which they travell'd always Entertain'd them at a Banquet on which they spent above twenty or thirty Talents They generally Din'd alone but sometimes their Wives and Children were permitted to sit with them at their Table as also the Kings Mother and Brothers If the King invited any to eat with him they sat with a Curtain drawn between them in such a manner that the King could see them and not be seen again King Cyrus as Xenophon observ'd plac'd those in whom he repos'd greatest confidence on his left and others on his right side because they say the left side lies more open to those that design to do Mischief than the right But these Entertainments were without freedom because the Guests were forc'd to cat with bowing Heads and cast-down Eyes The Kings never appear'd on foot to the People but always came out of the Palaces either in a Coach or else on Horseback Their care in visiting their Provinces They were wont to visit their several Provinces or else to send faithful Lieutenants to such Places where they could not go themselves to give order to all Husbandmen to let no Ground lie waste that the Merchants should promote their Traffick and Handicraftsmen be diligent in following their Employments that so they might be the better able to pay them their Tribute They also kept several Noblemen call'd Megistanes who always waited at their Doors to receive their Commands besides the Surene or Magistrate who set the Crown on the Kings Head and several who constantly attended to receive Ambassadors or all such as had Business with the King into whose Presence they could not be permitted without them Great numbers of Eunuchs were also kept at the Kings Court who attended on the Queens and Concubines The Kings Secretaries The Kings likewise kept their Secretaries who going into the Wars with them writ down all the Passages thereof as also the Edicts or Letters Patents which were given to the Governors the beginning whereof were to this effect The King saith thus Moreover when he writ to his Commanders he wish'd them Peace as also they to him His Letters were not onely written in one Language but in the several Languages of those People whom they Govern'd There were also some whose Office it was to tell the King the hour of the day and many other such like Officers amongst whom were some call'd The Eyes and Ears of the King Those Kings that liv'd lasciviously endeavor'd to die without pain by means of a Poyson which they kept onely for themselves and their Mothers This Poyson was made of the Dung of a small Indian Bird call'd Dicodre a piece whereof about the bigness of a Barley-corn being put into their Liquor caus'd them to die an easie and also a sudden Death They had stately Tombs at Persepolis Their Tombs Pasargades and Ecbatane on all which were Motto's and Inscriptions Engraven Education of their Sons The Kings Sons were highly reverenc'd and taught in the seventh year of their Age to Hunt and Ride the great Horse The eldest who was to succeed in the Throne was in his fourteenth year committed to the Charge of four Tutors who amongst the Persians were accounted the most wise just sober and valiant Men in their Dominions the first taught him Wisdom and the Rules of Government the second admonished him to affect Truth the third to curb the Desires of the Flesh and the fourth to fear nothing The Reward of approved Counsel If it hapned that any Man undertook to give the King Advice or Counsel in Business of great consequence he was plac'd on a square Cushion of Gold which he was permitted to carry away with him if his Advice was approv'd of but if not he was whipt about the Court. One of the Gentlemen of the Bed-Chamber wak'd the King every Morning and desir'd him to rise and mind the Concerns of the Kingdom which the God Merosomasdes had given to him They themselves judg'd and determin'd Causes pass'd the Sentence of Death on Criminals whom they kept some time in Prison before they were Executed They never condemn'd any Man for one single Crime but enquir'd what the general course of his Life had been and if they found that he had done more good than bad Deeds they releas'd him but if otherwise he was punish'd They also chose their Judges out of the most experienc'd Men in the Persian Law who enjoy'd their Places during their Lives What their Law prohibited Their Laws forbad Stealing Burglary to use violence to any and to rebell against their Princes Malefactors were committed to Prison with silver Shackles and golden Handbolts In the latâ—er time of the Persian Monarchy they had a Prison call'd Lethe into which were onely put Criminals that were condemn'd to die The Punishment of Nobles If any of their Nobility had committed a a Crime they de-oculated them but others were punish'd after another manner They cut not their Heads off with an Ax but a Rasor Sometimes they cut off the Head and right Hand of a Malefactor and nail'd them on a Cross others they burnt flay'd alive or ston'd to death Such as have many Children highly rewarded The King gave Gifts to all those that increas'd their Families by many Children and Registred the Names of those that at any time had done them good Service that when time and opportunity serv'd they might be requited nay they permitted them to sit by them kiss'd them and gave them a Silk Coat made after the fashion of the Medes and gave them leave to wear a Chain of Gold about their Necks and golden Armlets also a golden Simiter which is the greatest Mark of Honor amongst the Persians and as highly reverenc'd as the Star and Garter by us besides golden Reyns for their Horses They also gave them the Revenue of some Towns and the Command of an Army but the greatest of all his Royal Gifts was a golden Slipper The Division of the Countrey The whole Kingdom was divided into Satrapia's Counties or Lordships though Writers differ in the number of them for as some affirm Darius divided the same first into 360 Lordships over which three more principal Satrapae were plac'd Others write that Darius had onely a hundred and twelve Satrapia's or Lordships whose Governors were forc'd to give an Account of their Government to the first three Some also make more and others less But after the Parthians had made themselves Masters of Persia they divided the whole Realm into twenty Satrapia's several of them being Govern'd by one Person These Lordships were given to the Kings Sons and the King often in his Will gave all the Cities thereof to his youngest Son The Office of these Governors was to Command the Inhabitants protect their Goods gather in the Revenues and advise the King of all Transactions Besides these Governors of Countreys there were others who order'd Husbandmen Tradesmen and other People to be
unlimited is far greater than that of the Omrahs for at the Court are generally 2 or 300000 besides those that are up and down amongst the Army in the several Provinces The Rouzindars The Rouzindars are also Horsemen but in Pay onely for a day as the Word signifies Yet nevertheless it is often far greater than that of most of the Mansebdars but not in that Quality nor yet so Honorable The number of these People is very great but they perform small Offices for most of them are Secretaries Clerks and Sealers of Barattes or Bonds The Common Troopers are under the Omrahs the chiefest whereof and those that receive most Pay are such as keep two Horses which are mark'd with the Arms of their Omrahs Their Pay is not limited but is left to the discretion and generosity of the Omrah who can pay them as he pleases though according to the Mogol's Order their Pay is no less than 25 Ropias a Month or thereabouts and at that rate he reckons with the Omrahs The Mogol's Infantry The Salary of the Footmen is less They are generally Musquetiers but very unexpert for when they discharge they sit on the Ground and rest their Piece on a Stick being always fearful of burning their great Beards and Eyes and lest one or other Dogen or Evil Spirit might make their Musquets fly to pieces Yet some of them have twenty Ropias others fifteen and some but ten There are nevertheless some Musquetiers and Gunners who have great Pay especially the Franks or Christians as English French Portuguese and Hollanders who deserting the English and Dutch Service went over to them from Goa Before the Mogols knew the Use of Great Guns they gave very great Pay to the foremention'd Gunners to instruct them nay there are some who to this day have 200 Ropias a Month though the common Pay for a good Gunner is but 52. Their Guns are of two different sorts the first great and heavy the second light Some of their heaviest Guns must be drawn by 20 Pair of Oxen besides Elephants to help them by turning the Wheels of the Carriages round with their Trunks when they come into bad Way or go up a Hill When King Oranchzef Anno 1662. March'd with his whole Army to Caximir one of his Northern Provinces to spend the Summer there he carried 70 great Copper Guns with him besides 2 or 300 small Field-pieces which were carried on Camels Backs and 50 or 60 little Brass Guns mounted on handsom Carriages each drawn by two brave Horses adorn'd with red Flags and driven by the Gunner His whole Military Strength computed The Militia which is kept abroad differs no way from that which is kept by the King there being Omrahs Mansebdars Rouzindars common Troopers and Footmen in all Places Neither is there any difference but in the number for the Soldiers which are kept abroad are very numerous The Army which the Mogol is oblig'd to keep constantly in Decan only to curb the mighty King of Golconda and the King of Visiapour with all their Assistants is seldom less than about 25000 Horse The Kingdom of Cabul requires for its usual preservation against the Persians Augans Balouchs and other People which inhabit the Mountains 12 or 13000 Horse the Kingdom of Caximir above 4000 and the Kingdom of Bengala many more So that the number of the Horse which are really kept always by the King with the Horse of the Rajas and Patans amounting to 35 or 40000 added to those which are abroad in the Field will be found to be about 200000. The Foot as we said before is of little consequence for those which the King keeps by him with the Musquetiers and Gunners will scarce amount to 15000 from whence we may judge of the number which may be abroad in the Field-Army Wherefore the great numbers of Foot which some affirm to be in the Mogol's Army cannot be well apprehended unless they take in all those Sutlers or Tradesmen which follow the Army which being reckon'd up together with the Soldiery they may then account near 300000 Men in the King's Army onely and especially when he hath been long out of his Metropolis Pyrard affirms That the Mogol is able in a short time to bring 300000 Elephants 80000 Horse and 200000 Foot which are generally kept within five Leagues from the Place of his Residence into the Field When any come to speak with the King either about State or other Affairs they are conducted by the first Watch they meet withal to the second and so from one to another till they come to the Royal City where they are presented to those whose Office it is to receive them But the first Watch which conducts them to the second takes from the Commander of that Guard a Receipt for their delivery as also he from the third and so likewise the rest And by this means they have certain knowledge of all Persons that pass and repass The Kings Militia or Army with which he in Person march'd into the Field Anno 1630. to pursue the fled Duke Chaen Chan consisted of 154500 Horse besides many Camels Elephants Mules and other Beasts of Burthen yet nevertheless there remain'd 62400 Horse in Garison at Barampour According to a Custom amongst the Indians no Person may use any other Arms than what he hath been train'd up to nor change them though in the Wars from whence it happens that there are Soldiers which fight onely with the Sword others with Sword and Shield some with a Lance others with Bowes and Arrows and others with Musquets and so likewise every one with such Weapons as he hath been ever us'd to which makes them to be very expert and undaunted in any Engagements Most Troopers wear two great Tassels made of fine white Hair of certain wild Indian Oxen which are highly esteem'd fastned behind to the Saddle-tree and also two more before at the Pummel and two on the Rains near the Bit or Curb so that each Horse hath six of them The Horsemen ride half naked nor do the foremention'd Tassels any way trouble the Rider but swing to and fro with the moving of the Horse in such manner that at a distance they seem like Wings The Mogol punishes all Persons that do not behave themselves valiantly or that deal treacherously in the Wars after a severe manner Anno 1646. the third of February two Chans Hassan Aly and Sahad Chan were for surrendring the Fort Darund to the Usbecan Tartars condemn'd to die a miserable death viz. to be flea'd alive to the great sorrow of the Inhabitants One of the King's Eunuchs an intimate Friend to one of these Chans being assur'd that they were necessitated for want of Provisions and Supplies to surrender the Fort deliver'd a Petition to obtain their Pardon from the Great Mogol who was so inrag'd thereat that he immediately caus'd the Eunuch's Head to be cut off none being allow'd to intercede for those with
in publick with his own Hand but however it hapned Chosrou died an untimely and violent death and left a young Son call'd Sultan Bulachi Chorrom rebells against his Father Schach Selim inform'd hereof and exceedingly enrag'd against Sultan Chorrom sent for him to Court to give satisfaction for the Murder which he had committed But Chorrom not regarding his Father's Command rais'd all his Forces to fight against him and not only forc'd his own Subjects to take up Arms but also the Inhabitants of other Towns which were not under his Jurisdiction as those of Cambaya and other Places and having gotten an indifferent Army accompanied by some petty Indian Princes he march'd to Agra which he plunder'd and ruin'd a second time his Soldiers committing greater Outrages and Cruelties than before perhaps in revenge of the loss which they sustain'd in Storming of the Castle in vain with the loss of many of their Men by reason of the valiant resistance of the Besieg'd Anno 1624. Chorrom being defeated fled with some of his Men to the Dominions of Cub Schiah where Selim not prosecuting him any further permitted him to live in quiet He also defeated the Governor of Cambaya and put another of his Favorites in his stead Some relate the death of Ecbar and that which hapned concerning the Inheritance of the Kingdom by his eldest Son Selim thus Another Relation of Ecbar's death and Selim's Reign Ecbar having subdu'd many Indian Princes which Govern'd Indostan and taken from them the Kingdoms of Candahor Cabul Cassamier Chassenie Benazard Guzuratte Sinda or Tata Ganhees Barampour Baror Bengala Orixa Oda Malouw Agra Deli and reduc'd them to Provincial Governments he undertook the conquering of Decan Mean while Selim whom Ecbar had made General over another Army to subdue Radzia Rana and Mardout rebelling with all his Forces declar'd himself against the King his Father with whom he made Peace again a little before his death For when Ecbar had concluded to poyson one Myrza Gazia and had caus'd two Pills to be prepar'd the one of which was onely for purging of himself and the other which was of Poyson intended to be given to the said Prince Myrza he mistaking in the choice of them took that himself which he had prepar'd for his Adversary At last growing sensible of his mistake and lying on his Death-bed he set his Tulbant on the Head of Selim and also gave him the Sword of Homayon Ecbar's Father and Selim's Grandfather declaring him thereby his Successor Yet nevertheless the Chiefest of the Nobility divided themselves into Factions and Parties after his death which was in the sixtieth Year of his Reign the one chusing the Side of Sultan Corsorronne eldest Son to Selim under pretence that Ecbar had declar'd him his Successor but this Party not long after better considering with themselves the danger they incurr'd suddenly strook up a Peace Yet they forc'd Selim a second time to take up Arms though with the like ill success on their part for their Forces were all destroy'd and Corsorronne himself taken Prisoner and carried to the Castle of Lahor on an Elephant the Boughs being lopp'd off the Trees on the Way as he pass'd that so he might the better see the dismembred Bodies and Heads of those that were of his Party and laid there on purpose to make the Tragedy appear the more terrible to him and him the more sensible of his Father's displeasure Not long after those of the same Party as Myrza Fetulha Myrza Charrief Son to Ethamandaulet whom Sir Thomas Roe calls Etima Doulet Myrza Mouradin and Myrza Ziafferbek contriv'd a Plot against King Selim intending to surprise him in the Mountains of Cabul through which he was to pass and to proclaim Sultan Corsorronne in his stead But they losing their opportunity the King soon after was inform'd thereof and caus'd all the Conspirators to be put to death except Ethamandaulet who bought his Life for two thousand Lek Ropias The King likewise concluded upon advice of Myrza Ombrawe his Son to bereave Sultan Corsorronne of his Sight with the Juyce of an Herb call'd Aok but that onely put out one of his Eyes A short time after this Ethamandaulet with his Daughter Mermetzia Widow to Cheer-affghan were carried to Agra to pay the foremention'd promis'd Sum of Money whither being come Mermetzia went often to see Sultane Rockia Mother to King Selim at one of which Visits the King meeting her in his Seraglio whither Rockia had brought her with her Daughter of five or six years of Age he lifting up her Vail and looking in her Face said That he would be glad to be the Father of such a Daughter and also declar'd his Affection to her Shortly after he sent a Messenger to her Father Ethamandaulet to request his Daughter in Marriage to which her Father consenting he married her with the usual Ceremonies and chang'd her Name of Mermetzia into that of Nourziam Begem that is Light of the World or as Sir Thomas Roe and Della Valle affirm she was nam'd Nurmahal or Nourmahal that is Light of the Court or Seraglio Sultan Chorrom also caus'd his * Chosrou or Corsorronne for they seem to be the same beforemention'd eldest Brother who was committed to his charge to be murder'd judging thereby as he suppos'd to have secur'd himself of the Realm and being impatient to stay any longer plotted with Afaschan whose Daughter he had married to rob the Mogol of his Treasure In which Enterprise failing he proclaim'd War against his Father which he prosecuted to his dying day In the interim Nurmahal sent Sultan Scheriar her Son to Lahor to settle him in the Throne and endeavor'd to get the Militia to side with him But Afaschan whose aim was to place the Crown on Chorrom's Head inform'd him of this Alteration whilst he to keep the Army under his Command advised Bolak otherwise call'd Bulachi Son to Sultan Corsorronne to proclaim himself King by the assistance of the Chiefest Officers which were of his Party in the Army and gave the Guards to his Sister But Scheriar being defeated before Chorrom's coming thither and taken was with Sultan Bolak and many other Princes of the Blood-Royal bereav'd both of Sight and Life Mean while King Selim died Anno 1627. being the last Pretender of the Successors of Tamerlane for the rest which out of ambition aspir'd to Govern after him were wholly cut off This Selim had no Lands in Tartary except those which lay beyond the Mount Gerauny Chorrom succeeds Selim. After the death of Selim Chorrom coming to the Crown was call'd Schach Bedin Mahomet and took upon him the Title of Chagehan or Schach Jehan otherwise Schach Geaan that is King of the World He repos'd great confidence in Afaschan and out of the Respect he bore him pardon'd his Sister Normahal He was a comely Person pretty tall full Fac'd and of a sallow Complexion He was a Mahumetan as also some of his
Predecessors though as others say not rigid in maintaining the Laws which are prescrib'd them The Issue of Schach Jehan Schach Jehan had four Sons and two Daughters the eldest Son was call'd Dara that is Darius or according to Bernier Darachacour the second Sultan Sujas that is A Prudent Prince the third Aurengzebe which is The Ornament of the Throne and the fourth or last Morad Backche that is Perfect Desire Others call'd Darachacour Darasja Sujas chasausa Aurengzebe Orang Oranchzef Moradbackcha and Moradbeg all which he made Vice-Roys or Governors of divers of his best Provinces or Kingdoms viz. Oranchzef Commanded in Decan Sultan Chasausa in Bengala Moradbeck in Zurratte but he always kept Darasja by him as being Heir apparent to the Crown and his Successor Two years before viz. Anno 1654. Schach Jehan at his return from Asmeer fell exceeding sick insomuch that his Recovery was very doubtful and a rumor that he was dead spread through the whole Realm from whence there arose a great Difference between these Brothers who all aiming at the Crown maintain'd a Civil War for five years but at last Oranchzef after the Decease of of his Father who dy'd in Prison and also the Death of his three Brothers made himself Master of the Realm The Character of his Children The eldest Daughter of Schach Jehan was named Begum Saheb that is My Lady Princess and the youngest Raichenara Begum that is Illustrious Princess or Light of Princesses which kind of Names are very frequently given to the Princes and Princesses of this Countrey because all the Lands belonging to the King there are no Dukedoms Earldoms nor Lordships from whence the Nobles can derive their Names and Titles they having nothing but Rewards for their good Services either in Lands or ready Money which the Mogol gives them and increases decreases or takes away when he pleases wherefore the Omrahs or Omars have no other but such kind of Names as these viz. Raz Andazekan Safe Chekenkan Bark Andazekan and Dianetchan or Danechmendkan or Fazelkan which signifie Striker of Thunder Confounder of the Rich Vomiter of Lightning Faithful Knowing Perfect Lord and the like Darasja the eldest Son wanted not good Parts for he was courteous in Conversation subtil very civil and exceeding bountiful yet so self-conceited that he believ'd himself able to do all things and could not imagine that any one was capable of giving him Advice He often scoffed at those that had given him Council so that his best Friends durst not adventure to discover to him the secret Intentions of his Brothers He also on a small occasion would rail curse and threaten the greatest Omrahs or Lords in his Passion which soon ceas'd And although he was a Mahumetan and manifested the same in his publick Devotion yet he privately profess'd himself a Heathen amongst the Heathens and a Christian amongst Christians He constantly kept some Pendelt or Heathen Teachers by him who receiv'd great Rewards and perswaded him into an Opinion contrary to the Religion of the Countrey He also hearkned some time since to the Instructions of a Jesuit call'd Buze and took great liking to his Doctrine and yet some affirm that he was of no Religion at all and that that which he did was onely out of curiosity or for his pleasure or rather out of subtilty to make himself belov'd by the Christians of which he had great numbers in his Army and especially to gain the Rajas or Heathen Lords Tributary to this Realm that when occasion should require he might get them to side with him but let it be how it will it did not much tend to his advantage as shall appear in the following Relation for the Pretence which Orangzef made use of to cut off his Head was because he was turn'd Caffer which is properly an Unbeliever or one without Religion Sultan Sujas or Chasausa was almost of the same Temper and Disposition but more subtil and reserv'd and withal very politick in contriving of Plots for the management whereof he got many Friends by making Presents to the chief Omrahs and eminent Rajas yet still at times of recess was so exceedingly inclin'd to the Sports of Venus that keeping many Concubines he spent whole Nights and Days in their company Singing Drinking and Dancing with them He profess'd himself of the Persian Belief although Schach Jehan and all his Brothers were of the Turks Opinion which he did for this reason because the most eminent Persons at the Mogol's Court and those which have the greatest Employments being for the most part Persians as also their Children he hop'd by this means to gain their Affections to be of his Party Oranchzef had not that generous Spirit nor affable Deportment as Darasja but seem'd to be of a more profound reach well knowing all his People and chose those that would certainly stick to him in time of need He was very reserv'd subtil and a great Dissembler insomuch that he pretended himself a long time to be a Fakier or Derwis that is a poor Monk who hath deny'd all the Glories of the World and seemingly disown'd any Interest in the Crown and that he desir'd to spend his days in Prayers and Devotion whil'st he was still plotting at the Court especially when he was made Vice-Roy of Decan and carry'd his whole Designs with so much secrecy that no Person could take any notice thereof He also insinuated himself exceedingly into his Father Schach Jehan's favor who notwithstanding the great inclination he had towards Darasja could not hide his affection to Oranchzef which bred such Jealousies in Darasja that he us'd often to say to his Friends Of all my Brothers I fear none but this Nemaz that is This great Dissembler Moradbeck the youngest of all was none of the most subtil thinking on nothing but how to recreate himself either in Drinking Hunting and Arching yet nevertheless he had some good Parts and accounted it a great Vertue to keep nothing secret He was indeed a Prince of a noble Temper which had it been accompany'd with a little more reservedness and prudent Conduct he would certainly have been preferr'd before his Brother and made King of Indostan as shall appear hereafter SCHAH IEHAAN The Mogol's youngest Daughter Raichenara Begum was never accounted so beautiful nor ingenious as Begum Saheb but delighted as much in lasciviousness She always sided with Oranchzef and declar'd her self an Enemy to her Sister and Darasja which made her not to be so well belov'd nor had she so much Interest to dispatch Businesses like her Sister yet nevertheless being in the Seraglio and holding Correspondence with many Intelligencers she was not negligent in discovering many Secrets to Oranchzef Schach Jehan a little before these Troubles seeing himself charg'd with these four Princes all grown up and Marry'd and observing that each of them pretended to the Crown and carrying themselves as Enemies one to another sought privately to compass their Designs was exceedingly perplex'd
for him but no Woman will shew her Face either to her Equal or Inferior And on the contrary the Women of inferior Rank expose their Faces to open view both at home and abroad If the Clothes of Noble Persons be never so little soil'd or spotted they immediately leave them off but the poorer sort wash theirs every Week Foot-boys or Pages wear no Liveries there because it is not the Fashion but are Clothed in various colour'd Stuffs unsuitable one to another though one Mans Servants Their Oeconomy or House-keeping Their Hourse-keeping very mean THe Persians House-keeping is generally very mean and the Utensils belonging to their Larder Kitchin and Cellar if they have not many Wives require no great Charge Besides Rice their chiefest Food is Flesh which is to be had every where in great abundance except at Ispahan because that is a very populous Place Bizarro avers them to be great Gluttons but it seems to be without cause Justin and Athenaeus say the Persians eat little Flesh but have store of Confections which Alexander ab Alexandro also affirms Olearius tells us that the Persians keep but one set Meal a day besides which they eat a little Bread Butter Cheese and Fruit. Pilao their chief Dish The chiefest Dish and always brought first to the Table is boyl'd Rice by them call'd Plau or Pilao with Mutton After that they bring roasted Fowl Fish Spinnage and white Cabbage for brown they esteem not to the Table Ispahan hath little fresh but plenty of salt Fish because of its great distance from the Sea and the Brook which runs about Ispahan having no manner of relation to the Caspian Sea There are likewise abundance of Fowls of all which they eat Their Dyer except Turkeys whereof a Georgian Merchant in the time of Schach Abas brought some from Venice to Ispahan and sold them for Sixteen Crowns apiece Though they use Rice in stead of Bread yet they have Rouls or Loaves made of Wheat one sort thereof call'd Comasch is three Fingers thick and a Yard long the Lawash are round Cakes of an Inch thick the Peasekean are also a Yard long baked in the Tenurs or House-Ovens and being five Inches broad have their name from thence The Senged are hollow the Jucha are thin like Parchment or Wafers about a Yard long and as broad which being used first as Napkins to wipe their greasie Fingers on for they take the Rice out of the Dish with their Finger with which they also pull their Meat asunder seldom using either Knives or Forks they pull the same to pieces and rouling Rice or Pieces of Flesh into them eat them up with a great Appetite They sup their Broaths or Pottages with woodden Spoons made after an Oval fashion with a small Handle but a quarter of a yard long like short Ladles The Grandees going to Dinner spread a Sofra on the Floor Their manner of eating that is a painted Cloth as big as the whole Room They use no Napkins but every one according to the Countrey fashion makes use of his Handkerchief tuckt at his Girdle being very large made of painted Linnen and either wrought with Silver or Gold Noblemen though they have good Kitchins to cook their Meat in yet oftentimes they will have it drest where they please not so much out of curiosity as suspition of being poison'd Their Drink The meaner sort of People for the most part drink Water sometimes mixt with Duschab and a little Verjuice to make it good Beverage and though Wine by very cheap yet many abstain from it because it is forbidden in the Mahometan Law Moreover the Hatzi which have been at Mecha and Medina by Mabumets Tomb are also debarr'd from Wine all their lives Nevertheless many of the Courtiers drink Wine freely and are of opinion that the Sin committed by the drinking thereof may be pardon'd by the same means as their other Sins neither are they concern'd the next morning at their being over-taken The Cups out of which they drink are woodden Skiffs or little Dishes They never force any to drink and though according to our Custom they give the Cup round yet those that are unwilling may pass it by without any breach of Drinking-Law A Prohibition against the drinking of Wine Anno 1620. King Abbas falling into a great Fit of Sickness at Ferhabad occasion'd by a Potation of too much Wine he caused an Edict to be publish'd with the sound of Trumpet wherein all the Mahumetans in Ispahan were forbid to drink Wine yet the Armenians Georgians Franks and other Christians may Carouse as much Wine as they please provided they neither sell nor give any to the Mahumetans upon pain of death This Law was with great strictness observ'd publickly by all the Mahumetans not onely in Ispahan but through all the Kings Dominions insomuch that some for violation thereof were put to death This seem'd to be too severe a Law for the Mahumetans especially the Courtiers wherefore they address'd themselves to the Aga Chizi the Kings greatest Favorite and other great Lords at the Kings Court to implore the King to Repeal it with promise that they would raise him a great Sum of Money but all prov'd in vain for the King continu'd firm in his Resolution Della Valle who at that time was at Ispahan in Persia tells us that he had more Visitants especially of the Grandees than usual because the King had not onely given him a Toleration for drinking Wine himself but to distribute to those Mahumetans that Visited and made Addresses to him provided he suffer'd them not to use any such excess as to be seen inebriated in the Street repairing home Moreover the King himself drank Wine privately yet very little that so he might not be an ill Example to his Subjects to which he pretended that his Distemper forc'd him according to the directions of his Physicians who prescrib'd him to drink onely what might be conducible to his better Health The Inhabitants in the Province of Persia of which Sciras is the Metropolis drink Wine publickly and the rather because being far from the Court they are become as it were Lawless But in the other Provinces the Laws are so observ'd that it is dangerous to mention Wine In all the Country about Ardebil are no Vines partly by reason of the Cold and partly because the Sceichavends that is Scheicks Successors would not plant any there because it was a sacred Place where Scheich Sofi set up a New Sect which next to Mahomets at Mecha and that of Aly and Hussein is most follow'd Kitchin Furniture In their Kitchins they use Pots or Kettles of Clay and some of Copper Furnaces Tin'd over Their Dishes are also of Copper most curiously wrought and being Tinn'd over feem to be of Silver besides which they use abundance of China Dishes and other Vessels but in the Villages they have Earthen Ware In all the Towns of the Kingdom are
occasion requires he wets the Seal with Ink which the King constantly wears about his Neck to make an Impression with from whence he also receives his Denomination Dawat or Ink-carrier for the Persians Print all their seals wetted with Ink on Paper in stead of making Impressions in Wax Mohur signifies a Signet or Seal-Ring and the word Dar which hath a general signification of Officer is us'd in a commanding sense in stead of having as if you would say Haver or Keeper of the Seal Besides the Great Seal the King hath a less Signet to seal his Letters withal which he sends to his Vice-Roys and Governors and other publick Writings wherewith no Person is intrusted for the King wears the same in his Ring and makes an Impression with his own Hand therewith The Myrachurbasschi is the Master of the Horse Myrischicar the chief Falconer Sechhahnbaschi the Huntsman Jesaulcor like our Knight Marshal which rides before the King and with a Cane clears the way is under the Lord Marshal and hath a Deputy under him call'd Jesaul which are as our Marshals Men whom he imploies on all occasions and sometimes to apprehend Malefactors Suflretzi the King's Carver Abdar the King's Cup-bearer who has deliver'd to him the Wine or Water for the King 's drinking in a seal'd Vessel which he publickly opens and so presents it to the King Chasinedar the Treasurer Ambadar the Purveyor of Corn Jesaul Nesar the Person that keeps the Kings Shoes when he goes into the Hall Mehmandar or Mehimander he that provides Lodgings and all other Necessaries for Forraign Ambassadors and not onely waits upon them but also acquaints the King with their business he being the first that hath any knowledge thereof given him nay all Affairs of what consequence soever must pass through his Hands though the Agents were sent from other Princes to treat of nothing else but Matters of State which makes the Mehimander to be in great Esteem and Reputation The King also ordains another peculiar Mehimander to take care and provide for such Ambassadors as he esteems more than ordinary the other Officers are of meaner degree viz. the Isauly are a People who as Messengers wait at Court and are sent abroad on all occasions The Kischiktzibaschi is Captain of the Guard as the Tzabedar is Master of the Ordnance and the Tzartzi chief Herald at Arms who proclaimeth all the King's Edicts The Tzelaudarbaschi is Captain of the King's Horse-Guard and Master of the Stirrop The Mostofi is the principal Secretary of State who is permitted to keep several Clarks The Seraidar or Surveyor of the Works who keeps in repair pair the King's Pallaces The Clitar serves as Porter the Muschrift is the Clark of the Kitchin the Cannati is the Confectioner the Sbherbedar buies all the King's Sweet-meats the Omatzdar being an Archer teaches His Majesties Pages and other Courtiers to shoot at Marks the Bildars are Pyoneers which keep constantly at the Court and attend when the King travels cleaning the ways or cutting steps in rocky Ascents which otherwise the Camels having round feet are not able to climb they also help to pitch the Tents and dig deep Pits in the ground for water The Schatir are the Footmen the Rica carry Battel-axes and oftentimes perform the office of Execution and always attend the King as his Life-guard All Officers or Servants belonging to the Court have each according to their Qualities great Pension or Salary which is not paid them out of the King's Revenue or Treasury but from several Villages which are allotted for that purpose The Allowance of the Chans The Chans have certain Lands and Villages thereto belonging allowed them yet they receive the Revenue and are as Magistrates judging and determining all things but Matters of Life and Death some have certain Customs given them others receive for their Salary the Taxes laid on Houses of Entertainment They hold durance beneplacito All the foremention'd Officers keep their places during the King's pleasure who seldom discharges them but for Misdemeanor or else to prefer them to some greater Dignity The most eminent Officers and Courtiers belonging to the King which were living Anno 1640. in the time of Schach Sofi and had serv'd also his Predecessor Schach Abbas being of a mean condition Schach Sefi kill'd all but two viz. the one a Herdsman's Son the other a Slave to Schach Abbas who were afterwards by Sefi promoted to greater Dignity Those that he put to Death were Eahtemad-Dowlet a Scriveners Son born in Mazanderan The Wakenuis or Privy-Counsellor a Rusticks Son born in the Village Dermen near Casbijn most of them had Christian Parents viz. Georgians Circassians or Armenians for the Persians repose greater confidence in a Chistian if he be circumciz'd than in one of their own Religion Their highest Oath The King is exceedingly honor'd in his Realm when any one takes an Oath they never swear but by the King's Head which is accounted the most sacred and solemn of all other Their Complements In their wishing of Joy and Happiness one to another they say not God give you Joy but in the Turkish Language Schach Mura di sun that is I wish that the King may shew his favor to you and many other things they attribute to their King which belong to God onely All see the King once a year According to an antient Custom in Persia and the Command of King Abbas none dare though a person of but an indifferent Estate neglect to see the King and shew him Reverence once a year On their Neuruz or New-years Day the King according to an antient Custom receives Presents from all his chief Officers unless the day be suspected ominous for then the King never comes out of his Haram or Seraglio How the King gives Audience to Ambassadors as we have before mention'd The King seldom grants Audience to any Ambassadors in private but always at a publick Dinner and in presence of all the Guests notwithstanding their business be never so secret No Persian whatsoever whether Subject or Stranger may appear before the King without great Presents nay not the Ambassadors from strange Princes which is a very antient Custom and was as Philostratus tell us us'd in the time of the Kings of Media The King expects Presents The Kings of Persia demand Presents from those that are their Homagers who pay no Tribute and this Custom is kept amongst all Eastern Princes to this very day they publickly provide that if any Foreigners bring Presents that are not thought fit for the Emperors Greatness they make him remain still there with more of the like Petitioners so by that means their Presents make the greater shew and appear the more glorious to the Spectators they report further that if the Present seems not equivalent to the King's Greatness there is an addition out of the Wardrobe silently hinting that they or whoever else cannot come too well provided
another notwithstanding they were nearly related for Teimuraz his second Wife was Sister to Luarzab and had undoubtedly given Battel to one another their Armies being already drawn into the Field if they had not been prevented by means of some faithful Councellors who offering themselves to be Mediators between them in order to a Reconciliation discover'd to them that their Difference was occasion'd by the King of Persia who sought nothing but their utter ruine Moreover the King of Persia bred also Discontent and Difference between Teimuraz and his Mother Ketevan Dedupali or Queen Ketevan who then was a Widow for he perswaded Teimuraz into a belief that she was resolv'd to Marry with an eminent Commander in whom for his valor and grand policy in State Affairs she repos'd great confidence and that she endeavor'd first to destroy him that so she might bestow the Realm on another Son which she might have by her second Husband all which so incens'd the innocent Teimuraz that he caus'd the foremention'd Commander who was the prime Man of the Countrey to be put to death and took the Government from his Mother but being young unexperienc'd and little regarded by his Nobility he found himself involv'd in great troubles for the King of Persia still prosecuted his Design making him to be despis'd and esteem'd but a Child amongst the Nobles who whensoe're they came into Persia were courteously receiv'd by the King who also gave them great Presents and permitted them to use their own Religion which highly satisfi'd and pleas'd them and by this means they grew Strangers to their natural Prince After the King had for a considerable time thus acted his part he march'd with a great Army into Georgia and conquer'd the same Anno 1613. The Persian Invades Georgia under pretence that Teimuraz had Marry'd the Princess of Chaurascian Sister to Luarzab who had first been promis'd to him against his Consent Wherefore coming upon their Borders he commanded both Teimuraz and Luarzab to come into his Army to give an account of their Transactions and bring the Bride with them whom he himself had so long desir'd and that he might break off the Match with Teimuraz which had been so long before celebrated as if that which the Mahumetans make a common practice were also allow'd amongst the Christians The Georgian Princes being betray'd by their Nobles who freely shew'd the King the Way into this Countrey were exceedingly amaz'd not knowing what they should do but Luarzab being the weakest surrendred himself to his Majesty who sent him to the Province of Esterebad near the Caspian Sea very remote from Georgia where the Chan of that Countrey kept him a long time though with all civility imaginable giving him liberty to go wheresoe're he pleas'd whil'st the King without any opposition or going thither himself sent one Rairei or Bagred Myrza to Govern his Countrey And though this Bagred Myrza was of the same Family and Grandson to Luarzab yet he had long before deny'd the Christian Faith and turn'd Mahumetan Luarzab imprison'd and murther'd About the Year 1621. there Reign'd one of the said Rairei's Sons not as absolute Prince but Tributary to the Persian After Luarzab had spent some years in Esterabad the King that he might the better be assur'd of his Person commanded him to be sent to the Province of Fars or Persia where he was kept in a strong Prison not far from the City Schiras and lastly Anno 1621. when those of his Party had greatest hopes of his Enlargement and the King on a certain day had appointed to see him it fell out contrary to all their expectations for the King being inform'd by an eminent and powerful Georgian a Mahumetan and an Enemy to Luarzab who had formerly promis'd to take one of his Sisters to Wife which he afterwards refused and despised that he would never possess Luarzab's Countrey in quiet so long as he liv'd because his Subjects had a natural affection for him and had still hopes during his Life at one time or other to have him again Whereupon the jealous Persian pretending that he had discover'd a Plot of some Georgians against his Person wherein Luarzab was concern'd commanded that he should be strangled with a Bowe-string in the Castle where he was kept Prisoner But Teimuraz being more subtil would no ways venture to come to the King though commanded but excus'd himself alledging that he durst not come for fear of his Majesty's exceeding displeasure which he was inform'd of neither was it possible for him to send his Wife it being contrary to the Custom of the Christians nor would his Honor give him leave to deliver his Wife yet to shew how willing he was to obey him he sent his own Mother and Sister then a young Virgin in his stead and also his two little Sons Levan and Alexander hoping thereby to reconcile and pacifie him but all in vain for he would by no means be reconcil'd unless he might enjoy the Princess Chuarascian Teimuraz's Consort and though he knew that his Request was unreasonable and that which Teimuraz neither could nor would grant he again commanded Teimuraz to come and surrender himself which he refusing the King kept his Mother never suffering her to return but sent her with her Grandchildren to Schiras to be kept there by Imaneuli Chan of that Place and Son to Allackverdi Chan. And besides this the King march'd with his Army into Georgia that was under the Jurisdiction of Teimuraz to whom all the Nobles treacherously submitted Whereupon the Georgian Prince seeing his destruction so near at hand and having no Army ready nor time to raise one fled with his Wife and a great number of Christians into the strongest part of the Province of Imereti where he stay'd a while with the Prince of that Countrey and after that going farther tarry'd with the Prince of Odisci or Dadian whil'st many of the Nobles tempted with vain hopes surrendred themselves freely to the King of Persia deny'd their Religion and took up Arms against their own natural Prince The Persian quits the Countrey By this means the Persians possess'd Georgia but weighing the difficulty and charge of maintaining their new Conquest they not onely resolv'd not to keep the Countrey but judg'd it convenient to march thence with their Army the nearest and safest way But though they could not keep the Countrey yet they would not lose so great a Booty of so many brave People as they had taken and such as perhaps were worth more to them than the Countrey it self for which reason they forc'd them all both Men and Women as well Noble as Ignoble great and small with what Moveables they were able to carry to forsake their native Countrey whil'st the King's Army marching behind drove them into Persia where afterwards they were sent into several Provinces remote from Georgia and by this means the Provinces of Persia proper Kirman or Garmania Mazanderan at the
Skin glittering Eyes sharp Teeth Claws with Talons and long Hair upon the Lips which is so poisonous that if either a Man or the Beast it self should swallow one of them it would certainly kill him and the Inhabitants have observ'd that it never goes to drink in any River but always with its Mouth before the Stream and never against it that so the Water infected by its poysonous Hair may not occasion its own death and for the same reason it never drinks out of Lakes Pools or any standing Waters and therefore all Persons are forbidden by the Great Mogol to keep any of the Bristles of a dead Tyger but on pain of death must send them all to his Court where by the King's Physician most poisonous Pills are made thereof which are given to those whom the King condemns to die at his pleasure The Tygre exceeds all Beasts in ravening for he is said to be the most voracious and fiercest Creature in Bengala and that he will follow a Ship from which he receives the least injury above thirty Leagues along the Shore and therefore the Inhabitants are greatly afraid of him and call him by several Names Pliny saith the Tyger is a Beast of wonderful swiftness which Bontius contradicts affirming that he is very flow and therefore lurks or rather watches for Man-kind who are not so swift as Stags wild Swine and other Beasts which may easily escape from him by flight wherefore he never catches any Beast except it be by surprize lying sculking in a Hedge or Thicket from whence he leaps suddenly upon them and if he chance to miss his prey then he returns growling back and runs into the Wood to see what he can find there he generally strikes his Tallons into the Necks of those Beasts he seizes and beats the strongest down with one stroke and having first suck'd out the Blood drags the remaining part into the Wood to satisfie his Hunger with the Flesh by Meals He keeps generally in the Woods water'd by Rivers that when other Beasts come to drink he may surprise and prey upon them There are likewise Jackalls in the Greek call'd Hyena Camelions and Lizzards besides vast numbers of Ravens which flying into the Houses if the Windows be open carry away the Meat from the Table The Rats of this Countrey are as big as sucking Pigs which do much mischief to the Houses by undermining the Foundations and eating through the Walls Another fort of Rats which are lesser and have red Hair smelling like Musk also molest this Countrey and therefore the Inhabitants set their Chests and Cupboards on four Pillars a good distance from the Wall placing Tubs with Water underneath for else they would immediately swarm with the said Insects Besides these there are other Pismires which being a Finger long do great mischief to Plants This Countrey stor'd with Plants This Countrey is stor'd with all manner of Plants and though there grows little Wheat yet it abounds with Rice and Barley as also Maiz or Indian Corn and abundance of Shell-fruit There are few or no Apples Pears Cherries Plums Peaches and fewer Grapes except in China But in stead of them there are many other Trees Plants and Fruits unknown in Europe The chiefest of the Trees is the Coco-tree which bears Coco-nuts and affords many other Commodities The other Plants Fruits and Drugs are Banana's or Pisang Anana's Jaca Mangas Kaions Jambes Jambolins Jangomas Carambolas Brindoins Durions Papaios Injâ—mes Areka Betel Cubebs Tamarind Myrobalanes Ambare Caranda's Mangostans Pepper Ginger Cloves Cinnamon Nutmegs Cardamom Galanga Cost Spikenard Aloes Camphir Calambak Sandal-wood Benzoin Amphion or Opium Indico Ambergreece Musk Civet Assafoetida China Roots Great Canes and many other Plants and Fruit. Chewing of Betel very common with its Description The chewing of Betel with Areca and Chalk is very common through India and therefore ought to be briefly described The Betel or Betre is by the Arabians as Avicenna testifies call'd Tembur or Tambul by the Turks Japrach Industani by those of Decan Zuratte and Canaria Pan. This Betel runs up by Poles like our Hops and also on the Bodies of Trees Some to their greater advantage permit them to grow up by the Pepper or Areca Trees They constantly water their Betel the Leaves whereof are like those of the Lemmon-trees but a little bigger longer and sharper at the end This Plant according to Garcias resembles that of the Pepper so exactly in Twigs Leaves and manner of growth that one who doth not very well know it cannot distinguish them The Betel also produces a Fruit like that of the White and Long Pepper or rather like a Rats Tail which the Malayans call Syriboa and is for its strange shape in greater esteem than the Betel Leaf it self The Description and Use of Areka The Fruit Areca or Arecka so called in general by the Indians and by the Portugues with a corrupted Name Arequero is in Zurratte and Decan call'd Suppary on the Island of Zeilan Paoz in Malacka by the Javans Pinang in Cotzyn Chacany by the Arabians Fausel and by Avicenna Filfel and Fufel on the Coast of Malabar by the Vulgar Pak but by the Nobles Areca Vartoman calls the Tree Areca and the Fruit Coffol The Tree it self on which this Fruit grows shoots up with a straight Body having so smooth a Bark that none can climb up without some help The Boughs shoot not downwards but upwards and also turn up at the ends and therefore at some distance seem Globular The Leaves thereof grow like the Teeth of a Comb one by another The Fruit grows on the undermost Boughs ten or twelve of them in a Cluster at a thick long Stalk and being cover'd with a rough yellow Shell is about the bigness of a Nutmeg or small Acorn and before it grows hard it is like a Date full of pale red Veins and flat at one end Yet nevertheless there are three several sorts of it the first is flat on one side and on the other broader and bigger the second being less blacker and harder is by the Indians call'd Checanum and grows for the most part in Cotzyn It draws the Rheum Its Vertues and makes the Mouth look of a reddish black colour like the Mulberry The third sort makes a man giddy and intoxicates the Brain though this quality is ascrib'd only to the unripe Fruit There is also a white sort which grows in great abundance in Zeilan Out of the great Fruit by the power of Fire and Glass Instruments the Inhabitants distil a Water which is a most excellent Medicine against a Flux The Fruit grows very plentifully in Malabar on the Island Zeilon and also in Zurratte Decan and Malacka but the best of all on the Island Mombain and in Basaim How they use it The Indians break this Fruit into four pieces if it be pretty big or else into two and roul them up in a Betel Leaf with a little Ashes
King of Bisnagar and the Northern by the King of Sceherberder Those that afterwards came to be the Chief Princes thereof were formerly but mean Officers who took the Dominion of their Supreme Lords upon them and dividing the Countrey amongst themselves Govern'd as Absolute Princes over their several Territories not owning any Person to be above them Amongst all these Princes the Chiefest were the Kings of Decan Golconda and Telengone who lay nearest to the Mogol's Countrey possess'd large Territories and were able to bring great Armies into the Field Adil Schiach a King of Golconda having an Army of a hundred thousand Men. The King of Persia was generally in a League with all the three and they often corresponded by Ambassadors and Presents and were always in Amity one with another which Leagues they maintain'd onely to be the better able to resist the Mogol whose Power they dreaded exceedingly The signification of Chan. These three Princes were formerly call'd Nizam Chan Adil Chan and Cutb Chan for Chan among the Turks hath the same signification with Meleck or Malack which signifies King in the Arabick after the same manner as Schach among the Persians And in regard these three Languages are very common amongst the Moors therefore they use these Words without distinction But it seems that the then reigning Princes have since laid aside the Names of Meleck and Chan and taken upon them that of Schach that is King which they like best as being newer and better agreeing with their Authority wherefore they have lately been call'd Nizam Schach Cutb Schach and Adil Schach But at last all these peculiar Princes and Kings besides many other Governors in India were one after another reduc'd under the Mogol's Jurisdiction The Extract and Descent of the Mogol Kings The Great Mogol from whom descended THe present Great Mogol and his Predecessors boast their Descent from Tamerlane or rather from one of his Nephews or Grand-children But after what manner this hapned deserves to be declar'd here at large When the Mogols whose greatest or most powerful part were by a peculiar Name call'd Giagatynse or Zagatayse Tataas or Tartars dwelling South-east beyond the Mountain Imaus had brought all the other Tartars or Scythians for so they were anciently call'd especially the Eastem by the Conduct of the General Amochtan Chan under subjection he having setled his Dominion took upon him the Title of Chingiz or Tzingiz and was the first that had the Sirname of Great Chan which was about the Year of our Lord 1214. This Tzingiz Chan drawing out his Army consisting of four hundred thousand Horse after a peculiar manner viz. into Parties of eleven thousand one hundred and ten in each Company the one part he order'd to march towards the East and the other towards the West where falling upon China Machina and Catay he conquer'd the powerful King of the Chorasmians Gelalodan Another Expedition After this Anno 1224. he made another Expedition to Catay though with the loss of many of his Men three Years after which he dying was succeeded by his third Son Ocotay Chan or Octay Cahon who by Abraham Zacuth is call'd The King of the Catayans He being setled in his Dominions by Laws Arms and Conquest also died and was succeeded by his Son Gayung Chan who likewise Reigning but a short time was with the consent of the Princes and Supreme Governors succeeded by Mango Chan who being Nephew to Tzingiz Chan was chosen Emperor Anno 1255 he sent his Brother Hulako Chan with an Army beyond the River Oxus to Assyria to compleat the Conquest whereof he took Bagdad or Babylon and destroy'd all the Inhabitants thereof in the space of seven days and here fell Mustasem the thirty fifth Calif or Emperor of the Abbasidas After the death of Mango Chan his youngest Brother Coblai Chan was Crown'd in his stead After the expiration of four years Prince Hulako Chan eldest Brother to Mango Chan also dying left his Son Abgai Chan to Govern the Western parts of his Dominions being Media and Assyria Next Coblai Chan Temur Chan Nephew to Coblai and youngest Son to Mango Chan succeeded in the Throne All these six Chans or Princes Govern'd over Cathay and China besides a great many other Countreys The eleventh was Buzengir Chan or Bugancan the original or first Parent of the Mogol Kings and Father to the famous Temur Chan by some call'd Teimurlang and Tamerlane that is Teimur the Decrepit or Maimed This Tamerlane the thirteenth in order from Chingiz Chan who dy'd on the Mogol's Borders at a Place call'd Anzar Anno 1403 had four Sons viz. John Guyr who being the eldest dy'd a year before his Father and left two Sons the one call'd Mahumed Sultan and the other Pyr Mahumed the last of whom succeeded Tamerlane in the Kingdoms of Oaznehem and India and being afterwards slain by Pyr Aly left a Son call'd Abusaid The second Son of Tamerlane nam'd Hamar Xeque being Governor of Persia was in his Father's time kill'd in a Wood belonging to Chormatu now call'd Cormawata in Orestan The third nam'd Mirunxa succeeded his Father in Governing of the Countreys of Hierack Aderbajon and the Lands extending to Damas he was slain by Cara Issuf Anno 1401. or as others say Anno 1407. This Mirunxa had two Sons viz. Homar Lord of Bagdad was taken by his Brother but at last getting his Liberty he conquer'd him and became King of Tabris or Tebris Not long after which he was defeated by Cara Issuf in the Year 1407. and forc'd to flie first to Corman and afterwards to Siston from whence coming the next year with a great Army he was kill'd The fourth Son to Tamerlane being Myrza Xarack always accompanying his Father succeeded him in the Throne Abusaid succeeding his Father Pyr Mahumed Son to John Guyr conquer'd Myrza Adulla King of Maurenahar of whose Kingdom he became Master in the Year 1452. After the death of Abusaid his Son Myrza Sultan Hamed became King of Maurenahar and having Reign'd twenty eight years dy'd Anno 1495. Myrzah Babor Nephew to Hamed inheriting the Kingdom of Maurenahar was driven thence by Xaybeck Chan King of Usbeck in the Year 1500. and forc'd to flie to Garnehem and from thence into India where he setled himself and after a Reign of thirty eight years dy'd An. 1532. leaving two Sons Hamayon Myrza and Camoran who were both created Kings after his Death This Myrza Babor is by some as Peruschi call'd Baburxa who drove the Patanes from Indostan of which they had made themselves Masters and forc'd them to flie to the Isles before the Bay of Bengala After Babor's Death Hamayon Myrza obtaining the best and richest Kingdom of India kept a Vice-Roy call'd Xyrcan who mutinying maintain'd War against him and forc'd him to desert his Kingdom and flie to Persia where King Schach Tamas Son to Ismael Reigning at that time lent him twelve thousand choice Soldiers under the Command of Byrancam who
sustain by it You will not want much Ammunition in these Countries therefore do not refuse sending Assistance to us In the same year in the beginning of December a Peace was concluded between King Adel Schiah and the Portuguese whereby both Parties were allow'd free access one to the other The King of Visiapour maintains also Wars against some of his Rais or Rajas which are Heathen Princes or petty Kings which with the Rabutes their Subjects reside in the Mountains of Ballagate in Places naturally inaccessible where they neither fear being surpriz'd nor besieg'd They have no Written Laws in the whole Realm but the King's Will is a Law to all his Subjects All Civil Debates that happen to arise in the City Visiapour are determin'd by the Coutewael or High-Sheriff but Criminal Causes are try'd by the King himself The Criminals are often executed in the King's Presence with great cruelty throwing them oftentimes before Elephants and other Wild Beasts to be devour'd and sometimes cutting off their Arms Legs and other Members besides other ways not usual in Europe In other Towns or Provinces the Vice-Roy or Governor passes Sentence after the same manner For by vertue of their Patents which they call Firman they are particularly impower'd to give Judgment against Criminals They commonly judge of these Causes according to the first Complaint which they hear so that he which complains first for the most part fares best Differences of Debt are soon decided among them for if the Debtor do not pay his Creditor according to the time limited by the Judge he is severely whipp'd and his Wife and Children sold for Slaves by the Creditor Such Persons as are forc'd to swear are plac'd in a round Circle made upon the Ground laying one Hand upon some Ashes brought thither for that purpose and the other on their Breast and uttering several Expressions to their Gods after which they think themselves oblig'd on pain of Damnation to make a true Answer to all such Interrogatories as are put to them Linschot makes the Idalcans or Kings of Cuncan to be Subjects and Tributaries to the King of Narsinga but Jarrick affirms them to be mortal Enemies The Kings of Cuncan were formerly absolute Lords of vast Territories and subject to none but about sixty Years ago in the time of King Mamedh Idelxa Son to King Ibrahimxa who Anno 1635. possest the Crown in the twenty fourth Year of his Age they were reduc'd under the Mogol's Jurisdiction viz. when in King Mamedh Idelxa's Minority who Govern'd his Realm under the Guardianship of Chavas Chan the Great Mogol assaulting those of Visiapour with two hundred thousand Foot and eighty thousand Horse for their refusing to pay him Tribute After a long and bloody War and the death of Chavas Chan a Peace was concluded Duke Mustaff Chan and the Kings of Visiapour brought under subjection to the Great Mogol with Conditions to pay nine thousand Pagods yearly for Tribute But at present as F. Bernier affirms the King of Visiapour pays no Tribute to the Great Mogol but defends himself against all Attempts which he makes upon him for though he be not so powerful as those of Golconda oppose the Mogol's Forces yet he hath this advantage by reason of the remoteness of his Country from Dely and Agra that the Mogol makes not such frequent Attempts on these Parts besides which that part of the Country of Visiapour which lies next the Mogol's is very difficult for an Army to approach because of the scarcity of Water and Provisions and the badness of the Ways The Metropolis Visiapour is also very strong situate in a dry barren Soil and guarded by many Fortresses built on the circumjacent Mountains which are most of them inaccessible Many Rajas also joyn with him for their own security Moreover he oftentimes receives private assistance from the King of Golconda who always keeps an Army ready on the Borders to assist the King of Visiapour whenever he perceives him to be too much oppress'd by the Mogol Yet nevertheless this State as also that of Golconda is much declin'd for the Mogol hath taken Paranda from them which is the Key of their Country with the Magnificent City Bider and some other eminent Places But especially because of a difference between these two Kings for the last King of Visiapour dying without Issue-Male the present King who is a young Man being brought up by the King of Golcondas Sister who took him for her Son doth not acknowledge her Favours Ibrahim Adil Sciah who Reign'd Anno 1620. notwithstanding the Countries of Cutb Sciah or the King of Golconda and Nizam Sciah King of Decan lay as Bulwarks between his Dominions and the Mogol's and upon occasion was able to raise an Army of a hundred thousand Men stood nevertheless in great fear of the Mogol to whom though he paid considerable Tributes yearly yet he was so slighted by the Mogol that he sent his Letters to him by a Common Soldier or Slave whom he was forc'd to meet with his whole Army and conduct him in great Pomp to his Court where he plac'd himself in a Chair of State prepar'd purposely for him whilst Adil Sciah was forc'd to stand in his Presence like a Slave And when the Messenger had laid the Letter on a Carpet he bow'd down to the Ground three times according to the manner of the Country before he durst take it up This Ibrahim Adil Sciah is said to have caus'd his own Son to be put to death for persuading him from paying the usual Tribute to the Great Mogol and counselling him by force to free himself from that Slavery The King now Reigning sends oftentimes great Presents to the Mogol Anno 1656. in June the King Sciah Sahep sent a Present of seven Lak Penas or Two hundred and eighty thousand Pounds to the Mogol Prince Oranchzef at present King Residing at Dautabake who then accompanied with Mirsimula lay with his Fathers Army on the Borders of Visiapour in a Province call'd Pretapapour The Venassars and Collers or Coulys as also the Rasboutes of Cambaye pay Tribute to this King The thirteenth of November Anno 1656. the King of Visiapour call ' d Adil Sciah deceas'd at which time Fettechan guarded the King's Palace and Chan Channa coming with his whole Army near the Walls desir'd to know of Fettechan whether it would not be convenient for him to bring the Army into the City to prevent Insurrections Whereupon Fettechan reply'd That he had taken upon him in Chan Channa's absence to Guard the Fort and therefore he judg'd it best for the safety of the Realm to let Chan Channa come into the City Whereupon he repair'd to Fettechan in the Palace where consulting together they concluded to Crown the King 's adopted Son call'd Cha Chade which was perform'd the same day he being then in the twenty fourth Year of his Age. This new King receiv'd the Name of Aly Adel Sciah and was permitted to use
dry'd They cover them also with a Hair Cloth Lin'd with Wool The Persians have been Masters of these excellent Horses since the Death of the Sultan Borisir whom the King of Persia caus'd to be put to death after his coming from Carmania into Persia with many beautiful Horses to the number of ten thousand of all which he made himself Master and from them the Persians have had such excellent Breeds that the Turks are inferior to them They bring up and diet their Horses for the Race and those that are swift-footed they style Badpay that is Wind-footed they also colour the Tails Mayns and Bellies of their white and dapple Horses red or yellow They are very curious in their Furniture and therefore Persons of Quality Embroider their Sadles Bridles and Cloths with Gold and Silver which is an ancient Pride of the Persians ever since the Reign of Xerxes These Horses though employ'd night and day in a Battel can endure thirty hours without Meat There are also a sort of Stags by the Turks call'd Tzeirra and by the Persians Ahu of a sad colour have great Horns and being very swift-footed are to be seen in no place but the Province of Mocan and by Schamachie Carabach and Mearaga The Inhabitants likewise keep many Mules especially to Ride on being us'd by great Lords nay by the Kings themselves to travel on they are valu'd at as dear a Rate as the Horses and those that are any thing handsom are sold for a hundred Crowns Moreover some have reported that there are wild Mules found in several places in Persia but being very rare they are onely sent as Presents to the King and Chans and as Asia breeds more Asses than any other Place in the World so Persia exceeds any of the Eastern Countreys The several sorts of People IN Persia are divers sorts of Inhabitants viz. First Strangers of several Nations which come thither to Traffick amongst which the Indians are the most as also Banians who come thither out of the Province of Guzaratte There are likewise several sorts of Christians Assyrians Nestorians and Maronites but the greatest number are Georgians and Armenians who drive a very great Trade and by reason of their Wealth monopolize as it were most of the Commodities into their own hands especially the Silk in the Countreys near the Turks and dwell in great numbers in the Suburb Zulfa in Ispahan where several People out of Europe have their Residences as English Hollanders Portuguese and others to Trade The Natives of Persia are of two sorts viz. Persian Mahumetans and Gauren that is Unbelievers notwithstanding they name themselves Behdun Description of the Gaures that is People of a true Faith Olearius calls them Kebbers and others the true Offspring of those ancient Persians that liv'd in the time of Alexander the Great they are by their Wars with several Princes reduc'd to a small handful of People which live onely in three or four Towns in Persia and among others in Ispahan where they reside as Olearius saith in one of the four Suburbs call'd Kebrahath or as Della Valle hath it in Gauroston for Gauroston signifies The Countrey or Residence of the Gaures which Place according to Della Valle is very well built the Streets straight and broad and much better than those in the Suburb Ciolfa but the Houses are not above one Story high without Ornaments according to the State of the Persians that dwell in them for the Gaures are a poor People iâ— outward appearance driving no Trade and Till onely so much Land as will maintain their Families They are strong Limb'd like the modern Persians but shave not their Cheeks and Chins after their manner but suffer their Beards to grow like the Turks moreover they wear long Hair on their Heads like the ancient Persians as Herodotus describes them in former times The Men go all after one fashion in their Habits their Caps are round like those of the present Persians commonly quite white without any other colours The Women are also Cloth'd after one manner but their Apparel hath greater resemblance with the Arabian or Chaldean than the Persian On their Heads they wear a handsom long Veyl of a green colour which hangs down to their Wastes before and touches the Ground behind they always walk unvey'ld in the Streets for a distinction from the Mahumetan Persian Women They are very simple and speak a peculiar Language differing from the modern Persian and use different Characters which they Carve on the Doors of their Houses They worship and keep to this day the Orimasda or ever-burning Fire after the same manner as the ancient Priests did in the time of Cyrus and Darius They never go to Wars without the consecrated Wagons adorn'd with Gold wherein the Fire was kept burning on Silver Altars They also Pray three times a day viz. Morning Noon and Evening and Believe in one onely God Creator of all things who is invisible and omnipotent wherefore the Mahumetans have unjustly given them the Name of Gauren or Idolaters It hath been written by several that they worship the Sun Moon and Stars for lesser Angels or rather as they say them-themselves by the Names of Angels They curse Mahomet and take him and all his Followers for Unbelievers They abhor and are afraid of Frogs Tortoises Lobsters Crabs and the like They neither bury nor burn their Dead but keep them above Ground in a certain Wall'd place where setting them upright with their Eyes open as if living they prop them up with Forks and so leave them till dropping down they dissolve by putrefaction The Agemi Della Valle makes the Mahumetans in Persia of two sorts the one are those properly cay'd Agemi or Agiami Extracted from Agem or Agiam which hath the same signification with the word Pars or Fars though the Learned use the Name Agiami to express in general and without distinction all Inhabitants of this Kingdom of what Province soever for the Name Persi belongs properly to those in the Province of Persia The Quizilbasci The second sort of Mahumetans are the Quizilbasci or Nobility and Gentry in high esteem in Persia who being Extracted from the Turks made themselves Masters of the Countrey and assum'd the absolute Government thereof till Ismael Sefi's time the first Raiser of the present Royal Family They are call'd Kisilbasch that is Red-Heads which Name was first given them by the Turks in derision but of late they delight therein and are proud to be so call'd pretending that a great Mystery of their Religion is express'd thereby The word Kisilbasch is by Eurorean Writers spell'd several ways but the right Name according to Olearius is Kisilbasch being a Turkish word compounded from Kisil that is Red and also signifies Gold and Basch that is A Head and apply'd to them by reason of the several sorts of red Caps they wear According to Jovius and Bizarro the first Inventer of these Caps amongst
abundance of Cooks Shops Abundance of Cooks Shops wherein they sell Meat ready drest which is so common that Persons of great Quality though they have Cooks in their Houses when desirous of Varieties of Meat well drest they send to those Shops for them Those tyfeats which they baste with their Butter at first seem very ill tasled to a Palat not accustom'd thereto but afterwards obtain a more pleasing Rellish They also have a Bak ' d-meat call'd Perian and another call'd Carik dress'd after the Indian manner There are also preserv'd Cucumbers which are very palatable and in the midst of Summer cooling They have likewise a dainty Dish call'd Peluda made up of Ameldonk or Amelcores in the manner of a Tart either made white like Snow or else they colour them with Saffron The Tart cut in pieces is put into a China-Dish and Rose-water and Sugar pour'd over it and a great piece of Ice laid by it which melting in the Rose-water with the Sugar makes a delicious and cool Liquor into which are put Almonds and the Herb Purslan cut into small pieces which give it a very pleasing Rellish This Liquor put into the same Dish with the pieces of Tart is both Meat and Drink and a choice Delicate in the midst of Summer In the Southern Countreys especially Westward about Ormus they use many Herbs in their Drinks as also Brandy and other hot Liquors amongst which one call'd Jarkin which is in great esteem in the Island of Java and all the Southern Provinces of the Eastern Countreys they use also much Sale and though between Ispahan and Ferhabad there is a large Plain that yields great quantityes the Soyl being full of Salt yet they use another sort contemning this though good by reason of it's great plenty Before and after Meals the Persians both in Winter and Summer have warm Water to wash their hands which they wipe with their Handkerchiefs After Supper They paint their Skins they commonly present their Guests with dryed Leaves of Hanna or Alkanna to colour their Hands and this Ceremony is as much to the satisfaction of the Eastern Countrey-people as a Ball with Dancing or Musick after a Banquet Some discolour their skins all over in this manner when they please viz. they lay the Alkanna tempered in water on their Hands or that part of the Body which they intend to colour and binde it on with a String that it may not fall off this the Women do for the most part after Supper before they go to Bed that so the Colour lying on all Night may make the better Impression in the Morning the Paste being dry falls off and leaves an Orange-tincture on the Skin but if over-dawb'd it makes them Red or Black Amfion or Opium Thee Coffee and Tobacco MOst Persians use Amfion or Opium that is Juice or Oyl of Poppy by them call'd Offiuhn and Tiriak as the Berry Chas Cehask and by the Turks onely Maslac which they making up in little Pills like Pease swallow Those that use themselves to it may take a quarter of an Ounce or more at a time Some take it every other or third day onely to set them into an intoxicating Extasie where they please themselves with strange Imaginations They are gathered in several Places of Persia especially about Ispahan after this manner The white Poppy being cut produces a milky Juice which having stood a while and becoming black is taken and made fit to be used The Druggists and Apothecaries make great advantage thereof But Opium is not onely used much in Persia but also in Turky and India It is also said that some Women when their Husbands and they cannot agree contrive their dispatch with a Dose of Opium Coknar a sort of Drink and the use thereof From the Husk or Shell the Persians also extract a Juice which they call Coknar much drunk by the Soldiers especially in the time of Schach Abbas when they were forbidden to drink Wine for it revives the Spirits for the present but is nothing so wholsome for soon after their Bodies are so debilitated that they are unfit for Service wherefore Schach Abbas prohibited upon pain of Death either to make or fell this Liquor Moreover all Vessels with this Liquor wherever they were found were broken no and stav'd immediatly before their Doors But after all this and the before mention'd first Law made by King Abbas he preferring an Inconvenience before a Mischief permitted the People to drink Wine again as formerly in stead of Cocknar Take much Tobacco They are great Takers of Tobacco insomuch that People of all sorts and Degrees Smoak it in their Temples and other publick Places They have it from Bagdad or Babylon and Curdistan but so ill preparâ—d that they desire our European Tobacco which they call Inglis Tambacu because the English bring the greatest quantities thither They take it not as we do but suck it through two Pipes joyn'd together but first they take a Glass Bottle or Indian Nut or a Cabach which is a kind of Shell that holds about a Pint into which they put more or less sometimes sweet Water leaving sufficient room for Smoak then they put the two Pipes through the Mouth of the Bottle the one contains the Tobacco in one Bowl and through the other goes the Smoak the end of one Pipe stands as far from the bottom as the end of the other is from the Water viz. about a Thumbs breadth The Persians generally with their Tobacco drink Coffee made from the Arabian Caowa or Persian Cahwee which they dry and pulverize and after decoct as we now use and have learn'd from them of which we shall enlarge when we come to Arabia the Place where it grows They use also Tee or Tea being very common and sold in publick Houses by them call'd Chat tai Chane that is Houses of Catayan Tzai or Thee of which likewise in its proper place Of their Marriages Use Poligamy PErsons of Quality in this Countrey are seldome satisfied with one Wife and of old had many which they may turn off when they please which as Strabo relates was anciently for the Childrens sake for the Kings gave Annually Presents to those that had most Children But at this day they affect not this Multiplicity having not so many Wives as formerly yet they make no more of Wedlock than a Play of Fast and Loose turning them off when they please and are still for Variety and this Liberty they take the rather because Mahomet in his Alcoran allows Polygamy Rich Merchants who Trade in divers Places in the Countrey make a great Convenience of it having at their Countrey-houses and where else they Trade not onely Furniture but a Wife so that where e're they come they are still at Home They Marry their nearest Relations but not so incestuously as of old they were wont to do for in antient times as Brissonius affirms out of several Writers they
Philosophy Notwithstanding there are not so many in Persia as in Europe which learn the Liberal Arts and Sciences yet they highly esteem those that study therein which they corruptly call Filosuf The Persian Phylosophers in Matters of Phylosophy and other Sciences highly esteem the Christian Books especially such as treat of Morality natural Phylosophy and Religion They also hold Disputations with great Confidence concerning the Mystery of their Religion with People that are or another Opinion quite contrary to the Turks who out of stubborness will not admit any to speak thereof Their Universicies For the Instruction of their Knowledge there are several Universities or Schools in the Cities which they call Madresia or Madressa and the Scholars Mederis the Chiefest whereof are at Ispahan Schiras Ardebil Mesched Tebris Casbijn Com Jest and Schamachie to all which the Sedder or Governor must allow a sufficient Maintenance which he receives from such Countreys as are free from Tribute and other Taxes to the King as Cochtzeh by Erwan Utzatznik near Carabach Tabachmelick lying between Georgia and Carabach and also Agdasch and Kermeru What they study The Learning in which they instruct them is Geometry Surveying Poesie Astrology moral and Natural Phylosophy Physick and Law They have all Aristotle's Works translated into Arabick and call him Danja piala that is The Cup of the World for as we may use the Cup to refresh our selves so we may likewise to inebriation so according to their opinion we may use and misuse Phylosophy for they say that strong Liquor and Phylosophy make good Orators but excess of both makes wise men Fools They teach their Youth Arithmetick so soon as they can write and read the Common-people use the Indian Figures but the Learned the Arabian Their Poesie and Orations are comprised in short Lessons and are studied both together because their Histories and Disputations are mixt with Verses and other Eloquent Expressions Their chief Book is as we said before Culustan that is Rose-Valley made by the famous Poet Schich Saadi Their chief Books and some Years since Translated into the German Tongue by Olearius it consists not onely in pleasant Prose but delightful Verses and therefore every Persian hath this Book in his House nay some there are which carry it in their memory and are therefore accounted very learned this they repeat at all Feasts and other Merry-meetings Delight in reading Histories Moreover they delight much in reading of Histories especially those of Aly's Life and Death as also of Hossein Aly's Son which are written in a lofty Style They have likewise several other Books as Chronicles as well of their own Kings Reigns and Wars as other eminent Transactions and these are term'd Mirchond Emveri Tzami Walehi Nussegri and the like amongst which the chiefest is Mirchond who in an excellent Style hath written a Persian Chronicle in Four Volumes which are there sold for two hundred Crowns but we cannot credit the Persians much in their Histories and Matters of Religion because they often mix fabulous Invention with real Truths The number of Books that treat of Philosophy are but small in these Countreys and those few are in the Hands of the most learned Persons who keep them as a great Treasure The Books that are generally sold there are either Romances or Verses treating of their Law besides which they have no Books worth mentioning Arms. THe Persian Horse-men are arm'd with Bowes The Housemens Arms. Arrows and a bending Sword like a Scymetar their main strength consists in the Cavalry and though their Horses are small and lean yet they are strong and swift The Hilt of their Swords is onely a cross Bar yet sufficient to defend the Hand and for the most part set forth with inchased work the Scabberds are either of red or black Leather and plated after the same manner as the Hilt their Belts are narrow and plain without any other Ornament or Colour than the skins naturally bear their Bowe-men are call'd Curtschi and their Musquettiers Tufenktschi for they have Musquets and also Pistols which they say Schach Abbas first brought in use among them They also have some great Guns which they use more in their Fortifications and Sieges than in a Field Battel Yet Anno 1604. Schach Abbas had one hundred and fifty Cannons when he beat off Vlutzali Bassa from Cigale They use many Stratagems In former times the Persians always engag'd their Enemies on Horse-back but since the use of Musquets was brought amongst them they have made a Body of Foot which in these last Wars hath done them great Service Moreover they are very subtile in contriving Plots and Stratagems to circumvent their Enemies At the Siege of Iruan Anno 1633. the Persians had a sort of Poyson in little Glasses which they shot with Darts into their Enemies Forts by which means they so infected the Air that it swell'd the Inhabitants Arms and Legs to an extraordinary thickness and by that means made them unable to resist Their defensive Arms are Brest-plates Shields Coats of Mail and Helmets The Soldiers of Persia made up of three Bodies The Soldiers of Persia are made up of three sorts The first sort are Turkomans which are like Hirelings and have Ziefs that is Pensions which the Sons inherit from their Fathers and are bound to furnish the King with a certain number of Horse as often as occasion shall require The second sort is that which Leunclaivus and Soranzo call Corrises or Coridsches but in the Turks Language might more properly be call'd Curchins or Georgians which receive no pay but have onely their Dyet Horses Apparel Arms Tents and all other Necessaries The third sort are Friends and Allies viz. Armenians and other Georgians who are Enemies to the Turks Four Degrees in their Militia In Persia are four Orders or Degrees in their Militia the first are Musquetiers or they that use Fire-arms not many years since brought in by King Abbas through the perswasions of Sir Anthony Sherley one of our three famous Sherleys so much celebrated in former times All the Musquetiers are Natives and Inhabitants of the Cities Musquettiers Towns and Villages though more dwell in the Villages than the Towns or Cities and they are accounted Tat or ignoble and may not wear the Tag but the common Turbant Formerly they continually fought on Foot yet march'd on Horseback like our Dragoons All the Captains of these and other Companies are by a Turkish Name call'd Juzbassi that is The Head of a Hundred for Juz is a Hundred and Bassi the Head notwithstanding they often have above two hundred and sometimes under one hundred in their Companies Those that dwell in several Provinces or Places meeting at a general Rendezvouz march together to the Army either with the Chans of the Province or else alone especially those that have no Chans Those of Mazanderan are accounted the best Musquettiers but there are more beside them
descended from Mahomet's and Aaly's Family and accordingly to their Successors wherefore they have great Priviledges and are honor'd by several Titles The Turks call those of Mahomet's Extract Emirs and the Arabians Scherifs The Persians nevertheless distinguish the Successors and Relations of Scheich Sofi from all others of Mahomet's Relations and honor them by a peculiar name of Scheichavend that is the Line of Scheich being as the say two thousand in number and most of them resident in Ardebil because that City was the Habitation and Birth-place of Scheich Sofi The Seyds in Persia shave their Hair two Fingers breadth above their Ears Their Habit. but let it grow long on their Crowns and in their Necks they wear a white Habit and a kinde of Pumps as also a peculiar sort of Mendils or Turbants They may not marry out of their Families nor drink Wine yet are free to go to Feasts where in stead of Wine they drink Water The Seyds which dwell in the Cities are generally rich People for they possess whole Villages and are free from all manner of Taxes which makes them not a little proud There are another Sort that pretend themselves Seyds that go from Town to Town shewing their Marks and living on the Alms of People but these are commonly Deceivers and are call'd Cherseyds that is Cherseyds what they are Holy Asses some carry Hair in a round silver Box alledging that it was cut from Mahomet's Head which through a little hole they shew to the People This Hair is sold at a great Rate and laid on their Books when they read or pray At Kisma in Kilan was one of these Deceivers who with a piece of Crystal held in the Sun would fire Cotton or Paper and perswaded the People that he was of Mahomet's Race and had made a Contract with the Heavens There are also a Sort of these who boast their original from Aaly and are here as the Dervises among the Turks which are such as live retir'd lives like Recluses There are others call'd Abdalles Abdalles what they are and their Habits resembling Monks wearing course Coats stitch'd like quilts and girt about them with a Copper Serpent which when they are made Abdalles is given them by their Masters as a Testimony of their Learning and Wisdom At Ardebil they are receiv'd into this Order by the Sofi-Chans at Ispahan and Meschet by the Sofi-Baschi or Chief of the Sofy's These Abdalles are frequently seen in the Markets and other places where calling the people together they preach of the Miracles wrought by their Saints Aaly and others railing against Abubeker Omar Odsman and Hanifa the Saints of the Usbekes or Tartars wherefore these Abdalles dare not approach the Turk's Borders These are for the most part a vile debauch'd thieving and sodomitical People yet there are several little Chappels built for them near the Metzids or Temples wherein they reside in Ardebil they are the most numerous A general Tolleration All Strangers of what Religion soever have according to antient Custom in Persia Liberty of Conscience being permitted to live after their own Manner and after the Laws of their several Princes Admit discourse of Religion The Persians also speak with great freedom concerning the Mysteries of their Belief to strangers and are also very curious in matters of Religion willingly spending their time to discourse thereof nay harken with patience to such as argue against their Religion which is quite contrary to the nature of the Turks They hold Christ our Saviour in great Reverence and call him Isael Messih that is Holy Messiah thus much of Scheich Sofy's Doctrine The Heathen Persians are call'd Mayucy Heathen Persians or Maurigy and Gaoryasdy of which the last Name is very common the Pagans of Zuratte and Cambaya by a general Name call'd Banjan have among other superstition Customs that of worshipping Cows which the Persians call Gao and he that keeps them Gaopon and call and these kind of Idolaters Gaor They also call them by another Name Zarduxt that is Friend of Fire though Zar in the general Language signifies Silver and the Fire is call'd Attex These People worship the Sun and Fire which last they have kept above three thousand years on a Mountain call'd Albors Cuyh or Atez Quedah that is The Residence for Fire lying a days Journey from Yazd These Idolaters are very numerous and the more because all the Kingdoms in Persia were such before the Arabians coming thither How they dispose of aged People They also have a Custom not to suffer aged People to die a natural Death but to carry them to the beforemention'd Mountain where they set them in a kind of Cage in which they can but just stand upright and leave them there without any other Subsistence than what the Air will afford them till they die and because there blows a continual Wind and the Air being very thin the Bodies keep entire a long time But if any one dies young they take the Corps and tie it on an Ass in a sitting posture setting on his Head a Pot full of Cream in the Persian Tongue call'd Mast with which they wash his Face and Eyes and then drive the Ass with a Whip cross a Field where generally the Ravens coming about the Corps pick out the Eyes whil'st the Followers narrowly watch which Eye is first pickt out for if it happen to be the right they judge that the Deceased's Soul is happy but if the left that it is in a state of perdition Great numbers of Jews in Persia There are likewise above nine or ten thousand Families of Jews in Persia who have a general Toleration as also many Christian Armenians and Nestorians brought in by King Cozroe when he was conquer'd by the Emperor Heraclius whom he suppos'd to vex by being of that Opinion destroying at the same time all the Roman-Catholick Churches throughout his whole Dominions for the Persians once embrac'd the Catholick Religion first Preach'd there by St. Thomas Chistianity Preach'd in there by St. Thomas till such time as their King Sapor put to death seventeen thousand of them with the most exquisite Tortures imaginable Whereupon Constantine the Great sent Letters to perswade him to be favorable to them wherein when he could not prevail he proclaim'd War against him But when Christianity was by these Persecutions in a manner extinguish'd it was restor'd again in the time of Maruthe Bishop of Mesopotamia and Abdias Aclatus Bish of Persia and though many oppos'd it yet about the Year 411. the Churches were re-built as before but since that by the Mahumetans again utterly extirpated There are also Melchites in Persia Melchrites and their Opinions who have spread themselves quite to the Countrey of Chorazan These People are infected with the ancient Opinion of the Greek Church condemn'd in the Council of Florence which Doctrine is also follow'd by the Georgians Mengrelians and Circassians who
his Successors have us'd that Title and though there are a great number of Sophies through all Persia yet we must know they are all Ecclesiasticks The right Name which the Persians give to their King is Schach or Sa after the Italian pronunciation which signifies King or Patxa which others write Padischa that is The supream Schach or King of Kings They also call him Sahib that is Lord or Governor Some also affirm that the Kings are likewise nam'd Choda or Chodohon which in the Persian Tongue signifies God but that is onely a mistake for Choda or Chodabende as the Sir-name of Schach-Abbas's Father the natural signification of the word is one that is oblig'd to God At the Persian Court are many which bear the Title of King as Chan and Sultan have the significations of King the one in the Turkish and the other in the Persian Tongue which proceeds from hence because the chief Princes of Persia to make themselves the more eminent will have Subjects that are styl'd Kings though in truth they are but Vice-Roys Mirza its signification Mizza or Mirza is in the Arabick properly a Title of Honor and signifies Prince or more peculiarly A Prince of the Blood according to which signification the eldest Son who is Heir apparent to the Crown bears no other Name being generally call'd Sultan Mirza i.e. Prince of the Realm Persons of Quality generally bear two Names besides a third which is a Title of Honor which last is commonly put behind as Assa Chan Beid that is Isa or Jesus Chan Lord which is quite contrary to the Christians who always place their Title before their Name How the Turks style the Persian Kings The Turkish Emperor in his Letters to the King of Persia doth not style him Schach but Schach Ogli that is A holy Mans or Prophets Son The King to be distinguish'd from other Persons wears a red Turbant differing in fashion from others with twelve Ribbons instituted by Schach Ismael in commemoration of the twelve Sons of Aaly from whom he boasted his Extract This Turbant which some call Tage or Tache is as much with them as a Crown with us Minadoi tells us that the first Calif or Mustaed Dini puts the said Turbant on the King's Head at his Coronation or taking upon him the Government The King also wears his Turbant after another manner than other People for that which they wear before he wears behind which none in all Persia dares do but himself upon pain of Death The Kingdom descends by Inheritance This Kingdom is Hereditary and the King 's eldest Son always succeeds him in the Throne So long as there be any Heirs of the lawful Wife they Inherit but for want of such those that are begotten on the Chassees or Concubines and for defect of such it devolves upon the deceased King's nearest Relations These as also those that boast themselves to be deriv'd from the old Sefi are call'd Schach Elwend or Schachavends that is Successor of Schach and have great Priviledges in the Countrey yet for the most part live very sparingly The Houses in which the King's Children are born they make priviledg'd places and if it be from the Court and in any remote place the House is immediately inclos'd with a Wall The Kings Arms. In ancient times the Kings of Persia bore a Crescent proper for their Coat of Arms as the Greeks the Sun but now it is quite contrary for the Persians bear a Sun and the Turks which possess Greece a Half-Moon But Schach Sefi bore in his Great Seal which was about the bigness of a Half-Crown nothing but this Inscription I Schach Sefi am a zealous Servant of the onely God and about the edges was Engraven Aaly they may say of you what they please I am always your Friend who before this Seal doth not account himself Dust and Earth though he be an Angel may he be turn'd to Dust and Ashes His Coronation The Coronation is celebrated in Ispahan though formerly at Cafa or Cufa near Bagdad but remov'd from thence by reason of the too near neighborhood of the Turks the manner of it is as followeth On a Table an Ell high they lay as many rich Carpets as there have been Kings of that Dignity since the beginning of Schach Ismael Sefi upon these they set their new King to whom the chief Chans carry the Crown which he kisses three times in the Name of GOD Mahomet and Aaly and then rubbing his Forehead with the same his Chamberlain whom they call Lele sets it upon his Head at which they all cry God save the King God grant him to Reign from one to a thousand years then kissing his Feet they bring him great Presents and spend the day in Mirth and Jollity Minadoy tells us that the chief Calif sets the Turbant or Tage on the King's Head at his entring into the Throne but they take no Oaths nor have any Restrictions laid upon them Their Burying-place The Kings and those of the Royal Family are generally bury'd at Ardebil and lie interr'd round about Schach Sefi's Tomb. When the King appears at any publick Meeting he is generally accompany'd besides twelve Courtiers with the Seder Minatzim and Hakim The Hakim is his Physician and tells him what Meat is wholsom and what unwholsom The Minatzim is his Astrologer who acquaints him with all the good and bad Hours wherein he is to undertake any great Design and is herein credited like an Oracle the King undertaking nothing without his Advice The Seder is the chief of the Clergy and is as the Muffi amongst the Turks elected by the King and Casi being generally a Learned Man well skill'd in the Alcoran and must be ready to give his Opinion on all such things as are demanded of him because according to his Judgment they pass Sentence Some Decrees are also Pass'd by the Seder himself who Sealing them with his own Signet sends the same to die King who writes under him This is the Opinion of the Seder which We confirm under which he puts his Great Seal The Causes of Citizens are Judg'd by other Lawyers who are call'd Orf and are under the chief Judge Diwanbeki who is no less experienc'd in the Mahumetan Tenents than the Seder Their Juridical Courts The Days on which they keep their Courts of Judicature are Mondays and Thursdays on which they meet at Ispahan near the King's Palace in a publick arch'd place where they hear and determine Causes and if any thing chance to come before them which they judge to be of too great consequence for them to decide then they order it to be heard before the King The Punishments of Offenders All Offenders or Criminals are punish'd with extream severity the manner whereof is several and many times invented by the Judges according to the nature of the Crimes but the most asual are to cut off their Noses Hands and Feet ripping
up of the Belly flaying alive and hanging up by the Heels which last is perform'd after this manner They make two Holes in the Malefactors Legs behind the Ancle between the Bone and the great Tendon through which they put a Rope whereby they hang them on a Tree so high that their Heads do just touch the Ground in which manner if the Malefactor be condemn'd to die they let him hang two or three days till after an intolerable number of Pains he gives up the Ghost or if he die not in that manner then they shorten his time by ripping open his Belly Others for smaller Offences are hang'd up an hour or two with their Head downwards He that Ravisheth a Woman and is convicted by her Swearing three times or commits Sodomy hath his Genitals cut off Usury forbidden Their Laws forbid the putting of Money out to Use which nevertheless they do privately but if any one be accus'd and found guilty thereof he is accounted worse than a Jew and not permitted to come in company with any Persons of note In Ardebil dwelt one who lending Money by the Moneth at a Dollar and a half per Cent. had his Teeth knock'd out with a Hammer Such Persons as practise this are call'd Suchur which signifies Usurer But at they permit the Mortgaging of Lands for a Sum of Money which the Lender repays himself by the Rent without receiving any other Interest Schach Abbas and Schach Sefi us'd strange and horrid ways to punish Criminals some they caus'd to be made fast betwixt two Boards and then Saw'd in two in the middle A Persian Ambassador being on a time sent to the King of Spain and treating his Servants ill in his Journey thither and they complaining of it the King at his Return into Persia with his own Hands cut off his Nose and Ears and a piece of Flesh out of his Arms which he forc'd him in his Presence to eat It is also a very common Punishment at Ispahan to throw down Malefactors from the Steeple built on the Mosque Haron Viliaier and afterwards to burn them To this Death Women which have committed any hainous Crimes are condemn'd When any Person of Quality that is in the King's Service hath committed a Crime which he supposes may hazard the loss of his Life he goes with a naked Sword hung about his Neck before his Majesty's Privy-Chamber to beg pardon for his Offence Robbers and Highway-men are set in the Ground up to the Middle and the upper part of their Bodies inclos'd with great Posts six Foot high and so starv'd to death Good travelling in Persia But because Persia is inhabited in most places it is very secure travelling insomuch that the whole Countrey is free from Thieves If any be robb'd in his Journey though it be by his own Servants the Villages near which the Fact is committed or the Magistrates thereof upon the Complaint of the Person robb'd either pay the value or restore to him the like Goods taken from him There is also Guards for the security of the Roads which are call'd Rabdari to whom Travellers give small Sums of Money Strangers enjoy their own Lawes As all the strange people in Persia enjoy the Liberty of Conscience so they also judge and determine Causes amongst themselves according to the Laws of their native Countreys as well in Matters of Life and Death as Debts and the like insomuch that the King's Courts of Judicature have nothing to do with them which Custom is at this day so common that not onely the People but also every person of Quality that is a Stranger in Persia as Agents and Ambassadors from Forreign Princes c. enjoy the same Priviledge unquestion'd as if they were at Home The several Officers of the Court. At the Court are divers Officers which have each a Title according to their employments and follow one another in their several Degrees Eahtemad-Dowlet is the Chancellor whose business it is to look after the Revenue of the Realm and to increase the same from whence he bears his Title and is like a Vice-Roy and not onely publick but also all manner of private Business doth pass through his Hands A Curtzibaschi is a Commander over ten or twelve thousand Bowe-men which being first rais'd by Schach Ismael dwell in several Parts of the Countrey as a Free-people and upon any occasion march to a known Rendezvouz where the said General meets and commands them Meheter is a Gentleman-usher who is constantly with the King in his Chamber or at any publick Meeting and in the Seraglio and therefore is often permitted to speak with more freedom than the Chancellor Wakeunis is a Privy Councellor and Secretary who writes the King's Letters and Edicts and also keeps an Account of the Revenues of the Crown to which purpose he hath eleven Clarks or Under-Secretaries allow'd him Every Precinct or Ward of a City hath a peculiar Governor or Magistrate whom they call Aksacal that is Grey-beard though never so young which amongst other Affairs take care of the King's Guests that are lodg'd in any Caravansera standing within their Liberty that they want nothing they are desirous to have Assas is a Constable of the Watch but hath greater Power for he is not onely authoriz'd to take or apprehend any suspitious Persons but also to punish them nay take away their Lives according to Martial Law provided the Offender be taken in the Fact The Diwanbeki though a Supream Judge and often sitting on the Bench with the Seder and Casi is forc'd when the King punishes any person of Quality with Death to perform the Office of Executioner himself The Culargasi bears Command over the Culams that is Slaves or Servants who have sold themselves to be the King's Servants who performing the Office of Soldiers are eight thousand in Number and like the Curtzi are Quarter'd in the Countrey at the King's charge Eischicagasi-Baschi is the chief Marshal or Commander of forty Eischicagasi who though they dwell in several Parts of the Countrey wait by turns five at a time and generally stand at those Doors through which you must go into the presence of the King from whence they are call'd Door-keepers When any strange Ambassadors have Audience before the King then the Eischicaga-Baschi having a Dekemek or Staff leads them up by the Arm. The Jesaul Sohebet or Master of the Ceremonies places all Strangers that are invited to eat at the King's Table in their proper Places wherefore he always attends with a Staff in his Hand before the Pallace Gate to receive and complement such strange Guests The Nasir is the Steward whom they also call Kereckjerack who provides all manner of Necessaries for the Court The Tuschmal or Purveyor takes care for all sorts of Provisions and commands the Kitchin Mohurdar is the Lord-Keeper of the Great Seal The Dawattar is the Secretary who always carries a little Ball like our Printing Balls with which when
of Cloth-of-Gold or embroider'd Sattin with rich Fringe The Dishes wherein the Meat is brought to the Table are of massie Gold as also their Drinking-Cups which hold about a Pint and a half But Schach Abbas had all his serv'd up in Glass for a distinction from others They deliver with every Cup a great woodden Spoon or Ladle with a long Handle which they use more to drink out of than to eat withal neither do they make use of any other Spoons but what are made after that manner and of sweet-smelling Wood which having been once us'd are never brought to the Table again They never use Forks or Knives but the Steward who performs the Office of a Carver cuts the Meat with a great square Golden Slice which he always carries in his Hand How their Meat is serv'd up In the setting the Meat on the Table the Servants bring not the Dishes together but standing in a row from the Kitchin they hand them from one to another to the Table They commonly have but one Mess for they set all their Dishes at once upon the Table Each Person also receives Wine from a Waiter in order according to his Quality out of a golden Tumbler Every one is permitted to rise from Table without shewing Reverence to any and if their Occasions chance to call them out of the Room they go away without taking leave of any though the King himself be present The Water with which they wash their Hands is brought in gold en Basons The King and other great Persons seldom drink any Wine without Ice or Snow The Ice which they use is made of the clearest Water after this manner viz. Not far from the City in a great Plain a Bank is rais'd or cast up directly from East to West which being about a hundred and fifty Foot long and very thick is so high that it shadows the Plain from the Sun-beams when the Sun is at the heighth At the end of this Bank are two Arms which extending from the South to the North are full as high as the main Bank and about twenty four Foot long and keep off the Morning and Evening Sun so that this Plain lies shaded all the day long In this shady place is a Moat of about twenty or thirty Foot deep extending from the one Arm of the Bank to the other In the midst of Winter when it Freezes hardest they Plough this Plain which lies open to the Northern Winds full of small Furrows about three or four Fingers deep and so letting in the Water overflow it which in one Night freezing to the bottom is the next Morning before the rising of the Sun thrown into the Moat and Water pour'd upon it to make it condense the harder and this Practice they continue for a whole Moneth together or longer till the Moat is fill'd to the top with Ice then they cover it with Straw to prevent the melting thereof by the heat of the Sun and to keep it from Rain In the Summer this Ice being broken with Pick-axes is carry'd through the City to be sold on Horses or Mules two or three pieces being a sufficient Burthen The Ice being broken with a Hammer into greater or lesser pieces is either put into the Vessel with the Wine or into the Cups when they drink They also lay pieces of Ice in their Dishes with Fruit and other Cates which is very pleasing to the Eye especially if that which lies under the Ice appears through it The King's Dishes Urns and Drinking-Cups which he uses at his Table are all of massie Gold The Chans and other Nobles have their Pilao or Rice colour'd black and yellow and made savory with Herbs or else dulcifi'd with Sugar brought on their Tables also in Gold and Silver Dishes The Government of the peculiar Provinces How the Provinces are Govern'd ALl the Provinces in Persia which are remote from the King's Court are Govern'd by Chans Sultans Calenters Darago's Visiers and Caucha's The King chuses the Chans who are as much as Princes or Vice-Roys and makes them Governors of what Provinces he pleases but commonly he elects them who by their valiant Exploits Piety or other noble Vertues have gain'd the love of their Countrey wherefore many in hopes to attain to that Honor behave themselves very valiantly in any Engagement and desperately venture their Lives for the Title of Chan. But the Children of those who are thus chosen Inherit not amongst the Persians for though they are held in great Respect and enjoy their Father's Goods yet they are not honor'd with his Title nor succeed him in his Office except they are judg'd worthy thereof by their own Merits But Della Valle tells us that the King gives the Dignity of Chan to one of his Subjects not onely for his Life but also permits his Children to succeed him after his Death and that there are Families found that have enjoy'd this Title above two hundred years As soon as the King hath made any one a Chan he immediately gives him Lands and Men to support his Grandeur which he enjoys as long as he lives but if at any time he chance to be suspected by the King he is immediately turn'd out of his Employment and all his Goods seiz'd Each Province hath a Chan and a Calenter who resides in the Metropolis thereof The Chan being the King's Vice-Roy Executes the Law doth Justice to all and passes Sentence of Death on Criminals without any special Order from the Court. The chiefest Chan is he who Governs Sciras the Metropolis of the Province of Persia properly so call'd who is able to bring an Army of thirty thousand Men into the Field the Countrey which he Commands being said to be bigger than Portugal The Calenter is as a Collector or Treasurer of the Province gathering all the Revenues and giving an Account thereof either to the King or Chans A Darugo or Darago otherwise Hacom is like a Governor or Mayor of a City every City having one A Caucha is as much as an under Sheriff The Equipage of Ambassadors The King usually sends the Chans and Sultans as Agents to foreign Princes and fits them out after this manner viz. The King orders them to give great Presents to those Princes unto whom they are sent of which the one half is given out of the King's Treasury and the other part as also all other Necessaries the Province which the Chan Governs is to provide which often causes great disturbance and confusion In some Provinces the Chans must maintain a certain number of Soldiers for the King which besides their own must be ready for Service on all occasions but then the King receivs no Tribute from them The Chans make great Presents to the King The Chans commonly on New-years-day make great Presents to the King Some Provinces especially where there are no Chans but onely Darago's and therefore no Soldiers kept as in the Towns of Caswin Ispahan
let his Crime be never so hainous but if for some capital Offence he hath deserv'd to die they onely put out his Eyes for they account it one of the five deadly Sins that cannot be pardon'd to put a Brahman to death wherefore whoever kills a Brahman must according to the Order of the Vedam go in Pilgrimage twelve years and beg Alms with the deceased Brahmans Scull out of which he must eat and drink whatsoever is given him and after expiration of that time be bountiful in giving Alms and build a Temple in honor of Eswara The Settrea's The second Tribe in order is that of the Settrea's consisting in the Nobility of the Countrey who are call'd Raies or Ragias and are as we say Comites Regis the King's Companions or Cousins who therefore writes in his Letters Raja of Raja's In ancient times this Tribe had onely two Branches the one call'd Souriwansjam and the other Somowansjam Souri signifies in the Countrey Idiome Samscortam or the Sun and Somo the Moon Besides these two there are at this day many other though of less Dignity because they degraded their Pedigree by mixing with other inferior Tribes wherefore those of the two Branches will not contract any Marriuges or affinity with them The Noblemens duty The Office of these Noblemen is to defend the Countrey oppose their Enemies take care for the maintenance of the Brahmans see that the Laws be not violated and in short to inspect the Government of the whole Realm The Weinsja's The third Tribe is that of the Weinsja's and comprehends some which are call'd Comiteia's and others Setti Weapari They maintain themselves by Merchandizing and Broakage which Office they are bound to perform with great fidelity and be contented with a reasonable Gain Most of them live after the manner of the Brahmans and like them never eat any thing which hath life when as those of the second and fourth Tribe eat Fish and Flesh Beef onely excepted which in the Vedam or Law-Book is generally forbidden to all the Tribes Moreover this Sect is also call'd Vanjans or Banans The Soudra's The fourth Tribe is that of the Soudra's and consists of the vulgar or common sort of People but most especially of Tradesmen and Artificers This Tribe is also divided into many several Branches distinguish'd by peculiar Names Of these the Family of the Wellaca's are chief whereof some Govern the Countrey and others live upon their Estates The Ambria's Next to these follow in order the Ambria's being for the most part Husbandmen the rest either Serve the Nobility or live by their Labor The Palla That Family styl'd Palla is the meanest of all the Soudra's The Cowrea's The Cawrea's are a very great Branch being styl'd The three hundred Warehouses from a Barthwuherri who after his parting from 300 Marry'd Women or Wives became a Samjasy and gave them leave to Marry other Men with promise that it should not redound to the disgrace of them nor their Successors From these Marriages this Family sprang into which are receiv'd all such as have lost their Pedigree and therefore they compare it to the Sea which receives the Waters of all Rivers and yet never becomes full Some of this Family are Governors but the most are such as Paint on Cotton which is partly us'd for Clothing in their own and partly transported to foreign Countreys The Sitties are Chapmen or Pedlars and some of them wanting Estates to Trade perform the Offices of Porters The Paly are either Drovers who sell Cattel Husbandmen Painters or Soldiers and were anciently accounted a valiant People The Cottewaneni Sitties and Illewanies Trade in all manner of Fruit and Jagara or brown Sugar The Caiclle are a despicable People most of the Women being Strumpets which they account no disgrace The Catalja's are Smiths working both in Gold and Iron Masons Carpenters and Bricklayers The Carreans Patnouwa's Maccova's and Callia's are Fishermen the first and third Fish with great Nets the second with small ones and the last after a different manner The Conapule are Scriveners the Gurrea's and Bargurrea's Herdsmen and the Berga's though the last are accounted a noble Family The Kiddi are generally Husbandmen but some of them Soldiers the Camawaers are also Farmers the Inmadi and Montrea's are for the most part Military and the Berga Willala's are Drovers The Family of the Corewa's have no setled Habitations nor City to dwell in but range up and down the Countrey with their Wives and Children sleeping in small Huts which they build in those places where they come and at their removal pull them down and with the rest of their Goods carry them away on Asses which they keep for that purpose They maintain themselves by making of Soupen and Tatous which are little Fans wherewith they winnow their Rice and Potlids to cover it when it boyls they also fetch Salt from the Seaside on their Asses Custom-free because they are poor and their Asses carry but small Loads The Women who generally go with a Basket under their Arms boasting themselves to be Fortune-tellers get great Sums of Money from ignorant People The Perrea's who are the Men for the Women are call'd Perresies are a very despicable People amongst these Heathens not being accounted worthy to be styl'd a Family nor suffer'd to live near others but dwell all together in a corner of the City and in the Countrey have not their Habitations in Villages but in Houses built at a large distance neither are they permitted to fetch Water out of any Wells or Pits belonging to the Villages but forc'd to dig some near their own Houses nor may they go through any Street or Village wherein the Brahmans dwell nay are forbidden to enter the Pagode or Temple of their Gods Wistwow and Eswara they do all manner of Drudgery which none else will undertake and eat Horseflesh and the like Carrion so that 't is no wonder why the other Tribes not onely despise but account them unclean especially the chief Brahmans This Family is divided into two Parries the one call'd Perrea's and the other Siripera's which last are Tanners Potters and the like The Perrea's being the first are of better esteem than the Siripera's and therefore will never eat in any of their Houses but the Siripera's are permitted to eat in the Perrea's where they shew them reverence by lifting up their Hands and rising from their Seats These upon the decease of one of the Comittys Ritties Palies and others are oblig'd for a small Reward to shave off their Beards and follow the Corps when it is carry'd out of the City or Village to be burnt Every one of these Tribes must perform the Office which he hath once undertaken as long as he lives without changing his Condition and neither expect to be promoted or fear to be degraded The Family of the Pulia's also is accounted unclean and are much despis'd for the other Tribes
insomuch that if it happen in any House they will surely turn back Many other things of that nature they observe from all Adventures they meet with from whence they commonly conclude a good or bad event of the Business which they have in hand When their Years begin Their Years begin with the new Moon in April and is divided into twelve Moons or Moneths viz. Tseitram April Weinjacam May. Jeistam June Ajadam July Srawanam August Badrapadam September Aswyam October Carticam November Margisaram December Poujam January Magam February Paelgouwam March But because the Account of Time should not expire for the twelve Moons do not agree with the twelve Moneths of the Sun or Sun-years therefore they have after the expiration of three years one year of thirteen Moons which they insert as we intercalate in our February one day every fourth year and for that reason call the same Bissextile The Division of the Week The Weeks are likewise divided into seven Days which in the same Scortam Language are call'd Suria-waram Sunday Jendra-waram Monday Angaraka-waram Tuesday Butta-waram Wednesday Brahaspati-waram Thursday Succra-waram Friday Senni-waram Saturday As the Latines and almost all other Christians name the Days from the Planets so do likewise these People for Suria signifies the Sun Jendra the Moon c. though in the vulgar Language of the Countrey they call Sunday Adita-waram and Monday Soma-waram How they compute their Time As the Greeks in their Account of Time reckon'd by Olympiads which was a Circle of four years so these People have a Circle of sixty by which they compute their Time and coming to the end of the Circle they begin again Each of these years hath its peculiar Name so that they never say in their annual Accounts it is such or such a numbred year but call it by its Name in which such or such a thing hapned or is to be done The first of this sixty years Circle is call'd Prabawa Samwatseram that is properly Prabawa-Year for Samwatsaram signifies a Year and must always be plac'd behind the proper Name of the Year which for brevity sake we will here omit the Indians themselves often leaving it out in their Writings onely setting down the peculiar Name of the Year viz. the second Year is call'd Pipawa the 3. Sukela 4. Pramadouta 5. Prajopatti 6. Augiresa 7. Tsrimocha 8. Bhawa 9. Jouwa 10. Dhutou 11. Eswara 12. Bahoudihauja 13. Pramadi 14. Wikrama 15. Wisjou 16. Tsidtrabhanou 17. Tsabanou 18. Tarana 19. Paartowa 20. Weiha 21. Tserwasittou 22. Tserwadari 23. Wierothi 24. Wicrouti 25. Carra 26. Nandana 27. Wiseija 28. Tseia 29. Maumottha 30. Dormeki 31. Hewelembi 32. Wellembi 33. Wikari 34. Tsarewerri 35. Plauwa 36. Tshoopo-cortou 37. Tsobacortou 38. Crodi 39. Wisswaswasou 40. Parabawa 41. Palawanga 42. Kileka 43. Tsaumea 44. Tsadarena 45. Wirodicretou 46. Paridawi 47. Paramidisia 48. Ananda 49. Raetaja 50. Nala 51. Pingala 52. Cali Ai 53. Tsiddaerti 54. Raudri 55. Durmati 56. Dundoubi 57. Ruddiro-dgari 58. Raktaetsi 59. Crodana and 60. Tsaia How they date Letters and the like In common Businesses as Leters and the like they use these Names of the Years but the King never sets down in his Letters the exact Date or Day in which he writ them but naming onely the Moneth says After the New or Full Moon yet other Nobles in their Letters set down how many days it is after the New or Full Moon In the Heads of their Letters the Servants of Wistnow write Stirami those of Eswara Onoma Masje Waiye In Business of consequence the memory whereof they endeavor to preserve they use another Account viz. As the Christians make the Birth of Christ their Epocha Their chief Epocha the Mahumetans the Hegira or flight of Mahomet from Mecha so these People begin their Account from the Death of one Salawagena This Salawagena was amongst them accounted a famous King who dy'd Anno 1582. or eighty three reckoning from this present Yeor 1672. years since They relate that he form'd Horses and Men of Earth and giving them Breath made use of them in his Wars Some suppose him to be one and the same with Bramma who should be brought forth into the World by the Name of Salawagena The Inhabitants on the Coast of Cormandel and Zuratte make the Day and Night to contain sixty Hours viz. thirty in the Day and thirty in the Night and divide the Day and Night into eight parts which they measure by Watches being little Copper Cups with a Hole at the bottom which they set in Water after a peculiar manner The Brahmans Behavior in their Chambers The Brahmans behave themselves in their Chambers after this manner They generally rise two or at least one hour before Sun-rise and call upon the Name of God as soon as they awake this done they warn their Faces Hands and Feet and then set themselves down on a Plank or Carpet with their Faces towards the East or North being thus seated they begin to Sing the History of Gasjendre Mootsjam and afterwards if they have time another Anthem in praise of God then standing up they wash their Hands and Mouth nay their whole Body in a consecrated Stream or other Water as convenience will admit and then put on clean Clothes when they are Dress'd they set themselves down a second time on the place where they sat before and cause fresh Water to be brought them which taking up in their Hands three several times they throw it into their Mouthes in the Name of God when the Sun rises they take up Water three times and having said a short Prayer throw the same on the Ground in honor of the Sun and then worship it and the chief of the lower Region because they are the best of Gods Servants after this they worship an Image call'd Salagramma which is of Stone with a Hole in the middle and make Offerings to it of Sandal wood sweet-smelling Flowers and the Herb Toleje all which they do in a praying posture this done they repair to a Copper Image which stands somewhat higher and Offer the same things to it as to Salagramma on each side of this they set one two or more Candles according to their pleasure and afterwards set Meat ready dress'd before it or else Milk and Fruit lastly throwing Flowers upon the Image they walk thrice round it from their right Hand and as many times as they have walk'd round so often they must kneel before the Image then they set themselves down by it and sprinkle the Water Tiertum on their Heads and put some of it into their Mouthes with a little of the Herb Toleje and also into their Ears yet no other but what hath been already Offer'd and black their Foreheads with Angaram that is the Coals of the Offer'd Benjamin This colouring their Foreheads with Angaram serves as they say as a Buckler against Sin the Toleje which they put in their Ears against the uncleanness
to use Elephants travel on them in little Towers which are like Bedsteads hung round with Cloth of Gold and Silk they stand longways cross the Beast and are so long that a Man may easily lie at his full length in them but the breadth is such that two can but just lie together side by side They also use these kind of Towers on Elephants in the Wars placing nine or ten Musquetteers or Bowemen in them according to the manner of the Countrey He that guides the Elehant sits stradling upon his Neck and governs him not with a Bridle but with a sharp Iron Hook with which he pricks his Ears Mouth or any other part The Palakins being like little Beds cover'd with Cloth are carry'd by four or six Men with a great Cane which reaching from one end to the other lies on their Shoulders These Bearers go not on the sides but two before and two behind This way of being carry'd is very easie and common in India insomuch that all Europeans when they travel are carry'd after this manner Their Musick The common Musick of the Indians is very unpleasing consisting onely in making of a strange noise But they have amongst them an Instrument not altogether unharmonious which is made of two black varnish'd Globes of Wood with Holes through for the sound to pass through These two Globles are fastned to both ends of a little Board about three spans long on which are strung several Brass or Copper Wyres which are supported in as many places as there are Notes in the Tune which they intend to play The Musician playing with his right Hand takes away the Supporters of the Strings with his left when he pleases to alter the Notes though not with his Fingers but with certain Iron Wyres made fast to little Rings which he moves on the ends of his Fingers with which striking gently on the Strings he makes a pleasant noise For the more ease in playing the Musician hangs this Instrument about his Neck and holds it before him like a Lute The Indians also have Flutes so big that an Elephant carrying one on each side and an Indian in the middle hath a sufficient Load They have also Trumpets of a vast bigness Many of the Sea-bordering Places of India are at present under the Subjection of the English Hollanders Spaniards and Portuguese who there possess several Towns Forts and Factories for the accommodation of Trade The greatest Monarch which is at present in India is call'd The Great Mogol and not Mogor as Boterus and other Geographers have wrongly pronounced because he possesses the greatest part of India which is the most considerable part of Asia The chief Officers of the Mogol's Court. The chief Offices and Employments at the Mogol's Court are officiated by Eunuchs His first and prime Councellor is the Visier or chief Chancellor of the Realm who Commands like a Vice-Roy hearing and determining all grand Causes that are brought before the Mogol But though this Chancellor's Honor be very great yet he is in continual danger of his Life as may appear by several Examples of which this is one A certain Chancellor perswading his King not to War against Schach Abbas King of Persia was flea'd alive Next to the first Visier is the Wasanbasi or Treasurer who keeps one and twenty sworn Secretaries who attend every forenoon with their Books before the Corchana or Treasury keeping an exact Account of all things that come in or go out of the same The Accompts being adjusted are Sign'd by the Mogol himself the first Visier Treasurer and Diwanbeck or Judge This Officer being one of the powerfullest of all those that belong to the King is commonly clad in a long Coat of Cloth of Tissue He is often carry'd in a Palakin with four silver Scepters and ten Standards before him all Men shewing as much honor to him as to the King himfelf The Execution of Criminals The third Person of Quality in order is the prime Judge who Condemns and Examines all Criminals who are not Executed by a common Executioner but by one of the People that are present when they receive their Sentence who willingly perform the Office If any Person have committed Murder he is deliver'd into the hands of his Relations who Execute him according to the Sentence pass'd upon him The King's Guard The next Person in order is a Rassy or Ragia who Commands twelve thousand Slaves who always are at or about the Court at Lahor or Agra and are as the King's Guard travelling with him wheresoe're he goes The Nassire or King's Steward is also in high esteem and provides all Necessaries and Provisions for the Court. The Nobles that attend upon the King are styl'd Omrahs and receive a Sallary from him more or less according to the number of Horse they Command Besides these Omrahs there are several eminent Lords call'd Chans or Ragias who are always near the Mogol and wait upon him with great humility though not without fear for he that is in favor one hour often chances the next to be in high displeasure and danger of losing his Life Three Orders of Chans Della Valle tells us that there are three prime Persons in the Realm who are next to the King the first whereof is call'd Chan Chanon that is Chief of Nobles or Lord of Lords for Chan properly signifies Lord. The second bears the Name and Quality of Mir Miron or Emir Emirs which signifies also Lord of Lords though in a meaner sence than the former The third is the Chani Alem that is Chan or Prince of the People Many of the Mogol's Commanders are Quizilbascies from Persia who constrain'd by poverty forsaking the King of Persia's Service offer themselves to the Great Mogol where they generally come to great Preferment Besides these there are several other Officers and Magistrates who hear and determine Causes and pronounce Sentence verbatim and not in writing for they having no written Laws not onely the King's word is absolute but also his Governors being authoriz'd by him The King sits in Person in Court Once a week the King sits in Person in open Court and passes Sentence on Criminals and also gives Judgment in Civil Causes It is not the practice of the Great Mogol to strangle his Brothers or put out their Eyes when he comes to the Crown as is usual with several of the Eastern Princes Variety of punishment for Crimiâ—â—â—â— Criminals are punish'd several ways some they sew up in an Ox or Asses Hide while it is moist that when drying it comes to shrink it may crush them to death Some they condemn to go through every Street in the City with Oxes Horns on their Heads Some they deoculate Poyson some and Hang others But when Noblemen are condemn'd to die they have the priviledge to fight for their Lives with a Lyon which the King never refuses them except they are convicted of High-Treason Those that
let slip so fair a one as this but immediately set forward on his March and came safe to Bagnaguer without being known or taken for any other than an Agent sent from Schach Jehan The King of Golconda inform'd of this pretended Ambassador came out as he was accustom'd to receive him honorably in a Garden when falling into the hands of his Enemies he was set upon by ten or twelve Gurgus or Slaves who had secur'd his Person as was design'd had not an Omrah having compassion on the King cry'd Doth not your Majesty see that this is Oranchzef get away otherwise you will be made Prisoner which exceedingly amazing the King he stept forward and with full speed rode to the Fort of Golconda lying not above a Mile from thence which when Oranchzef saw he was not much concern'd thereat because he well knew that Emir would not come with his Army to the King's assistance and therefore possest himself of the Royal Palace and took away all things of any value which he found there yet he sent the King all his Women which is a thing strictly observ'd throughout all India and besieg'd him in his Castle but because the Siege continu'd too long for his Stores of which he had brought but a few with him and also receiving Orders from Schach Jehan to repair to Decan though the Castle was just upon surrendring he was forc'd to raise it Notwithstanding he very well knew that Darasja and Begum had prevail'd with his Father to give this Order for fear he should grow too powerful yet he shew'd no sign of discontent but said that the Orders of Schach Jehan ought and should be obey'd but he came not back without being well paid for his Journey He also Marry'd his Son Sultan Mahumed to the King 's eldest Daughter upon promise that he should make him his Successor giving him in the interim as Portion the Castle and Jurisdiction of Bamguire and also obtain'd the King's consent that all the silver Money which should from that time be Coin'd in the Realm should bear on the one side Schach Jehan's Arms and that Emir with all his Forces should immediately withdraw The great Friendship between Oranchzef and Emir Jemla These two great Persons were not long together before they contriv'd high Designs for by the Way they besieg'd and conquer'd Bider one of the chiefest and strongest Places of Visjapour from whence they went to Daulet Abed where they so ty'd the Knot of Friendship that Oranchzef could not live without seeing Emir twice a day nor Emir without seeing Oranchzef This their Union began to give scope to new Plots and was the indeed the first Foundation of Oranchzef's Royal Dignity SCHAH ORANGZEF Schach Jehan falls desperately sick This conjuncture of Affairs hapned in Hindostan when Schach Jehan being near seventy years of age fell into a dangerous fit of Sickness which immediately rais'd an Alarm and Insurrection through all Hindostan Darasja raising two vast Armies in Dely and Agra the two chief Cities of the Kingdom Sultan Chasausa did the same in Bengala Oranchzef in Decan and Moradbeck in Zurratte each getting those that were inclining to them to be of their Party every one plotting their several Designs Darasja accidentally taking some of their Letters shew'd them to his Father which bred much discontent Begum Saheb his Sister also was not negligent to make use of this opportunity to incense the King against them But Schach Jehan suspecting Darasja and out of fear that he might be poyson'd gave strict order to watch narrowly all things that he should eat of He wrote also as it was reported to Oranchzef concerning it which Darasja hearing could not contain himself from venting high and passionate Threats Mean while Schach Jehan's Sickness increasing and a rumor of his Death spreading through the City the whole Court was in great disorder the Citizens taking up Arms kept their Shops shut up three days whil'st the four Brothers made great Preparations every one for himself and not without reason for they very well knew that they could not expect any mercy from one another there being no other way but conquer or die and that whoever got the better would destroy all the rest as formerly their Father had done his Brothers The four Brothers take up Arms each in his own defence Sultan Chasausa who had gotten a vast accumulation of Treasure in the rich Countrey of Bengala by destroying some of the Ragias or petty Kings and extorting great Sums of Money from others came first into the Field with a mighty Army and proceeded on his Way by the help of the Persian Omrahs of whose Sect he was to Agra reporting all the way that his Father was dead and his Brother Darasja had poyson'd him and therefore he resolv'd to revenge his Father's Death and in a word pretended to be king Mean while Darasja sent Letters to him from his Father with Orders not to come any nearer to Agra assuring him that his Sickness was insignificant and that he found himself much better than he had been But Chausausa having Friends at the Court who assur'd him of the danger of his Father's Distemper he took no notice of the said Letters but proceeded on his March saying he very well knew that his Father was dead but if he did live he was resolv'd to go and kiss his Feet and receive his Commands Oranchzef about the same time or immediately after prepar'd to take the Field and march towards Decan and from thence to Agra when he also receiv'd the same Inhibition as well from his Father as his Brother Darasja with Threats more than usual but he took as little notice thereof as Chasausa However considering with himself that his Means and Treasure was low and his Forces not considerable he politickly resolv'd to make a double trial of his Fortune in both which he succeeded beyond expectation the one was design'd to Moradbeck and the other to Emir Jemla To Moradbeck he wrote a very cunning Letter Oranchzef's subtil Letter to Moradbeck wherein he testifi'd That he had always been his real and intimate Friend and that for his part he was no ways ambitious of Sovereignty having resolv'd with himself to spend his whole Life like a Fakier but withal affirming That Darasja was a Person altogether unqualifi'd for the Crown as being a Caffer and an Idolater and therefore hated of all the principal Omrahs That Sultan Chasausa was of the Persian Religion and consequently an Enemy to Hindostan and therefore unworthy of the Crown so that in a word there was no body but himself that deserv'd the same for all Persons at the Court knowing his Valour would stand up for him and as for his own part if he would promise him that he would when he came to be King let him live in quiet in any Corner of the Realm there to worship God the remainder of his days he was ready to assist him with
a certain dissembling Peruschian who was fled out of Persia first call'd Hakim Daoud and afterwards when created a great Omrah Tacarmbcan This Villain boldly standing up in the publick Assembly cry'd out That it was expedient for the safety of the State to put him to death immediately and the rather because he was not a Musselman or Mahumetan that long since he was turn'd Caffer Idolater a Man without Religion and by that means had brought upon himself this which was a just punishment for his sins But certain it is this vile Wretch afterwards felt the smart of his unjust Imputation for in a short time he fell into Disgrace being treated like an infamous Fellow and dy'd a miserable Death But Oranchzef carry'd away by these Instances and Motives commanded that he should be put to death and that Sepe Chekou his Nephew should be sent to Govaleor The Charge of this Tragical Execution was given to a certain Slave call'd Nazer who had been bred up by Schach Jehan and was known to have been misus'd by Darasja This Executioner accompany'd by three or four Parricides more went to Darasja who was dressing some Meat for himself and his Nephew fearing to be poyson'd if he should trust any one else to do it As soon as he espy'd Nazer he cry'd to Sepe Chekou his Nephew Behold my Son yonder are those that come to kill us laying hold at the same instant on a small Knife which was all the Weapon that was left him with which he defended himself to little purpose whilst some of the Villains seiz'd on Sepe Chekou and the rest pressing upon him threw him down to the Ground and held him by the Hands and Feet till Nazer cut off his Head Darasja murder'd which was immediately carry'd to the Castle to Oranchzef who commanding the same to be put into a Charger of Water call'd for a Handkerchief and having wash'd off the Blood and seeing that it was the real Head of Darasja he fell a weeping uttering these words Oh unhappy Oh unfortunate Man Take away this Sight from mine Eyes and bury it in the Grave of Homayon In the Evening they put Darasja's Daughter into the Seraglio though afterwards upon her Request she was sent to Schach Jehan and Begum Saheb As for Darasja's Wife she ended her Days before at Lahor poysoning her self when she foresaw the Extremities she was falling into with her Husband Sepe Chekou was sent to Govaleor and after a few days Gioncan was sent for to appear before Oranchzef in the Assembly where several Presents being made to him he was again dismiss'd but in his Way home he was rewarded according to his Deserts being kill'd in a Wood this barbarous Man not knowing nor considering that though Kings do sometimes permit such Actions for their Interest yet they abhor the Actor and sooner or later revenge them Mean while Tatabacar surrrendred the Governor of Tatabacar was forc'd upon an Order press'd and obtain'd from Darasja to surrender the Fort though upon a good Composition if it had been real but the poor Governor coming to Lahor was together with the few of those Men that accompany'd him upon the Command of the Calullacan Governor of that Place cut in pieces The reason why the Articles of Agreement were not perform'd was because it was reported that the Governor made private Preparations to go to Soliman Chekou to which purpose he distributed divers pieces of Gold amongst the Franks that came with him out of the Fort thereby to intice them to follow him under a pretence to accompany him to Deli to Oranchzef as having a great desire to see that brave Man who had defended himself so valiantly There remain'd now none of Darasja's Family but Soliman Chekou who was not easily to be fetch'd from Serenaguer if the Raja had continu'd in his first Resolution but the private Correspondence of Jesseingue the Promises and Threats of Oranchzef the Death of Darasja and the other Rajas his Neighbors who had been gain'd and made Preparations by Order from Oranchzef and at his Charge at last stagger'd the Fidelity of this perfidious Protector Soliman Chekou taken and imprison'd and made him consent to their Demands Soliman Chekou inform'd thereof fled through uninhabited Countreys and desolate Mountains to the greater Tibet but the Raja's Son closely pursuing him caus'd Stones to be thrown at him which wounding the poor Prince so disabled him that he was forc'd to yield to his Enemies Mercy who carry'd him to Deli where he was imprison'd in Serenaguer a little Fortress the same Place wherein they formerly had put Moradbeck Is brought to the Court. Oranchzef to observe the same method as he had done in the Case of Darasja that none might doubt but that it was Soliman Chekou himself he commanded him in the presence of all his Nobles to be brought to the Court At the entrance of the Gate his Fetters were taken off from his Legs leaving onely those on his Hands When this young and noble Person being exceeding beautiful and well proportion'd was seen to enter the Gates many Omrahs could not withhold their Tears In like manner it is said that all the Ladies of the Court which had leave to see him come in fell a weeping Oranchzef himself also seeming to be affected with his Misfortunes began to comfort him saying to him That he need not fear any thing for no harm should come unto him but that he should on the contrary be well treated and therefore said he be of good chear God was powerful and would be merciful That he had taken off his Father for no other reason but because he turn'd Caffer a Man without Religion Whereupon the young Prince return'd him the Salam or Thanks with his Hands down to the Ground and then lifting them as well as he could up to his Head according to the Custom of the Countrey Moreover he requested Oranchzef that he would let him drink the Poust that he might instantly die he being very willing to submit to his Fate But Oranchzef promis'd him publickly that he would not make him drink it therefore he might rest satisfi'd and not entertain any said thoughts about it This said he once more repeated the Salam and after they had ask'd him several Questions in the Name of Oranchzef concerning the Elephant which was laden with Ropias of Gold taken from him when he went to Serenaguer he was sent to Govaleor to the rest The Poust what it is The Poust mentioned before is nothing but Poppy steep'd a Night in Water being that Potion which those Princes that are kept at Govaleor whose Heads they do not think fit to cut off are commonly forc'd to drink in a Morning fasting which enervates and debilitates their Limbs consumes their Inwards and makes them die insensibly With this Potion Sepe Chekou Nephew to Moradbeck and Soliman Chekou were poyson'd At to what concerns Moradbeck he was put to death after a more
the Castle to be hung with rich Tapistry and at the entrance into the Seraglio she proffer'd him a great golden Bason fill'd with her and her Father Schach Jehan's Jewels and receiv'd him so splendidly and courteously that she obtain'd pardon for all her former Offences and participated of his Favors The Mogol's Ambassador abus'd Anno 1666. the Great Mogol sent an Ambassador to Schach Abbas King of Persia for the negotiating an Affair not very pleasing to the the said King who quarrell'd also at his styling himself in his Letters King of all the World which the King of Persia resented so ill that he caus'd the Mogol's Ambassador's Beard to be pull'd off and the Presents which he had sent him to be burnt all which made the Ambassador resolve to go away without taking leave But the Persian Chancellor acquainting the King that this was a Business of great consequence he dismiss'd the Agent with rich Presents and amongst others forty brave Persian Horses and many Pieces of Gold and Silver Stuffs sending also with him a Herauld at Arms to proclaim War against the Great Mogol who when his Agent told him the Disgrace he had sustain'd he was so exceedingly offended at him that he caus'd him by an Allegoer or common Executioner to be driven out of the City and the Horses which the King of Persia had sent him to be kill'd publickly as also the Gold and Silver Stuffs to be burnt and speaking to the Herauld which came from the King of Persia said thus unto him Go tell thy Master that I will treat him thus in his own Realm Whereupon raising a mighty Army he march'd to the Borders of Persia the King whereof came also to meet him with a puissant Army but coming within two days Journey of the Mogol The King of Persia dies he dy'd and immediately his Son Schach Soliman aged about twenty five years and present with the Army being proclaim'd King sent an Agent to acquaint the Mogol with his Father's Death requesting him that he would not impute that to him which had hapned between him and his Father he being no way guilty thereof and desiring nothing more than to live in Peace with his Neighbors The Great Mogol granting his Request made Peace with him and so each march'd back to their own Jurisdictions Thus having given you an Account of the Mogols Countrey and India in general we will now give you a particular Account of all the Kingdoms and Territories which it comprehends and begin from the West side towards the North with Candahar which though it be said to be under the King of Persia's Jurisdiction yet it may conveniently be describ'd here partly for its Neighborhood to the Mogol's Countrey and partly because it anciently belong'd to the same Paropamisa or Candahar Sablestan and Balassy THe Countrey of Candahar was anciently by the Greeks according to Cluverius and Golnitius call'd Arachosia by Minadoi Paropamisa though as Niger writes some call Paropamisa Dacha Castaldus Ananias Della Valle hold Sablestan or Sabelestan for the ancient Paropamisa but Della Valle will have Candahar to be Paropamisa or at lest a part thereof so that the ancient Paropamisa seems to contain two several Provinces as Candahar and Sablestan Ananias places in Paropamisa the Kingdom of Balassan by Pol call'd Balassan Bounds of Paropamisa and the Inhabitants The Territory of Paropamisa hath as Ptolomy saith in the West Aria in the East a part of India and in the South Arachosia The ancient Inhabitants of Paropamisa were the Bolites Aristophilians Ambants Parietes and Parsiers who were all call'd by one general Name Parapomisades or Paropamisades from the Mountain Paropamisus which Castaldus calls Calichistas and is a part of Mount Taurus and as Pliny saith rises to an exceeding heigth Arrianus and Diodorus Siculus tell us that Alexander the Great 's Soldiers call'd the said Mountain Caucasus though improperly for the real Caucasus lies between the Euxine and Hircanian Sea The utmost parts of these Mountains are according to Strabo by the Barbarians call'd Eodae and Himaon The Head of the River Indus Out of this Paropamisus the River Indus hath its Spring being by Pinetus and Gerard Mercator call'd Pamer This is also said to be the highest part of the Earth Coropius Becanus tells us contrary to the opinion of the Fathers that Noah's Ark rested on this Mountain This Territory of Candahar The Extent so call'd from its Metropolis lies according to Mr. Edward Terry Northwest from the Mogol's Jurisdiction and borders Westward upon the Kingdom of Persia at the Stream Abi Saba or Abi Bust Don John of Persia reckons the length of it to be sixty Leagues and some affirm the circumference thereof to be thirty days Journey The chief Towns Ptolomy places in the ancient Paropamisa the Towns of Nacka Belcas Eadras Canda Aclama and Bagsius the Metropolis of the County of Basoia from whence they enter into Balassan But the Metropolitan City of Paropamisa or Candahar is call'd Candahar or Candor or according to Jarrick Candacar from the Province it self Castaldus affirms that the ancient City Carure of Ptolomy or Ortospane of Strabo is the modern City Candahar which though it be but small yet it is very strongly situated and surrounded with two Mud Walls and a Moat ten Foot broad between both It stands on the Borders of Aria now call'd Arat and on those of India near the High-way by which the Merchants travel when they come from Persia and Chorazan to Sinde as on the other side those that come from Lahor to Agra and the Countreys of India travel along the same to Chorazan Media and Persia the Caravans being forc'd to make use of this Way either in their going to Persia or coming from thence to go for India SEGUM SAHEB The King of Persia esteem'd this Place to be of great consequence because he intended in the beginning of this Age to make it the Metropolitan City for the Trade which was formerly driven in the Red-Sea and to Ormus to which purpose he kept a strong Garrison in the City of Candahar under the Command of a loyal Person A Place of great Trade In peaceable Times the Persians Jews Armenians and Benjans drive a great Trade in this City especially with Indian Commodities Moreover there come Merchants thither from China and all Parts of India Temperature of the Air. The Province of Candahar is naturally warm and hath no hard Winters and though it Freezeth there a little in the Nights in January it Thaws again at the rising of the Sun the Inhabitants also keeping their Cattel abroad both Winter and Summer which is the reason they make no Hay But nevertheless it is so cold in Winter in the Mountains Bellor that Strangers cannot travel though them without great Fires It is a very fertile Countrey producing abundance of Barley Wheat Rice French-Beans Pease Negur and Cotton besides all sorts of Indian and Persian
the King's Grandfathers Seal The right Coronation of their Kings is perform'd at Chirer Ridder a principal Place in the Realm of Visiapour When the old King lay a dying Chan Channa was sent for to him by the Queen who being come the Queen told the King Here is Chan Channa but she receiv'd no Answer Soon after Fettechan being also call'd thither the Queen spoke to the King saying The Lord Fettechan is also here present but the King not answering lift up his Eyes and departed this life which when Fettechan perceiv'd he threw himself after many mournful Expressions on the Ground and shew'd great signs of sorrow The young King was committed to the Care and Government of Chan Channa being the second Person in the Realm whilst Fettechan sorrowfully repair'd to his House where he mourn'd eight days for the King's death no Man being able in that time to perswade him to come to Court notwithstanding the new King had several times invited him But at last Chan Channa sent him word That it was then no time to mourn the King's death any longer That there was a necessity for him to make his appearance before the new King which if he again refus'd to do he should be necessitated himself to fetch him and to bring him before his Majesty Upon which Message Fettechan made his appearance before the King and in all humility fell down at his Feet but was immediately taken up and embrac'd by the new-Crown'd Prince The Queen sitting â—ll this while silent behind a Curtain at last spoke thus to Fettechan Why would you obscure your self in this juncture of time when your Presence is so much requir'd in all Business 'T is true here wants no Counsel but we cannot in these dangerous times repose any Confidence in them Whereupon the young King added You must banish the death of his deceased Majesty out of your mind I intend to promote you higher and bestow more Honor upon you than hitherto you have enjoy'd Immediately after he gave him the Cane whereby he held his former Offices which Fettechan humbly receiving was presented by the King as a Testimony of his Favor with eight thousand Penas which he modestly refus'd saying That it was customary the Present should be made to Chan Channa Among several other Persons of Quality the Lord Abdullachan came to Complement the King with a Present of nine thousand Penas and to wish him a long and prosperous Reign But the King would not accept his Present telling him That in stead thereof he should encrease the number of his Horse The King likewise commanded all Officers that were unde his Subjection to appear at Court charging them on forfeiture of a hundred thousand Penas constantly to maintain a thousand Horse The Inhabitants were at this time in a great Consternation fearing to be surpriz'd by the Mogol Prince Oranchzef But the King causing an Edict to be publish'd commanded them to be at quiet and encourag'd them with the hopes he had to lie down in a short time with his Army before Agra The King professes the Mahumetan Religion as also the greatest part of his Subjects the rest are Pagans and Idolaters of which Opinion are the Canaryns of Goa the Naires and other Indians They observe several Fasts and other Religious Ceremonies like the Bramans Linschot mentions a sort of Religious Persons among them call'd Jogues In most Parts of the Country reside Portuguese who are permitted to Trade and enjoy all Privileges except Religion yet nevertheless they privately make many Proselites The Kings of Decan Visiapour and those of Golconda maintain the Religion establish'd by Mahomet after the same manner with the Turks and are therefore call'd Soanies yet the King of Golconda is said to encline to that of the Persians But notwithstanding they are all three Moors and have instituted the Mahometan Doctrine in their Countries yet they still retain many Idolatrous Customs of the Heathens The Netherland East-India Company have a Free Trade through the whole Kingdom of Visiapour and Store-houses in several Places the chiefest whereof is at Wingurla The Bay of Wingurla lies in 15 Degrees and 17 Minutes Northern Latitude Northward from Goa and three Leagues Southward from Ilhas Quimadas or The Burning Island It hath a pretty large River which runs some Leagues up into the Country and is Navigable by small Vessels At the entrance of this River several Streams of Fresh Water which come down from the Mountains fall into the Bay The King allows the Netherlanders great Privileges which are confirm'd to them by a Letter dated the tenth of May 1655. viz. That they may lawfully claim as their proper Goods all such Commodities or Things whatsoever as shall happen to be Stranded coming out of any of their Ships cast away upon his Coast And they are likewise freed from all manner of Taxes and Impositions as will appear more at large from the following Firman or Letter written to the Lord General John Maetzuiker GReat Firman to all Honweldares Tannadares and other Inferior Officers under the Jurisdiction of my Crown on the Request of Leonard Johnson Merchant who desires That if any Ships belonging to the Lord General John Maetzuiker which Trade along this Coast should happen by Storm Fire or other Misfortune which God forbid to be Cast away or Stranded near any of my Harbors nothing might be lost or taken away from them but all their Goods be deliver'd to them again Which Request I freely grant them Therefore I charge you by vertue of this Letter that no Honweldares or other Inferior Officers which have any Command in any of my Sea-Port Towns shall presume directly or indirectly to keep or detain any Goods or Merchandises which by the casting away of any of the Hollanders Ships shall happen to be found Stranded or floating on the Sea but on the contrary assist them in the saving of any of their Goods and Merchandize and freely without any Money restore such Goods as shall be taken up or found by any of you He that transgresseth herein shall be punish'd as an Example to all others I have also receiv'd lately several Complaints from the Hollanders concerning the paying of Customs and the detaining of their Servants of which they were formerly freed and Traded without any Molestation which is contrary to my former Edict Therefore I charge all those whom it may concern a second time not to demand any Custom or Duties of them nor trouble them in the least that I may not have any more Complaints concerning it And that they may freely Trade without any molestation through my whole Dominions let several Copies be taken of this Letter and sent to the respective Places that this Great Firman may be exactly perform'd in every particular Given at our Court at Visiapour the eighteenth day of the Month Jumandelaer in the 1055 Year after Mahomet's Death The End of the First Volume of Asia A TABLE OF THE KINGDOMS PROVINCES CITIES TOWNS
Moors The Women not permitted to go to their Temples Fol. 152 The Order of the Derwises amongst the Hassenists The Diet of the Hassenists with several of their peculiar Customs Fol. 153 The Nature and Complexion of the Hassenists Fol. 154 The Habits of the Mogollans Fol. 155 Christians dispers'd all over India ibid. The Realm of the Great Mogol otherwise Hindostan or Indostan The Bounds of the Kingdom It s Circumference Extent and Division Bengala a Fertile and Rich Kingdom Fol. 156 Indostan supply'd with Elephants and Horses from other Parts Caravanseras or Houses of Entertainment Indostan very Rich. The Indians manner of Sailing The Inhabitants of Indostan The Trade and Manufacture of the Country Fol. 157 The Omrahs Children Inherit not their Fathers Estates The Quality and Office of an Omrah The Mansebdars The Rouzindars Fol. 158 The Mogol's Infantry His whole Military Strength computed Fol. 159 The Court Splendor Magnificence and Riches of the Great Mogol The Description of the Mogol's Court at Lahor King Chorram's Cavalcade from Agra to Lahor Fol. 160 The King's Train and Splendor of his Court Fol. 161 His Entertainment of Ambassadors ibid. His Revenues Fol. 163 The Weights Measures and Coins of the Country ibid. Their manner of Travelling Fol. 164 Their Musick The Chief Officers of the Mogol's Court Fol. 165 The Execution of Criminals The King's Guard Three Orders of Chans The King sits in Person in Court Fol. 166 Variety of other Punishments for Criminals ibid. The King's Robes given to the Omrahs He is weigh'd upon his Birth-day with great Ceremony ibid. Their way of Salutation and the Reverence they shew their Prince ibid. The King 's Chief Officers in Cities and Sea-Ports Fol. 167 Of the Name and Title of Mogol The Reason of the Name Mogol and its Signification The Signification of Chan ibid. The Extract and Descent of the Mogol Kings The Great Mogol from whom descended Fol. 167 The Expedition of Tzingiz Chan. A Tartarian Prince settles in India and becomes Founder of the Royal Family there Fol. 168 Ecbar's Character and Death Scieco Gio succeeds his Father by the Name of Schach Selim Fol. 169 Several Opinions concerning Selim's Issue Fol. 170 Chosrou Rebelling against his Father is Defeated ibid. The mutual Constancy of Chosrou and his Lover ibid. Chorrom takes up Arms against his Father the Mogol with the Occasion of his Rebellion Fol. 170 171 Another Relation of Ecbar's Death and Selim's Reign Fol. 171 Chorrom succeeds Selim ibid. The Issue of Schach Jehan The Character of his Children Fol. 172 He sends his Sons to Govern several Provinces keeping onely the Eldest at home Fol. 173 Emer Jemla's Plot against the King of Golconda Fol. 174 The King of Golconda narrowly escapes from the Hand of Oranchzef The great Friendship betwixt Oranchzef and Emer Jemla ibid. Emer sent with an Army against Decan Fol. 175 Schach Jehan falls desparately sick ibid. The four Brothers take up Arms each in his own defence ibid. Oranchzef's subtile Letter to Moradbeck ibid. Emer suffers himself to be made Prisoner by Oranchzef Fol. 176 His Army appeas'd by Oranchzef ibid. Oranchzef and Moradbeck joyn their Forces together Fol. 177 The Mogol raises Forces against his Sons though unwillingly ibid. Soliman Chekouh Darasja's Son made General against Chasausa He fights Chasausa's Army and gets the Victory ibid. The Courage and Passion of Jesseingue's Wife Fol. 178 A violent Humor of Darasja ibid. The Policy of Oranchzef ibid. Darasja resolv'd to fight Oranchzef though contrary to his Fathers Will and the Advice of his Friends Fol. 179 The Ordering of the Battalia Fol. 180 Moradbeck's Valour Fol. 181 A notable piece of Treachery and the Effects thereof ibid. Oranchzef's Behavior after the Battel and Darasja's miserable Condition ibid. Oranchzef marches streight with his Army to Agra Schach Jehan circumvented in his Design Fol. 182 The Counter-Policy of Oranchzef and his Letter to his Father Fol. 183 The Advice given to Moradbeck He Sups with Oranchzef is surpriz'd and imprison'd Fol. 184 His Army goes over to Oranchzef ibid. Darasja's Management of Affairs cavill'd at by the States-men ibid. Darasja betakes himself to Amadabad and is honourably entertain'd by Schach Navazecan Fol. 185 Oranchzef engageth with Sultan Sujas ibid. Sultan Sujas guilty of the same fatal Error with Darasja Fol. 186 Oranchzef returns to Agra He grows jealous of Sultan Mahmoud his Son and Emer Jemla ibid. Chasausa put to flight by Emer Jemla Sultan Mahmoud seiz'd on and sent to Govaleor Fol. 187 Oranchzef's Policy to take Darasja The Battel between Darasja and Oranchzef Darasja's Flight and Misery Fol. 188 Darasja betray'd by the Raja Catche The Siege of Tatabacar Fol. 189 Darasja is made Prisoner by Gioncan and carried in Triumph through the City of Deli Fol. 190 A Consultation held Whether to put him to Death or send him Prisoner to Govaleor ibid. Darasja murder'd Tatabacar surrendred Fol. 191 Soliman Chekou taken and imprison'd He is brought to the Court ibid. The Poust what it is Moradbeck's Death ibid. Chasausa flies for Refuge to the King of Racan He requests a Ship to transport himself to Mecha but is deny'd His Plot against the King of Racan discover'd He is pursu'd overtaken and defeated What became of him uncertain Fol. 192 His Family ill treated but at last pardon'd yet soon after extirpated by the Conqueror Fol. 193 Emer Jemla's Death Surratte surpriz'd by a Robber The Robber taken and committed to Prison but escapes ibid. The Dea sh of Schach Jehan Begum Saheb receiv'd into Favour The Mogol's Ambassadors abus'd by the Persians The King of Persia dies Fol. 194 Paropamisa or Candahor Sablestan and Balassy The Bounds of Paropamisa and its Inhabitants ibid. The Head of the River Indus The Extent of the Country and its Chief Towns ibid. Candahor a Place of great Trade The Temperature of the Air. It often changeth its Lords When it became subject to the great Mogol and its several Vicissitudes Fol. 195 Candahor Besieg'd by the Mogol Schach Jehan Fol. 196 The Fortress Calabust taken by the Persians ibid. The Description of the City Balassan ibid. The Government of Balassan Fol. 197 The Towns and People of Sablestan ibid. The Kingdom of Cabul Its Borders and the Derivation of its Name c. ibid. The Territory of Multan Its Borders This Country Famous for excellent Bowes and Arrows ibid. The Country of the Bullochs or Bobochs or Kingdom of Ballochy otherwise Haican or Hangi-chan The Borders and the Nature of the People Fol. 197 The Province of Bucker or Buckor Its Borders and the Trade of the Chief City Suckera Fol. 198 The Kingdom of Send or Sind otherwise call'd Diu and Tatta The Etymologie of its Name Its Borders Tatta a Place of good Trade The Chief Commodities ibid. The Provinces of Sorit Jesselmeer and Attack Their Borders Limits and Boundaries ibid. The Province of Penjab or Pengab The Signification of its Name The Description of its Chief City Lahor The Nature of the