alwaies done with a submissive voice and at the end of every Sentence rehearses his Title JAOUA TJAUW PERRE BOEDE TJAUW JAOUA which by an Idiotism of our own is King of Kings and Lord of Lords His supreme Throne is of massive Gold made after the form of a Pyramid and so contrived that none can see him ascend On each side of the Throne stand several Statues and Creatures of monstrous shapes as is recorded of the Judgment-seat of Solomon which was guarded with Lions His Person is secured with a very noble Guard and well arm'd several Elephants alwaies ready in the inner court of the Pallace also for his Pleasure and Service upon occasion these are mounted with Trappings of rich Silk fimbriated and imbossed with Gold and precious Stones When he goes abroad to visit his Pagods and Religious Houses or to take his Divertisement which is ordinarily twice or thrice every year he is attended with an infinit Retinue of Grandees and Officers at Court as also all his Wives and Concubines which are very numerous all mounted upon Elephants When this Setting forth is not performed with a Cavalcade but by Water there are a certain number of Praws brought up close to the Pallace These are almost like a Barge but far greater having 20 or 30 Oars a piece with 5 men to an Oar without they are richly gilded and charged with Festons and Foliages on a diapered ground Others there are less noble and rich which serve only to transport the Soldatesque and aboard every Praw are several that play upon Wind Instruments and Drums which make a confused noyse Upon the hearing of this every one whether Citizen or Peasant Freeman or Slave Young or Old is injoyned to come forth and fall prostrate with all imaginable Reverence upon very severe Penalties according to the Quality and Discretion of the Party This Injunction is observed very strictly and certain Officers ordained â—o take notice of the Delinquents whose Rule is Arbitrary and Mesures sudden they are so correct in punishing such that few escape I my self having seen while I was there some two or three beheaded with a Scimitar only for being too remiss in doing Worship although in such as want Discretion or otherwise unable to perform the Ceremony through invalidity of Body or Mind the Offence is either dispenced with or expiated with some inconsiderable Forfeiture This Solemn Appearance happening so rarely and that with such Majestie creates great Loyalty and veneratioâ— in the heart of the Subjects for their Prince and surely the conclusioâ— and effect of every Maxim in Politic Affairs is the securest Index oâ— Distinction from a Contrary which almost all the Kingdoms anâ— Dominions of the East affoard an Example of and more notedly thâ— Sophy of Persia who when with a huge Retinue he makes a Cavâ—cade which might seem to be for no other end than to be seen noâ— dare presume to appear in the street upon pain of Death of whiâ— more hereafter Gold is here in such plenty that not only Plates Chargers Goâ—lets Bowls Basons Lavers and whatsoever els is usefull 〈◊〉 the Kings Table is all of solid Gold but also greater vessels in tâ— Kitchin which had I not seen them my self should have held incredible if the weight and greatness had truly been reportâ— But what is yet more the white Elephant with the rest whâ— are about 6 or 8 in Number kept within the Palace are serv'd Gold and Silver The Gallantry of the Court and the gorgeâ— attire of the Courtiers is unspeakeably rich And to be brief I should repeat the Maiesty of that Prince in Power and Commâ— The profuse Emulation of the Courtiers in Embroydery Jeâ— and other costly Ornaments and the Magnificent Structure of Palace and other stately Fabrics I should either prove too weak the performance of such a Province or hazard my reputation giving a Narrative of the Pomp which I have in reality beheld such as have not seen it who would in all probability be too tâ—rous to take things of that nature upon Credit This I shall oâ— add that rather than to be undeservedly tax'd with hyperbelizâ— Froth I 'le content my self with a recommendation thereoâ— other modest Gentlemen that have been there and published tâ— Journals for the public perusal of the Curious in general The present King of Siam has lived in great peace and â—â—quillity ever since he first sway'd the Scepter But in the timâ— the late King that nation has been deeply ingaged in fomâ— troubles Specially with Pegu Ava and Langjander partly out of the ambitious minds of those Princes and partly out of a sordid covetousness as of the king of Pegu who indeavoured to make himself Master of the white Elephant which he of Siam had but after the depopulation of the countreys and loss of many thousand Souls they made Peace upon strict Articles In the year 1648 the King of Ava with the assistance of a neighbouring Potentate invaded part of Siam and took in some open Villages and Towns of smaller note but the king of Siam coming to have notice of this sudden Expedition levies an Army of 200000 men or upwards marching himself at the head in Person and encamped about 2 English Miles from the Enemy where without either Battel or Skirmish they lay for 3 Moneths when the Enemy not finding himself able to continue longer in camp for want of Provision and Recruits of men was fain to break up and march homewards Those of Patany had sent Ten Thousand men all well disciplin'd and arm'd for Auxiliaries in the Service of the king of Siam but those arrived too late the King being just upon his March for Iudia where about 20 days after he was Solemnly fetch'd in by his Nobles with great Triumph and Joy as if he had obtained some notable Victory and certainly it was the most prudent course he could have taken to spare his own people by shunning the Blood-shed of so many innocent souls vanquishing the Hostility by the restraint of his Arms and in making himself formidable with the greatness of his Battalions There was also a Navy of Twenty Thousand Praws pressed for the behoof of the Army to transport the Baggage and Provision and besides the standing Militia and Voluntairs 52000 Citizens press'd for this Expedition whom the King allowed Rice for Victualling the rest they were to take care for themselves The Mandate was no sooner out but this Body was completed which gave occasion of wonder to some when they observed the readiness and obedience of those Pagans to their lawfull Soveraign The weapons used then for that Dispatch were mostly fire-arms and about 20 Pieces of Ordnance which were committed to the charge of 2 expert Gunners besides 5 Thousand Elephants and 2 Thousand Horse those that were mounted on Elephants were armed with Bows Arrows and Darts and the Cavalry with Fire-locks Scimatars and Bucklers which Armory is alwaies ready for use in
and each one according to his Office had a place allotted him to wit those that roasted and those that boiled baked fried stewed c. each by themselvs The Cauldrons were set fast in the Walls and the Water they used was brought som Miles by an Aqueduct and let in by Silver Cocks In this Kitchin is provided Victuals for more than a Thousand People one day with another to wit Priests Pilgrims and other Poor People which have here their Maintenance They eat three times a day at 6 in the Morning at 10 before and 3 in the afternoon The two first Meals were given by Schach Sephy and the last at the Charges of the present King Before the Meals do begin they beat 2 Kettle-drums which they say their great Prophet Mahomet made use of when he was in the Camp and were brought from Medina by Schach Sedredin They have not much variety in their Diet and use mostly Rice and Mutton which is distributed very liberally to all the Appendents who seldom com short but leav of their Commons Coming out of this famous Kitchin we went into a large Court where were interred 12 Persian Kings to wit 1 Schach Sephy the Son of Tzaybraïl 2 Sedredin the Son of Sephy 3 Tzinid the Son of Sedredin 4 Sultan Aider the Son of Tzinid Whose Skin the Turks dreâ— over his Head whilst alive 5 Schach Ayder the Second 6 Ismaël the Son of Aider 7 Tamas the Son of Ismaël 8 Ismaël the Second Son of Tamas 9 Muhamed Choddabende Brother of Ismaël 10 Ismaël Myrsa Sons of Choddabende 11 Hemse Myrsa Sons of Choddabende 12 Abas Sons of Choddabende This noble Mausoleum or Place of Sepulture was erected by a verâ— famous Architect of Medina with whom Schach Sedredin covenateâ— to build it The Persians say that he had the Model out of Heaveâ— Above the Door stand these words in their manner of Rhyminâ— which jingles better than in English Whosoever is of a pure Heart 〈◊〉 him enter in and pray to GOD so shall his Sins undoubtedly be pardoned The firâ— Part which the said Sedredin had built was very magnificent aâ— stately but that which was added to it by Tzinid appears far moâ— splendid both in regard of the curious Architecture in which Aâ— seems to sport and in the Conveniency and Prospect from afar The Revenues of this Sepulchre are very great what with tâ— large Gifts which were given by the famous Sedredin at the Inaugâ—ration thereof and what by the Ample Donations that have beâ— liberally bestowed by other Kings and Princes from time to time sinâ— it's first Foundation not only of the Persians themselvs but alâ— of Indians Tartars and others that are of the Sect of Aly which commonly don upon Sickness Expedition of War Dangeroâ— Journeys and the like upon which they make Vows to beautiâ— this Holy Structure with some signal Ornament or put somthiâ— into the Tresury There are also other Revenues accrewing to thâ— Place bequeathed by Testament as if it were Remitted by Bills 〈◊〉 Exchange to the Souls of the Departed for they reckon that suâ— Gifts will redound to the welfar of their Souls Nor do such Donâ—tions solely consist in Money but in Cattle Utensils Moveables anâ— Merchandise The Cattle so bestowed is committed to Herdsmâ— for that end imployed and improved except such as is fit for Slaugâ—ter other Things are sold and the Money thrown into the Tresuâ— The Pilgrims that Offer any thing here be it more or less have a Maniple of Consecrated Annise given them together with a Certificat that they have visited and offered at this Holy Place This Ticket or Schedule they call Syaretname which is kept and shown by the Party upon Occasion who is thereby capable to serve the King in certain Offices suitable to the Value of what he offered althô the Commissioners somtimes willing to favour any indigent Person have the Opportunity to raise their Fortunes by granting them such a Billet or setting a greater Value upon upon the Offering so that there is Cheating as well in those Sacred Functions as in Temporal Negotiations The fast Revenues of this Meschair that are settled in the Town of Ardevil is the Rent of 200 Dwelling Houses 9 Hamans or Hot-baths 8 Carawanseras the Maydan with all the Buildings and Shops round about as also the Kaysery or Exchange 100 Shops in the Basar The Toll and Impositions of all Merchandises whatever Of the 57 Villages that are within the Jurisdiction of Ardebil 33 accrew to this Sanctuary and 5 in the Province of Serab In the City Tabris it hath 100 Dwelling-Houses and the like number of the most eminent Shops in all the Town and 2 Villages within the Jurisdiction of the same In Caswin are several Carawanseras and Baths as also in Kilan Astrarath and Mokan besides many other Revenues that are settled upon it in divers Provinces which could I have given an account of would fall too taedious and tire the Patience of my Reader so that it 's probable that this incredible Treasure which from time to time is accumulated upon this reputed Sanctuary must needs exceed the Royal Tresury it self and has alwaies more ready Money gathered so from a superstitious Zeal than the King is able to levy and paralel with all the Impositions within his Realm and Dominions Besides this famous and most pompous Royal Sepulchre Ardebil flourishes mainly in Traffic and Merchandise for hither throng all the Traders of Gistan Georgia Kurdistan and other Countreys Besides the Profit that the Citizens do receive from the continual concourse of strangers and Pilgrims from Places both near and remote It is also a great Thorow-fare from the Northern Regions to â—spaban and receivs a considerable Benefit of Caravans and Passengers who commonly stay here som time Twice a week is their Market at what time abundance of Pesants com to Town using Oxen and Kine instead of Sumpter-horses to carry their Goods Lastly this City is very famous in regard of its Antiquity being in times past the Royal Seat of Persia as it was before the Warrs of Alexander of Macedonia who had here his Residence as they averr and prove by many undeniable Tokens besides the Language of their Records which if we may take upon Credit as why not do sufficiently testifie it CHAP. XXIX The Author taken for a Persian which gave him occasion to see all that was worthy of remark The Caravan leavs Ardebil and goes over the famous Mountain Taurus The Head of the River Kisiloseyn Bad and uneasy Travelling by reason of steep Rocks Peril of Robbers Arrival at Sultanie Keydar Pey-Amber a wonderfull high Mountain Sultanie it 's Situation and by whom built Emarath the Noble Palace of King Choddahende The Temple of Schach Ismaël The present decaying State of â—ultany The Author shorn and habituated after the Persian Manner Pleasant Dales and Valleys Arrival at Casâ—in The Situation of that Place The Court of Schach Tamas The Place of
me from whence I came I told them from Surwan Scamachy but that being a place they had never heard of in their lives asked me further if that were as far as Ispahan I told them it was more than twice as far at which they greatly wondred thinking that I must needs com from the utmost bounds of the World these being a poor ignorant People and never travail farther than their Market Town which is a little Grange in the Valley and never heard tell of any Countrey than their own in short they would have had me to stay longer with them but my Time was too precious to spend in answering all they would have asked me At night we came to the City Laar where we took up our Resting place in the Dutch Lodge where we found very good Convenience and only an old Man and a Woman to look to the House and assist the Caravans who were set there by the Company Here I got the Chests and Cases repaired that were broken and endamaged by the often falling of the Camels thrô the rocky way Laar or Lar is a pretty big Town but has no Walls to resist or endure a strong siege save only such as are made of Bricks that are dry'd in the Sun but is reasonably strong in respect of its Scituation as well as for the Fort or Castle which is built upon a Hill on the North-side the Walls thereof are of solid stone and the Fort it self so seated that it can command the whole Town having one narrow Passage to enter it which is very steep it is supplyed with several pieces of great Ordnance which the King sent hither from Ormus when by the help of the English he took that City in About Laar grow abundance of Date-trees but no Wine and by reason that they have no Commerce or Traffic abroad but poor must supply themselvs with Water which as well as the Air here about is very unwholsom insomuch that many times Strangers who are to make use of it for want of Wine fall sick and are tormented with a small Worm but long which breeds between the Skin and the Flesh and cannot be taken out without great pain They show'd me one that was above 5 Foot long and not so thick as an ordinary Goos-quill The Inhabitants of Laar are very free and sociable to converse withall and great Lovers of Sciences and Learning Not far from the Castle is a certain Rock out of which issues a very precious Balsem called by the Persians Mummay Kobas This Balsem or Oil is gathered only in the Moneth of June about which time it runs stillatim or drop by drop out at a Vein The said Rock from whence it coms is continually guarded with a strict Watch by Order of the King and none is suffered to touch it upon pain of Death This Oil is reckoned and well known by experience to be the greatest Antidot against Poyson in the World althô never so strong and is therefore held by the King as an inestimable Tresure and never suffered to be exported out of his Dominions The King also willing to show any of his Subordinat Princes and Deputies an extraordinary and high Favour always sends them a few drops thereof to make it the greater in esteem and value and with one injoyns them not to send it out of the Kingdom upon pain of his displesure Without Laar are erected several Pillars for Monuments of the Execution of several Robbers who had made the high Ways unfree to Travel Half of their Bodies are set up on these Pillars and the other half buried in the Ground being cut asunder whilst they are still alive Having tarried here 3 Nights and 2 Days we set forward on the 22 and had very bad and rocky way We saw here great Flocks of wild Swine whereof our Company shot 2 with their Hand-guns but durst not fetch them for fear of the Persians that threatned to leav us if we did for they loath them more than Toads We also shot several Eagles which notwithstanding they prey upon the Pigs the Persians fed heartily upon them This day we travailed 7 Dutch Miles which we thought more than a diëta rationabilis or an ordinary Stage in regard of the badness of Way and Weather and at night had a good Carawansera On the 23 we broke up and passed by a fair Town called Pharate which we left on the right hand The said Town was pleasantly seated in the middest of a Grove of Date-Orange-and Lemmon Trees By the way we met with a Party of Robbers who furiously set upon us but finding themselves too weak betook themselvs to flight leaving 7 Dead behind them We also lost 2 Men of our Company that were outright killed in this Bickering and had six wounded The Dead we buried near the Way and bound up the wounded At night we came to a small Village called Sarap where we took up our nights rest having that day advanced 6 Miles On the 24 we set forward again and at night came to a great Village which we took up for our Stage having a fair and spacious Carawansera in it We had no sooner disburthened the Camels but had 50 or 60 Women who came and proffered us Milk to sell and were so importunat and troublesom that we could not get rid of 'em till we set the Doggs upon them These went all with their Face uncovered which I had not seen any Honest Women in all Persia do except in one Village between Scamachy and Ispahan This day we had furthered our Journey by 7 Miles On the 25 we had a great and wearisom Mountain to travail over at the Foot whereof was a River which we were forced to wade thrô by reason that the stone-bridge which had formerly lain over it was broken down After we had travailed 5 Dutch Miles we took up ou◠nights rest in a Carawansera But we could here get no manner of Refreshment the Countrey round about being dry and barren producing nothing but Date-trees that we could see On the 26 towards night we came to a Grange of Fisher-men of whom we bought a few for our use We were no sooner set down but came Monsr Kasenbroot with his Slaves riding into the Town being sent for from Ispahan to Suratte The night being very still we could easily hear the rushing of the main Ocean That day we had travailed 7 Miles On the 27 we went onwards and about Noon came to a Carawansera which lay close to the shore and could see Ships a sailing which filled me with a more than ordinary Joy not having seen such a comfortable sight in a long time Hence we saw Gammeron and could distinctly discern the English and Dutch Flaggs fly abroad that were planted upon the Lodges However we thought good to tarry there that night having only advanced 4 Dutch Miles that we might enter Gammeron the fore part of the Day On the 28 for the
detect his Companions which he manfully endures They are brought before the Osmyn and chained Pag. 206. CHAP. XVIII The Captivs take their leavs of each other The great Orchard near Tzurbag Their Arrival at Urwan Situation of Mount Ararat An accidental meeting with some Carmelite Friars The Author insisted upon to undertake a Cure of a Rupture which with much perswasion he promises to do His ascent up the Mountain Ararat to the Hermites Cell who was his Patient which he performs in 5 days time He undertakes and cures the Rupture The Copy of an Attestation given him by the said Hermite in barbarous Latin His return down Pag. 212. CHAP. XIX The Author put in Chains again He is insisted upon to renounce the Christian Faith and become Mahometan Divers means to that end put in practise by way of Trial. The great gain of warm Baths The Author taken out of Chains He is sold to a Persian The Situation of the Caspian Sea Great Whirlpools in the Bay of Gilan A discourse about the Silk-trade A further Description of the Caspian Sea c. Pag. 218. CHAP. XX. A Description of Derbent it's Walls The Sultans Court. Very old Ruins Divers Watch-towers Multiplicity of Sepulchrets without Derbent Their Slave-market The Author sold again His Patron married with a Polish Woman and runs into Danger of his Life The Intention of his Patroness in running away from her Husband and taking the Author with her Two of Mr. Struys's Companions come to Derbent How they made their escape from the Tartars The great Inclination of the Sultan of Derbent to the Hollanders A Device put in practise to set one of the Authors Companions at Liberty The Prince takes the Wife of Brak for his own Brak makes his escape Pag. 225. CHAP. XXI The great difficulty of getting Wood without Derbent The Author and his company assailed by Robbers two several times The kind nature of his Patron They travel to Scamachy The Hill Barmach The Pit of Naphta Arrival at Scamachy A Description of that City A great Earthquake at Scamachy Abundance of men misfortunatly killed The Author meets with 2 Franciscan Friars A rehearsal of some part of their Discourse their Zeal to get him out of the Service of a Mahometan Advice given him by his Patron He comes first into the Service of the Polish Ambassadour Pag. 235. CHAP. XXII The Hatred and Churlishness of the Ambassadour against the Polish Gentry A Polish Gentleman murthered in his bed The pitiful case and condition of the Polanders who were in the Retinue of the Legate The Ambassadours Greediness He indeavours to turn Mahometan The Authors intention to make his escape Captain Butler and others of his old acquaintance come to Scamachi where they do what they can for the Captivs The Ambassadors Brother goes for Ispahan where he desires to be admitted as a Mahometan but is not received William the Masters Mate of the Ship Eagle comes to Scamachi A great Earth-quake Consecration of Water among the Armenian Christians A great concourse of People and remarkable Ceremonies CHAP. XXIII The Ambassadours Sister goes to Tafflis and with her the Polish Chirurgeon The Corps of an Indian burn'd with a Christian she-slave The Woman having taken in a Potion to provoke sleep is also cast into the furnace Two Men murthered at Scamachi and a tumult thereupon Strange Geremonies about the Dead The Chans son is presented with a Kolotan or Robe of Favour and one of the Kings Wives A man struck dead with staves A fearful Earth-quake The Chan also receives a Robe of Favour and a Wife Pompous Solemnities at the delivery of the same He receives the Princess New Tidings from Russia The Ambassador commanded by the King of Persia to return for Poland but makes his excuse The miserable Estate of the Polish Gentry Theft committed in the Ambassadors Palace A man tortured that was innocent The Polish Chirurgeon fortunatly married at Tafflis Another Corps of an Indian burned with a living Woman The great kindness of Hadsy Biram to the Author His bad entertainment with the Ambassador Pag. 249. CHAP. XXIV The manner of Celebrating New years day among the Persians Advice from Boynak from Derbent Fire-balls fall from the Sky Five Hundred beautiful Damosels sought up for the Scach or Sophy of Persia A quaint mean by which a Merchant saves his Daughter The Author writes to Smarna A Chieftain of the Cosaks brought into Scamachy and is compelled to carry 3 of his Companions Heads in a Bag to Ispahan where he is upon promise of detecting somthing of weight set at Liberty A Persian murthered by a drunken Georgian The murtherer executed by the Brother of the murthered Party A horrible Self-murther committed by several Persons at a Wedding A great Feast celebrated in memory of Hosseyn the 3 d Son of Ali. A terrible Earth-quake The Chans Son dies and is interred Pag. 257. CHAP. XXV News from Astrachan A Woman and Adulteress taken in the Fact A Young Gentleman caned to death by Order of the Prince and Complaint of his Father Another put to the same death One of the Authors Companions goes for Ispahan Hail-stones as big as Eggs. The Author and a Venetian entertained in an Armenian Monastery A Woman taken in Adultery for which she is surrendred up to the Will and Power of her Husband who fleas her alive nails up her Skin upon the Wall and throws her Carcase out into the street The great Jealousie of the Persians The male Children about the Court gelded The great Slave-market at Scamachy The unnatural custom of the Georgians The Ambassadour receives a Charge to depart Pag. 267. CHAP. XXVI A dreadfull Tempest Great Balls of Fire fall upon the Earth A most fearful Deluge whereby Houses Men and abundance of Cattel are carried away The Chan receivs another Robe of Favour The Offerings of the Banjans for the Fowl and Fish The Religious Exercise of the Persian Women The Author's Discourse with the Chan. The Author meets with one of the Tartars who had made him Slave He gets out of the service of the Polish Ambassador The great Bounty and kindness of his Patron Hadzi Biram and of Altine his Patroness One of his Company made free Pag. 273. CHAP. XXVII Their departure out of Scamachi The Countrey about Kasily described and the manner of living of the Inhabitants A Description of the River Araxex The Heath of Mokan whither all the Banditti and Mutinous Persons have recourse Abundance of Tortoises near Balharu The Poverty yet contented Life of the People and Inhabitants there about The Author set upon by Robbers The Carravan Assailed and Plundered A famous stone Bridge The sepulchre of Zeyde Tzeybrail Arrival at Ardebil The Situation of that Town The bitter Cold. Great and raging Whirl-winds Extraordinary good Wheat The great Toll and Duty paid for Sheep Seven and Fifty Towns within the Jurisdiction of Ardebil A Description of the City of it's Streets and of the Street of Strumpets
foot broad were erected several stages for the Mandorins of a meaner rank These at the passing by of the Herse threw Oranges among the common people in some of which were Ficols and Mases this occasioned such a throng of People that several lay under foot and 7 Persons trodden to death When they were come to the Altar the Corps was taken down by the Mandorins with Waits and Wind-Music which made a melancholic noise and was carried with great Solemnity to the Altar where it was set down and laid round with aromatic Woods and Drugs amongst which was poured many sorts of perfumes and odorous balsams When this was done the Princes of the blood and the Mandorins returned to the Kings Palace but the Ladies were injoyned by the Emperour to remain at the Altar and bewail the Dead for two days longer at which time the Bodie was to be burned and accordingly they stay'd there till the time was expired striving who could manifest the most sorrow hoping so to obtain the greater favour from the Emperour But the greatest folly I could observe among them was that when any of them could not dissemble or let down tears they were whipped with thongs by some persons thereto appointed till they wept indeed and this was duly executed without having regard to their Persons Near those Towers was erected a stage covered with thick gilded paper whereupon sate the Chief of the Bonzi and a litle lower sat the Priests of a lower degree and rank of which there was a great number these like those under the Hierarchy of Rome were imployed to pour forth praiers for the Soul of the Deceased Which when they had done by order of the King there were several Gifts sent them which for the most part consisted in Apparrel House-furniture and mechanical Implements of every sort At the going down of the Sun there were several Fire-works play'd off which issued out of Twenty Turrets covered with gilded paper All these preparations besides what was that day given to the Bonzi and distributed among the poor according to the relation given to the Heer van Muyden by the Kings Agent amounted to 5000 Catti of Siam Silver which is about 66000 pound Sterl besides the Images that were bestowed on the chief Temple whereof two were of Gold about 4 foot high which also amounted to a great sum for what Gold Jewels or other Gifts were in her life time presented her by the King or Mandorins were expended upon these exequial Rites CHAP. IX The Body of the Princess burnt A remarkable token whereby it was concluded that she was poysoned The Kings fury against all the Domestics of the Princess who are committed to custody The cruel Punishment of the suspected Parties A strange waâ— to find out the guilty Elephants used as Executioners Fifty men and Women executed in one day some by Elephants others buried in the Earth to the Head where they are suffered to starve A Young Lady with her Brother taken and dispatched Their Candour and free resolvedness to die TWo days after the Corps were brought forth the King went himself in person and gave fire to the wood with a Torch which was done with great Solemnity and Music of all sorts that all the time play'd very dolefull Airs The Chest of Gold together with all the Costly Ornaments wherewith she was attired when she lay in state were burn'd with the Corps and reduced to dust We may not ommit to relate a very remarkable passage which happened about these Exequies for when the King went to gather up the Ashes which were to be put in a golden Urn he found a piece of Flesh about the bulk of a Young childs head fresh and unconsumed This seeing he was mainly altered and turning about to one of the Magi who stood at his left hand Asked him What his opinion was and What might be the reason that this gobbet of flesh remained unburn'd The Sage judging it to be done by some Enchantment durst not declare his opinion about it but to satisfy the King replied That his Majesty could not but be sensible of the Cause since nothing could ly occult from his searching Wisdom the more in regard it was a thing so palpable and open The King by the Saying of this Parasite concluded with himself that she had been poysoned cries out with great raging At length I have discovered the certainty of what I ever had in suspicion My Daughter is without doubt poysoned Upon that in great discontent he went into his Mourning appartment whence he issued an Order for the sudden Apprehension of all the Ladies that attended the Princess in her Life time who were in obedience to his Royal Will immediately secured On the day following divers others of the greatest rank were siezed and committed to Custody who were wont to converse with the Princess although they had not been in her presence for the space of a whole year Shortly after it was my fortune to be Spectator to such a cruel Tragedy as ever I have seen elsewhere The King being now possessed wthi Jealousy and suspecting several to be factious in the matter yet could not find out any certainty in the thing he therefore to sift it out who â—hose should be that were concerned in the deed practised this cruel Stratagem and impious way of Trial. The king sent a Messenger to â—ummon up some of the chief Nobility in the land to Court where being come to give attendance were shut up in Prison till the Prison would not hold any more so that he was fain to find a new place where to committ those unhappy Gentlemen When the principal Officers and Courtiers were taken into Security The king not contented so â—ent also for their Wives and several Young Ladies who were known â—o be familiar with the Princess some time before her death these were part that they might not have the benefit of Communication â—lso secured in a place When the Emperour had as many Persons in Custody as he or others that advised him suspected he gave order to â—ake several Pitts in the ground about 20 foot square one near another which the Soldiers were commanded to fill with Charcoal kindle and â—low it up with long Fans such as the Slaves in Siam do fan their Lords â—nd Ladies with When all was performed according to the Comâ—andment of the king they brought forth some of those Personages that were impeached with their hands tied behind their backs bâ— all the time guarded with a Body of Soldiers and being come toâ— place they stript them naked and put their feet in warm Water make them tender after that the Soldiers paired of the skin vâ—razours Afterwards they were brought before certain Officers â—minated by the King as Examinators for that day and were assistâ— by the chief of the Bonzi who insisted upon them to confess the Faâ— but upon their stedfast denial had the Rigoloza pronounced agaiâ— them
had several times attempted to run away but was ever taken and had neither Nose nor Ears left him This woful Praecedent daunted me so that I had no great stomach to try but one day above the rest he gave me good encouragement saying Prethee Brother Which is best To live in perpetual Slavery or Doe what you can to make your Escape Put the case it should be fruitless and we should be taken I shall be sure to have the hardest measure but you only a hundred stroaks on the foot at worst 'T is true they have threatned to burn me if ever I run away again and am caught but I will rather dy so than to live all my days under the lash of those unreasonable Hell-Hounds and to be tormented with a Thousand Plagues after the manner you see Come come resolve Faint heart never won fair Lady and Nothing venture nothing have What is there in the VVorld that may be praeferred before a Golden Freedom By these and many other reasons he moved me to hazard to matter The Moscovian or Russ who was a subtile Impostor and had an excellent hand at any kind of Roguery had been some time before at Constantinople where he had bought a File this he had stitch'd up in his Coat and carried always a litle Tinder-box and a Watch-light about him to use in time of occasion Having now for the space of 6 Weeks endured this wofull state we found an Opportunity to rid our selvs of that miserable Slavery for being now left to our Liberty to fetch Water for our selves my Camrade and I that were chain'd together went farther within Land than we needed and so returned honestly back to the Galley and that for 2 or 3 times together the better to prevent suspicion till at last we ran so far out of sight that we thought our Enterprize half won The night coming on it began to rain and we to shelter our selvs crept into a cave where my Mate struck fire and lighted his Wax-candle that we might see to file and after a litle labour got our selves loose The night in regard it was dark favour'd us mainly so that we came to the strand an hour before break of Day which we saw full of Tents But being a very rainy night and stormy weather the Sentinels did not attend their Posts so that we passed through the middest of them without any examination and betook our selves to swimming before it was observ'd But it was not long before they began to suspect something or other for that Water is very salt and has this property that with the lest motion or troubling it burns like fire Hereupon they shot at us by guess and random with the Long-bow for by reason of the Rain they could not use their Fire-arms so that the Arrows came pelting about our ears and sometimes grazing upon the Water till at last one hit the Russ directly upon the buttock However he swom so long with it till we were out of shot but when I would have pulled it out the poor caitiff began to yell out most miserably crying Let alone let alone 't is an Arrow with a wicker And thus he was fain to swim for two Leagues together before we came to the Venetian Armade and had the stream heavy on our side When we came to the Armade we were taken into the Ship Abrahams Offering where the Russ had the Arrow drawn out of his buttock which had pierced him to the very bone and put him to a miserable torture before it was drawn out being a Harpoon with 8 wickers However he was by the diligence of an able Chirurgeon in a short time cured of his Wound and we thanked God for his delivery of us from the hands of those merciless Tyrants preserving us through the dangerous floods and bringing us to a Christian People CHAP. IV. The fugitive Slaves brought before the General The manner of their Encouraging their Men. Number of the Venetian Ships and Galleys Names of the Commanders and Chieftains The Malteezes joyn with the Armade The Turkish Fleet sail up endeavour to break through are hindred by the Malteezes The Turks throw up two Batteries A dreadfull Engagement and playing off the Cannon for three days together The Turks begin to settle The Stability and valour of the Venetians The Turks loose their Courage ON the 24 of Iune by break of day we got the Armade in manner as aforesaid and about 8 a clock I was brought before the General to whom I signified what had passed as to my particular concernment and gave him what Intelligence I could from the Turkish Fleet who intended that day to fall down had already reckoned the day their own and made a Dividend among themselves of the Ships Spoil and Slaves for which reason the Officers were very eager and indeavored to hasten the Expedition The General received me kindly thanked me for the Information ordered us each 50 Crowns and so dismissed us So soon as we were come out of the Generals presence he ordered a Proclamation to be proclaimed and affixed to the Mast of every Ship and Galley That every privat person should freely enjoy what they could get by plundering and a strict Interdiction was sent to the respective Officers not to deprive or molest them upon pain of Death which was no small incouragement to the Marriners and privat Soldiery At first the Venetians were very weak but afterward by the joyning of the Maltheezes and some Dutch they were increas'd to 28 Ships of War 24 Galleys and 7 Galeasses Their Officers were as follow Of the Head-Officers and Commanders in the Venetian Armade as they were ingaged against the Turks Anno 1656 Lorenzo Marcello GENERAL Barbaro Badoer PROVEDITOR of the ARMADE Joseppo Morosini ADMIRAL of the GALEASSES Antonio Barbaro Captain of the Gulf. Zuanni Marcello LIEUTENANT GENERAL and Captain of a Galeass The Heads or Prime Officers of the Galeasses were Alvise Foscari Anthonio Priuli Marco Riva Alvise Bataglia and Giacomo Loredan Captains of Galleys Pietro Contarini ADMIRAL M. Antonio Pasquaglio Pietro Quirini Giacomo Semiticolo Nicholo Muazzo Dionisio Disani Zorzi di Mezo Zuanni Venier Francesco Vizzaemano Nicholo Colergi Aurelio Longo Alviso Basso Giacomo Polani Francisco di Mezo Pietro Barozzi Zorzi Mengano Angelo Muazzo Alessandro Dondolo Thomaso Fradello Z. Giacomo Quirini Herolamo Pesaro Alvize Soscarini Guglielmo Avogrado Of the Ships of Warr the Head-Officers were Marco Bembo ADMIRAL Zuanni Contarini VICE-ADMIRAL Gerolamo Malepiero RERE-ADMIRAL Captains of Men of War Z. Andora Bragadina Barnardo Bragadino Nicolo Dona. Agostino Marcello Vincenzo Quirini Gerolamo Loredano Marco Barberigo Nicolo Zane Zuanni Corner Faustino Riva Zorzi Zancarat Francesco Basadono Francesco Pisani Bernardin Vizzamano Voluntiers without Pay Francesco Quirini Voluntiers without Pay Alessandro Zane Great Personages and Voluntiers The Prince of Parma Zuanni Anthonio Muazzo a youth of 13 Years Andrea Muazzo aged 12 Years Dominico Anthonio Semiticolo Marco Zorzi Pietro
Candia about 13 Leagues distant insomuch that the Italians say Congo is a good Corps du guarde and a Lanthorn for the Christians to enter the Archipelago On the south-east side is a strong Fort built upon a proclive Rock and has but one way to enter it The nether-City is populous enough and the Inhabitants very diligent in their respective callings Here they show'd us the Foundations and Ruins of a famous Temple dedicate to the Goddes Venus in the times of Gentilism The Land is very hilly but the Valleys rich and fertile having one Well of very good Water The Inhabitants are chiefly Greeks except the Garrisons and the Governour who is always a Venetian Nobleman From Cerigo we set sail for Candia the renowned City of Crete which now is also called Candia The Island lies about 47 degr Northerly latitude and is about 200 English land-miles in length lying almost East and West It has many Creeks and abundance of fair Cities of which the most noted are Candia Canea Retimo Sitio Apicormo Chysamo Melipotamo Garahuse besides a great number of unwalled Towns which they say amount to 650 all the inferior Villages and smaller Granges excluded out of the number The whole Island has been heretofore under subjection of the Venetians but at that time when I was there the Turks were Masters of all except the City Candia it self which was then under the Venetians and a few strong Holds as appendences on the Town which they held as is universally known for a considerable time together against the Ottoman Forces The Fortifications have been and are frequently altered according to the Discretion of the respective Governours and is from the very first Foundation famous for it's admirable rare Site and natural strength It lies in a fair flat Countrey the East and North Angles fronting the Sea Upon that Angle which lies to the northward was an impregnable Fort or Castle which had not only all the Fortifications that could be thought usefull or any way advantageous for the Town but also the Sea for a further strength which encompassed it as a Mote The same Castle has not only the Command of the Haven but also the Sea on both the right and left side Between this Castle and the City was a Wall of 20 foot broad on which the Soldiers marched from the one to the other Besides this the Town was munited with divers Ramparts Bulwarks and other Fortifications without that it seemed to me at that time and since the greatest folly in the World for the Turks to spend so much Treasure and loose so many of their best Soldiery in such a long Siege and so little hopes or encouragement of taking it in although at last they are become Masters of it The Citizens are Greeks as are most of the Inhabitants throughout the whole Island but the Garrisons and Gentry Venetians besides a great Concurrency of Strangers from all parts of the Levant which make the City very populous The most eminent Buildings are the Pallace of the General that of the Bishop which for its Antiquity and magnificent work is well worth seeing the Pallaces of several Noblemen and the Churches which are 8 in number to wit St Mark St Francis St Paul St George St Mary St Catharine St Rochus and St Titus amongst which the first is the Cathedral The Greeks have also their Churches but those so mean that the best which is allowed them is much inferior to the poorest of those which the Romans reserve for their own use Besides these there is not much in the City worth Observation As to the long Siege and Storming of this City 't were needless for me to give you any account since it has been from the very beginning traced along and fully written by others The Air of Candia is temperate enough but on that side facing Affrica is something hot and rendred unwholsom by southerly Winds for which reason most of the Towns are built on that side of the Island which lies next to the Archipelago The Soil is exceeding good and all kinds of Grain and Pulse take kindly well insomuch that sometimes one piece of ground affoards two Crops in one year Yet the Inhabitants are more inclinable to the planting and cherishing of the Vine which they cultivate with all imaginable diligence that being far more profitable than the propagation of Grain and other Husbandry their Malmsey Red and white Wines being exported every where and reputed the best that Earth can produce But they have two sorts of Malevaise or Malmsey differing greatly both in tast and quality the better sort is that which grows about Retimo that they boil so soon as the Grape is ripe and are very curious in the preparation and ordering of it but that about Candia and Canea but ordinary for there they let the Grapes be rath ripe before they pluck ' em and therefore boil them not but the Wine that comes from them has a kind of slimy matter in it of which it is not to be purified Here I have seen the Wine-stocks grow thicker than any where else which is a great Argument of the excellent Soil with which this Island is blessed and besides that the vast bigness of the Bunches weighing mostly 8 or 10 pound a piece and those so delicate that after I had once tasted of these could not for some years after so much as tast the Spanish And not only Grapes but also every other fruit the Land affoards is passing good and delicate insomuch that not only the Turkish Emperour but all the Princes and Potentates near this Island have their Fruits from hence for Table use and Banquet Whole Groves and Woods I have seen several Leagues in compass having little or nothing but Trees bearing the best kinds of Fruit as Citrons Pomegranates Oranges Apricocks Figs Almonds Olives and many sorts of Apples Pears and Nuts Cypress wood is in this noble Island in greater plenty than in Cypres it self which they do not only use for Timber which gives a very amiable smell but also for Fewel The Common pasturage which the Inhabitants neither use for Grain nor the Vine is all grown over with Rosemary Thyme Camomile Abroton or Southern Wood and other Herbs which the Apothecaries use Nay the very Weeds which with us have no sent affoard here a most amiable flavour for which Candia is often called an Earthly Paradise All kind of Cattel like well especially Sheep and Goats which run together in incredible Flocks Hares Coneys Heath-hens and Partridges abound here The Woods and Hills are stored with 3 or 4 sorts of Deer and the Rivers with Fish The Honey which Candy affoards is preferred before all other in the World and that by reason of the abundance of Thyme and other choice Herbs as also the various Blossoms of Pomgranats Citrons Oranges c. and consequently Wax is a great Commodity amongst them The
or ornament The Town it self gives a noble Prospect if you view it from without by reason of the many Parish-Churches and Towers it has but when you come within it appears very ugly the streets are irregular without Uniformity and the Houses built after multifarious manners so that the poorest Village in the Low-Countreys is a Paradice in comparison of Pletskou 'T is true they have some Houses of stone but the most eminent and wealthy Citizens chuse rather to live in Wooden-Houses than in those for that they say The latter are more wholsom Here I happened to meet with a Hamburger and after we had exchanged a few words together concerning our journey from Riga I told him of my rouzing the Bear He replyed that I was happy to make my escape so since not only men are sometimes devoured by them but also Horses and Kine and withal told me how that they dig up the Graves for the Bodies of the Dead when they are hungry But more lamentable was a story he told me of a She-Bear that in the year 1656. broke by night into a House in the Country not far from thence where she had found the Woman of the house with a sucking Infant in the bed with her The woman she devoured leaving only a part of her left leg and a litle of the Scalp but the Infant was altogether mist whence it was concluded that the Bear had eaten it up as being young and consequently more delicate Not long after this dismal hap the Peasant took his Musquet with him into the Woods not far from his House with intent to shoot an Otter which haunted his Fish-pond and by the way espies a Bear at which he levels his Musquet and hits him directly on the skull The Bear as the custom is when shot rolls himself in a heap the Peasant runs to her and finding it a Female and her Duggs full of Milk resolves the next day to make search for her Seat for then he thought that her VVhelps would be hungry and yell out The day following he went out to seek the Cave taking 2 or 3 other Peasants with him who being about the Middle of the VVood on the side of a hill heard a young child cry and following the direction of the sound found his own Infant in the cleft of a great Rock which he took and brought to Pletskou to be nurs'd up by his VVives Sister where out of curiosity I went to see it In the Suburbs of Pletskou was to be seen a shank-bone of a Giant 5 foot long which together with the whole Skeleton was found in a Tomb of stone by the Boors when they were digging up the roots of Trees that they had burn'd up On the 26 th it began to freeze hard and afterwards to snow which made us uneasy for our delay being constrained to wait here so long till we received the Poddowodda which is an Order given by his Imperial Majesty that every Town we came at should furnish us with Horses Wagons Bedding and defray our other Charges On the 28 towards night came an Express from Moscou and the next day we set forward intending first for Novogorod This part of our Journey was much more easy and delightfull than that through Lifeland which was altogether desert and Marshy this on the contrary inhabited and till'd On the 31 th we came at a great Lake before Novogorod where we left the Sledges and were fetch'd over in a kind of a Cymb or Boat which is made of a hollow tree and by them called Knoos of these they had two sorts the one for Passengers who may sit 4 or 5 at a time the other broader and every way larger fit to transport Goods This Lake is very broad but shallow not having above 5 foot Water in most places When we were set over our Goods were put into Sledges and brought after us into the Town In passing through the Town we found the Suburbs far greater than the City it self which as appears by the Ruins of the Walls has been formerly a well fortified Place In times past it was neither subject to the Russian Swede nor Polander but had a Prince who coined Money and ruled as absolute Soveraign with an independent and arbitrary Power Yea to so high a state was it once advanced that it was grown to a Proverb GOD and Novogorod who is able to withstand Their Puissance I need not dispute since it is well known to those that are acquainted with Geography what Sway the Princes of Novogorod have born and what a name this City has had abroad for her Wealthy Merchants and great commerce with other Places About the year 1477 it was besieged and storm'd by Ivan Vasilowitz Great Duke of Moscovia who took away all the Priviledges and Immunities of the Citizens since which time their Wealth and Traffic began to decline and decay However by reason of it's commodious Situation it retains the footsteps of its former Trade and is especially frequented by Swedes Danes Hamburgers and Lubeckers who come up the River Nerva with their small Shipping The chief Commodities they deal in are Wheat Ry Lin-and Rapeseed Furrs Hemp and Flax. The Countrey is blessed with a good Soil and produces sufficiently enough of what is requisite to human sustenance which is here very cheap This is reckoned the best place in all Moscovia for River-fish especially Pikes and Perch Salmon they have in great abundance as also Carp Bream and Sturgeon with other kinds not commonly found in the Low-Countreys Novogorod which is as much as to say New-town or Newton being compounded of the Latin word Novus and the substantive Gorod in the Moscovian Tongue a City is at this present strengthned only with a Wall of Timber but well provided with Ammunition and Brass Ordnance On the one side is a strong Castle with a high stone-wall which as then was the Residing place of the Primate or Arch-bishop of the West-Province and some other Temporal Lords The greatest Decorum and Ornament of this City is the Pomp and stateliness of the Churches and some Public Edifices as at Pletskou but the Houses and Private Dwellings of the Inhabitants without any Order or neatness of Structure Between the Castle and the Town is a long wooden Bridge where the beforenamcd Ivan Basilowitz a great Tyrant threw in some Thousands of the Inhabitants When you enter the Town by that way you come within view of a famous Cloyster dedicate to Saint Anthony which Saint they beleeve and will perswade you came driving on from Rome out at the Tyber through the Aegean Sea the Propontis the Negropont the Mare Caspium and so up the Wolga to Novogorod upon a Milstone where he met with a company of Fishers with whom he covenanted for a certain some of Money that the first thing they took should be his The Fishers drew their Net and brought up a Chest which was full of Money besides a Ghostly Attire
his Head with his Body our Countreyment at Astrachan call Dickkop Thickpate But by the Persians Nachay that is Devourer This Fish is of a more than ordinary strength and somtimes will overturn a small Boat with a stroak of his Tail CHAP. XX. A Description of Derbent it's Walls The Sultans Court. Very old Ruins Divers Watch-towers Multiplicity of Sepulchrets without Derbent Their Slave-Market The Author sold again His Patron married with a Polish Woman and runs into Danger of his Life The Intention of his Patroness in running away from her Husband and taking the Author with her Two of Mr. Struys's Companions come to Derbent How they made their escape from the Tartars The great Inclination of the Sultan of Derbent to the Hollanders A Device put in practise to set one of the Authors Companions at Liberty The Prince takes the Wife of Brak for his own Brak makes his escape DErbent the first City under the Jurisdiction of the King of Persia on the Caspian Sea lies in 41 degr 50 min. northerly Latitude This City lies longwise East and West from the Sea side to the Land and is according to computation about 2 English miles long One side thereof lies so near to the Sea that the Waves beat against the Walls and in a Storm or tempestuous Weather the Surges rise over the Walls This is also reckoned as a Barrier against the Irruption of the Tartars and other Savages being the only place on all that Coast for many miles together where they can come ashoar for the Shoar is there naturally secured with a steep Bank and wholly inaccessible Wherefore this City is not improperly called Derbent which in their Language imports as much as The Kingdoms Key Der signifying a Key and Bent a Kingdom or Countrey and so the City Gammeron on the Indian Coast is called Bender which is the same Word with transposition of the Syllables and a little variation of the Dialect This Town is very strongly munited with a Stone-Wall and as some say was built by Alexander the Great who had here his Residence for som time althô there doth not any Building remain of his save only the Wall on the South side and the Fortress but all the Fortifications on the North were built by the famous Nauschirwan King of the Medes having no other Foundation than a solid Rock The Walls both on the North and the South side are so broad that Horses and Waggons may ride all along and the Stones are of a hard rock brought hither from a Hill not far distant from the Town being all equally 6 foot Square On the Wall of Alexander for it still bears his name is an oblong Stone having an ancient Inscription in old Syriac and Arabic Characters which none now a days can read The City Derbent is divided into 3 parts The uppermost Ward or Quarter stands on a rising Ground and has a Fortress furnished with Brass-Cannon and at that time when I was there and since the Uproar of the Cosacs it has bin Strengthned with a Garrison of 1000 or 1200 Soldiers and in this Quarter is the Sultans Court. The Midle Ward is inhabited by Persians but the Buildings go mostly to decay The Lowest Ward is about 2000 paces long but this part is only tilled and used for Gardens and as they say has been heretofore inhabited by Greeks bearing still the name of Schaher Iunan or City of the Greeks Above Derbent appear the Ruins of a Wall which reached from thence to the Necropont or Euxin Sea which has been a work of an incredible Charge and Labour In som places the said Wall appears very plain and is about four Foot thick Round about this City are also divers stone Redoubts whereof Four are furnished with Ammunition and a Garrison of Soldiers suitable to the Occasion of the Times In the Countrey round about are also the Ruins of many strong Castles insomuch that it plainly appears in what esteem this Place has bin with the Median and Persian Monarchs in times past Not far from this City are also som Watch-towers of Wood which are raised exceeding high so that they can with ease descry the approachment of an Enemy in time of War On that side of the Town which faces the Countrey are many Sepulchrets or Tombs som of an oblong form and others semicircular being in breadth about a mans length and hollowed so that a Man may easily ly in them In this great Sepulchre was in times past a famous Battel fought between Cassan King of the Medes and the Dagestan Tartars where the former had a notable overthrow with the loss of several Thousand men and the principal Heros and Leaders were buried in those Tombs Between this place and the Sea is also another Plat of Ground environed with a high wall wherein are 40 Tombs under which are so many Persian and Median Princes interred and made sacred to Memory Upon the Walls are several Flags pitched and by each an old Man to beg an Alms of such as out of Devotion and a Religious Zeal come to visit this place as it is throughout all Persia held very meritorious to visit the Sepulchres and Graves of the Deceased This Superstition besides that of Bathing is all the Ceremonies and Rules which their Religion prescribes the Women who receiv their Directions and are injoined by their Parents and Husbands what to do being secluded out of the Mosquees Within Derbent live no Christians but altogether Mahometans except a few Iews who boast themselvs to be descended from the house of Benjamin these commonly follow base and dishonorable Traffic as buying of Prize-goods and Booty taken at Sea which the Dagestan Tartars bring thither to market The rest of the Inhabitants likewise trade in buying and selling of Slaves that being the main and almost only Merchandize they deal in which they buy of the Dagestan Plagiaries and send all over Persia making an incredible gain thereof Those that are brought hither for Slaves are very unhappy for they are no more looked upon than an unreasonable Animal or Bruit and when they are about buying they pull of their Cloaths and grope them all over as if it were a Swine or a Calf Besides their low esteem they have for Slaves as to their Persons they are very unkind and void of Mercy so that were it not for the Loss of so much money very few of those wretched caitiffs would die a natural Death Those people being by nature very prone to Anger and besides that too jealous to live upon Earth thinking that if a Slave do but smile or cast a friendly look toward one of their Wives that something extraordinary must be in the case althô I had never reason to complain of my Patron for any such thing but one that lived in the neighbourhood was much addicted to that inquietude and restless humour The bed where I lay was upon the Top of the house for coolness sake
the World so long as we live I have at present in my Custody a Casket of Jewels worth 300000 gild at lest besides a sum of 10000 Ducats in Gold I prethee then let 's not lose this opportunity but away with our own Bark and I hope that we shall in 8 or 10 days be in Russia from whence we can go forward to Holland and if your wife be not alive we shall marry if not I shall seek up my Relations at Amsterdam supposing my Fathers Brother may be still alive To this I replyed Most gracious and worthy Madam what you propose is very well and what I could freely embrace and would willingly undertake to manage But Madam are you not sensible that Astrachan is at present under hands of the Cosacs and the Caspian Sea full of Pyrats how then may we promise our selvs a safe Arrival in Russia Well quoth she Do you think that Astrachan will be still in tenure of the Rebells no without doubt we shall speedily hear that the Czar will come down with a great Army and destroy that Vermin c Hereupon she showed me an incredible Treasure of Diamonds Emeralds Rubies and other Precious Stones These Proposals I must confess gave me work enough to study upon day night and certainly had not Astrachan then bin in the hand of the Cosacs I had taken it upon me not doubting but to have good success being able enough to pilot a Vessel from thence to the Wolga for I was very well acquainted with the Coasts but because of the before mentioned difficuly was fain to refuse her offer I could observe that the Lady was som way disaffected to her husband which I presumed was som certain Jealousy for my Patron had bought not long before 2 Georgian Girls for Slaves the one of 11 and the other of 12 years old with whom he lay by Turns which was no small trouble to his Wife who was her self not above 26 years of Age and therefore very unwilling to be a Widdow with a living husband On the 22 came two of our Ships-company to Derbent to wit Cornelius de Vries the Gunner and Peter Arentsz of Schevelingen These had been taken in Boynak near the Scemkal and had betaken themselvs to flight being followed by some Tartars to the Gate of Derbent where they were rescued by a Soldier who spoke the Russian Tongue very well which Soldier seeing them so hotly pursued and the Tartars close at their heels interposed himself between them and asked ours Who they were who repled They were Dutch and had Letters for the Sultan Whereupon the Soldier turning to the Tartars bade them see what they did for that those men had Letters for the Sultan and so they got free from the Tartars but were suddenly carried before the Sultan who so soon as they were admitted asked them What Countreymen they were They answered Hollanders Then he asked for the Letters which he was informed they had for him upon which they fell down upon their knees humbly begging Forgiveness saying That we have said how that we had Letters for the Sultan Great and Mighty Prince we cannot deny for most true it is but that was only an Invention to secure and release our Persons from the Tartars that pursued us to within the Persian Jurisdiction Wherefore Great Sir vouchsafe to have Compassion upon us for we are those very people that fled from Astrachan upon the approaching of the Cosacs and have been unfortunately Stranded on the Dagestan Coast where we were plundered beat and made Slaves by the Inhabitants and since continued in miserable Servitude under the Scemkal and therefore have made bold to seek Protection under your Highness They told him moreover how that they had been 3 days and 2 nights by the Way Travelling only by night and hiding themselvs by day lest they should be detected and retaken as they had surely been at the Gate if the Soldier had not shown them such a a Favour The Sultan freely pardoned them and sent them to a House where he had ordered they should have abode and maintenance till they were otherwise provided for this Prince has ever been favourable to our Nation But these two fearing that their Living so would cost them too dear and that one time or another they must pay for all they removed into a Carwansera for so they call an Inn or Tavern where they took no care for Diet being well supplied by the continual concourse of people that came thither as well Indians as Persians The Sultan also promised to write to the King about the Redemption of the rest of the Captiv Slaves and as much as in him lay to further the same Certain it is he did as kindly for our Countrey men as might be expected from him when as the Brother of the Scemkal came to demand them as Fugitivs and he refused to let them go for that they were now in Derbent and that the King had understood how unkindly they had dealt with those that were his Allies and with those with whom his Subjects had a great correspondence as to matter of Commerce Insomuch that Aly the Tartar returned without obtaining what he came for and the Slaves they had still were for this reason more severely used than before and kept with more strictness since by that they were sensible that if they could but make their escape to Derbent they were protected So soon as I understood that P. Arents and De Vries were arrived at Derbent I pray'd my Patron to let me go to visit them which he granted So soon as I came to them I begun to enquire of their manner of Escaping and of their present Condidition which they related from the beginning to the end of all My Patron was also curious to see them and came himself in person Upon which I did bethink my self of a Stratagem to redeem my Companion Els Pietersz who was still at Boynak I told my Master then that I had still a Son in the Hands of Prince Osmin and looking towards the Gunner I gave him a wink with the Eie that he should assert it which when my Patron asked him he did he therefore sent to redeem him with intention to keep us both but the Party sent who was a Russian and a Renegado brought us news that he was gone within Land which sadly troubled me For had I got him to Derbent I could have brought him to Ispahan where there was more apparency and likelyhood of obtaining Liberty than among the obscure Tartars Meanwhile I went dayly to visit the Gunner and Peter Arentsz and once finding them very heartless and Melancholic I did all I could to comfort them How said I can you be so sad being free and I who am a Slave still keep a good heart Be not so dejected for the Persians will som time or other take you with their Caravans to Ispahan and so you may get to Gameron and thence be transported for
the Indies by which means you will be brought home c. They told me also that the rest of the Company were at liberty and without Chains that they had also resolved to flee together but judged themselvs aswell unsafe at Derbent which they had intended for their Asylum saying That they should come thither soon enough when they should be sold at the Slave-Market and certainly they were not much over-burthened for the greatest Task they had was only to hew wood for Fewel and other uses in the Princes House and if my companion and I had but had the same opportunity they had to be unchain'd we should not have dallied long about a Resolution whether to stay or betake our selvs to flight for it was not above 12 English miles from Derbent We often contrived to break or file the Chain in sunder but the Links were so massy that we durst not attempt lest we should not perform it at one time They were also taken by the Dagestan-Tartars which are reputed the more mercifull but we by the Calmucs the one being under the Osmin and the other under the Scemkal C. Brak was sold by the Scemkal for thrée years after the expiration of which time his Patron was to have him again His Wife whom the Prince had ravished was also taken from him and made use by the said Prince for a Concubine being attired in Princely Habit and had much favour shown her Brak therefore intending to make his escape intimated his Design to his Wife who would by no means assent to the matter because of her Child and told him further that if he did offer to go that she would detect the matter to the Prince To this he replied that inasmuch as she was taken from him they were never like to come together again and that he probably for that reason should be carried farther within Land where he should be out of all hopes of ever being redeemed whereas on the contrary if ever he came to Derbent that there he should not only himself be free but also seek a mean to get her redeemed yet all this was but in vain for she would not hear of it insomuch that he was fain to run away without her knowledge but what then became of him and whether he was retaken by some others or is dead I could never yet be so happy as to know As to his Flight we were well assured for his Patron sent to us at Derbent to enquire after him but had a very unwelcom Answer and the Sultan to hearing that such a Person was come to seek for them gave order to apprehend him and so continued him Captiv till he proved that he only came to seek one that he had bought for ready Money and was not of Intention to meddle with any body else upon which the Sultan ordered him enlargement CHAP. XXI The great difficulty of getting Wood without Derbent The Author and his company assailed by Robbers two several times The kind nature of his Patron They travel to Scamachy The Hill Barmach The Pit of Naphtha Arrival at Scamachy A Description of that City A great Earth-quake at Scamachy Abundance of men misfortunatly killed The Author meets with 2 Franciscan Friars A rehearsal of some part of their Discourse their Zeal to get him out of the Service of a Mahometan Advice given him by his Patron He comes first into the Service of the Polish Ambassadour ON the 29 were sent out about 50 Slaves together with some other free persons to hew Wood in the Countrey amongst which my Patron sent me also We took our way over the Mountains having with us two Carts with 5 Oxen 2 Asses and a Horse we had also several Renegados with us All the Company went into the Wood and fell to work leaving me alone to look to the Carts and Provision After they had been about 3 hours at work I espied a Troop of about 300 Men coming towards us and thinking by the hast they made towards us that they were Robbers I therefore called out to them in the Wood to give them Notice that they might keep together When I saw them come within Bow-shot of me I ran away as fast as I could drive which they seeing me sent a Shaft or two but they did not hit me Having entred the Wood I met our Company coming out who at first stoutly resisted but finding that the Robbers fell on with a greater violence and exceeded us both for Arms and Number of Men they thought good to retreat with as much hast as they could We left here 12 dead amongst which was a Polish Renegado besides these that were killed we had 20 wounded and lost all our Baggage with Carts Oxen Asses c. and were fain to return so home For this reason is it very perillous to hew wood or to pass those mountains upon any other Occasion being the Rendevouz of the Banditti and Tartars who notwithstanding all the Indeavours which the King doth by sending of Troops down to expell them cannot be driven out for when they perceiv that any Forces are sent out against them they run into Caves and holes in the Hills and Woods They are also very well disciplin'd and as well arm'd the greatest part thereof consisting in deserting Soldiers And by reason those of Derbent must have all their Fewel and Timber from this Place and the work put upon the Slaves it happens that every year a great number of those miserable sort of men are either dispatched or wounded The next day I was sent up into the Countrey to a place where my Patron kept his Cattle which I was to look after and drive them up and down where I found the best Pasturage When the Sun was gon down and I driving the Cattle to their House I met 3 Robbers who took three Cows away with them and tied my hands behind my back so drawing me along yet it was not long before we met with 8 Gentlemen of Derbent som whereof knew me being frequently at my Masters house These therefore released me and retook the Beasts so that I came safe home for which kindness my Master gave them a Present I suppose of more value than what I was sold for to him Unspeakable was the kindness of my Patron that he had for me for althô my Work was a litle servile and Slavish yet my Bed and Table was Lordly and whatsoever I did whether well or ill he always took it in good part and would after that time never suffer me to go abroad to do any work saying that he beleeved that I was born under som malevolent Planet To be brief I found my daily Task so easy and my usage so comfortable that were it not for the name of a Slave and that to a Mahometan I could not have lived better abroad in any Place of the World having litle or no care upon my head About this time my Patron made preparation to
Engine a turn upon which the Woman fell into the fire 'T is true the Woman seemed by vertue of that Potion to be fallen into a Cataphor or Dead-sleep yet I heard her shriek out several times till the Drums Pipes Trumpets and other Wind-Music began to play which was so loud and altisonant that I could not hear any longer althô I got a place near the Pile which was erected for these Ceremonies Such practise was also in use among the Idolaters of Palaestina who offered their Children to Moloch When the Fire had consumed all the Ashes were thrown into the River On the 21 was a great noise in Town about 2 Men that were murthered and the Homicides unknown The Widows Children and Friends of the Partys murthered brought the Dead Bodies to the Gates of the Princes Palace as demanding Justice and Punishment for the Delinquency About two hours they sat by the Bodies with their Heads and Right Arms bare as a token that those were their Allies and Friends and kissed the Corpses several times for they repute those that are so murthered indisputably Saints in Heaven Hither flocked also Women from all parts and Countreys round about esteeming it a work of merit The Persons murthered were but ordinary People and Citizens of the meanest sort so that the Chan did not use much diligence in hunting out the Malefactors for without Money Justice is rarely don After the Corps had laid here about 2 hours as was said they were by Order of the Chan carried away upon Barrows and interred in the Field with som few Ceremonies Every night were set up several Torches and by day went Hundreds of Women to perform the usual Solemnities and superstitious Rites at their Tombs The Ceremonies are as vain as foolish which they do about the Dead at their first coming there they bow down three times at the Grave and as often kiss it adorning the Place round about with Flags of several Colours which they make fast to sticks On the 27 was a general Exultation expressed at Scamachy with Beating of Drums Sounding of Trumpets and variety of Wind-Music for that the Chans Son had a Robe of Favour bestowed upon him and one of the Kings Wives which were sent him for a Present as a Mark of Loyalty and indeed the latter is never don but upon the score of an exceeding high Favour and althô they have the names of the Kings Wives yet it mostly happens that they are pure Virgins it being a thing impossible that he should make use of so many as are dayly brought to him from all parts of his wide Dominions which are alwaies the most select Beauties however the Grandees of Persia are less contented when they find them Maids than otherwise and for that reason do as duly conceal it as others who find the contrary on privat Occasions For say they 't is a Greater Honour to fish in the Kings Pond than in one of their own Nor are the Women altogether sad at such disposals since they live as it were in the State of Widdow-hood for som years together the number of them being so great On the 1 of Febr. was a Man beat to death with Canes by order of the Chan none understanding the reason why The Execution was don by the Domestics of the Palace for they have no Ordinary Executioner These tied him Hand Foot which don they fell a caning him with Sticks or Ciplins having a great knot at the End no member was spared in his whole for having threshed him a while on his Back they began with his Sides and afterward his Belly Thighs Leggs Arms c. which kind of Death must needs be a greater Torment than Breaking upon the Wheel which we hold too cruel and inhuman althô in use in most Countreys in Europe The same day towards night we had another formidable Earth-quake and out of the Caves was heard a most hideous roaring and yelling before it began so that none durst sleep or come near any house however it lasted not very long but ceased with the destruction of a few Houses which were buried in their Rubbish The next day came an Express to Scamachi from the Court at Ispahan with Instructions for the Chan to com to Court and as he and many more beleeved to suffer the direfull effects of the Kings displesure yet the Courier privatly assured him on the contrary as that it was to receiv som Royal Present Betimes in the morning on the next day the Chan set out for Kallikklefthan which is a Pleasant Dwelling belonging to the King and about half a Dutch league distant from Scamachy being accompanied with his own Son the Calenter all the Nobility and Courtiers as also our Lord the Polish Ambassador and the Poslanic of Armenia The Chan himself was mounted on a stately Arabian Horse richly Capparison'd the Mounchet or Saddle-Cloth richly embroydered and set with Pearls and Precious Stones the Chaplets Bitts and Buckles were of pure and solid Gold and all the rest of the Accoutrements suitably rich and splendid The young Prince was equally well mounted with his Father on a Horse bespread with very rich Trappings and a noble Harnass The rest of the Retinue likewise appear'd with as much Pomp and Stateliness every one agreeable to his Quality After this Cavalcade follow a great Train of Citizens every one in his best Garb. When he came near the place he sent out an Usher to acquaint the Envoyé with his coming who then went out to meet him sending a Gentleman before him with the Robe himself following after leading a stately Horse on which the Lady was mounted which the King had sent him guarded with a Circle of Noblemen all mounted on horseback and a gallant Troop of Cavalry armed with long Carbines Bows and Arrows So soon as the Chan saw them approach he allighted from his Horse as did also the young Prince his Son and all the Retinue walking softly on foot till they came close together at what time the Envoye or Wakenutz reached forth his hand and delivered the Chan a Box of Gold which he received with demonstration of respect and in humble manner after the Persian fashion This don he delivered him the Robe which the Chan received with som Ceremonies customary among the Grandees and forthwith drew it on Last of all the Envoyé brought up the Bride as she sat on Horseback and delivered her to the Chan who very reverently bowed laying one hand on his breast and the other on the Bridle close by the Bitts upon which the Lady held forth her Hand which the Chan kissed and so mounting on his Horse closed up with her and taking leav of the Envoyé rode away presenting the Envoye with som Gifts which he sent back to Kaliklefthan By the way they were met with innumerable companies of People from all parts who came as nigh as they well durst or were permitted to see the
the Persians And do you not know what Dishonour it is to all the Musulmans and the whole Kingdom in general Or are you indeed becom a Christian c. This Innovation he meant was an Interdiction which the Chan or Governour had issued 3 days after the Procession That none should hew and cut as was their Custom with Swords in the Streets like as we have spoke more amply in the Feast of Aly. The Father som said durst not but make complaint lest it should have been imputed to himself as Misprision it being well known by others that it was his Son who sent the Libel But it may be observed that those who would put the affair in that Posture were either prejudic'd or byassed Persons But others who were indifferent looked upon it as an Example of Unmercifulness and Ambition where he only did it for Hopes of Favour from the Chan which be esteemed a Purchase aequivalent to his sons Life The next day was another Man beat to Death by 7 of the Chans Domestics before the Gates of the Palace but for what I could not learn Upon the 26 we got another Narrativ which confirmed the former News from Astrachan as also how that Radzin was carried to Moscou In the mean while Mr. van Termund makes preparation to go for Ispahan and with all diligence makes up a Company to the end that he might travel more secure there being then a great rumor of many Insolencies perpetrated by the Wood-rangers and on the 29 set forward taking with him Peter Arentsz of Schevelingen one of our Ships-Company and a Polish Jew who had been taken by the Scemkal-Tartars and made his Escape On the 30 arose a most hideous Tempest of Wind Thunder Hail and Lightning which continued for two days together after which all was very calm and still and the air very serene The Hail did much damage to the Fruit every Hailstone being of an unusual bigness som as large as the Egg of a Hen or Turky On the 6 of June I went with a Venetian who had bin a Slave in Turky and run away about 15 Miles wâ—thin Land where we found an Armenian Friary The Monastics received and treated us very kindly when they understood that we were Christians and in Slavery to the Mahometans They intreated us to tell them all the passages we had met with abroad which the Venetian first did and afterwards desiring me to do the like I related all in brief which they took great delight to hear especially about the taking in of Astrachan They desired us further to tarry with them for som time which we promised to do and accordingly stay'd there two nights All the time they caressed us with all kindness imaginable neither sparing for Victuals nor good Drink professing themselvs sorry that our condition would not allow them the happiness of a longer enjoyment of our Company Their manner of Life was very single without any Incumbrance of the Mahometans their Hous-holding regular and gentile and the Men among themselvs mutually loving one another and sociable with strangers very charitable to all that were in necessity of what Opinion or Faith soever they were Right loath we were to leav them but not daring to stay any longer we took our leavs of them thanking them for their kindness and civility they had shown us In taking our way to Scamachy we were fain to climb over some Hills and one great Mountain flat at Top upon which was a Lake according to our guessing 3 miles in Circuit Going along the shore to our great amazement we found four Bodies of Men that had but newly been murthered having their throats cut we supposed them to be Anglers seeing Fishing Canes and other Implements about them However we thinking it for two reasons unsafe for us to stay there any longer made all the hast we could to get out of the way This Lake as we afterwards understood was very plentifull of many kinds of delicate Fish which are sold very dear and highly esteemed of abroad throughout all that part of the Countrey and indeed it was once our thoughts to make a Trial if we could take any thing till meeting with these new murthered Persons we chused rather to let the Fish remain in their Element than by the probable consequence to pay too great a price for our sport It happened once that my Patron received a sudden Message from the Prince to com to Court upon which he gave me Order to saddle his best Horse now the Saddle which he ordered me to set on being richly set with Pearls and Precious stones he kept it alwaies in the Chamber where his Plate was so that I must pass through three Chambers to fetch it but opening the Door of the second Room I found my Patroness standing naked in the Bath upon which being in a great amazement and fearful that this rash Action might be represented to my Master who might make me pay for my Peeping in all hast I retreated and offered to run out again which she seeing cried out Ho! ho don 't run away go thrô and fullfil your Lords Commands This she said with a smiling Countenance which cured me of the Palsie that the sight of her had already struck me into On the 10 th the Ambassadors Brother departed for Ispahan to make complaint against the Chan about the Money that the Ambassadour had upon Interest and disbursed for him which he could not get in On the 11 th of Iuly is a great Fair at Scamachy upon which day above 500 Slaves were brought to Market that being their main Traffâ—ic Of these Slaves are of all sorts of People Men Women Children Christians and Pagans Polonians Russians Georgians and Circas-Tartars The Poles Russes are commonly stole by the Dagestan-Tartars as also the Circasses which are Heathens for according to the Voice of the Alchoran no Mahometan or Musulman may be made a Slave which mainly tends to the Propagation of Turcism On the contrary the Circas-Tartars in revenge do steal the Dagestans and sell them to the Russians And so the Tartars althô seemingly many Nations yet doubtless of old one People live in constant jarrs and private Hostility who if they had but Discretion and Conduct answerable to their Power were in a capacity to subdue both Russ and Persia But as for the Georgians they are generally such as are sold by their own inhuman Parents and in that out do both Turk and Pagan who will not make sale of such as are of their own Opinion or Nation much less their own Children which is a thing so besides Nature that the most savage Beasts do abhor it and will as soon part with their Life as with their Young This Fair which as I have said consists most in the Sale of stollen Booty is a great advantage to Derbent and Scamachy which of late years seem to flourish mainly and for this reason is frequented by many
from Flesh and Fish and whatsoever had or may have life insomuch that they are as shy of an Egg as of the Bird that lays it They are very subtle in Traffic and in that are said to surpass not only the other Indians but all other Nations On the 26 was a great Holiday among the Persians when as all the Women went to perform their Solemnities at the Graves of their deceased Friends and Allies upon the Mountains where they frequently beat their Heads Kissed the Tombs and other Ceremonies more which are all the Religious Duties their Women are injoyned to that I could observe for they never go to the Mosquees or Churches nor ever do they pray at home but leav all to the Piety of the Men who go to prayer 3 times a day and there appear very devout to wit at Morning at Noon and at Night invoking the Assistance of the Angels At their first Entrance into the Mosquite they utter these words This I do in the Name of the Almighty GOD which said they utter som short Prayer that they have by form praescribed directing it to certain Angels that they would vouchsafe to chace away the Devil that he may not incommodate them in their Prayer When they have made their Address to the Angels they then apply themselvs to GOD in these words Praised be GOD the Lord of the Last Judgement Thou O Heavenly GOD hast power to help us wherefore we adore thee Help us to find and continue on the right Way not on the Way where sinners commit sins but on that Way where no Error is Amen The next day being the 27 I presented Hadzi Biram my former Patron with the Model of a Ship and a Galley which cost me about 3 Moneths Labour On the Ship were 40 Guns and 10 on the Galley with 42 Oars both being complete as to Masts Sails Rigging Anchors c. Hadzi accepted of it kindly and forthwith presented it to the Prince as a great Rarity The Prince was greatly taken with it and asked Hadzi Biram whether I was at Scamachi which understanding desired to see me upon which my Patron sent a Slave to fetch me I had hopes that this might work out my Redemption and bring me into Favour went without much delay to give Attendance where being admitted and come within presence I bowed after the Persian manner with my Hand upon my Breast The Prince seeing me stand at a distance bad me com near which I did Then he fell to asking me som Questions as to my Countrey and the Occasion of my coming thither which I answered Then he asked me if such Ships ever ingaged in Battel one against another To which I replyed That 2 Fleets being between 2 and 300 Sail of the English and Hollanders encountered each other continually firing their Guns and then proceeded to Boarding Sinking Burning or Blowing up He then asked me why those two Nations professing one Faith and Religion made War upon each other I answered him that it was for no other reason than the Mahometans made War against each other and those two mighty Potentates the Schach of Persia and the Ottoman Emperour professing one and the same Faith in substance The Prince turning about to Hadzi Biram told him that what I said was justly true Upon this came in som Great Personage and giving me the Beck a Token that I must withdraw I went away as much a Slave as I came in On the 28 was a great Silver Goblet stole out of our House but there was such a narrow scrutiny that the Thief was immediatly found out and after several blows on the Foot with a Staff was put in Fetters He was a Georgian and the Ambassadors Townsman On the 31 I took a melancholic Walk through the Town and immediatly had a Rescontre with one of the Tartars that took us and made us Slaves he being the very Man that tied me to his Horses Tail dragging me backwards thrô Thorns and Brambles stone-naked I had no sooner seen him but my Blood began to boil in my Veins and my heart beat still studying what way to be avenged of the Villain I dogged him so far till I found a convenient place and having a good Truncheon in my Hand with a knot at the end as the Persians commonly carry about with them with which I lent him such a Dandy-flute on the Fore-head that he tumbled down like an Ox upon which not willing to lose my Labour I pumme'ld so about the Chaps that Blood came gushing out at his Nose and Ears and well it was that I had not my Knife about me for if I had I should surely have sent him to salute his Grandfather yet my fear was that I had already sent him on that Errand for he lay as dead upon the Ground which I observing and dreading the consequence made all the hast I could to get away However being seen by som Persians who it seems had bin Spectators all this while at a distance one of them caught me by the Arm and with a surly look asked me saying What is your meaning Friend d' ee intend to murther a Man at noon-day upon the Street Hold hold you are not to go so you must be answerable to the Governour for this Insolency But to satisfy them I made answer That he was a Dagestan Flagiary or Manstâ—aler and took me being a Free Person to sell me as a Slave and with one told them how inhumanly and with what cruelty he had used me I told them also that was a Domestic of the Polish Ambassadour Hearing this they let mâ— go but coming at the Corner of the Street I met with 10 or 12 oâ— his Company all Tartars who no sooner understood what was doâ— but they ran all over the Town to seek me and perceiving my selâ— environed on every side I ran into a Tobacco house under pretext oâ— smoking a Pipe paying my usual Penny and here I lurk'd till 〈◊〉 thought the Coast was clear and so ran home But it was not long before I heard a whole Troop of Tartars at the Gate who were the same that followed me bringing the silly Miscreant along with them alâ— bloody and plaistered with Kennel-dirt to show him to my Lord. The Ambassadour understanding what was the Matter called me to him and hearing all the whole Passage said to me Get you gone yoâ— Loggerhead why did you not strike home then we had not had this clutteâ— at the Door Hence hence I say and do your business better the next timâ— when it coms to your turn go turn me this Rabble from the Door A hard Task upon my Word yet coming below all the Gentlemen and Servant waited there longing to hear what result I had and understanding what the Ambassadours Pleasure was they resolved unanâ—mously to furnish themselvs with Truncheons and Clubs and faâ— upon them on a sudden which we did and thresh'd them manfull back and sides for we were 2 to
pristin State On the 2 of Decemb. we set forward and came in good time to Sultanie a City lying in 36 degr and 30 min. Northerly Latitude It is situated between two rows of very steep Mountains and toward the West we saw the Mountain Keydar Peyamber whose lofty top seems to support the Heavens this being next to Ararat the highest Mountain I have ever seen The City Sultany affoards a most noble Prospect from abroad by reason of her many lofty Piles magnificent Churches high Towers Pyramids Obelisks and Cylinders which still remain notwithstanding the furious Irruption of the savage Tartars under conduct of the valiant Tamerlan who with many other Towns laid this level with the Ground save the great and stupendious Fabrics even now remembred which when one is within Town look like a set of Nine-pins or the Stones on Salisbury Plain so that this which was reputed one of the Royal Cities is meaner than most villages It was built by Sultan Choddabende a very rich and potent Prince who besides many famous Conquests in Persia and Usbec subdued the greatest part of Turky and many Indian Kingdoms and Provinces som of which still remain under the subjection of the Schach of Persia This City he called Sultanie from the Honorary Title of Sultan for so the Kings of Persia who are now called Schach were of old entitled as also at present the Ottoman Emperour Notwithstanding the abovesaid devastation of this City appear yet many signal Monuments of it's former Glory amongst which is the splendid Court and Palace of the great Choddabende called The Emarath This was fortified on each side with strong Walls and several greaâ— Bulwarks altogether built of huge square Stones of 3 Foot Diameter it had also 4 high Towers but strong and of neat Workmanship Within is a very noble Sepulchre built by Sultan Choddabende himself who lay here interred but the too great Piety of his Successor woulâ— not suffer his Bones to rest but removed them to the Meschaichâ— Ardebil In entring this Sepulchre one must pass thrô three very higâ— Gates all made of Indian Steel very neatly polished and as smootâ— as Glass this being the same Mettal of which the Damaskin or Ardâ—bil Scymiters are made and is praeferred before any other Stâ— that is used That Gate which leads out to the Maydan as the Persiaâ— would perswade themselvs and us cannot be opened by any Force buâ— when one prays to GOD for the sake of his Servant Aly that may open it opens of it's self The Building is very high contractinâ— its self at top into the manner of a Tower and within is set witâ— white and blew Tiles of Porceline Above where it begins to draâ— its self into the form of a Tower is a Partition of Steel Barrs whicâ— makes a handsom Chore. In this Partition or Quire I saw many Books written in Arabic Characters some whereof were above 30 Inches long I opened one of them and found an interlineary change oâ— Gold and Black lines like the Rubrics in the Roman Breviaries Lâ—turgies and Mass books Behind the Altar is the Tomb where Sultâ— Muhamed Choddabende lay interred but parted from the Body of thâ— Chore with great and massy Barrs of Indian Steel which the Persiaâ— say was all of one piece no place appearing where it might seem tâ— be well'd or set together and that it was seven years a making iâ— India In this said Emarath are 20 pieces of Brass Ordnance every Carridge having 4 wheels a piece and the Balls lying by them oâ— white Marble these are made forsooth for defence of the H. Sepulchre The Tower above is 8 square and on each side a Gallery anâ— upon each Gallery a small Turret going up with Winding-stairs Before this Temple is a Fountain the curious Work whereof showâ— the great skill and dexterity of the Workman that ordained it it receives its Water by an Aqueduct from the Keydar and behind the Emarath is a very pleasant Garden with Walks and Rows of diveâ— sorts of Trees Besides this illustrious Pile of Sultan Choddabende is another built by Schach Ismael the first This is also to be ascended by stairs Within are seen many fair Pillars and Arches upon which the Roof leans and the inside of the Walls is all laid with white and blew Tiles of Porceline Right before the Door within the first Court stands a fair Pyramid of a reasonable Height There is also a very fair Plesure-garden adjoyning to this Palace Not far from thence is also a fair Arch but somthing dilapidated resting upon 2 Columns or Obelisks 162 Foot high About an English Mile and a half without Town are to be seen the Relicts of a Gate which they say was built by Sultan Choddabende whence it appears that the Extent of this City has been very great althô as was said is now not very great nor much frequented by Trading People subsisting mostly by the Caravans after which they long as greedily as a Landlord for Quarter day Five days we tarried in Sultante to rest having almost tired our Camels and Horses which by that time were again in a travailing Condition During our aboad here I was shorn after the Persian fashion and could pass Muster for a Musulman and with more freedom visit what was worthy of remark and by them reputed sacred being thereto perswaded by my Companion who was a Russ called Ferrath and that I might not be bewray'd by my speech he bad me counterfeit my self dumb and when occasion serv'd to make signs he taking upon him to interpret for me which at once both secured me from Affronts and gave me the occasion to see their Sanctuaries which was refused many Georgians notwithstanding considerable Sums they had proffered to see the Sepulchres On the 7 th we set out and came at night to Syllebek where we took up our Nights-lodging having this day very good way and with all pleasant for on each side were fair Meadows Pasture and Corn-fields and by the way many neat villages with Orchards Gardens and Summer-Houses which made the Time seem short and the Journey no way taedious Leaving Syllebek we came the next day at night to Choramdeky which for it's many Gardens seems to be a Paradise It is also watered with a good River which glides thrô the Town and by a Serpentine course thrô the Fields round about the City renders the Earth more fertile and of a very good soil insomuch that this is one of the most delightfull places we had hitherto seen The People confoâ—mable to the place they inhabit gave us great Satisfaction and weâ— very sociable and friendly to converse withall On the Ninth we set forward again and came at night to thâ— City Caswin which is a Town of no small repute It is situated in 3 degr 15 min. Northerly Latitude lying in the Countrey of Erâ— upon a level but dry and sandy ground having on the West
observe were much stronger than theirs yet if we had not bin unanimous and faithfull to one another we had not com so well of for there was not one Man from the greatest to the least but fought manfully and with a good â—ill till the very last when they ran into another Room and shut â—e Door after them which was no small advantage to us for when â—e had them so pen'd up we knew our selvs secure there being no â—ther Passage for them to com out at The Door we barricado'd in â—ith huge Stones and with all our Carbines and Blunderbusses â—oured in shot upon them so long till they began to beg for Quarter â—hich we resolved not to giv them but promised them the liberty 〈◊〉 com forth and to stand to our mercy In the mean while we had â—bserved that several of them lay dead and wounded After they had consulted a while among themselvs they resolved to comforth but we refused to let them com all together but one by one keeping a narrow watch at the Door that they should not rush out altogether Having got them out they were very patient and suffered us to ty them back to back Those that were wounded we killed outright and and when it began to be light we set forward on our Journey taking the rest being abov 20 along with us and coming to a Grove of Date-Trees there hung them up by the heels and stripping off their Cloaths â—ashed off their Noses Ears and Hands which we nailed to a Tree as Monuments and Relicts of Roguery and left the Bodies hanging How we came to be so happy as to conquer those Villains was no small wonder to me since there was never a man among the Company that fought with any other Order than as his Courage led him so that we see what som will do and can atchieve when Life and Goods lie at the stake Their Punishment 't is true was severe enough to let them die a lingring Death but the Loss of our Companions was so precious to us that could we but have bethought a harder they had bin sure tâ— have gon that way to pot and not have had the opportunity to preâ— upon Passengers again Having performed the Hangmans Office we went to our Cameâ— and Caravan leaving the Bodies there for an Example to their Coâ—panions The way proved very hilly and uneaven wast and rocky being of a hard Flint-Stone and indeed so uneasy that we had muâ— ado to get all the Camels and Horses forward som weary and readâ— to lay down others stumbling and others straying for the way was no beat However in the Evening after 4 Dutch miles Travail we got Carawansera and there resolved to take our rest Here about we saâ— great Flocks of Partridges which Father Felisello who was passiâ— dextrous with a Birding-piece went out to shoot and brought 〈◊〉 many as served us for supper which we illustrated with a Glass of dâ—licat Scyras Wine CHAP. XXXV The incommodous Travelling over Mountains They com into an Inn or Carawanseâ— where they are well entertained Arrival at Lar. A Description of that Towâ— The Vnwholsomness of the Air and water there The Inhabitants given 〈◊〉 Hospitality and Lovers of all kinds of Discipline and Science Mummay Kobâ— a pretious Balsam Remarkable Monuments of Robbers executed Departâ— from Lar. They meet with another Troop of Robbers whereof 7 are killed They are overtaken by Monsr Kasenbroot Their Arrival at Gamron THe next morning being the 12 of March we got all in a reâ—diness in order to our Journey and had very steep and dangâ—rous rocky hills to clamber over insomuch that we durst not keâ— a Horse-back but were fain to allight and lead the greatest part of tâ— way being in danger if the Horses should happen to stumble to 〈◊〉 dasht in pieces upon the sharp Flints which were terrible to look at in respect of their acuity and sharpness These are a part of that Circâ— of hills which encompass the famous Taurus This day we advanceâ— 5 Dutch Miles and got a good Carawansera On the 13 we betook our selvs to our Journey and about 3 in the After-noon got to a Carawansera Father Felisello finding herâ— som sheep to be sold bought a Lamb which althô it was in the Fast he was resolved to Feast of saying that all Meats was dispenced with a Travailer who must eat what he can and not what he will But this being the Birth-day of the good Father he was resolved to celebrate it with a good supper which indeed we had and drunk good store of Wine to boot in which we remembred the Catholic King and his Royal Highness the Prince of Orange in several healths and that to such a Mesure that we were in as good as mood a those Potentates themselvs could be in short we were so moistned within that we slept that night without much care On the 14 in the morning betimes we set forward and passed by several Pitts which were digged through from one to another under ground so that the water ran through them all The same Pits were well stored with Carps and other Fish which our Company angled for and took several which served us for a Novelty at night these Pitts or rather Ponds were convey'd by a channel or narrow Conduit to a great Stone Cistern which was near to a Carawansera where we took our Nights rest having that day travelled 5 Dutch Miles On the 15 th about Noon we came into the Village Barry where we â—et down and stay'd there 2 Days finding our selvs unable to go any further without a Pause and the Camels and other Beasts almost wearied out understanding moreover that we had very hilly and rocky way to pass over This day we had only advanced 4 Miles Dutch On the 18 th betimes in the morn we left Barry and clambered up a very steep Hill meeting by the way som Gentlemen that were diverting themselvs with the Hawk which there as well as in Europe is held for a noble Game and not a Gentleman but has his Faulcon In the Afternoon we got the height of the Hill where we found a very old Man who neither combed nor shaved his Hair but let it grow negligently so that it looked like a Mop. This Man as we understood afterwards was one that lived a Heremitical and austere Life being reputed for a Saint among the Inhabitants The said Hermite came to me and begged that I would give him a pipe of Tobacco which I did and got his Prayers for it Having that day travelled 6 Leagues we came pretty late in the Evening to a Carawansera On the 19 we travailed through a most pleasant Valley where we saw many Boors Cottages and great groves of Date-trees on the right hand and on the left We called at a Boors house and would have bought of them som Milk but the People would take no Money for it They asked
Emperour 156. Kabelang a Province in Formosa 58. Kaliklefthan 252. Kamuschincha a Russian Town taken in by Craft of Radzin 193. Kasschan its Scituation and Description 310. A Key made of an Emerald shown in a Church at Genua 4. Keydar Peyamber a very high Mountain in Persia 301. Kieselarsche Kolthre 201. Kissel-bassched the Soldiery so called at Derbent their unruly and ill temper 2â—9 Kisiloseyn a swift River in Persia 299. Knutter a form of Punishment in Russia 156. Kostar a great River running through the Mountains of Elbur 236. Koctep a village in Persia ibid. L. LAzaro Mocenigo fights the Argerines Tripoleezes c. 103. Killed 105. Laar or Lar a City in Persia described 246. Leghorn described 67. Lemnos attacqued by the Venetians and surrendred upon Articles 92. Described ibid. Lifelanders their Properties Habits and Customs 127. Linden-Tree its ' manifold use 165. A List of the Head-Officers in the Venetian Navy as they were ingaged against the Turks 83. Lorenzo Marcello General of thn Venetians killed 88. M. MAdagascar Situation of the Island 15. Customs of the Inhabitants 19. Their Marriages 18. Funerals 19. Religion Superstitions 21. Government 22. An odd passage where a Dutch Captain meets with a King of that Countrey who had formerly bin his Slave 13. Fertility of Madagascar ibid. Majo Insul Situation and Description 6. Malefactors how punished in Moscovia 156. Malhora a rock near Leghorn 67. Marco Bembo Admiral of the Ships of war in the Venetian Armade hotly ingaged with the Turks 80. Takes the Capitana 89. Killed 105. Mares-milk in great esteem by the Tartars 182. Marriages of the Madagascars 18 Of the Syammers 39. Of the Moscovians 131 seqq Merchants eight murthered in a Wood of Moscovia 126. Metellino see Mytelene Meynderts Island 203. Middleton an English Ship engaged with a Fleet of Turkish Galleys against which she valiantly defends her self 79. Milo Insul 74 75. Eminent for able Sea-men and Fishers 111. The prime place to Water at ibid. Mochan or Mokan a great Heath in Persia dangerous for Robbers 283. Moscou described 130. Mulbery Trees in great plenty at Tenos 111. Mummay Kobas a most costly Balsem proceeding out of a Rock 262. Murtherers delivered over to the Friends of the murthered Party in Persia 262. Muskar a City in Media 237. Muskettos many of those Flies in Lifeland Mytilene an Island in possession of the Turks 76. A bold Attempt of the Author and his Company to fetch off cattel from Mytilene ibid. A description of that Island 109. N. NAchay a little Fish of a wonderfull strength 225. Nagayan and Crim Tartars described 181. Nanguesaque or Nanguesaky a City in Japon built by the Portugueezes 60. Merchandise and Traffic of that Place ibid. A great Hurricano that happened there ibid. Situation and Description of Nanguesaky 61. Naphtha an oil running out of Rocks how got 237 238. Napoli di Malvazia attacqued by the Venetians 106. Natens a City in Persia 312. Naurus see New years day 257. Naysobath a fair village in Schirwan or Old Media where the Holsteyn Ambassadors suffered Shipwrack 237. Necromancy much practised in Lifeland 117. New years day celebrated by the Persians 257. Nicsia an Island famous for the Temple of Apollo wâ—ose Ruins still appear 10â— Nieu meulen oppid 1â—6 Nisen-Novogored 161. Nisobath see Naysobath Noah's Sepulchre 332. Novogorod described 123. O. OEtsjoege 199. Onions and Garlick much eaten in Russia 137. The great Orchard near Tzurbag how planted 213. Variety of fruit therein ibid. Oron the Primo Vizier comes down to see Ingagement between the Venetian and Ottoman Armada 104. Osmin a Province and Dominion of the Tartars 210. Their manner of chusing a Prince or Protector ibid. The Author and his Company taken hardly used made Slaves and brought to the Prince of Osmin 210 211. Taxed for Cosacs and Radzinists 212. P. PAdar the Inhabitants of Koctep in Persia so called much addicted to stealing 237. Pagods of Syam 35 36. Liberality of the Syamers to the Pagods and Bonzi ibid. Palm-Sunday how celebrated by the Russians 157. Palso Castro a Town in Lemnos 92. Paniegros a Polish Nobleman murthered in his Bed 243. Parmach or Barmach a Mountain where they get Naphtha or Petroleum 237. Patany assists the King of Syam against Ava 33. Pathmos the City and Island 93. Patriarch of Moscovia his Office Power Habit c. 152. Peace how treated upon and ratified by the Kings of Madagascar 23. Pelicans in great abundance about the Caspian Sea 201. Persepolis 332 seqq Petroleum see Naphtha Petzora a montanous Countrey in Russia 136. Pitsiora in Lifeland described Pisa described 68. Pletskow in Lifeland described 121 A shank-bone of a giant to be seen at Pletskow 122. Po flu 73. Pochmelie a Russian Dish 1â—9 Poddowodda what it is 122. Polygamy allowed at Madagascar 18. In Syam 40. By the Crim-Tartars 164. Porto de Canisos 5. de Ribeirra Corea ibid. de Praye ibid. Prattelino a famous Pallace in Florence 69. Q. QUas a Russian Liquor 139. R. RAdzin his Offspring 183. The Reason of his Rebellion 184. The first Insolences he committed ibid. His Treachery and Cruelty on the Confines of Persia 185. He submits and obtains pardon from the Czar 186. Thâ—ows a Persian Princess into the Wolga 187. His strictness and Punishment of Adultery 188. Returns back for Don 189. The Russians that follow him are demanded by the Governor of Astrachan ibid. Which he refuses to send back 190. He gains the Astrachan Fleet by Treachery 191. His Power and Aw ibid. His cruelty when drunk ibid. The Increase of his Army ibid. He refuses the Title of King 192. Sends Legates to the King of Persia and their ill success ibid. Sends out Emmissaries into several Towns upon the Volga 193. Increases his Fleet and Army ibid. Takes in Kamuschinka by craft Revenues of the King of Syam 34. Of the Czar of Moscovia 156. Rheno flu 72. Rhesan a fertile Province in Moscovia 136. Riga described Rostof 136. Russes their Form Nature and Properties 138. Their Diet and usual Drink 139. Their Beastliness when drunk 140. Their great esteem of Brandy and Tobacco ibid. Addicted to Calumny and Jarrs ibid. Their usual Habit Painting or staining of the Face in practise among the Female kind 141. The Marriages of the Gentry ibid seqq Of the Pesantry 145. And of the Clergy 153. Their Divorcements and the occasion of the same 146. Their Superstitious opinion about cleanness and uncleanness 146 147. Of their Baths and Hardiness ibid. Their Peculiar Actions Gestures and Customs of the Russians from other People 148. Of the Visitation of their sick ibid. Ceremonies about their Dead 149. And the manner of their Funerals 150. Of their Religion and Church Government 151. S. SAbaksar 165. Sakky a Liquor used in Japon 60. Samos an Island in the Archipelago 93. Two Prizes taken there from the Turks ibid. The Author and 6 more there taken and made Slaves 94. Sariol Kurgan a Mountain famous for