means put off the second Brother out of a humour had taken him to accompany us to our Lodgings where he made a shift to get perfectly drunk with Aquavitae and Ros Solis And thus we concluded that day which I confess was one of the most pleasant we had had in all our Travels having been better treated than we had been by the King himself The 19. The Ambassadors had their second private audience which the King gave them in another apartment at the end of a Garden and which lasted not above half an hour in regard the Council took time to consider of the Memorials they receiv'd in writing from them
It is ordinary to stay and Dine at the Court after the Conferences therefore I shall forbear repeating the Circumstances unless something in particular oblige me thereto as it happen'd this day in that the King having heard that the Ambassadors had Musicians in their Retinue he sent them word that he would gladly hear their Musick It consisted of a base Viol a Tenor and a Violin which play'd about half an hour till the King sent us word that that Musick was not ill but that he thought that of the Country as good as it The 25. of September the English made an entertainment for the Ambassadors and all their Retinue which in Magnificence surpass'd all the rest Their House or Lodge was in the Basar near the Maidan The Structure was of great extent divided into several appartments and had a very fair Garden We were at first brought into a Gallery where we found Fruits and Conserves laid upon the floor which was cover'd with Tapistry according to the custom of the Country and having done there we pass'd into a great Hall where we found the Table furnish'd and serv'd after the English fashion They forgot not to drink the healths of most of the Kings and Princes of Europe and we had the Divertisement of Musick upon the Virginals After Dinner we were brought into an open Hall which look'd into the Garden where we found a Collation of Conserves with the best Wine the Countrey could afford And whereas we had often seen the Dancing-women of the Country they sent for some Indian Women of the same profession There were brought six young Women whereof some had their Husbands with them who also either Danc'd or Play'd upon Violins some came in alone They were all somewhat of an Olive-colour but had excellent good Features a delicate smooth Skin and very handsome Bodies They had about their Necks much Gold and Pearls and in their Ears Pendants of Gold or Silver glittering with Jewels and Spangles Some of them had Bracelets of Pearl others of Silver but they had all Rings on their Fingers and among the rest they had upon the Thumb upon which in the place where the Stone should be there was a piece of Steel about the bigness of a Crown-piece of Silver and so well polish'd that it serv'd them for a Looking-glass They were Cloath'd after a particular manner having on a kind of Stuff which was so thin that there was not any part of the Body but might be seen by the Company save only what was hidden by the Drawers which they wore under their Petticoats Some wore Caps on their Heads others had them dress'd in Tiffany and some had silk Skarfs wrought with Gold and Silver which crossing their shoulders reach'd down to the ground Some were bare-foot others were shod after a very strange manner They had above the instap of the foot a string ty'd with little Bells fastened thereto whereby they discover'd the exactness of their Cadence and sometimes corrected the Musick it self as they did also by the Tzarpanes or Castagnetts which they had in their hands in the managing whereof they were very expert Their Musick consisted of Timbrels according to the Indian way of Playing on them Tabors and Pipes The Indian Timbrels are two foot long but broader in the middle than at the extremities much after the fashion of our Barrels They hang them about their Necks and play on them with their fingers The postures of these Indian VVomen in their Dancing are admirable Their hands and feet are alwayes in action as is also their whole Body and many times they address themselves to some particular person of the Company either by an inclination of the Body or to get the little Present they expect which they very handsomely beg either by stretching out their hands yet so as that it seems to be done without any affectation but as a necessary consequence of the Dance They are much more pleasant in their Conversation than the Women of the Countrey All these Dancing-women are common prostitutes and very free to shew all their postures for money nay to do beyond what might be expected from them It was far-night ere we got away which oblig'd the English to bring us home to our Lodgings The French Merchants made also an entertainment for the principal persons of our Retinue and treated them with some of the English Merchants at a Caravansera very handsomely The first of October the Ambassadors made a great Feast whereto were invited the Muscovian Ambassador the Governour of Armenia and his two Brothers the chiefest of the English and French Merchants the Spanish Monks of the order of St. Augustine and some Italian Carmelites They treated them after the German way with three several Courses each consisting of forty Dishes The Musick consisted of Violins Trumpets and Timbrels which made a goodly Noise as did also our Cannon when any Prince's health was drunk The Prince of Armenia was taken above all things with certain services of Paste and Sugar according to the German fashion which were brought to the Table rather to divert the Eye than to sharpen the Appetite and thought them so good that having spoken of them at Court the King would needs see some Whence it came that the Ambassadors ordered some of them to be made by our Cook as also some Florentines and other pieces of Pastry of that kind which he took very kindly and presented them to some Ladies about the Court who thought them excellent good Meat In the afternoon they had the Divertisement of seeing some run at the Ring at which M. Mandelslo got the prize which was a great Silver Goblet and the Ambassador Brugman did the best next him and got a drinking Cup Vermilion gilt Every time any one put into the Ring one of the Brass pieces was fired The next day the Prior of the Augustines came to the Secretary of the Embassy to complain to him of the debauch'd Lives of some of our Retinue nay one of the chiefest among us naming particularly the Ambassador Brugman and discover'd that there were some among us who after the example of the Armenians had married Women of the Country He told him that they had conceived a great joy and comfort at the first news of our Embassy's coming thither out of a hope that our Lives would be an example to the Christians of the Country who living among Mahumetans were apt to fall into their vices and filthiness but that to his great regret he found the contrary entreating the Secretary to speak of it to those in whose power it was to take some course therein so to prevent the scandal which was given to others the injury done to the name of Christ and the infamy which must fall on the Prince from whom the Embassy was sent The Secretary went with a resolution to give the Ambassador Brugman an accompt of these Remonstrances of the
Horse and upper Garments which he did every day while the Hunting lasted The morning was spent in Hawking the Hawks were let out at Herns Cranes Drakes nay sometimes at Crows which they either met with by chance or were set purposely upon About noon we came to an Armenian Village where we found a great number of Tents of divers colours pitch'd after an odd kind of way which yet made a very pleasant Prospect After the King had been brought by his Grandeâ—s into his Tent they came for the Ambassadors who with some of their Gentlemen and Officers Dined with him There was nothing extraordinary Fruits and Conserves were brought in first and afterwards the Meat upon a kind of Bier or Barrow which was cover'd all over with plates of Gold and it was serv'd in Dishes of the same metal In the after-noon the Mehemandar carried the Ambassadors to be Lodg'd in another Village about a quarter of a League from the place where the King had his Tents The Inhabitants of those Villages are Armenians and they are called Desach and Werende from the Countrey where they liv'd before near Iruan whence they were heretofore translated by Schach-Abas to the end that living near Ispahan they might be employ'd about the Vines When they understood we were Christians they entertain'd us much more kindly and made us several Presents of Fruits and Wine Scferas-beg and some other Lords gave the Ambassadors a Visit to be merry and participate of a Collaiâ—â—on with them They brought along with them two of those fallow Deer which the Pesians call Ahu's and some Herns which we sent to Ispahan The King coming to hear that the Mchemandar had Lodg'd us in another Village was very much displeas'd at it and commanded that we should be brought the same night to be Quarter'd in the next house to that where he was Lodg'd himself which was accordingly done and our Supper was brought us out of the Kings Kitchin in Dishes of Gold The 18. betimes in the morning the King sent the Ambassadors word that he would go with very few persons about him a Crane-Hunting intreating them that they would bring along with them only their Interpreter out of this respect that the Cranes might not be frightned by the great number of people and that the pleasure of the Hunting might not be disturb'd by too much noise The Ambassadors took only Father Ioseph along with them but the sport was no sooner begun with the day ere they sent for all the Retinue They had made a great secret way under-ground at the end whereof there was a field about which they had scatter'd some Wheat The Cranes came thither in great numbers and there were above fourscore taken The King took some of their feathers to put into his Mendil or Turbant and gave two to each of the Ambassadors who put them into their Hats That done they rode up and down the fields and spent the time in Hawking till that drawing towards noon the King went to take his repast in the same house where he had Dined the day before and was in a very good humour They had sent for his Musick thither At night he sent to entreat the Ambassadors to come only with six persons along with them to the hunting of the Drake and Wild-Goose at a place half a League from the Village They all alighted within two hundred paces of the place where they expected the sport and went into a great Hut built of Earth near which they had hidden the Nets upon the side of a small Brook where there is abundance of fresh-water Fowl The King caus'd us to sit down all about the walls of the Hut and oblig'd us to help him off with some Bottles of excellent Wine which was all the Divertisement we had that day For not so much as one Bird appearing we return'd to our quarters where the King sent us cold Mutton boyl'd and roasted sowr Sheeps milk which they account a great delicacy Cheese and several Vessels full of Citrons and other Fruits raw and preserv'd The next day was our greatest day for sport the King having ordered to be brought to the field a great nâ—mber of Hawks and three Leopards taught to hunt but very few Dogs Having spent some time in beating the bushes up and down and found nothing the King carried us into a great Park which was above two Leagues about The Persians call it Hazartzirib that is a place where a thousand bushels of Wheat may be sown It was compass'd with a very high Wall and divided into three Partitions In the first were kept Harts Wild-Goats Deer Hares and Foxes In the second were kept that kind of Deer which they call Ahu's and in the third Wild Asses which they call Kouhrhan The King first commanded the Leopards to be let in among the Ahu's and they took each of them one Thence we went to the wild Asses and the King seeing one of them at a stand spoke to the Ambassador Brugman to fire his Pistol at it and perceiving that he miss'd it he took an Arrow and though he Rid in full speed shot it directly into the breast of the Beast Another he took just in the Fore-head and afterwards he wounded others in several places He never fail'd though he alwayes shot Riding in full speed He was as well skill'd at his Sword as at his Bow for perceiving one of the wild Asses could hardly go he alights and going directly to the Beast gave it a blow with his Sword over the Back with which single blow he cleft it down to the Belly He struck another with his Cymitar over the Neck with so much strength and slight that there wanted not an inch of his having cut it clear off One of the Chans took the King's Sword wip'd it clean and put it into the Scabbard Then we all went to another small Partition that was in the middle of the Park At the entrance of this enclosed place the King commanded one of the two Huntsmen who carried his Fowling-piece after him to shoot at a wild Ass which had before been wounded with an Arrow The antienter man of the two thinking it a disparagement to him that the command was directed to the younger would needs prevent him shot at the Beast and miss'd The company laugh'd at him which put him into such madness that suffering the King to go on he returns to his Camerade drew his Sword upon him and cut off the Thumb of his right hand The wounded party makes his complaints to the King who immediately commanded the others head to be brought him but upon the Mediation of several of the Grandees his punishment was changed and he had only his Ears cut off The Executioner I know not upon what inducement cut off but some part of the Ear which the Grand-Master Mortusaculi-Chan perceiving and thinking the man had foul play done him to have ought of his Ears left
alighted took out his own knife and cut off what the Executioner had left to the great astonishment of all us who were not accustomed to see Persons of that quality turn common Executioners Within the enclosed place I spoke of there was a little building much after the fashion of a Theatre into which the King brought us to a Collation of Fruits and Conserves That done there were driven into the place thirty two wild Asses at which the King discharg'd some shots with the Fowling-pieces and shot some Arrows and afterwards permitted the Ambassadors and the other Lords to shoot at them It was pretty sport to see those Asses run having sometimes ten or more Arrows shot into their Bodies wherewith they incommodated and wounded the others when they got in among them so that they fell a biting one another and running one at another after a strange manner Having knock'd down all those that were wounded there were let in thirty wild Asses more which they also kill'd and laid them all in a row before the King to be sent to Ispahan to the Court Kitchin The Persians so highly esteem the flesh of these wild Asses that they have brought it into a Proverb in their Kulusthan This kind of Hunting being over Dinner was brought in at the same place Here it was that the Ambassador Brugman was pleas'd upon his own account to present the King of Persia with his Highness the Duke of Holstein's Picture in a Box all beset with Diamonds as also with a very fair Steel Looking-Glass polish'd on both sides and embellish'd with several Figures grav'd by that famous Artist Iohn Dresde and done after an Excellent way whereof he himself had been the Inventor After Dinner we retir'd into some houses thereabouts to take our Mid-dayes repose The King sent us thither ten Ahues and a very fair Stagg the horns whereof had twelve brow-ancklers but ere we were well laid down word was brought us that the King was got on Horse-back in order to some further sport We immediately follow'd and found him a Hawking He soon gave over that sport and taking along with him nine persons of his own Retinue and six of ours he went into a spacious low Walk at the end whereof there was a place for the keeping of wild-Dacks but instead of hunting he must needs fall a Drinking and was so dispos'd to mirth that the noise we made kept the Ducks and Geese from coming near the place The King did Monsieur Mandelslo the favour to permit him to present him with a Glass of Wine and after he had drunk and that Mandelslo had kiss'd his knee he presented him with an Apple which is an expression of so particular a kindness that the whole Court began to look on him from that time as a Person very much in the King's favour The Kerek jerak or ordinary Steward of his Majesties Houshold whose name was Mahumed Aly-beg who had fill'd the King his drink during this Debauch and had not forgot to take off his own was grown so drunk that sitting at the entrance of the Walk he made such a noise that the King sent one to bid him get thence and perceiving no intreaties would prevail with him he commanded him to be dragg'd thence and set on horse-back Aiy-beg could not hinder their dragging of him thence but they were not able to set him on horse-back nay he abus'd and struck those that should have done it The King goes out of the Gallery and would have perswaded him to get on horse-back but he was no better treated than the rest so that laying his hand on his Sword he made as if he would have cut off his head The fright which that put the Steward into made him cry out so loud that the whole company concern'd themselves in the fear he was in He was very much in his Prince's favour but knew him to be a person not to be jeasted withall and he had so many sad examples of it before his Eyes that the terrors of Death did in a moment disperse the Vapours which had unsetled his Brain and bestow'd wings on those Feet which the Wine had made unable to go He immediately got on horse-back and rid away as fast as his horse could carry him and so made a shift to escape that time The king who was got into a pleasant humour only Laugh'd at it he came very merrily in to us but withdrew soon after and we went and were lodg'd in our own quarters The 20. there was no hunting at all We dined with the king who was that day serv'd by a hundred young Men very handsome Persons and richly Clad who alwayes stood before him Many of our Retinue would rather have kept those Gentlemen company and waited than have been among the Guests by reason of the trouble it was to them to sit according to the manner of the Country This entertainment was made in a pleasant Summer-house that stood in the midst of a Garden upon the water-side In the afternoon we went to another Village about a League and a half from the City and in our way took a white Heron. The 21. the king sent betimes in the Morning to invite us to go a Pidgeon-hunting We were carried up to the top of a great Tower within which there were above a thousand Nests We were plac'd all without having in our hands little sticks forked at the ends The king commanded our Trumpets to sound a charge and immediately there were driven out of the Tower or pidgeon-Pidgeon-house great numbers of Pidgeons which were most of them kill'd by the king and those of his Company This was the end of that kind of hunting after which we took our way towards the City but ere we got into it the king carried us into one of his Gardens called Tzarbach which is no doubt the fairest of any we have seen in Persia where we had another Manificent treatment As soon as we were got to our Lodgings there were brought us from the King twelve wild Drakes and as many Pidgeons but they were provided it seems only for the Ambassador Brugman and his Ladies Somes days afterwards it was publish'd by the Tzartzi or publick Crier all over the City that all should keep within their houses and that none should presume to come into the street the King being to goe that way abroad to give the Court Ladies the Divertisement of Hunting The custom of the Country is that the King's Wives and Concubines should not go abroad unless it be in certain Chests or Cabinets which are covered all over and carried by Camels All which notwithstanding they permit not that while they are passing by there should be any one in the Streets or that any men should come within Musket-shot of the field where they are upon pain of present Death The King goes before and the Ladies follow about half an hour after accompany'd by their Women and a great number
of Eunuchs When they are come into the field they get on Horse-back carry Hawks on their fists and use their Bows and Arrows as well as the men Only the King and the Eunuchs stay among the Women all the rest of the men are about half a League from them and when the sport is begun no man is to come within two Leagues of them unless the King send for him by an Eunuch The Lords of the Court in the mean time hunt some other way The King return'd from this Hunting Nov. 26. so Drunk as were also most of his Lords that they could hardly sit their horses They made a halt at the said house called Tzarbach and had engag'd themselves into that Debauch upon a great Bridge which is at the entrance of the Park where the great Lords had danc'd in his Presence and found him such excellent sport that those who did best had great Presents bestow'd on them It was observ'd to be his particular Humour that he was very liberal in his Debauches and many times gave away so much that the next day he repented him of it Some eight days after this great Hunting-match we had an example of his Liberality in that kind For one day being desirous to drink in the after-noon and most of the company having left him there being with him only the Eahtemad dowlet and some Eunuchs he caus'd a great Cup to be fill'd which he ordered to be presented to the Chancellor with a command that he should drink his health The Chancellor who was not given to those Excesses would have excus'd himself but the King drew out his Sword set it by the Cup and bid him take his choice either Drink or Dye The Chancellor finding he had the Woolf by the Ears and not knowing how to avoid drinking takes the Cup in his hand and was going to drink but perceiving the King a little turn'd about he rises and gets away The King was extremely incens'd thereat and sent for him but upon answer brought that he was not to be found he gave the Cup to an Achta or Eunuch He would also have excus'd himself pretending he had not Drunk any Wine for a good while before and that if he took off that Cup it would infallibly be the Death of him but the King was not satisfy'd with those excuses and taking up his Sword would have kill'd him if a Mehater or Gentleman belonging to his Chamber had not prevented him yet did he not do it so clearly but that he himself was hurt in the Leg and the Eunuch in the hand The King who would have his will finding all had left him address'd himself to one of his Pages theâ—â— on of Alymerdan-Chan Governour of Candahar who was a very handsom young Lad and ask'd him whether he had the courage to venture at the drinking off of that Cup. The young Lad made answer that he knew not what he might be able to do and that he would do his endeavour whereupon kneeling down before the King he took several draughts of it At last thinking it too great a task to go through and finding himself animated by the Wine and the King 's obliging expressions who still egg'd him on to Drink he rises cast his arms about the King's neck kisses him and says Patscha humse alla taala menum itzund ' Ischock jasch wersun that is I pray God grant the King a long and happy Life and the Prince was so much taken with the action that he sent to the Treasury for a Sword whereof the Handle Scabard and Belt were beset with precious stones and presented him with it and bestow'd on another Page who had help'd off with some of the Wine another very rich Sword and a great Golden Cup. But the next day he was so cast down and so Melancholy that Riding abroad into the Country he was not able to hold his Bridle They put him into a better humour by getting from the Pages the best Sword and the Golden cup giving them some Tumains in ready Money The 19. of November the Eahtemad Dowlet or Chancellor made a great Feast for the Ambassadors in a most fair Hall which as soon as a man came to the entrance of it wonderfully charm'd the Eye For in the midst of the Vestibulum there was a great Fountain out of which came several spouts of water The Hall it self had on the upper part of it towards the Roof several Pourtractures of Women cloath'd in several Modes all done after some Europaean Copies and under them the Walls were set all about with Looking-Glasses to the number of above two hundred of all sizes So that when a manstood in the midst of the Hall he might see himself of all sides We were told that in the King's Palace in the appartment of his Wives there is also a Hall done all about with Looking-Glasses but far greater and much fairer than this The entertainment which the Chancellor made us was very Magnificent all the meat being serv'd in silver Dishes We had the Divertisement of the King's Musick and Dancing-women all the time we were at Dinner during which they behav'd not themselves with the same respect and reserv'dness as they had done in the King's presence when we din'd at Court but shew'd tricks much beyond any thing they had done before one whereof I observ'd which I think almost Miraculous One of these Women having plac'd in the midst of the Hall a Vessel of Porcelane two foot high and taken several turns about it took it up between her Leggs with such slight that not any one of us perceiv'd it and kept on the Dance with the same ease and with the same slight return'd it to the same place not making one wrong step all the time These Women are calllled Kachbeha's and they are employ'd not only in this Divertisement but it any other that may be expected from Women Those who entertain their Friends what quality soever they be of will not have them want any Diversion they can desire and the Persians who are great Lovers of Women will not omit at their treatments that sport which they most delight in Whence it comes that there is no great Feast made in Persia at which these Dancing-women are not brought in as a necessary part of it The Master of the Entertainment proffers them to his Guests and he who hath a mind to any one of them rises from the Table goes into a private room with her whom he most fancies and having done his work comes to his place again and the Woman goes to the Dance without any shame on the one side or notice taken of it on the other Those who make some difficulty to venture themselves with such common Ware refuse the Master's kindness with a Complement and thank him for the honour he does them There is but one City in all Persia to wit that of Ardebil where this custom is not suffered which
would not suffer him to take his rest in the night there was a necessity either he or they should leave the City The same Ambassador engag'd himself in another unhandsom business which was of so much the more dangerous consequence that all the Christians of the Suburbs were concern'd in it The King commands every year a search to be made among the Armenians for all the handsom Maids and makes choice of those whom he likes best Our Interpreter for the Armenian Language whose name was Seran a person of a leud life addressing himself to the Ambassador Brugman told him that in that search he was like to lose a Daughter a beautiful Lass whom he tenderly lov'd and desir'd his advice and protection in that case Brugman advis'd him to oppose the Searchers and to call to his assistance the Domesticks of the Embassy and assur'd him they should be ready to relieve him This proceedure of his and several other imprudent actions had at last forc'd the King to a more severe resolution against the said Ambassador nay haply against the whole Company if the Chancellor had not moderated his passion THE TRAVELS OF THE AMBASSADORS FROM THE DUKE of HOLSTEIN INTO MUSCOVY TARTARY and PERSIA The Sixth Book ERE we leave the City of Ispahan which is now the Metropolis of the whole Kingdom of Persia it will not be amiss I gave the Reader an account of what I found therein worthy my Observation during our aboad there for the space of five moneths and to give here such a Description thereof as he must expect to be so much the more full and particular inasmuch as there is not any Author who hath hitherto written of it hath done it with exactness enough to satisfie even a mean Curiosity They say that the City of Ispahan is the same which was heretofore called Hecatonopolis and that before Tamberlane's time it was known by the name of Sipahan as well by reason of the number of its inhabitants which was so great as that out of it a considerable Army might be rais'd as in regard that in that place the Armies had their Rendezvous from the antient Persian and Vsbeque word Sipe whereof Sipahan is the plural and signifies the same thing as Lâ—sker that is to say an Army from which is derived the word Sipes-alar a term the Persians do yet sometimes make use of to signifie a chief Commander or General of an Army Tamberlane was the first who by transporting the two first Letters of that name call'd it Ispahan Ahmed ben Arebscha who hath written the Life and Actions of Tamberlane calls this City in all places Isbahan writing the word with a b and the Modern Persians always write it Isfahan with an f from an Arabian word which signifies Rank or Batallion though they pronounce it indifferently sometimes Isfahan sometimes Ispahan Ios. Barvaro alwayes calls it Spaham and Ambr. Contarini who was sent Ambassador from the Republick of Venice to Vssum Cassan King of Persia in the year 1473. calls it Spaa Spaam and Aspacham But as we said before its right name is Ispahan This City lies in the Province of Erak or Hierack which is the antient Parthia in a spacious Plain having on all sides at about three or four Leagues distance a high Mountain which compasses it like an Amphitheatre at thirty two degrees twenty six minutes Latitude and eighty six degrees forty minutes Longitude and I have observ'd that the Needle declined there seventeen degrees from the North towards the West It hath toward the South and South-west side the Mountain of Demawend and on the North-east side towards the Province of Mesanderan the Mountain of Ieilak-Perjan The Author of the French Book intituled Les Estats Empires puts it in the Province of Chuaressen but he is mistaken for Chuaressen is a Province of the Vsbeques Tartars at 43. degrees Latitude and lies at a great distance from that of Erak If you take in all its Suburbs it will be found that it is above eight German Leagues in compass in so much that it is as much as a man can do to go about it in one day The City hath twelve Gates whereof there are but nine open above eighteen thousand Houses and about five hundred thousand Inhabitants The Walls of it are of Earth low and weak being below two fathoms and above but a foot thick and its Bastions are of Brick but so poorly flanked that they do not any way fortifie the City no more than does the Ditch which is so ruin'd that both Summer and Winter a man may pass over it dry-foot F. Bizarro and some others affirm that the walls are of Chalk but I could find no such thing unless it were that in the Castle which hath its walls distinct from those of the City there are some places which look as if they were whitened or done over with Chalk or Lime The River Senderut which rises out of the adjacent Mountain of Demawend runs by its walls on the South and South-west side on which side is the Suburbs of Tzulfa Before it comes into the City it is divided into two branches one whereof falls into the Park called Hasartzerib where the King keeps all sorts of Deer and from the other there is drawn a current of water which passes by Chanels under ground into the Garden of Tzarbagh This River supplies the whole City with water there being hardly a house into which it comes not by Pipes or so near as that it is no great trouble to them to fill their Cisterns of it which they call Haws and Burke though besides this convenience of the River they have Wells the water whereof is as good as that of the River Allawerdi-Chan sometime Governour of Schiras built at his own charge the fair Stone-Bridge which is between the Garden of Tzarbagh and the City upon this River which is as broad in that place as the Thames is at London Schach-Abas had a design to bring into the River of Senderut that of Abkuren which rises on the other side of the same Mountain of Demawend and whereas to bring these two Rivers into the same Chanel there was a necessity of cutting the Mountain he employ'd for the space of fourteen years together above a thousand Pioners at that work And though they met with extraordinary difficulties not only in that they had to do with pure Rock which in some places was above two hundred foot deep but also in regard the Mountain being cover'd with Snow for near nine Months of the year they had but three to work in yet had he the work constantly carried on with such earnestness that all the Chans and Great Lords sending their Work-men thereto upon their own charges there was in a manner to doubt made of the successe of that great enterprize since there remain'd to do but the space of two hundred paces when Schach-Abas died leaving the Consummation of that imperfect work
till they be all pass'd by All the streets abutting upon the Maidan are very narrow but the Maidan or Market-place though it hath shops all about it is so large that I cannot imagine there is any in Europe comes near it This Market-place is seven hundred foot long and two hundred and fifty broad All the houses about the Maidan are of equal heighth and all built of Brick having their shops vaulted where you have on the side towards the King's Palace Goldsmiths Lapidaries and Druggists and opposite to them those Merchants who sell all sorts of stuffs of Silk Wool and Cotton and the Taverns where they Tiple and sell all sorts of Provisions All these houses are two stories high and have all their Eiwans or open Halls The Market-place is planted all about with a kind of Trees called Scimscad which is somewhat like Box but they are much higher and the branches being perpetually green they are so cut that the Shops are to be seen between the Trees and make a very delightful Prospect But it is not one of the least Ornaments of their Maidan that the Rivâ—let which runs at the foot of these Trees in a Chanel of Freestone rais'd two foot from the ground all about the Market-place falls into two great Basons at the two corners of it and is thence carried by Chanels under ground to other places Trades-men do not work at all themselves but have their Slaves and Apprentices who do all the main work at their house's while the Master's business is only to sell his Commodities in shops appointed for that purpose at the Maidan in a great Vaulted Gallery built with Arches or in the streets abutting upon it where every Trade hath its particular quarter assign'd it or haply in a street appointed for that particular Commodity and where they permit not the selling of any other The observance of which order in regard the Persians are very neat in all they do makes so delightful a shew that I have not seen any thing like it At the end of his Gallery there are two Balconies cover'd over head opposite one to the other where their Musick which consists in Tymbrels Hawboyes and other kind of Instruments which they call Kerenei is to be heard every night at Sun-set as also when the King either going out of the City or coming into it passes through the Maidan They have this kind of Musick in all the Cities of Persia which are governed by the Chan and they say Tamberlane first introduc'd that custom which hath been observed ever since The King's Palace is upon the Maidan The Persians call it Dowlet-Chane or Der Chane Schach and there lie before the Gate several great Pieces of all sizes but most such as require 36 or 48 pound Bullet very roughly cast without Carriages and lying upon Beams so as that no use can be made of them Nicholas Hem a Hollander who travell'd into Persia in the years 1623. and 1624. says that these Pieces were brought thither from Ormus and that they secure the Avenues of the place but as I said before it is impossible they should be discharg'd Nay the Palace it self hath no Fortifications and is compass'd only by a high Wall In the day time there are but three or four upon the Guard and in the night there are fifteen at the Gate and about thirty within the King's apartment These last are all persons of Quality and sons of Chans of whom some stand Centry and the rest walk the Round and they all lye upon the ground in the open air This Guard hath its Kischiktzi or particular Captain who every night delivers the King a List of their names who are upon the Guard that he may know whom he may confide in and by what persons he is served Over the first Gate there is a great square structure which hath large Windows on all sides and we were told that within it was Carv'd all over and Gilt The other principal apartments of this great Palace are the Tab Chane which is a spacious Hall where the King treats all the great Lords of his Court and entertains them at Dinner upon the day of their Naurus which is their first day of the year the Divan-Chane which is the ordinary place where all Appeals are try'd and where the King commonly gives Audience to the Ambassadors of Forein Princes as we said elsewhere which is done partly upon this account that this Edifice having a great Court adjoyning to it into which it looks the King may have the convenience of shewing the Ambassadors some of his best Horses and his other pieces of Magnificence as he did at our first audience The Haram-Chane which is a Hall wherein the Casseha that is the King's Concubines who are always shut up in several apartments have their meetings to Dance before him and to divert him with their Musicians who are all Eunuchs The Deka or the place of the King 's ordinary residence where he lodges and cats with his lawful Wives All these Halls have belonging to them several Chambers Closets Galleries and other necessary apartments fit for the lodging and divertisement of so powerful a Prince and so great a number of Ladies who are all with him within the same Palace wherein there is not any considerable apartment but hath its particular Garden At the entrance of the Kings Palace and about forty paces from the outer-gate on the right hand there is another Gate which opens into a spacious Garden in the midst whereof there is a Chapel which gives a Privilege to the whole place and makes the Sanctuary we spoke of before called by the Persians Alla-Capi that is God's Gate All those who stand in fear of imprisonment whether upon a civil or criminal account find here an assured Sanctuary and refuge even against the King's displeasure and may live there till they are reconcil'd to their Adversaries if they have to do with private men or obtain'd their pardon of the King provided they have wherewithall to subsist Murtherers and Assassins participate of the same Privilege but the Persians have so great an aversion for Theft as accounting it a base and infamous Crime as it really is that they permit not Thieves if they do come in to stay there many days At the time of our Travels we found in this Sanctuary a Sulthan who having either through misfortune or his own ill conduct lost the Kings favour and being in fear of losing his life was got in thither with all his Family and liv'd in Tents which he had set up in the Garden Behind the Kings Palace lies the Castle which they call Taberik Kale It serves for a Citadel which is the signification of the word Kale and it is fortify'd with a Rampier and several Bastions of earth which being very sharp above Nicholas Hem whom I have found in all things else the most exact of any that have written of the City of
without a Lantern Those who find themselves well enough to go give the Guard somewhat to Drink and are brought home to their Houses I shall here take occasion to say something of the excellent order observ'd in all Cities of Persia for the Guard At Ardebil there are forty men who incessantly walk about the Streets to prevent Mischiefs and Robberies with such Vigilance and Exactness that they are oblig'd to Indemnify those that are Robb'd Whence it came that at Ispahan we came many times after Midnight from the Monastery of the Augustines which was above half a League from our quarters yet never met with any mischief by the way nay if at any time as it might well happen in that great City we chanc'd to lose our way the Guard would bring us with Torches home to our very Doors It is reported of Schach-Abas that desirous one day to make tryal of the Vigilance of those people suffer'd himself to be surpriz'd by them and had been carried to Prison had he not been known by one of the Company who discovering him to the rest they all cast themselves at his Feet to beg his pardon But he express'd himself well satisfy'd with their care and told them they had done but their duty that he was King in the day time but that the keeping of the Publick peace in the night depended on them If it happen that after the Marriage the Bride be oblig'd to live at her Husband's Father's House it is not lawfull for her to appear before him with her Face uncover'd much more to speak to him till such time as the Father-in-Law hath hir'd her to do it and given her a new Garment or a piece of Stuff to make one to oblige her thereto But after all this she must not uncover her Face in his presence nor yet her Mouth when she eats for she hath a piece of Cloath which they call Iaschmahn ty'd to her ears so as that it hangs over her Mouth to hinder her from being seen eating The Persians keep their VVives more in restraint than the Italians do and suffer them not to go to Church or to any great Feast unless their Husbands go along with them If a VVoman permit her Face to be seen all the Apologies she can make for her self shall not clear her from the suspicion conceiv'd of her Dishonesty even though she granted that favour to one of her Husband 's nearest Relations This reserv'dness they also observe in their Hoases where they are kept up as close Prisoners VVhen any business obliges them to go abroad it it be a foot they cover themselves with a white Veil like a VVinding-sheet which reaches down to half the Legg and if it be on Horse-back they are dispos'd into a kind of Chests or at least muffle up their Faces so as that it is impossible to see them The Ceremonies we mention'd before are only for ordinary Marriages but besides these there are two other kinds of Matrimony among the Persians which are celebrated quite after another manner For those who are oblig'd to sojourn at other places besides those where their ordinary Habitations are yet are unwilling to take up their quarters in publick places take Wives for a certain time allowing them a certain Salary either for a Moneth or such term as they agree upon They call this kind of Marriage Mittâ—he and to dissolve it there is no need of Bills of Divorce but the time of the contract being expir'd it is dissolv'd of it self unless both parties are mutually content to prolong it The third kind of Marrying is when a man makes use of a Slave that he hath bought and these Slaves are for the most part Christian Maids of Georgia whom the Tartars of Dagesthan steal to be afterwards sold in Persia. The Children which they bear as also those Born in the Marriage called Mittâ—he share in the Fathers Estate as well as the others who have no other advantage of them therein than what was granted the Mother by her contract of Marriage but they are all accounted lawfully begotten inasmuch as after the example of the antient Egyptians they look upon the Father as the principle of Generation and say the Mother does only foment and feed the Child when it is once conceiv'd and upon the same accompt it is that they affirm that the Trees which bare fruit are the Males and that those which do not are the Females When the Women are in Labour and that they find some difficulty in the delivery the Kinred and Nighbours run to the Schools and make a present to the Molla to oblige him to give his Scholars leave to play or at least to pardon some one of them that hath deserv'd to be severely punish'd imagining that by the liberty they procure for those Scholars the Woman in Labour is eas'd and will be the sooner deliver'd of her burthen It is also out of the same perswasion that in such Emergencies they let go their Birds and many times purposely buy some that they may give them their liberty upon such an occasion They do the like for persons in the agony of Death who seem unwilling to dye The Muscovites let go Birds when they go to Confession believing that as they permit the Birds to fly away so will God remove their sins far from them The men take an absolute liberty to see the Women when they please but they allow not their Wives the freedom of seeing so much as one man so far are they from permitting them to see any in private so excessive is their jealousie The offences Women commit contrary to their faith plighted to their Husbands are unpardonable nor indeed can they be guilty of any which they will punish with greater severity nay indeed cruelty We were told an example of it that had happened in the Province of Lenkeran in the time of Schach-Abas who coming to understand that one of his Menial servants who was called Iacupzanbeg Kurtzi Tirkenan that is to say he whose Office it was to carry the King's Bows and Arrows had somewhat a light Wife sent him notice of it with this message that if he expected to continue at Court and to keep in his employment it was expected he should cleanse his House This message and the affliction he conceiv'd at the baseness of his Wife and his reflection that it was known all about the Court as also that of the hazard he was in to lose his place put him into such a fury that going immediately to his House he cut in pieces not only his Wife but also her two Sons four Daughters and five Chamber-maids and so cleans'd his House by the blood of twelve persons most of them innocent that he might not be turn'd out of his employment The Law of the Country allows them to kill the Adulterer with the Woman if they be taken in the fact These accidents are not very extraordinary among them and
Prophet Those who say the Kings of Persia assume the quality of Choda that is God are mistaken For Chodabende is the proper name of a man as Theodosius Theodore c. and signifies oblig'd to God or a Servant of God though it must be confess'd that these Princes are Vain-Glorious enough to assume extravagant Titles which make them equal to the Sun and Moon and Companions of the Stars Ammianus Marcellinus saies of Sapor King of Persia. T is true on the other side that they are as free to give the same Titles to those Princes of Europe with whom they live in good correspondence for in the Letters which Schach Sefi writ to the Duke of Holstein he gave him the same qualities he assum'd himself They would not have inscriptions of Letters fill'd with the Titles of the Kingdoms and Provinces under their Jurisdiction nay Schach-Abas would have no other title at the head of a Petition than that of Schach and one day said to a man that had set several titles at the head of his Petition Go thy wayes friend thy titles will make me neither more powerfull nor more poor Give me that of Schach since I am so and think that enough Most Authors give the Kings of Persia of the last Race the quality of Sophi and the Kings themselves especially those who have any zeal for their Religion are much pleas'd with the addition of that quality to their titles out of the affection they bear Schich Sofi or Sefi the first Institutor of their Sect as the Kings of France take the quality of most Christian those of Spain that of most Catholick and those of England that of Defenders of the Faith Whence they say Ismael-Sofi Eider-Sofi and of this a man must taxe notice in the reading of their History inasmuch as if he do not he may confound the Names of the Kings and attribute that to one which is to be understood of another The Kingdom of Persia is Hereditary and may be enjoy'd not only by the Children lawfully begotten but also for want of such by natural Children and the Sons of Concubines who inherit the Crown as well as the others nay they are preferr'd before the nearest of the Collateral Kinred and the Nephews since the Sons of Concubines and Slaves are not accounted illegitimate in Persia as we have said elsewhere For want of Sons the Crown falls to the next of Kin by the Father's side descended from Sefi who are as it were Princes of the Blood-Royal and are called Schich Eluend They enjoy many great Privileges and Immunities but many times they are very poor and have much ado to live The Children of the Kings of Persia make the Houses where they are Born Free and they are converted into Sanctuaries insomuch that if the Queen be delivered in any other place besides the Metropolis the House is compass'd with a noble VVall to be distinguish'd from others If we may credit Q. Curtius the antient Arms of Persia were the Crescent as the Sun was that of the Greeks Now the Turks take the Crescent and the Persians the Sun which they commonly put upon the back of a Lion But upon the great Seal of the Kingdom there are only Characters It is about the bigness of a half Crown piece having within the Ring To God alone I Schich Sefi am a Slave with all my Heart and in the Circumference Aly let the World say what it please of Thee yet will I be thy Friend He who before thy Gate does not account himself dust and ashes though he were an Angel dust and ashes be upon his Head In the Letters he sends to Christian Princes he observes this respect that he does not set the Seal on the same side with the Writing but on the other side at the very bottom The Ceremonies performed at the Coronation of the Kings of Persia are not done at Babylon as some Authors would have it believ'd nor yet at Kufa as Minadous affirms but in the City of Ispahan They are not so great as those done at the Inauguration of Kings in Europe They set upon a Table about half an Ell high as many pieces of Tapistry of Gold an Silver or Embroider'd as there have been Kings of the same Family before him who is then to be Crowned so that at the Coronation of Schach Sefi there were eight inasmuch as he was the eighth King of Persia of that House accompting from Ismael the first That done the chiefest of the Chans present him with a Crown which he kisses thrice in the Name of God of Mahomet and of Aaly and having put it to his Fore-head he delivers it to the Grand Master of the Kingdom whom they call Lele who puts it on his Head and then all present make Acclamations of Long live the King God grant that during his Reign one year may be multiply'd to a thousand they kiss his Feet make him great Presents and spend the remainder of the day in Feasting and Merriment There is no such thing among them as the taking of any Oath of Allegiance or obliging the King to swear to the Conservation of the Privileges or Fundamental Laws of the Kingdom in regard their subjection is pure Slavery whereas among Christians the condition of Kings is quite otherwise for the obligation is reciprocal and the Kings are not absolute Lords but are or ought to be Fathers of their people The Kingdom is of great extent Those Provinces which lie most remote from the chief Citie and the ordinary residence of the Kings cannot be governed otherwise than by Governours or Lieutenants who in Persia are called Chans the word not signifying the imployment they have in the said Governments but a quality which all great Lords assume to themselves Of this we shall speak more at large elsewhere and here give a short accompt of the Kings of Persia who have reign'd within these hundred years with some assurance that the Reader will think this digression the less tedious when he finds me positively affirming that there is hardly any Author who hath written the History of them We said before that the Emperour of the Turks when he writes to the King of Persia give him not the quality of Schach but of Schich-Ogli in as much as he is not descended from the antient Family of the Kings of Persia but from a later as we shall now make it appear Hassan Padschach who was sirnamed Vssum Cassan that is to say Grand Signor by reason of the great Wars he managed and where in he was alwayes victorious was of the Family of the Asimbels and liv'd about the end of the fifteenth age He was Governour of Armenia Major and having gain'd several victories over the Turks he reduc'd several Poovinces by force of Arms and among others Persia whereof he made himself King Vssum Cassan had three sons Vnger Mahomed Calul and Iacup The first was strangled by the Father's order
against whom he had taken up Arms and the second was poyson'd by the third so that Vssum Cassan dying on the fifth of Ianuary 1485. Iacup succeeded him but he enjoy'd not long the Kingdom he had got with the price of his Brother's bloud for his own Wife poysoned him within a short time after his coming to the Crown After his death Schich Eider son-in-law to Vsum Cassan sirnamed Harduellis from the place of his birth pretended to the succession but it was disputed against him first by Iulaver a Persian Lord and afterwards by Baylinger and Rustan The Turks who slighted Schich Eider by reason of the meanness of his birth notwithstanding which Vssum Cassan had bestow'd on him his Daughter Martha whom he had had by Despina the Daughter of Calojean King of Trebisond and hated him particularly upon this accompt that he had quitted their Religion presuming that a man who pretended much to Devotion and Sanctity would be unexpert if not unfortunate in the business of Arms declar'd a war against him entred Persia with a powerfull Army gave him battel and defeated him in so much that falling alive into their hands they flead his head and pull'd down his skin over his ears 'T is true there is so great discrepancy among the Persian Authors concerning this story that we have been forc'd herein to follow the common opinion though there are some who affirm that Eider was not King but that Rustan King of Persia fearing he might come to be King treated him as we said before Nay some affirm that this happened in the time of Iacup the son of Vssum Cassan. But what cannot well be deny'd of the story is that about that time the Turks became Masters of most of the Provinces of Persia and that Rustan was succeeded by Agmar Carabem and Aluantes Schich Eider who first chang'd the quality of Schich that is Prophet into that of Schach or King left one son named Ismael but he was so young when his Father died that all could be done for him was to secure his person at the house of a certain Lord of the Province of Kilan a Kinsman and Friend of his Father's named Pyr Chalim who brought him up and instructed him in the same Sect his Father had been of Ismael being come to years of discretion discover'd himself to be a person of an excellent understanding and great courage and there were the greater hopes conceiv'd of him out of this respect that his Father who was well skill'd in Astrology had Predicted that his son should do wonders as being the person designed for the restauration of Persia by the reduction of many Provinces and the propagation he should make of his new Religion Accordingly he made such advantage of the opportunity he then had while the Emperour of the Turks was at Constantinople little thinking what might happen towards Persia that having by the advice of Pyr sent Deputies into the neighbouring Provinces and Cities he so far satisfy'd them of the right he had to the Crown and prevail'd with them to reflect on the interest of the State and the preservation of Religion that having got together an Army of twenty thousand men with which he left Latretzan in the Province of Kilan the Inhabitants of the other Provinces came in so fast that it was of a sudden swell'd to three hundred thousand With this Army he marched streight to Ardebil whence he forc'd away all the Turks some few onely excepted who were got into a street behind Schich Sefi's Sepulchre where they Petition'd for their lives and promised to Embrace the Persian Religion and thence it comes that the said street is to this day called Vrume Mahele It was upon this exploit that many Persians came to be sirnamed Kisilbaschs as we have shewn before Ardebil being thus reduc'd Ismael went to Tabris Scamachie and Iruan and recover'd all the Cities and Provinces which the Truks had taken from his Father and had been possess'd of ever since his death He afterwards entred into Turkey gave the Emperour battel and defeated him The particulars of that War may be seen in the Letter which Henry Penia who was then in Persia writ to Cardinal Sauli and they agree with what the Persians themselves write thereof After this Victory he took Bagdat Besre Kurdestan Diarbek Wan Esserum Ersingan Bitlis Adiltschouas Alchat Berdigk Kars Entakie As soon as he had secur'd the Frontiers against the attempts of the Turks he turn'd his Armies Eastward and took from the King of the Indies the Province of Candahar and the next adjoyning Province the same good success which he had had against the Turks still attending him 'T was after this last Conquest that he went to Caswin to be Crown'd He stay'd there but just the time requisite for that Ceremony and to refresh his Forces with which he afterwards went into Georgia Defeated the King of that Countrey whom the Histories call Simon Padschach and forc'd him to pay him yearly three hundred Bails of Silk by way of Tribute The difficulties which Schach Ismael Sofi met with in all these Wars were not so small but the Persians grew weary of them though the zeal of their Religion induc'd them to suffer the utmost extremities even death it self with resolution enough But the consequence of these Victories and the good success which Ismael had in all his designs was that they raised him to so high an esteem that all the other Princes of Asia nay several Monarchs of Europe courted his friendship by solemn Embassies which gave our Writers the first acquaintance they had with the affairs of Persia. And whereas he made a strict Profession of the Persian Religion and had a great Devotion for Aly so far as to assume the quality of Sofi thence it comes that our Historians speak of him as the principal Propagator nay indeed as the first Institutor of that Sect. He died at Caswin in the forty fifth year of his age and was buried at Ardebil He had the reputation of being a great observer of Justice but it is affirm'd of him that he made no great difficulty to drink Wine and eat Swines flesh nay that in derision of the Turkish Religion he had a Hog kept in his Court which he named Bajazeth Schach Ismael Sofi left four Sons whereof the eldest named Tamas succeeded his Father in the Kingdom of Persia but not in the vertues and great endowments which had made him considerable all over the World The three others to wit Helcasi Beiram and Sor-Myrza had certain Territories assign'd them This change was perceiv'd at the very beginning of his Government For Sulthan Solyman Emperour of the Turks taking notice of the weakness of Schach Tamas in matter of Government raised a powerfull Army enters the Kingdom of Persia under the Conduct of Sulthan Murat Bascha and recover'd from the Persiaus all that Schach Ismael had taken from the Turks Bagdan and Wan onely excepted Two
bring him his head Vgurlu was coming out of the Bath and going to put on his Cloaths when Aliculi-Chan came to him Vgurlu seeing him coming in attended by two servants was a little startled at it though they were very good friends and said to him Wo is me dear friend I fear thou bringst me no good news Aliculi-Chan made answer Thou art in the right my dear Brother the king hath commanded me to bring him thy head the only way is to submit whereupon he clos'd with him cut off his head made a hole in one of the cheeks thrust his finger through it and so carry'd it to the king who looking on it touch'd it with a little Wand and said It must be confess'd thou wert a stout man it troubles me to see thee in that condition but it was thine own fault `t is pitty were it only for that goodly beard of thine This he said by reason his Mustachoes were so long that coming about his neck they met again at his mouth which is accounted a great Ornament in Persia. Mortusaculi had his charge conferr'd on him Hassan-beg who had also been at the Chancellor's Feast receiv'd the same treatment and the Poet who was afterwards fasly accus'd of having put this Execution in Verse and sung them in the Maidan was conducted to that place where they cut off his Nose Ears Tongue Feet and Hands whereof he died some few dayes after Not long after this Execution the king sent for the Sons of these Lords and said to them You see I have destroy'd your Fathers what say you of it Vgurlu-Chan's Son said very resolutely what do's a Father signifie to me I have no other than the king This unnatural answer restor'd him to the Estate of the deceas'd which otherwise would have been Confiscated to the king but the Chancellor's Son was reduc'd to great misery and had not any thing allow'd him of all his Father had enjoy'd for his expressing a greater Resentment of his death than Complyance for the king The king being come to Caswin issued out his commands that all the Lords and Governours of Provinces should come to Court They all obey'd this order save only Alymerdan-Chan Governour of Candahar and Daub-Chan Governour of Kentze who thought it enough to assure the king of their fidelity by sending him each of them one of their Wives and one of their Children as Hostages but the king thought not that submission sufficient whereupon Alymerdan-Chan absolutely revolted and put his person and the Fortress of Candahar under the Protection of the king of the Indies Daub-Chan understanding by the Achta or Groom of the king's Chamber who had been sent to him how dangerous it were for him to come to Court took the advice of his friends and resolv'd to retire into Turkey To effect his design he thought good to try how his servants stood affected towards him and having found there were fifteen among them who were unwilling to follow him he caus'd them to be cut to pieces in his presence writ a very sharp Letter to the king and carried away all his Wealth along with him to Tamaras-Chan a Prince of Georgia his Brother-in-law and went thence into Turkey where he still liv'd at the time of our Embassy and was much respected by Sulthan Ibrahim Emperour of Constantinople The king to be reveng'd of both sent their Wives to the houses of publick prostitution and expos'd the Son of Daud-Chad to the brutality of the Grooms about the Court and the common Executioners of the City but Alymerdan's Son by reason of his beauty was reserv'd for the king's own use Sometime afterwards the king sent orders to Imanculi-Chan Governour of Schiras Brother to Daud-Chan to come to Court He had notice sent him of the intention the king had to put him to death but he made answer that he could not be perswaded they would treat him so ill after he had done such considerable services to the Crown but however it might happen he would rather lose his life than be out of favour with his Prince and become a Criminal by his disobedience According to this imprudent resolution he came to Caswin where the Court then was but he was no sooner come ere the king ordered his head to be taken off Schach-Sefi intended to save the lives of Imanculi's Children and no doubt had done it had it not been for the ill Office which was rendred them by a wicked Parasite who seeing the eldest Son of them at the king's feet aged about 18. years his friends it seems having advis'd him to make that submission told his Majesty that he was not the Son of Imanculi but of Schach-Abas who had bestow'd one of his Concucines in marriage on the Father being before hand with Child by him That word occasion'd the death of that young Lord and fourteen of his Brethren who being conducted to the Maidan were all beheaded near their Father's body The Mother made a shift to get away with the sixteenth into Arabia to her own Father's who was a Prince of those parts and as we were told he was living at that time and had his Habitation at Helbise three dayes journey from Besre or Balsara The bodies of these executed persons remain'd three dayes in the Maidan in the open air till that the King fearing the lamentations which the Mother of Imanculi made there day and night would have rais'd the people into an insurrection commanded them to be taken away The Persians do still bemoan the death of this Imanculi-Chan out of a remembrance of his liberality He was the Son of Alla-Werdi-Chan who upon his own charge built the Bridge of Ispahan and who was as much look'd on as any Lord in Persia for the noble actions he had done in the Wars The King's cruelty was as great towards the Ladies as his inhumanity towards the men For about that time he kill'd one with his own hands and committed several other murthers When he intended any Execution he was ordinarily clad in Skarlet or some red stuff so that all trembled when he put on any thing of that colour These unheard of cruelties frightned all that came neer him and put some upon a resolution to shorten his dayes by poyson but that which they gave him prov'd not strong enough so that he escap'd the effects of it with a sickness of two moneths As soon as he was recover'd he caus'd and exact enquiry to be made whereby it was discover'd by means of a Woman belonging to the Seraglio who had been ill-treated by her Mistress that the poyson had been prepar'd in the appartment of the Women and that his Aunt Isa-Chan's Wife had caus'd it to be given him He reveng'd himself sufficiently the night following for the Seraglio was full of dreadfull cries and lamentations and it was found the next day that he had caus'd a great Pit to be made in the Garden wherein he had buried forty Women alive whereof some
retire to their own Habitation yet are paid as duely as if they were in actual service and meet not again till there be an Army on foot enjoying in the mean time divers Privileges and Exemptions which the other later kings of Persia have granted them The Meheter that is the Lord Chamberlain or chief Gentleman of the Chamber named Schaneser was a Gcorgian born of Father and Mother Christians He had been carried away in his infancy and sold to the Court of Persia where they had made him an Eunuch so that he needed not be Circumcis'd to receive the Character of the Persian Religion He had been a Page attending in his Chamber to Schach-Abas and was much in favour with Schach-Sefi upon this account that being alwayes near the king's person in all both Publick and Private Assemblies nay even within the Seraglio he had the king's Ear and knew how to comply with his humour and make his advantage of the opportunities he had to speak to him by which means he obtain'd those favours of him which another could not have ask'd The Wakenhuis that is the Secretary of State and of the King's Revenue who having forty Clarks under him perpetually employ'd issues out all the orders and dispatches which are sent into the Provinces and takes an account of all that 's receiv'd towards the charge of the King's house was called Myrsa Masum He was a Peasant's Son of the Village of Dermen in the Mountain of Elwend near Caswin where there are among others two Villages to wit Dermen and Saru whence come the best Pen-men of any in the Kingdom in regard there 's not an Inhabitant but puts his Children to writing as soon as they are able to hold a Pen and keep them so constantly employ'd therein that even in the fields and as they keep their flocks they pass away their time in that Exercise Aliculi-Chan who had the charge of Diwan-beki that is President of the Councel for the administration of Justice was the Son of a Christian of Georgia He had been taken during the War which Schach-Abas had in those parts and sold at Ispahan where he had serv'd as a Lacquey which had also been the condition of his two Brothers Rustam-Chan Governour of Tauris and Isa-Chan Iusbaschi who were made Eunuchs as he was himself The functions of his charge consisted principally in presiding at the judgement of Criminal causes joyntly with the Seder and the Kasi and the other Ecclesiastical and Secular Judges whom they call Schehra and Oef under the Portal of the King's Palace at the place named Diwan-Chane and to be personally present at the Executions of Malefactors The Kularagasi that is Captain of the Kulam or Slaves who are sold to the King to serve in the Wars upon any order they receive to that purpose was called Siausbeki and had been one of Schach-Abas's Footmen Of these Kulams there are about eight thousand and are permitted to live at their own Habitations as the Kurtzi are and have the same pay but they enjoy not the same Privileges or Exemptions having nothing of that kind which is not common to them with the king's other Subjects The Eischikagasi-baschi or Lord high Steward who hath the over-sight of forty Stewards that serve under him called Mortusaculi-Chan was the Son of a heard-man or one of those people whom the Persians call Turk who have no setled Habitation but remove their Tents and Huts to those places where they think to find the best Grass for their Cattel I said these Eischikagasi were a kind of Stewards of whom there are at all times four or five at the Court who stand at the door of the king's Appartment and serve by half-years under their Baschi or Chief who carries the staff they call Dâ—kenâ—k and stands before the king when he eats in publick on dayes of Ceremonies He is also one of the two who take Ambassadors under the Arms when they are brought to audience We have already related how Mortasaculi-Chan succeeded in this charge Vgurlu-Chan whose head Schach-Sefi had caus'd to be cut off Imanculi Sulthan whom the king of Persia sent upon an Embassy to the Duke of Holstein our Master had the quality of Eischakagasi Schahe Wardi who was Iesaul Scebet or Master of the Ceremonies was the Governour of Derbent's Son but his Grand-father was a Peasant of the Province of Serab The Iesaul Scebet carries also a staff and his principal function consists in placing strangers at the king's Table and at publick assemblies The Nasir or Controller of the king's house whom they also give the quality of Kerek jerak because he executes the function of a Purveyer whose name was Samambek was the Son of one of the ordinary Inhabitants of Kaschan The Tuschmal who hath the over-sight of all the Officers belonging to the king's kitchin was called Seinel-bek and was the Son of Seinel-Chan whom the king kill'd with his own hands in the presence of his Mother The Dawatter that is the Secretary of the Closet whose name was Vgurlu-bek was the Son of Emirkune-Chan He had in that charge succeeded Hassan-beg who was kill'd by the king's order because he had been at Supper with Talub-Chan as we related before The word Dawatter is deriv'd from Dawat which signifies an Ink-horn in as much as the principal function of this charge consists in carrying the Ink-horn and presenting that part thereof where the Ink is to the king when he is to sign any thing For the king himself carries the Seal about his Neck and Seals or Signs himself by pressing the Seal upon the Paper after he had put it into the Ink. Aly-baly-bek who was Myra-chur-baschi that is chief of the Gentlemen of the Horse or Master of the Horse of Persia was a Senkene by birth and his Father was a Drover who traded altogether in Oxen. The Mirischikar or Grand Faulconer whose name was Chosrow Sulthan was a Christian an Armenian born one notwithstanding his Religion very much in the king's favour Karachan-bek who had the charge of Sekbahn-baschi that is Overseer of those who kept the Dogs for Hunting or chief Hunts-man as I may call him was also a Sen-kene and the son of a Shepheard The Iesalkor hath two functions to wit that of Grand-Marshal of the Lodgings and that of Judge of the king's houshold He marches before the king as well in the Citie as in the Country with a staff in his hand to make way He hath under him several other Iasauls who are as it were Harbingers and sometimes is employ'd in the securing of persons guilty of Treason and such as are imprison'd by the king's express order The other Officers belonging to the Court are The Suffretzi that is the Carver The Abdar who serves the king with water to drink and keeps it in a Jarr seal'd up to prevent any body 's putting of poyson into it The
Chazinedal or Overseer of the king's Revenue The Ambadar who hath the over-sight of the king's Granaries The Iesaul Neder who keep the king's shooes when he puts them off in the anti-chamber The Mehemâ—ndar who conducts Ambassadors from one Province to another till they come to Court to their audience there and so back to the Frontiers Besides these there are yet several other Officers not so considerable as the precedent as The Kischitzi-baschi Captain of the Guard The Tzabedar Controller of the Artillery The Tzartzi who publishes the king's commands The Tzelaudar-baschi who is as it were a Captain over the Grooms that conduct such Horses as the king would have led The Kitaddar Library-keeper The Meamar Ingeneer and Architect The Mustofi Purveyer for the House The Seraidar Surveyer of the buildings The Klita Captain of the Gate The Scherbedar Overseer of the Conserves and Spices The Cannati Confectioner The Omatzdar Governour of the Pages The Schixtza Cup-bearer The Eachtzi who keeps the Gold-plate The Achtzi Clark of the kitchin The Eemektzi who bakes the bread which the king himself eats The Forrasch who makes the fire The Sava Water-bearer The Bildar are such as serve for Pioneers when the king goes any journey to make the wayes even and steps for the safer treading of the Camels They help also to pitch up Tents and dig pits in the ground whether to get water or serve for Privies The Schatir Foot-men The Rica are men who carry Pole-Axes and are alwayes about the king's person as his Guards but sometimes they also do the work of common Executioners All these Officers have their Salaries and other Allowances which are very duely paid them not out of the Treasury or Exchequer but they are charg'd upon the Demesn of certain Villages whereof they themselves have the disposal or they are assign'd them out of some part of the Taxes or haply on the Tribute paid by common Prostitutes The Persians seldom meet about affairs but the Cloath is lay'd At the two Audiences the king gave us as well at our comming thither as our departure thence we Din'd with him and at all the conferences we had at the Chancellor's we alwayes found a Collation of Preserves and after that the Cloath was lay'd and the Meat serv'd up When the King eats in publick or comes into any assemblies besides ten or twelve Lords of the Court he is ordinarily attended by the Hakim or Physician the Seder and the Minatzim The Physician appoints what Mears he should eat of The Minatzim or Astrologer acquaints him with the fortunate and unfortunate hours and whatever he sayes is believ'd as Oraculous and the Seder who is the chief of their Ecclesiasticks explicates to him those passages of the Alchoran and such points of their Divinity where there seems to be any difficulty The King and the Kasi joyn together in the naming of the Seder and they make choice of him among those whom they think best skill'd in the explication of the Alchoran and the Laws which depend on it They take his advice not onely in Ecclesiastical but also in Civil affairs but especially in Criminal He is shew'd the charge and proceedings against the Criminal and he returns his advice seal'd with his Seal The King for the most part follows it adding these words This is the advice of the Seder which we confirm then he orders his own Seal to be set thereto Civil causes are commonly try'd before the Secular Judges whom they call Oef They are a kind of Lawyers according to their way and they have for their chief the Diwan-beki who ought to be well vers'd in the Law of Mahomet Their Pleading dayes are Monday and Thursday and the place where they meet for the administration of Justice is a spacious Arch'd Hall under the Palace-Gate where they hear both sides and if the Causes be of importance they report the same to the King and acquaint him with the opinions of the Judges whereupon the King decides them It is forbidden by their Law to put out money to use Yet they stick not to do it but if the Usurers be discovered they are look'd on as infamous persons and not admitted into the company of such as are of any quality nay they are also very severely punish'd Of this we saw an eâ—ample as we pass'd through Ardebil where they had an odd way to take out a Man's Teeth who by way or interest had taken one and a half in the hundred for a moneth 's time They lay'd him all along on the ground and knock'd out his Teeth one after another with a little Mallet They call this kind of Usurers Sudehur that is eaters of Interest of Usury The Persians are permitted to lay out mony upon Lands Gardens and Houses which they enjoy while they are out of their money and if they be not redeem'd within the time agreed upon between the parties they are forfeited to the Mortgagee Their punishments are cruel and proportionable to the irreclaimable obstinacy of that people who are violently bent to Vice and laugh at gentle chastisements and moderate pains The least Crimes are punish'd with mutilation of Members They cut off the Nose Ears and sometimes the Feet and Hands of Malefactors nay they are put to death by cutting off thier Heads That defiling which the Latines call Violatio is not punish'd with death but they think it enough to cut off the part which hath offended to prove which there needs onely the Woman's Oath if she hath the confidence to reiterate it thrice The two last Kings Schach Abas and Schach-Sefi have been rather cruel than severe in their punishments as may be inferr'd from the examples we have already produc'd thereof nay they have been so far such towards some Criminals that they have caus'd them to be ty'd between two boards and sawen asunder Schach-Abas had sent into Spain one named Teinksbeg who returning from his Embassy and having not brought home all his Retinue and the King understanding by the Interpreter that his ill usage of them had caus'd many of his people to run away he took the pains himself to cut off his Nose his Ears and a good piece of flesh out of his Arm and forc'd him immediately to eat them bloody and raw as they were Imanculi-Chan who was sent Ambassador to the Duke of Holstein our Master treated his Domesticks no better For a very trivial fault he caus'd a Spit red hot to be apply'd to the back of one of his Retinue and he order'd another's fingers to be knock'd with the back of an Hatchet till all the bones were bruis'd which oblig'd five or six of his Train to leave his service and return into Persia by the way of Italy for which cruelties he had no doubt been punish'd at his return had not the Chancellor made his peace with the King As to the Religion of these people I could make a long digression to give some accompt
afterwards to the Town of Lenkeran upon the River Warsasaruth This Town as also all the adjacent Country derives its name from the easy anchorage of shipping thereabouts though to speak rigorously there is no haven in those parts but only a kind of Bay between two Capes or Promontories which reach a great way into the Sea one on Lenkeran-side which is cover'd with trees on the other on Kisilagats-side on which there is nothing but canes But the Sea thereabout is so shallow that little Vessels can hardly get in there and when they are in they ly exposs'd to the violence of the East-wind Georâ—e Dictander saies in the Relation of his Travels that in the year 1603. there came to that place by Sea an Ambassador from Rudolph II. Emperour of Germany and that he died there with most of his retinue but the Inhabitants thereabouts from whom I would have inform'd my self of that particular knew nothing of it The Kurtzibaschi hath the revenue of the Countrey allow'd him as part of his pay though our Mehemandar and the Persians for what reasons I know not would have perswaded us that it belong'd to the Chan of Ardebil and depended on his Government We were receiv'd there by a Visir or Secretary who had the over-sight of the Demesn in those parts We continu'd there the 8. 9. and 10. as well to refresh the Camels which the ill and slippery waies had almost wearied off their legs as in expectation of the rest of our retinue who were not yet come up with the baggage and with them fresh horses for the better prosecution of our Journey The 11. we left Lenkeran and travell'd five leagues on to Kisilagats crossing that day four great Rivers to wit those of Kasiende Noabine Tzili and Buladi the three former over Bridges and the last which was very broad in little Boats swimming over the horses At our coming out of the River we were forc'd to travel with much inconvenience for half a league or better through the water which the adjacent Sea had forc'd up there and to send the Baggage by Sea in six great Fisher-boats The Sea-side in those parts is cover'd all over with Canes as are also the Islands along the Coast where the Cosaques some times lye in ambush to surprize and set upon the ships which pass that way as also in expectation of an opportunity to cross over to the Continent At our coming out of the said water we found the Lord of that place who was come to meet us accompany'd by a hundred persons on hors-back The little City of Kisilagats that is red or gilt wood hath no walls no more than any of the other Cities of those parts and lies in a plain half a league or better from the Sea towards the North-west upon a little River called Willeschi Sulfahar-Chan sold it heretofore to the Chan of Ardebil by whom it was left to his Son Hossein Sultan who still enjoyes it The mountain of Kilan presented it self to our sight towards the West-north-west sinking by degrees into little hills towards the Countrey of Mokan At the foot of the mountain there were â—eral Villages among others those of Buladi Matzula Buster and Thaliskeran and abundance of trees planted in a streight line along a vast piece of Meadow-ground where there was excellent Pasture for Cattel I conceive this to be the place which Strabo speaks of when he says that towards the Portae Caspiae there is a fertile plain very fit for the breeding of Horses He adds that it is able to keep fifty thousand breeding Mares which number the Kings of Persia were wont to have kept there But this is not true at least there is no such thing now though a Military Officer of the Duke of Holstein's who made it his bragg that he had travell'd into Tartary though he had not been beyond Astrachan being question'd concerning the truth of this breeding-place had the confidence to affirm that what Strabo had said of it was very certain About these parts and in the neighbouring Mountains are the Countries of Kuawer Maranku and Deschiewend and the Village of Dubil otherwise called Chatifekeka the Inhabitants whereof were extirpated by the express command of Schach Abas for the abominable lives they led They had their meeting in the night time at some private houses where after they had made good cheer they blew out the Candles put off their Cloaths and went promiscuously to the work of Generation without any respect of age or kindred the Father many time having to do with his own Daughter the Son with the Mother and the Brother with the Sister Schach Abas coming to hear of it ordered all the Inhabitants of the Village to be cut to pieces without any regard or distinction of age or sex and peopled it with others I conceive it is of the Inhabitants of these parts that we are to understand what Herodotus affirms of their going together without any shame and publickly after the manner of Beasts Over against Kisilagats and about three leagues from the Continent there are two Islands named Kelechol and Aalybaluck The latter which is three leagues or Farsangs in length hath its name upon this accompt that Aly being there one day extremely put to it for fresh water to quench his thirst God immediately caus'd to break forth out of the ground a Spring of fresh water which is to be seen there to this day Febr. 12. we travell'd on through a plain Country but cross'd by several small Rivers the chiefest whereof were the Vskeru and the Butaru and we lodg'd at night at Elliesdu a Village seated at the entrance of the Heath of Mokan at the foot of a hill which is very fruitful as is also the rest of the Country on the mountain-side It belong'd to a Military Officer named Beter Sulthan who had his ordinary residence at a place six leagues thence The houses of this Village were very wretched ones as being built only with laths nail'd across and plaister'd over with clay They were inhabited by Souldiers on whom the King bestows the revenue of his Demesin in these parts with certain Lands which they are oblig'd to cultivate In this Village the Ambassador Brugman caus'd a Persian to be kill'd with cudgelling His Groom would have gone into the first house he came to with one of the led-horses the Kisilbach or soldier who was the Master of it told him that his house was free from quartering and that besides he had no convenience for the entertainment of horses whereupon having a stick in his hand he therewith struck the horse over the head but very slightly The Ambassador Brugman who saw this contestation was so enrag'd at the resistance of the Kisilbach that he immediately alighted and ran in to him The Kisilbach who said afterwards that he knew him not and was far from imagining that an Ambassador would engage himself in such a business and as a
happened to be there as it were by miracle I had there ended both my travel and life in the precipices I lodg'd at night in a Caravansera where I had a house over my head but that was all for there was neither provender for my horses nor any thing for my self and my servants to eat The ninth having travell'd three Leagues I came to a Caravansera where I found horse-meat After dinner I got five Leagues farther to another Caravansera but meeting there with the Armenian Caravan and the Carmelite Father whom I spoke of before I rode on and travell'd two Leagues farther to a Village called Berry and lodg'd not far from it in one of the best Caravanseras that I met with in all my journey The tenth I had very ill way along the mountain I preferred this before another fairer way which I might have taken by the Plains but more about by four Leagues Lâ—te at night I came to the City of Laar The City is seated at the foot of a Mountain in a spacious Plain its houses are built of brick bak'd in the Sun but the Citadel is very advantagiously seated on the mountain and well fortified with a Rampire of free-stone There is no Wine but abundance of Dates in these parts The Inhabitants drink only water which being thick and troubled must needs be veâ—y unwholsome as is also the Air thereabouts whence it comes that no Inhabitant almost but is troubled with a kind of worm which breeds between the flesh and the skin about an ell long and which is with much difficulty got out after the manner we shall have occasion to speak of hereafter hitherto we had been more sensible of cold then heat but in this place we began to think the heat of the Sun troublesom I stayed one whole day at Laar but when I would have gone thence the twelfth they would not suffer me to go out of the Caravansera till I had paid half a Tumâ—in which amounts to between forty and fifty shillings I stood out and alledged that being no Merchant they could not exact that duty from me but the receiver of it very much preâ—â—ing the payment I sent my Pasport and the Letters of recommendation which the King had written on my behalf to the Sultan of Gamron to the Governour of the Citadel who immediately sent an Officer of the Garrison with order for my departure without any further trouble They say the City of Laar was built by Pilaes the son of Siroes who had to his Successor Gorgion Mâ—lâ—ch first King of Laar and of whom the two and thirtieth Successor was Ebrahim Chan who was ejected by Sâ—ach Abas King of Persia in the year 1602. It hath about four thousand houses but neither gatâ—s nor walls but only a Castle built there by the Persians since their conquest upon a steepy rock which commands the City there being but one way to go up to it and that so narrow that two horses can hardly go abreast in it The walls of it are cut out of the rock and the Garrison consists of a hundred men a suffiâ—ient number to make good that place though there be in the Magazine Arms for three thousand men The water they have within it is brackish so that those of the Garrison are oblig'd to save that which falls from the Sky whereof they have abundance at certain seasons of the year I travell'd that day 14. Leagues to a Caravansera near a little Village This great dayes journey did me no small prejudice though I had felt some alteration in my health at my departure from Schiras But the great journeys especially the last I had made since the water which was troubled and corrupted and the insupportable heats brought me to such gripings in the belly which were accompanied by an oppression of the stomack and a very great looseness that I began to be out of all heart I caused enquiry to be made for a Litter but there being none to be found I was forc'd to get on the Horse which carried the sumpter which I had so ordered as that I had the convenience of resting my back In that posture I went away the 19. and got that day to a great Village within 12. Leagues of the City of Gamâ—on and took up my lodging at the Calenter's of the place In the evening came to the same lodging an English man who was to succeed him who was the chief of the Merchants at Ispahan accompanied by another Merchant of the same Nation with whom I had some acquaintance during my abode at the King of Persia's Court They were well provided with that kind of Spanish Wine which is called Seck though the true name of it be Xeque from the Province whence it comes which together with two good meals whereto they had invited me a little comforted my stomack and recruited my spirits at least as far as the posture of my health would permit They gave me Letters of recommendation to an English Merchant of Bandar Gamron whom they intreated to lodge me in the Indian Company House there and to assist me all that lay in his power in my Voyage to Suratta They took horse after supper but my indisposition kept me there till the 22. of February That day I travelled six leagues to a Caravansera where I rested my self till the heat of the day was over and then got three leagues further to another Caravansera I grew worse and worse insomuch that my former indisposition being heightned into a burning Feaver I was reduc'd to the greatest extremity But there was no staying in a place where I could not be reliev'd so that I resolv'd to get to Bandar whatever it cost me out of the confidence I had that there among so many Merchants of several Nations who trade thither I should find some ease Accordingly as soon as I was got thither the 23. of February the English French and Dutch came to give me a visit and having had an account of my quality and design as also of the nature of my indisposition which was come to a bloudy Flux with a burning Feaver they took me so much into their care that within four dayes the Feaver left me and I made a shift to visit the Sulthan or Governour of the City I had before sent him the Letters of recommendation which Schach Sefi had given me directed to him so that he no sooner heard of my recovery but he sent to invite me to dinner whither I went the 28. As soon as I was come into the room he made me sit down by him and to further my diversion and entertainment he had intreated the Dutch Merchants to bear me company by which means I had the opportunity to be acquainted with them I shall say nothing of the particularities of this Entertainment because there was nothing in it extraordinary or more then we had seen at Ispahan and elsewhere The same day
became so eminent for Commerce that not only it had its particular Kings but the Arabians said of it by way of Proverb that if the Universe were but a Ring the City of Ormus was the Diamond that should be set in it Teixera sayes that Scach Mahomet the son of an Arabian King who liv'd in the tenth Age having reduc'd under his Jurisdiction the Provinces that are seated upon the Persian Gulf as far as Besra pass'd over into the Island where he laid the first foundations of the City of Ormus Schabedin Mahomet eleventh King of Ormus of the posterity of Mahomet dyed in the year 1228. And he who liv'd when the Portuguez became Masters of it was called Sâ—yfadin and paid Tribute to the King of Persia. D. Alfonso d' Albuquerque made a Conquest of it in the year 1605 for Emanuel King of Portugal of which attempt the manner and success of it take the following Account Tristan de Cugna who had taken the Island of Zocotora whereof we shall have occasion to speak hereafter left certain Vessels under the command of Albuquerque with Orders to visit the Coasts of Arabia while he attempted some new Conquest in the Indies he being a person of great resolution thought his only course to settle himself there was to set upon the Kingdom of Ormus which he did with 470. Souldiers whom he had aboard his Fleet. Emanuel Osorio Bishop of Selvas in Portugal sayes that Albuquerque made his advantage of the Mahumetan Kings weakness who then reigned For understanding that the principal Minister of State whose name was Cojeatar a Forreigner a Native of Bengala and an Eunuch had exasperated the people against him by converting the publick Revenue of the Kingdom to his own profit and advantage having left his Soveraign only the bare Title of King he thought fit to strike in at that conjuncture of Affairs and to that end left Zocotora upon the 20. of August and having in a very few dayes taken in the Cities of Calaâ—ate Curiate Mascate Soar and Orfassam he took his march directly to the principal City to which he came the 25. of September The first thing he did was to defeat a very strong Fleet which the Moors had within the Haven and by that means oblig'd the King to come to a capitulation by which the King of Ormus promised to take the Oath of Allegiance and Fidelity to the King of Portugal to pay him every year fifteen thousand Ducats as a Tribute in Gold Silver or Pearls and five thousand towards the charges of the present War and to permit Albuquerque to build a Cittadel where he should think most convenient for the preservation of the City The Portuguez began the said Cittadel on the 25. of October following and gave it the name of Our Blessed Lady of Victory It is true this establishment was not so absolute at the beginning but that the Moors made some attempts to rid themselves of these new Guests but the Portuguez made a shift to maintain what they had gotten and to make the place they were in a Magazine of Armes for the Indies taking occasion by that means to engross all the Commerce to themselves and obliging all the Persians and Arabians to buy of them all those Commodities which they stood in need of from the Indians Nay this was so rigorously observed that the Governour of Ormus prohibited the Inhabitants to sell any of their Commodities till such time as he had sold his own The permitted Seyfadin to live in the Island but at a certain place far enough from the Cittadel so not to give the Portuguez any occasion of jealousie Scach Abas King of Persia being no longer able to endure the insolence of the Portuguez and very much incens'd at their receiving into Protection the Gentlemen of the House of the Gabrieli whom we have spoken of elsewhere bethought himself of some course to get these Forreigners out of those parts To effect this he address'd himself to the English who traded at Ormus and by the advantageous proffers that he made oblig'd them to promise him all the assistance they could to carry on the siege of that City which was aâ—â—aulted and taken by the English in the year 1622. They put both the City and Cittadel into the hands of the King of Persia who found in it six hundred great Guns some Iron some Brass which Scach Abas caused to be transported to Laar and Ispahan all but fourscore Pieces which he left in the Cittadel He caused the walls of the City to be demolish'd and the Materials thereof to be translated to Gamron which began even at that time to raise it self upon the ruines of its Neighbours The King of Persia desirous to reward the services which the English had done him upon that occasion did not only grant them an absolute exemption from all Impositions but he also bestow'd on them one moyety of those Duties which other Merchants were to pay there but as we said before the English come very far short of receiving what is due to them I found in the Port of Gamron an English Ship called the Swan of 300. Tun carrying 24. Guns Master Honywood Agent for the Affairs of England recommended me to the Captain of it and commanded him to carry me over to the Indies and to defray all my charges till I came to Suratta I had brought eight Horses with me making account to sell them with very great advantage in the Indies but the Ship was so full of Goods that it was with much ado that I could get in only two of them So that I was forc'd to put off the other six to very great loss as being able to get but thirty pound for those which had cost me sixty pound at Ispahan and which I should have sold at above one hundred and fifty pound at Suratta I embark'd the sixth of April with Mr. Manley and Mr. Hall English Merchants whom the President of the English at Suratta had ordered to come from Ispahan about some business concerning the Company and went aboard accompanied by most of the Strangers that were at Gamron as also many Indian Merchants with whom I had upon some occasions made acquaintance The Captain ordered four Pieces to be fired at our coming aboard and received us with much civility inviting us it being then about noon to dine with him We went from Gamron to Suratta in nineteen dayes during which the Captain treated me very magnificently and did me the honour to resign his own bed to me and to give me precedence upon all occasions He was well furnished with Fowl Mutton and other fresh Meat but above all things with excellent good Sack English Beer French Wines Arak and other refreshments which prov'd so well for me that by the help of these good Cordials and the benefit I had by the drinking of Ptizanne which I caused to be made with Cinnamon and rinds of Pomegranats at my
Couteval or Kings Lieutenant hath given him by way of Present about 15. pence for every Wagoâ— and it is lawful for all Forreigners to buy and sell and trade in all sorts of Merchandises those only excepted which are prohibited as Gun-powder Lead and Salt-Peter which may not be transported without the Governours permission but that it is no hard matter to obtain making but a slender acknowledgment of his favour therein The City of Amadabat comprehends within its territory twenty five great Towns and two thousand nine hundred ninety and eight Villages so as that the revenue thereof amounts to above six millions of Crowns whereof the Governour hath the disposal and therewith maintains the Souldiers whom he is oblig'd to keep for the Kings service especially against Robbers upon the high-wayes though many times he protects them and divides the booty with them The Couteval who is as it were the King Lieutenant commands under the Sulthan and mannages the political Government nay meddles also with the administration of Justice joyntly with the Kasi or ordinary Judge The Mogul hath there also several other Officers who are as it were Controllers and Supervisors of those we last named The dayes following I spent in seeing the Sepulchres which are about the City and among others particularly that which is in the Village of Zirkees about a League and a half from Amadabat 'T is the work of a King of Guzuratta built by him to the memory of a Kasi who had been his Praeceptor and is grown very famous upon the account of many pretended Miracles done by him after his death The whole Structure wherein there are four hundred and forty great pillars thirty foot high is of Marble as also the floor of it and serves for a Sepulchre to three other Kings who would needs be buried there with their Families At the entrance of this sumptuous Monument there is a large Tanke or Cistern full of water and enclos'd with a wall which hath several windows all about it The Mahumetans of those parts go on Pilgrimage thither and in this Village of Zirkees is made the best Indico in all the Country About a League thence there is a spacious Garden with a fair House within it which the Mogul Chon Chimauw built in memory of a Victory gained by him in that place over Sulthan Mahomed Begeran last King of Guzuratta upon which he united that Kingdom to his Crown as we shall express hereafter About a League and a half from the City we were shewn a Sepulchre which they call Betti-Chuit that is to say thy daughters shame discovered There lies interr'd in it a rich Merchant a Moor named Hajam Majom who falling in love with his own Daughter and desirous to shew some pretence for his incest went to an Ecclesiastical Judge and told him in general terms That he had in his youth taken the pleasure to plant a Garden and to dress and order it with great care so that now it brought forth such excellent fruits that his neighbours were extreamly desirous thereof that he was every day importuned to communicate unto them but that he could not yet be perswaded to part therewith and that it was his design to make use of them himself if the Judge would grant him in writing a Licence to do it The Kasi who was not able to dive into the wicked intentions of this unfortunate man made answer That there was no difficulty in all this and so immediately declar'd as much in writing Hajom shewed it his Daughter and finding nevertheless that neither his own authority nor the general permission of the Judge would make her consent to his brutal enjoyments he ravished her She complain'd to her Mother who made so much noise about it that the King Mahomet Begeran coming to hear thereof ordered him to lose his head Not far from Amadabat begin to appear the dreadful Mountains of Marva which reach above 70. Leagues towards Agra and above a hundred towards Ouyen and are so inaccessible that the Castle of Gurchitto where lives Rana one of the principal Radias of those parts is accounted impregnable in so much that the Kings of Pettan and the Mogul himself found much ado to reduce it The Indians who are Pagans have still a great Veneration for that Prince who they say was so powerful as that he could in a short time bring 120000. Horse into the Field In the Mountain which lies between Amadabat and Trappe there lives another Radia who is not subject to the Mogul by reason the Woods and Deserts secure him against that Prince who with all his power is not able to force him out of the places he is possess'd of no more then he is the Radia of Ider who is his Vassal but many times refuses to obey his Orders One of the noblest Gardens about the City is that of Schach-bag in that part of the Suburbs which is called Begampour It is the King Garden very spacious encompass'd with a high Wall and hath within it a very fair House the Ditches whereof are full of water and the appartments richly furnish'd I went thence along a Stone-bridge which is four hundred paces in length to another Garden called Niccinabag that is to say the Jewel and they say it was planted by a beautiful and rich young Lady The Garden is not very great no more then the House within it but both very advantageously seated in a place high enough to discover all the adjacent Champion and upon the avenues of the Bridge to make the noblest prospect that ever I saw The Rain which falls in the Winter time supplyes a great Fish-poud or Pool in the middle of the Garden but in Summer they make use of certain Engines wherewith many Oxen put together draw up the water out of Wells which are so deep that they are never dry A man can seldom go to this Garden but he shall find some young Women bathing themselves they will not persuit the Indians should see them but suffered us to come in and speak to them There are so many other Gardens about Amadabat and the whole City is so full of Trees that a man may say it makes all but one Garden for as he comes to the City he sees such abundance of them that he may well think he is going into a Forrest Among other things I took particular notice of the High-way which they call Bascaban and leads to a Village six Leagues distant from the City It is so straight that it should seem they took a great pleasure in planting the Trees about it whereof there is a double row on both sides upon a straight line They are Cocos-Trees which at all times refresh Travellers with their shade but this road comes nothing near that which goes from Agra to Barampour which makes but one continued Ally for a hundred and fifty Germans Leagues together All these Teees lodge and feed an incredible
does indeed discolour the Teeth which by the frequent use of it become of a red colour but that is one of the Beauties of the Indian Women No corner of a Street but it may be had ready prepar'd so that a man need not to be troubled about the quantity he is to make use of Great Lords have it brought after them in Boxes of Lacque or Silver and take of it as they go along the Streets nay many times when they are about business of consequence and that in any place They are also of a belief that this Drug fortifies the natural heat and accordingly account it one of their delicacies upon which account it is that they abstain from it when they are in affliction and particularly when the Moguls and Mahumetans celebrate their Fasts Myrsabeg having taken a little of it took leave of me and I got into my Coach intending to call on the Kings Lieutenant at his own house as I pass'd by in regard I was to go by his door but I met him in the Street in his Coach there being carried before him three Banners of Taffata Red and Green charg'd with flames of Silver as soon as he perceived me he turn'd his Coach and oblig'd me to go along with him to his House His House was seated in the most delightful quarter of the City having two Gates to enter in at one whereof led into a spacious Court the other into a fair Garden about the Walls where of there was one continued structure He treated me with Bettelé and Palm-wine but having time little enough to perform the journey I intended that day I staid not with him above half an hour He sent one of his Menial servants after me to give order to the Officer of the Custom-house and the Guards at the Gate that I might pass without paying ought I came in the Evening to Serguntra but it was so late that the Benjans who burn no Candles for fear that Flies and such other Insects might be destroyed thereby would not open their Shops to sell me any forrage for my Beasts It is much different from what is commonly used in Europe For the Country bringing forth no Oats and very little Grass they accustom their Beasts to another kind of sustenance and keep them with a certain Paste which they make up of Sugar and Meal into which they sometimes put a little Butter We were going to break open one of their Shops but ere we had done any harm one of the Benjans brought us some forrage The next day before noon we travell'd five Leagues to a great Village where we baited our Beasts giving to each of the Oxen a pound and a half and to the Horses two pounds of Sugar mixt with Meal Thence we got to the Garden of Tzietbagh where we baited again This Garden which no doubt is the most delightful of any in the Indies is also the most considerable of any in the whole Country not only in regard of the Victory which the Mogul gain'd in that place over the last King of Guzuratta as we have mentioned before and which gave it the name of Tzietbagh that is to say the Garden of Victory but also in respect of its magnificent Structures and the noble Fruits which grow there in great abundance It is seated in one of the most pleasant places in the world upon the side of a great Pool having on the side toward the water several Pavillions and on that towards Amadabat a very high Wall The sumptuousness of the buildings speaks the great Spirit of the Prince that founded it as doth also the Caravansera adjoyning thereto There are in the Garden many Allyes of Fruit-trees as Orange and Citro-trees of all sorts Pomegranate-trees Date-trees Almond-trees Mulberry-trees the Trees which bear Tamarinds Mangas and Cocos besides many other not known to us and there was such abundanâ—e of them and they were planted so close that we could walk about the Garden in the shaâ—e which was a great refreshing to us The branches of all these Trees were infinitely stor'd with Apes which added not a little to â—he divertisment and satisfaction of our walk We staid no longer in it then while our Horses were baiting in regard we were resolv'd to get that day to Amadabat whither we came at night I was that day on horse-back and by way of sport would needs frighten the Apes which plaid a thousand tricks about us in so much that we began to think them troublesome I shot two of them with my Pistol whereat the rest were so incensed that they seem'd to conspire together as if they had a design to set upon us Their cries and distorted looks discover'd how much they were inclin'd to do us some mischief in so much that about twenty of the biggest of them followed us for above half a League but perceiving us ready to turn towards them they got among the Trees and at last gave over their pursuit of us Coming to Amadabath I met with a Caffila or Caravan of about 200. Merchants English and Benjans which was going to Agra the chief City of all the Mogul's country The English President had ordered him who had the conduct of the Caravan to take me along with him and the Director of the Commerce at Amadabath added thereto his particular recommendations so that those Merchants received me into their company and I went along with them thence on the 28. of October The weather and the way were very fair but I met with so few Villages that the first I have any account to give of was that of Paingat and the sixth day after our departure from Amadabath we came to the City of Heribath which is fifty Leagues distant from it This City is not very big and hath neither Gates nor Walls as having been razed by Temurleng or Tamberlane as had been also the Castle whereof the ruines are yet to be seen upon a high Mountain not far from the City Between this City and that of Damtiges which is distant from that of Heribath other fifty Leagues we met a Caffila of Benjan Merchants who told us they had been set upon by 200. High-way-men of the Rasboutes who had forc'd them to ransom themselves at a hundred Ropias and that we should do well to stand upon our guard inasmuch as the day before they had seen a hundred more of them who having understood from them what they had paid their Camrades had siad no more to them and only took away one of their Oxen but that they were gone to joyn with the former and that they would not fail to set upon us We made our advantage of this Intelligence and caused our Waggons to be fastned together and the Souldiers that guarded them were so disposed as that they might relieve one another without the least fear of any disorder Near a certain Village we met with fifty of those rascally Companions but
they thought us so well arm'd and so resolv'd to stand upon our advantage to defend our selves that they passed by without saying ought to us yet discovering withall by their march that they were come only to take a view of us We understood afterwards how that returning by the same Village they had said that if we had been at a little further distance from it they would have disputed the way with us Fifty Leagues thence we came near a Village called Syedck which had in it a very strong Castle And whereas most of our Beasts were extreamly wearied by reason of the great dayes journeys we had made we ordered that some of the Oxen and Waggons should go before But they were hardly got into a little bottom that was in the way not above six hundred paces from us ere they were set upon by ten Rasboutes who had lain in ambush behind a little Hill and at the first onset wounded two Benjans and were driving away the Waggons which they had before turn'd out of the Road when we discovered them aftar off and sent to them some of our Souldiers who forced the Robbers to forsake what they had taken After this we met with no misfortune and came safely to Agra where I took up my quarters among the English whose Civilities to me here were consonant to what I had received from them in other places The Mogul or great King of Indosthan does often change the place of his abode insomuch that there is no City in all his Kingdom of any considerable account where he hath not his Palaces but he delights not so much in any as Agra which to do it right is indeed the noblest City in all his Dominions It lies 28. degrees on this side the Line in the Province of Indosthan upon the River Gemini which falls into the Ganges above the Kingdom of Bengala It is at least twice as big as Ispahan and it is as much as a Man can do to ride about it on horse-back in a day It is fortified with a good Wall of a kind of red Free-stone and a Ditch which is above thirty fathom broad Its Streets are fair and spacious and there are some of them vaulted which are above a quarter of a League in length where the Merchants and Tradesmen have their Shops distinguished by their Trades and the Merchandises which are there sold every Trade and every Merchant having a particular Street and Quarter assigned him There are in it fifteen Meidans and Basars whereof the most spacious is that which is before the Castle where may be seen sixty great Guns of all sizes but not kept in any order so as to be made use of There is also in that place a high Pole as at the Meidan of Ispahan where the Court Lords and sometimes the Mogul himself divert themselves with shooting at the Parrot fastned at the top of it There are in the City fourscore Caravanseras for the accommodation and convenience of Forreign Merchants most of them three Stories high with very noble Lodgings Store-houses Vaults and Stables belonging to them together with Galleries and private Passages for the correspondence and communication of the Chambers Every one of them hath a certain person whose charge it is to lock them up and to take care that the Merchandises be safely kept He does also supply the place of a Sutler and sels all sorts of Provision Forrage and Wood to those that lodge in them And whereas the Mogul and most of the greatest Lords about his Court profess the Mabumetan Religion there is also in Agra a very great number of Metschid or Mosqueys and among the rest seventy great ones of which the six principal they call Metschid-adine because that it is in them they do their Devotions of Holy-dayes In one of these last named is to be seen the Sepulchre of one of their Saints called Seander and they say he is of the Posterity of Aaly In another of them may be seen the Sepulchre of another Saint who being 30. foot in length and 16. in breadth must needs have been one of the mightiest Gyants that ever were talk'd of His Tomb was cover'd all over with little Flags and we were told he had been one of their Heroes who had sometime done wonders in the wars To this place there are great Pilgrimages made insomuch that the Devotions of the Pilgrims do by the Offerings they make very much augment the wealth of that Mosquey the Revenue whereof is very great without those advantages There are daily maintain'd in it a great number of poor people so that it may be truly said that the Devotions done there are not inferiour to those done at the Sepulchre of Schich Sefi at Ardebil These Metzids and the Courts which depend on them serve also for so many Sanctuaries to persons guilty of any capital Crimes as also to such as fear imprisonment for their Debt These are the Allacapi of the Persians and are called by the Indians Allader and the priviledges of them in the Indies are equal to those the Allacapi are endued with in Persia insomuch that the Mogul himself though his power be absolute cannot force a man out of these Sanctuaries be his crime of ever so heynous a nature by reason of the Veneration which these people have for their Saints There are numbred in the City of Agra above eight hundred Baths or Hot-houses from which there comes in yearly to the Mogul a very considerable sum of money occasioned hence that this kind of Purification making one of the principal parts of their Religion there passes not a day but that these places are frequented by an infinite number of persons The great Lords about the Court who are called Rasgi or Rajas have their Houses and Palaces in the City besides their Country-houses all magnificent both as to structure and houshold-stuffe The King hath several Gardens and Houses without the City whither he often retires himself with his Women-dancers who dance before him stark naked But there is not any thing gives a greater demonstration of the greatness of this Monarch then his Palace which stands upon the River Gemini and is near four Leagues about It is excellently well fortified according to the fortification of that Country with a Wall of Free-stone and a great Ditch having at every Gate a Draw-bridge the Avenues whereof are also very well fortified especially at the North-gate The Gate which leads to the Basar is on the West-side and is called Cistery Under this Gate is the Diwan or the place of publick Judicature and there is adjoyning to it a spacious Hall where the principal Visier dispatches and seals all Orders for the ordinary and extraordinary Levies of men whereof the Originals are kept at the said place As soon as a man is come within this Gate he finds himself in a spacious Street having Shops on both sides which leads
and the Corps was set upon an Elephant to be carried through the City to serve for an example to others He who upon this Tragedy came next into play went with an undaunted courage towards a Tiger which he was to engage with in so much that his deportment was such as raised in the minds of the Spectators a certain confidence of his obtaining the Victory But the Tigre who it seems was too cunning for his Adversary fastened on his throat killed him and tore his body in pieces The third Champion that came upon the Stage instead of being any way frightned at the misfortune of his two Camrades came very chearfully and couragiously into the Garden and went straight towards the Tiger who flesh'd with the precedent success run at his Adversary with a design to make quick work with him but the Indosthan though a man of low stature and a wretched countenance struck off at one blow the two fore-paws of the Beast and having by that means got him down he soon dispatch'd him The King immediately ask'd him his name whereto he made answer that it was Geily whereupon there came in a Gentleman who presenting him from the Mogul with a Garment of Brocadoe said to him Geily receive this Garment from my hands as an assurance of the Kings favour who sends it thee as a pledge thereof Geily having made several low reverences putting the Garment to his eyes and breast and afterwards holding it in the Air and having made a short Prayer to himself he at last pronounc'd aloud to this effect My Prayers to God are that the Mogul 's glory may be equal to that of Tamerlan from whom he is descended may his Arms prosper may his Wealth be increased may he live seven hundred years and may his House be established for ever Upon this there came to him two Eunuchs who conducted him to the Kings Chamber at the entrance whereof two Chans took him between them and so brought him to the Kings feet After he had kiss'd them and was rising up the Mogul said to him It must be confessed Geily-Chan that thou hast done a very great and glorious Action I bestow on thee that name and quality which thou shalt enjoy for ever I will be thy Friend and thou shalt be my servant Thus was the doing of a single Action the Foundation of a mans Fortune who was not so much as known before but grew famous afterwards by the Charges he had in the Mogul's Armies It was my design to make a little longer stay at Agra but there happened an accident which oblig'd me to change my Resolution nay forc'd me to leave a place where I thought my life in danger For being one day fallen into discourse with the Persian servant who ran away from me at Surat I perceiv'd coming towards me an Indosthan a person of a goodly presence and as far as I could judge of quality who immediately asked me whence I came and what business I had in those parts I made him answer that I was an Europaean that I came from Germany and that the desire I had to see the Court of the most powerful Monarch in all the East had brought me thither He told me that if he were not much mistaken he had seen me at Ispaban and that questionless I was the person that had kill'd a Kinsman of his at the Engagement which had happened between the Indians and the Germans This discourse had almost put me out of countenance but upon a little recollection I told him that I had never been in Persia and that I came from England by Sea to Surat which the two English Merchants who were then in my company affirmed to be true But he who did me the greatest kindness in this extremity was my old Persian servant who swore by his Mahomed and by his Hossein that what I had told him was nothing but the truth Whereupon the Indosthan went away but discover'd by his deportment that he gave not over-much credit to what we had said and for my part I conceiv'd it but prudence to be distrustful of a man who had expressed his good will had there been occasion to do me a mischief and would no doubt have revenged his Kinsmans death of which my conscience told me I was guilty Upon these reflections I left Agra with a Caffila or Caravan that was going to the City of Lahor which lies sixty Leagues further into the Country I had the company of two Dutch Merchants and our travelling was so much the more pleasant in that our way was but one continued Alley drawn in a streight line and planted on both sides with Date-trees Palm-trees Cocos-trees and other kind of Fruit-trees which gave us a continual refreshing shade against the heat of the Sun The sumptuous Houses which were to be seen up and down the Country the Apes Peacocks Parrats and other Birds found us very much sport One day with a Pistol-shot I kill'd a great Serpent which I met with in the way and afterwards a Leopard and a Roe-buck but the Benjans of whom there were many in our company took it very ill at my hands and reproach'd me with my cruelty in that I deprived those Creatures of a life which it was not in my power to give them and which God had not bestow'd on them but that he might be thereby glorified in so much that when ever I handled my Pistol they either express'd their trouble to see me take a pleasure in violating in their presence the Laws of their Religion or they intreated me for their sakes not to kill them and when I had made them understand that I would in any thing comply with their desires they on the other side had all the kindness imaginable for me The Country about Lahor is very fertile and brings forth all sorts of Fruits as also Wheat and Rice in abundance much beyond any other Province of that great Kingdom The City is scituated at 32. degrees 30. minutes elevation upon the little River Ravy or Ravée which with four other Rivers falls into the Indus which upon that occasion is called Pangab or five-waters as we have said elsewhere It is very delightfully seated especially towards the River on which side it hath many fair Gardens The Kings Palace is within the City from which it is divided by a high Wall and hath many spacious Appartments There are also many other Palaces and great Houses for the reception of those Lords who ordinarily follow the Court And in regard most of the Inhabitants are Mahumetans there is in this City also a great number of Metzids or Mosqueys and bathing places for their ordinary Purifications I had the curiosity to go into one of their Baths to observe their way of bathing I took along with me my Interpreter who was by Profession a Broker and went into one of their Baths which was built according to the Persian
manner with a flat Roof and had several Partitions which were made all half round very narrow at the entrance and broad at the bottom having each of them a door by it self and two Receptacles or Tankes of Free-stone into which the Water was let in by brazen Cocks to such height as those who came to bathe themselves desired it After bathing I was ordered to sit down a while and then I was laid down upon a Stone seven or eight foot in length and four in breadth in which posture the Master of the Bath rubb'd me all over with a Hair-cloth He would also have rubb'd the soles of my feet with a handful of Sand but perceiving I was not able to endure it he ask'd me whether I were a Christian and having understood that I was he gave me the Hair-cloath that I might rub my feet my self though he had made no difficulty to rub all the rest of my body This done there came into the Bath a little short Fellow who laid me all along on the belly upon the same stone and rubb'd my back with his hands from the back-bone down to the sides telling me that bathing would do me but little good if I suffered not the bloud which might haply lye corrupted in that place to be by that rubbing dispersed through all the other members I found not any thing remarkable about Lahor but one of the Kings Gardens which lies two dayes journey distant from it I had as a further diversion in this short piece of my Travels this that in two dayes I rode on four several Creatures For at first I had a Mule then a Camel then an Elephant and at last an Oxe whose troting was the hardest of any beast that ever I bestrid lifting up his hoofs as high as the stirrop and carrying me between six and seven Leagues in less then four hours I should have made some longer stay at Lahor but receiving Letters from Agra I was forc'd to come away upon this account that the English President intended very suddenly to embark in order to his return for England whereupon I put my self into the company of certain Indian Merchants who were then upon their return to Amadabath At my coming to Amadabath the Director of the English Commerce told me that he had received Orders from the President to make as strong a Caffila as he could possibly and to come with all expedition to Surat I there met also with Letters from the President whereby I understood that he only expected the Caffila's of Agra and Amadabath and that he would depart as soon as they were come He writ to me further that being within a few dayes after to resign his Presidentship to another whom his Superiour had appointed to receive it and there being to be a great entertainment and feasting at that Ceremony he should be glad I were present thereat During my stay at Amadabath the Mahumetans celebrated a Feast which was concluded at night with very noble Fire-works The Windows of all the Houses that stand in the Meidan were beset with Lamps before which were placed Vessels of Glass fill'd with Waters of several colours which made a very delightful prospect Upon the same Meidan before the Kings Palace there are two low Houses of which there is little use made but at this Feast it being the place whither the Sulthan and the Lords of the Court retire themselves while fire is set to the Works which consisted of Squibs Crackers and other ingenious inventions Some had fasten'd Lamps to certain Wheels which hung on though the Wheels turn'd about perpetually with great violence As soon as the Caffila of Agra was come to Amadabath I took leave of my friends and went along with a Caravan of a hundred Waggons The first day we travell'd twelve Cos or six Leagues to the City of Mamadabath The next day I went before with the Director of the Commerce at Amadabath who with his Second was desirous to be present at the Resignation which the President was to make of his place We were four in company and we took along with us four Waggons two Horses and twenty foot Souldiers for our Guard leaving Order that the Caffila should follow us with all expedition The foot Souldiers who carried our Arms and Banners made a shift nevertheless to keep pace with us What I say concerning the Banners relates to the custom of the Indies where there are no persons of any quality but have a Banner or a kind of Colours such as Cornets use carried before them That day we cross'd the River Wasser and took up our Quarters at night in the Fort of Saselpour There we met with the Factor of Brodra whose name was Mr. Pansfield who treated us very magnificently the next day at the place of his residence We went thence in the evening and lodg'd the night following in a great Garden and the next day we prosecuted our journey In the evening we encamped hard by a Tanque called Sambord and in regard we had not met with any fair Water all that day we endeavour'd to get some out of the Tanque But the Country people fearing we might consume all the Water there coming in at the same time a Dutch Caffila of two hundred Waggons would not suffer us to come near it Whereupon we commanded out fifteen of our foot Souldiers with express order to bring some Water if not by fair means by force But coming to the Tanque they found it guarded by thirty armed Men and such as were resolv'd to maintain it and to hinder any from taking of the Water However our Men went very resolutely towards them with their Swords drawn upon which without any dispute at all the Country people ran away but while ours were drawing Water the Indians shot a certain number of Arrows and discharg'd three Muskets among them and wounded five persons Ours exasperated at that kill'd three of the Country people whom we saw afterwards carried to the Village While we were at Supper there came in to us one of the Dutch Merchants who told us that there had been seen two hundred Rasboutes upon our way who had committed several robberies for some dayes before and that the very day before they had kill'd six men within a League of the Village near which we were then lodg'd The Dutch Caffila went away about midnight and we follow'd it immediately after But we had not gone far beyond it ere we discover'd one of those Holacueurs who are wont to march in the head of the Caffilas and before Troops of Horse and serve instead of Trumpeters by sounding a certain Instrument of Brass much longer then our ordinary Trumpets As soon as he perceiv'd us he slipp'd into the Wood where he fell a sounding as loud as ever he could which we took for an assured Alarm that it would not be long ere they set upon us Accordingly almost ere we could
They call their Brass or Copper money Tacques and it is prohibited upon pain of death that any should transport either Gold Silver or coined Brass out of the Country Speaking before casually of the fertility of this Country we said it wanted not any thing requisite for the life of Man It produces Wheat Rice Pease Beans Barly Millet Turkish Wheat Flax Mustard-seed c. Oyl Butter Cheese though somewhat dry and over-salted to please the palats of Forreigners and all these it is better stor'd with then any Province of Europe Their Wheat is much bigger and whiter then ours and they make bread of it not to be baked in an Oven as we do but upon Iron plates The poorer sort and particularly the Benjans make a kind of Flawns of it in Frying-pans over their fire of Cow-dung which they make use of instead of Wood. Their Pease and Benas are somewhat less then ours but much more delicate especially their red Chices wherewith in some places they feed their Horses Oxen and Buffles instead of Oats which is a kind of Grain not used in the Indies They do not make any Hay at all nor ever cut any Grass but what is eaten while it is green Their Sowing time is in May and their Harvest in November and December There is not any person in the Mogul's Countrey possess'd of any real Estate in Land But when Seed-time is coming on the Peasants apply themselves to the Governour or him who is next under the King in the several Provinces and acquaint him how much ground they intend to cultivate that year upon condition to allow the King a third part nay sometimes half the profits in so much that it often happens that the Peasants hardly get in the charges they had been at in the manuring of it On the contrary the Mogul leaves all the Meadow-ground to be Common and makes little or no advantage thereof whence it comes that most Grounds lye fallow and bring forth only Grass They sow in their Gardens all sorts of Pot-herbs as Lettice Succory Sorrel Parsley c Radishes Navew Cabbages Cowcumbers Citruls Garlick Onions Parsnips of several kinds but above all Melons which in delicacy exceed those of all other parts The Rose only excepted there is almost no Flower but is sought after more for its colour then scent for though those they call Mogera and ceampi have a good smell yet are the Women more in love with them for their colour then scent The former are white the latter yellow and both are to be had all the year long as also the Grass wherewith all the Fields are covered unless it be when the excessive heat of the Summer dries it up Besides the Trees known to us and which bring forth Lemmons Citrons of several kinds and Pomegranats there are also those called Ananas Banasses Iaccas Cocos and Fig-trees of which they most cultivate the Cocos-trees out of which they get the Terry There is also near Surat a kind of Grapes but much less then those of Persia and much dearer then any other Fruit of the Countrey We shall have occasion to speak of it elsewhere and shall therefore only add here that their Forrests which are full of these sorts of Trees are stor'd besides the Creatures we have spoken of heretofore with a kind of wild Dogs which they call Iakals but it is death for any to hurt them or any of the other Beasts that are yellow or black because that sport is reserv'd for the King and the Governour of the Province Their Horses are not comparable to those of Persia and Arabia yet are they at great charge in keeping them allowing a Groom for every Horse and feeding them after a particular manner When they give them of that kind of Pease called Ciches whereof we spoke before called by them Donna they cause them to be beaten and boil'd Besides which they give them twice a day morning and evening two pounds of Barly-meal which they make up into a Paste with half a pound of Butter and a pound of Sugar The Oxen of this Countrey are of the same making with ours save that they have a great bunch or rising between the Shoulders The Mahumetans are the only people that eat of them as they do also of Mutton but they are only the poorer sort that do so Persons of quality feed on Kid which they either roast whole making a Pudding of Rice Almonds and Raisins of the Sun in the belly or they stew them with Butter and Pepper which they call Brenghie and is very good meat They eat also of those Persian Sheep that have such fat tails but this is a very scarce dish and consequently reserv'd for great Mens Tables and extraordinary Entertainments They have also Fowl as Capons Peacocks Geese wild-Ducks Teal Partridges Pigeons Herons Sparrows as also all sorts of Birds of prey as Faulcons Tassels Hawks Eagles c. They want no River-fish as Carps Breams Eels c. and Salt-fish is extraordinary good and very cheap proceeding hence that the Pagans eat not of it at all and the Mahumetans love Flesh better then Fish They have also all sorts of Shell-fish as Oysters and Crabs and particularly a certain Fish which in the Maritime Towns of Picardy is called Cheurette and is a kind of great Prawn so big that a dozen of them makes a good dish It is very remarkable that whereas upon all the Coasts of Europe this Fish is best at the Full-moon in those parts it is so at the New and at the Full Shell-fish are in a manner empty The Fish called Tubarons which devour Men are often seen in those parts and that is one reason why all persons ordinarily bathe and wash themselves in Tankes Their Ships are but poorly built in so much that they have no other way to dispose of their Artillery but upon the deck and consequently in the open Air. The greatest Voyages they make are those of Iava and Sumatra Eastward and to Aden and Meca upon the Red-sea They sometimes carry above a thousand persons together who for the most part go upon Pilgrimage to Meca that at their return they may be put into the number of their Hoggoi or Saints They set sail at the beginning of the March-Moon and return in September for the tempests which reign from Iune till that time upon those Coasts makes them spend six moneths in a Voyage which might be performed in two The Commodities they transport to the Coasts of Aden are Cotten Linnen-cloath Indico Camphire Tobacco Allum Sulphur Benjamin Pepper and other Spices Mirobalans and several other sorts of Preserves and they bring back very little in Commodities to wit Coral Amber Misseit wherewith they dye red Kahwa or Coffee-berries and Opium which is accounted the best of all the East but their best returns consist in Gold and Silver coined The other Vessels which are less
through the Village of Berouly which lies in a Valley between the Mountains of Balagatta Two Leagues thence you come to the Village of Werserée three Leagues thence to that of Outor and six Leagues and a half further to that of Berapour half a League thence to that of Matoura and a League thence to that of Calingra About five hundred paces from Calingra you come to the Village of Kangir and ere you get much further to a Hamlet which hath no other name then that of Bary which is given to all those places that have no particular name About a League thence is the Village of Worry and half a League further that of Attrowad near which upon an eminent place there is a very magnificent Pagode of the Countrey or Mosquey which may be seen at a very great distance About two Leagues and a half from this Pagode you turn upon the left hand and go through the Village of Badaraly to Kerwes which is also two Leagues and a half from Badaraly From Kerwes to Skeokory are accounted two Leagues and from Skeokory to a very sumptuous Benjane Pagode five Leagues From this Pagode may be discovered at a great distance the Castle of Mirsis two leagues thence upon the left hand and you go thence to Rajebag which is about a league distant from the said Pagode Rajebag is a very great City and drives a great trade in Pepper which the Inhabitants transport to Bisnager and elsewhere It is part of the Dowry of the Queen of Visepour who hath there a Governour under her About a League from Rajebag you come to a very noble Well about two Leagues thence you cross the River Cugny and about half a League further you come to the City of Gotteuy You leave it on the left hand yet go through one Gate of it to pass through the Villages of Goetesi and Omgar which are but about five hundred paces thence and about half a League further you come to the great River Corstena which runs through the whole Kingdom of Decam as far as Masulypatan About a League and a half from the River you go through the Village of Eynatour and not far thence through that of Katerna and thence to those of Tangly and Erary and so to the River Agery which is distant thence about a League and a half About three Leagues further you come to the City of Atteny which is so considerable as to be a common Market to all the adjacent Country whence are daily brought to it abundance of all sorts of provisions About four Leagues thence you come to the Village of Bardgie and at three and a half further pass through the Village of Agger which is within three Leagues of the City of Talsengbe which is distant from that of Homoware three other Leagues and thence there are as many to the City of Ticota which is within six Leagues of Visapour Before you come to the chief City you pass through the Villages of Nouraspour and Sirrapour which are in a manner its Suburbs and whereof the former was heretofore the ordinary residence of the King Ibrahim Schach who reign'd at the beginning of this last Age but now it is wholly ruin'd and the Materials of its Palace and great Houses are convey'd thence for the carrying on of those which are building at Visiapour The City of Visiapour is of such largeness that it is above five Leagues in compass The Walls which are very high are of Free-stone encompass'd with a great Ditch and several Fortifications mounted with above a thousand great Pieces of all sorts Iron and Brass The Kings Palace is in the midst of the City from which it is divided by a double Wall and two Ditches being above 3500. paces in compass He who commanded there in the time of Sulthan Mamedh Idelshach the Son of Ibrahim was called Nammouth-chan by Countrey an Italian born at Rome His command extended also over the City and the 5000. men who kept Garrison therein besides the 2000. who were the constant Garrison of the Castle The City hath five distinct Suburbs where the principal Merchants have their habitations and particularly in that of Schanpour where live most of the Jewellers The other Suburbs are called Gurapour Ibrahimpour Alapour and Bomnenaly The Inhabitants are Decanins that is of the Kingdom of Decam or Benjans Moguls and Ientives of whom an account hath been given before To go from Visiapour to Dabul you return the same way as far as the City of Atteny whence you go to the Village of Agelle which is two Leagues distant from it and thence to the City of Arecq which is six Leagues and a half from Agelle From Arecq to the City of Berce are three Leagues and thence to Mirsie three Leagues This City which is called also Mirdsi and Mirisgie is large but not very populous having on the North-side a Castle so well fortifi'd that the Mogul who sometime besieg'd it with all the Forces of his Kingdom was forc'd to raise the Siege In this place are also to be seen the Tombs of two Kings of Delly who were enterr'd there above five hundred years since The Inhabitants of the City as also those of the Country thereabouts have a great veneration for that place From Mirdsi to the Village of Epour are two Leagues and thence to the City of Graeen three It is not easily decided whether it be one City or two inasmuch as it is divided only by the great River Corsena the distance between both parts being about 800. paces and there are so many houses on either side of the River that they may be taken for two considerable Cities though one be much less then the other From the River to the Village of Toncq are counted two Leagues and a half thence to that of Astava one and thence to the City of Asta two Leagues Between this last Village and the City there is a Hamlet which is called Barry â— but it is to be observ'd that this name is given to all those places which have not any in particular as we said before The City of Asta is very considerable for its trading and hath a noble Market where may be had all sorts of provisions The Mogul who sometime came as far as this place with his Army hath left behind him sufficient marks of the devastation which attends the marches of such numerous Armies Having left Asta you come to the great City of Ballouwa which is distant from it three Leagues and three more thence to those Oâ—ren and Isselampour which lye distant one from the other not above a Cannon-shot You leave the former on the right hand and the other which hath a strong Castle and its particular Governour on the left Two Leagues from Isselampour lies the Village of Taffet and three thence that of Cassegam whence there are above two Leagues
forc'd it but the King awaken'd at the noise asked who was there He made answer that it was he and that he had some Letters of great consequence to communicate to him which he had just then received from some of the chief Commanders of his Army The King made answer that it was an unseasonable time of the night for the reading of Letters and bid him come again the next morning and thereupon immediately getting up he went to the Mahael or Queens Lodgings to whom he gave an account of the presumptuous demeanour of Chauas-chan in coming to his Chamber door ar such an hour The Queen who was a Woman of a solid judgment made such reflections on his procedure that it was presently resolv'd that they should with the soonest make away that pernicious Minister They employ'd to effect their design a Meldar or Gentleman of the Kings Chamber and one nam'd Chideram Grand Faulconer and Overseer of the Rams and wild Oxen which the King keeps for fighting As soon as it was day the King presented himself upon his Throne accompany'd by those two persons who were to be employ'd in the foresaid execution and having sent for Chauas-Chan he delivered him a seal'd Letter and said to him There Chauas-Chan look into that Letter which I have just now receiv'd from the Generaâ—s of my Army give me an account of the Contents of it But while Chauas was opening it in order to the reading of it the Meldar run him into the Breast with a Ponyard but with so much precipitation that not staying to see what effect the Wound he had given him would have he went presently along with the King into the Womens Lodgings Another Gentleman who was present at the blow perceiving the Wound was not mortal and pretending a kindness to Chauas run immediately to him embrac'd him ask'd him what might be the occasion of his disgrace and making as if he would have taken the Ponyard out of the Wound wherein it still stuck thrust it so much the further in that he fell to the ground The Eunuch who was with him got him convey'd to his own house But the Queen having notice of what had past as also of the disorder wherein the King and the Meldar had drawn off commanded Chideram to go and make an end of him Chauas-Chan seeing Chideram coming into his Chamber and imagining he came out of civility to give him a visit said to him Wo is me Chideram who is it that hath thus murthered me But Chideram not suffering him to fall into further discourse made answer Traytor 't is I with which word he run upon him and cut off his head There were present at this daring action Chauas-chan's Brother who was Captain of the Castle-gate three Chirurgeons two Captains friends of Chauas and some other of his Kindred who were present yet they not only made not the least opposition but suffered themselves to be all tamely kill'd not one profferring to avoid that fatal destiny Chauas-Chan had among his Domesticks a certain Caffre who coming to hear of his Masters death run immediately to the Castle with an intention to dispatch the King but he met by the way with about thirty Souldiers who stop'd him He made a shift to kill ten of them with his own hands and had dispatch'd the rest had he not been over-power'd by number which increas'd as the noise of the attempt spread more and more into the City They cat off his head and hung it up as a Trophey upon one of the Towers of the Castle One of Chauas-chans Creatures whose name was Morary was advanc'd with ten thousand Horse within five Leagues of the City of Visâ—apour in so much that the King fearing that General might assemble all the Friends of the deceased caused him to be proclaim'd a Traitor against his Prince and set his Head at a certain price His own Army seiz'd his person and receiving intelligence that another Lord named Rundelo was coming up to the relief of Chauas-chan and intended to joyn with Morary they sent him a by-way to the City whither he came about eight at night He sent a Message to the King proposing that if his Majesty would pardon him and bestow on him the Government of the Brammenes he would pay him yearly twenty thousand Pagodes but those Propositions were rejected and the King ordered him to have his hands cut off and his tongue cut out and that in that posture he should be led all about the City but he died by the way The only Action that had eclips'd the Ministry of Chauas-chan was the disgrace of Mustafa-chan This Mustafa was he who of all the Lords about the Court was most in credit with Ibrahim Schach as being the person upon whom he had cast his eye for the Guardianship of the Prince his Son But he unwilling to accept of it excus'd himself and recommended the merit of Chauas-chan who requited him with the greatest ingratitude that ever was heard of Chauas would needs have that Lord to countenance by his Authority whatever had been done during the time of the Regency and finding it impossible to corrupt him he resolved to dispatch him out of the way by perswading the King that the honest old Man had some design upon his life The young Prince implicitely crediting what was told him by his Favourite resolved to secure his person which oblig'd Mustafa-chan who had notice thereof to stand upon his guard and to fortifie himself in his house having about him 700. Horse and 2000. Foot The place was regularly besieg'd with ten Guns and after he had held out six dayes he was forc'd to render it and himself up at mercy for most of his people nay his very menial servants fell off from him Idal-Schach hearing that Chauas-chan intended either to put Mustafa-chan to death or at least to have his eyes out prevented both by representing to him that the Mogul to whom he was ally'd would concern himself in the Fortunes of Mustafa-chan and upon these considerations he was sent prisoner to the Castle of Bellagam-Chapour being allow'd of all his vast Revenues but five Pagodes to live upon Accordingly the Mogul Schach-Iahan had no sooner intelligence brought him of the disgrace of Mustafa-chan but he sent an Envoy to Idal-Schach to require that he might be set at liberty and put into possession of all his estate or that he should be oblig'd to declare a War against him Idal-Schach promis'd to do both but Chaurs-chan eluded the performance of that promise so that Mustafa got not out of prison till after Chauas his death upon which he was restored to his former dignity enjoying near ten millions of Pagodes of yearly revenue He kept ordinarily a thousand Domesticks and three thousand Horse at his own charge abroad besides those he maintained at his own Palace Chideram-chan who had been very instrumental in the death of Chauas-chan was next in credit to Mustafa
those who keep the passages who make a mark in their Armes which they are oblig'd to shew as they come back for the Portuguez would not have the Decanines and Canarines come into the City without a Pass-port All the fresh-water they have within the City comes from a Fountain which represents a Lucrece out of whose Wound there comes Water enough to supply the whole City but the Ships take in fresh-water near the Castle above which there comes out of the Rock a Rivulet which there falls into the River The City hath now neither Gates nor Walls but the River which makes the Island secures it against the attempts which an open place might be exposed to The publick Buildings are very fair and the Palaces of great Persons very magnificent especially in their Houshold-stuffe The Inhabitants are either Castizes that is Portuguez born of Father and Mother Portuguez or Most zes that is born of a Portuguez Father and Indian Mother The Mestizes are distinguished from the others by their colour which inclines towards the Olive but those of the third Generation are as black as the Inhabitants of the Country which happens also in the fourth Generation of the Castizes though there were no mixture among them The Portuguez are either Titulados as those who are employed in the principal charges Fidalgos da casa del Rey that is Gentlemen in ordinary of the Kings House Mocos Fidalgos young Gentlemen that is the Sons of Titulados or Cavalleros or newly admitted to Gentility by the King Cavalleros Fidalgos Escuderes Fidalgos or simply Gentlemen There are also such as have the quality of Mocos da camra or Grooms of the Kings Chamber who pass also for Gentlemen All the rest are Hombres Honrados and Soldados The former are Merchants or Tradesmen and appear publickly with the same gravity and almost with the same retinue as Gentlemen in as much as some only excepted who cut Leather for Shooes and Stuffes for Clothes all the rest have their business done by Slaves No Person of Quality goes abroad afoot for some are carried by their Slaves in a Palanquin and others ride on Horseback or go in painted and gilty Gondoles but not any without a Slave to carry an Umblello or Fan. The Portuguez have the reputation of being very highly conceited of themselves but those of Goa are such in so high a degree as well in their gate as all their other actions that they treat as unacquainted with the World such as are newly come from Portugal and are not accustom'd to their manner of going and life They are excessively civil one to another nay they are in this so ceremonious and exact that he who should omit to render a person that gives him a visit the honour he conceives due to himself whether it be in making him sit down otherwise then he would or not bringing him to the street-door must expect the effects of a deep resentment whereof the least are cudgelling or caning which they liberally bestow on persons of mean condition who being below them have omitted giving them the respect they look for from those that are not their Equals though indeed they owe them not any Winter begins there towards the end of Iune with a South-west Wind which comes from the Sea and reigns for the space of four moneths all along that Coast from Diu as far as the Cape of Comory and during all that time the Sea is not only innavigable but there are few Havens where Ships can ride in safety and unexpos'd to Storms mixt with terrible Thunder and Lightning which disturb the Air there in that season Which is yet so much the more to be wondred at inasmuch as at the same time the Coast of Coromandel which is in the same Peninsula and at the same degree of elevation and in some places is but twenty Leagues distant from that of Malabar enjoyes a pleasant Spring and the most divertive season of the year Accordingly those who go from Cochim to Saint Thome by land as they pass over the Mountain of Balagatta which divides the whole Peninsula as the Apennine does Italy discover from the top of the Mountain on the one side a clear and temperate Air and on the other a Country cover'd with a perpetual mist and drown'd with the Rains that continually fall The same observation may be also made in those Ships which go from Ormus to the Cape of Rosalgate Where as they pass the Cape they suddenly pass out of fair Weather into dreadful Storms and Tempests Whence it comes that in those parts there are but two Seasons as there are also principally but two Winds that reign there in the Summer time to wit those of the East which the Portuguez call Therentos which come from the Land-side and blow from mid-night till mid-day but they are not felt above ten Leagues within the Sea and those of the West which they call Virasons which come from the Sea immediately after dinner and blow all the rest of the day This change of Seasons from one extremity to another is the cause of many Diseases among the Portuguez but the most common there are those which they call Mordexin which kills immediately burning Feavers and bloudy Fluxes against which they have in a manner no remedy but bleeding The Plague is a Disease not known in the Indies but â—o make amends they have the Pox which destroyes every year a great number of Portuguez For though the Country produces present and topical Remedies against the Disease yet so violent are their inclinations to Women who on the other side are as mad for Men that they will not take the time to be cur'd of a Disease which is not got off by Remedies if they be not accompany'd with a very regular diet The Women of those parts â—ave an excessive affection for white Men and being kept very much in restraint they are put to all imaginable inventions to let them know how passionately they love them and â—o get them into their Lodgings where they many times prosecute their delights even in â—he Husbands presence by means of a Drug which so stupifies his Senses as that he seems â—ither to have lost them or to sleep with his eyes open The Indians call this Herb Doutro Doutry or Datura and the Turks and Persians Daâ—ula Garcias ab horto and Christopher d' Acosta affirm that it is a kind of Stramonea that the Herb grows abundantly all over the Indies in the shade and that it is somewhat like Bears-foot They extract the juyce of it while it is green or they beat the Seed to powder and mix it in Conserves or put it into his drink whom they would reduce to that condition for twenty four hours during which time he is depriv'd the use of all his Senses so that he does not see what is done before him though his eyes be open unless some body moisten the soles of his
should make way for them As soon as they perceive them coming they close on both sides look down to the ground and do them reverence Some affirm that this punctilio of Honour whereby they pretend to a respect due to them from all that are not of their race was one of the things that most obstructed the Treaty which the Portuguez were ready to conclude with the King of Cochim at their first establishment in regard they would have the Portuguez do them the same submissions as the Polyas did The Portuguez on the other side who are as highly conceited of themselves as any Nation in the World refused to do it so that to decide the difference it was agreed that a Portuguez and a Nayre should fight for the honour of the two Nations upon condition that the Conquerour should give the Law to the conquered The Portuguez Champion had the advantage and by that means obtain'd the precedence for his Nation and ever since that time the Portuguez have the same honour done them by the Nayres as they have done them by the Polyas Many of these Nayres never marry in regard they have a certain priviledge to see the Wives and Daughters of their Camerades and to that end to go into their Houses at any time of the day When they go into any House upon that score they leave their Sword and Target at the Street-door which mark prohibits entrance to all others whatsoever nay the very Master of the House himself finding those Armes at his Door passes by and gives his Camerade full liberty to do what he please The Polyas are not so much honourâ—d as to have the Nayres visit their Wives who must be content with their own Husbands for it were a great crime in a Nayre to defile himself by conversing with the Wife of a common person The Nayres are all Souldiers made use of by the King both for his Guard and in his Wâ—rs On the contrary the Polyas are forbidden the bearing of Armes and so are either Tradesmen Husbandmen or Fishermen The Malabars write with a Bodkin upon the bark of the Cocos-tree which they cut very thin and in an oblong form like a Table-book drawing a String through the middle which hold the leaves together and comes twice or thrice about the box or case which is as it were a covering to it Their Characters have nothing common with those of the other Indians and are understood only by their Bramans for most of the common people can neither write nor read The King of Calicuth doth not eat any thing which had not been presented before to his Pagode and it is to be particularly observed that in this Kingdom it is not the Kings Son but the Kings Sisters Son who inherits the Crown it being the common perswasion that the Children born of the Queen are begotten rather by their Bramans then by the King himself As concerning the City of Cochim it is to be observed that there are two Cities of the same name in the Kingdom of Cochim one whereof lies upon a great River and belongs to the King of Cochim the other to the Portuguez This last whereof we now speak is seated upon the same Coast at ten degrees on this side the Line having on the West-side of it the Sea and on the Land-side a Forrest of black Trees whereof the Inhabitants of the Country make their Boats called Almadies These Trees they make hollow and so their Boat is all of one piece yet with these they make a shift to go along the Coast as far as Goa The Port is very dangerous by reason of the Rocks which make the entrance into it very difficult At the beginning of Winter there falls such abundance of Rain in the neighbouring Mountains that several Brooks are of a sudden by that means overflown and run with such violence that the Earth which they carry along and which is stopped by the Waves that are forc'd by the Wind against the Earth makes in that place a kind of Bank which so stops up the mouth of the Haven that 't is impossible to get into it or out of it during that time nor indeed till the Wind which changes with the season forces the Sea back again which carries along with it the filth which the Rain had left in that place The Portuguez carry on a great Trade in this place in Pepper which the King of Cochim sells them at a certain rate agreed upon with the Viceroy at his first coming to Goa but the Inhabitants of the Country and other Forreigners pay dearer for it The King of Cochim is one of the most powerful Princes of those parts it being certain that he is able to raise above a hundred thousand men the most part Nayres who are obliged to serve at their own charge either with Horse or Elephants As to their manner of life it is not fully so brutish as that of the Malabars but they observe the same Custom for the succession of their Kings and the Consummation of their Marriages which work is performed by their Bramans This sort of people is so highly respected amongst them that the Master of the House seeing a Braman coming into it makes him way retires and leaves him alone to do what he please with his Wife They make holes in their Ears and hang little weights of Lead at them which stretch them so much that in time they reach down to their Shoulders The principal Commerce of this place consists in Pepper Ginger and Cinnamon It is not long since all the Malabars had but one King but Sarama Perymal Monarch of all that Coast from Goa as far as the Cape of Comeri having imbrac'd the Mahumetan Religion and desirous to end his life in solitude near the Sepulchre of his great Prophet distributed his Territories amongst his Friends upon condition that the Kings of Cananor Cochim and Chaule should acknowledge the Soveraignty of the King of Calicuth on whom he bestowed the Dignity of Zamourin or Emperour but since the establishment of the Portuguez in those parts the power of Zamourin is grown so low that at the present the King of Cochim is more powerful then he Ianuary the 26. We left Cananor and saw going thence Captain Weddell who would gladly have come along with us into England had he not been obliged to go and dispatch some business he had to do at Cochim and Calicuth Captain Weddell cast Anchor there but we only fired some Guns and pursued our Voyage The next day we discover'd at a great distance eighteen Sail of Ships which coming directly towards us easily discover'd what their design was We had much ado to clear our Guns for the Ship was so loaden that every hole was full However we had the time to put our selves into a posture of receiving those Pyrats who had not the confidence to come within Cannon-shot of us while day-light might discover
Caratts in weight appertain to the King Next to Orixa winding towards the North lyes the Kingdom of Bengala which gives name to the Gulph by the Ancients called Sinus Gangeticus They drive here a great trade in Rice Sugar and Cotton but chiefly in Silks which are esteem'd the best in all the Indies The finest Canes we have are brought from Bengala where there likewise grows a sort of Canes which are finer then the Osier in so much as Vessels are made of them which being glazed with Lacque on the inside coâ—tain liquid matters as long and as well as a Glass or Silver Bowl There also grows a certain Herb having on the top of its stalk which is about the compass of a mans thumb a great button like a tassel this tassel is spun out and there are excellent Stuffs made of it The Portuguez call it Herba de Bengala and make of it Hangings and Coverlets in which they represent all sorts of Figures The people of the Country are all Pagans and in the manner of their living exceeding brutish Theft is here very common and Adultery though it be punished with severity by cutting off their Noses who are taken in it they forbear not nevertheless to pollute themselves with all sort of uncleanness can be committed in that Vice The bear religious worship to the River of Ganges and hold the water hereof to be so holy that who wash themselves therein are cleansed from all their sins and this superstition reaches so far that the King of Narsinga sends to the Ganges for the water he uses for his purifications The Kingdom of Pegu joyns upon Bengala upon the East-side and takes its name from the capital City where the King hath placed the Seat of his Monarchy This is a very potent State and as Gaspar Balbi sayes whom I follow in this Relation because I saw not the Country the Metropolis is divided into two parts the one called the old the other the new Town The King with all that relate to the Court live in the latter and Merchants and Tradesmen inhabit the other For the greatest part the dwelling-dwelling-houses are built of Canes but they are joyn'd to Ware-houses that are vaulted to prevent fire The new Town is four-square and the Flankers of it so streight that from any Gate thereof one may discover both corners of the Wall There are Bastions of Timber and a large Moat full of water where they keep Crocodiles to secure the Town from surprizal The Peguans hold this Creature to have something Divine about it whence it comes they are so desirous to drink the water though they fetch it not without danger of being devour'd by the Crocodiles as it often happens Notwithstanding they water their Elephants there but this is a Beast that strikes terrour in the Crocodiles and would be too hard for them The Palace Royal stands in the middle of the City and hath its peculiar Fortifications Walls and Moats whereby it is divided from the Town The Castle is said to be much more spacious then the City of Venice and that there is no entrance but on the Town-side by two Ports and as many Draw-bridges Within the first Port are the Houses of the Grandees who enter not into the body of the Castle without express Order from the King His Guard consisting of a great number of Souldiers with them called Bramas is kept at the second Port where they sit having their Arms hanging before them on the Wall In this place are the Stables for Elephants as well such as are kept for the Princes service as those design'd for War being about eight hundred in number The Kings Appartment is exceeding rich painted Azure with Flowers of Gold and when the King gives Audience he appears in great magnificence In his hand he holds a Fan to Fan himself and on his head he hath a quadruple Crown of Gold enamell'd white Near his person stand four Youths whom he makes use of in his brutalities and before him all the Grandees of the Court who whensoever they speak to him lift their hands above their head and bow down to the ground Being sate they bring before him his fairest Elephants and amongst the rest his white one which is said to be the only one in all the Indies nor ever is there more then one to be seen at Court which was brought thither after the Victory he gain'd against the King of Siam with whom he had not made War but to gain that Beast as we shall tell you anon These Beasts make their reverence to him and testifie a Worship to his Person If we may give credit to the fore-mentioned Balbi this next the King of China is the most Potent Prince on Earth He sayes this Prince can bring into the Field fifteen hundred thousand Men and above eight hundred Elephants and that his Treasure is sufficient for so mighty an Army by reason every Person of Quality is oblig'd to raise and maintain so many Men of War at his own proper charges He relates to this purpose that in his time the King of Auva his Fathers Brother but Vassal to the King of Pegu denying homage to his Nephew and to pay such Diamonds and precious Stones as he stood oblig'd to in that consideration the King of Pegu who was well assured his Uncle held a very private intelligence with some Noble men of his Kingdom against the security of his State and Person to shew how mindful he was of his Fathers request on his death-bed and the recommendation he then made in favour of the King of Auva sent him an Embassadour extraordinary to reduce him to his Duty and perswade him to come in again to him but his Uncle instead of taking the advantage of his Nephews Nobleness puts the Embassadour to death and declares War against the King of Pegu. But he having raised an Army of three hundred thousand men before he would march into the Field purg'd his Court and put to death those Traytors who had ingagede to deliver him into the hands of his Uncle Assembling then all the Confederates of this Treason under pretence of calling them to a Councel about this War he caused them to be secured and they their Wives and Children to be burnt alive Then to free himself from the Odium of so horrid an Execution he sends to the Judge that he should defer the Execution till he receiv'd express Order under his Signet but the Dogad gini or Judge who had other private instructions proceeded according to them That done the King of Pegu appeared in the head of his Army mounted on an Elephant covered with trappings of Tissue having by his side a Sword that was presented him by D. Lewis of Atayda Viceroy of Goa resolving to march in few dayes against his Uncle but he was hindred by the small Pox which he had in extremity As soon as he was recovered
better then that which is brought out of the Isle of Iava where they call it Lanquus This Herb is neither sowed nor set but grows naturally and is about two foot high above the ground the flower is white and the leaves pointed and as hard as the point of a Knife The Iavians use it for a Sallad as also in Physick as they do the root which is thick and long and full of knots like a Cane as biting in taste as Ginger and of a very sweet scent Benjamin is a Gum distilling from Trees not unlike Lemmon-trees While they are young the Benjamin is black which is the best but as they grow old the Benjamin grows white and loses strength so as to put it off they mingle it with black The Moors call it Lovan Iavy that is Incense of Iava In the Forrest of Iava there grow Trees of red Sandale but the white and yellow Sandale which is without comparison the better comes from the Isles of Timor and Solor This Tree is of the bigness of a Walnut-tree and bears a fruit not unlike our Cherries but is black and insipid The Indians beat white and yellow Sandale and make a Concoction wherewith they rub their Bodies not only for the scent but for that they believe 't is restroative They value not red Sandale but sell it at cheap rates to other parts They have likewise abundance of Ginger by the Malayans called Aliaa and by the Iavians Gaâ—ti but they either eat it green in Sauces or preserve it for they never dry it Anacardium by the Portuguez called Fava de Malacca by reason of its likeness to â— Bean is very common here and the Iavians take it in Milk against the Asthma and against the Worms some pickle them as they do Olives and they are altogether as pleasant as the Olives That Wood the Portuguez call Pala de cuebra grows there in great abundance It is white inclining to yellow hard and bitter The Indians bruise it and take it in Wine or Water against burning Feavers and the stinging of Serpents 'T is said that for this cure they are beholding to a Creature in size and shape like our Ferrets by them called Quil or Quirpela which they breed for recreation and to catch Rats and Mice this little Beast being a mortal enemy to Serpents never meets with any of them but it sets upon them and being bitten runs immediately to this root which is his present cure Palo d' Aguila by Druggists called Lignum Aloes by the Portuguez Palo d' Aguila and by the Indians Calamba grows in Iava but not in such quantity as in Malacca Sumatra Cambaya and other places The Tree is like the Olive-tree only a little bigger The Wood while green hath no scent but as it dries its odour increases The weightiest and brownest is the best the perfection is known by the Oyl that issues out of it when 't is held to the fire They make Beads of it and the Indians use it to imbellish their Cabinets but the chiefest use of it is for Physick For this Wood beaten to powder and taken in broath or wine fortifies the Stomack stayes vomiting and cures the Pleurisie and bloudy Flux That the Portuguez call Aguila brava or wild Calamba is not so good as the other and the Indians chiefly use it at the Funerals of their Bramans making the fire of it that burns the Corps At Bantam likewise they sell store of Lacque whereof they make Spanish wax and the Varnish they lay over so many excellent works in China Iapan and other places Iava produces of it but the best comes from Pegu where 't is called Tieck and where great and winged Ants get up the trees and suck the Gum which afterwards they lay upon the boughs as Bees do Honey and Wax when the boughs are full the owners cut them setting them to dry in the Sun till the Lacque falls from the boughs then they beat it to powder and give it what colour and form they please The other Drugs gotten in Iava are Pody a mealy kind of substance which they use against Rhume and Wind Carumba or Flors a Root whereof they make Sauces and wherewith they dye their Cotton-clothes Conjuapi is a Wood wherewith they rub their bodies Samparentam is a Root found near Sunda stronger then Ginger and very bitter Pontiou they hold good against Feavers but 't is exceeding dear Gatogamber is a Fruit like an Olive good against the tooth-ach Ganti a Root so like Ginger that the Iavians have given it the same name but 't is dearer and with it they rub their bodies Sasam is Mustard-seed Doringi is a Drug they give Children as soon as they come into the world Galam a Root growing in the water and is very refreshing Tianco a Fruit they beat and take in water as soon as they find themselves ill Maidian Maya and Corossani are intoxicating Drugs they mix in their drinks Spodium is the ashes of a Tree growing near Sunda wherewith they rub their bodies as they do with Sary which is a Flower The Targary Surahan and Sedowaya are Roots for the same use Sambaya is the Fruit the Chineses call Geiduar as big as an Acorn of high price by reason 't is not ordinary and is a sovereign Remedy against Poyson and the biting of Venomous beasts Ialave is like Sambaya and of the same use in Medicine Paravas is a very cooling Hearb but very scarce and very dear Tomonpute is a Root like Galigan used against Inflammations of the Spleen The Conduri which the Iavans call Saga are red Berries spotted with black wherewith they weigh Gold and Silver but are not to be eaten they are so bitter and as some say poysonous There is likewise Azebar the Sycomore the Nux Indica and divers other Trees Plants and Drugs to Europeans some known some unknown but 't would require a peculiar Treatise to name them all and would fill a large Volumn to describe their good and bad qualities The Iavians making their benefit of the Portuguez ingratitude to the Indian Princes who entertain'd them do constantly oppose the establishment of any Strangers in the Isle But the profit â—he Kings of Bantam and Iacatra received by venting their Spices to the English and Duch was so considerable that at last they consented that the people of those two Nations should build a House for such Factors as they should have occasion to leave there and for stowing up the Commodities they traffick'd in The Dutch by treaty with those Kings regulated the Customs of Importation and Exportation but those Articles were so ill kept by the Indian Kings who raised their rates according as they discovered the Strangers necessity of Commerce that the Dutch to avoid this injustice and secure themselves from the violences of the Barbarians by degrees secretly fortified their Quarters at Iacatra and in a short time made it
do to their King He seldom appears in publick but all Addresses are made to a Noble man in whom the direction of Affairs lies He is intitled Quillor which is the same as Constable or Grand-Minister in other places He governs by divers other Persons of Quality who have their Divisions and Provinces to regulate according to Orders from him The Kings name is in such veneration amongst them that all the Subjects unanimously joyn in a moment to oppose any disturbance to the peace of the State As appear'd in the end of the last preceding Age in the person a Prince of the bloud who rising against the King and having some design upon the life of his Prince was immediately taken and condemn'd to death but the King in compassion chang'd his Sentence to perpetual exile in Pulo raza that is the desert Island where he stood confined with all his Complices who so well did cultivate it that divers other families have been since transplanted thither They retain the Pagan Religion they profess in the Isle of Baly and quit not that accursed custom for Women to burn themselves after the death of their Husbands The Isle of Borneo lyes more North then Iava and is one of the greatest in those parts 't is scituate under the Equinoctial Line but so as the greater part is on this side of it extending to six degrees towards the North. Some do assign it four hundred Leagues in circumference as Bartholomew Leonardo de Argensola who wrote the History of the Conquest of the Molucques and others but the Hollanders allow it but two hundred and fifty Leagues The principal Towns are Borneo Sâ—ccidava Landa Sambas and Benghemassin The City of Borneo from which the Island derives its name stands in a Marsh as Venice doth so as there is no passing from Street to Street but by boat The same Argensola sayes it contains 23000. Houses but the Dutch allow it but two thousand The best Camphire in the Indies is gotten in the Isle of Borneo Here is also Gold and Bezoar This Stone breeds in the Maw of a Sheep or Goat about a knot of Grass that stayes in the Maw and is often found within the Stone The Persians call these Beasts Bazans and the Stone Bazar which is a Market as by excellence proper for a Market or Fair and from the same word comes the Bazarucques the least Money that is sent to the Market The Stone is smooth and greenish and the more substantial and weighty it is the better it is and of the greater vertue In the Country of Pan near Malacca they find a Stone in the Gall of a certain Swine more highly esteem'd then the Bazar It is of a reddish colour as smooth and slippery in the feeling as Soap and exceeding bitter so that when it is to be used they only steep it in cold water and the water is a most soveraign Antidote against all poyson and an effectual cordial against all infectious Diseases Here they have likewise Diamonds Sapan-wood for dying as also Brasile Wax and good store of Pepper Frankincense Mastick and all other sorts of Gums The Island hath divers Havens and Roads but its Cities are not very populous Borneo is better then the rest and the Haven upon the mouth of a fair River is large and very commodious The Spaniards were once Masters of the Haven but they quitted it because the Air was so unhealthful they could not subsist Their Houses are of Timber but so sleightly built that they ordinarily pull them down to change their habitations or pass over to the other side of the River They are an ingenious and dexterous people but addicted to theft and great affecters of Pyracy so as sometimes they will cruze up and down the Sea as far as the Coasts of Pegu which is four hundred Leagues from that Island They use all sorts of Arms as Swords and Gosos which are Bucklers made of boyled Leather Lances Darts and a sort of Pikes they call Selihes the wood whereof is extreamly hard but withall so small and brittle that if it break in a Wound it leaves Splinters that render the part incurable The King is a Mahumetan as also the greatest part of the Islanders on the Sea coast but they that live in the heart of the Island are Pagans Their hue is rather black then tawny they are of compact well proportioned bodies and go habited near like the rest of the Indians with a Linnen about their loins and on their heads a little Turbant On the first of October in the year 1609. the Hollanders treated with the King of Sambas for establishing a Commerce of Diamonds which are to be found in the Mountains far within the Country and since have made one for Pepper with the King of Borneo with exclusion of all other Forreigners but the Borneans are no more faithful in the observance thereof then the other Indians Betwixt the Isle of Borneo and Molocques under the Equinoctial Line lies the Isle of Celebes and if credit may be given to Mercator this is one of the three Islands Ptolomy calls Sindas The chief City here is called Macassar and lies in the most Southerly part of the Island five degrees seventeen minutes beyond the Line It abounds in all sorts of Provisions particularly Rice wherewith in the moneths of March April and May the Territory is so entirely covered that 't is not to be imagined there is an inch untill'd and in effect besides what they convert to pasture for their Cattle and what they assign for their Cocoes there is not the least parcel lyes unsowed In the face they are like the people of Pegu and Siam and 't was but in the beginning of the present Age they deserted Paganisme and imbraced the Mahâ—umetan Religion 'T is said that in the time of Paganisme they were Anthropophagi and that the Kings of the Molucques sent their Malefactors to them to be devoured But it may be averr'd for truth that at this day the Indies have not a people so tractable as they yet they are couragious and irreconcileable where they once declare enmity Their chief Armes is Bow and Arrow whereof they impoyson the head to render the Wound mortal The Men are of a comely make carrying in their Prepuce a Ball or two of Ivory or a Fish-bone massie and not hollow like the Siameses and Peguans but this custom by degrees wears out as that amongst the Women to cut their Hair off for at present they let it grow and coif themselves as the Malayans do Women when they walk the Streets and Slaves have their Breasts open and wear Breeches that reach from the Navil to the Knee but when they bathe in their Cisterns or Wells in the Street they are stark naked The Houses of Macassar are built upon Piles and rais'd nine or ten foot above the ground by reason of the Rains which fall with the West and North-west Winds
to pay the Tax imposed upon him which is by the Poll at ten Ryals a Head The same Arch-bishop hath also the Quality of Viceroy and exercises all the Functions thereof joyntly with the Kings Councel which is established in the same City as well for Affairs of general concernment as for the Appeals of such differences as may arise in the other Cities The City and Houses of Manilla are of Stone and built after the modern way and the City it self is so great that the Spaniards have been forc'd to divide some part of it from the rest to serve them for a Cittadel in case of necessity by which means they avoid the charge of keeping so great a number of Souldiers as might be requisite for the defence of the place The Haven which is called Cavite lies two leagues from the City and is defended by two wooden Forts There live within the City of Manilla and about it above fifteen thousand Chineses besides those who come thither every year from December to April and trade with above five hundred Ships The Iaponeses come thither also but not in so great a number and yet the Spaniards are much more jealous of them then they are of the Chineses IAPAN JAPAN is a collection of several Islands made there by the Sea from the one and thirtieth degree of elevation to the thirty ninth being in some places but ten leagues in breadth in others reaching to thirty This Country which was anciently called Chryses or if we may credit Mark Paulo Veneto Zipangry hath on the East New Spain on the North Tartary on the West China and on the South the Sea and that part of the World which is called Terra Australis It is divided into sixty six little Kingdoms fifty three whereof depend on that part of this great Empire which is properly called Iapon or Iapan and consists of two very powerful Kingdoms called Meaco and Amagunce under which all the rest are comprehended The other part is called Ximo and comprehends nine Kingdomes or Provinces the chiefest whereof are Bungo and Figen and the third part called Xicoum comprehends the other four Kingdoms The Iaponneses themselves acknowledge that they cannot positively affirm whether their Country be an Island or part of the Continent inasmuch as from the Province of Quanto whereof the City and Castle of Iedo is the Metropolis as it is also of the whole Territory as far as the extremities of the Province of Tzungaa it is seven and twenty dayes journey towards East and North-East Then you cross an Arm of the Sea about eleven leagues over to get into the Province of Iesso or Sesso which is so covered with Woods and checker'd up and down with Mountains that the Emperour of Iapan hath not yet been able to search what may be had out of them All they could ever learn is that there were seen in those parts a sort of people who were hairy all over their bodies and suffered the hair of their heads and beards to grow so as that they seem'd rather beasts then men Whereto they add that they make use of that passage by Sea to go into Sesso whence they bring Furs not out of this respect that the Sea divides that Province from Iapan but that it were a great way about to go over those inaccessible Mountains which joyn those two Provinces The Island which we call Iapan and the Inhabitants name Nippon is divided into six great Provinces which are called Sayecock Chickock Iamaysoirt Ietsengen Quanto and Ochio which are subdivided into several other lesser ones which are governed and possessed by Lords and Princes whose names we shall here give together with their Revenues that the Reader may thereby judge of the greatness of this Empire whereof we have hitherto had no great knowledge setting down the sums according to their way of accounting by Cockiens which are worth about four Crowns French money apiece Cangano Tzium Angon King or Prince of the Provinces of Kanga Ietcoui and Natta who lives in the Castle of Canga hath a yearly revenue one million one hundred and ninety thousand Kockiens 1190000 Surugano Daynangon Prince of the Province of Suruga Toto and Mikawa who lives in the Castle of Fuytsui seven hundred thousand Kockiens 700000 Ouwarmo Daynangan Prince of the Provinces of Ouani and Mino who lives in the Castle of Nangay seven hundred thousand Kockiens 700000 Sendaino Tsuinangon Prince of the Provinces of Massamme and Oysia who lives in the Castle of Senday which is an impregnable place six hundred and forty thousand Kockiens 640000 Sutsumana Tsuinangon Prince of the Provinces of Zatsuma Osuny Fionga and Luiâ—io who lives in the Castle of Cangasinna six hundred thousand Kockiens 600000 Kinokonny Dainangon Prince of the Provinces of Kino and Iche who lives in the Castle of Wakcjamma five hundred and fifty thousand Kockiens 550000 Cotto Fingo Camy Prince of Fingo and the Neighbouring Provinces who lives in the Castle of Koumanotte five hundred and fifty four thousand Kockiens 554000 Matsendairo Ianonosk Prince of the Provinces of Tsaikisen and Faccatto who lives in the Castle of Fonckosa five hundred and ten thousand Kockiens 510000 Matsendairo Yonocami Prince or King in the Great Province of Ietsegen which lives in the Castle of Onde five hundred thousand Kockiens 50000 Catto Skibo King or Prince in the great Province of Ochio who lives in the Castle of Ais four hundred and twenty thousand Kockiens 420000 Matsendairo Nangato Prince in the Province of Souo who lives in the Castle of Fangi three hundred and seventy thousand Kockiens 370000 Mitono Tzuinangon Prince of the Province Fitayts who lives in the Castle of Nito three hundred and sixty thousand Kockiens 360000 Nabissima Sinano King or Prince in the Province of Fisien who lives in the City of Logioys three hundred and sixty thousand Kockiens 360000 Matsendairo Sentaro Prince of the Province of Inaba who lives in the Castle of Tackajano three hundred and twenty thousand Kockiens 320000 Todo Isumi Prince of the Province of Fuga Iche who lives in the Castle of Tsou three hundred and twenty thousand Kockiens 320000 Matsendairo Kuncy Prince of the Province of Bisen who lives in the Castle of Okajamma three hundred and ten thousand Kockiens 310000 Iuno Caemman The most valiant of all the Gallant persons in the Country and Prince of the Province of Totomy who lives in the Castle of Sawajamma three hundred thousand Kockiens 300000 Fossocawa Ietschui Prince or King of the Province of Boysen who lives in the Castle of Cocora three hundred thousand Kockiens 300000 Ojesungi Daynsio King in the great Province of Ietsengo who lives in the Castle of Iany Samwa three hundred thousand Kockiens 300000 Matsendairo Sensio King also in the same Province of Ietsengo who lives in the Castle of Formanda three hundred thousand Kockiens 300000 Matsendairo Auwa Prince of the Province of Awa who lives in the Castle of Inots two
to some Island for very petty Offences The Castle of Iedo which is the place of his ordinary residence is near two Leagues in compass and is fortified with three Walls and as many Moats very deep and built of Free-stone but so irregular that it is impossible to assign it any certain Figure Within less then three hundred paces a Man must pass through eight or nine Gates not one of them standing opposite to another for being come within the first he must turn on the right hand to go to the second and being come within that on the left hand to go to the third and so alternately till he comes to the last Just within the last Gate there is a Magazine of Arms for three or four thousand men on which about all the Streets which are fair and broad having on both sides many magnificent Palaces The Gates are done over with great Iron bars and over every Gate there is a House wherein two or three hundred Souldiers may be lodg'd The Emperours Palace stands in the midst of the Castle and hath belonging to it many Appartments Halls Chambers Closets Galleries Gardens Orchards Groves Ponds Rivers Fountains Courts c. and several particular Houses for his Wives and Concubines At your coming out of the Palace you go into that quarter where the Princes of the Bloud and Counsellers of State live and thence into another quarter where are the Palaces of the Kings and great Lords of Iapan which are all gilt both within and without and the more sumptuously built out of this respect that there is a certain emulation amongst them who shall be at greatest expence to please the Emperour In the next quarter to this there live other Princes and Lords who are not so powerful as the former yet have their Palaces gilt and so richly furnish'd that a Man would think at his first coming in he met with Mountains of Gold In this quarter there live some of the Wives and eldest Sons of those Princes whom the Emperour hath brought up in the sight of the Court as so many Hostages of their Fathers fidelity so that this Castle though as big as a considerable City yet is so full of people that the Streets can hardly contain them When the Emperour goes out of his Palace he either rides on horse-back or is carried in a Palanquin open of all sides and he is accompany'd by a great number of Lords whom they call the Emperours Camarades These Lords are of great quality and very rich yet do they not think it any dishonour to apply themselves to such things as are either necessary or delightful Some are skill'd in Musick some in Physick some are excellent at Writing or Painting others study eloquence and the mannagement of Affairs Next them there goes a part of the Guard which consists altogether of persons cull'd out among the Children of younger Brothers Cousins or Kinsmen of great Lords among whom there are also some natural Children of such as either actually are in employments or may upon presumption of their Birth pretend thereto Then follow the ordinary Guard commanded by their Colonels and other Officers who so dispose thereof that two or three thousand march before the Emperour and as many after him Among so many Souldiers there is not one but there hath been some trial made of his courage nor any that hath not gone through all the necessary exercises in order to such a kind of life and whose countenance and demeanour is not answerable to the employment they are put into They leave a space between them and the Emperour for a great number of other great Lords who are about his Majesties person who must needs make a strange shew among five or six hundred Men all clad in black some on horse-back some afoot all marching with such gravity and so orderly that there is not only any one man to be seen out of his rank but a man hears not so much as a word spoken The Streets are swept and strew'd with Sand or Gravel and the doors of all the houses standing open yet is there not a person to be seen either in the shops or at the windows or if it happen there be the Guard makes them kneel till such time as the Emperour is passed by Once every five year the Emperour goes to Meaco to do reverence to the Dayro who is the true Prince of Iapan and still hath the quality but without any function There is a whole year spent in making all things ready for that journey whereof we shall hereafter give a particular description and Orders are issued out to the Lords who are to follow and who accordingly come at the day appointed to the places where they are to meet the King dividing themselves so as that some go before to relieve such as come from the Court so to prevent the disorder and confusion which were unavoidable among so great a number of Princes who are all oblig'd to make their appearance upon this occasion with all the bravery and magnificence they can From the City of Iedo to that of Meaco there are a hundred and twenty five Leagues and within every three or four Leagues there is a considerable City able to lodge the whole Court yet hath the Emperour caused to be built between those two places at an equal distance one from the other eight and twenty fair Houses of which there 〈◊〉 twenty great Castles and in every House there is a Retinue and 〈…〉 else befitting a Kings Court as Gentlemen Guards Horses Officers and Servants with Provisions necessary for the subsistance of the whole Train They who go along with the Emperour from the City of Iedo leave him to the care of those whom they find in the first House These accompany and conduct him to the second and so from one to another till he comes to the City of Meaco in his return from whence he observes the same order being attended from one House to another till he comes to Iedo The Emperours of Iapan build many of these Castles and have them finish'd in so short a time that they will have a Structure compleated in six moneths which in Europe would take up as many years We have an Instance of it in the Castle which the Emperour had built in the year 1636. in the Province of Nicko four dayes journey from the City of Iedo It is fortified with a double Moat and a double Rampier and both of Free-stone and it is so spacious and consists of so many particular Palaces for the Grandees of the Court and so many Appartments Gardens and Fountains for the Emperour himself that the best Architect in Europe would not have finish'd it in several years yet was this great building compleated in less than five months there were so many Masons Carpenters Joyners Stone-cutters Gilders Painters c. employ'd about it This Castle is so far within the Countrey that the Emperour lodges
there but once a year when he goes to do his Devotions at his Father's Sepulchre which is thereabouts upon which occasion he stays there two nights His Treasures are so great that it is impossible to give any thing near an exact account of it inasmuch as the Gold and Silver is lock'd up in Chests and dispos'd into the Towers of the Castle besides what is in several places up and down the Countrey where it increases almost to infinity since the Revenue of two months will defray the charges of a whole years expence The late Emperour Father to him who now reigns lying on his death-bed call'd for his Son and told him That the Kingdom and all the Treasures would beere long at his disposal but he recommended to his particular care certain Chests and Cabinets where he should find the ancient Chronicles of the Kingdom and several excellent Books of Morality as also the Crown-jewels exhorting him highly to esteem them as himself and his Predecessours had done The pieces he had so much recommended to his Son were one kind of Cymitar called Iejuky Massamme another Cymitar of a kind called Samoys one other lesser Cymitar called Bongo Doyssiro A little Pot for Tsia or The called Naraissiba another greater Tsia Pot called Stengo and a Manuscript intituled AVC KOKI KINDOI He left his elder Brother the King of Ouwary a Picture called Darma which was to be look'd on only of the one side and a Cymitar called Massamme To his second Brother the King of Kinoâ—onny a Cymitar called Iessa Massamme and a Picture wherein were represented a great number of Frogs and to the third Brother King of Mico a Cymitar called Sandame and a Manuscript named Sinche And though his six Pieces are not to be compar'd to those he bequeath'd his Son yet not any one of them but was valued at above a thousand Oebans of Gold which amount to forty seven thousand Thayls or crowns The Legacies he gave several Princes and Princesses of the Blood and other Lords and Ladies as also to some of the Soldiery and his Servants amounted to thirty six millions The Emperour who now reigns was not married when he came to the Crown upon the death of his Father which proceeded from his detestable addiction to Sodomy insomuch that the Dayro perceiving the aversion he had conceiv'd for women was such that the State would in all likelihood come to be without a Governour made choice among his nearest kindred and the best qualifi'd Princesses of the Kingdom of two young Ladies of extraordinary beauty whom he sent to the Emperour iâ—treating him to take one of them and honour her with the quality of Miday which is that they give the Emperours lawful wife He was so compliant as to marry one of them but his brutality had so debauch'd him that he treated her with such indifference that it brought her into a melancholy which had almost cost her her life Her Nurse troubled to see her in that condition took one day the freedom to tell the King that she could not comprehend how he could slight one of the greatest beauties in the world to pursue those irregular enjoyments which cannot be had without violence to nature The Emperour who before was merry and in a good humour was so troubled at this discourse that going immediately into another room he sent for several Architects and Undertakers of Buildings and commanded them to build a Castle fortifi'd with several Moats and Draw-bridges and very high Walls in which he confin'd his Wife with her Nurse and all the Women and Maids belonging to them The Emperour 's own Nurse who had a greater influence upon him then his Mother perceiving that there would be a want of Heirs to inherit the Crown bethought her of a course to remedy that inconvenience which was to get to Court all the handsomest young maids in the Kingdom whom she produced as often as the Emperour 's good humour gave her occasion or encouragement to do it Of all she brought only the Daughter of an Armourer insinuated her self into his affection and was got with child by him but the other Ladies troubled to see a maid of so mean quality preferr'd before them found means to corrupt the midwife and to kill the child so secretly that the Emperour never had the least knowledge thereof We have it from the Chronicles of Iapan that that great State hath always been govern'd by a Monarch whom in their Language they call Dayro and that his Subjects had so great a veneration for their Prince that they thought it a crime to bâ— wanting in point of respect towards him so far were they from taking up Arms to disturb the Peace of the Countrey His person was accounted so sacred that they would not have it touch the ground or that he should be uncover'd abroad Whence it came that when the other Princes were engag'd in a war one against another there was a General named who acted in the Dayro's name and reduc'd the Rebells to their duty They have still the same respect for the Dayro insomuch that they permit not that his hair or beard should be cut or his nails par'd nor his meat to be dress'd in Pots that had been used before He hath twelve Wives which are bestowed on him with extraordinary Ceremonies and Magnificence When ever he goes abroad his twelve Wives follow him in so many Coaches which are gilt and enriched with their Arms and devises They are lodg'd in twelve great Pallaces built in the street which goes to the King's Palace and having adjoyning to them several other fair houses for his Concubines Not one of these Women but hath a great Supper made every night at her Palace at which there is Musick and the Women-dancers but assoon as the King is gone into that Palace where he intends to pass away the night they all send in their suppers and have their divertisements at that Ladies Lodgings whom the King is pleas'd to honour with his presence One of the greatest Ceremonies and Magnificences to be seen in Iapan is that performed at the birth of a Prince who is to inherit the dignity of a Dayro For to chuse a Nurse for the Child they get together fourscore of the handsomest young Women in the Kingdom whom they present to the Twelve VVives of the Dayro and to nine of the greatest Lords of the Countrey and of nearest kin to the Dayro who for want of Issue male might succeed him These Princes and Ladies receive those designed for this employment give them extraordinary Titles and treat them a whole day together The next day the foresaid number is reduc'd to the moyety and one half is dismiss'd with very great Presents The next day they add to the Titles of those who stay with great Ceremonies and their number is reduc'd to ten and afterwards to three the rest being still dismiss'd with Presents and at the end of
hundred German Leagues This miraculous Structure is continued without any interruption unless it be near the City of Siven in the Province of Peking where an inaccessible Mountain supplies its place and defends the Kingdom against the invasion of the Tartars as well as the Wall it self It hath Gates and Sluces for the passage of the Rivers which come out of Tartary and hath Houses Redoubts and Forts from place to place for the quartering of the Souldiers appointed for the keeping of it in which work the Emperour of China employs a million of men It is about thirty Cubits high and about twelve and in some places fifteen thick The Chineses call it Vanli Ching that is a Rampier or Wall of ten thousand Stadia rather to express an extraordinary work then assign the just greatness of it by any certain measure since that two hundred and fifty Stadia of that Country making a Degree it would follow that the said Wall must take up forty Degrees that is more ground then all China does They say it was built by Xius King or Emperour of China chief of the Family of Cina who having usurped the Kingdom from the Princes of the House of Cheva causâ—d that Wall to be made as well to satisfie his own humour which was to be magnificent in his Buildings as to prevent the Incursions of the Tartars over whom he had many Advantages He began it in the year 1215. which was the 22. of his Reign and imploy'd so many men about it that it was finished in less then five years The Province of Xantung hath towards the North that of Peking and the Gulf of Cang towards the East the Sea towards the South the Province of Nanking from which it is divided by the River Croceus and the Sea and towards the West the Channel of Iun which joyns those two Rivers and hath twenty Sluces as also the River Guei All these Rivers make this Province so fertile that they say one year brings forth as much as will sustain it ten years afterwards and that it may communicate to its Neighbours the Wheat Millet Rice Barley and Pulse which the Inhabitants cannot consume Poultry and Eggs may be had there in a manner for nothing Feasants Partridges Quails and Hares are very cheap and for less then three pence a man may buy ten pound of fish But what this Province is most remarkable for is Silk which here is not got by the pains people take in other places in keeping Silk-worms but it grows in the fields upon Trees where certain Worms like Caterpillars blow it not in a Cod but in white threads which are found upon the Hedges and may be used as advantageously as the ordinary Silk though it be somewhat courser It hath six great Cities to wit Cinan Yenchen Fungchang Cingcheu Teugeheu and Laicheu seventy two other considerable ones and comprehends in 770555. Families near seven millions of persons It contributes yearly 2812179. Sacks of Corn 54990. pieces of Silk-stuffs 52449. pounds of Cotton and 3824290. Trusses of Hay and Straw besides the duties paid there which amount to above ten millions of Gold The Province of Honan derives its name from its scituation it being seated towards the South of the River Croceus for the word Honan signifies towards the South of the River It hath on the East the Province of Nanking North and North-east those of Xantung and Peking North-west that of Xansi towards the West that of Xensi and towards the South the Province of Huquang This Province lies in the middle of this great Territory and is so delightful that the Chineses say it is in China what Italy is in Europe and Tourain in France It comprehends in eight great Cities and a hundred less considerable ones 589296. Families consisting of above 5000000. of persons The eight Cities are Caifang Queite Changte Gueihoâ—i Hoaiking Honan Nanyang and Iuning It contributes yearly 2414477. Sacks of Corn 23509. pound of raw Silk 9959. pieces of Silk-stuffs 341. pieces of Cotton-stuffs and 288744. Trusses of Hay and Straw The Province of Suchuen that is four waters is one of the greatest of all China and in regard it is a Frontier-Province towards the Indies it thence comes that the Inhabitants are somewhat of the humour of the Indians It hath towards the East the Province of Huquang towards the South-east that of Queicheu South that of Iunnan West the Kingdom of Tibet and towards the North and North-west the Province of Xensi and the people whom they call Coningâ—angi and Kiang It hath eight great Cities which are Chingiu Paoning Xunking Siuscheu Chunking Queicheu Lunggan and Mabu one hundred twenty four lesser Cities besides other four which are fortified and contains in 464129. Families above 2200000. men It pays 6106660. Sacks of Rice 6339. pound of Silk 749117. Quintals of Salt The true Radix Sina which the Chineses call Folin as also the wild kind of it is found only in the Province of Suchuen and grows there under the Earth much like Toad-stools or rather as that fruit which the Indians call Patatas or Potatoes Some are of opinion that it is bred of the Gum which falls from the Pine-trees which taking root forms a fruit of the bigness of the Indian Nut or Cocos having a white meat within which the Chineses use with good success in Medicine This Province brings forth also the best Rhubarb and great store of yellow Amber The Province of Huquang that is extended Lake derives its name from the Lake of Tungting and hath towards the North the Province of Honan on the North that of Nanking towards the East that of Kiangsi towards the South that of Quangsi toward the South-west that of Queicheu and towards the West that of Suchueu It comprehends in fifteen great and a hundred and eight less considerable Cities 531686 Families and near five millions of persons It s great Cities are Vuchang Hanyang Siangyang Tegang Hoangcheu Kingcheu Yocheu Changxa Paoking Hengcheu Changte Xincheu Iuncheu Chinthieu Chingyang It contributes yearly 2167559. Sacks of Rice and 17977. pieces of Silk-Stuffs The Province of Kiangsi hath towards the East those of Nanking and Fokien towards the South part of the same Province of Fokien and of that of Quantung towards the West the Province of Huquang and towards the North part of that of Nanking This Province is so populous and the people thereof multiplies so strangely that it in a manner supplies all the Provinces of the Kingdom for which reason the Chineses call them Kiangsois Rats It hath twelve great Cities and sixty seven lesser ones wherein are numbred above 1136659. Families and in them above 6550000. persons It s chief Cities are called Nanchang Iocheu Quangsin Nankang Kienkiang Kienchang Vucheu Linkiang Xuicheu Iuvencheu Cancheu and Nangan It contributes yearly 1616600. Sacks of Rice 8230. pound of raw Silk and 10â—516
and there is this distinction between married Men and Batchelors that the latter part their Hair upon the Forehead and wear higher Caps then the others The Women are very sumptuously clad having about them a great many Pearls and precious Stones They also paint and dress their Heads with as much curiosity and advantage as in any other place of the World They have a particular affection of having little feet whence it comes that the Mothers make it their business so to straiten their Daughters Feet from their Infancy that they are hardly able to go Some are of opinion that this Custom was introduced by those who were desirous to accustom Women to a sedentary life whereto they are as it were condemned even from their birth They are never seen in the House and it is very seldom they go abroad which when they do it is to visit some of their nearest Relations and then they are so attended and shut up in Palanquins that they cannot be seen The Men are ingenious enough and discover by their Works that they are not inferiour to the Europeans It is no easie matter for a Man to avoid the circumventions of their Merchants who make use of all imaginable Advantages in their Dealings At every Door there hangs a Table containing a Catalogue of all the Commodities that are in the Shop and in regard all the Merchants of the same Body have their habitations in the same quarter a man finds as soon as he comes into it what is to be sold in all the Street They use Brass-money in no Province but that of Chekiang in all other parts of the Kingdom only Gold and Silver is current which yet is received only by weight without any regard of the mark Whence it comes that no China Merchant but hath his Weights about him and such pieces of Money as are full weight by which that which he receives is to be weighed I am of opinion that the provision which is made in several parts of Europe for the subsistance of the Poor was derived from China Beggary which is infamous in those who are reduced thereto and a shame to such as suffer it in as much as it is a reproach of their want of Charity whose care it should be to remedy that inconvenience is there very severely forbidden and there is in all Cities a particular Judge appointed for the Poor who in order to their relief takes the following course The very day he comes into that Employment he publishes an Order whereby he commands all those who have any Children either born weak or imperfect or become such through sickness or any other accident to come and make their cases known that he may examine whether they are capable of learning any Trade or not and in case they are not whether the Parents are able to maintain them If they are Orphans and have no other Friends able to keep them they are disposed into Hospitals where they are brought up at the Kings charge The same course is taken with maimed or decrepit Souldiers They are all lock'd up and not permitted to go any more abroad The Houses where they put up the Poor have Gardens and Courts belonging to them where they are permitted to keep Poultry and Swine as well for their divertisement as advantage and the King appoints a certain Overseer who joyntly with the ordinary Judge makes a Visitation of the Hospitals twice a year They do not put the blind into the number of those Poor who are accounted unable to work but they are employed in pulling the Bellâ—â—â— at Smiths Forges and other things which do not much require the help of the fight Maids that are blind are forced to a Trade which may be as gainful but not so honest as some others I conceive I may also presume to affirm that it is to China we are obliged for the Mystery of Printing For it is certain we have it but since the year 1450. and that the Chineses have some Books printed above seven hundred years since They have a way of Writing particular to themselves not only upon this account that they make use of Figures rather then Characters in as much as they signifie entire words and do not represent the Letters but also upon this that in their Writing they observe an order wholly different from that of all other Nations For these write either from the left hand to the right as all the Europeans do or from the right to the left as the Hebrews Arabians and most of the other Nations of Asia do but the Chineses write from the top downwards and in their Writing observe such equal distances that there cannot be any thing more exact And to shew that these Figures stand not for any word that hath any particular signification in their Language but that they express the same things it is to be noted that the Chineses who when they speak cannot understand one the other by reason of the diversity of the Idioms and Dialects that is among the Inhabitants of several Provinces make use of these Characters not only to render themselves intelligible one to another all over the Kingdom but also in their Commerce with the Iaponneses and the Inhabitants of Corea and Conchinchine between whose Languages there is no more rapport then the English hath to the Greek or Arabian They make their Paper of the Bark of Bambus or Canes but so thin that it will bear writing but on one side though they do not use Pens but Pencils as the Iaponneses do which only slide along the Paper so that they write as fast and cut their Characters so neatly that the best Pen-men in Europe are not to be preferred before them The King is at a vast charge as well in the maintenance of the Schools where they are taught to read and write as also the other Elements and Sciences as in that of the Universities where are taught Philosophy natural and moral Astrology and the other Sciences There passes not a year but there is a Visitation made at which the Professors and Scholars are examined and they who express an inclination to study are recompenced such as apply not themselves thereto as they ought are punished The Visitor having ended the general Examen makes another particular one for those who aspire to the quality of Loytia a Dignity there like that of our Doctors True it is that they give this Title to all nobly descended but in matter of Learning it is a Degree conferr'd by giving the Graduate a permission to wear a Girdle by which he is distinguished from others For the King bestows this quality as the Princes of our parts confer Honours on those who have deserved them by their services or are so much in favour either with them or such as are about them as to get them by Letters Patents This promotion of Doctors is done with as great Ceremonies as in any European
the Cautoc that is the chief Standard-bearer the Pochin or receiver of the Kings Revenue the Pochinsy or Lord-keeper of the Great-Seal and the Autzat who is the chief Judge of the City Under this last there are three Lieutenants whereof one is called Hutay another Tzi◠and the third Toutoy who sit in Judgment once a week at their own houses and appoint Commissioners who have their setled quarters consisting each of a thousand 〈◊〉 This is particularly observable that the Commissioner hath no Authority in the street where he lives lest he should be byassed in his Judgment by any 〈…〉 on of neighbour-hood whence it also comes that no man is made Vice-roy 〈…〉 Judge in his own Country but he is sent to remote Provinces where he hath no relations The Officers are changed every three years and from the day of their departure from Court or the place of their ordinary Habitation the King defrayes all their Charges leaving it to their choice whether they will take their allowance in provision or mony While they continue in their employment they are lodg'd and treated at the Kings charge and there are lodg'd neer the Judges in the same house the Clerks Door-keepers and all the other Officers belonging to their charge who are also maintain'd and paid by the King that they may take no bribes or gratifications from the parties They are so circumspect in all their proceedings that there is no Judge but so strictly examines all particulars as not to fear any reproach of neglect Debtours are treated with so great rigour that such as are not able to satisfie their Creditors had rather be sold to them then endure the cruel fustigations in the middest whereof some who are of a more delicate Constitution many times expire The course taken for the discovery of Crimes and to prevent several other disorders is admirable The Judges coming to the place of their residence cause a List to be taken of all the houses within their jurisdiction and having distributed them into Decads they set a bill on every tenth house injoyning the Inhabitants to discover such of their Decad as they know hath committed any crimes upon pain of being responsible for the same themselves as also to give notice of such of their Decad as remove from their houses or intend any great journey that they may be oblig'd to pay their debts before they leave the quarter They have no mercy on Criminals yet is there not any person Executed till the crime be made so apparent that the criminal can alledge nothing for himself They endeavour to get out the truth by fair means and never order any to be tortured but upon very great presumptions but then they do it cruelly They put their fingers between two sticks two fingers broad and better through the ends whereof they draw a strong pack-thred which they bind so hard that they break the bones and make the nailes come off Another torture they have is to put the feet between two boards much after the same manner as in some parts of Europe they put the Leggs into boots full of hot oyle save that there the feet are tormented and here the leggs Every great City hath several Prisons which are very strictly kept but have belonging to them Courts Gardens Ponds and Walks for the divertisement of such as are detained there for slight offences They have also drinking-houses for the convenience of the Prisoners and Shops wherein are sold such things as the Prisoners make in order to their better subsistance The Sentence of death is not executed till the King hath confirmed it nay even that had it is done with so many Ceremonies that unless the heynousness of the Crime cry for Vengeance very loud there are more Condemn'd persons languish in the Prisons then die by the hand of the Executioner For there is no Execution but in presence of the chief Judge of the Province or Visitor who being come to the place calls for the Indictments of such as stand condemned to die and examine them and thereupon either confirms or repeals the sentence of the ordinary Judge Of those whose Sentence is confirm'd he takes fifty of the greatest offenders and orders the Goaler to prepare them for their execution Yet are they not brought out of the Prison till they are once more examined and if they can alledge any receivable excuse they are shut up again and then they discharge the great Guns to shew that they are going to Execution But before they are brought to the place of punishment they are examined once more and the Judge presses them to think of themselves and to find out some pretence that might oblige him to defer it If they have nothing to alledge he orders so many Guns to be fired as there are persons to be executed Being come to the place of execution they are set upon heaps of Ashes where they have somewhat given them to eat and then begins the last examination but if that over they have no excuse the Guns are discharged the third time and the execution is compleated Their punishments are to hang up to empale to burn but this last is only for such as are guilty of high Treason They have a particular punishment for Thieves For as they detest Theft above all Crimes so is its punishment attended with more infamy then the others They lay the Malefactor upon his belly with his hands ti'd behind him and in that posture two executioners beat him with all their might upon the calf of the Leg with great Canes moystned in water which is so painful a chastisement that most of the wretches die under their hands The Judges are present at these executions but that they may not be moved to compassion which the Condemned would never be the better for they spend their time in gaming and drinking and stop their ears against their cries But that Governours and Judges may not abuse their power they are obliged not only to give an account of their actions at the expiration of their Commissions before Judges appointed for that purpose whom they call Chenes but also the King sends into the Provinces a Visitor whom they call Leaches He goes into the Province incognito takes an exact and secret information of the Actions of the Officers and having gone round the Province comes up near the Metropolis of it towards the time that all the Officers of the Province meet there which is once a month he sends to the Viceroy and the Assembly to open the Gate to him that he may come and acquaint them with the King's pleasure This message discovers his quality and yet when he goes into the Assembly he hath his Commission carried open before him and assoon as it is read the Viceroy comes out of his place and the other Judges out of their seats and do reverence to the Visitor who having taken the Viceroys place commends those
grey Every Order hath its General whom they call Tricon who lives in the City of Xuntien He hath under him Provincials who make Visitations within their several Jurisdictions to see that there be an observance of Discipline and that there be no remission of the rigour required by the Rules of the Order These have also the nomination of Superiours and Guardians in the several Monasteries The General continues in that dignity as long as he lives and when he dies the King names his successour making choice of him among those who are most deserving He is cloth'd in Silk but of the same colour as is worn by the Religious men of the Order and never goes out of his own house without a retinue of four Religious men who carry him in an Ivory Chair upon their shoulders He hath a particular Seal for such affairs as concern his Order and his Religious men never speak to him but on their knees The King allows him what may keep a plentiful house and contributes also to the subsistance of the Monks in the Monasteries and if they want any thing it is supplied by the liberality of private persons The Religious men are all clad in serge and all after the same fashion save that they are distinguished by the colour They all shave their heads and beards They use beads and say their Mattens and other Offices much after the same manner as our Monks in Europe do Those who enter into the Monastery make a feast for all the Monks but the eldest Son of a Family is not permitted to take the habit in regard the Laws of the Kingdom forbid it and would have him to be the comfort and support of the weak and decrepit age of his Father Their vows are not indispensable but they may quit the Monastery and marry The Chineses observe at their Funerals the following Ceremonies Assoon as any person is deceased they wash the body put about him his best cloathes well perfum'd and set him in the biggest Chair they can find in the house That done the Wife Children Brothers Sisters and afterwards all the Relations kneel down before him and take their leave of him That Ceremony over they put him into a Coffin of sweet-wood well closed and set him upon a Table or two tressels and they cover him with a Hearse-cloath reaching down to the ground upon which they draw the Picture of the deceased They leave him in that posture fifteen days during which time in some other Chamber or Hall there stand constantly set on a Table Wine Fruit and two wax Torches lighted for the Priests who spend the night there in singing and praying according to their way but especially in making divers inchantmeâ—ts against the evill Spirits and in burning several Images and fastning others to the Hearse-cloath which covers the Coffin which Images they ever and anon move with their hands thinking they by that means force the Soul to Heaven The fifteen days being over the body is carryed into the Country where the Priests interr it and commonly plant a Pine-tree neer the Sepulchre whence it comes that they have a particular venâ—ration for that Tree Their mourning is austere enough Sons continue it for a whole year and sometimes two during which time they are clad in a course cloth cover their heads with a Hat of the same and tie about their upper Garment with a cord Nay some quit the publick employments they have with the Kings consent and ever after live privately Remote kindred go in mourning for some months and friends put it not off till the body be laid in the ground From what we said before concerning the Wall which divides China from Tartary it may well be inferr'd that the Chineses have a dreadful enemy beyond it It must indeed be acknowledged that though we have not any Author that hath given a pertinent account of the Eastern part of Tartary which reaches from little Tartary and the Kingdom of Cascar to the Eastern Sea and the Streights of Anian above Iapan yet have we it for certain that out of those parts and the Kingdoms of Samahania Taniulth Niuche Niulhan c. came those Nations who over-ran several Provinces of Euâ—ope and in a manner all Asia under Tamerlaine and under other Chiefs possessed themselves of the Kingdom of China For in the year 1206 the Tartars whom the Chineses called Tata because they do not pronounce the Letter R. entred China with a powerful Army and after a War of seventy two years became Masters of it forc'd thence the Princes of the house of Sunga which then Reign'd and were peaceably possest of the whole Countrey for the space of near seventy years till a certain Priest's servant named Chu considering that the savageness of the Tartars was much abated by the delights of China undertook a War against them and forc'd them out of China in the year 1368. The aversion the Chineses had to be governed by a forreign power soon prevail'd with them to become subject to Chu who assumed the quality of Hugnus that is Great Warriour and was the first of the Royal Family of Teiming which reign'd in China even to our days Chu not thinking it enough to have forced the Tartars out of the Kingdom of Chiâ—a entred with an Army into that of Niuche whither the Tartars were retreated and forc'd them to acknowledge the Soveraignty of the Emperour of China and to pay him Tribute The Tartars divided themselves into seven Colonies which warred one against the other till they were reduced into one State under the name of the Kingdom of Niuche about the year 1600. About that time Raigned in China Vanlie who had succeeded his Father in the Empire in the year 1573. and lived in an absolute peace when the Governours of the Frontiers conceiving some jealousie at the great powerfulness of the Tartars would needs hinder their Merchants from trading into China opposed the match which the King of Nâ—uche would have made between his Daughter and the King of Tanyu took him and killed him The King of Nyuche's son desirous to revenge his Fathers Death raised an Army passed over the great wall entred China in the year 1616. and took the City of Gayven whence he writ in very respectful terms to Vanlie who was then living and represented to him the injury had been done him by the Governours of the Frontiers proffering to deliver up the City and go out of the Kingdom upon condition his complaints might be heard and Justice done him Vanlie instead of reflecting on the Justice of this demand returned the business to the Councel of State where it was not thought fit so much as to answer his Letters The Tartar on the other side was so incensed at this slighting of his Proposals that he vowed to sacrâ—fice two hundred Thousand Chineses to the Manes of his Father Accordingly having taken the City of Leaoyang by
defeated Cambaya described p. 31 Its Markets Inhabitants Commerce and Gardens an Indian widdow burnt with her own consent ibid. How that custom came up p. 32 The civility of an Indosthan Mahumetan Bettele Areca described much used by the Indians p. 33 Leaves Cambaya the 25. and returns to Amadabat the 27. ibid. Comes to the Village of Serguntra what they feed travelling Cattle with p. 34 Tschitbag Garden described ibid. Leaves Amadabath the second time the 29. and comes to Agra 160. Leagues p. 35 Agra described its Market-places Caravanseras Mosqueys the Sepulchre of a Giant ibid. Its Sanctuaries Baths the Mogul's Palace described p. 36 The Mogul's Throne the Seraglio Treasury a sort of Money of eight thousand Crowns the piece An Inventory of the Mogul's Treasure p. 37 No hereditary dignity in the Mogul's Country the chief Officers the Mogul's Revenue p. 38 The Armes of the Cavalry they observe no order in fighting their Artillery the order of their Armies p. 40 The Mogul's Guard the dignity of the Rajas the Mogul's ordinary Retinue he changes the place of his abode according to the seasons p. 41 How the Mogul celebrates the first day of the year the Mogul's birth-day another Mahumetan Feast p. 42 The Mogul descended from Tamerlane a pleasant story of him ibid. The Mogul's divertisement a combat between a Lyon and a Tiger another between a Lyon and a Man arm'd only with Sword and Buckler p. 43 Another between a Man and a Tiger Mandelslo discovered to have killed an Indosthan at Ispahan p. 44 He leaves Agra and comes to Lahor 70. Leagues p. 45 All the way from Agra to Lahor is planted on both sides with Trees which are full of Parrots and Apes Lahor described the Baths of the Mahumetans ibid. DECEMBER The 19. He leaves Amadabath with a Caravan of a hundred Waggons and comes to Surat the 26. p. 46 Persons of Quality have Banners carried before them an engagement with the Country people ibid. Another with the Rasboutes the English President resigns his charge p. 47 The Sulthan's entrance into Surat how the Mogul came to unite the Kingdom of Guzuratta to his Crown p. 48 The Governour of Amadabath is Vice-roy of Guzuratta disposes of the Revenue of the Kingdom what the Revenue of Guzuratta amounts to ibid. The administration of Iustice the other Cities of Guzuratta p. 49 The Inhabitants of Guzuratta their cloathing p. 50 Their Women their Cloathing they account black teeth a piece of beauty p. 51 The Benjans are ingenious their ceremonies of marriage Polygamy lawful their Religion they worship the Devil p. 52 Their Mosqueys Purification their God Brama their opinion concerning the Creation of the World ibid. Brama's Lieutenants the authority of the Bramans p. 53 They believe the immortality and transmigration of Souls a strange employment of the Bramans among the Malabars the Sects of the Benjans their cloathing their belief p. 54 Their Mosqueys their extraordinary abstinences their publick Assemblies the Sect of Samarath ibid. Their God and his Substitutes a particular ceremony about the dead the Women burn themselves at their Husbands death The sect of Bisnow their God p. 55 Their manner of life their firing their Wives are not burnt the Sect of the Goeghys their God p. 56 Their belief hold not the transmigration of Souls a strange manner of life the superstition of the Benjans p. 57 The Rasboutes their belief a story of five Rasboutes their charity towards Birds they marry their Children young a remarkable story p. 58 The Parsis their manner of life the seven Servants of God twenty six other Servants of God p. 59 They have no Mosqueys p. 60 The Badge of their Religion their houses fire accounted sacred among them they severely punish adultery their manner of burial ibid. The Indous Jentives their belief the Theers p. 61 The Marriage ceremonies of the Indian Mahumetans the effect of Opium Divorce lawful p. 62 The education of their children their interments are called Mussulmans their stature and complexion p. 63 Their habit their houses the ceremonies of their visits their expence ibid. Their Domesticks the condition of Tradesmen their Houses Merchants p. 64 The several Sects of the Mahumetans no lnne in Guzuratta their expertness at the Bow they have of Aristotle and Avicenna's works p. 65 Their Language the Diseases of the Country Winter begins in June the Commerce of Guzuratta the manner of making Indico p. 66 Salt-peter Borax Assa foetida Opium p. 67 The Drugs of Guzuratta precious Stones Weights Measures Money much counterfeit money in the Indies ibid. The fertility of Guzuratta their way of making Bread no Oats in the Indies their Seed-time and Harvest the Mogul Proprieter of the whole Country their Gardens Trees Horses Beef Mutton p. 68 Their Fowl Fish Ships their trade to the Red-sea to the Persian Gulf to Achin the Commerce of the Malabars in Guzuratta p. 69 The Commerce of the Portuguez p. 70 M.DC.XXXIX IANVARY The first he leaves Surat takes shipping for England and comes to Goa the eleventh following p. 71 The way from Goa to Visiapour the names and scituation of several Cities of Decam p. 72 Visiapour described the way from it to Dabul p. 73 The City of Dabul described the City of Rasiapour p. 74 The Inhabitants of Decam the Money of Decam p. 75 The King of Decam tributary to the Mogul the History of Chavas-chan he is made Regent of the Kingdom engages the State in a war the King implores the assistance of his Grandees against him ibid. He attempts the life of his Prince but is prevented and kill'd p. 76 His friends would revenge his death his ingratitude the Mogul concerns himself in Mustapha's fortunes the King of Decam able to raise two hundred thousand Men. p. 77 His Artillery ibid. The English President visits the Governour of Goa p. 78 The Jesuits of Goa treat him a Feast at the profess'd House of the Jesuits there with a Ball. p. 79 The advantage the Jesuits make of those divertisements in order to the propagation of Christian Religion Another Feast at the Jesuits Colledge the Sepulchre of St. Francis Xaverius p. 80 The Hospital of Goa the Monastery of the Augustines the Portuguez pay the English 45000. Crowns p. 81 The Viceroy's Presents to the President those of the General of the Gallions and the Jesuits ibid. He leaves Goa the 20. and comes the 29. near Ceylon Goa described how taken by the Portuguez p. 82 Its Inhabitants Winter begins in June the Diseases of those parts the Women of Goa love white men the Herb Doutry and its use the Women go not abroad p. 83 The jealousie of the Portuguez the Portuguez Souldiers their Marriages and Christnings their Slaves p. 84 The Inhabitants of the Country and their Houses the Decanins excellent Gravers c. p. 85 Their Women deliver'd without pain they live in perfect health to a hundred years of age the Jews of Goa the Mahumetans their Money the Customs upon
forreign Commodities p. 86 The Viceroy of Goa a character of him his power revenue ibid. The Malabars Zamorin Emperour of Calicuth and Cananer p. 78 The priviledges of the Nayres the writing of the Malabars the order of succession in Calicuth Cochim described the power of the King of Cochim a great priviledge of the Bramans p. 88 The Zamorin of Calicuth sometime Emperour of the Malabars the Cape of Comory the Isle of Ceylon p. 89 When discover'd by the Portuguez the History of Fimala Derma King of Candy he murthers his Father and three Brothers declares against the Portuguez p. 9 The treason of a Portuguez Renegado p. 91 The Dutch ill treated in the Island of Ceylon the Kingdom of Candy its Inhabitants their Religion ibid. Kings tributary to the Portuguez Mines of Gold and Silveâ— p. 92 The Maldives the Coast of Coromandel the Inhabitants thereabouts Christians a story of St. Thomas p. 93 He is martyr'd at Edesa the City of Meliapour p. 94 Bengala its Inhabitants their superstition ibid. Pegu the Palace Royal the Guard p. 95 The Kings forces he makes war upon his Vncle King of Auva a just Execution but too severe a Combat betwixt two Kings the Pagodes of Pegu. ibid. The Peguans Armes they are Pagans adore the Devil their Feasts how the Kings Corps are burnt their Ecclesiasticks p. 96 A third part of all mens estates falls to the King a strange Sawce other peculiar Customs the Commodities of Pegu. p. 97 The River Menan overflows as the Nile India its houses p. 98 The King of Siam of a very ancient Family is absolute his manner of life hath but one Wife p. 99 A magnificent Procession a Procession upon the River the Revenue of the King of Siam p. 100 His Expences their Punishments manners of justification the Militia of Siam p 101 Their Arms both the Kings of Siam and Pegu pretend to Soveraignty the King of Siam a friend to the Dutch ibid. Elephant-huntingâ— the occasion of the War between the Kings of Pegu and Siam Raja Hapi King of Siam p. 102 The King of Siam a Pagan a Hierarchy Beguins a kind of religious women the belief of the Inhabitants lights in the Mosqueys Prayers for the dead p. 103 The Siameses invoke the Devil their qualities habit houses marriages education of children ibid. The traffick of the City of India the King a Merchant the money of Siam the settlement of the Dutch in Siam p. 104 The Kingdom of Cambodia the Palace-Royal the Lords of Cambodia the Portuguez keep out the Dutch p. 105 Malacca when discovered p. 106 A description of Patana its Inhabitants p. 107 The Air of Patana Mahumetans p. 108 Batusabar Metropolis of Patana its Inhabitants the Language of the Malayans the Island of Sumatra p. 109 Was sometime divided into many Kingdoms the King of Achim the City of Achim the Inhabitants p. 110 Their Religion food the mournful tree Cocoes ibid. How they make Wine their Paper Bananas what p. 111 Pepper how planted the Island of Java its Inhabitants the King of Bantam p. 112 A sulphureous Mountain the names of several Cities of those parts ibid. The Kings Palace the Guard of the City its Market-places Armourers p. 113 The City of Tuban described the Kings Palace its commerce p. 114 The Javians Mahumetans their Fasts they marry their daughters very young the ceremonies of their marriages Women of Quality are kept in restraint p. 115 The Magistrates of Bantam the Kings Councel the train and state of the Nobility the qualities of the Javians they are good Souldiers p. 116 The Javians sophisticate their Wares how they imploy their Slaves ibid. The Commerce of Forreigners there the trade of China the money of Java p. 117 The Portuguez commerce Oysters of three hundred pound weight Crocodileâ— Civet Hens the Rhinocerot Ants. p. 118. The Fruits of Java Areca Mangas Ananas Samaca described p. 119. Tamarinds Tabaxir Canes so big that Boats are made of them a fruit called Duriaons its qualities ibid. The Lantor-tree Cubebs Mangosthan Talasse Jaca wild Cinnamon Carcapuli Costus Indicus p. 120 Zerumbet Galanga Benjamin Sandal Ginger Anacardium Pala de cuebra Calamba p. 121 Lacquc other Drugs of Java the Dutch fortifie in Jacatra p. 122 They give it the name of Batavia Madura a place of no trade the Isle of Baly its scituation Inhabitants p. 123 It abounds in Rice Fowl Drugs Fish hath Gold mines the King of Baly the Island of Borneo its Metropolis the Bâ—zoar stone p. 124 The Haven the Dutch treat with the King of Sambas about the trade of Diamonds the Island Celebes its Metropolis its Inhabitants are Cannibals 125 The Isle Gilolo its Inhabitants and Fruits Amboyna its Inhabitants discovery p. 126 The Dutch take Amboyna Castle the Religion of the Inhabitants their superstitions ibid. Their circumcision marriage oaths their qualities p. 127 Banda its Inhabitants their Armes they live long p. 128 Nutmegs Mace Oyl of Nutmeg the Dutch Forts in Banda prodigious Serpents the Moluccas p. 129 Sagu How Bread made of it how Wine the Inhabitants of the Moluccas p. 130 Are partly Mahumetans a particular piece of policy the Clove trade the Portuguez seize it are dispossest thereof by the Dutch a difference between the Castilians and the Portuguez about the Moluccas grounded on a false supposition 131 Magelan finds a new passage the Isle Ternate what Cloves it affords ibid. The Clove-tree grows without planting Avicenna's errour whaâ— Cloves the Moluccas yield yearly the Mountain of Ternate but one season in the Moluccas 132 A Wood incombustible leafes turned to Butterflies Birds of Paradise the King of Bachiam the Isle of Machiam p. 133 The Philippine Islands the hunting of Crocodiles p. 134 The commerce of the Chineses and Spaniards in the Philippines the Archbishop of Manille is Viceroy a description of the said City p. 135 Whether Japan be an Island or part of the Continent the names and revenues of the great Lords of Japan p. 136 The revenue of the Ministers of State p. 141 The Emperour of Japan's policy the Lords have three names p. 142 Slaves die with their Masters their manner of ripping up their bellies their Mesquites the Cities of Japan not walled no taxes in Japan p. 143 The power of Masters over their Servants Gaming criminal all the relations of Offenders die with them a particular punishment for theft p. 144 The crimes for which all the kindred of a criminal are put to death an example of it ibid. Lying punished with death the Emperours expence Jedo Castle the Palaces of the Kings p. 145 The Emperours retinue the Dayro the Emperours magnificence p. 146 His Treasures the Emperour of Japan a Viceroy confines his Wife to a Castle p. 147 How the Emperour of Japan came to the Crown Ceremonies at the choice of a Nurse for the Dayro's Son p. 148 A revolution in Japan a Souldier of Fortune gets to be General of the Army and Soveraign is poysoned ibid. Bestows the Regency
the utmost hazard The Ship runs a-ground A description of the Caspian Sea 1366. Is a sea by it self The length breadth of the Caspian Sea 1636. The water is Salt Neither Ebbs nor Flows 1636. The name of Persia. 1366. The Province of Erak The Province of Fars The Province of Sciruan The Province of Iran 1636. The Province of Adirbeitzan The Province of Kilan Mesanderan Lahetzaâ— Rescht Kesker The Province of Choralan The Province of Sablusthan Sitzistan Kirman 1366 The Province of Châ—sistan The Province of Tzisire or Diarbek The Province of Schiruanâ— The Houses of Persia. Brugmans incivility The Governours resentment The Cuptzi comes to Niasabath The Tartar-Prince of Dagestan visits tâ—e Ambassadors Brugman 's indiscretion The Ambassadors leave Niasabath Padars a people They lodge in a Caravansera The Mountain of Barmach Ruins of Fortresses The opinion of the Persians concerning these Fortresses The Sepulchre of a Persian Saint The Sepulchre described The Sepulchre of another Saint Shels in mountains far from the Sea The superstition of the Persians The reception of the Ambassadors at Schamachie The Chan of Schamachie meets the Ambassadors Allows them seats contrary to the custom The services of the Feast A strange sort of Napkins The neatness of the Persians The Chan an exellent Marks-man One of the company kills himself with drinking Aquavitae 1637. The Armenians bless the Water on Tâ—eiâ—day The Ambassadors assist at their Service The Ceremonies of the Arminians in Consecrating the Water The Calenter's Feast The Ambassadors Presents to the Chan. The Governour permits the Armenians to build a Church The Schachâ— orders for the Ambassadors The Muscovian Envoy leaves Schamachie FEBRU A College for the instruction of Youth 1637. A School for Children An Augustine Monk visits the Ambassadors A Feast in memory of Haly. A Persian Priest pleasantly dress'd A Procession The Ambassadors treated by the Chan. An order from the Court for their departure MARCH Another Festival The first day of the Year Which consists of 12 Lunar moneths Our Persian Interpreter proves a Renegade The Ambassadors re-embursed their expence Scamachie described Its streets and houses Its Inhabitants their Language c. The Chan's charge Sepulchres of Saints The Tomb of a Princess of Persia. The perpetual fâ—â—e of the antient Persians The Ambassadors presecute their journey The demeanour of one of the Ambassadors Nomades The conjunction of Cyrus and Aras The Frontiers of Schiruan and Mokan APRIL Ahu a kind of Deer Tortoises The Inhabitants Betzirwan Tartarian Hutts Ill weather A venâ—â—â—ous Herb The King sends another Conductor to meet the Ambassadors The entrance of the Ambassadors into Ardebil The Governour gives them a Collation The Chan's House described The veneration the Persians have for their Prince Thaberick Is serv'd without Wine The expence at Ardebil The Governours visit The visit of an Armenian Bishop Christian Churches in Asia Kurban or Sacrifice of the Persians The Pilgrimages of the Persians and Turks Particulars of the Pilgrimage to Meca Prayers for the dead The Chan treats the Ambassadors Acquaints them with the violent death of the Grand-Signior MAY. The Chancellor of Persia's son visits the Ambassadors A particular Festival of the Persians A strange kind of Devotion A false miracle The last Ceremonieâ— of the Festival Persian Poets Fire-work The enterment of Hossein reprrsented A bloody devotion Ardebil described The air not so warm as elsewhere The fertility of its soil Its Streets It s Market-place The Sâ—pulchre of Schich-Sefi a Sanctuary Its Metzids or Mosqueys The Ambassadors visit Sehich-Sefi's Sepulchre Lay down their Arms at the entrance Schich-Sefi's Fast of forty days Laicks not permitted to appreach the Sepulchre A miraculous Vault The Library The Kitchin The Charity of the place Sepulchres of the Kings of Persia. A Fable Commissaries for the reception of the profits The confidence of a Favourite Insolence punished Another Saint's Sepulchre The Tomb described The Governour of Ardebil administers an Oath to the religious men belonging to the Sepulchre Medicinal Waters Sulphureous Sources Sources of hot water Serpents discover the wholesomness of the water JUNE The King sends the Ambassadors another Conductor They leave Ardebil The Chan takes leave of the Ambassadors The Province of Chalcal The corruption of the Persian Officers Grass-hoppers Kisilosein The Mehemandars complaint The Persians set upon the Ambassadors Guard The City of Senkan A Horseman had neither hands nâ—r feet Senkan destroyed by Tamberlane A branch of Mount Taurus Sulthanie It s situation Built by Chodabende A likely story A Paraphrase of the Alchoran The superstition of the Persians Artillery Tamberlane had a respect for the Mosqueys The Women travel in great Chests The situation of Caswin Is the antient Arsacia Hath above 100000. Inhabistants It s Language The antient residence of the Kings of Persia. It s Palace Markets Turqueses and Rubies vary cheap The Sepulchre of Hossenâ— Son Caravanseras The fabulous story of Lokman Risa a false Prophet The History of the Indian Prince Schach-Tamas's evasion The Ambassadors send to visit the Indian Prince JULY The Governour gives the Ambassadors a Divertisement Elephant An error of the Antients The Mountain of Elwend A pleasant story The Ambassadors leave Caswin The situation of Saba Excellent fruits at Saba Excessive heats The City of Kom It s situation Is Ptolomy's Guriana Its fruits Melons It s Trafsick The Inhabitants inclin'd to thesi They leave Kom Come to Katschan The Daruga's advancement The situation of Katschan It s bigness A House with a 1000. Doors Venemous Creatures A remedy against Scorpions The Author stung by a Scorpion Another venemous insect It s venom and the effect of it The remedy Sheep eat these insects The Fable of Schutza Adin Hassan Kaschi an Arbian Author Elmacini another Arabian Author The Ambassadors leave Caschan Come to Natens Continâ—e their journey AUG Are lodg'd among the Armenians Are visited by the Dutch Factor A quarre with the Indian Ambassadors Domesticks The Indian Leader kill'd The King inter pâ—ses his Authority The Indian Ambassador dismiss'd His aboad at Ispahan His presents The occasâ—on of the Embassy He departs The Ambassadors change their quarters The King treats them still They go into Muscovian habits Their first audience The Presents made in the Prince's name The Ambassadors Presents The Persians observe no Order in their Ceremonies The reception of the Ambassadors The Hall for audience Silver Pails to water horses The King's age The Ambassadors broâ—ght in to audience Gold Plate Schiras wine The Carver Their manner of sitting at meat Silence at meats Musick The first private Audience Celebrate the Festival of St. Augustine Dlâ—e in the Monastery SEPT Two Armenian Lords visit the Ambassadors Musick Porcelane Musick The magnificence of an Armenian Lord. The second private Audience The Ambassadors treated by the English Indian Dancing-Women Handsome and well shap'd Their habit OCTOB The Ambassadors make a feast Running at a Ring The scandalous Life of one of the Ambassadors Ceremonies of Marriage
among the Armenians The Baptism of the Armenians The Tragical History of a Clock-maker Is executeâ— His enterment The King takes the Ambassadors along with him a-hunting An Astrologer Crane-hunting Drake and Wild-goose-hunting Leopards A Persian Lord turns Executioner Wild-Assâ—â—esh much esteem'd in Persia. Presents from one of the Ambassadors to the King Pidgeon-Hunting The King liberal in his Debauches The Chancellor treats the Ambassadors A Hall set all about with Looking Glasses The Persian treatments have all Diversions The Chancellors name age and fortune A second conference with the Chancellor DECEM The King's Presents to the Ambassadors The Ambassadors last treatment at Court The Chancellors Present to the King The Ambassadors take leave of the King The Muscovian Poslanick dismiss'd The Presents from some Persian Lords to the Ambassadors Brugmans imprudence One of the Gentlemen of the retiâ—â—e 〈◊〉 takes Sanctuà ry Brugmans insolence The King's patience Ispahan described It s greatness The River Senderut Ispahan destroy'd by Tamberlane Its Gardens Its Fountains Their Houses Their stoves The streets The Maidaâ— The King's Palace His Guard The Sanctuary It s Citadel Another Sanctuary Tâ—e chief Mosquey of the City The Exercises of the Grandâ—es Taverns Places where The is drunk Chesse Places for Tobacco and Cahwa or Coffee Barbars and Surgeous The Basar Ispahan a place of great trade The Persian money Their brass money Caravanseras or publick Inns. French Capucius The King's stables His Garden Fruit-Trees The Suburbs Tzulfa Tabrisabath Hasenabath Kebrabath The Religion of the Kebbers Villages near Ispahan The fields about it The air of Persia. Diseases Persia is sandy and dry Cotton Domestick Creatures Sheep Goats Buffles They abhor Swine Camels Caravaâ—â— Horses Mules Asses Fruits Melons Citrulls Padintzan The Vine Why the Mahumetans drink no Wine Duschab Helwa Zutzuch Fruit-Trees Silk Nefte Salt Iron The stature of the Persians Paint their Hands and Nails Their Habit Lib. 3. Kisilbaschs The Habit of the Women Chap. 1. The Persians are very neat Iagenious Liars True in their friendships 〈…〉 The King Persia hath several Wives and Concubinâ—s Sodomy not punish'd in Persia. Polygamy allowed in Persia. The House-keeping of 〈◊〉 Persiâ—ns Their Housholdstuff Their ordinary food is Rice Which servs them for Bread Their Drink They takâ— Opium They take Tobacco Cahwa or Coffee The use of The or Tea Where the best Stuffs are made Persia yields yearly 20000. Balls of Silk Trading not obstructed by the Wars The inconvenience of Polygamy Incest tolerated Their Ceremonies of Marriage The Watch in the Night Marriage for a certain time The superstition of the Persians They are jealous Adultery cruelly punish'd Divorce lawful A pleasant story Another story The Education of their children Their Authors for reading Their Writing Their Ink. And Pens The Persian Language The Persians learn the Turkish Language Their Characters Their Vniversities Their best Authors A fabulous History of Alexander the Great The Persians inclin'd to Poetry The best Persian Poets Their Law Medicine Astronomy The Lunar and Solar year in Persia. The political Government of Persia. The quality of Sophi The Kingdom of Persia Hereditary The arms of Persia. The Coronation of their Kings Ismaelâ—â—â— Iacup Ismaeâ—â— Schach Tamas Mahomet Chodabende Emir Hemse Ismael III Ismael III kill'd Schach-Abas succeeds Engages in a War against the Tartars And against the Turks An excessive severity Schach-Abas puts to death his eldest Son Assassinate punish'd Schach-Sefi succeeds his Grandfather The beginning of his reign cruel Kills another Vncle and his three Sons Kills Seinel-Chan with his own hands Puts to death his Chancellor and others He â—â—press'd more teâ—â—rity than courage in his actions Subject 〈◊〉 wine His Wives His Concubines His death Schach-Abas succeeds his Father Dignities not Hereditary The Persian Army consists onely of Horse Their Military Offices The Persians hate Cowards The Schach's Revenue Officers of the Court Chancellor Kurtzi-baschi Meheter The Secretary of State Diwanbeki Kularagasâ— Eischikagasi-baschi The Master of the Ceremonies The Controller Tuschmal Secretary of the Closet Master of the Horse Grand Faulconer Huntsman Jesaulkor The Hakim Minarzim and the Seder The administration of Iustice. Vsury forbidden Their punishments The Religion of the Persians The Etymology of the word Mussulman Circumcision The difference between the Religion of the Persians and of the Turks The initials of the Religion of the Persians The Saints of the Persians Their Festivals Commentators upon the Alcoran Miracles Their purifiâ—â—tions Their Prayers They are very devouâ— Their opinion concerning Heaven and Hell They dedicate their Children to Saints Their Lent The Kinred of Mahomet Another sort of Religious men Their Interrments Some of the Retinue take Sanctuary DECEM The Ambassadors leave Ispahan Come to Natens Kaschan JANUA Kom The Mountain of Kilissim 1638. Brugman hurt Come to Saba Meet with an Ambassador from the King of Poland Come to Calwin The superstition of the Persians Leave Caswin Fauces Hyrcaniae A Caravansera upon a Bridge A Dreadful Road. Summer and Winter the same day The Provence of Kilan described Its Fruits The Kilek Revolt The history of Karib-Shach A strange punishment The Kilek disarm'd Theirâ—dbit The Talisch Come to Rescht Metropolis of the Province of Kilan A feast in honour of Aly. Sefi Myrzas ' Sanctuary Leave Rescht Come to Kurab Kurab Metropolis of the Province of Kelker FEBRUA The Ambassadors leave Kurab Come to the Province of Lengerkunan Leave Lenkeran The City of Kisilagats The Inhabitants of a Village extirpated A false Miracle of Aly. A harbarous action of the Ambassador Brugman Causes a Kisilbach to be kill'd in cold blood A Robber General of an Army The River Aras The mountain of Scamachie The Chan treats the Ambassadors MARC How the K of Persia assures the Chans of his favour Armenian Ceremonies The Armenians begin the year at Easter The Ambass intended for Holstein comes to Scamachie The Ambassadors leave Scamachie APRIL Sources of Nefte Padars a sort of people Come to Derbent Derbent described The Fable of Tzumtzume The Chan Tarku proffers to convoy the Ambassadors They take order for their departure The Governour hinders it Other Saints Sepulchres Leave Derbent The Tartars of Dagesthan Their habit Their Arms. The Prince of the Tartars How chosen The Country of Osnun The Lordship of Boinack Brugman 's impertinence A Polish Ambassador kill'd The Author like to be taken by the Tartars Come to Tarku Tarku the Metropolis of Dagesthan A German living among the Tartars The Ambassadors in great danger A Present sent to Surkou-Chan Who invites them to dinner Particulars of the entertainment Another Tartariaâ— Feast The Governour of Terki refuses a Convoy MAY. The Schemkal grants them passage The River Albanus Leave Andre Enter Circassia Abundance of Serpent Jerbuah a kind of Field-Mouse Terki the Metropolis of Circassia The Government of the Country Their language Habit Women Are Chaste Their Religion Their Sacrifices Their enterments JUNE The Ambass leave Terki The Deserts of Astrachan Come to Astrachan JULY A
Devil Their Mosqueys Their Purification Their God Brama Their opininion concerning the Creation of the World Brama's Lieutenants The Authority of the Bramanes Tâ—ey believe the immortality and transmigration of 〈◊〉 A strange imployment of the Bramans among the Malabares The Sects of the Benjans Their Cloathing Their Belief Their Mosqueys Their extraordinary â—bstinences Their publick Assemblies The Sect of Samarath Their belief Their God and his Substitutes A particular Ceremony about the dead The Women burn themselves at their Husbands death The reason of it The Sect of Bisnow Their God Their manner of life Their â—iring Their Wives are not burnt The Sect of the Goêghy Their God Their belief Hold not the transmigration of Souls A strange manner of living The superstition of the Benjans Rasboutes their belief A Story of five Rasboutes Their Charity towards Biâ—ds They marry their Children very young A remarkable Story The Parsis Their manner of life The seven Servants of God Twenty six other Servants of God They have no Mosqueys The bodge of their Religion Their Houses Fire is accounted sacred among them They severely punish Adultory Their manner of burial Drunâ—enness The Indous Jentives Their belief Theers The marriage Ceremonies of the Indian Mahumetans The effects of Opium They may be divorced They bring up their Children well Their Interments They are called Mansulmans or Mussulmans Their stature and complexion Their Habit Their Houses The Ceremonies of their Visits Their expence Their Domesticks The condition of Tradesmen Their Houses Merchants Patans Moguls Indosthanâ— Blotious No Inn in Guzuratta Their expertness at the Bow They have some of Aristotle's and Avicenna's Works Their Language The Diseases of the Country Winter begins in June The Commerce of Guzuratta The manner of making Indico Saltpeter Borax Assa foetida Opium The Drugs of Guzuratta Their precious Stones Their Weights Their Measures Their Money Much counterfeit money in the Indies The fertility of Guzuratta Their way of baking bread No Oats in the Indies Their seed-time and harvest The Mogul is really possessed of the whole Country The Gardens Trees Their Horses Their Beef and Mutton Their Fowl Fish Their Ships Their trading to the Red-sea To the Persian Gulf. To Achim The Commerce of the Malabares in Guzuratta The Commerce of the Portaguez IANVARY 1639. Mandelslo leaves Surat Comes to Daman The way from Goa to Visiapour Ditcauly Danda. The Mountain of Balagatta Herenekassi Berouly Werserée Outor Berapour Matoura Calingra Worry Attrowad Badaraly Kerwes Skeokory Rajebag Getteuy Graeen two Cities Baâ—â—ouwâ— Oâ—ren and Isselampour Taffet Cassegam Calliar Galoure Winge Qualampour Domo Tamba Werad The City of Dabul describ'd Rasapour Venesars a people of Decam The money of Decam The weights The King of Decam tributary to the Mogul The History of Chauas-Chan He 〈…〉 Regent of the Kingdom Engages the State 〈◊〉 war The King implores the assistance of his Grandees against him He attempts the life of his Prince But is prevented And kill'd His Friends would revenge his death Chauas's ingratitude towards his Benefactor The Mogul concerns himself in Mustafa's Fortunes The King of Decam able to raise 200000. men His Artillery Bacim Rasiapour Come to Goa The English President visits the Viceroy The Jesuits of Goa treat him A feast at the professed house of the Jesuits Another Feast at the Jesuits Colledge The Sepulchro of Francis Xavier The Hospital of Goa The Monastery of the Augustines The Viceroy's Presents to the President Mande â—lo leaâ—â—es Goa Goa described Goa hath no wâ—ll 〈…〉 The Portuguez of Goa prâ—uder then any other Winter begins in June The Diseases of those parts The Women go abroad The jealousie of the Portuguez The Portuguez Souldiers Their Marriages and Christnings Their Slaves The Inhabitants of the Country and their houses The Decanins excellent Gravers c. Their women delivered wiâ—hout pain They live in perfect health to 100. years of age The Jews of Goa Their money Customes upon Forreign Commodities The Viceroy of Goa Mandelsâ—c continues his Voyage Monteleone The Malabars Zamoriâ— Emperour of Calicutâ— and Cananor The priviledges of the Nayres The writing of the Malabars The order of succession in Calicuth Cochim described The power of the King of Cochim A great Priviledge of the Bramans The Zamorin of Calicuth was sometime Emperour of the Malabars An Engagement with the Malabar Pirates Pass in sight of Cochim The Cope of Comory The Isle of Ceylon The ancient Taprobane It s desâ—ription When discovered by the Portuguez The History of Fimala Derma King of Candy Derma murthers his Father and three Brothers Fimala declares against the Portuguez Gives Battle The second Battle given The treachery of a Portuguez Renegado The Hollanders ill treated in the Isle of Zeilon The Kingdom of Candy The Inhabitants The Women Victuals cheap Their Religion Kings tributary to the Portuguez Mines of Gold and Silver The Maldives The Coast of Coromandel The Inhabitants on the Coast of Coromandel are Christians A History of Saint Thomas Saint Thomas the Apostle martyr'd at Edessa The Town of Meliapour Orixa Masulipatam and Golcanda Bengala The Inhabitants Their superstition Pegu. Crocodiles in the Moat The Palace Royal. The Guard The Kings Forces He makes war upon his Vncle king of Auva A just execution but too sevâ—â—â— A single Combat betwixt two Kings The Idols The Peguans Arms. They are Pagans Adore the Devil Their Feasts How the Kings Corps are burnt The Church-men A strange Souce Other peculiar Customs The third part of all real Estates falls to the King Merchandizes of Pegu Siam Menam a River Overflows as Nile doth Siam very populous India Its houses The King of Siam of a very ancient Family Is absolute His manneâ— of life Hath but one Wife A magnificent Precession Procession upon the River The Revenue His Expences Their punishments Manners of Iustification The Militiâ— of Siam Their Armeâ— Both the Kings of Siam and Pegu pretend to Soveraignty The King of Siam friend to the Hollanderâ— Elephant hunting A white Elephant The occasion of the war between the Kings of Pegu and Siam Raja Hapi King of Siam The King a Pagan A Hierarchy Vow Chastity but may quit the priesthood Beguins Their belief Lights in the Mosqueys Prayers for the dead The Siamedes invoke the Devil Are well shâ—pâ—d Their qualities Their habits Their houses Their marriages Education of Children The Traffick of the City of India The King a Merchant The money of Siam Mâ—ney of Shels The settlement of the Hollanders at Siam The Pallace Royal. The Lords of Cambodia The Portuguezâ—â—cluded â—â—cluded the Hollanders Malacca When discovered Patana Description of Patana Its Inhabitants Swallows nests The Air of Patana Mahumetans Johor The soyl fertile Sumatra The Riches Contains many Kingdoms King of Achim The Town of Achim The Inhabitants Religion Their Victuals The mournful day-tree Cocoes Ships made of it as also Sails Cables c. How they make Wine Paper of this Tree Bananas Pepper Java Inhabitant The King of Bantam A
the Wife who on her part is satisfied with this precedency knowing her Children who are only esteemed legitimate shall divide all leaving to the natural but a very small share The Estates of Persons of Quality are ordinarily divided into three parts one falls to the King one to the Ecclesiasticks they defraying the Funeral Charges which there are great and the third to the Children People of middle condition buy their Wives and consummate the Marriage after payment of the sum accorded on but have the same priviledge of Divorce as the others Their Children divide the inheritance equally except the eldest who hath some advantage Till they are five or six years of age they bring up their children with little care then they put them to the Ecclesiasticks to be taught to write and read and to be instructed in Religion during which time they see their children but very seldom but having learnt these first Rudiments they put them to a Trade or if they find them to be ingenious they continue them in their Studies to make them capable of the Priestly Function or fit for some imployments which among them are bestow'd according to merit and not sold for money Those who live in Cities subsist by Merchandize turn Courtiers or betake themselves to some Handy-craft or else become Fisher-men whereof there are very many along the Coast as there are also in those Cities which have the convenience of any River The Peasantry is very wretched living only on their labour employing themselves in dressing the Cocoes and in breeding Cattle and Poultry but Provisions are so exceeding cheap that they make very little advantage thereby In the City of India the principal Commerce consists in Stuffs brought from Suratta and the Coast of Coromandel all sorts of Chinese commodities precious Stones Gold Benjamin Wax Copper Lead Indico Calamba-wood Brasil-wood Cotton Saphires Rubies c. but above all Deer-skins whereof they furnish the Iaponeses with above fifty thousand every year It likewise yields a great trade of Rice which they transport to all the neighbouring Islands By reason of the abundance of these Commodities there is scarce a Nation throughout Asia that have not their Merchants in India besides the Portuguez and Hollanders who have some years since settled themselves in those parts The King himself likewise trades amongst them and for that purpose hath his Factors at Pegu at Auva at Iangoma at Lansiaugh upon the Coast of Coromandel and principally at China where he hath those priviledges which are not allowed to any other Prince The Money of this Country is very good by reason the King only hath power to stamp and so prevents variation of the value there are of it three sorts Ticals Mases and Foangs Two Foangs make a Mase and four Mases make a Tical worth about thirty Sols French money Four Ticals make a Tayl and twenty Tayls a Catly in Silver In Silver their least money is a Foang but they make use of a certain sort of Shells brought them from Manilles from Borneo and Lequeo whereof eight or nine hundred amount to a Foang without which they could not chaffer by reason Victuals are so cheap that a Man may buy more there for five of these Shells then in any part of Europe for a Farthing The Portuguez finding of what consequence the King of Siam's friendship is to them for supporting of their Trade with the Moluccas the Philipine Islands or Manilles have still a particular care to preserve a good correspondence by civilities from the Viccroys of Goa to the King at their arrival in the Indies and by Persons of Quality daily commission'd thither confirming themselves by this means so well in the Princes favour that he not only allows them to trade throughout his Dominions but imploys them in his most important Affairs permitted them to build a Church in his chief City and maintains one of their Priests at his own charge They enjoy'd all these priviledges till such time as the King of Siam began to favour the Hollanders whom he found less insolent and more sincere then the Portuguez who jealous of the affection of the King shewed to the Hollanders presently obstructed the Commerce the Siameses held at Saint Thomas and Negapatam and proceeded so far as at last in the year 1624. they set upon a Dutch Frigot upon the River Menam as we told you before whereat the King was so offended that the Bishop of Malacca having a Vicar Resident at India he forbad him to come to Court The Portuguez instead of making amends for this first fault in a conjucture when the Hollanders their profess'd enemies might have joyn'd with the King of Siam continued still to obstruct the Commerce of the Siameses in so much that the King perceiving their design was absolutely to destroy it was out of all patience and in the year 1631. stayed one of their Ships with all the Men but they finding means to make an escape contrary to their parole he put an Imbargo upon all the Portuguez Ships which were found in the Ports of Lygoar and Tanassary and put all the Men in prison out of which they were not set at liberty till two years after The Hollanders made their first establishment there at the beginning of his age though it is only since the year 1634. that they trade there with any profit they have made great advantages of the friendship of that King in order to the Commerce they have at Iava and Sumatra On the North-west side of the Kingdom of Siam lies that of Cambodia which on the other side hath nothing but the Sea The Metropolis from which it derives its name lies sixty Leagues from the Sea upon a pleasant River which rises out of a great Lake as do also all the other Rivers of the Kingdom But in that of Cambodia it is particularly observable that it overflows every year as the Nile doth and as doth also the River Menam in the Kingdom of Siam It begins to rise at the beginning of Iune and so rises by degrees to ten or twelve foot but in Iuly and August 't is not navigable for that it drowns the whole Country The City of Cambodia to prevent these Deluges is built upon an advantagious rising having but onely one street and is inhabited by Iaponeses Portuguez by Cochinchinez and Malayes The Portuguez carry Malacca-Stuffs thither and there load with Benjamin Lacque Wax Rice Brass Vessels and Bars of China Iron The King who is but a Vassal of the King of Siam's resides in the City of Cambodia in a Place fortified with a good Pallisado instead of a Wall where are some Pieces of China Artillery and about twenty four or twenty five pieces of Cannon which he recovered out of two Holland Ships wrack'd on that Coast all mounted on four-wheel'd-Carriages only painted blew except four which are mounted on ordinary Carriages varnish'd black with Ladles and other Utensils of