Cashan Theheran Hamadan Meschet and Kirman pay great Tributes to the King Della Valle affirms that in Ispahan and several other eminent Cities there are no Chans because they are Royal Cities and the King many times keeps his Court there On the Feast of Neuruz all annual Officers are chosen especially the Darago's the chiefest whereof enter upon their Employments in great State with the sound of many Instruments How they reverence the Kings The King 's Vice-Roys whither Sultans or Chans of what Degree soever when coming out of any remote Province to make their appearance before the King or when they take leave or are to return to their own Countreys they kneel on both Knees before the King and kiss his Feet and in testimony of Honor squeeze the same against their Foreheads which they do three several times This Ceremony they perform divers times as they walk about the King which they commonly do three times one after another thereby to manifest that those who perform this Ceremony make themselves Sureties against all Misfortunes whatsoever that may befall the King It is also a Custom amongst them to make a Circle with their Hands about the Heads of those whom they would shew Honor to and wish that all future Misfortunes and such as have already hapned unto them may fall on themselves This Action is accounted by them a sign of a perfect and faithful Friendship Thus much of the modern State and manner of Government in Persia now it will be necessary to give you a short Account after what manner it was Govern'd in former times THe King of Persia anciently styl'd himself The Great King especially at that time when they had conquer'd the Greeks But Suidas tells us that these Monarchs were not satisfi'd with this Title but assum'd to themselves the Title of The King of Kings as appears by the Inscription on Cyrus's Tomb. Their order of Succession The Sons of these Kings succeeded them which was also observ'd amongst the Parthians when they had made themselves Masters of this Realm and when the Persians were afterwards restor'd they still maintain'd the same Custom The eldest Son according to the Laws of Nature Inherited before the younger but if he was born before his Father came to the Crown then he that was first born after his being King succeeded him in the Throne They never gave the Crown to a one-ey'd squint-ey'd or deformed Person as appears by the squinting Son of Cahade or Robad who notwithstanding he was a valiant Man yet for the Blemish in his Sight was disinherited But when the Persian Monarchy began to decay this Custom was laid aside and the Crown became elective but the Nobility who had Voices therein still reserv'd it for those who were of Royal Extract Natural Sons succeeded not their Fathers in the Throne so long as there remain'd any that were legitimate yet notwithstanding the illegitimate Darius was chosen before Isogee lawful Son to Artaxerxes When the King at any time went out of his Dominions he was oblig'd to nominate a Deputy to Govern during his absence Ceremonies at Installing the King The Kings were by the Priests of their Countrey with great Ceremony Inaugurated after this manner viz. They were led into a Temple of a warlike Goddess where they pull'd off their Clothes and put on those which Cyrus us'd to wear when he was but a private Person which done they are a few Figs chew'd a little Turpentine and drank a draught of sower Milk They incircled the Heads of these new Kings with a Crown or Mitre and a Cydaris which was made of Purple and ty'd with a blue Ribbon mix'd with white King Sapor instead of a Crown wore a Cap made like a Rams Head beset with Precious Stones They also wore a Tiara or Turbant like those which the Magistrates of the several Provinces wore but with this distinction that those of the Kings stood upright and the other bended behind The Honor of putting the Crown on the Kings Head belong'd to a peculiar Person call'd Surene who was the second Nobleman in the Kingdom The Habit or Robes of the King The Kings of Persia also wore a long Vest hanging below their Ancles which was embroider'd with several Representations of Birds Beasts and the like and beset with Gold and Precious Jems They likewise wore a Coat with Sleeves call'd Candis differing from those of the other Persians both in colour being Purple and value moreover the Subjects durst not approach any Man without hiding their Hands in their Sleeves but the Kings held them out The Kings Habit as Xenophon says was also half purple and half white which none else might wear They likewise wore long Hair Pendants a Girdle and long Stockings like the other Persians They were honor'd like Gods for those that approach'd them bow'd not onely their Heads and Bodies but fell flat on their Faces with their Hands upon their Backs in which posture they lay as long as they suppos'd him to be in sight which was also perform'd by Strangers who were not permitted to see the King unless they promis'd to worship him after the Persian manner for otherwise they were forc'd to let him know their Business by Proxy or else in Writing which when he perus'd he return'd his Answer without being seen Those that Saluted the King wish'd him Everlasting Life and perpetual Government but he seldom appear'd to his People who were not permitted to set a Foot into the Royal Palace without his Majesty's leave but his Noblemen waited without at the Door to receive his Commands His Throne was of massie Gold which none durst touch and if at any time the King went abroad they strew'd the Streets and Ways which he was to pass with Flowers and every where burnt Perfumes They likewise kept the Kings Birth-day every year with making of Offerings and other great testimonies of joy and whence dy'd the whole Kingdom Mourn'd for five days together during which time all Courts of Judicature were shut up Their Câ—urts very unâ—â—â—taiâ— but magnificent These great Princes had no setled place of Residence but spent the Winter in Babylon the Lent at Susa and the Summer at Ecbataue besides which they had several other Royal Palaces as at Pasargades and Persepolis but when the Parthians were Masters of Persia Chusistan was the chief Seat of the Realm Their Royal Palaces were very stately and magnificent having many great Officers attendant insomuch that Apuleius call'd them The Houses of Gold They would never eat of any other Bread but what was brought out of the Province of Aeolia Their Diâ—â— and of all things the Kingdom afforded the First-fruits were sent to the King also their Salt Armoniack was brought to them out of Egypt They drank of the Wine Chaliboonien brought from Assyria and no other Water but what was taken out of the Stream Choaspes which glides by Susa The Inhabitants of those Places through
or Chambers above it Cush the third Story Tzaufe the fourth Casser and the upper Chambers or Garrets being built like Galleries winding about the top of the House Eiwan which by reason of their coolness serve them for Sleeping-Rooms in Summer the Windows which are almost as big as their Doors and reach down quite to the Floor have no Glass but are onely Bars or Rails like Balconies which in the Winter they close up with Oyl'd Paper Their Winter Rooms are commonly below and have Stoves in them Most of the Houses have Courts through which they go into their several Apartments It is said that the Lanes and Streets were formerly so broad that above twenty Men could Ride abreast in them but since Schach Abbas built more Rows of Houses most of them are become so narrow that two can scarce pass one by another especially not far from the Maidan and Basar where there commonly walk many People who are forc'd when Mules come loaden which frequently happens twenty or thirty one after another to stand still tâ—ll they are all pass'd by Description of the Maidan or Market-place On the East side of the King's Palace is a Maidan or Market-place of seven hundred Paces long and two hundred and fifty broad the like whereof is not in any other City On the West side where the King's Court stands are two Arches built along the Maidan one against another under which Goldsmiths Jewellers and other Handicrafts drive a Trade in Eiwans or open Shops before which stand Trees by the Persians call'd Schin-schad which with their large Boughs shade the Shops before the Trees are long Troughs or Gutters of Stone by which fresh Water is convey'd all about the Maidan The East side which is opposite to it hath a broad Walk Arch'd and supported with Pillars under which also all manner of Artificers have their Working-places for the Persians seldom or never work in their Dwelling-houses Agaâ—nst this Walk near the King's Court is a Structure which having two Entries is call'd Nacarachane where the Kettle-Drums Sackbuts and Cornets are play'd on every Evening at Sun-set and whenever the King passeth either in or out This playing at Sun-set us'd through all Persia in those places where Chams and great Lords dwell hath been in use ever since Tamerlane was Lord of this Countrey Description of the King's Place The King's House or Court which is near the Maidan by the Persians call'd Dowbet Chane or Dor Chane Schach hath a high Wall about it but is not otherwise fortifi'd against any Assault Before the Palace Gate lie several great pieces of Ordnance which Nicholas Hemming a Hollander who travell'd through most parts of Persia affirms to have been brought from Ormus the least carrying a Bullet of thirty six Pound weight the biggest of forty eight Over the Gate is a large Forum or place of Judicature where the Diwanbeki or Judge commonly Executes Justice In the day-time the Gate is guarded by three or four and in the Night by fifteen Halberdeers but at the King's Chamber thirty Men most Chans Sons Watch whil'st as many more go the Rounds The Kischicktzi or Captain of the Guard delivers the King an Account every Evening of such Persons as are to Watch that Night that so he may know what People are near him The said Forum over the Gate is a very high Room glittering with fair Windows on all sides and adorn'd with rich Pictures and gilded Carv'd work The other chief Rooms of the Court are first the Tabchane or great Hall in which the King with his Chans and other great Lords keeps a splendid Feast on Naurus or New-years-day next an open Room call'd the Divanchane that is House of Justice in which the King hears and determines all Businesses of State and gives Entertainment to foreign Princes The Tabchane or Banquetting-house ascended by three Steps is twelve Yards long eight broad and abought six high The Pillars which support the Roof being eight-square are of Wood and Gilded The Room within is also adorn'd with Gilded Sculpture or Carv'd-work The Floor is commonly cover'd with rich Carpets and hath a Fountain in the middle of it Before the Divanchane is a long narrow Walk Planted with Tzinar-Trees These kind of Walks they call Chiewan The third is the Haramchane or Hall for the Women in which his Casseha or Concubines which are at other times kept up in private Apartments come together to Dance before the King to the Musick of several Instruments or the Voices of Eunuchs The fourth is the Deke or place in which the King spends his time most part of the day and ever but at Festival times or when busied about State Affairs Dines with his Queen and the rest of his Wives Besides these there are other fair Apartments which contribute to the splendor and accommodation of a King's Palace besides divers brave Banquetting-houses and pleasant Gardens But above all the rest about forty Paces from the chief Gate is a Door on the right-hand which leads to a great Garden in the middle whereof stands a Chappel This Garden being a priviledg'd Place is by the Persians call'd Allacapi that is Gods Gate Hither Debtors Man-slayers and other Malefactors flie for sanctuary and so long as they can maintain themselves there at their own Cost and Charge they are unmolested but Thieves they will not suffer to be there long Behind the Palace is the Taberick Cale or Treasury being rather a Castle than a House for the word Cale signifies a Castle It is an indifferent large Structure encompass'd with high Walls and Redoubts of Earth which Nicholas Hemmius takes to be Towers This Castle is constandy Garrison'd with divers Companies of Soldiers and the King having a considerable Magazine often keeps his Court in it Moreover on the other side of the Maidan in a peculiar Street is another Sanctuary or priviledg'd House call'd Tseche hit Sutun so call'd from forty Beams or Pieces of Timber all which resting upon one single Pilar which stands in the middle of the Metzid belonging to it support the Roof thereof Hither the Persians flock'd in great numbers when Tamerlane going to destroy the rebelling Citizens resolv'd to spare onely the Temple and all those that were in it for he put to the Sword them that were in the Temple Court and caus'd all the Houses thereabouts to be pull'd down which Schach Abbas re-building made it a priviledg'd Place The Persians Belief concerning Mehedi On the South side of the Maidan is a large and sumptuous Mosque which being begun by Schach Abbas and almost finish'd his Successor compleated it and overlaid the Walls with a rich sort of Marble brought from Erwend Anno 1037. this Mosque was Consecrated to Mehedi the last of their twelve Imams or Saints of the Race of Aali of whom it is vulgarly believ'd that he lies slumbering in a Cave near Cusa from whence he is expected to return at the Day of Judgment and Riding
stay all the Avenues and Ways are guarded to keep out the men whil'st the Women sometimes spend whole Nights in several Pastimes by Torch and Candle-light All places fitted for the King's Reception and the Reason why The King's Gardens in all his Royal Cities as in Ispahan Casbin c. are provided with Concubines Slaves and all manner of Necessaries because the King stays not long in one place neither goes with much Company for he often travels with onely two or three Horse-men which many times ride so hard that they finish a Journey of thirty days in five or six to which purpose he keeps exceeding swift Horses at appointed Stages where they always stand ready saddl'd and bridl'd because they are uncertain of his coming and because his Train cannot follow him with that speed therefore he hath a House in most of the wall'd Cities of his Realm furnished with all manner of Necessaries The Kings Palace a priviledg'd place The King 's Douletchane or Pallace in Ispahan is a priviledg'd Place or Sanctuary for all Malefactors that fly thither and touch the Ring Hammer or Knocker of the Gate which is in such esteem or Veneration that the whole Court receive it's Name Astane from it and as a Token thereof when they name this Royal Knocker they add the Word Doulet thereto that is good Luck and say Astane Doulet that is the Knocker of good Luck and understand the King's Court by the same Another priviledg'd place The Alcapy is also a priviledg'd Place where no Person nay not the King himself hath power to touch any Malefactor or Debtor wherefore many flying thither stay there till they have compounded with their Creditors The Familiarity of the King The King as also most of the Nobility in Persia cause most of their Meat to be drest in their Presence nay prepare the same with their own Hands nay more than this he for all his greatness sometimes makes himself very familiar amongst his Subjects eats as he passes along the Streets and in the midst of the Bazars or Exchanges often standing still before a Cooks Shop and sees what Meat they dress and sometimes goes unexpectedly into a Tradesman's House where sitting down he eats with great and unimaginable freedom The King's Lodgings In the Chambers or Tents in which the King sleeps are always eight or ten Beds made ready so that no person knows which he intends to lie on nay sometimes when he wakes in the night he goes from one Bed to another and so lies on three or four in one Night which he doth to no other end but to prevent sudden Assassination and that by that Means he might have time to Arm himself for his Defence In many of the High-ways the King hath divers Houses and Gardens the Houses for the most part are built and furnish'd after one fashion viz. small with many little Chambers which have divers Doors The Walls and Cielings being very smooth are Painted and richly Gilded yet without Order or Art The Kings Houses The King hath many handsom Houses but his chiefest Court is kept at Ispahan in the Summer and in the Winter in Ferhabad In the beginning of the Moneth Ramadhan His Hunting which is our Lent the King goes to Abicurrong in the Mountains to take the fresh Air and to Hunt in which Sport he spends several days attended by some thousands of People At the Ears of those Beasts which the King takes alive he hangs golden Plates on which are Engraven certain Marks and then setting them at Liberty again often re-takes them nay some have been taken who have had the Marks of King Thamas Ismael Sefi and other ancient Princes In all the Provinces of Persia Bull-baiting Bull-baiting is very common but especially about Caxem the Inhabitants whereof travel up and down into several Countreys to find out the strongest and fairest Bulls which they bring to Ispahan where upon the Maidan or Market-place naked Men Encounter with them Musical Instruments among the Persians In the Kings Palace at any Entertainment as also at Entertainments in Noblemens Houses are commonly young Women who Dance to the sound of a Diara or little Drum but their common Instruments are Cymbals and Citterns yet besides these they have another call'd Scig made of Copper round and hollow within which holding in one Hand they strike upon it with the other but the chiefest Instrument is a Tabor hung round about with Bells This Instrument is very common in all the Eastern Countreys but especially in Persia the Inhabitants whereof take such delight in them that the King never makes any great Entertainment but he always hath several who Dance to the sound of it Their Dancing The manner of Dancing us'd by the Persians is not unpleasing for they Sing and Dance together in a King he that leads the Dance Sings a Verse or two of some merry Song the rest bearing the Chorus or Burden The Nobles also at the Kings Court every Evening at the sound of several Instruments play at a certain Game with a Hammer and Ball not unlike our Palmall which every one that pleases may come and see The Recreation of the Nobles The King often invites mean Persons that are well experienc'd in this Game to play at it which is perform'd after this manner viz. The Gamesters divide themselves into two Parties on Horseback one at each end of the place where the Game is to be play'd and with a woodden Hammer which they hold in the right Hand they strike a light woodden Ball not with the flat Head of the Hammer but with the side which is somewhat hollow'd out at the set Mark in which the winning of the Game consists without any wrangling or dispute but the chiefest part of the Game is to follow the Ball and strike it beyond the Mark before those at the other end can prevent them Great dexterity is requir'd in this Game and also exceeding swiftness as well of he Horse as the Rider and this is the onely way whereby the Persians learn to Ride so well Those that play are also dress'd after a peculiar manner in Clothes of several colours with rich Turbants adorn'd with Plumes of Feathers and other Ornanents They have another Exercise call'd The Baiting of the Wolf Wolf-baiting but it is us'd by none but the inferior sort of People viz. A Wolf being let loose the People having each Man a Cloak on encompass the Beast in great numbers shouting and hollowing and if at any time the enraged Wolf falls in amongst them and seizes any one the whole Croud rescue the Person in danger and assail the Beast And these two are the chiefest and most esteemed Exercises amongst the Persians The Furniture of their Tables at Meals All the Chans and other great Lords residing at the Kings Court being prime Officers of State have their Tables spread with a large eight corner'd Carpet
murder their Fathers are ty'd to the Tail of an Elephant and dragg'd along the Streets so long till they die Others are kill'd by Elephants wild Beasts and Serpents No Malefactor lies above one Night in Prison and sometimes not at all for if he be apprehended in the Morning he is immediately carry'd before a Judge who either discharges him or passes Sentence upon him which if it be to be whipt he is immediately stript naked receiving his punishment in the presence of the Judge if to die they instantly carry him to the Bazar or Market-place This sudden way of punishing Offenders keeps the People in such awe that they seldom commit any Crime to deserve it The King's Robes given to the Omrahs It is said that the Mogol never wears a Sute of Clothes above one day after which he sends the same with great Ceremony to such Omrahs as are his Favorites who account it a great honor to be clad in the King's Robes He is weigh'd upon his Birth-day The Mogols Birth-day is kept as a great Festival on which he is weigh'd in the Scale against some Jewels Gold Silver Cloth of Tissue Butter Rice Fruit and many other things each of them successively being put into the Ballance all which falls to the Mollas or Priests share This is done in great state whil'st several Elephants hung with Chains Bels Gold and Silver Caparisons and Breastplates beset with Rubies and Emeraulds are brought before him From the weight of the King of which the Physicians take an exact Account they boast to know his Abilities When the Mogol is thus weigh'd he throws small pieces of Silver amongst the Spectators as also some Gold in the form of Flowers Cloves or Nutmegs but very thin and hollow which done he drinks with his Nobles Their way of Salutation The usual Salutation which the Indians shew to their King as also to one another is in the Persian Tongue call'd Teslim in the Indian Sumback and by a corrupt Name amongst the Europeans Sombaya The manner of Salutation is perform'd with the right Hand without taking off their Turbants with which they almost touch the Ground and lifting it up again very leisurely to their Mouthes as if they would kiss it and so still higher and higher by degrees till they hold it above their Heads After the same manner but with both Hands folded together they Salute and shew Reverence to their Gods and other Consecrated things The Indian Heathens in stead of wishing one another Health or a good Day salute one another with the Name of their Idol Ram. The Reverence they shew to their Prince When the King 's Vice-Roys come to the Court or any other place where he is they bow down their Heads to the Ground and touch the same with their Hands after which approaching him by degrees they bow several times one after another till they are very near him when they are search'd by those whose Office it is to see if they carry any Arms about them after which they go to touch his Feet whil'st he stands as if immovable The greatest sign of Friendship that he can shew them is to lay his Hand on their Shoulders Moreover the rest of the Kings of India who are not his Substitutes when they speak of him bow their Heads in sign of Reverence All the Mogol's Provinces are Govern'd by Sultans or Vice-Roys either Moors Heathens or others In the chiefest Towns and Sea-Ports are three Governors or Officers of the Kings viz. the Omar or Nabab who is the Governor or Lord of the City the Governor of the Castle and the King 's Confident call'd Vakea Nevis who oversees the other two The Omar being the Lord of the City Commands also in the Countrey round about and takes care to receive the Customs Excises and other Revenues of which he gives an Account to the King He bears the Title of Nabab which signifies My Lord and keeps two Deputies viz. one in the Countrey call'd Cavasioram whose Office it is with several hundred Bow-men to keep the Ways clear from Robbers and the other in the City nam'd Cotonal or Cutwal who performs the Office of Provost-Marshal seising on all Malefactors and committing them to Prison but his Power extends not without the Liberty of the City except by express order from the Governor The Omar or Nabab Treats of Peace and Matters of Traffique on the Boundaries and Sea-coasts Amongst them also is a Sabandar or Master of the Cinque-Ports The Governor of the Castle who seldom comes out of his Fortress takes upon him the Title of Omar The King 's chief Officers in Cities and Sea-Ports and may refuse the Nabab entrance into the Fort if he comes thither without the King's Order or with too great a Train He also orders the People to Watch and Ward causes the Drums to beat and Trumpets to sound three times a day and as often in the night at each time an hour and a half The Vakea Nevis or Inquisitor General takes notice of the Actions of the Nabab the Governor of the Castle and other eminent Officers inquires into all disorders and informs the Mogol by Letters every eighth day of what happens in that time in the City where he resides The Mahumetan Princes never give any Lands to their Officers for Inheritance nor do they enjoy their Employments any longer than their Princes please The Mogol's Eldest Son inherits the Crown unless for some misdemeanor or want of ability he is by the Father in his Life-time and with the Consent of his Council judg'd undeserving thereof The Indians derive their right of Inheritance from the Mothers side notwithstanding the Men commonly have the whole Conduct of the Realm as being fittest to command Of the Name and Title of Mogol The reason of the Name Mogol THey give their King the Name of Mogol because he is extracted out of a Tribe or Family of the Giagatian Tartars for there are many Tribes of Tartars which is properly call'd Mogol and belongs to the City Samarcand in the Province Giagata or Zagatai otherwise Usbeck which is the ancient Sogdiane and in the Persian Maps call'd Soghd For this reason many of his Subjects and especially the Mahumetan Soldiers which are in his Service though Native Indians call themselves Mogols or Mogolleans because they are deriv'd out of Tartary It s signification Terry tells us That the Name or Title of Mogol signifies Circumcised as he himself is and all the Mahumetans and from hence he is call'd the Great Mogol as being the Chief of the Circumcis'd Some also call him the Emperor of the Ganges The Provinces and Countreys between the Bay of Cambaya and that of Bengala as Telengone or the Kingdom of Visiapour Decan Golconda and many other Territories were not Govern'd in ancient Times by peculiar Princes but by one Supreme Head or by two at the most viz. The Southern Parts were Govern'd by the
and building their Nests of long withered Grass make them fast to the Boughs of Trees that so they may be freed from Vermin These Parrots do great mischief to all Fruits and Corn especially Rice The Ancient and Modern Inhabitants of Surratte The ancient Inhabitants and Natives of Surratte being formerly all Heathens were by a general Name call'd Hindous but are at present either Heathens distinguished by the Names of Benjans and Brahmans Mahumetans or Moors which have Setled here since this Countrey hath been brought under the Mogols Jurisdiction The other Inhabitants are Persians Tartars Arabians Armenians and many other People of Asia and Europe except Chineses Japanners and Jews which are seldom found there In most Places of Surratte dwell a sort of Persians or People derived from the ancient Persians which the Benjans and other Heathens call Garoisdees and Persees or Parsis which last Name according to the testimony of Bollayle le Gouz they give themselves the Moors Guenure the Persians Atech Peres Zarduzts Kebbers and Gauri They boast their Extract from Persia and have for several Ages before Mahomet been Governed by peculiar Kings of their own Countrey till the Wars which commonly occasion great Revolutions in States and Empires reduc'd them at last under another Government which hapned after the Birth of our Saviour Anno 640. in the twenty ninth Year of the Reign of the last Persian King call'd Jazdgerd or Yesdegerd otherwise Jesdagird Son to Xarear who resided in the City Yesd near the old Ispahan The Turks coming from Turkestan or Turky through the Province Naohaad into Persia ruin'd all the Countrey and forced Jasdagird who went with an Army to meet them with the assistance of the Arabians who fell into Persia at another Place to retreat to Corazan where after a Reign of twenty nine years he deceased when most of the conquer'd Persians which would not embrace Mahomet's Doctrine nor suffer themselves to be Circumcised left their native Countrey and travell'd towards India there to enjoy Liberty of Conscience under the Rajaâ— and coming to the Persian Gulf a Fleet consisting of seven Ships was order'd to carry them and their Followers which some affirm consisted in eighteen thousand Persons Men Women and Children as Merchants over to India Five of the said Fleet arriving safely at St. Johns-Land in the Haven of Swaly they resolv'd to go to the Raja who then resided at Nuncery where they declar'd the Occasion which forc'd them to come thither and requested the Raja that he would please to receive them as a People that would willingly live under his Government provided they might enjoy their own Religion whereupon they were received on paying Tribute and taking the Oath of Allegiance One of the remaining two Ships went to a Raja residing at Baryacy near Surratte where the People aboard her were receiv'd upon the same Conditions as the former But this Raja being at Wars with another Raja was defeated his Countrey taken from him and all the Persians as his Abetters destroy'd by his Enemies The seventh and last Vessel Sailing along the Coast touched at Cambaya where the People that were in the same were receiv'd on the same Conditions as the former So that these People after what manner soe're spread through India had certainly their Extract from one of the foremention'd Places where they liv'd so long that they forgot their Original and Religion nay they could not remember from whence they were Extracted till at length after the expiration of many years the Name of Persians was made known to them by those that having remain'd in Persia disclos'd to them the History of their Predecessors instructed them in their ancient Religion and taught them how to serve God for the future so that at present wheresoe're they are they strictly maintain their ancient Religion or Sect and many Persians have since Setled themselves along the Sea-shore where they have liv'd quietly among the Natives But Herbert contrary to the opinion of all Historians tells us that King Jazdgerd banish'd them to India because they refus'd to embrace the Mahumetan Doctrine and to be Circumcised The Apparel or the Persians of Surratte As to what concerns the Apparel of these Persians they are Clothed after the same fashion as the Inhabitants except that they ware a Girdle or Sash of Camels Hair or Sheeps Wooll which going twice about their Middle is ty'd behind with two Tassels This Sash or Girdle is by them call'd Cushee and worn as a publick testimony of their Faith in the nature or our Baptism or the Circumcision of the Mahumetans and is given them at their being initiated into their Religion in the seventh year of their Age. When accidentally they lose one of these Girdles or Sashes they are not permiâ—ted to eat drink work speak or stir before they have obtain'd another And these Girdles are to be bought of their Priests As well Women as Men are obliged to wear these Sashes from the seventh year of their Age or as others affirm from their twelfth year which is from the time of their being initiated They live here like the Natives free and undisturbed and drive what Trade they please They are very ingenious and for the most part maintain themselves with Tilling and buying and selling all sorts of Fruits tapping of Wine out of the Palm-trees which Wine they sell in Houses of Entertainment for their Law debars them not from drinking strong Liquor so it be not the Juice of the Grape Some also Traffick and are Exchangers of Money keep Shops and exercise all manner of Handicrafts except Smiths-work for they are not allow'd to quench Fire with Water In point of Eating and Drinking their Law hath given them great Priviledge Their Diet. but to avoid displeasing of the Benjans amongst whom they live and the Moors under whose Jurisdiction they stand they abstain from Wine that is the Juice of the Grape and Swines-flesh but of the Palm-Wine they drink very greedily insomuch that it is usual among some making up a Palm-leaf in form of a Tunnel to let the Palm-Wine run through the same into their Throats They always eat alone by themselves judging that they are able to live pure and undefiled that if they should eat with any person they would certainly be defiled They also drink out of several Cups and if any Person chances accidentally to drink out of anothers Cup they wash the same three times and set it away for a considerable time before they use it again Some affirm that their Law forbids them to eat of any thing that enjoyed Life except in times of War or great Necessity for then they are permitted to eat Mutton Goats-flesh Venison Poultrey and Fish and all manner of Flesh except that of Cows Oxen Horses Camels Elephants and the like Beasts which they account a deadly sin to kill but they chiefly abstain from Cows or Ox-flesh affirming that they will rather eat their Father or Mothers
of Ravisaldee an eminent Raja which hapned accordingly as may appear by the following Relation There was formerly as their Histories make mention a Raja call'd Syde Ravisaldee after whose Decease his Son built a stately Tomb in a Place call'd Sythepolapore so to express to his Successors the Affection and Reverence he bore to his Father When this magnificent Structure was finish'd with great Labor and Charge he consulted with the Bramines and desir'd to know of them if the stately Tomb he had built would be of any long continuance or would be subject to decay as well as other worldly things by whom it should be ruin'd Upon which a Madewnauger experienc'd in the Bramines Art answer'd That a certain Sultan call'd Alaudin King of Dely should ruine the same and make great Conquest in Surratte Syde Ravisaldee to prevent the ruine of this Structure sent the Bramine Madewnauger with great Sums of Money to Dely to this Alaudin to obtain of him that he would let his Fathers Bones rest and not destroy the Temple he had built for him But the Bramine coming thither could not find any Person of that Name in any Government or Command but after long search he was inform'd that a certain Wood-cutter living there had a Son of that Name whereupon going to this Man who was extremely amaz'd to see him he related to him his Journey whilst the Son of Alaudin standing behind his Father was preparing a Dish of Goats-flesh The Bramine going to him told him of the good Fortune that should attend him and that on a certain Day he would come to be King of Dely and make huge Conquests in Surratte and that Syde Ravisaldee had sent to proffer him a great Sum of Money requesting that when he should be Victor he would be pleas'd to defend the Temple which he had built as a Monument over his Fathers Grave at Sythepolapore Alaudin made this Answer That it was beyond all possibility he should be so powerful and attain such great Fortunes yet nevertheless if the Heavens had ordain'd it it was not possible to prevent it and it would be impossible for him to defend that Temple He also generously refus'd the Presents and the Money which the Bramine proffer'd him but his Father and Mother whom his Necessity gave good Advice to and knew better than he what was good for them persuaded him to receive the Presents partly to relieve themselves out of the present Indigency in which they were and make use thereof as an Instrument to attain to those things which were Prophesied Alaudin hereupon liking their Advice receiv'd them and gave to the Bramine a written Paper to this effect That since the Heavens had appointed he should fetch some Stones from this Structure he would only take them from one Corner without ruining it as well to perform that which was foretold him as to answer the Requests of Syde Ravisaldee With this Money Alaudin rais'd a considerable number of Soldiers and happily succeeded in all his Enterprizes insomuch that being press'd forward by his good success and emboldned by the Prophesie that he should do such valiant Exploits he at last attain'd to be King of Dely conquer'd Surratte and perfom'd that which he had promis'd Syde Ravisaldee and also ruin'd many Rajas to the great prejudice of the State of the Benjans who then began to decline But at last being wearied with the toil and care of War which continu'd a long time and was very â—roublesom because many Rajas retreated into inaccessible Places he appointed one Futterâ—on to compleat his Victories Alaudin seeing â—hat Fortune had rais'd him from nothing to the highest Degree of Honor he resolv'd to sâ—â—re his Happiness with him who had the least thoughts thereof and seriously considering thereupon a whole Night he concluded to give the Government of all those Places which he possess'd in Surratte to the first that should come and offer him any Presents when just as if it had been appointed Futterkon came into his Chamber to proffer him a Glass of Wine which Alaudin receiv'd with great joy and immediately in the Face of his whole Army declar'd Futterkon Successor of all those Dominions which he had or should attain and commanded all his Officers to shew him the Respect due to him as his Successor and to obey and assist him in all things which were necessary for the carrying on and finishing the already begun Conquests After which Alaudin retir'd to Dely whilst Futterkon prosecuted his Conquests of Surratte which the other Mahumetans that succeeded him in the Government of his Dominions compleated to the destruction of the Realm of the Benjans As to what concerns their present Condition some Rajas that were in a good Condition and others that retir'd into the middle of the Country into Places which could not be conquer'd are yet in Being and Rob those Caravans which Travel by the Places of their Residence and often Sally out to the Gates of the most strong and populous Cities for Booty They have many brave Soldiers that accompany them in these Enterprises who are by some call'd Rasphootes or Rasboten and Rasbookes and by others Resbuten Raspouten Reisbutos and Ragipous which signifie Kings Children for being of the Tribe of the Kutteries in all probability they were deriv'd from those Noble Persons that were destroy'd in the Conquest of Surrate Among those that were not conquer'd and are at present living is one Raja Surmulgee whose Residence is at Raspeplaw another Raja Berumshaw at Molere the Raja Ramnagar Raja Burmulgee and the great Raja Rannah who have maintain'd many a Field-Battel against the Great Mogols Army There are above a hundred Rajas or Pagan Princes sprinkled up and down in this Realm that are not under Subjection to the Great Mogol nor pay any Tribute to him some of them dwell near others a good distance from Dely among them are fifteen or sixteen very rich and powerful but chiefly five or six as the Raja residing in the Country of Jesselmeer who formerly Reign'd as Emperor over the Rajas and is said to be Extracted from King Porous and likewise Jesseingue and Jessomseingue which are rais'd to that heighth that if those three would but joyn together they would keep the Mogol sufficiently employ'd each of them being able in an instant to bring twenty thousand Horse into the Field better Exercis'd and Arm'd than those of the Mogol The present Great Mogol's chiefest Soldiers are Rajas as Jesseingue Jessomseingue and others to whom he gives great Salaries to be always prepared with a certain number of Ragipouts their Subjects and maintains and keeps them as Omrahs that is to say as other strange Lords and Mahumetans sometimes among those Forces which he always has to Guard him and sometimes in the Field These Rajas are commonly oblig'd to perform the same Duties that the Omrahs do that is to be upon the Guard though with this distinction they do it not in any
call it Tzumeh that is The Day of Meeting Of all these the Tscharschembe or Wednesday is accounted the most unfortunate The last Wednesday of the Moneth Safar or January all Mahumetans especially the Persians account the most fatal day of the whole year so that they will not go out of doors nor permit any Person to visit them and are most nicely circumspect in all things and suspicious least some Disaster should befall them Moreover the whole Moneth of Safar being esteem'd unfortunate no one will venture to begin a Journey or undertake any Business of consequence They also put great confidence in the Planetary Hours and ascribe the twelve Hours to the twelve celestial Signs viz. the first Hour on Sunday to Aries and so of the rest The Persians highly esteem Books of Astrology which they receiv'd from the Chaldeans Are great admirers of Astrology who were famous in that Art and are so addicted thereto that a Minatzim may perswade them to undertake or forbear any thing either out of hopes of future good or fear of evil The Hakims generally spend their time in reading Books of Physick and Astrology Amongst these there are some Their Fortune-tellers that by casting Lots will foretell future Events of which fort many have Booths on the Maidan or great Marker-place in Ispahan and are of two Qualities viz. Remals and Falkirs The Remals use six or seven Dice strung on two Copper Wyres and by the Casts thereof they Predict The Falkirs go another way to work for they have thirty or forty Chips of an Inch square lying before them and written on the undermost side on one of these they lay Money and propose such Questions as the Inquisitor desires to be resolv'd of whereupon the Fortune-teller takes up the Chip with the Money and reads the words that are written under it this done he takes up a great Book all the Leaves whereof are full of horrid Shapes as Dragons and all manner of Beasts and Animals painted and muttering to himself looks with an affrighted Countenance on the People at last he turns over many Leaves to a certain Picture in the Book and comparing the foremention'd Writing on the Chip therewith resolves the propos'd Question Of their Poesie POesie is here also highly esteem'd for in most places are many Shaers or Poets for Shaer in the Persian Tongue signifies a Poet as Casiechuan an Orator which compose Verses in Writing but extempore which they recite publickly in the Maidan or Market-place or in Houses of Entertainment for a small Reward and are often invited to great Feasts by Persons of Quality to make their Entertainment more solemn by the rehearsal of their Poetical Fancies Della Valle affirms that they have some knowledge in Poetry Morality and Oratory yet it is but superficial consisting onely in words for they are very shallow of Invention which is the most noble part and like the Soul of the whole Body The King as also the Chans have each their own Poets which do not make themselves common in the Streets but keep in their Houses and make new Verses to delight their Lords and if they chance to hit on a Subject pleasing to them they are rewarded with great Presents The difference of their Poets These Poets differ from other People in their Habit for like the Philosophers they wear white under-Coats open before with broad and wide Sleeves and a Bag by their Girdle in which they carry their Paper and Inkhorn Their Cloaks are without Sleeves their Stockings short and their Breeches run down sloaping to their Feet In the Winter they wear Coats which reach down to their Ancles but they never wear Turbants onely Caps Those that stand in the Maidans or Markets tie a painted Cloth about their Bodies which hang over their right Shoulder and under their left Arm in which manner they read their Poetry but these are not all to be suppos'd excellent for some scarce deserve the Name of Rhimers these may be seen venting their Froth in publick Houses and in the Market-places to the illiterate Vulgar But there are many excellent Copies of the ancient Persian Poets as well in the Turkish as Persian Language for as they esteem both Tongues alike so they read the Turks Poetry with as much pleasure as the Persian The best Poets amongst them are distinguish'd by these Names viz Saadi Hasis Firdausi Fussuli Chagani Eheli Schems Nawai Schahidi Deheki Nessimi Their Verses close almost after the German manner Their method in Versifying having regard to like sounding words at the end of each Verse but mind not the number of Feet Some Verses are onely a few words which being transpos'd into several places make the Verses divers and to this purpose they often use such words as have a double signification some end with the ending word of the former Line as thus Tzire tzire tzirag Janitze Adamira demag Janitze Tzire tzire tzirag Osteri bud Adamira demag Cheri bud Some begin with the ending word and end with the beginning word of the former Line as in the following Verses Kalem be dest Debira beh hasar derem Derem be dest neajed Meker nauk kalem Here the second Verse begins with the word wherewith the first ended and the last ends with the same with which the first begins so that we may conclude though they have a high conceit of themselves yer we can discover nothing by this but that they are very mean Poets Lawyers and Physicians Few Lawyers here THere are few Lawyers amongst the Persians because they have onely a few written Laws and those taken out of the Alcoran the Explanation and Practise whereof is wholly reserv'd to the Casi and Diwanbech How they practise Physick In matter of Physick they follow the Directions of Avicenna and use for the most part the Prescriptions of Galen They also apply many things outwardly to their Patients but without reason as those that have inflam'd their Blood by drinking too much of hot Liquors they endeavor to cure by laying a great piece of Ice on their Bodies being of opinion that the readiest Cure for all Diseases is by contrary Applications If a Child or Woman falls sick a Physician is not suffer'd to come to them but onely a Nurse who sends to the Doctor and informs him of the state and condition of the Disease who without more a do immediately prescribes Medicines which are taken by the Patient with exceeding care They call all Physicians Hikim that is Wise because of their Skill and Knowledge A Cure for the Head-ache About Casbin as Olearius tells us stands a large Tree under which they say an old Saint lies bury'd to which they make address for cure of the Tooth-ache or other Aches or Pains the manner how as followeth The Persons affected coming to the Tree drive a Nail into it having first touch'd the grieved part therewith then killing it they make Offerings and give Alms
the Persians follow besides Tilling Husbandry and Planting all sorts of Fruits which they sell to advantage are several Manufactures and Arts but none turn to a greater Account than that of Writing Writing the most advantageous Employment and Silk-Stuffs the next they being utterly ignorant in the Art of Printing The next is the making of Silk-Stuffs for which purpose eminent Citizens keep Work-houses in the Persian Tongue call'd Carchane where many Persons are employ'd which brings them in great Profit yearly But Cito Indino which is very fine Callico spotted with divers Colours is brought thither out of India Most of the Artificers are Weavers Artificers Dyers or Painters who Trading in Cotton and Silk make curious Stuffs mix'd with Gold of the same but their Pieces reach not above eight or nine Yards a fit Pattern for a Persian Habit. The Jescht and Cashan Workmen being the most artificial know how to work all sorts of Shapes in Silk-Stuffs but especially their Characters so exactly that the best Writers cannot make their Letters better with a Pen. These Stuffs besides those that are made up into wearing Clothes are with Cotton and raw Silk Transported to other Countreys Vast quantities of Silk gather'd yearly It is generally accounted that in Persia there are every year gather'd ten thousand Zoom or twenty thousand Bales of Silk for a Zoom is two Bales each Bale weighing two hundred and sixteen Pound Of these twenty thousand Bales the Province of Kilan alone produces in a fruitful year eight thousand Schirwan and Chorazan each three thousand Mazanderan and Carabach each two thousand besides what Georgia which is also rich in Silk and other Places yield of all which not above a thousand Bales are kept to be wrought in Persia the remainder being sent to India Turky and Italy and by us and the Hollanders fetch'd from thence in Exchange for Copper Tin and Cloth which last is highly esteem'd by the Persians who are ignorant in the use of Wooll and making of Cloth insomuch that a Yard of ordinary Cloth at Ispahan will fetch eight nine or ten Dollars A free and open Trade in Prrsia The most and richest Traders in Persia are Armenian Christians who like our Chapmen carry their Wares from Place to Place for Persia is an open Countrey for all Nations to vend their Wares in In Cashan are three sorts of Silk-Stuffs the first that of which they make their Girdles the second is call'd Mileck on some of which are wrought divers Persian Motto's as also the Figures of Men Women Beasts and Plants all set off with choice variety of Colours the third sort is call'd Zerbaf or Mileckzerbaf which differ little from the former onely that the first is all of Silk and the others are wrought with Gold and Silver and onely worn by Ladies or us'd to make rich Furniture for their Chambers The King's Revenues The King 's yearly Revenues THe yearly Revenues of the Kings of Persia are said to amount to twenty Millions of our Money for not onely the Towns and Provinces pay great Tributes but also the Customs Taxes and Presents amount to a considerable Sum. The rich Province of Candahar alone when it is under the Jurisdiction of Persia pays in Tributes and other Taxes about two Millions and a half of Gold Iran and Babylon pay not much less and according to the Contents of the Dester or Exchequer-Register the Suburbs and Villages about Ispahan pay yearly forty thousand Dollars Customs taken off in Trade from Port to Port and of what paid Schach Thamas was the first King that took off the Customs formerly paid for the Transporting of Commodities from one Place to another being Farm'd for above a hundred thousand Tomans yearly each Toman being sixteen Crowns but afterwards he commanded them onely to pay the bare Fees of what Goods were Exported or Imported so that most of his Revenues came from the Lands Woods Vineyards and Fruits of which he had a seventh part of the Product They also paid for their Cattel viz. for forty Sheep fifteen Bisties yearly and for each Cow ten Besides which the Christians paid from Five to Eight in the Hundred according to the goodness of the Lands possess'd and Trade which they drove The Customs which are paid in Travelling for the securing of the Roads are very inconsiderable Some report that the River Senderuth in Ispahan raises yearly near sixteen thousand Dollars The Armenian Christians of which there are many thousands in the Countrey pay two Dollars apiece The annual Presents of the Chans and others amount also to vast Sums of Money for none according to an ancient Custom may appear before the King without a Present The value of the yearly Presents besides which the Magistrates and Governors expect their Gifts The Georgians also pay great Tributes to the Persian King for Vincent ab Alexandro affirms that one of those Princes pays yearly twenty thousand Escues or Crowns Not onely on the Borders but also up into the Countrey in the chiesest Cities and in many places where there are Bridges and great Throughfares both Strangers and Inhabitants are forc'd to pay Toll for Silk and other Merchandises Toll paid of most Goods besides which for each Bale of Silk made in the Countrey the King receives ten Dollars for each Mule that is sold one Abas for an Ass half an Abas for an Ox a quarter of a Dollar and for a Sheep one Casbechie The Pearl-Fishing of Barain brings him in twenty five hundred or three thousand Tomans yearly The Caravansera's which are inhabited by Merchants pay annually fifty thousand Dollars In Ispahan are twenty four which pay three hundred Tomans The King also receives twenty five thousand Dollars per annum from the Farm of Fishing in Rivers and from the Nefta springs four thousand The Baths and Houses of Entertainment pay a Tun of Gold and all Gardens forty Yards long and thirty broad nine Abas apiece The State of the Prince By these great Revenues the Wealth of this Kingdom sufficiently appears and the State of the Prince from his Golden Table and Dishes of which Schach Abbas had so many that as hath been said the making of them onely cost nine hundred thousand Ducats Olearius judges they might weigh thirty six hundred Pound And this Magnificence was not new for Xenophon affirms that the ancient Kings of Persia judg'd their greatest Glory to consist in their abundance of Golden Vessels Their Buildings The form of Noblemens Houses THe Houses of Noblemen are for the most part large containing many Apartments fitted for several uses each Room is built alone in a handsom form and separate from the rest so that you need not go out of one into another as is usual here but directly to that where you are design'd The Houses according to the Eastern manner have no Windows towards the Street are flat Roof'd and have very little Doors of one intire
also from all kind of Pleasures Many poor People digging a deep Hole in the most populous Street go into it where standing up to the Chin they cover their Heads with an Earthen Vessel full of Holes in which manner they stand a whole day whil'st another poor Man sitting near begs Alms of those that pass by Others as an extraordinary sign of sorrow anoint their Bodies with a black shining Colour which makes their Skin like Jet some paint their Bodies red thereby to represent the innocent Blood and cruel Derth of Hossein and Sing several Elegies in a doleful Tone in which they relate the Circumstances of his Death One of the Molla's or Priests especially of those that boast their Extract from Mahomet stands every day at Noon in the Maidan or other open place upon a high Stool with a green Turbant where he makes a Sermon declaring the noble Acts and Holiness of Hossein and the Circumstances of his Death The like Sermons are Preach'd in their Metzids or Temples Another Feast and Procession On the tenth of the Moneth Muharrem which they call The Murthering Day and is our eighth of January they go in Procession through all the Streets in Ispahan as on the day of Aasly's Death for they wear the same Clothes and have the other things belonging to that Ceremony as Pennons Ensigns and Horses richly caparison'd and loaden with Armor and Turbants Moreover they have a Camel which tarries a Basket wherein are two or three Children which represent the Children of Hossein that were carry'd to Prison These are follow'd by Biers cover'd with Velvet on the top whereof stands a Persian Tag or Turbant In these Processions the Men for the most part go Arm'd and oftentimes Fight one with another thereby to represent the Confusion and Hurry in which Hossein was Martyr'd certainly believing that whosoe're is kill'd in this Bussle goes directly to Paradice nay they affirm that during these Days of Asciur the Gates of Paradice stand always wide open and the Mahumetans which die in that time go directly thither without stop or stay Lastly all the Ceremonies for Hossein's Martyrdom are one and the same with those of Aaly's though the first are kept with greater State and Magnificence The night before the last day the Effigies of Abubeker Osman and Omar and some other contrary Parties are burnt publickly in the Maidan or Market-place On the twenty fifth of November the Persians keep a Feast of the Brotherhood as is already mention'd The Feast Abrisan On the fifth of July they keep a Feast by them call'd Ab Pascian or rather Abrizan that is Sprinkling of Water for Ab in the Persian Tongue signifies Water and Risan to Sprinkle on which day the King and all his Nobles Clothe themselves in short Vests after the Mazanderan manner and wear little Caps in stead of Turbants in which Dress they repair to a Brook or some other pleasant watry place where taking up the Water in little Cups they poure the same over one anothers Bodies but at last they grow so zealous that throwing away the Cups they endeavor to force each other into the Water with such eagerness that this Day never passes without the loss of many Persons This Feast is kept in Ispahan near the River Senderuth at the same place where it flows under the great Bridge in the Street call'd Tziaharbah Rui Gonzales Clavio tells us that this Feast is kept in Ispahan on the Bridge of Senderuth whither resort all the Townsmen and People from the adâ—acent places where they do as we have before related From whence this Feast hath its original we do not certainly know neither do the Persians themselves as we suppose Some ascribe the rise thereof to the Christians in commemoration of John the Baptist and this Opinion they strengthen with this Reason viz. That the Christians and almost all People of Asia keep the same though not upon one day or as others say in memory of the three Kings and because our Saviour was Baptiz'd at the River Jordan by John the Baptist The Armenians call this Day Cackciuciran that is Cross-water-day for they place a Cross in the Water on that Day from whence this Festival Day hath receiv'd its Denomination The Chineses Japanners and many other of the neighboring People keep such a kind of Feast as this which they call Tuonu The Feast Istend The Persians also observe a Feast call'd Istend so styl'd from an Herb of the same Name which shoots first out of the Ground in the Winter Season at the appearance of which this Feast begins and consists onely in the abundance of lighted Candles and Torches which they burn all the day and the following night in their Shops as a sign of their joy that the Winter which about that time ends in those hot Countreys is so near expiring This Feast is kept on that day when the Sun passes by the twenty fifth Degree of Aries which generally happens to be on the fifteenth of February The Feast of Freedom On the fifteenth of the Moneth Schabahan the Persians keep a great Feast call'd Scebiberat that is The Night of Freedom or Choise on which they do nothing but Pray give Alms to the Poor and the like pious Actions which they do in commemoration of the Souls of their deceased Friends Their Policy in Government Oeconomy and Splendor of the Court. The Government absolutely Monarchical THe Government of this Countrey is by absolute Monarchy for the King being the Chief hath all things in his own power to do whatsoe're he pleases being able to make or break Laws without any contradiction nay to take away any ones Estate or Life though he be the greatest Lord in the Countrey in short his Will is a Law in all things to his People The Kings Title The general Title of the King is Sophy deriv'd from the Arabick word Suff which signifies Woolly because the last Kings have instituted an Order to wear Woollen and not Cotton or Linnen Turbants as the Turks do or else because Sophy signifies Wise or Experienc'd according to the Greeks Olearius tells us that Writers call the last Persian Kings Sophy because the Promoter of their Sect was call'd Schach Sefi from whom it is become a Title of Honor as Defender of the Faith to his Majesty of Great Britain Most Christian to the French and Catholick to the King of Spain King Ismael also caus'd himself to be nam'd Schach Sade that is The Son of Schach as a token of his Extract from Schach Sefi who was so highly esteem'd amongst them Some say that this Name Sophy signifies a Man which renouncing the World endeavors onely to serve God so that Xeque Ismael bore the Title of Sophy because he appear'd to be the greatest Promoter of his Sect. And sometime before him Halilah being advanc'd to great Dignity was for the same reason call'd Sophy But since Schach Ismael none of
of Cloth-of-Gold or embroider'd Sattin with rich Fringe The Dishes wherein the Meat is brought to the Table are of massie Gold as also their Drinking-Cups which hold about a Pint and a half But Schach Abbas had all his serv'd up in Glass for a distinction from others They deliver with every Cup a great woodden Spoon or Ladle with a long Handle which they use more to drink out of than to eat withal neither do they make use of any other Spoons but what are made after that manner and of sweet-smelling Wood which having been once us'd are never brought to the Table again They never use Forks or Knives but the Steward who performs the Office of a Carver cuts the Meat with a great square Golden Slice which he always carries in his Hand How their Meat is serv'd up In the setting the Meat on the Table the Servants bring not the Dishes together but standing in a row from the Kitchin they hand them from one to another to the Table They commonly have but one Mess for they set all their Dishes at once upon the Table Each Person also receives Wine from a Waiter in order according to his Quality out of a golden Tumbler Every one is permitted to rise from Table without shewing Reverence to any and if their Occasions chance to call them out of the Room they go away without taking leave of any though the King himself be present The Water with which they wash their Hands is brought in gold en Basons The King and other great Persons seldom drink any Wine without Ice or Snow The Ice which they use is made of the clearest Water after this manner viz. Not far from the City in a great Plain a Bank is rais'd or cast up directly from East to West which being about a hundred and fifty Foot long and very thick is so high that it shadows the Plain from the Sun-beams when the Sun is at the heighth At the end of this Bank are two Arms which extending from the South to the North are full as high as the main Bank and about twenty four Foot long and keep off the Morning and Evening Sun so that this Plain lies shaded all the day long In this shady place is a Moat of about twenty or thirty Foot deep extending from the one Arm of the Bank to the other In the midst of Winter when it Freezes hardest they Plough this Plain which lies open to the Northern Winds full of small Furrows about three or four Fingers deep and so letting in the Water overflow it which in one Night freezing to the bottom is the next Morning before the rising of the Sun thrown into the Moat and Water pour'd upon it to make it condense the harder and this Practice they continue for a whole Moneth together or longer till the Moat is fill'd to the top with Ice then they cover it with Straw to prevent the melting thereof by the heat of the Sun and to keep it from Rain In the Summer this Ice being broken with Pick-axes is carry'd through the City to be sold on Horses or Mules two or three pieces being a sufficient Burthen The Ice being broken with a Hammer into greater or lesser pieces is either put into the Vessel with the Wine or into the Cups when they drink They also lay pieces of Ice in their Dishes with Fruit and other Cates which is very pleasing to the Eye especially if that which lies under the Ice appears through it The King's Dishes Urns and Drinking-Cups which he uses at his Table are all of massie Gold The Chans and other Nobles have their Pilao or Rice colour'd black and yellow and made savory with Herbs or else dulcifi'd with Sugar brought on their Tables also in Gold and Silver Dishes The Government of the peculiar Provinces How the Provinces are Govern'd ALl the Provinces in Persia which are remote from the King's Court are Govern'd by Chans Sultans Calenters Darago's Visiers and Caucha's The King chuses the Chans who are as much as Princes or Vice-Roys and makes them Governors of what Provinces he pleases but commonly he elects them who by their valiant Exploits Piety or other noble Vertues have gain'd the love of their Countrey wherefore many in hopes to attain to that Honor behave themselves very valiantly in any Engagement and desperately venture their Lives for the Title of Chan. But the Children of those who are thus chosen Inherit not amongst the Persians for though they are held in great Respect and enjoy their Father's Goods yet they are not honor'd with his Title nor succeed him in his Office except they are judg'd worthy thereof by their own Merits But Della Valle tells us that the King gives the Dignity of Chan to one of his Subjects not onely for his Life but also permits his Children to succeed him after his Death and that there are Families found that have enjoy'd this Title above two hundred years As soon as the King hath made any one a Chan he immediately gives him Lands and Men to support his Grandeur which he enjoys as long as he lives but if at any time he chance to be suspected by the King he is immediately turn'd out of his Employment and all his Goods seiz'd Each Province hath a Chan and a Calenter who resides in the Metropolis thereof The Chan being the King's Vice-Roy Executes the Law doth Justice to all and passes Sentence of Death on Criminals without any special Order from the Court. The chiefest Chan is he who Governs Sciras the Metropolis of the Province of Persia properly so call'd who is able to bring an Army of thirty thousand Men into the Field the Countrey which he Commands being said to be bigger than Portugal The Calenter is as a Collector or Treasurer of the Province gathering all the Revenues and giving an Account thereof either to the King or Chans A Darugo or Darago otherwise Hacom is like a Governor or Mayor of a City every City having one A Caucha is as much as an under Sheriff The Equipage of Ambassadors The King usually sends the Chans and Sultans as Agents to foreign Princes and fits them out after this manner viz. The King orders them to give great Presents to those Princes unto whom they are sent of which the one half is given out of the King's Treasury and the other part as also all other Necessaries the Province which the Chan Governs is to provide which often causes great disturbance and confusion In some Provinces the Chans must maintain a certain number of Soldiers for the King which besides their own must be ready for Service on all occasions but then the King receivs no Tribute from them The Chans make great Presents to the King The Chans commonly on New-years-day make great Presents to the King Some Provinces especially where there are no Chans but onely Darago's and therefore no Soldiers kept as in the Towns of Caswin Ispahan
made by one to another in the presence of one single Witness without any farther Ceremony How they order their Children The Women being generally Deliver'd of their Children on Beds of Straw and Chaff made for that purpose carry the Child to the next River though full of Ice and washing it give it the Name of the next strange Person that comes into the House When a Noblemans Child comes to the age of three or four years it is given to one of his Servants to be brought up and instructed after their manner Their manner of living They live for the most part upon Sturgeon and other Fish though sometimes they eat both tame and wild beasts Their Bread is principally of Barley and the usual Drink of the common People is Water but they make a Liquor of a sort of Grain which they call Boeza or as John de Luca saith they mix their Water with Honey and Barley which letting stand ten days to soak they afterwards boyl whereby it becomes pleasant to the taste and as strong as Wine In stead of Cups or Glasses the Vulgar use the Horns of wild Buffalo's or other Beasts but the Nobles drink out of Golden Cups worth from three to five hundred Ducats some also are of Silver out of which they drink with great deliberation and Ceremony and commonly in the Name of God and their Saints or deceased Friends They commonly sleep with a Coat of Mayl under their Heads in stead of a Pillow and with their Arms by them As soon as they rise they put on the foremention'd Coat of Mayl The Men and Women lie together but Head to Feet yet on one Bed which is commonly made of Leather and fill'd with Rushes and Rose-Leaves John de Luca affirms That the Houses are made of two rows of Poles stuck in the Ground between which they lay plash'd Boughs which they cover with Mortar and Straw nor are the Princes Palaces built of better Materials though bigger The Circassians often Engage with the Tartars for there is not a year passes but the Tartars as well Mogaians as others make Incursions into their Countrey on purpose to get Slaves The continual Alarms in which their Enemies keep them Their Arms. hath made them the best Horsemen in all these Parts They use Arrows which they shoot forward and backward and wear a Sword by their Sides and a Helmet on their Heads which covers their Faces they also use Lances and Javelins all which they handle with extraordinary dexterity They never make any difficulty to rob one another Thievery encourag'd which makes Stealing common here for they never punish those which are taken in the Fact may ancient People and Persons of Quality never proffer any Drink at Meals to young Folks if they have not committed some notable Robbery Their Opinions in Religion The Circassians are of different Opinions for some follow Mahumetanism others the Greek Church but the number of the Mahumetans is far the greater for though the Priest who is at Derki Baptizes yet he instructs them little in Matters of Religion wherefore they daily turn Turks and retain nothing of the Greeks but the Custom of carrying Meat to the Graves of the Dead and to keep some Fasts In the Countrey of Cudosci or Holy Places are abundance of Rams Heads which be Relicks of the Curbans or Offerings made there On the Trees also hang Bowes Arrows and Swords which are sighs of the Promises they made to the Deceased and therefore are so revereric'd that the greatest Robbers will not touch them The Circassians incline much to Paganism and though they suffer themselves to be Circumcis'd and Believe in God yet they have neither Scripture Priest nor Temple but at some set-times make their own Offerings especiallyon Elias's day Ceremonies at the Death of a Nobleman Upon the Decease of a Nobleman both Men and Women coming into the Field kill a Goat at for an Offering and hanging his Skin Upon a Pole having first made Merry with the Flesh some Men stepping forth Pray to the Skin one after another which done they all depart home The Skin remains on the Pole till such time as they take it down to make room for another After this they raise a great Bed of Earth in the Fields on which they lay the Corps having first been imbowel'd and for the space of eight days his nearest Relations Friends and Vassals come to visit him and bring him Presents of Silver Cups Bowes Arrows and other things then they take a great Tree hollowing the Body into the form of a Chest into which they put the Corps with the foremention'd Presents and so carry it in great State to the Burying-place Some of these Circassians as Soranzo affirms are free others pay Tribute to the Precopenses or Crim Tartars but as others assert they neither acknowledge the Turks nor Tartars but are Govern'd by five prime Heads George Interian attests Their Degrees that there are Nobles Subjects and Slaves amongst them the Nobles being the chiefest have many Vassals under them whom they Govern by an arbitrary Power allowing none to be above them but God neither have they any Judges nor any written Laws but make use of their own Authority in deciding of Differences Some affirm that they Serve the Turk Persian and Muscovites for Pay They have no Money in this Countrey especially in those Places lying up into the Land No Money here but value all things by Bokissins which are pieces of Linnen or Woollen Cloth They Fight on Horseback Arm'd with Bowes Arrows Swords and Lances There are no Fotts in all the Countrey but onely a few old Towers to which the People repair in time of War They Fight daily against the Tartars who inclose them in all parts but are so much valianter that a few Circassians are able to put a considerable number of Tartars to flight because they are much nimbler stronger and generally better Arm'd Albania EAstward from Georgia lies Albania so call'd from the River Albanus by Nicephorus Zuirie and by others Chipiche and Zitracha as also according to Castaldus Garzena because the Inhabitants are inclin'd to Prognostications which the Hebrews call Garazenes But the Names Dhipiche and Zatracha are given them from two great Cities whose Jurisdictions were very large Cluverius tells us that Albania is the Eastern part of Georgia between Iberia and the Caspian Sea Dagestan is also accounted a part of Albania which borders in the East upon part of the Caspian Sea in the West at Georgia in the North faces a part of the Asiatick Sarmatia near Mount Caucasus and in the South looks upon part of Great Armenia towards the side of the River Gur or Chiur anciently Cyrm It lies between very high and almost inaccessible Mountains which soon lose the Way out of Tartary into Persia The Cities and chief Towns of Albania The Towns of this Territory according to Niger are Chipicher Tarracosia
which might defile them by touching any dead thing neither as they believe can the Devil approach any that wear it The Water Tiertum they say cleanses them from all their sins which they have committed from their very Childhood When the Brahmans have thus wash'd and mark'd themselves they sprinkle a little Tiertum towards those that are near them and burn some Myrrh These Ceremonies perform'd they go again to their Idol strew Flowers upon him or else Toleje setting Meat that is dress'd for them before it for they are not allow'd to eat any Meat but what hath first been plac'd before the Idol After Dinner they cleanse themselves again Towards the Evening before the Sun set they wash and mark their Bodies as before and also say their Japon that is naming God twenty four several times and throw Water upon the Ground in honor of the Sun as in the Morning In this manner the Brahmans are by their Law oblig'd to behave themselves though many of them give themselves more liberty Those which do not perform all these ceremonies in stead of their Heads wash their Bodies and in stead of their Bodies their Hands and Feet but are by no means to neglect the repeating of Gods Name twenty four times nor the Tiertum yet if onely one Person in a House performs the foremention'd Ceremonies it is sufficient and look'd upon as if every individual Person had perform'd the Service The ridiculous Tale of Gasjendre Mootsjam The History of Gasjendre Mootsjam which the Brahmans Sing in the Morning doth briefly declare that the Heads of the Elephants are preserv'd for Gasjen signifies an Elephant Indre a Head and Mootsjam Preserv'd or Preservation of which they tell this ridiculous Fable viz. In the Sea which they call The Milky Sea is a Mountain call'd Tricoweta Parwatam very high and ten thousand Leagues broad with three Spires the first of Gold the second of Silver and the third of Iron each adorn'd with all manner of Precious Stones a Deweta call'd Indre Doumena who with a Charriot travell'd through the Heavens and all the World as swift as the Wind coming upon this Mountain to a Lake Bath'd himself with his Wives when at the same instant there pass'd by a Mouswara who are accounted a holier People than the Deweta's of whom the Deweta taking no notice so highly incens'd the Mouswara that he passionately said You shall become an Elephant and instead of your Wives You shall converse with the Elephants whereupon the Deweta terrifi'd with this Saying not onely shew'd him Reverence but begg'd his pardon for his neglect yet nevertheless he was transform'd on the Mountain into an Elephant and had ten Lack-Coti of Females each Lack is a hundred thousand and every Coti a hundred Lack with whom he liv'd a long time without fear of Lyons Tygers or other ravenous Beasts nevertheless it hapned that a Crocodile took fast hold of the Deweta's Foot as he was drinking out of the Lake in the shape of in Elephant yet after much pulling he got loose again but was afterwards seiz'd by the same Crocodile as he came to drink a second time and held so fast that the Deweta spent two thousand years in striving with the Crocodile whose power being in his own Element the Water still increas'd whil'st that of the Elephant decreas'd but when the Deweta was almost quite tir'd out Witsnow passing by on Garrouda came to him and gave him his Weapon call'd Jeckeram which was richly set with Precious Stones wherewith striking he broke the Crocodile's Head and immediately fell down and shew'd Reverence to Wistnow who seeing of him weary touch'd him and thereby restor'd him to his former strength and shape A vain Conceit of the Brahmans The Brahmans affirm also that God himself spake to them saying Those which read these your Histories daily shall have forgiveness of their sins for which words and promise of God they read the History of Gasjendre Mootsjam every Morning The Brahmans and other Indians never Let-blood when they fall sick though the abundance of Blood be the occasion thereof but they make their Patients Fast several days not permitting them to eat the least bit of any thing They Pray over the Dead When any one lies a dying a Brahman reads several Prayers by the Bed side for which he receives Alms from the sick Persons Relations whil'st the dying Man calls upon the Name of God till his Speech fail but if the sick Person dies with the Name of God in his Mouth not breathing afterwards he is certainly suppos'd to go immediately to Heaven for God according to their Vedam or Law-Book promises to be with those in their greatest extremity that call upon his Name If a Person that lies a dying hath not lost his Reason he asks his Wife if she will accompany him after his Death she according to the Custom of the Countrey is oblig'd not to refuse for the Women when they enter into the state of Matrimony promise to their Husbands in the presence of a Brahman and before the Fire Homam that they will never forsake them They also believe that a Woman cannot live after her Husband without great sin except she hath Children for whose sake she may be spar'd and if she seem to be afraid to leap into the Fire she cannot beforc'd for no honest Woman that loves her Husband will refuse it their Vedam affirming it the duty and part of an honest Woman to delight in all things that her Husband delights in and not to despise that though it be bad which pleases her Husband and to this purpose to work the more upon their easie Beliefs they tell us this fabulous Story viz. One Draupeti who in her life-time was a very religious Woman was withal affectionately loving to her Husband being never displeas'd at him although he had spent his whole Estate and so weakned his Body that he was no longer able to visit his Strumpets yet his inclinations were still such that he declar'd he could not live unless he might see his Mistresses whereupon Draupeti out of extraordinary affection taking him one Night on her Shoulders carry'd him to his Concubines but going along in the Dark she unawares ran against a Stake on which a holy Man nam'd Galowa sat and hit him with such force that she overturn'd and hurt him whereupon he cry'd He that did me this Injury let him die before the Sun rises which Draupeti hearing and pitying her Husband said Then let not the Sun rise and so it hapned the Sun not rising for several years after Hereupon the People pray'd to Indre and Deweta to permit the Sun to rise but they either could or would not grant their Request Then they address'd themselves to Bramma who with the Deweta's went to the fore-mention'd Woman saying What will you have and we will satisfie you that the Sun may rise whereto she reply'd The Sun may rise but I desire my
Husband which last word Husband she repeated five times whereupon they answer'd This shall be done in the other Life then she immediately dy'd and the Sun arose the next day as before Liverty given to Women A Woman may Dress her self when her Husband is from home or be merry during his absence but she must die with her Husband or presently after and in confirmation of this some Brahmans maintain that the Women ought to hold their Husbands in so great esteem that they must be the first thing in their thoughts and spend their whole time in studying how to oblige them telling them that though they spend their time without one thought of God yet it is no sin especially if they will die with them A Brahman's Funeral When a Brahman is dead and his Body brought to the place where it is to be burnt they wash their Hands and lay each a little Rice on the Deceased's Mouth which done they wash their Hands a second time then a Beteani which is a Perrea one of those which beat on small Drums when a Corps is to be burn'd goes thrice about the Body which is laid on a Pyle of Wood and afterwards makes an Oration to the People after his manner speaking earnestly in the Name of the Deceased alledging that he Governs over all young and old rich and poor and that those which do good in their life-time shall be requited after their Death and those that do ill shall meet with the same But all the Bodies of the Brahmans are not burnt but some are bury'd Likewise the Bodies of the Wistnowa's and Smarta's are always burnt but those of the Seivia's and Sanjasies are bury'd The two first give this Reason for the burning of their Bodies viz. because the Fire purifies the Souls from sin for those that have serv'd Wistnow never so faithfully are not wholly free from sin and therefore must on necessity be purifi'd by Fire The Defunct whether those which are to be bury'd or burnt are in some places clad in rich Apparel as if living and sitting in a Sedan and so carry'd to the place of Interment the Sedan being open before that the Corps may be seen behind follow several Persons carrying Vessels of Oyl which are to be thrown into the Fire with the Body A Woman may not Marry after her Husbands Death A Woman is not permitted to Marry after her Husbands Death but the Man may neither will any Marry her because she would be accounted Dishonest to have had two Husbands These severe and strict Laws prove very prejudicial to young Widows who being cautious to preserve their Reputation by continuing single do privately prostitute themselves to People of another Religion or to any else others on the contrary abhorring so wicked a Life suffer themselves to be burnt with their Husbands dead Body which is done after this manner How she is burnt with his Corps As soon as the Breath is departed out of the Man's Body if his Wife hath resolv'd to follow him at his death they immediately make ready all Necessaries thereto belonging for then the Woman cannot go back from her word of recall her promise if she be a Brahmans Wife she is carry'd to the Funeral Pyle in a handsom Sedan under a Canopy accompany'd by all her Friends who encourage and extol her resolution present her with Betel and delight her Ears with the noise of Cymbals and Drums The Settrea's and Soudra's mix their Betel which they give to the Woman with a certain Powder which takes away all apprehensions of fear and makes them courageous and bold but this is never done by the Brahmans they being not permited to force perswade or use any means to a Woman to gain her consent to be burn'd If she be of the Family of the Settrea's or Soudra's then she carries a Lemmon in one Hand and a Looking-glass in the other but if of the Brahmans or Weinsja's Tribe onely a few red Flowers such as they strew in the Pagodes on their Idols and have already been Offer'd to them Coming to the place where her Husband is to be burn'd she first go's to a Pool of Water to wash her self giving away her Jewels if she hath any after which a Brahman says a Prayer this done and the Woman having put on a yellow Garment she goes with great joy to the place from whence she is to leap into the Fire which is made of glowing Coals in a deep Pit and that she may not be terrifi'd with the sight of the Fire they put Mats quite round to prevent her looking into it At the side of the Pit is a little rising Ascent made on which she sits down against the Mats and takes leave of her Relations and Friends who still encourage her Undertaking Lastly having thus taken her leave she throws a Pilang or Pestle with which she us'd to stamp Rice a small Ricepot and the like Kitchin Utensils over the Mat into the Fire poures also a Pot of Oyl over her Head and Body whereupon the mat being taken away she suddenly leaps with the Pot of Oyl into the Fire round about which stand divers People with great pieces of Wood in their Hands which they throw upon her as soon as she is in the Fire and cover her therewith above a Man's heighth Thus the Women of the Settrean Weinsja's and Soudrean Tribes come to their ends but those of the Brahmans endure far greater pain viz. they leap not into the Fire but are laid on a Pyle of Wood by their dead Husbands as if they were to sleep by them then they lay over them a great heap leaving onely their Heads bare on which they pour Oyl and other such combustible stuff Not allow'd amongst the Mahumetans This Burning is not allow'd in those Countreys which are under the Mahumetans unless the Governor of the Countrey gives consent thereto who first examines the Person whether she be willing which if he find then he gives permission Neither is this Custom at all observ'd except amongst People of great Quality who are more exact in preserving their Honor than other People for Noblemens Wives account it a great testimony of their love and fidelity to their Husbands to be burnt with their dead Bodies Others are carry'd on Horseback about the Towns in State with a Lemmon in one Hand and a Looking-glass in the other in which they look as they ride and in a mournful tone sing certain Elegies whil'st many other Men and Women follow them on foot over her Head they carry an Umbrella after the Custom of the Countrey and before her walk several beating on Drums In all their Passage they shew a pleasant and undaunted Countenance not shedding one Tear expressing more sorrow for the death of their Husbands than their own and seeming more joyful to go to him in the other World than sorry to leave this But some chuse to be burnt alive with him after
by the English and Hollanders Indostans They shave off all the Hair of their Heads but the Baldness thereof is not seen because they always keep them cover'd with Tulbants which they never take off in saluting one another as we do our Hats The Manufacture of the Countrey The Handicrafts Men of this Countrey though naturally lazy follow their Employments very close being either forc'd thereto by necessity or otherwise and make Carpets Embroideries Cloth of Gold and Silver and all manner of Silk and Cotton Stuffs and Linnen which is worn in the Countrey and transported to other Places The Great Mogol or King is necessitated by reason of his many Inland and Forreign Enemies to keep continually a mighty Army as well in time of Peace as War a considerable Body whereof are always near his Person either of Natives as are the Rajas and Patans which for several Reasons he is necessitated to keep in his Service as is before mention'd more at large or chiefly of Mogollers as he himself is or at least those which are taken for such though indeed Strangers For the King's Court is not now as formerly all of real Mogols deriv'd from Tartary neither are those which officiate in Offices and Places of Honor in the Wars all of the Tribe of the Mogols but are Strangers and People of other Nations most or them Persians some Arabians others Turks of their Children though the Children or the third and fourth Generation of the Mahumetans before-mention'd are not so much honor'd and esteem'd as the new-come Mahumetans and are but seldom preferr'd to any Degree of Honor and therefore seem very well satisfied to be ordinary Troopers or Foot-Soldiers It is sufficient in these later times for any one to be accounted a Mogollean though he be a Stranger if he haue but a white Face and be of the Mahumetan Religion to distinguish him from the Indians who are brown and Heathens as also from the Christians of Europe who are call'd Franks or Franguis The Mogol is necessitated to keep strange Soldiers that go by the name of Mogols as we said before because the chief Power of his State consists therein but it stands him in an incredible Charge The strange Soldiers as well Horse as Foot are divided into two Parties whereof one is continually near him and the other scatter'd up and down into all the Provinces In the Troops which attend the Mogol are first Omrah's which are the highest Officers in the second Place Mansehdars in the third Rouzindars The Omrahs Children inherit not their Fathers Estates The Omrahs or Lords of the Mogol's Court are not as we might suppose the Sons of Omrahs or of the House or Family of Noblemen inheriting their Fathers Estates and Honors as here and in France for since all the Lands in the Kingdom are the Kings it follows that there are neither Noblemen nor any other Families that have Estates in Lands Goods or Offices by Inheritance Insomuch that the Children or at lest the Nephews of the most powerful Omrahs are after their Fathers deaths reduc'd to great Poverty and forc'd to List themselves for Common Troopers under the Command of other Omrahs Indeed the Mogol commonly leaves a small part of the Estate to the Widows and sometimes to the Children But if their Father lives long they are oftentimes promoted by him especially if they are well-shap'd handsom-bodied have white Faces and not having gotten too much of the Indian Customs pass for real Mogols Though of late this kind of preferring their Children hath been less observ'd than formerly by reason it is become a general Custom to rise from small Offices to great ones and accordingly their Pay is more and more advanc'd Therefore these Omrahs are nought but Adventurers and Strangers of all Nations and Degrees nay sometimes Slaves who going to serve at the Court are by the Mogol for some or other piece of good Service promoted to that Degree of Honor of which they are again bereav'd at his pleasure Amongst these Omrahs are some call'd Hazary others Dou-Hazary and others Penge Hecht and Deh-Hazary The King 's Eldest Son was also a Dovazdeh Hazary that is A Lord or Commander over 10 or 12000 Horsemen The number of the Omrahs reckoning as well those which are scatter'd up and down in the several Provinces as those which attend at Court is very great and not justly to be set down At the Court are generally from 25 to 30000. The Office and State of an Omrah These Omrahs attain to the chiefest Places at the Court and Offices in the Army and are accounted the Supporters of the Realm and Splendor of the Court They never come into the Street but in very rich Apparel riding either on Elephants Horses or in a Palanquin and attended by a great number of Horsemen which keep Guard before their Houses besides several Footmen who going before and on each side of them make room and by fanning them keep off the Wasps Flies and Dust with the Wings of Peacocks All those that are at Court are bound on pain of forfeiting some of their Sallary to appear twice a day before the King when he sits on his Throne or else visit him every Morning at eleven a Clock and every Evening at six Moreover they are oblig'd to watch once a Week in the Castle by turns for the space of twenty four Hours and therefore carry their Beds Carpets and other Houshold-stuff with them the King providing nothing for them but meat which they receive with great Ceremony viz. they bow three times with their Faces towards his Chamber first holding their Hands over their Heads and next on the Ground They are also oblig'd to attend on the King to all Places when he goes abroad what Time or Weather soever it be either in Palanquins on Elephants or on Tacravans or Thrones carried each of them on eight Mens Shoulders Yet nevertheless the King favors some by reason of their peculiar Offices their Age or Indisposition or to avoid too great Attendance as he doth commonly when he goes a Hunting or to some Banquetting-house near the City or rather when he goes into his Mosque for then he takes no other with him than those that have the Guard that day The Mansebdars Mensebdars are Officers of those Troops Manseb and have a competent Salary yet not comparable to that of the Omrahs but exceeding those of inferior Degrees and therefore they are accounted little less than Omrahs being in the degree of those which are next to that Preferment and the rather because they acknowledge no Superior but the King and are in general oblig'd to do all things which the Omrahs do nay they would be perfect Omrahs had they but a considerable number of Horses under their Command but they have onely six which wear the King's Badges and their Salary also is generally no more than from five to seven hundred Ropies a Month. The number of them being
restor'd Hamayon to his Kingdom and slew the Rebel Xyrcan A Tartarian Prince settles in India and becomes Founder of the Royal Family there Della Valle writes That a Nephew of one of the Tartarian Princes after Tamerlane had distributed his vast Dominions amongst his Children and Grandchildren travell'd over the Mountain Imaus or Taurus to seek his Fortunes in India at a Prince's Court who possess'd a great part of the Countrey where by means of the chiefest Persons in the Kingdom and many good Services done for the State he so insinuated himself that he got firm footing in the Countrey insomuch that in process of time and several vicissitudes one of his Successors attain'd to the Throne and was made the Founder of the Royal House which Reigns at present and of which Schach Selim who Reign'd about the Year 1620 was the Fourth The Successor of Hamayon Myrza was his Son Gelaladin Eckbar or Ackbar or Akebar otherwise Achabar that is Great or Most powerful Peruschi calls him Mahomet Zelabdin He was born in a Territory call'd Chaquata which lies Northward between the Tartars and Persians and borders Southward upon India SCHACH SELIM Ecbars Death and Character This Eckbar dy'd on the twenty seventh day of October Anno 1605. in the sixty third year of his Age He was belov'd by all his Subjects fear'd by his Nobles and courteous to all he deported himself with equal moderation to Strangers and to the Natives whether Christians Mahumetans or Heathens which oblig'd all Parties to him and rendred them devoted to his Service He Pray'd to God constantly every Morning and Evening Noon and Midnight abhorr'd Cruelties insomuch that by virtue of a Law made by him none were to die unless Sentence had been pronounc'd against them three times and easily pardon'd Criminals if they could but make any reasonable Excuse Mean Presents he receiv'd with as great kindness as those of biggest value regarding onely the good will of the Presenter He fed sparingly eating Flesh not above three or four times in a year the rest of the time his Diet being Rice Milk and Preserves He gave Audience to his Subjects and others twice a day out of a Window He could neither Write nor Read yet nevertheless understood very well all the Affairs of his Realm for the News that his Deputies writ him from all Places he caus'd to be read to him as also several Books He made strict enquiry of Strangers concerning the Power of their Princes and manner of Traffick He order'd a silver Bell to be hung at a Chain of fifteen yards long to the end that all those who could not obtain Justice from his Officers should come and complain to him thereof giving him notice of their being there by pulling the Bell which he no sooner heard but immediately came forth and saw that they had Right done them He had three Sons and two Daughters the eldest who succeeded him in his Throne was Scieco to which as a Title of Honor was added Gio which in the Countrey Language signifies Soul so that Scieco-Gio signifies The Soul or Person of Scieco The second was call'd Pahari by Jarrick Sultan Morad and by Peruschi Sultan Horad who being deliver'd to some Jesuits to be instructed by them in the Romish Religion was slain in the Wars of Decan The third was call'd Dan or Daniel Texeira calls the eldest Xequa Patxa the second Pary Patxa who dy'd of some Distemper Anno 1602 and the third Sabelxa Patxa But the eldest is by Purchas Della Valle and others generally call'd Selim. Scieco Gio succeeds his Father by the Name of Schach Selim. When Scach Selim was born his Father nam'd him Sceichu for Eckbar who till that time had no Male issue believ'd that he had obtain'd him from God by the Prayers of one Schach a Man accounted very holy and religious But his Father about the twelfth or thirteenth year of his Age changing his first Name according to the Custom of the Countrey call'd him Schach Selim which in the Arabick signifies A Peaceable King supposing this Name to agree best with his Temper and Disposition On the the eighth day after Eckbar's Death Selim in the beginning of his Reign to gain the favor and good opinion of the Mahumetans whom he had promis'd to defend their Laws caus'd their Temples to be cleans'd and took upon him the Name of Nurdin Mahumed Jahanair or according to Della Valle Nura Eddin Muchamed Gihon Ghir that is The Light of the Belief of Mahomet and Conqueror of the World because he publickly declar'd to be a Mahumetan notwithstanding in his heart he neither esteem'd Mahomet nor his Laws nor did he regard any Religion yet he kept the Name of Schach Selim by which he was call'd amongst the common People This Scach Selim amongst all his Women had one who was acknowledg'd as a Queen and being honor'd above all the Ladies of his Court bore a great sway nothing being done in the Kingdom but by her Conduct and Power She was a native Indian but of Persian Blood viz. Daughter to a Persian who deserting his native Countrey came into India to serve the Great Mogol as many Persians do who for the many good Services which he had done him made him a Chan and Vice-Roy of a Province A Persian Lady gains to be made Queen by her resolute Carriage This Queen was first Marry'd to another Persian Nobleman who was also in the Mogol's Service after whose Death by some means or other she came acquainted with Schach Selim who falling in love with her desir'd her to go into his Haram or Seraglio amongst his other Concubines which she modestly refusing said That she had once been the Wife of one who in all Places had given proofs of his Valor being never daunted by any of his Enemies Moreover that she was the Daughter of such a Father as accounted Honor the greatest Good wherefore she could never be brought to forget her self so much as to be guilty of any unchaste Action neither would her Birth and Quality permit her to be put into the King 's Haram and us'd as a common Slavess but if the King had so great an Affection for her as to make her his lawful Consort she should never be wanting in the Duty which she ow'd to the King but at all times be subject and ready to obey his Commands This her bold Answer so incens'd the King that it wanted very little but he had forc'd her to Marry one of those Persons call'd Halalchor who are those that without scruple eat of all sorts of Meat and are the most despicable and scorn'd People of all India yet nevertheless she remain'd so firm and constant that she resolv'd rather to die than change her Mind The King more and more overcome by her Beauty at last consulted to Marry her as his lawful Wife and caus'd her to be acknowledg'd as Queen and chief of all the King 's Haram which
not knowing what to do and began to fear his own Person as if he foresaw what afterwards befell him to lock them up in Govaleor which is a Fort where Princes are generally secur'd and invincible by reason of its situation on an inaccessible Rock and the abundance of fresh Water and Provisions for the Souldiers in Garrison was no small Business they being already very powerful and liv'd in the State and Splendor of Princes Moreover he could not in honor send them away to any Place without giving them Dominions according to their Birth and therefore timorous that they might rebell and make themselves absolute Princes in their respective Jurisdictions as indeed afterwards they did yet nevertheless out of fear least they should destroy one another in his Presence which might chance to happen if he kept them at his Court he resolv'd to send them away The Sons sent to Govern several Provinces onely the eldest stays at the Court. and accordingly seat Sultan Chasousa to the Kingdom of Bengala Oranchzef to Decan Moradbeck to Zurratte and gave the Government of Cabul and Multan to Darasja The three first left the Court well satisfi'd with their new acquir'd Dominions where they made themselves supream Governors and kept the Revenues of the Countreys for the maintenance of strong Armies under pretence to keep their Subjects and Neighbors in quiet But Darasja being the eldest and Heir to the Crown dwelt not from the Court which was the Design of Schach Jehan who always fed him up with a Promise that he should succeed him and also granted him to give Commissions and had a small Throne underneath his amongst the Omrahs so that there seemingly were two Kings but as two equal Powers can scarce agree so Schach Jehan notwithstanding Darasja was very respective to him and shew'd him great Reverence was still in fear of being poyson'd by him and the more because Darasja was jealous of Oranchzef whom for his excellent Parts his Father judg'd fitter to succeed him than any of his other Sons Schach Jehan's Wife being exceeding beautiful was call'd Tage Mahalle that is The Crown of the Female Sex But for the better explanation of this Story concerning the foremention'd four Princes and the Mogol Schach Jehan we must relate what hapned a little before these Troubles between Oranchzef the King of Golconda and his Visier Emir Jemla because this will declare the Nature and Constitution of Oranchzef who afterwards came to be the Mogol and King of India Hereby also it will appear after what manner Emir Jemla was employ'd to lay the first Foundation of Oranchzef his Royalty At the time of Oranchzef's residing in Decan the King of Golconda kept the foremention'd Emir Jemla as his Vice-Roy and General of all his Forces He being a Persian born and very famous in India was of no high Extract yet a Man fit to undertake any Design being a great Captain and of a noble Spirit He had amass'd together great Riches not onely by his careful management of State Affairs but by the Trade of those Ships which he sent to divers Coasts as also by the Diamond Mines which he alone Farm'd under borrow'd Names keeping always many Men at work in them insomuch that that the whole Countrey talk'd of him and his abundance of Diamonds which were not reckon'd but by Bags full He also rendred himself very famous and powerful by keeping several Troops of very choice Men besides the King's Army at his own proper Charge and had also very good Artillery which was manag'd and look'd after by Franks or Christians In short he was rich and potent especially after he had found out a means to get into the Kingdom of Carnate and pillag'd all the Heathen Temples in that Countrey that the King of Golconda beginning to grow jealous of him resolv'd to do him a great Discourtesie and the rather because he was not able to bear what he heard of him for it was reported as if he had been too familiar with the Queen his Mother who was very beautiful Yet nevertheless he made no Person privy to his Design but waited with patience till Emir Jemla should come to the Court he being at that time with his Army in Carnate But not long after when he was told of several other Passages that had hapned between his Mother and him he was not able to contain his Passion but flew out into many threatning Invectives which quickly came to Emir's Ears he having many of his Wives Relations at the Court who inform'd him thereof and the King's Mother who no ways hated him was also inform'd thereof who oblig'd Emir with all speed to write to his Son Mahomet Emurcan he being then at the Court giving him order upon sight of his Letter under pretence of going a Hunting immediately to come away to him Emurcan neglected not to use many means but because the King commanded him to be always near him and kept a continual Eye over him he was not able to stir out of his sight which exceedingly troubling Emir made him take a strange Resolution which put the King in no small danger of losing both Life and Crown insomuch that the Proverb was here verifi'd That he which knows not how to dissemble Emir Jemla's Plot against the King of Golconda knows not how to Govern He therefore wrote to Oranchzef who then was in Daulet Abad the Metropolis of Decan and fifteen or sixteen days Journey from Golconda that the King of Golconda intended to ruine him and his Family notwithstanding the great Services which he had done him wherefore he was forc'd to flie to him and beg that he would please to receive him under his protection Moreover if he would take his advice and repose confidence in him he would so contrive the Business that he would at once deliver both the King and Kingdom into his Hands and to make the Business seem the easier he inform'd him to this effect You need not pick above four or five thousand Horse out of the Army and march speedily with them to Golconda reporting along the Way that you are an Ambassador sent from Schach Jehan about extraordinary Business to Bagneguer The Dabir who is the Person to whom all Agents that have any Business with the King make their first Addresses is my real Friend and Creature therefore think of nothing but to make speed I will so order that you shall come safe to Bagnaguer's Gates out of which when the King shall come according to the Custom to receive his Letters you may easily secure him and all his Attendants and do with him what you think fit his House where he resides having neither Walls not Moat about I will be at the charge of this Expedition my self and allow you fifty thousand Ropias a day during the time of your March The King of Golconda escapes narrowly from the hand of Oranchzef Oranchzef who always watch'd for such an opportunity would not
a certain dissembling Peruschian who was fled out of Persia first call'd Hakim Daoud and afterwards when created a great Omrah Tacarmbcan This Villain boldly standing up in the publick Assembly cry'd out That it was expedient for the safety of the State to put him to death immediately and the rather because he was not a Musselman or Mahumetan that long since he was turn'd Caffer Idolater a Man without Religion and by that means had brought upon himself this which was a just punishment for his sins But certain it is this vile Wretch afterwards felt the smart of his unjust Imputation for in a short time he fell into Disgrace being treated like an infamous Fellow and dy'd a miserable Death But Oranchzef carry'd away by these Instances and Motives commanded that he should be put to death and that Sepe Chekou his Nephew should be sent to Govaleor The Charge of this Tragical Execution was given to a certain Slave call'd Nazer who had been bred up by Schach Jehan and was known to have been misus'd by Darasja This Executioner accompany'd by three or four Parricides more went to Darasja who was dressing some Meat for himself and his Nephew fearing to be poyson'd if he should trust any one else to do it As soon as he espy'd Nazer he cry'd to Sepe Chekou his Nephew Behold my Son yonder are those that come to kill us laying hold at the same instant on a small Knife which was all the Weapon that was left him with which he defended himself to little purpose whilst some of the Villains seiz'd on Sepe Chekou and the rest pressing upon him threw him down to the Ground and held him by the Hands and Feet till Nazer cut off his Head Darasja murder'd which was immediately carry'd to the Castle to Oranchzef who commanding the same to be put into a Charger of Water call'd for a Handkerchief and having wash'd off the Blood and seeing that it was the real Head of Darasja he fell a weeping uttering these words Oh unhappy Oh unfortunate Man Take away this Sight from mine Eyes and bury it in the Grave of Homayon In the Evening they put Darasja's Daughter into the Seraglio though afterwards upon her Request she was sent to Schach Jehan and Begum Saheb As for Darasja's Wife she ended her Days before at Lahor poysoning her self when she foresaw the Extremities she was falling into with her Husband Sepe Chekou was sent to Govaleor and after a few days Gioncan was sent for to appear before Oranchzef in the Assembly where several Presents being made to him he was again dismiss'd but in his Way home he was rewarded according to his Deserts being kill'd in a Wood this barbarous Man not knowing nor considering that though Kings do sometimes permit such Actions for their Interest yet they abhor the Actor and sooner or later revenge them Mean while Tatabacar surrrendred the Governor of Tatabacar was forc'd upon an Order press'd and obtain'd from Darasja to surrender the Fort though upon a good Composition if it had been real but the poor Governor coming to Lahor was together with the few of those Men that accompany'd him upon the Command of the Calullacan Governor of that Place cut in pieces The reason why the Articles of Agreement were not perform'd was because it was reported that the Governor made private Preparations to go to Soliman Chekou to which purpose he distributed divers pieces of Gold amongst the Franks that came with him out of the Fort thereby to intice them to follow him under a pretence to accompany him to Deli to Oranchzef as having a great desire to see that brave Man who had defended himself so valiantly There remain'd now none of Darasja's Family but Soliman Chekou who was not easily to be fetch'd from Serenaguer if the Raja had continu'd in his first Resolution but the private Correspondence of Jesseingue the Promises and Threats of Oranchzef the Death of Darasja and the other Rajas his Neighbors who had been gain'd and made Preparations by Order from Oranchzef and at his Charge at last stagger'd the Fidelity of this perfidious Protector Soliman Chekou taken and imprison'd and made him consent to their Demands Soliman Chekou inform'd thereof fled through uninhabited Countreys and desolate Mountains to the greater Tibet but the Raja's Son closely pursuing him caus'd Stones to be thrown at him which wounding the poor Prince so disabled him that he was forc'd to yield to his Enemies Mercy who carry'd him to Deli where he was imprison'd in Serenaguer a little Fortress the same Place wherein they formerly had put Moradbeck Is brought to the Court. Oranchzef to observe the same method as he had done in the Case of Darasja that none might doubt but that it was Soliman Chekou himself he commanded him in the presence of all his Nobles to be brought to the Court At the entrance of the Gate his Fetters were taken off from his Legs leaving onely those on his Hands When this young and noble Person being exceeding beautiful and well proportion'd was seen to enter the Gates many Omrahs could not withhold their Tears In like manner it is said that all the Ladies of the Court which had leave to see him come in fell a weeping Oranchzef himself also seeming to be affected with his Misfortunes began to comfort him saying to him That he need not fear any thing for no harm should come unto him but that he should on the contrary be well treated and therefore said he be of good chear God was powerful and would be merciful That he had taken off his Father for no other reason but because he turn'd Caffer a Man without Religion Whereupon the young Prince return'd him the Salam or Thanks with his Hands down to the Ground and then lifting them as well as he could up to his Head according to the Custom of the Countrey Moreover he requested Oranchzef that he would let him drink the Poust that he might instantly die he being very willing to submit to his Fate But Oranchzef promis'd him publickly that he would not make him drink it therefore he might rest satisfi'd and not entertain any said thoughts about it This said he once more repeated the Salam and after they had ask'd him several Questions in the Name of Oranchzef concerning the Elephant which was laden with Ropias of Gold taken from him when he went to Serenaguer he was sent to Govaleor to the rest The Poust what it is The Poust mentioned before is nothing but Poppy steep'd a Night in Water being that Potion which those Princes that are kept at Govaleor whose Heads they do not think fit to cut off are commonly forc'd to drink in a Morning fasting which enervates and debilitates their Limbs consumes their Inwards and makes them die insensibly With this Potion Sepe Chekou Nephew to Moradbeck and Soliman Chekou were poyson'd At to what concerns Moradbeck he was put to death after a more
Hoggi's or Saints There likewise go yearly from Surrat Brotchia and Cambaya several lesser Vessels to Persia laden with the same Commodities which are carried to Arabia and Aden and they bring back also the same Returns besides abundance of Gold and Silk Stuffs Chamlets Cloth Velvet Pearls Fruit viz. Almonds Raisins Nuts Dates and some Rose-water and other Persian Commodities The Ships set Sail in January or February and return in April or May. There also go yearly Ships of about a hundred two hundred and three hundred Tuns to Achin and Quedda laden with Anfion Cotton and all sorts or Clothes made in Surrat and bring in return Brimstone Benjamin Camphire Porcelan Tin Pepper and other Spices Many lesser Vessels of sixty eighty or a hundred Tuns Trade also to Goa Diu Daman and other Portuguese Factories with Corn melted Butter in Pots and other Provisions for which they bring in return Course Salt from Ormus and a sort of Sedge or Rushes whereof they make Paper The Portuguese used formerly to drive a great Trade to these Places but at present are bereav'd of most of their Chief Factories by the Hollanders It cannot certainly be said what the just Revenues are which the Mogol receives yearly from Surrat but it is related that they amount to 150 Tuns of Gold The Customs of Brotchia onely raise 134400 Mamoedys or 6720 l. a Mamoedy being reckoned at 12 d. The Customs of Brodera 400000 Mamoedys The Government of Surratte Surrat being formerly a Kingdom of it self was Govern'd by a peculiar Pagan King not at all subject to the Mogol And amongst others of these Kings Maffeus makes mention of two the one called Madrafa Scha and the other his Son Mamud who Reign'd Anno 1508. both of whom maintain'd great Wars against the Portuguese But when the Great Mogol Ecbor had driven all the Patans out of Bengala he also Conquer'd the Kingdom of Surrat and bringing it under his Jurisdiction caus'd the same ever since to be Govern'd by a Vice-Roy whom the Moors generally call'd Sultan or else by a Supreme Governor sent thither by the Great Mogol Under him are all other Petty Governors of the peculiar Towns and Provinces which are obliged to give him an Account of all The time of enjoying their Places is at the King's will and pleasure and therefore they commonly make good use of their time minding more how to enrich themselves than regarding the welfare of their Countrey and oftentimes especially at the coming of a new Governor Accusations are brought against Rich Merchants so to get great Sums of Money put of them by Imprisonment and other kinds of cruel usage The State of Chan or Supreme Governor The Supreme Governor lives in great State keeping commonly four hundred Men to wait on him which are all fed out of his Kitchen When he rides abroad which for the most part is on a well-caparison'd Elephant he is attended by all the Nobility and several Horsemen to the number of two hundred Persons armed with Bowes Pikes Shields and Swords Before him are led several Elephants with rich Trappings adorn'd with Pennons and Flags and accompanied with Drummers Trumpetters and others Yet nevertheless he goes but mean in Apparel and commonly in Black Cotton Cloth whilst on the contrary his Servants go very rich and gay The Chan is obliged always to keep 1200 Lescheri or Troopers for the Mogol and fifty Elephants besides fifty for his own use The Revenues with wich they are maintain'd are rais'd from the Towns and Villages under their Jurisdiction as likewise the Forces with which the Chan is guarded the City Amadabat eighteen substitute Towns and a thousand Villages being able to raise 140000 Men. There is likewise a Tziabander or Farmer of the Customs in each City He is Royally attended and served in his Palace none daring offer without his leave to speak to him He gives publick Audience once a Week seated on a Royal Throne and administers Justice to all Persons that make their Complaints to him He is not allow'd any Counsellors or Judges from the King but in Businesses of Consequence he calls some of his Nobles to consult with Yet whatever he thinks fit is decreed so that these Counsellors signifie little All Forfeitures Revenues and Customs which amount to an incredible Sum of Money come into the Chan's Treasury besides which he receives Pay for 12000 Horse when as he seldom keeps above 2000 So that all the Remainder is spent in his Court. All petty Businesses 〈◊〉 decided by the Cowtewaels or Sheriffs who generally shew most favour to the Plaintiff whether he deserve it or not The Punishment of Criminals Matters of Life and Death are determined by the Magistrates of the Towns who refer giving the Sentence to the Coutewaels But if they be rich People that are condemn'd they commonly come off for a Sum of Money which they give to the Governor Poor Criminals are for petty Thefts and other small Offences whipp'd several days together with a great Whip call'd Siambak but for grand Faults as Breaking open of Houses and the like they have their Hands and Feet cut off or some other severe Punishments inflicted upon them Robbers on the High-way if they buy not their Lives with a great Sum of Money are Decollated and their Bodies put on Stakes plac'd alog the Roads Murder is amongst them accounted an unpardonable Crime as also Adultery especially in Women of Quality And for the preventing of the last Common Whores are freely permitted to dwell in every City who with permission of the Sheriff to whom they pay a certain Acknowledgment may go to any Person that sends for them or be visited in their own Houses which rather tends to their Honour than Disgrace for there are no Feasts accounted Compleat and Noble unless there be present some of these Common Women to Dance and Sing before the Guests The Religion of the Surratteans As to what concerns the Religion of the Surratteans some of them especially the Chiefest are Moors or Mahumetans the rest Benjans Brahmines and other sorts of Pagans There are in Surrat many Gioghi's a People much resembling the Romish Monks being in severity of Life and outward Penitence inferior to none for they go stark naked in the coldest Weather and sleeping on Horse-dunghils cover their Heads and Faces therewith and wear very long Hair which makes them look frightful and deform'd The People are very Charitable being much inclin'd to the giving of Almes to the Poor very Pious and sollicitous of their Salvation though deluded by their Teachers some giving twenty five others fifty Ducats at a time and some more Perushi affirms That Anno 1595. there was on one day viz. the eighth of January above a Tun of Gold given in Alms. The reason of this great Charity on that day is upon the account of some grand Tradition mentioned in their Law-book Their two main Duties next to giving of Alms are Pilgrimage
sustain by it You will not want much Ammunition in these Countries therefore do not refuse sending Assistance to us In the same year in the beginning of December a Peace was concluded between King Adel Schiah and the Portuguese whereby both Parties were allow'd free access one to the other The King of Visiapour maintains also Wars against some of his Rais or Rajas which are Heathen Princes or petty Kings which with the Rabutes their Subjects reside in the Mountains of Ballagate in Places naturally inaccessible where they neither fear being surpriz'd nor besieg'd They have no Written Laws in the whole Realm but the King's Will is a Law to all his Subjects All Civil Debates that happen to arise in the City Visiapour are determin'd by the Coutewael or High-Sheriff but Criminal Causes are try'd by the King himself The Criminals are often executed in the King's Presence with great cruelty throwing them oftentimes before Elephants and other Wild Beasts to be devour'd and sometimes cutting off their Arms Legs and other Members besides other ways not usual in Europe In other Towns or Provinces the Vice-Roy or Governor passes Sentence after the same manner For by vertue of their Patents which they call Firman they are particularly impower'd to give Judgment against Criminals They commonly judge of these Causes according to the first Complaint which they hear so that he which complains first for the most part fares best Differences of Debt are soon decided among them for if the Debtor do not pay his Creditor according to the time limited by the Judge he is severely whipp'd and his Wife and Children sold for Slaves by the Creditor Such Persons as are forc'd to swear are plac'd in a round Circle made upon the Ground laying one Hand upon some Ashes brought thither for that purpose and the other on their Breast and uttering several Expressions to their Gods after which they think themselves oblig'd on pain of Damnation to make a true Answer to all such Interrogatories as are put to them Linschot makes the Idalcans or Kings of Cuncan to be Subjects and Tributaries to the King of Narsinga but Jarrick affirms them to be mortal Enemies The Kings of Cuncan were formerly absolute Lords of vast Territories and subject to none but about sixty Years ago in the time of King Mamedh Idelxa Son to King Ibrahimxa who Anno 1635. possest the Crown in the twenty fourth Year of his Age they were reduc'd under the Mogol's Jurisdiction viz. when in King Mamedh Idelxa's Minority who Govern'd his Realm under the Guardianship of Chavas Chan the Great Mogol assaulting those of Visiapour with two hundred thousand Foot and eighty thousand Horse for their refusing to pay him Tribute After a long and bloody War and the death of Chavas Chan a Peace was concluded Duke Mustaff Chan and the Kings of Visiapour brought under subjection to the Great Mogol with Conditions to pay nine thousand Pagods yearly for Tribute But at present as F. Bernier affirms the King of Visiapour pays no Tribute to the Great Mogol but defends himself against all Attempts which he makes upon him for though he be not so powerful as those of Golconda oppose the Mogol's Forces yet he hath this advantage by reason of the remoteness of his Country from Dely and Agra that the Mogol makes not such frequent Attempts on these Parts besides which that part of the Country of Visiapour which lies next the Mogol's is very difficult for an Army to approach because of the scarcity of Water and Provisions and the badness of the Ways The Metropolis Visiapour is also very strong situate in a dry barren Soil and guarded by many Fortresses built on the circumjacent Mountains which are most of them inaccessible Many Rajas also joyn with him for their own security Moreover he oftentimes receives private assistance from the King of Golconda who always keeps an Army ready on the Borders to assist the King of Visiapour whenever he perceives him to be too much oppress'd by the Mogol Yet nevertheless this State as also that of Golconda is much declin'd for the Mogol hath taken Paranda from them which is the Key of their Country with the Magnificent City Bider and some other eminent Places But especially because of a difference between these two Kings for the last King of Visiapour dying without Issue-Male the present King who is a young Man being brought up by the King of Golcondas Sister who took him for her Son doth not acknowledge her Favours Ibrahim Adil Sciah who Reign'd Anno 1620. notwithstanding the Countries of Cutb Sciah or the King of Golconda and Nizam Sciah King of Decan lay as Bulwarks between his Dominions and the Mogol's and upon occasion was able to raise an Army of a hundred thousand Men stood nevertheless in great fear of the Mogol to whom though he paid considerable Tributes yearly yet he was so slighted by the Mogol that he sent his Letters to him by a Common Soldier or Slave whom he was forc'd to meet with his whole Army and conduct him in great Pomp to his Court where he plac'd himself in a Chair of State prepar'd purposely for him whilst Adil Sciah was forc'd to stand in his Presence like a Slave And when the Messenger had laid the Letter on a Carpet he bow'd down to the Ground three times according to the manner of the Country before he durst take it up This Ibrahim Adil Sciah is said to have caus'd his own Son to be put to death for persuading him from paying the usual Tribute to the Great Mogol and counselling him by force to free himself from that Slavery The King now Reigning sends oftentimes great Presents to the Mogol Anno 1656. in June the King Sciah Sahep sent a Present of seven Lak Penas or Two hundred and eighty thousand Pounds to the Mogol Prince Oranchzef at present King Residing at Dautabake who then accompanied with Mirsimula lay with his Fathers Army on the Borders of Visiapour in a Province call'd Pretapapour The Venassars and Collers or Coulys as also the Rasboutes of Cambaye pay Tribute to this King The thirteenth of November Anno 1656. the King of Visiapour call ' d Adil Sciah deceas'd at which time Fettechan guarded the King's Palace and Chan Channa coming with his whole Army near the Walls desir'd to know of Fettechan whether it would not be convenient for him to bring the Army into the City to prevent Insurrections Whereupon Fettechan reply'd That he had taken upon him in Chan Channa's absence to Guard the Fort and therefore he judg'd it best for the safety of the Realm to let Chan Channa come into the City Whereupon he repair'd to Fettechan in the Palace where consulting together they concluded to Crown the King 's adopted Son call'd Cha Chade which was perform'd the same day he being then in the twenty fourth Year of his Age. This new King receiv'd the Name of Aly Adel Sciah and was permitted to use