several times before we could agree but at length he told me that the King would give me Twenty-five in the Hundred profit for all the Stones leaving me the Pearls which he thought I might put off at a better price in the Indies which was an offer I could not refuse and therefore I sign'd the Agreement according to the Nazar's desire Which when his Majesty had seen he bid the Nazar tell me I should be his Jeweller in Ordinary and that for my sake all the Franks should be the better us'd within his Territories and that I should have any favour of him that I desir'd I besought his Majesty to give me his Patent with his Seal affix'd whereby I might be priviledg'd to Trade in his Dominions without paying Custom for such and such Merchandize and in in such manner as I should think fitting I also besought him graciously to grant his Protection to a Nephew of mine whom I had left at Tauris to learn the Language that he might be serviceable to his Majesty when I was dead and gone Thereupon he caus'd my Nephew to be enrol'd presently as one of his Domestick Servants and order'd the Nazar to take particular care of him The next day after my agreement with the Nazar the King gave audience in the great Hall of the Palace to the Ambassador of the Vsbeck-Tartars All the Lords and Officers of the Crown stood in the Court where the Ambassador was to pass there were also nine stately Horses whose Furniture was very rich and all different Two Harnesses were cover'd with Diamonds two with Rubies two with Emralds two with Turquoises and one embroider'd with fair Pearls Had he been an Ambassador from a Monarch for whom the King of Persia had had a greater esteem than he had for the Cham of Tartary there had been thirty Horses for according to the value which the King puts upon the Prince that sends to him he either augments or abates of the number of his Horses of State Every Horse is ty'd by the Reins to a Nail of Gold fasten'd in the Ground with a Hammer of Gold lying by There was another Nail of Gold behind with a Cord ty'd to it that held their hinder legs They set also before every Horse a Caldron of Gold out of which they draw up Water into a great Manger though all this be only for State for they never water their Horses in that place Out of the first Court the Ambassador enter'd into a large Gallery between a long File of Musqueteers on each side Thence he enter'd into a Garden through an Alley about eight Fathom broad all pav'd with great Marble Stones in the middle of which runs a Channel of Water four Foot wide with several Water-works that spurted out of the Channel at equal distances On each side of the Walk to the Hall where the King sat there is a Pond almost as long as the Walk and in the middle of the Pond another sort of Water-works Several Officers of the Army were rang'd all along the Alley and at the end of one of the Ponds were four Lions ty'd and at the end of the other three Tigers couchant upon Carpets of Silk having Men to guard them with Half-pikes in their hands The Hall took up more ground in length then in bredth being op'n every way the Cieling was sustain'd by sixteen wooden Pillars of eight pannels every one and of a prodigious thickness and height As well the Cieling as the Pillars were all painted with Foliage-work in Gold and Azure with certain other Colours mix'd therewith In the middle of the Hall was a Vase of excellent Marble with a Fountain throwing out Water after several manners The Floor was spread with Gold and Silk Carpets made on purpose for the place and near to the Vase was a low Scaffold one Foot high twelve Foot long and eight wide cover'd with a magnificent Carpet Upon this Scaffold sate the King upon a four-square Cushion of Cloth of Gold with another Cushion behind him cover'd with the same set up against a great Tap'stry-Hanging wrought with Persian Characters containing the Mysteries of the Law On each side of the King stood several Eunuchs with Musquets in their hands The King commanded the Athemadoulet and four others to sit down by him and the Athemadoulet made me a sign to sit down but the King knowing how little the Franks care for sitting cross-leg'd order'd me to be told that I might stand upright if I thought good The King was clad in a Silk streak'd with Gold His Cloak was a Gold-ground with Flowers of Silk and Silver Furr'd with a Martin Sable the blackest and most glist'ring that ever was seen His Girdle was very rich and upon his Bonnet he wore a plume of Herons Feathers fasten'd with a transparent Jewel in the middle of the Jewel was a Pear-fashion'd Pearl set with great Topaze's and Rubies About half an hour after the King was sat the Nazar and the Master of the Ceremonies brought the Ambassador who neither himself nor any of his Train were very well clad and caus'd him to stay at the foot of the steps into the Hall from the Garden When the Ambassador had ascended the steps he prostrated himself before the King then advancing nine or ten paces he did the same again after which the Master of the Ceremonies caus'd him to sit down leaving between him and the King space enough for eight men After that I observ'd that the Nazar went often between the King and the Ambassador and between the Ambassador and the King but I could not tell what they said So that I being by that time quite tyr'd made my obeysance to the King and went home to my Lodging The next day the Nazar signify'd to me that it was the King's pleasure to favour me with a compleat Calaat or Habit of Honour and to pay me my money This is y e God worthy to be praisd The Kingdome belongs to God The God of Mercy to y e Compassionate O Mahomet OHaly y e God most high the Prophets These great Caracters with those y t are upon the side of the names of the 12 Prophets signifie To the Name of God God who is the aid of Mahomet The King who has all power Severat Iafar Elfeteseni Elmoussi These are the names of the four Prophets that haue followed the Doctrine of Haly. This Containe y e Names of y e 12 Prophets without their surnames Aly Hassen Hossein Alizein Maham Iafar Moussa Alj Mahomet Haly Hassen Mahomet That which is under the Names of the 12 Prophets signifies as follows He who at this time enjoyes y e Kingdome The Victorious Abas the second this is y t. w ch is on y e. Kings seale Mahomet Methi son of Habi Bala of the race of Sophi This is y t. w ch is Contein'd in y e seale of the Aemadoulet or first Minister of State y e seale in the Originall is sett
Dominions full Eye-brows which meet together were highly esteem'd whereas the Women of France pull them up by the Roots But which said the King dost thou like best the black or the fair Sir continu'd I were I to buy Women as I purchase Diamonds Pearls and Bread I would always choose the whitest With that the King fell a laughing and orderd me a brimmer in his own Cup which was a great Honour indeed From hence we fell into a more serious discourse concerning the present State of Europe speaking very low and the rest of the Company retiring all the while out of hearing Only I observ'd that there was one Lord middle ag'd and clad after the Georgian mode who stood within five or six paces behind the King and that many times as the King drank he only wet his Lips and gave the rest to that Lord to drink which when he had done he retir'd again to his place Upon inquiry I found he was the Kings Uncle by the Mother's side While we were talking of serious things the Curtisans were bid to retire out of the Hall which they did into a Gallery that look'd upon a Garden where they sate where immediately a Sofra was laid before them cover'd with Fruits and Sweet-meats and one of their Society continually powr'd out the Wine which they drank round without intermission One would have thought they should have been fuddl'd yet when they came in again no man could perceive they had been drinking After they had Danc'd a while they were order'd to retire again and the King sent for his Musick which was both Vocal and Instrumental his Instrumental Musick consisted of a kind of a Lute a Guittar a Spinet and two or three Base Flutes He had also in the Gallery where the Curtisans were a large Ebony Cabinet eight foot high adorn'd with several Silver figures which prov'd to be an Organ that went alone It was part of the present which the Muscovite Ambassadors made the King which he order'd to be set a going that we might hear it as we sate No sooner had the Organ stop'd but the Curtesans were call'd in again and the King caus'd the Gold Ladle to go round commanding that no man should leave a drop When every man had done the King was pleas'd to ask me which of the Curtisan's I thought to be handsomest Thereupon I rose up and taking a Wax-Candle in my hand I went and view'd them all The King laugh'd and being very glad to see my face among theirs Bring hither said he her to whom thou hast most a fancy In obedience to which I pick'd out the eldest as I thought and led her to his Majesty who caus'd us to sit down by him Then the King pointing to another And why said he did you not chose yonder Girl which is younger and handsomer commanding them both to kiss me one after another that I might understand the difference between the Caresses of one and the other But I reply'd that were I to choose again I would make the same choice believing prudence to accompany age However I besought his Majesty to consider that it was not for me to look upon elder or younger and that though he had giv'n me the liberty to send the elder home to my Lodging yet it was not in my pow'r to accept of his favour in regard I had a Wife to whom I never had been unfaithful We had thus droll'd together 'till eleven a Clock at night when the King started another Question Whether any one present knew how to Sing It happen'd that there was one Monsieur Daulier there that Play'd upon the Virginals and pretended to Sing who immediately began a Court-Air But his Voice being a high-pitch'd Voice and for that the Persians are altogether for Bases the King did not like him When I perceiv'd that being in a merry vein though I knew not a Note yet having a good deep voice and clear I sung an old Air that came into my head which begins Fill all the Bowls then fill'em high Fill all the Glasses there for why Should every Creature drink but I The King was so pleas'd that he cry'd out Baricala Baricala as much as to say Oh the works of God! an expression of admiration usual among the Persians By this time it was very late and the King growing sleepy gave us leave to depart which we did very willingly having had hard labour for seventeen hours together The next night the King fell a drinking again and there was in his presence an Agi or Pilgrim newly return'd from Mecca and consequently oblig'd never to drink Wine after that While this Agi staid there was one of the Persian Lords got so impertinently suddl'd that he twice struck the Agi's Turbant from his head refus'd to drink when the King commanded him play'd the fool with the Curtisans when they were dancing and committed so many other acts of folly that the King incens'd at such a continuation of Buffonry in a great fury This Rascal said he has lost all his respect and thinks he is no more my Slave drag him out by the feet and throw him to the Dogs to eat Immediately four or five of the King's Officers came and drag'd him out of the Hall by the feet and every body wonder'd he was not thrown to the Dogs according to the King's Command but 't is thought that some of the King's Women beg'd for him so that his punishment was chang'd There was one of the Curtisans that gave one of her Companions a box on the ear not in the King's presence but in the Gallery where they were drinking together However she did not strike so softly but that the King heard the noise of the blow Whereupon he commanded her that had giv'n the blow to be had before the Deroga or Judge of the Town whom he order'd to expunge her out of the number of Curtisans and to put another in her place that she should have a hundred Tomans giv'n her and that the Deroga should cause her to be marry'd The next day I waited on the King and receiv'd those Models which he had bespoke me to send into France They were the Patterns of certain Drinking-Cups and Trenchers with the Model of a Dagger drawn with his own hand for he had learnt to draw of a couple of Dutch-men that were in his Service The Dagger was to be Goldsmith work enamel'd When I had receiv'd his Instructions I took my leave of his Majesty and then going to wait upon the Nazar at his Country-house I took leave of him also who assur'd me of his affection upon all occasions and did me several kindnesses at my departure The End of the Fourth BOOK THE FIFTH BOOK OF THE PERSIAN TRAVELS OF MONSIEUR TAVERNIER BEING A Politick and Historical Description of PERSIA With the ROADS FROM ISPAHAN to ORMUS CHAP. I. The Genealogy of the Kings of Persia of the last Race AFter that Tamerlane had extended his
they set up their Tents in great Enclosures and in the same manner lodg'd the Reverend Jesuit that was at Court Gehanabad as well as Dehly is a great City and there is nothing but a single Wall that makes the separation All the Houses of particular men consist of great Enclosures in the midst whereof is the place for Lodgings The greatest part of the Lords do not live in the City but have their Houses without for the conveniency of the water As you enter into Gehanabad from Dehly you meet with a long and broad Street on each side whereof are Vaults where the Merchants keep shops being only plat-form'd at the top This street ends in the great Piazza before the King's House and there is another very fair and large Street that runs toward another Gate of the same Palace in which live the great Merchants that keep no Shops The King's Palace takes up above half a league in circuit The Walls are of fair cut-Stone with Battlements The Moats are full of water pav'd with Free-stone The great Gate of the Palace has nothing in it of magnificence no more than the first Court into which the great Lords may enter upon their Elephants Having past that Court you enter into another long and large passage with fair Portico's on both sides Under which are several little Chambers where part of the Horse-Guard lies These Portico's are rais'd some two foot above the ground and the Horses which are ti'd without feed upon the steps In some places there are great Gates that lead to several Apartments as to the Womens Lodgings and to the Seat of Justice In the midst of the passage runs a Cut full of water leaving a fair Walk on each side where at equal distances are little Basons or Fountains This long Passage carries you into a great Court where the Omra's that is to say the great Lords of the Kingdom such as the Basha's in Turkey and the Kan's in Persia keep Guard in Person They have low Lodgings round about the Court and their Horses are ti'd to their doors From this second Court you pass into a third through a great Portal on one side whereof there is a little Hall rais'd some two or three steps high from the ground This is the Wardrobe where the Royal Garments are kept and from whence the King sends for the Calaat or a whole Habit for a man when he would honour any Stranger or any one of his own Subjects A little farther under the same Portal is the place where the Drums Trumpets and Hautboys are laid up which they sound and beat a little before the King enters into his Judgment-Seat to give notice to the Omrah's and they make the same noise when the King is ready to rise Entring into the third Court you see the Divan before you where the King gives Audience This is a great Hall rais'd some four-foot-high above the superficies of the Court with three sides open Thirty-two Pillars sustain as many Arches and these Columns are about four-foot-square with Pedestals and Mouldings When Cha-jehan first began to build this Hall he intended to have enrich'd it and inlaid it all over with those Stones that seem to be naturally painted like those in the Great Duke of Tuscany's Chappel But having made a trial upon two or three Pillars about two or three-foot-high he found that there would not be Stones enough of that sort in the World to finish the work besides the vastness of the Sum it would come to So that he left off his design contenting himself with a Painting of several flowers In the middle of this Hall next to the side which looks toward the Court there is a Throne erected upon a kind of Theater where the King gives Audience and pronounces Judgment The Throne is a little Bed with four Columns about the bigness of one of our Field-Beds with a Canopy Backpiece Boulster and Counterpoint all embroider'd with Diamonds Besides all this when the King comes to sit upon the Throne they throw over the Bed a Coverlet of Cloath of Gold or some other richly-embroider'd Silk and he ascends by three little steps two-foot-broad On one side of the Bed is erected an Umbrello upon a Staff as long as an Half-Pike Upon one of the Pillars of the Throne hangs one of the King's Weapons upon another his Buckler upon another his Scimetar and then his Bow and Quiver of Arrows and other things of the same nature Below the Throne there is a place some twenty-foot-square encompast with Balusters which at some times are cover'd with Plates of Silver at other times with Plates of Gold At the four Corners of this small enclosure sit the four Secretaries of State who as well in Civil as Criminal Causes do the duty of Advocates Many Lords stund about this Balostrade and there is also the Musick plac'd that plays all the while the King is in the Divan This Musick is so sweet and soft that it never takes off the mind from the seriousness of business at that time manag'd The King being sat upon his Throne some great Lord stands by him generally it is some one of his own Children Between eleven a Clock and Noon the Nahab who is the chief Minister of State like the Grand Vizier in Turkey makes a report to the King of what has past in the Chamber where he Presides which is at the Entry of the first Court and when he has done speaking the King rises For you must take notice that from the time that the King is sate upon his Throne till he rises no person whatsoever is permitted to stir out of the Palace and yet I can say that the King dispenc'd with my performance of this Law so generally observ'd by all the Court The occasion whereof was thus in short Being one day going out of the Palace while the King was sitting in the Divan upon some urgent business that would admit of no delay the Captain of the Guards held me by the arm and told me I should go no farther I contested and argued the Case with him for some time but finding his usage to be very boisterous I lifted up my Cane and had certainly strook him in my passion had not two or three of the Guards that saw all the passages held my hand Happily for me at that time the Nahab who was then the King's Unckle came by and being informed of the ground of our quarrel order'd the Captain of the Guards to let me go After that he made a report to the King how the matter stood and toward evening the Nahab sent me one of his Servants to tell me it was his Majesty's pleasure that I might come in or go out of the Palace though he were sitting in the Divan as I pleas'd my self for which I went the next day and return'd thanks to the Nahab Toward the middle of the same Court there is a small Channel some five or six inches broad
comes they set up a Candle or a lighted Lamp for a Signal Then it is also that they open all the Shops where they sell Tari which is a certain drink made of the juice of a Tree and is as sweet as our new Wines They fetch it some five or six leagues off upon Horses that carry two earthen-Bottles of each side and trot at a great rate of which there come every day to the City above five or six-hunder'd The King has a considerable Revenue by the Impost which he lays upon this Tari And for that reason he permits so many common Women in regard it is for their sake that so much Tari is consum'd those that sell it for that cause keeping their Shops by those Houses These sort of Women are so nimble and active that when the present King went to see Maslipatan nine of them undertook to represent the figure of an Elephant four making the four feet four the body and one the trunk upon which the King sitting in a kind of Throne made his entry into the City All the Men and Women of Golconda are well proportion'd and of comely statures and fair enough in their councenances only the Countrey-people are a little more swart The present King of Golconda bears the Name of Abdoul-Coutou-Sha and I will tell the Reader in a few words from whence he drew his Original In the Reign of Axbar King of India the Father of Jehan-Guir the Territories of the Great Moguls did not extend farther Southward then Narbider to that the River which runs by it and which coming from the South empties it self into Ganges separated their Dominions from the Territories of the Raja of Narsingue that stretch'd as far as Cape-Comorin the other Raja's being only his Subjects and depending upon him This Raja and his Successors have been always at Wars with them that succeeded to Tamerlane or Temur-leng in India and their Power was so great that the last Raja who was at War with Akbar brought into the Field four Armies under as many Generals The most considerable of his Armies lay in those Provinces which at this day are call'd the Kingdom of Golconda the second was quarter'd in the Provinces of Visapour the third in the Province of Dultabat and the fourth in the Territories of Brampour The Raja of Narsingue dying without Children the four Generals divided among themselves the Countreys which they possess'd with their Army and took upon them the title of Kings the one of Golconda the other of Visapour the other of Brampour and the fourth of Dultabat Though the Raja were an Idolater nevertheless his four Generals were Mahumetans and he of Golconda was of the Sect of Haly descended from an Ancient Family of the Turcomans which inhabit the Country of Hamadan in Persia. This General as I have said was more considerable than any of the rest and some few days after the death of the Raja they won a famous Victory from the Mogul so that he could not hinder them from assuming their several Sovereignties But after that Jehan-Guir the Son of Akbar conquer'd again the Kingdom of Brampour Cha-jehan the Son of Jehan-Guir recover'd the Kingdom of Dultabat and Aureng-zeb the Son of Cha-jehan recover'd some part of the Kingdom of Visapour As for the King of Golconda neither Cha-jehan nor Aureng-zeb disturb'd him but let him rest in peace upon condition that he should pay to the Mogul an annual tribute of 200000 Pagods At present the greatest Raja on this side Ganges is the Raja of Velou whose Territories extend to Cape-Comorin and who succeeded to some part of the Territories of the Raja of Narsingue But in regard there is no Trade in his Countrey and by consequence no concourse of strangers there is little notice taken of him The present King of Golconda has no Sons but three Daughters who are all married The Eldest Espous'd one of the Kinsmen of the Grand Chek of Mecca Nor must we forget some passages that fell out before this Marriage The Chek coming to Golconda in the habit of a Faquir for some Months lodg'd without the Gate of the Palace disdaining to give any answer to several Courtiers that demanded what his business was At length the thing being made known to the King he sent his chief Physitian who spoke good Arabick to know of the Chek what he had to request and the reason of his coming The Physitian and some other Lords of the Court that discours'd him also finding him to be a person of great Wit and Learning brought him to the King who was very well satisfi'd with his aspect and his presence But at length the Chek declaring to him that he came to Espouse the Princess that proposal very much surpriz'd the Prince and was look'd upon by the greatest part of the Court as made by a person not well in his wits At first the King only laugh'd at him But when he found him obstinately persevering in his demand in-so-much that he threaten'd the Countrey with some strange Calamity if the Princess were not given to him in Marriage he was committed to Prison where he lay a long time At length the King thinking it more to the purpose to send him back into his own Countrey caus'd him to be ship'd away at Mastipatan in a Vessel that carri'd Goods and Pilgrims to Mocca whence they travell by land to Mecca About two years after the same Chek return'd again to Golconda and order'd his affairs so well that he Espous'd the Princess and won an high reputation in the Kingdom which he governs at this day and is very Potent He it was that kept the King from surrendring the Fortress of Golconda whither he was retir'd when Aureng-zeb and his Son took Bagnabar as I shall tell you by and by threatning to kill him if he would not resolve to hold it out and not deliver the keys to the enemy This bold action wss the reason which made the King love him ever afterwards and that he takes his counsel in all weigty affairs not as he is the King's Son-in-Law but as he is a great Minister of State and the chiefest person next the King in all the Court He it was that has put a stop to the finishing the great Pagod in Bagnagar having threaten'd the whole Kingdom with some great Calamity if they went forward with the work This Prince is a passionate Lover of all those that profess the Mathematicks and understands them as well For which reason though he be a Mahumetan he is a great Favourer of all the Christians who are vers'd in that Science as he has particularly testifi'd to Father Ephrahim a Capuchin passing through Golconda for Pegu whither he was sent by his Superiors He did all he could to oblige him to stay in the Country and offer'd to build him a House and a Church at his own expences telling him he should neither want employment nor Hearers in regard there were several
when he is weigh'd 122. G. GAnges pag. 51 an ordinary River ib. and bad water 52. Gani see Coulour Gate what manner of place 34. Gehanabad 45 the Mogul's Palace there 45 46 47. Gehanguir ninth King of the Indians He permits Nourmahal his Wise to Reign in his stead He put out his Eldest Son's eyes 111. He prefers his Grandchild to the Throne ib. Dies ib. Gion-Kan a Traytor his death 115. Goa the present State of it 74. Golconda describ'd 61. The Policy and Government of the City 64. Gold where found 156 c. Gomron Road heat excessive injures the Ships 90. Gondicot taken by Mirgimola 98. Describ'd ib. Govaleor 35. The Prison for the Indian Grandees ib. Guards how reliev'd at Golconda 64. H. HAlabas pag. 52. The Governor a great Person ib. The cruelty of his Physitian ib. Hameth-Sheck 107. I. JAva the King thereof pag. 202. Javaniers good Souldiers 203. Jessom-seing betrays Dara-Sha 114. Idolaters belief touching a Deity 164. Of the state of the Soul after death 167. Of their burning their dead 168. Their several customs 179. Idolatrous Princes of Asia 163. Indians cunninger then the Jews 23. Their manner of crossing Rivers 100 102. Their Superstition 97. The Penance of the Women ib. Their Alms ib. Their Pilgrimages 101. Their craftiness 102. Their Physick 102. Their honesty 136 137. Their manner of driving bargains ib. Their Penances 181. Indigo where made 36 37 43. Indolstan bounded 106. Iron of Golconda the best 65. Island of St. Helens describ'd Ivory the best 96. Justice in India quick 99 100. K. Kemerouf a City pag. 188. L. LAhor pag. 45. Letter-Carriers 110. Lions how tam'd 40. M. MAcassar a Kingdom describ'd 191. The King shoots an English Malefactor with a poison'd Arrow 191. His difference with the Hollanders 192. Maldives Islands 90. Malvares Indian Pyrats 71 182. Mascate 16. Maslipatan 70. Matura one of the chiefest Pagods of the Indians 48. Measures Indian 27. Mingrela 73. A Miracle done by a Bramin 101 102. Miram-Sha 107. Mirda 43. Mirgimola the King of Golconda's General 67. He is suspected by the King ib. He revolts 68. He joyns with Aurengzeb ib. besieges the King ib. and cunningly settles a new Peace ib. entertains the Author at Gondicot 98 99. How he dispatch'd business 99. He conquers Asem 187. Mirza-Abdoul-Cofing marries the King of Golconda's third Daughter 69. Mirza Mahomed 68. See Check of Mecca Moguls why so call'd 106. Money the force of it in India 19. What most proper to be carri'd into India 18 21. Monuments Indian their sumptuousness 49 50 52 61. Morad-Backshe 108 Vice-Roy of Guzerat ib. He rebels against his Father 109 besieges Surat ib. proclaims himself King ib. He gives credit to Aurengzeb's fallacies ib. joyns with him 110 and defeats Dara-Sha ib. wounded ib. He sees his error is betraid and sent to Govaleor ib. Mountebanks Indian 36. Multan 43. Musk 153. Its adulterations ib. N. NAder pag. 35. Nahab what it signifies 53. Navapoura 30 famous for Rice ib. Nava-Sevagi revolts from the King of Visapour 73. Nourmahal Queen of India her Extraction 11 12. O. OBservations particular upon the Mogul's Court pag. 124 125. Omrahs their duty 122. Ormus the manner of Sailing from Ormus to Surat 15. Outemeda 97. P. PAgods Indian describ'd 92 93 94 97 102. The most celebrated among the Indians 173 c. Palicat 93. Passage by Sea from Ormus to Maslipatan 90. Passes where requir'd 44 52. Patna 53. Peacocks plentiful 37. How caught ib. Pearls and where fish'd for 145. How bred how fish'd for and at what time 146 c. Perca a petty Indian King 89. Physitians none in India but such as attend Princes 102. Pilgrimages of the Indians 179. Ponte Galle 194. Portugals their power in Goa 74 75. Their excessive proneness to revenge ib. discover a strange Countrey 83 84. Priests Indian how maintain'd Presents given by the Author at the Great Mogul's Court 59. R. RAge-Mehide 54. Raolconda Diamond-Mine 134. Rauchenara-Begum 108 always a friend to Aurengzeb His kindness to her their falling out 121. Religion of the Mahumetans in the Indies 159 c. Of the Idolatrous Indians 161. Roads from Ispahan to Agra through Gomron 15 from Surat to Agra through Brampour and Seronge 30 through Amadabat 36. From Ispahan to Agra through Candahar 43. From Dehly to Agra 48. From Agra to Patna and Daca 51. From Surat to Golconda 60. From Golconda to Maslipatan 69. From Surat to Goa from Goa to Golconda through Visapour 71. From Goa to Maslipatan through Cochin 88. From Maslipatan to Gandicot 91. From Gandicot to Golconda 100 to the Mines 137 139 141. Rodas the Fortress 139. Roupies the difference of them 20. Rubies the forms of several 149 150. Rule to know the price of Diamonds 142 143. S. SAltpeter where refin'd 53. Samarin an Indian King 89. Saseron 53. Say-pieces Indian 25 26. Sepper chekour 115 sent to Govaleor 116. Sera the signification of the word 32. Seronge 33. Serpents their vast bulk and deadly venom 34. Seva-gi continues the revolt 73. He finds vast Treasures ib. Sha-Est-Kan 20 24 56 buys the Authors Jewels 104 his kindness to the Author ib. revolts to Aurengzeb 110. Sha-Jehan first call'd Sha-Bedin-Mahomet 107. His good Government 108. He marries a young Lady ib. His children ib. His love to his children ib. He rebels against his Father is disinherited 111. He is advanc'd to the Throne 112. His cruelty ib. He is kept Prisoner by Aurengzeb and dies 113. Siam a Kingdom the King of it 119 c. Siren 143. Sodomy abominated by the Indians 54. Solyman Chekour defeats his Unckle 109 Betraid by Raja Roup flies to Nactiran 114. Is deliver'd up by him 119. Sent Pris'ner to Govaleor Soumelpour 139. Stones colour'd where found 143. Stones medicinal and their effects 154 155. Stories of the man that lost his child in Swimming 38. Of the Merchant's Wife that desir'd a child 39. Of the Merchant that ne'r told lye ib. The Story of Monsieur Belloy 79. Of the rich Leaper in Goa ib. Of St. Amant and John de Rose and the Sieur Marests ib. 80 81 c. Of Father Ephraim 85 86 87. Sultan Abousaid-Mirza 107. Sultan Babur 107. Sultan Boulaki preferr'd by Sha-Jehan 111. Betraid by Asouf-Kan 112. Retires into Persia ib. Sultan Kourom 107. See Sha-Jehan Sultan Mahomed Mogul 107. Sultan Mahomed Aurengzeb s Son marries the second Daughter of the King of Golconda 69. He flies to his Unckle 117. Is betraid by Emir-Jemla and imprison'd 118 119. Sultan Selim alias Jehanguir Patska 107. Sultan Soujah 108. Rebels 109. He flies to the King of Arakan marries his Daughter 119. Plots against him ib. His death 120. Sumbaco King of Macassar 192. Surat 15. T. TAmurleng 106. Tari what 65. Tavernier abus'd at the Mogul's Court 57 58. Tenara a sweet place 69. Thrones the description of the Mogul's Thrones 122 c. Thunderbolts three at a time 91. Tipra a Kingdom 186. Travelling the manner in India 27 29.
Ottoman Family THE PRINCIPAL HEADS Some inclinations common to all the Monarchs of the Eastern-parts The Life of the Seraglio delicious to one single person and incommodious to many The Mahumetanes zealous observers of their Law The regulated times of their publick Devotions The ordinary Employments of the Grand Seignor How his Table is serv'd The Sultan when oblig'd to go in Ceremony to the Mosquey The wicked contrivances of the Moufti to get mony The present State of the Ottoman Family An extraordinary example of a Father and Son who were successively Grand Vizirs The pourtraiture of the Sultan-Regent Mahomet The ancient Custome of the Turkish Emperours to live by their labour The Grand Seignor's subtilty in revenging himself of the Moufti THE Ottoman Monarchs and generally all the Princes of Asia what reputation soever they may have gain'd for their valour have alwayes been guilty Inclinations common to the Eastern Monarchs of a bent to voluptuousness and effeminacy and found great charms in a slothful kind of life They come out of their Seraglio's as seldome as they can and that only when an indispensable necessity forces them to shew themselves in publick whether it be at the head of their Armies or in those Ceremonies wherein the Law or common Civilities require their presence True it is that some of them were not so great lovers of retirement as others and preferr'd the hardships of Warr the divertisements of Hunting before the blandishments of ease and the conversation of Women But those may be reduc'd into a very small number and the greatest part of them being more addicted to mind their quiet and to lead a life void of disturbance have transfer'd all their concerns Civil and Military to the management of the principal Minister of State thinking it enough to content themselves with the account he was pleas'd to give him thereof It may be said of the Seraglio That it is a delicious but withal a solitary place of The Seraglio a place delicious to one single person and incommodious to many abode but as to the observations I have made of things it is delicious only to a single person and solitary to all the rest Of the many Thousands of the Male Sex who are there as 't were in Prison and have a dependance one upon the other none but the Prince himself has the sight of Women for the Negro-Eunuchs whom their deformity of body and countenance has in a manner transform'd into Monsters are not to be admitted into the number of men But though the Ottoman Monarchs and generally all that may be comprehended The Mahumetans zealous observers of the Law under the denomination of Turcisme are involv'd in voluptuousness as not having any tincture of ought relating to polite Literature yet this is particularly recommendable in them that their great pursuance of pleasures does not ever make them neglect the Divine Worship and that setting all things aside they are careful to perform what the Law requires of them upon that account They are exact and punctual even to superstition in all their exercises of Piety in their wayes of washing themselves in their Prayers in their Fasts in their Alms and in their Pilgrimages which are the Five principal Articles of the Mahumetan Religion It is a thing sufficiently well known to all people that the Turks go to their Prayers or Devotions five times a day that is in the space of a natural Day which The regulated times of their Devotions amounts to four and twenty hours For the performance of this work there are no certain hours appointed and it is according to the Sun 's being above their Horizon Upon which account there is a greater interval between their several Offices in the Summer-time than there is in the Winter and they place the principal part of their Devotion upon observations of that nature The first Exercise is to be perform'd at the break of day before Sun-rising the second at Noon the third between that time and Sun-set the fourth immediately after his setting and the last about an hour and a half after Night in all which unless sickness intervene they are very punctual so that nothing of business how important soever shall divert them Nay on the contrary some are so zealous and their fervour is so remarkable that Their servour in acts of Devotion being once fixt in their Prayers they could not be put out of them though 't were to force back an Enemy who were entring into the City or that word should be brought them that the house wherein they are was on fire They are moreover of a perswasion that it is a great sin for them to put their hand to any part of the body to scratch themselves if there should be occasion and they would have the external part to be answerable to the internal and correspondent to that abjection which ought to be the state of the Soul in the presence of God during their Exercises of Devotion Nor does the Grand Seignor himself desire to be dispens'd from the obligation of The Grand Seignor's ordinary Employments performing these acts of Devotion any more than the meanest of his Subjects but on the contrary he is very religious in that observance of their Law and he always begins the day with the Offices appointed for that part of it We need say no more than that he rises at the break of day nay sometimes he is up before and goes into the Bath to wash himself especially when he has lain with one of his Wives or Concubines Having finish'd his Prayers he diverts himself in shooting with the Bowe or more commonly in looking after his Horses and riding some of them and sometimes he seats himself in a Gallery where he cannot be seen by any and contents himself with the diversion of seeing some exercises perform'd by his Pages If any one of them does something that he is much pleas'd withal he sends him a Vest or some other thing of value as an encouragement for his doing better another time and to raise an emulation in his Companions Upon Council-days he comes through the close Gallery to the Window which looks into the Divan Hall to see what they are doing there and upon the rising of the Council he returns to his own Quarter where his Dinner is brought up to him In the Services of his Table there is not any great variety or delicacy the Dishes that are serv'd up being answerable to the Bill of fare which I have given you in The Services of his Table the Chapter where I treat of the Kitchins He takes his refection sitting cross-legg'd as Taylors do amongst us being surrounded with sumptuous Brocado-cushions which keep from him the dampness of the Walls and upon the Carpets which cover the Scaffold or Balcony where he is seated they spread others of Spanish-Leather lest the former should be prejudic'd by any thing of greasiness which might fall on
the Justice of the Countrey neither the King himself nor the Mahometans have any thing to do with it A thief is acquitted paying seven-fold what he has stole two parts whereof go to the Party robb'd one part to the Judges and four parts to the King If the Thief has not wherewithal to make restitution he is sold If the Product do not yet equal the Sum if he have a Wife and Children they first sell the Wife and if that will not do then they sell the Children But if the Party robb'd be so merciful as to forgive the Thief his share then neither the King nor the Judges can demand any thing for their share If a man commit a Murder they condemn him to die and deliver him up into the hands of the Kindred of the Party slain to do Execution as they please themselves However it is in their power to pardon him if he be able to give sixty Cows or more to the next a-kin to the Party kill'd In matter of Debt a Creditor has power to seize upon all the Estate of the Debtor and if that will not satisfie he may sell his Wife and Children The Christians of Georgia are very ignorant especially in Matters of Religion They learn that little they know in the Monasteries as also to write and read and generally the Women and Maids are more knowing than the Men not only because there are more Religious Houses for Women than for Men but also because the Boys are bred up to labour or sent to the Wars For if a Virgin grows up and happens to be handsom some one or other presently endeavors to steal her on purpose to sell her into Turky Persia or the Territories of the great Mogul So that to prevent their being stoln their Fathers and Mothers put them very young into Nunneries where they apply themselves to study wherein if they attain to any proficiency they usually stay as long as they live After that they profess and when they come to a certain Age they are permitted to Baptize and to apply the holy Oyles as well as any Bishop or Arch-Bishop can do The Georgians are very great Drinkers and Nature has fitted them a Countrey that produces good store of Wine They love the strongest Drinks best for which reason at their Feasts both men and women drink more Aquavitae than Wine The women never eat in publick with their Husbands but when the man has invited his Friends the next day the Woman invites her She-companions And it is observable that at the Womens Festivals there is more Wine and Aquavitae drank than at the mens The Guest is no sooner enter'd into the Dining-room but he is presented with 2 or 3 Dishes of Sweet-meats and a Glass of half a pint of Aquavitae to excite his Appetite They are great Feeders upon Onions and Herbs which they eat raw out of the Garden The Georgians are also great Travellers and very much addicted to Trade they are very dext'rous in shooting with Bow and Arrows and are accounted the best Souldiers in all Asia They compose a great part of the King of Persia's Cavalry who keeps them in his Court at peculiar pay and relies very much upon their fidelity and courage There are several also in the Service of the Great Mogul The Men are very well complexion'd and very well shap'd and for the Women they are accounted the fairest and most beautiful of all Asia and therefore out of this Countrey it is that the King of Persia chooses all his Wives being not permitted to marry a Stranger Teflis where the Women have more liberty than in any part of Asia is the Capital City of Georgia well situated large and well built where there likewise is a great Trade in Silk CHAP. X. A RELATION of the present State of Mengrelia MEngrelia extends from a Chain of Mountains that separates it from Georgia to the Black-Sea and is now divided into three Provinces every one of which has their King The first is call'd the Province of Imareté or Bassa-Shiouk the king whereof pretends to a superiority over both the other which is the reason they are often at War and that with so much cruelty that when they have tak'n any Prisoners of either side they fell them into Turkie They are so accustom'd to sell one another in this Country that if a man or his wife have any occasion for money they will go and sell one of their Children and many times they will exchange a Child for Ribands or other Toyes at the Mercers Shops The second Province is that of Mengrelia and the King of this Province is call'd the King of Dadian The third is the Province of Guriel the King of which Province is call'd the King of Guriel The Province of Mengrelia was formerly subject to the King of Bassa-Shiouk who sent thither a Governour which is call'd in their language Dadian One of those Governours being a person of wit and courage gain'd so far upon the affection of the People that they chose him for their King The chief of the Province of Guriel seeing how the Dadian had obtain'd the Kingdom following the Example of Mengrelia shook off the Yoke of the King of Bassa-Shiouk and chose another King among themselves who keeps his Soveraignty to this day by the support of the Grand Signor For when the Dadian rebell'd he enter'd into an Alliance with the Grand Signor and oblig'd himself to furnish him every year with such a certain quantity of Iron upon condition that if the King of Bassa-Shiouk should war upon him he should furnish him with twenty thousand Horse Of which the Turk was very glad finding thereby the Country of Mengrelia divided which being united was able at any time to have disturb'd him with an Army of fifty thousand Men. The King of Bassa-Shiouk coynes money of the same bigness and weight with that of the King of Persia. But in regard it is not so fine metal as that of the King of Persia he would have much a doe to make it pass in the trade between his Subjects and the Persians which is very great had he not found an expedient by putting the King of Persia's name upon the Coyn as well as his own which makes it pass without any difficulty He would also put the Grand Signor's Name upon his Coyn but that the Turk coynes none but small money or Aspers excepting only some Ducatts which he coines at Cairo The King of Bassa-Shiouk as well as the King of Teflis coynes all sort of forreign money These three Kings of Bassa-Shiouk Mengrelia and Guriel are Christians also And when they go to war all the Ecclesiastical Persons attend them Arch-bishops and Bishops Priests and Monks not so much to fight as to encourage the Souldiers Being at Constantinople the first time I travell'd into Persia I saw there an Embassador from the King of Mengrelia whose behaviour gave all the Franks occasion of laughter The Present
BAPTISTA TAVERNIER BARON of AUBONNE THROUGH Turky and Persia TO THE INDIES During the space of Forty years Giving an Account of the present State of those Countries viz. of their RELIGION GOVERNMENT CUSTOMS and COMMERCE AS ALSO The Figures Weights and Value of the MONEY and COINS severally currant therein The Second Part DESCRIBING INDIA and the ISLES Adjacent Made English by J. P. LONDON Printed in the Year 1678. THE INDEX TO THE Persian Travels A. ACcident that befell the Author at Balsara 64 65. Aleppo describ'd 57. Alexandretta 55. The road dangerous for Ships ib. Ali-Kouli-Kan his Story 218 219. Allachars vid. Philadelphia Almanack Persian 234. Almerdan-Kan delivers up Candahar to the Mogul 198. His answer to the Mogul ib. Amadan describ'd 75. Amadie 108. Amasia 4. Anna 111. Antioch 56. Aphian Carassar 37. Arabian Princes exact from the Caravans 59 61 63. Aras anciently Araxes 9. Arbele Plun 73. Arch-Bishop of Armenia 16. Ardevol describ'd 24. Armenians their behaviour at Church 13. Remov'd by Sha-Abbas 16. Their Religion ib. Their custom before meals 18. Great Traders 159. Their Languages ib. Their Marriages 172. Their Christnings 171 c. Their Burials 173. Artaxate 13. Asiaticks idle Asparagus wild 8. Assaque 114. Astracan 116. Astrology admir'd by the Persians 234. Athemadoulet vid. Officers Athens 121. Aydar 195. B. BAgdat describ'd pag. 84. Balsara 88. Baker how punish'd 234. Bandee-Abassi 255. Bannians expell'd by Sha-Abas 202. Baptism of the Armenians 171. St. Bartholomew 16 17. Basha of Cyprus 81. Bedovins what and how they live 66. Beauty among the Arabs 112. Betlis 105. Bey what 105 106. Bishop Armenian buri'd 18. Books Persian 227 229. Bread how made in the Desert 62. Bufalo's fighting of Bufalo's an Armenian sport 12. C. CAchan pag. 30. Calaat how receiv'd by the Kans 236. Camels their breeding nature and several sorts Camel-drivers a rude sort of people 48. One kill'd by a Cafer ib. Great cheats 50. Candahar describ'd 258. Caudy remarks upon the Trade of it 118. Carriage what 11. Where paid 38. Caravans where they set out 2. Constrain'd to stop 8 9 11. Caravanseras the order among them 45. Casbin 26. Cazerom 65. Ceremony of the Taper among the Armenians and the occasion 12. At the Enthronement of the King 200 c. Chamber of the King's Accounts 227. Charkliquen describ'd 6. Children of the King 's of Persia how bred 196. Chimneys how made in Persia 238. Chio 119. Christians of St. John and their opinions 90 c. Chrysostom's Rock 6. Churches the three Churches 10 11. The richness of the Armenian Churches 12 13. Circastia 126. Customs of the people 129. Civility of two Arabians very remarkable 111. Coffee-houses inspected by Sha-Abas 154. Colledges Persian 227 Comania 126. Customs of the people 129. Combat between two Bulls one call'd Ali the other Mahomet 29. Comouks their Customs and Feasts 128 c. Constancy of the Armenians in defending their Religion 174. Corgia Petrus his Wealth 159. Corinth 121. Coron ib. Corou 31. Covents Armenian 16. Courriers Arabian use Dromedaries for speed 61. Coins of Persia 50 c. Curtisrns how distinguish'd 86. Customers of Bagdat 83. Curdes a strange sort of Arabs 106. Customs of Persia 234. Cyclades Islands 120. Byprian Birds 80. Cyprus describ'd 79. D. DAnger of leaving the Caravan pag. 6. Darius 73. Debauchery punish'd 232. Dengbe 26. Dervichs the strange reverence they gave to Sultan Amurat 60. Desert describ'd 61. Diarbeguir describ'd 104. Diet of the Persians 241. Diseafes of Persia 239. Their Cure 240. Disposition of the Persians 235. Domenico Santis the story of him 72 c. Dromedaries see Courrier Duties where paid 9 10 14 18 20 59 106 107 112 115 116. E. ECclisia 17. Embassadors expences born in Persia 14. Embassador Indian the story of him 65. Emirs of Arabia 63 64. Ephesus 34. Erivan describ'd 13. Betraid retaken by the Persian 14. Erzerome describ'd 8. Euphrates 8 58. 71. Exchequer Persian 227. Ezekiel the Prophet his Sepul 86. F. FEast of Hozen and Hussein 161. St. Francis of Paolo's Miracle 113. Franks in Alexander's Army 14. Seat themselves near Erivan ib. Funerals at Bagdat describ'd 85 86. Inconvenient to the poor ib. Funerals of the Persians 244. G. GAlleys of the Grand Signior their demands when out at Sea 54. Their present condition 122. Gaming not allowd 236. Gaures their Religion and present condition 163. Their Origiual and Prophets 164. Their Books 165. Their Baptism Marriages Feasts Fasts and Funerals 166. Their adoration of Fire 167. their manners and customs ib. Beasts which they love or hate 168. Genealogy of the Persian Kings 195. Georgia the present state of it 123. Gezire 108. Godfrey of Bologne's Arms 55. Gorno Fortress 68. Government of Persia 219. Grand Signior's power over his Bashas 8. Gregory St. martyr'd 13. Gulph Persian 95. Guni 114. H. HAbit of the Persians 237. Halicarcara 10. Haly not much resorted to by the Persian Pilgrims and why 62. St. Helena 22. Hizargerib the fairest Garden of Persia 157. High-ways how secur'd in Persia 233. Strangers bound to hire Horses from Alexandretta to Aleppo 55. Horses Arabian 65. I. JAfer-Kan the Story of him 210. Janizary strikes out an Armenian Bishop's eye 10. Jasque the Prince there of Rebels Jealousie of the Persians 239. Iman-Kouli-Kan the story of his death 204 c. Jonas Whale 54. Ispahan fully describ'd 148 c. St. Jude 86. Justice of the Persians 232. K. KAffa the City 113. Kaguisgan Fort 10. Kalmouchs what sort of people 127. Kans of Persia 14. Civil to strangers ib. 225. Kan of Erivan betrays the Town and teaches the Grand Signior to drink 14. The Kan of Kerman kind to the Author 41. Kan of Kan his sad end 30. Kars describ'd 9. Keckmish 49. Besieg'd by the Hollander ib. Kerman describ'd 41. Kilet 82. King of Persia's favours 236. Kom describ'd 28. L. LAke of Antioch 56. Lance that pierc'd the side of Christ 13. Languages us'd in Persia 229. Lar describ'd 253. Latitudes of the chiefest Cities of Persia 135. Locusts 65 81. Longitudes of the principal Cities of Persia 135 c. M. MAhomet-Ali-beg the story of him 42 c. He punishes his own Son 44. Mahomet-beg his misfortune 212. Revengeful 212 c. Malta the great Ceremony of the grand Muster upon Lady-day 78. Manners of Persia. See Customs Marante 20. Market-price how settl'd 55 234. Marriages of the Persians 243. Meal the strange nature of Persian meal 27. Mengrelia the present State of it 125. Messina describ'd 2. Milo Island 120. Mirza-Ibrahim 23. Mirza-Take his story 197. Modon 121. Money of Persia. See Coins Monuments Turkish 3 4 24 25. Mother kills her own Son instead of a Bannian 202. Moulla's 226. Moussal describ'd 71. Murder committed in the Desert 112. Punish'd in Persia 232. N. NAcksivan describ'd 16. Names and Employments of the Officers of the King's House 221 c. Of the Military Officers 223. Naxis 120. Nazar vid. Officers Nemrod or the supposed Tower of Babel 86. Nibia
till night for four or five Leagues Some few days before the General 's death the King of Golconda finding that his provisions fail'd him in the Fortress was about to have deliver'd the Keys but as I said before Mirza-Mahomed his Son-in-Law snatch'd them out of his hand and threatn'd to kill him if he persever'd in that resolution Which was the reason that the King who lov'd him not before had ever after the greatest affection imaginable for him as long as he liv'd Aurengzeb being thus constrain'd to raise his Siege stay'd some days to rally his Troops and having receiv'd a recruit of fresh men return'd again to the Siege with new resolutions But Mirgimola who had still some kindness for the King remaining in his breast would not permit Aurengzeb to use the utmost of extremity but by his wit and good management gain'd a suspension of Arms. Cha-jehan the Father of Aurengzeb had formerly had great kindnesses shew'n him by the King of Golconda to whom he fled after he had lost the Battel together with his eldest Brother which he fought against Jehan-guir his Father with whom he made War The eldest Son was taken and Jehan-guir caus'd his eyes to be put out but Cha-jehan being more wary fled and was entertain'd by the King of Golconda with whom he enter'd into a particular and strict friendship Cha-jehan making an Oath to his Benefactor that he would never wage War against him upon any occasion whatever Mirgimola therefore knowing that it would be no difficult thing to bring two Kings that were Friends to an accommodation wrought underhand with both toward the conclusion of a Peace And he so brought his business about that the King of Golconda writ a Letter first to Cha-jehan wherein he submissively requested him to be an Arbitrator between Aurengzeb and him promising to submit wholly to him and to sign such Articles as he should propose By the same policy of Mirgimola Cha-jehan was advis'd in answer to the King of Golconda's Letter to propose a Match between his second Daughter and Sultan Mahomed the Son of Aurengzeb upon condition that after the death of the King her Father the Son-in-Law should inherit the Kingdom of Golconda This proposition being accepted the Peace was concluded and the Nuptials celebrated with an extraordinary Magnificence As for Mirgimola he quitted the service of the King of Golconda and went with Aurengzeb to Brampour Soon after Cha-jehan made him his Prime Minister of State and Generalissimo of his Armies and he it was that so potently assisted Aurengzeb to get the Crown by the defeat of Sultan-Sujah For Mirgimola was a person of great wit and no less understanding in Military than in State affairs I had occasion to speak with him several times and I have no less admir'd his justice than his dispatch to all people that had to do with him while he gave out several Orders and sign'd several Dispatches at the same time as if he had but one entire business in hand The other Princess of Golconda was promis'd to Sultan Sejed another Chek of Mecca and the Match went on so fairly that the day was appointed for the celebration of the Nuptials but Abdoul-Jaber-Beg General of the Army with six other Lords went to the King to divert him from his intention and they brought it so to pass that the Match was broken off and the Princess was given in Marriage to Mirza-Abdoul-Cofing the Kings Cousin by whom she has two Sons which have wholly annull'd the Pretentions of Aurengzeb's Son whose Father now keeps him in Prison in the Fort of Gavaleor for having taken his Uncle Sultan Sujah's part against him The Princess had been given before to Mirza-Abdoul-Cofing but for his debauchery which render'd him little regarded by the King But since his marriage he is very much reclaim'd Now the King of Golconda does not stand in so much fear of the Moguls for in imitation of them he keeps his Money in his own Country and has already hoarded up a Treasury sufficient to maintain his Wars Besides he is altogether addicted to the Sect of Haly so that he will not wear a Bonnet like the other Mahumetans because they say Haly wore none but another sort of attire for the head Which is the reason that the Persians that come into India to seek their fortune apply themselves rather to the King of Golconda then to the Great Mogul Such is the condition of the King of Visapour also whom the Queen Sister to the King of Golconda takes care to educate in the Sect of Haly which invites great numbers of Persians into her Service CHAP. XI The Road from Golconda to Maslipatan al. Masalipatan FRom Maslipatan they count it an hunder'd costes or leagues taking the right way But if you go by the Diamond-Mine which in the Persian Language is call'd Coulour in the Indian Gani they reckon it an hunder'd and twelve leagues and this is the Road which I generally took From Golconda to Tenara costes 4 Tenara is a sweet place where there are four very fair Houses to every one of which belongs a large Garden One of the four standing upon the left-hand along the High-way is much more beautiful then any of the other three It is built of Free-stone two stories high wherein there are several fair Galleries Halls Parlors and lodging-Chambers Before the front of the House is a large four-square Piazza little inferior to the Place Royale in Paris Upon every one of the other three fronts there is a great Portal on each side whereof there is a fair Platform rais'd from the earth above four or five-foot-high and well-Arch'd where Travellers of Quality are lodg'd On the top of each Portal there is a strong Baluster and a little Chamber for the Ladies When Persons of Quality care not to be in their Houses they set up Tents in their Gardens and you must take notice that there is no dwelling for any person but only in the three Houses for the fourth which is the fairest belongs only to the Queen When she is not there however any body may see it and take a walk in the Garden which is a very lovely place and well-stor'd with water The whole Piazza is encompast with several Chambers for the lodging of poor Travellers who every day toward the evening have an Alms bestow'd upon them of Rice or Pulse which they boil ready to their hands But for the Idolaters that eat nothing which is provided by other hands they give them flower to make Bread and a little Butter For when their Bread is bak'd like a broad thin Cake they dip it in the melted-Butter From Tenara to Jatenagar costes 12 From Jatenagar to Patengi costes 12 From Patengi to Pengeul costes 14 From Pengeul to Nagelpar costes 12 From Nagelpar to Lakabaron costes 11 From Lakabaron to Coulour or Gani of which I shall speak in my discourse of the Mines costes 11 The greatest part of the way from
the great Rains cast up so that there is not above a foot or a foot and a half Water for very small Boats But when the great Rains come the Water swells and carrying away the Sands opens a passage for the great Vessels CHAP. XIII Observations upon the present State of the City of Goa GOA lies in 15 Degrees 32 minutes of Latitude in an Island six or seven leagues about upon the River of Mandoua ten leagues from the mouth of the River The Island abounds in Corn and Rice and bears several sorts of Fruit as Manga's Anana's Adam's Figs and Coco's But most certainly a Pippin is far beyond all those fruits All those that have seen Europe and Asia agree with me that the Port of Goa the Port of Constantinople and the Port of Toulou are three of the fairest Ports of all our vast Continent The City is very large and the Walls are of good Stone The Houses are for the most part very magnificently built especially the Viet-Roy's Palace There are in it a great number of Apartments and in one part of the Rooms and Chambers which are very large hang several Pictures wherein are severally painted by themselves the Ships that come from Lisbon to Goa with those that are bound from Goa to Lisbon with the name of the Vessel the Captain and the number of Guns which the Ship carries If the City were not so closely environ'd with Hills it would doubtless be better inhabited and the air would be much more wholsome But these Mountains keep off the cool winds which is the reason that the heats are very excessive Beef and Pork is the ordinary diet of the Inhabitants of Goa They have good store of Poultry and some few Pidgeons but though Goa be very neer the Sea Fish is very scarce They have abundance of all sorts of Sweet-meats and feed upon them very much Before the Hollanders had brought down the power of the Portugals in India there was nothing to be seen at Goa but Magnificence and Riches but the Dutch having every where got their Trade out of their hands they have lost their springs of Gold and Silver and are fallen from their former splendor In my first Voyage to Goa I met with people of fashion that had above two-thousand Crowns Revenue at my second Voyage the same persons came privately to me in the evening to beg an Alms yet abating nothing for all that of their inherent pride and haughtiness Nay their Women will come in Palleki's to the door and stay while a Boy that attends them has brought you a Complement from his Mistress Then usually you send them what you please or carry it your self if you have a curiosity to see their faces which rarely can be done because they cover themselves with a veil from head to foot Moreover if you go your self to present them your Charity they will give you a little note containing a recommendation of some religious Person who signifies what substantial persons they have been and how they came to fall to decay Sometimes if the person be handsom she is desir'd to walk in and to take a Collation which lasts most commonly till the next day Hadnot the Portugals so many Fortresses to keep upon the Land or had not out of their contempt of the Hollander they neglected their affairs they could never have been reduc'd to so low a condition The Portugueses have no sooner made the Cape of Good-Hope but they are all Fidalgues or Gentlemen and add the Title of Dom to the single name of Pedro or Jeronimo which they receiv'd at their Baptism From whence they are call'd the Fidalgues or Gentlemen of the Cape of Good-Hope As they change their Names they also change their Nature for it may be truly said that the Indian-Portugals are the most revengeful persons and the most jealous of their Wives of any persons in the World And when the least suspition creeps into their noddles they rid themselves of them either by Poison or Dagger If they have an enemy they never pardon him but if he be a person of that courage that they dare not grapple with him their Masters have attending upon them a sort of black Slaves that if they command them to kill any one the Slaves will do it with a blind obedience which they do either with a Dagger or a Pistol or else by knocking the party on the head with a club which they always carry about the length of an Half-Pike If it happen that they stay too long before they can meet with an opportunity ere they can dispatch their mischief and that they cannot conveniently meet the person to be murther'd in the Fields or in the City they are no such Saints but they will kill him at the very Altar while he is at his devotions of which I saw two fatal presidents the one at Goa the other at Daman At Daman three or four of these black Slaves perceiving some persons whom they were to murther at Mass in the Church discharg'd their Muskets at them through the windows never considering what other mischief they might do to any other persons against whom they had no quarrel or design The same thing happen'd at Goa where seven men were kill'd close by the Altar and the Priest that said Mass was dangerously wounded at the same time Nor do their Courts of Justice take any cognizance of these crimes for generally the guilty persons are the chiefest of the Countrey As for their Suits of Law there is no end of them for they are manag'd by the Canarins who are Natives of the Countrey whose business it is to follow the Law the most subtil and crafty sort of people in the World To return to the ancient Power of the Portugals in India most certain it is that if the Hollanders had never come among them you should not have seen a bit of Iron in any Portugal Merchant's House but all Gold or Silver for they needed no more than to make three or four Voyages to Japan the Philippin or Molucca Islands or to China to enrich themselves gaining at their return above five or six for one upon rich Merchandizes The very Souldiers as well as the Captains and Governors enrich'd themselves by Trade There was not any person unless it be the Governor who was not a Trader or if he does Trade it is in another man's name for he has Revenue enough without it Formerly it was one of the fairest employments of the World to be Vice-Roy of Goa and there are but few Monarchs that have Governments at their disposal which are equal in value to some of those which depend upon this Vice-Roy The chief Command is that of Mozambique for three years In those three years the Governor gets above four or five-hunder'd-thousand Crowns and sometimes more if in all that time they receive no losses from the Cafres These Cafres are people that bring Gold for the Commodities which they carry
time seems so splendid is but a tottering fortune upon which neither the Son nor the Father himself what repute soever he may be in can make any sure relyance The Bassa's who have the denomination of Vizirs carry three Banners or Standards Observations upon the Standards at the top of which there is a Horse-tayl fasten'd put into what colour they please themselves green only excepted though they are permitted to paint the Staff to which the Standard is fasten'd with that colour The Origine of this Custom was thus according to the Story which the Turks relate of it Having one day given Battel to the Christians their Standard was taken in the heat of the Engagement and the General of the Turks perceiving that the loss of the Standard was a discouragement to the Souldiers who were beginning to take their flight he with a Cymitar cut off a Horse's tayl and fasten'd it to the top of a half-Pike and advanc'd it on high crying out Here is the Grand Standard let him who loves me follow me Immediately the Turks re-assum'd courage and having rally'd renew'd the Charge and gain'd the Victory The Officers who are about the Persons of the Bassa's have also their Standards but they are not allow'd to add thereto one of those tayls and it is to be observ'd that the Bassa's who are not Vizirs can carry but two of them as the Beys who are inferiour to the Bassa's and Governours of lesser Provinces carry but one of them When the Grand Seignor goes into the Country there are seven Standards carry'd in regard that according to the Turks the World is divided into seven parts or seven Climats whereof the Grand Seignor is Master if taken according to its breadth and 't is for that reason that in their language they give him the title of Master of all Kings This is grounded upon what Mabomet said That he who after his death should be Master of those Territories where his Sepulchre were found should assume the title of Master or chief of all the Kings upon Earth They add that there are but three Empires which are those of Constantinople Babylon and Trebizond And 't is for that reason that the Grand Seignor wears three plumes of black Heron-tops in his Turbant Take notice by the way that they are only the Herons of Candia which have their tops perfectly black the Herons of all other Countries having them either white or of a mixt colour And because there must be a considerable quantity of them to make up a plume it must accordingly be of a very great value which possibly has occasion'd its being out of use in Europe For as to all the Princes of Asia they have still a great esteem for the Heron-tops but they must not have the least defect and if the points of them be ever so little broken there is no account made of them as being things of very little value By those three Heron-tops upon the Grand Seignor's Turbant it is known that the Grand Vizir is in the Army inasmuch as at that time he wears but two of them and the thing is worthy our observation When the Army is to march the Grand Seignor gives order for the drawing up of those Troops which are at Constantinople and the parts adjacent and having the Grand Vizir near him he presents him to them for their General The Souldiers at that time say not a word nor do they make the ordinary salute till after the Grand Seignor has caus'd one plume of the Heron-tops to be taken out of his Turbant and to be put upon that of the Grand Vizir and upon that Ceremony the whole Army salutes him and acknowledge him for their General and from that very time are to receive their Pay from him Having spoken of the Bassa's in general it is requisite I should give some Idea of those who are advanc'd to the principal Charges of the Empire and I shall bring into that List the Grand Vizir accompany'd by six others who have the quality of Vizirs the Caimacan the Bassa of the Sea and the Aga of the Janizaries after whom I shall come down to the Beglierbeys and to the Sangiacbeys and to the Bostangi-Bachi who has one of the most eminent Charges of the Port. The Vizir-Azem or Grand Vizir is the Lieutenant-General of the Empire and of The Honours and Disadvantages attending the Charge of Grand Vizir the Armies the principal Person of the Council and he who under the Grand Seignor's Orders has the absolute disposal of all Affairs relating to the State or to the War having in his custody the Imperial Seal He is attended by and has assistant to him in the Divan six other Vizirs whom they call Vizirs of the Bench and who are properly Counsellors of State but yet such as have not any deliberative voice and come not into the Divan but only to be consulted upon some point of Law wherein they are well skill'd without intermedling with the Government of the State or concerning themselves in any Affair unless their advice be requir'd There are also five Beglerbeys on whom the Grand Seignor bestows the qualification of Vizirs and are possess'd of the greatest and wealthiest Governments of the Empire to wit the Bassa's of Babylon Cairo Buda Natolia and Romania The three former who are the three principal had heretofore the priviledge exclusively to all the other Bassa's of having carried before them in the same manner as the Grand Vizir had the three Horse-tayls of which I have related the Story But at the present that priviledge extends to the two other Bassa's of Natolia and Romania and they are all five equal as to that point I am now to return to the Grand Vizir who has a magnificent Court answerable to the greatness of the Master whom he serves and there are in his house above two thousand Domesticks Though he lyes expos'd as well as the other Bassa's to the indignation of the Prince and forc'd to send him his Head when he requires it yet does the Grand Seignor in the Affairs of greatest importance and such as concern the State comply much with the Sentiments of his Grand Vizir and his Propositions in Council are as so many definitive Sentences 'T is that which renders his Power so absolute that in all the Empires and Kingdoms of the World there is not any chief Minister of State whose Authority can be parallel'd to that of the Grand Vizir Whoever comes to make him a Visit he rises not out of his Chair either to give him a reception or to conduct him out again unless it be the Mufti who is the principal Person relating to the Law of Mahomet upon whose access the Grand Seignor himself rises from his Throne But this is particularly worth our observation That as it belongs only to the Grand Vizir to propose all Affairs of importance so does it concern him to be very careful
the Cheat might be easily discover'd when at the quitting of his Charge the Chasnadar-bachi gives an account of all things to his successor But it ordinarily happens that they are friends and that the Chasnadar-bachi who does not leave his Charge but upon his advancement to that of the place of the Capi-Aga in case he should dye or be exalted to a higher Dignity or upon his being made a Bassa and Governour of a Province proposes him among the Pages for whom he has the greatest affection and who is his Confident as a Person qualify'd for the Charge of Principal Officer of the Treasury Accordingly being his Benefactor he gives in his Accompts as he pleases himself and delivering unto him an Inventory of what is in the Treasury he withal produces a Memorandum of the Pieces which had been taken out thence during his Surintendency by the Grand Seignor's Orders The Clerk of the Treasury might notwithstanding their intelligence and combination discover the intrigue but being one of the eldest Pages of the Chamber and in a capacity of advancement to the Charge of Chasnadar-bachi he shuts his eyes and so avoids the creation of Enemies thinking it more prudence to be appeas'd by the Presents he receives as well from him who enters into the Charge as from him who quits it But these Thieveries are not very often committed and if there were but the least discovery made thereof a severe punishment would soon be inflicted both on the Author of them and his Complices As to the little Chest or Coffer wherein the most precious Jewels are kept it is impossible to get any thing out thence for when the Grand Seignor would have any Piece taken out of it he orders the Coffer it self to be brought into his Presence by the principal Officer of the Treasury accompany'd by the Keeper of the Keyes and all the Pages and before he opens it he takes notice whether the Seal be entire After he has taken what he desir'd the Coffer is lock'd up in his Presence the Seal is set upon it and it is carry'd back into the Treasury with the same Ceremony Then do the Sixty Pages receive ordinarily some demonstrations of the Grand Seignor's Liberality which may amount to ten or twelve Purses to be divided amongst them We are not yet got out of the third Chamber of the Treasury which may pass for Rich Tapistry wherein Charles the Fifth is represented one Spacious Hall the middle part whereof is taken up by a Scaffold of nine or ten foot square the height the length and the breadth being equal This Scaffold is cover'd and surrounded with a piece of Tapistry of Gold and Silk and in the upper part of it there is in emboss'd Work the Effigies of the Emperour Charles the Fifth seated on a Throne having in one hand a Globe and in the other a Sword surrounded by all the Grandees of the Empire doing him homage At the bottom of the said Piece of Tapestry there may be read certain Verses in Gothick characters And the upper part of the Scaffold is full of Books in the Latine French Italian high Germane English and other European Languages There are also some Treatises upon the subject of Navigation together with two Globes the Celestial and the Terrestrial and some Geographical Maps drawn upon Velom whence it may be conjectur'd that they were all taken at Sea by some Turkish Pirate and sent as a Present to the Grand Seignor But not being carefully look'd after the dust has quite spoyl'd both the Tapestry and the Books and so they remain there as a Monument of some Victory gain'd over the Christians The Fourth Chamber of the Treasury is very dark and has no other light than A remarkable Story of the Bass a Rustan what it receives from a little Garret-Window which looks into the Court and has three strong Iron-bars one over the other Over the Door there are these words engrav'd in the Turkish Language Mony acquir'd by the diligence of Rustan Take here an account of what occasions this Monument which they were pleas'd to erect to perpetuate the memory of a Grand Vizir as I have been told it by several Persons in Constantinople He was the Son of a Cow-keeper and had follow'd the same Employment himself but he had a Genius that might become a Person of the highest Extraction and which rais'd him to the Charge of Grand Vizir and the honour of being Son-in-law to Solyman He had many traverses of fortune and was for some time out of Favour but in fine Solyman who had great Affairs to manage and was engag'd in a War with Persia coming to a little indigency of Mony sent for Rustan and bestow'd on him the Superintendency of his Revenues He knew him to be a man of great Abilities and capable of putting them in a short time into a good posture and accordingly his pains and diligence in the management thereof prov'd so successful that he presently fill'd Solyman's Coffets and re-establish'd the Affairs of the Empire Upon which occasion I shall here set down a thing which is still fresh in the remembrance of many Turks who receiv'd it from their Fathers The Turks have so great a The Heroick Sentiment of a Turk zeal for the welfare of the State that one of the Grandees of the Port an Enemy of Rustans and one who upon other occasions would gladly have ruin'd him protested to one of his Confidents That though it were in his power to do him an ill turn yet he would not do it then because he had by his Industry and Labours upheld the State which he retriv'd from the Precipice of destruction and was in a fair way to make a considerable augmentation of its Revenues This generous and heroick Sentiment in the Soul of a Turk who at his first rise was but a simple Slave would meet with but few Examples amongst Christians But to reassume our discourse concerning the Fourth Chamber of the Treasury It is full of Chests of two foot in length and a breadth and depth proportionable thereto fortify'd with plates of Iron and made fast each of them with two Chains The number of them is not always the same because the Mony is coming in and going out of that Chamber and the Coffers are transported thence according to the occurrent exigencies for the payment of the Janizaries and the maintenance of the Armies All the Gold and Silver which is brought into the Treasury rises out of the Revenues of the Empire and out of the Sale of what Goods the Bassa's leave at their departure The principal Sources of the Wealth of the Empire out of this World As to what is rais'd out of the Empire which dilates it self so far into the three parts of our great Continent and comprehends so many Kingdoms it may be easily imagin'd that it must supply the Treasury with vast Sums but it is not so easie to ascertain
when they are strong enough to be put upon certain Exercises they have Governours and Masters appointed over them in a distinct Quarter by themselves Besides these things which may be positively known concerning the Appartment of the Women in the Seraglio it may well be imagin'd that the embellishments of their Lodgings are answerable to those of the Grand Seignor since it is the place where he passes away the most divertive part of his time It is also not to be question'd but that it has its Infirmary its Baths and the other accommodations and conveniences that can be wish'd for It may also be conjectur'd That there is in this Quarter an observance of the same regulations as there are in the Chambers of the Ichoglans That some of the more ancient Maids are Mistresses over the Younger ones and are night and day employ'd in observing their actions and that their unvoluntary restraint forces them to the same unseemly actions amongst themselves as the brutish Passions of those Young Men engages them in whenever they can find the opportunities to commit them And this presumption has no doubt given occasion to the Fabulous Story which is related of their being serv'd up with Cucumbers cut into pieces and not entire out of a ridiculous fear lest they should put them to undecent uses they who have forg'd the Story not knowing that it is the custome in the Levant to cut the Fruit a-cross into great thick slices as I shall make it appear in the Chapter where I treat of their Gardens But it is not only in the Seraglio that that abominable Vice reigns but it is predominant also in the City of Constantinople and in all the Provinces of the Empire and the wicked Example of the Men who slighting the natural use of Woman-kind are mutually enflam'd with a detestable love for one another unfortunately enclines the Women to imitate them Of this there was a strange instance in the time of Solyman the Magnificent An A strange Story of an old Woman old Woman was guilty of such an excess of extravagance as to put on Man's Cloaths and to give out that she had bought a Chiaoux's place the better to compass her designe of obtaining the only Daughter of a Trades-man of Constantinople with whom she was desperately fallen in love having made fruitless attempts by other ways to satisfie her infamous inclinations The Father not suspecting any thing of her wicked intentions and being withal poor grants her his Daughter the Marriage is solemniz'd in the presence of the Cadi and the imposture having been discover'd the very Wedding-night the old woman was condemn'd the next day to be thrown into the Sea there to quench the Gomorrhean Inflammations of her lewd desires This Story is to this day related in Constantinople and I have had it from several good hands These insatiable salaciousness amongst the Women are the effects and consequences Polygamy prejudicial to propagation of the same inclinations in the Men and the Turks are so much the more execrable and abominable as to this particular the more they are permitted a plurality of Wives But whether it happens through a just punishment from Heaven or proceed from their Sorceries which are common and allow'd in Turkey and ordinarily practis'd by the Women in opposition one to another to appropriate the affections of their Husbands it has always been observ'd That the Turks who keep many Women are not so well stor'd with Children as they who observe Conjugal Chastity and confine themselves to one I question not but those Authors who have written of the Mahumetan Religion have given a sufficient account of that plurality of Wives and of the Ceremonies of Matrimony amongst the Turks As to the manner how the Grand Seignor demeans himself in the prosecution of The Secrecy of the Grand Seignor's Amours his Amours it is a Secret which I shall not enquire into I have not much endeavour'd to make any discoveries of it and it is a hard matter to give any account thereof without some hazard of travesting History into Romance They are Intrigues which do not admit of any Confident by whom they may be disclos'd and all that is commonly related thereof is haply at a great distance from the true state of things not to press this That we ought to have a respect for all Princes and to forbear divulging what informations we may possibly have receiv'd of their secret Amours CHAP. XVIII The Entrance into Constantinople of the Sultaness Mother to the Grand Seignor whom they honour with the Title of la Validé on the Second of July 1668. THE PRINCIPAL HEADS The order of the March The Wealth of the Grand Seignor's Favourite The Sultanesse's Coaches The prohibitions to look on her ON the Second of July in the Year of our Lord One Thousand six Hundred Sixty and Eight the Sultaness Mother to the Grand Seignor Regent at her return from Adrianople made her Entrance into Constantinople where I then was of which Entrance take the eusuing Description About Six in the Morning some numbers of Janizaries not observing any order The Order of the March. took their way towards the Seraglio sometimes ten or more sometimes twenty in little detachments which lasted for some time After them came two hundred men on Horse-back belonging to the House of the Cologlou that is to say the Grand Seignor's Favourite with short Guns resting on the Bowe of their Saddles and all very meanly clad as also the Officers of his Kitchin who coming in the Rear of the others were in like manner poorly habited and ill mounted After them appear'd in somewhat a better order the menial Retinue of the Caimacan his Officers as well those belonging to the Chamber as those of the Stables were very handsomely mounted and all in their yellow Garments The next appearance was that of the Spahis who are the Sultaness-Mother's Life-Guard Of those there were four hundred which made a handsome Shew being all well mounted and well clad They had all their Coats of Mail with their Vests of red Taffeta and had on the right side a Quiver of Crimson-Velvet embroider'd with Flowers of Gold and on the left a Bowe in a cover of red Velvet embroider'd as the other They had all of them Helmets on their Heads and over them white Turbants and from the Helmets there hung small Chains of Mail resembling Locks of Hair which they use when occasion requires to ward off a blow from the neck and face Every one of them had also a Launce in his hand and the Trappings of their Horses were of one of these three Colours yellow violet and red of a rich Stuff with an embroidery of Silver The Spahi-Bachi came in the Rear of them having a Plume of Heron-tops in his Turbant three foot in height which made him remarkable and distinguish'd him from all the other Spahis On the Breast-piece of his Horse were fasten'd a dozen little Scarffs
he had so easily accustom'd himself that many times he spent three days together in a continu'd debauch The only Wine he drunk was that of the Island of Tenedos the most excellent of any of the Islands of the Archiphelago and the least intoxicating and he soon became as good a proficient in the drinking of it as the Master who had taught him to do it This Persian Governour was a man extreamly inclin'd to debauchery insomuch that before his perfidious delivery of the place to Amurath as I pass'd through Erivan in one of my Voyages to Persia he intreated me to make my abode there for the space of fifteen days and to humour him there was a necessity of spending whole nights in drinking so that I saw him not all the day long which I question not but he employ'd in the management of his affairs and taking his repose But at the long run lewd actions meet with the punishment they justly deserve Persidiousness punish'd Shach-Sefi King of Persia would not entertain any proposition of Peace no nor so much as give audience to an Ambassador from the Grand Seignor whom I saw sent back from Ispahan where I then was unless Amurath would deliver up the Traytor in order to his punishment Whereupon they being both one day at their ordinary debauch in the Belvedere the Grand Seignor without any formality order'd him to be Strangled in his presence It was sometimes also Amurath's custome to bring into that pleasant place the The Fortune of a beautiful Sicilian Lady Principal Sultanesses as his Mothers his Sisters and such others as he had the greatest kindness for But his most frequent assignations there was with a Sicilian Lady for whom he had a great affection and who being extreamly handsome and of a mild disposition obtain'd of him whatere she desir'd She was taken at Sea by the Pyrates of Barbary as she was upon her Voyage into Spain in order to her intermarriage with one of the Grandees of that Countrey And the Bassa of Algiers sent her a Present to the Grand Seignor who took a particular fancy for her and made her as happy as a Woman can be who must endure the restraint of the Seraglio From that door of the Hall which gives entrance into the Flower-garden you pass The Grand Seignor's Bed-Chamber on the right hand into a kind of Gallery about fifty paces in length and twelve in breadth the pavement whereof is a Chequer-work of Black and White Marble At the end of it there is a great Structure which is wholly of Marble and what first entertains the Eye is a pretty large Door over which there is a kind of a flat arched Roof And both the Roof and the Door are adorn'd with flowers in emboss'd work and amongst those flowers there are certain impresses cut in the Marble and all curiously Gilt. About five or six paces from that Door you come to another not inferiour to it as to beauty which is that of the Grand Seignor's own Chamber It s Cieling or arched Roof is according to the model of the Winter-room whereof I have given you a Description at the beginning of this Chapter The only difference between them is in what issues out of the Augles of the little Arches and whereas in the other Room they represent the bottoms of Lamps gilt with Gold in this they are balls of Rock-Crystall cut Facet-wise with an inter-mixture of precious stones of different colours which must needs give a very divertive entertainment to the Eye The floor of it is cover'd with Carpets which as to beauty and excellency of Workmanship exceed those of the other Chambers and the same thing is to be said as to the Quilts the Counterpanes and the Cushions the most part of this furniture being adorn'd with an embroidery of Pearls and the whole Room which is very spacious having in all parts several other sumptuous embellishments And whereas this Room was Originally design'd for the Grand Seignor's Summer-Divertisement it is accordingly the more lightsome and has large Windowes on three sides of it As to the Sultan's Lodging he complies with the custome of the Countrey or rather that of all the Eastern parts There is no Bed-stead set up but towards the Evening the Pages spread three Quilts one upon the other at one of the corners of the Chamber and place over it a Canopy of Cloth of Gold garnish'd with an embroidery of Pearls On the right hand as you come into this Room there is a Cup-board or Press The ancient Veneration for Mahomet's Standard wrought within the very Wall where they keep the Bajarac that is to say the Standard of Mahomet which has these words for its Impress or Motto Nasrum min Allah that is in our Language The assistance is from God This Standard was heretofore in so great veneration amongst the Turks that when there happen'd any Sedition either at Constantinople or in the Armies there was no safer or more expeditious remedy to appease it then to expose that Standard to the sight of the Rebels And that very Expedient has many times prov'd very fortunate to the Ottoman Princes when they have been reduc'd to their great extremities by the secret Combinations of some Factious persons Then does the Grand Seignor send some of the Mollahs who are in the nature of Priests amongst the Turks with the Standard and being come up to the first ranks of the Rebellious Forces they speak to them in their Language to this effect This Banner is the Standard of the Prophet all they who are faithful and obedient ought to come to submit themselves at the Foot of this Standard and they who will not come to it are Unbelievers and they ought to be destroyed But some years since the Turks made it appear that they made but little account of that Standard for Hassan one of the Bassa's who gave the Grand Seignor so much trouble in the year 1658. turn'd his back on Mahomet's Banner and follow'd by his own party compass'd the design he was engag'd in Out of the Grand Seignor's Chamber there is a passage into a great Hall the place appointed for the reception of the Pages who approach his Person and there is adjoyning A word further of the Prince's Appartment to it a Bath which is fill'd by three Cocks where they wash themselves when they go to their Devotions Out of the same Hall there is an ascent of some steps which brings you to a small Closet only Wainscoted about but well Painted and well Gilt. That Stair-case is alwayes cover'd with a red Cloth the Room is open of all sides having fair Windowes wherein Talc is us'd instead of Glass and from thence you have in a manner the same Prospect as from the Belvedere built by the Emperour Amurath CHAP. XVI Of the ordinary employments of the Grand Seignor The particular inclinations of the Emperour-Regent Mahomet IV. And the present State of the