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
she clear'd from all those of whom she had any suspicion either by Marrying of them to some of the Kings Nobles or some other means At the Court she made likewise great alterations by putting all the old Officers out of their Places and new ones in their stead who were her Favorites and Relations When the King declar'd her Queen he call'd her Nurmahal that is Light of the Court She had a Brother nam'd Alaf Chan who by the King's favor was grown very powerful Sultan Chosrou Selim's Son Marry'd one of her Daughters and Sultan Scebriar another both which she had by her first Husband for she had no Children by Schach Selim. Several Opinions concerning Selim's Issue Robert Covert tells us That this Selim had five Sons the first whereof was call'd Paheschau Sehelbam which signifies The next Heir to the Crown who being blind was kept as a Prisoner the second was Sultan Naubrea appointed to succeed his Father the third Sultan Lawle the fourth Sultan Lill and the fifth and youngest Sultan Caiwone Hawkins calls these five Sons Sultan Cusseru Sultan Peruis Sultan Chorem Sultan Shairer and Sultan Bath Della Valle calls the eldest Sultan Chosrou the second Sultan Peruis the third Sultan Chorrom to whom his Father gave the Sirname of Schiah Gihon that is King of the World after his return from the War which he had succesfully maintain'd in Decan and the youngest Sultan Scheriar Chosrou rebelling against his Father is defeated Sultan Chosrou the eldest Son a very hopeful Prince and a great Friend to the Christians having been setled in a peculiar Lordship rebell'd against his Father Schiah Selim in the Year 1606. under pretence that the Kingdom belong'd justly to him because King Ecbar his Grandfather had on his Death-bed given his Realm to him as being his Grandchild who was then born and had excluded Selim his Father and onely Son to Ecbar Wherefore he took up Arms against him to obtain that from his Father which his Grandfather had in his last Will and Testament given to him But Chosrou being defeated and overcome in the Battel was forc'd to lay down his Arms and surrender himself up to his Father who with mild Words blam'd him for his rashness and ask'd him why he would take this preposterous course since the Crown on necessity would fall to him and that he was onely the Preserver of it whilst he liv'd Yet he caus'd all the Commanders which had serv'd Chosrou in this War to be put to miserable deaths and their Bodies to be laid in the way where Chosrou was to pass and trampled over them as a Victor over his Enemies Nor ended the business so for Chosrou was bereav'd of his Liberty not being permitted to converse with the People as before but was committed though after an Honorable manner to the Custody of several Noblemen his Father likewise causing his Eye-lids to be sew'd up that so he might bereave him of his Sight without putting out his Eyes and at once deprive him of the means to make any further trouble in the Kingdom But after the expiration of some days Selim causing his Eyes to be open'd again prevented Chosrou from being always blind yet though he beheld the Light of the Sun again he enjoy'd not his Liberty but was kept a close Prisoner for the space of two Years not being allow'd according to the King's Command to have above one Man to wait upon him Mean while Nurmahal the King's Consort us'd her endeavors to perswade Chosrou to marry her Daughter before she bestow'd her in Marriage to his Brother Sultan Scheriar for she certainly believ'd that Chosrou should succeed Selim after his death But Chosrou could never be brought to consent either out of love to another or because he dislik'd Nurmahal's Daughter although being a Prisoner he was upon condition to marry her promis'd his Liberty But she whom he really affected and who lov'd him no less The mutual Constancy of Chosrou and his Lover obtain'd of his Father King Selim to serve her Lover in Prison where she behav'd her self very nobly towards him always perswading him to marry Nurmahal's Daughter telling him she would be very well satisfi'd to serve him as a Slave provided she might but see him at liberty and setled in a Condition according as his Birth requir'd But he not minding her Perswasions contentedly spent his time with her in Prison two whole years after which his Fathers anger being somewhat appeas'd he was restor'd to his Liberty though under the charge of several Guards the King 's great Confidents But by his refusal to marry his Step-mothers Daughter he incurr'd her hatred and displeasure and forc'd her contrary to her first resolutions to give her in Marriage to his Brother Scheriar Of Sultan Peruis the second Son who had his Residence in the Kingdom of Bengala near the Mouth of the River Ganges and Govern'd by the Title of Vice-Roy no further mention is made At the same time the third Son Sultan Chorrom rebell'd against his Father with intention to make himself Master of the Kingdom of Surrat Wherefore Schiah Selim sent one of his Chief Chans call'd Ajat Chan to Agra to convey his Treasure from thence before Sultan Chorrom came thither This Chorrom was Governor of that part of Decan which he had conquer'd for the Mogol his Father and the occasion of this Rebellion was as followeth The occasion of Chorrom's Rebellion Chorrom by his own subtil Contrivance and Conduct and by the high esteem of his Father-in-Law Ajat Chan and his Sister Nurmahal had so wrought with the King that the Prisoner Sultan Chosrou was committed into his Custody but with Commands to use him well and take special care of him Which being effected Chorrom would neither go to his Territory nor march into the Field with an Army though his Father requested him unless he might carry Sultan Chosrou along with him under pretence that it would not be convenient for him to depart from the Court and leave Chosrou his great Enemy there No sooner was Chosrou deliver'd up to him but he immediately went from thence and kept him two Years in an honorable manner But at last Chorrom who had no other design but by his Brothers death to secure himself of the Kingdom practic'd all the time since his coming from his Father's Court as some affirm to poyson him in order to which he charg'd all those that waited upon and guarded him to force him to eat the poyson'd Meat whether he would or no or else destroy him after another manner which they accordingly attempted several times but Chosrou having notice thereof would not eat any of the Meat that was brought to him by them expresly telling them that it was poysond The Keepers seeing no way to perform their Masters Command by Poyson fell all upon him with drawn Swords and after long resistance strangled him with a Bowe-string Some affirm That Sultan Chorrom kill'd Chosrou
not knowing what to do and began to fear his own Person as if he foresaw what afterwards befell him to lock them up in Govaleor which is a Fort where Princes are generally secur'd and invincible by reason of its situation on an inaccessible Rock and the abundance of fresh Water and Provisions for the Souldiers in Garrison was no small Business they being already very powerful and liv'd in the State and Splendor of Princes Moreover he could not in honor send them away to any Place without giving them Dominions according to their Birth and therefore timorous that they might rebell and make themselves absolute Princes in their respective Jurisdictions as indeed afterwards they did yet nevertheless out of fear least they should destroy one another in his Presence which might chance to happen if he kept them at his Court he resolv'd to send them away The Sons sent to Govern several Provinces onely the eldest stays at the Court. and accordingly seat Sultan Chasousa to the Kingdom of Bengala Oranchzef to Decan Moradbeck to Zurratte and gave the Government of Cabul and Multan to Darasja The three first left the Court well satisfi'd with their new acquir'd Dominions where they made themselves supream Governors and kept the Revenues of the Countreys for the maintenance of strong Armies under pretence to keep their Subjects and Neighbors in quiet But Darasja being the eldest and Heir to the Crown dwelt not from the Court which was the Design of Schach Jehan who always fed him up with a Promise that he should succeed him and also granted him to give Commissions and had a small Throne underneath his amongst the Omrahs so that there seemingly were two Kings but as two equal Powers can scarce agree so Schach Jehan notwithstanding Darasja was very respective to him and shew'd him great Reverence was still in fear of being poyson'd by him and the more because Darasja was jealous of Oranchzef whom for his excellent Parts his Father judg'd fitter to succeed him than any of his other Sons Schach Jehan's Wife being exceeding beautiful was call'd Tage Mahalle that is The Crown of the Female Sex But for the better explanation of this Story concerning the foremention'd four Princes and the Mogol Schach Jehan we must relate what hapned a little before these Troubles between Oranchzef the King of Golconda and his Visier Emir Jemla because this will declare the Nature and Constitution of Oranchzef who afterwards came to be the Mogol and King of India Hereby also it will appear after what manner Emir Jemla was employ'd to lay the first Foundation of Oranchzef his Royalty At the time of Oranchzef's residing in Decan the King of Golconda kept the foremention'd Emir Jemla as his Vice-Roy and General of all his Forces He being a Persian born and very famous in India was of no high Extract yet a Man fit to undertake any Design being a great Captain and of a noble Spirit He had amass'd together great Riches not onely by his careful management of State Affairs but by the Trade of those Ships which he sent to divers Coasts as also by the Diamond Mines which he alone Farm'd under borrow'd Names keeping always many Men at work in them insomuch that that the whole Countrey talk'd of him and his abundance of Diamonds which were not reckon'd but by Bags full He also rendred himself very famous and powerful by keeping several Troops of very choice Men besides the King's Army at his own proper Charge and had also very good Artillery which was manag'd and look'd after by Franks or Christians In short he was rich and potent especially after he had found out a means to get into the Kingdom of Carnate and pillag'd all the Heathen Temples in that Countrey that the King of Golconda beginning to grow jealous of him resolv'd to do him a great Discourtesie and the rather because he was not able to bear what he heard of him for it was reported as if he had been too familiar with the Queen his Mother who was very beautiful Yet nevertheless he made no Person privy to his Design but waited with patience till Emir Jemla should come to the Court he being at that time with his Army in Carnate But not long after when he was told of several other Passages that had hapned between his Mother and him he was not able to contain his Passion but flew out into many threatning Invectives which quickly came to Emir's Ears he having many of his Wives Relations at the Court who inform'd him thereof and the King's Mother who no ways hated him was also inform'd thereof who oblig'd Emir with all speed to write to his Son Mahomet Emurcan he being then at the Court giving him order upon sight of his Letter under pretence of going a Hunting immediately to come away to him Emurcan neglected not to use many means but because the King commanded him to be always near him and kept a continual Eye over him he was not able to stir out of his sight which exceedingly troubling Emir made him take a strange Resolution which put the King in no small danger of losing both Life and Crown insomuch that the Proverb was here verifi'd That he which knows not how to dissemble Emir Jemla's Plot against the King of Golconda knows not how to Govern He therefore wrote to Oranchzef who then was in Daulet Abad the Metropolis of Decan and fifteen or sixteen days Journey from Golconda that the King of Golconda intended to ruine him and his Family notwithstanding the great Services which he had done him wherefore he was forc'd to flie to him and beg that he would please to receive him under his protection Moreover if he would take his advice and repose confidence in him he would so contrive the Business that he would at once deliver both the King and Kingdom into his Hands and to make the Business seem the easier he inform'd him to this effect You need not pick above four or five thousand Horse out of the Army and march speedily with them to Golconda reporting along the Way that you are an Ambassador sent from Schach Jehan about extraordinary Business to Bagneguer The Dabir who is the Person to whom all Agents that have any Business with the King make their first Addresses is my real Friend and Creature therefore think of nothing but to make speed I will so order that you shall come safe to Bagnaguer's Gates out of which when the King shall come according to the Custom to receive his Letters you may easily secure him and all his Attendants and do with him what you think fit his House where he resides having neither Walls not Moat about I will be at the charge of this Expedition my self and allow you fifty thousand Ropias a day during the time of your March The King of Golconda escapes narrowly from the hand of Oranchzef Oranchzef who always watch'd for such an opportunity would not
speak three sorts of Languages viz. the Arabian Persian and the peculiar Language of the Country which differs from that of the other Provinces The Inhabitants of Decan Cuncan and Golconda speak the Persian Tongue which at the Princes Courts is as common as their own Language They Betroth their Children at seven or eight Years of Age and Marry them at twelve They keep a continu'd Feast for fourteen days before the Wedding concluding each day with the sound of Drums and Trumpets On the Wedding-day all the Relations walk seven times about a Fire made for that purpose after which they hold the Marriage confirm'd The Bride brings nothing to her Husband save onely her Person and a few Jewels of an inconsiderable value They always burn the Bodies of the Deceased and if a Married Man dies the Widow is oblig'd either to cast her self into the Fire with the Corps of her dead Husband or to live the rest of her days in infamy and disgrace The King of Cuncan is in the Country Language entituled Adelcan that is The true Governor or Adel Scach that is Real Lord or Lord of Justice and by the Portuguese corruptly Dialcam or Hialcam by the Netherlanders Adelchia by others Cadum Schach or Schach Gean He is also call'd Sabay that is Lord. Dotexara call'd that King from whom the Portuguese took Goa Sabyb Adelcan that is Ruler and King of Justice and not Sabay dalcan as we read in History According to Della Valle the King's Title besides his own Name is Adil Sciah or Idal Sciah which as some render it signifies A Just King for Adil in the Arabian signifies Just But others maintain that Adil or Idal which is an Indian Word signifies A Key and therefore must be call'd King of Keys perhaps from the Office which formerly belong'd to this Prince viz. The keeping of the Keys which lock'd up the Books that containd the Accounts of the Treasures of the Mighty Kings of Bisnagar and Sceherbeder unto whom this King and several other petty Princes were subject as we have already related The King keeps a splendid Court and when he rides abroad is attended by all his Nobility and a great number of Horse and Foot besides many Elephants and Camels and the sound of many Instruments The Kings eldest Son always succeeds his Father in the Government and maintains his Sisters till they are Married King Adel Schiah who deceas'd Anno 2586. Great-grandfather to the King Idelxa took Goa twice from the Portuguese but seeing at last that his Forces were not any longer able to oppose them he entred into a League with them on this Condition That the Portuguese should keep in possession the City and Island of Goa and the adjacent Provinces viz. Salsette on the South-side of Goa with sixty seven Villages the Country of Bardes with twelve Villages and the bordering Country of Tisvary with thirty Villages Provided that the King of Visiapour's Subjects should peaceably and quietly Trade into all Parts of India and on condition that the Portuguese should not buy any Pepper in any other Place but in Goa upon Forfeiture of their Ships and Goods But these Articles were broke several times by the Kings of Visiapour yet the Portuguese Vice-Roy residing in Goa as often reconcil'd the Difference by sending Ambassadors with great Presents to them The Father of this present King maintain'd great Wars against the Portuguese Anno 1654. he sent a Letter to the Governor of Batavia the Lord John Maetzuiker desiring him to send a Fleet of twenty six Sail of Ships to Goa to help him drive the Portuguese from thence and afterwards surrender the same to his Army The Letter by reason of its unusual Stile will not be amiss to be inserted here The Contents thereof are as follow THE Good Firman which are sent to the Person of Honor and Strength besides Valiant Famous and sought after by the Grandees as the most Eminent Person of your Country is John Maetzuiker Chief Vice-Roy of the Hollanders in India who by Friendship and Goodness of the Kings is very much favoured Makes known to your Excellency That the Person of Honor Greatness and Happiness Moelan Abdulakiem who sits in the King's Presence hath made known to me that you are a Person of a good Nature and candid Reality and inclin'd to shew service to this House which I gladly understood Send therefore according to Abdulakiem 's Request a Fleet of twenty six Sail well Mann'd with valiant Soldiers and provided with Guns and Ammunition or at least as many Ships as you can procure to fight against the Portuguese at Goa which Place you must endeavor to clear of those People and after the Conquest thereof deliver Goa to our Army This done you shall always remain in our Favor and 't will redown to your Honor and Glory And whatever Abdulakiem shall write to you concerning it freely credit the same and do that which this Firman here requests Given in the Year after Mahomet 's Birth 1064. the second of the Month Sillekada According to our Stile On the thirteenth of August Anno 1654. The King likewise wrote another Letter to the same purpose to a Dutch Merchant call'd Leonard Johnson to whom also Abdulakiem wrote the following Letter THE Person whose Strength and Conduct is esteem'd of amongst the Great Ones is Learned Johnson a Dutch Merchant whose Prudence must continue for ever How long hath your Excellence maintain'd the War of Ceilon with the Expence of much Powder and Shot and the loss of many valiant Soldiers which yet remains still unconquer'd because the Portuguese have always fresh Aid come to them Now to take Goa and to banish the Portuguese out of his sight the King hath made me Commander of his Army with which I am already come to the Borders of Salseet And since you were formerly enclin'd when a good Firman or Letter was sent to you from the King to assist him against his Enemies your good Intentions to serve his Majesty were made known to the King who thereupon order'd two Firmans to be sent away viz. One to the Person of Honor Eminent of Great Command and Respected amongst the Nobility of your Country John Maetzuiker Vice-Roy for the Hollanders in the Indies And the other to your Excellency Wherein is mention'd That your Ships being well furnish'd with Victuals and Ammunition should come hither according to my Directions And therefore I desire you will send your Fleet with all the expedition you can well provided with all things to the Bay of Goa And when we have obtain'd the Victory and routed the Portuguese we shall consequently in few days be also Masters of Ceilon after which your Valour shall be renown'd in the King's House you ever continue in his Favor and your Trade shall flourish in these Countries If in case you cannot resolve to this Proposal then consider what Charge you may be at in this War and what Loss you think you may
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
commonly married their own Mothers Sisters or Daughters but at this day none may marry so near in Blood Moreover it is accounted a horrid Sin for any man to defile his Sister which was not customary in Persia before Cambyses time but grew very common after his marrying of his own Sister which he lov'd exceedingly Their manner of Courtship When a young man intends to marry and hath an Affection for any Maid then he informs himself by a second and third Person of her Condition and Quality for neither he nor his Parents may see her It she be to his minde he sends two of his nearest Kindred which were at his Circumcision to the Maids Father to acquaint him with his Love To which shewing some feigned unwillingness to part with his Daughter after short Enquiry if liking the Match he begins to treat about the Portion which is not to be paid by the Brides Friends but by the Bridegroom or his Friends for in Persia as in all other Eastern-Countreys they buy their Wives not making either Dowry or Joynture neither receiving Portions but purchasing them at a Price which is paid two several ways for either the Bridegroom sends it to the Brides Fathers House a little before the Wedding consisting in Pendants Jewels Armlets or the like which is a Reward to the Parents who may either keep or give it again to their Daughter for their careful breeding up of the Bride or else he makes over a certain Sum of Money or a quantity of Silk-Stuffs which she is oblig'd to return if at any time they should part to which purpose Writings are Drawn and Sign'd by a Cadi or Molla After this Conclusion the Bride and Bridegroom chuse each of them a Trustee who if in a City go to the Casi or Spiritual Judge but if in a Village to the Molla or Priest impower'd by the Casi and in the Bride and Bridegrooms Name who appear not in Person nor go to the Church to be Marry'd desire that they may be united which the Casi after being well assur'd of the Consent of the Parties performs in the Name of God Mahomet and Aaly and this is generally done by the foremention'd three Persons in a private place either in a Chamber or in the Fields Every one is free to Marry at any time in the year except in the Moneth of Ramesan or their Lent and the ten days Mourning and Abstinence call'd Ashur Their Celebrating of Matrimony When the Wedding is to be celebrated the Bridegroom sends the Bride the day before a pair of Pendants Armlets and other Ornaments according to his Capacity and some Provisions After Dinner which generally is pretty late in the Evening the Bride set on a Horse Camel or Mule with a red Silk Hood hanging down into her Lap and accompany'd with all her Friends Relations and several sorts of Musick is conducted to the Bridegrooms House where with some Women she is put into a peculiar Apartment and the Men into another and Meat set before them which when they have eaten the Bride is soon after carry'd into the Bed-Chamber and the Bridegroom being brought to her there first at once enjoys both her Sight and Company having never seen her before and if he find her to have been vitiated he may frely cut off her Nose and Ears and turn her out of his Chamber but if he find her a Virgin he signifies his Joy to her old Nurse and to his Friends Then they Feast three days one after another They also use Dancing which is in Couples but the Men by themselves in one Room and the Women in another the Musick never go into the Womens Chamber but stand and Play at their Door In the Evening the Leaves of Alcanna with which they color their Hands are laid on a Cotton Handkerchief with two Spoonfuls of Alcanna both which they take home with them After which the Guests make Presents to the new Marry'd Couple every one according to their Capacities After the Wedding is over and that the New-marry'd Couple dwell in the Brides Fathers house the new Wife may not be seen with her Face uncover'd before her Father-in-Law nor speak with him but if occasion require she is to express her mind by Signs Another way to get women Besides their Marrying they have another way to acquire a Companion to their Bed viz. To hire them with a Sum of Money for a certain time and is practised chiefly by those that travel from Place to Place and by such as are not willing to be seen in the publick Stews A third way is by buying in the Market slaves with whom they may do what they please These are commonly taken by the Tagestan Tartars from the Christians in Georgia and sold to the Persians Nor is this Priviledge all allow'd onely to Men for Women especially of Quality may as often change their Husbands as they please One relates that two Ladies meeting upon a Visit The one ask'd the other How long she had liv'd with her Husband The other replied two Moneths how two Moneths so long can any Woman content her self with one Man almost threescore nights To help a woman in Labor When the Women are in labour and cannot be suddenly deliver'd then the Relations and Neighbors run to the Schools and give the Molla money to spare and forgive all those Schollars that have offended and are condemned to be whipt which they believe to be a great means to further her speedy Delivery And for the same purpose they think it very effectual to creep three or four times under a Camels belly If at any time though without Cause a Man suspect his Wife they pass it not by but take speedy and sharp Revenge as appears by the following Relation Some years since in the Province of Lenkeran dwelt a Person nam'd Jakut Tirkenam who was the Kings Bow-bearer his Wife being reported to be of a loose behavior at last Schach Abbas himself heard thereof who order'd Notice to be given to the foremention'd Tirkenam either to reform his House or else to keep out of the King's Presence Whereupon he fearing to lose his Place being of great Profit and Honor made a real and thorow Reformation by killing not onely his Wife but four Children and all that related to hâ—r to the number of twelve Persons which though it seem barbarous to us yet it preserv'd his Reputation and Employment with the King his Master The Men likewise have the Power which they often execute that if they catch any committing Adultery with their Wives they may either immediately kill both or else bedivorc'd and this last is very common Children very obedient The Children are very obedient to their Parents when a Father of Quality gives Audience in his own House his Sons stay without to conduct those that go out or in These are not at the present brought up as in antient times viz. Lock'd up with the Women
Cashan Theheran Hamadan Meschet and Kirman pay great Tributes to the King Della Valle affirms that in Ispahan and several other eminent Cities there are no Chans because they are Royal Cities and the King many times keeps his Court there On the Feast of Neuruz all annual Officers are chosen especially the Darago's the chiefest whereof enter upon their Employments in great State with the sound of many Instruments How they reverence the Kings The King 's Vice-Roys whither Sultans or Chans of what Degree soever when coming out of any remote Province to make their appearance before the King or when they take leave or are to return to their own Countreys they kneel on both Knees before the King and kiss his Feet and in testimony of Honor squeeze the same against their Foreheads which they do three several times This Ceremony they perform divers times as they walk about the King which they commonly do three times one after another thereby to manifest that those who perform this Ceremony make themselves Sureties against all Misfortunes whatsoever that may befall the King It is also a Custom amongst them to make a Circle with their Hands about the Heads of those whom they would shew Honor to and wish that all future Misfortunes and such as have already hapned unto them may fall on themselves This Action is accounted by them a sign of a perfect and faithful Friendship Thus much of the modern State and manner of Government in Persia now it will be necessary to give you a short Account after what manner it was Govern'd in former times THe King of Persia anciently styl'd himself The Great King especially at that time when they had conquer'd the Greeks But Suidas tells us that these Monarchs were not satisfi'd with this Title but assum'd to themselves the Title of The King of Kings as appears by the Inscription on Cyrus's Tomb. Their order of Succession The Sons of these Kings succeeded them which was also observ'd amongst the Parthians when they had made themselves Masters of this Realm and when the Persians were afterwards restor'd they still maintain'd the same Custom The eldest Son according to the Laws of Nature Inherited before the younger but if he was born before his Father came to the Crown then he that was first born after his being King succeeded him in the Throne They never gave the Crown to a one-ey'd squint-ey'd or deformed Person as appears by the squinting Son of Cahade or Robad who notwithstanding he was a valiant Man yet for the Blemish in his Sight was disinherited But when the Persian Monarchy began to decay this Custom was laid aside and the Crown became elective but the Nobility who had Voices therein still reserv'd it for those who were of Royal Extract Natural Sons succeeded not their Fathers in the Throne so long as there remain'd any that were legitimate yet notwithstanding the illegitimate Darius was chosen before Isogee lawful Son to Artaxerxes When the King at any time went out of his Dominions he was oblig'd to nominate a Deputy to Govern during his absence Ceremonies at Installing the King The Kings were by the Priests of their Countrey with great Ceremony Inaugurated after this manner viz. They were led into a Temple of a warlike Goddess where they pull'd off their Clothes and put on those which Cyrus us'd to wear when he was but a private Person which done they are a few Figs chew'd a little Turpentine and drank a draught of sower Milk They incircled the Heads of these new Kings with a Crown or Mitre and a Cydaris which was made of Purple and ty'd with a blue Ribbon mix'd with white King Sapor instead of a Crown wore a Cap made like a Rams Head beset with Precious Stones They also wore a Tiara or Turbant like those which the Magistrates of the several Provinces wore but with this distinction that those of the Kings stood upright and the other bended behind The Honor of putting the Crown on the Kings Head belong'd to a peculiar Person call'd Surene who was the second Nobleman in the Kingdom The Habit or Robes of the King The Kings of Persia also wore a long Vest hanging below their Ancles which was embroider'd with several Representations of Birds Beasts and the like and beset with Gold and Precious Jems They likewise wore a Coat with Sleeves call'd Candis differing from those of the other Persians both in colour being Purple and value moreover the Subjects durst not approach any Man without hiding their Hands in their Sleeves but the Kings held them out The Kings Habit as Xenophon says was also half purple and half white which none else might wear They likewise wore long Hair Pendants a Girdle and long Stockings like the other Persians They were honor'd like Gods for those that approach'd them bow'd not onely their Heads and Bodies but fell flat on their Faces with their Hands upon their Backs in which posture they lay as long as they suppos'd him to be in sight which was also perform'd by Strangers who were not permitted to see the King unless they promis'd to worship him after the Persian manner for otherwise they were forc'd to let him know their Business by Proxy or else in Writing which when he perus'd he return'd his Answer without being seen Those that Saluted the King wish'd him Everlasting Life and perpetual Government but he seldom appear'd to his People who were not permitted to set a Foot into the Royal Palace without his Majesty's leave but his Noblemen waited without at the Door to receive his Commands His Throne was of massie Gold which none durst touch and if at any time the King went abroad they strew'd the Streets and Ways which he was to pass with Flowers and every where burnt Perfumes They likewise kept the Kings Birth-day every year with making of Offerings and other great testimonies of joy and whence dy'd the whole Kingdom Mourn'd for five days together during which time all Courts of Judicature were shut up Their Câ—urts very unâ—â—â—taiâ— but magnificent These great Princes had no setled place of Residence but spent the Winter in Babylon the Lent at Susa and the Summer at Ecbataue besides which they had several other Royal Palaces as at Pasargades and Persepolis but when the Parthians were Masters of Persia Chusistan was the chief Seat of the Realm Their Royal Palaces were very stately and magnificent having many great Officers attendant insomuch that Apuleius call'd them The Houses of Gold They would never eat of any other Bread but what was brought out of the Province of Aeolia Their Diâ—â— and of all things the Kingdom afforded the First-fruits were sent to the King also their Salt Armoniack was brought to them out of Egypt They drank of the Wine Chaliboonien brought from Assyria and no other Water but what was taken out of the Stream Choaspes which glides by Susa The Inhabitants of those Places through
the new born Reneka and that of the Braman into the Body of a new born Brahman call'd Siamdichemi who coming to age were Marry'd together This Reneka Consort to Siamdichemi had a Sister who was Marry'd to a powerful Ragia call'd Sistraersim with a thousand mighty Arms. Siamdichemi and Reneka going both to a great Wood lying near the River Ganges there built a Straw Hut where they resolv'd to lead a religious Life and feed on nothing but the Fruits of the Field and Trees thus spending their time in Praying without cessation they obtain'd from Mahadeu power to raise the Dead to life again Not long after Reneka according to Mahadeu's Promise was impregnated and bore a beautiful Son which she call'd Prasseram whom they instructed in all pious Exercises and brought him up very religiously insomuch that by the twelfth year of his age he understood the mysterious meaning of all those things which his Father read to him and could readily explain them His Mother had also by her pious Life obtain'd a Cloth which held Water which she daily fetcht in the same out of the River Ganges but on a time going thither as she was wont she espy'd the mighty Ragia Sistraersim with his Consort her Sister and the whole Court riding a Hunting Reneka stepping on one side ask'd one of the Servants who it was that Hunted with so great a Train whereupon the Servant reply'd It is the mighty Ragia Sistraersim with his Queen who not taking any notice of her caus'd her to go mournfully to the Ganges and there to pour forth these sorrowful Complaints O how happy is my Sister and to what a high pitch hath Fortune rais'd her above me she is a Queen and I disconsolate Brahman 's Wife she is stor'd with Riches and Honor I with Poverty and Sorrow O how unequal are these transitory things distributed with how much more delight doth the one spend his days beyond the other After these Complaints ended she went to take up her Cloth full of Water as she us'd to do to carry it to her Hut but it suddenly ran through and would not hold as it had done formerly which made her very sorrowful insomuch that she fear'd to go home and stay'd till almost Sun-setting When Siamdichemi who extreamly long'd for her looking out at the Door saw her stand in a mournful posture whereupon he ask'd her whether she had brought any Water she with a sorrowful Countenance said No relating what had hapned he angrily reply'd Well I am assur'd that you have spoken something in scorn and derision of my pious Life Prasserams of Paresje Rams autaer de zeste and therefore immediately commanded his Son Prasseram to cleave her Head asunder with an Ax but he being mov'd with compassion would not obey till his Father a second time more enrag'd than before commanding him he durst not disobey but cutting her between the Neck and Shoulder she dropt down dead on the Ground whil'st the Father extoll'd his Sons Obedience and his Affections grew to that heighth towards him that he said Prasseram my Son demand of me what thou thinkest fit for I have power to give it thee Prasseram replying said Sir pray do me the favor to raise my Mother from Death and that will be a sufficient Reward for me On which his Father taking up consecrated Water sprinkled the dead Body therewith and having said some Prayers Reneka began again to breathe and stir and soon after rising up said to her Husband Have I ever deserv'd so great a punishment that my Son should be forc'd to become the Murderer of her who next to God had given him Life Have not I ever been careful to do you Service to the utmost of my power Have I not night and day spent my Sighs Groans and Prayers to Mahadeu and willingly undergone all the Pennances that can extend to Piety Have I ever defil'd your Bed or committed Adultery or doth my considering with my self the difference betwixt mine and my Sisters Fortunes deserve so cruel a Death All which Questions Siamdichemi considering curs'd his so rash and sudden act commanded Anger to depart from him and go to its desolate Habitation or else he would not onely banish it out of his own but all other Mens thoughts whereupon Envy immediately forsook him and Love and Unity entring in its place he took Reneka again to be his Wife Moreover Prasseram being so far learn'd in their Religion and the Mysteries thereof though he was but twelve years old that his Father was not able to teach him any more he upon his Father's Command went to Ragia Inder King of the happy Souls in the Realm of Happiness that he might be better instructed by him No sooner was Prasseram departed from his Father but setting himself down on the Ground he laid his Legs across under him with a stedfast resolution to sit in that posture twelve years and spend all that time in Praying to Mahadeu Mean while Reneka serv'd her Husband with her utmost endeavors and the Love between them grew to that heighth that next to Mahadeu there was nothing which she affected more than Siamdichemi when at last the mighty Ragia Sistraersim going a Hunting with his whole Retinue which made a small Army and ranged through several Hills Dales Woods and Mountains came at last to the River Ganges and knowing the Wood where his Wives Sister and her Husband dwelt resolv'd to visit him with his whole Train commanding all his People to pack up their travelling Apparel and other things and Lodge with him at Siamdichemi's Habitation Immediately after all things were made ready they entred into the pious Siamdichemi's Hut and found him in a deep sleep insomuch that he wak'd not with all their noise as beating of Drums sounding of Horns and barking of Dogs but his Wife taking warm Water wash'd the Crown of his Head therewith and so wak'd him Ragia Sistraersim having saluted Siamdichemi told him that he had heard much of his religious Life which had brought him thither with intention to lie there that Night with all his Followers and to Sup with him Siamdichemi was not a little troubled hereat not knowing how to feed so many thousand People but remembring that Ragia Inder kept the white Cow Camdoga and that those which have the same in their House should want for nothing he therefore earnestly implor'd Inder to lend him the same for a small time that these People might see what it was to be pious and that the Religious never want for any thing Inder granting his Request immediately sent the white Cow with Orders to run directly through the Woods to Samdichemi's poor Hut where coming she was by him receiv'd and ty'd by a small Cord. The time to eat being come Siamdichemi desir'd Ragia Sistraersim that he would be pleas'd with his Retinue to seat himself whil'st he fetch'd them Meat asking also what they would please to have desiring each Person to
by the English and Hollanders Indostans They shave off all the Hair of their Heads but the Baldness thereof is not seen because they always keep them cover'd with Tulbants which they never take off in saluting one another as we do our Hats The Manufacture of the Countrey The Handicrafts Men of this Countrey though naturally lazy follow their Employments very close being either forc'd thereto by necessity or otherwise and make Carpets Embroideries Cloth of Gold and Silver and all manner of Silk and Cotton Stuffs and Linnen which is worn in the Countrey and transported to other Places The Great Mogol or King is necessitated by reason of his many Inland and Forreign Enemies to keep continually a mighty Army as well in time of Peace as War a considerable Body whereof are always near his Person either of Natives as are the Rajas and Patans which for several Reasons he is necessitated to keep in his Service as is before mention'd more at large or chiefly of Mogollers as he himself is or at least those which are taken for such though indeed Strangers For the King's Court is not now as formerly all of real Mogols deriv'd from Tartary neither are those which officiate in Offices and Places of Honor in the Wars all of the Tribe of the Mogols but are Strangers and People of other Nations most or them Persians some Arabians others Turks of their Children though the Children or the third and fourth Generation of the Mahumetans before-mention'd are not so much honor'd and esteem'd as the new-come Mahumetans and are but seldom preferr'd to any Degree of Honor and therefore seem very well satisfied to be ordinary Troopers or Foot-Soldiers It is sufficient in these later times for any one to be accounted a Mogollean though he be a Stranger if he haue but a white Face and be of the Mahumetan Religion to distinguish him from the Indians who are brown and Heathens as also from the Christians of Europe who are call'd Franks or Franguis The Mogol is necessitated to keep strange Soldiers that go by the name of Mogols as we said before because the chief Power of his State consists therein but it stands him in an incredible Charge The strange Soldiers as well Horse as Foot are divided into two Parties whereof one is continually near him and the other scatter'd up and down into all the Provinces In the Troops which attend the Mogol are first Omrah's which are the highest Officers in the second Place Mansehdars in the third Rouzindars The Omrahs Children inherit not their Fathers Estates The Omrahs or Lords of the Mogol's Court are not as we might suppose the Sons of Omrahs or of the House or Family of Noblemen inheriting their Fathers Estates and Honors as here and in France for since all the Lands in the Kingdom are the Kings it follows that there are neither Noblemen nor any other Families that have Estates in Lands Goods or Offices by Inheritance Insomuch that the Children or at lest the Nephews of the most powerful Omrahs are after their Fathers deaths reduc'd to great Poverty and forc'd to List themselves for Common Troopers under the Command of other Omrahs Indeed the Mogol commonly leaves a small part of the Estate to the Widows and sometimes to the Children But if their Father lives long they are oftentimes promoted by him especially if they are well-shap'd handsom-bodied have white Faces and not having gotten too much of the Indian Customs pass for real Mogols Though of late this kind of preferring their Children hath been less observ'd than formerly by reason it is become a general Custom to rise from small Offices to great ones and accordingly their Pay is more and more advanc'd Therefore these Omrahs are nought but Adventurers and Strangers of all Nations and Degrees nay sometimes Slaves who going to serve at the Court are by the Mogol for some or other piece of good Service promoted to that Degree of Honor of which they are again bereav'd at his pleasure Amongst these Omrahs are some call'd Hazary others Dou-Hazary and others Penge Hecht and Deh-Hazary The King 's Eldest Son was also a Dovazdeh Hazary that is A Lord or Commander over 10 or 12000 Horsemen The number of the Omrahs reckoning as well those which are scatter'd up and down in the several Provinces as those which attend at Court is very great and not justly to be set down At the Court are generally from 25 to 30000. The Office and State of an Omrah These Omrahs attain to the chiefest Places at the Court and Offices in the Army and are accounted the Supporters of the Realm and Splendor of the Court They never come into the Street but in very rich Apparel riding either on Elephants Horses or in a Palanquin and attended by a great number of Horsemen which keep Guard before their Houses besides several Footmen who going before and on each side of them make room and by fanning them keep off the Wasps Flies and Dust with the Wings of Peacocks All those that are at Court are bound on pain of forfeiting some of their Sallary to appear twice a day before the King when he sits on his Throne or else visit him every Morning at eleven a Clock and every Evening at six Moreover they are oblig'd to watch once a Week in the Castle by turns for the space of twenty four Hours and therefore carry their Beds Carpets and other Houshold-stuff with them the King providing nothing for them but meat which they receive with great Ceremony viz. they bow three times with their Faces towards his Chamber first holding their Hands over their Heads and next on the Ground They are also oblig'd to attend on the King to all Places when he goes abroad what Time or Weather soever it be either in Palanquins on Elephants or on Tacravans or Thrones carried each of them on eight Mens Shoulders Yet nevertheless the King favors some by reason of their peculiar Offices their Age or Indisposition or to avoid too great Attendance as he doth commonly when he goes a Hunting or to some Banquetting-house near the City or rather when he goes into his Mosque for then he takes no other with him than those that have the Guard that day The Mansebdars Mensebdars are Officers of those Troops Manseb and have a competent Salary yet not comparable to that of the Omrahs but exceeding those of inferior Degrees and therefore they are accounted little less than Omrahs being in the degree of those which are next to that Preferment and the rather because they acknowledge no Superior but the King and are in general oblig'd to do all things which the Omrahs do nay they would be perfect Omrahs had they but a considerable number of Horses under their Command but they have onely six which wear the King's Badges and their Salary also is generally no more than from five to seven hundred Ropies a Month. The number of them being
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
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
but wrote to all the Omrahs making sure every day one or other of them whilst Chah-kestcan his Uncle a great Enemy to Darasja by reason of an Affront which he had receiv'd from him did the same for him on his part setting all People and raising Parties against him In the mean time Oranchzef practis'd his subtilty for whatsoever he acted treated of and promis'd was not as he pretended professing that he design'd himself to live a Fakier upon his own account but for Moradbeck by whose Command he did all things he being the Person design'd to be King Darasja's sad Case Mean while the unfortunate Darasja went in despair to Agra where he durst not visit his Father remembring the words which he spake to him at his departure viz. That he should never think to see him if he lost the Battel Yet Schach Jehan sent secretly a trusty Eunuch to comfort him and assure him of his affections and also to declare to him his trouble for his misfortune and to demonstrate to him that the case was not yet desperate considering that there was a good Army with Soliman Chekouh his Son and that he should go to Deli where he would find a thousand Horse in the Royal Stables and that the Governor of the Fortress had order to furnish him with Money and Elephants Moreover That he should be as little absent as he could and write often to his Father And lastly That he should find out a way to chastise and punish Oranchzef It is said that when the Eunuch brought this News from his Father Darasja was in such a sollitary and despairing humor that he did not give the Eunuch one word in answer nor send any Messenger to his Father but after having sent several times to his Sister Begum Saheb he went privately at midnight with his Wife Daughter and youngest Son Sepechekouh to Deli in the company of not above two or three hundred Persons Thus leaving him a while on his Journey to Deli we will stay a little at Agra to consider the dexterity and craft wherewith Oranchzef proceeded to manage Affairs How Oranchzef manag'd his Affairs after the Battel He well knew that Darasja and those of his Party had yet some hopes in the Victorious Army of Soliman Chekouh and therefore he endeavor'd to bereave him thereof or at least to make the same useless to him To this end he wrote divers Letters to the Raja Jesseingue and to Delilcan the Prime Commanders of Soliman Chekouh's Army telling them That there was no more hopes to be built on Darasja and his Party That he had lost the Battel his whole Army having abandon'd him and submitted themselves to him and that he being fled alone to Deli could not possibly escape his Hands he having laid wait in all Places to seise on him As to what concern'd Schach Jehan he told them That he was in a desperate condition and beyond any hopes of recovery That they should take great care what they did and if they were People of understanding and desirous to share in his Fortune and to be his Friends they should seize on Soliman Chekouh and bring him to him Jesseingue found himself sufficiently perplex'd in what he had to do exceedingly fearing Schach Jehan and more to lay Hands on a Royal Person well knowing that at one time or other some mischief might befal him even from Oranchzef himself Besides he knew that Soliman Chekouh had too much Courage to suffer himself to be taken after that manner and that he would rather die in defending himself Wherefore having consulted with Delilcan his great Friend and after they had renew'd their Oaths of Mutual Fidelity he went directly to the Tent of Soliman Chekouh who with great impatience expected him he having also heard the News of his Father's being defeated and had already sent for him several times He then made the Prince a free discovery of all things shew'd him the Letter of Oranchzef told him what course was best for him to take represented to him the danger he was in adding That there was no reason he should repose any confidence in Delilcan or in Daoudcan or any of the rest of his Army but that as soon as was possible he should flie to the Mountains of Serenaguer which would be the best Expedient he could take for the Raja of that Countrey being in unaccessible Places and not knowing Oranchzef would undoubtedly receive him with much freedom and from thence he might from time to time see how things would go and always be ready to return again when he pleas'd But the young Prince immediately apprehended by this Discourse that henceforth there was no great confidence to be put in Jesseingue and that there was no safety there for his Person because he knew Delilcan to be of his Party so that he saw there was a necessity of making use of Jesseingue's Counsel Whereupon commanding his Baggage to be pack'd up he immediately march'd towards the Mountains Some of his most affectionate Friends as a good number of Mansebdars Saieds and others went along to attend him whilst the rest of the Army altogether astonish'd remain'd with Jesseingue But that which was very mean and a base and sordid act of such eminent Persons was that Jesseingue and Delilcan sent a Party after him to rob him of his Baggage and also among other things an Elephant laden with golden Ropias which caus'd great disorder amongst those small Troops that follow'd him occasioning many to desert him and return to the Army and to compleat his misfortune the Countrey People also set upon his Men pillaging and destroying several of them Yet nevertheless he got to the Mountains with his Wife and Children where the Raja of Serenaguer receiv'd him with all the Honour and Civility he could desire assuring him also that he was as much in safety as the King of that Countrey and that he would protect and assist him with all his Forces Mean while Affairs were carried after the following manner at Agra Oranchzef comes to Agra Three or four days after the Battel at Samonguer Oranchzef and Moradbeck came directly to the Gates of the City Agra into a Garden about two Miles from the Castle whither Oranchzef sent a trusty Eunuch with Salutations to his Father and a thousand Protestations of his Affection and Submission and that he was exceeding sorry for what had pass'd and for having been forc'd by reason of the Ambition and evil Designs of Darasja to proceed to all these extremities moreover that he rejoyc'd extremely to hear that he began to find himself better and that he was come thither for no other end than to receive his Commands Schach Jehan was not wanting to express much satisfaction to the Eunuch as to the Proceedings of Oranchzef and receiv'd the Submissions of his Son with all possible appearances of Joy though he very well saw that matters had been carried too far and sufficiently knew the reserv'd and
Govaleor Thus Oranchzef freeing himself from great perplexity told his second Son that the Point of Reigning was so ticklish a thing that Kings must be jealous of their own Shadow Therefore if he were not discreet and careful the same thing might happen to him as had befallen his Brother but that whilst he kept himself within the bounds of his Duty and Obedience he should find him a loving and indulgent Father Protesting likewise That he intended not to offer the least violence to the Person of Schach Jehan his Father But Oranchzef had at this time no occasion to suspect his Son Sultan Mazum or to be dissatisfied with him for never was any Slave more humble nor did ever Oranchzef himself appear more careless of Greatness nor more given to Devotion than Sultan Mazum Yet some knowing Persons believ'd that he was not so in reality but by superlative Policy and Craft like his Father of which we may have a Proof in time Whilst Matters were thus transacted in Bengala and Sultan Chasausa oppos'd Emir Jemla the best he could Emir marching first on one side of the Ganges and then on the other Oranchzef kept about Agra marching from Place to Place and having put Moradbech into Govaleor he went to Deli where he began to act the Part of an Absolute King giving Order for all Affairs of the Kingdom and especially he plotted means to take Darasja and get him out of Surat for the Reasons beforemention'd And by his great Fortune and exceeding subtilty he soon drew him thence in the following manner Oranchzef's Policy to catch Darasja Jessomseingue who was retir'd into his Countrey had with the Booty which he had gotten in the Battel of Cadjore rais'd a considerable Army and wrote to Darasja to hasten to Agra promising to joyn his Forces with him on the Way Darasja who had already gotten a great number of Men and hop'd that several of his Friends when they should see him joyn with Jessomseingue and approach Agra would undoubtedly unite their Forces with his march'd speedily to Asmeer six or seven days Journey from Agra But Jessomseingue kept not his Word with him for the Raja Jesseingue interpos'd to make his Peace with Oranchzef and fasten him to his Party or at least to retard his Design which was capable to ruine him and make all the Raja's rebell Therefore writing to him several Letters he made him sensible of the great danger he underwent to expose himself in that manner That Oranchzef would never pardon him That he was a Raja himself That he should think on sparing the Blood of the Ragipous That if he thought to draw the Raja's to his Party he would find those that would attempt to hinder his Design In a word That it was a Business which concern'd all the Gentry of Indostan and would expose them to danger if such a Fire were suffer'd to kindle which could not be extinguish'd at pleasure But if he would leave Darasja to himself Oranchzef resolv'd to forget all that was past restore again whatever he had taken from him and at the same time make him Governor of Surat which would be very advantageous to him because that Countrey lay near to his Lands and that there he might be in safety so long as he pleas'd In short this Raja prevail'd so much that he made Jessomseingue return to his own Countrey Mean while Oranchzef approach'd with his whole Army to Asmeer and incamp'd in sight of Darasja And now what could this poor Prince Darasja do He fees himself abandon'd and frustrate of all his hopes To return with his Army safe to Amadabad he saw was altogether impossible because it is above thirty five days Journey and in the midst of Summer and he wanted Water the Countreys likewise through which he was to pass belonging to the Raja's all Friends or Allies to Jesseingue or Jessomseingue and that also Oranchzef's Army would certainly pursue him Wherefore said he we must die on the Spot and therefore let us resolve though we are very unequal to them in Power to give them Battel and hazard All. But in vain does he exhort his Soldiers for he is not onely abandon'd by them but having Chah-Navazecan with him in whom he repos'd great Confidence he was by him betray'd and all his Designs made known to Oranchzef It is true that Chah Navazecan was slain in the Battel either by Darasja's own Hand as many believe or more probably by Oranchzef's Soldiers who being private Friends to Darasja found out a means to seize upon and kill him for fear he might have some knowledge of a Letter they had written to Darasja and so discover them The Battel between Darasja and Oranchzef The Battel began in the morning about nine or ten a Clock Darasja's Artillery was planted on a Hill and sufficiently heard but most believ'd they shot nothing but Powder so great was the Treachery of his Officers And indeed this was properly no Fight but a meer Plot to ruine him for the Fight was scarce begun when Jesseingue finding himself near Darasja perswaded him that unless he was resolv'd to be taken Prisoner he should fly So that Darasja exceedingly amaz'd was forc'd at the same instant to retreat in such confusion that he had not time to load away his Goods and Carriage but with great difficulty escap'd with his Wife Moreover it is certain that if the Raja Jesseingue had pleas'd Darasja could never have escap'd but he was always ways inclin'd to be favourable to the Royal Family or rather he was too subtile and politick and too sensible of future things to hazard the danger that might ensue for laying hands on a Prince of the Blood Daraja's Flight and Misery Thus this unfortunate Prince abandon'd by all except two thousand Men which accompanied him was necessitated in the midst of Summer without Tents or necessary Accommodations to travel through all the Countreys of the Raja's which lie between Asmeer and Amadabad whilst the Koullys the Rusticks of this Countrey and the greatest Villains and Robbers of all India pursuing him day and night kill'd and robb'd all those which they found straggling from the Main Body if they lagg'd never so little behind Yet notwithstanding Darasja made shift to get within a days Journey of Amadabad hoping the next morning to refresh himself in the Town and endeavor once more to raise some Forces But all things fell out contrary to the expectation of this unfortunate Man for the Governor whom he had left in the Castle of Amadabad had already receiv'd both menacing and promising Letters from Oranchzef so that his Courage failing he declar'd for his side wherefore he wrote to Darasja That he should not come any nearer for the Gates of the City were shut and every Man up in Arms against him F. Bernier Physician to this Prince and attending then on him saith When he oblig'd me to follow him having then no other Physician about him and
of Ravisaldee an eminent Raja which hapned accordingly as may appear by the following Relation There was formerly as their Histories make mention a Raja call'd Syde Ravisaldee after whose Decease his Son built a stately Tomb in a Place call'd Sythepolapore so to express to his Successors the Affection and Reverence he bore to his Father When this magnificent Structure was finish'd with great Labor and Charge he consulted with the Bramines and desir'd to know of them if the stately Tomb he had built would be of any long continuance or would be subject to decay as well as other worldly things by whom it should be ruin'd Upon which a Madewnauger experienc'd in the Bramines Art answer'd That a certain Sultan call'd Alaudin King of Dely should ruine the same and make great Conquest in Surratte Syde Ravisaldee to prevent the ruine of this Structure sent the Bramine Madewnauger with great Sums of Money to Dely to this Alaudin to obtain of him that he would let his Fathers Bones rest and not destroy the Temple he had built for him But the Bramine coming thither could not find any Person of that Name in any Government or Command but after long search he was inform'd that a certain Wood-cutter living there had a Son of that Name whereupon going to this Man who was extremely amaz'd to see him he related to him his Journey whilst the Son of Alaudin standing behind his Father was preparing a Dish of Goats-flesh The Bramine going to him told him of the good Fortune that should attend him and that on a certain Day he would come to be King of Dely and make huge Conquests in Surratte and that Syde Ravisaldee had sent to proffer him a great Sum of Money requesting that when he should be Victor he would be pleas'd to defend the Temple which he had built as a Monument over his Fathers Grave at Sythepolapore Alaudin made this Answer That it was beyond all possibility he should be so powerful and attain such great Fortunes yet nevertheless if the Heavens had ordain'd it it was not possible to prevent it and it would be impossible for him to defend that Temple He also generously refus'd the Presents and the Money which the Bramine proffer'd him but his Father and Mother whom his Necessity gave good Advice to and knew better than he what was good for them persuaded him to receive the Presents partly to relieve themselves out of the present Indigency in which they were and make use thereof as an Instrument to attain to those things which were Prophesied Alaudin hereupon liking their Advice receiv'd them and gave to the Bramine a written Paper to this effect That since the Heavens had appointed he should fetch some Stones from this Structure he would only take them from one Corner without ruining it as well to perform that which was foretold him as to answer the Requests of Syde Ravisaldee With this Money Alaudin rais'd a considerable number of Soldiers and happily succeeded in all his Enterprizes insomuch that being press'd forward by his good success and emboldned by the Prophesie that he should do such valiant Exploits he at last attain'd to be King of Dely conquer'd Surratte and perfom'd that which he had promis'd Syde Ravisaldee and also ruin'd many Rajas to the great prejudice of the State of the Benjans who then began to decline But at last being wearied with the toil and care of War which continu'd a long time and was very â—roublesom because many Rajas retreated into inaccessible Places he appointed one Futterâ—on to compleat his Victories Alaudin seeing â—hat Fortune had rais'd him from nothing to the highest Degree of Honor he resolv'd to sâ—â—re his Happiness with him who had the least thoughts thereof and seriously considering thereupon a whole Night he concluded to give the Government of all those Places which he possess'd in Surratte to the first that should come and offer him any Presents when just as if it had been appointed Futterkon came into his Chamber to proffer him a Glass of Wine which Alaudin receiv'd with great joy and immediately in the Face of his whole Army declar'd Futterkon Successor of all those Dominions which he had or should attain and commanded all his Officers to shew him the Respect due to him as his Successor and to obey and assist him in all things which were necessary for the carrying on and finishing the already begun Conquests After which Alaudin retir'd to Dely whilst Futterkon prosecuted his Conquests of Surratte which the other Mahumetans that succeeded him in the Government of his Dominions compleated to the destruction of the Realm of the Benjans As to what concerns their present Condition some Rajas that were in a good Condition and others that retir'd into the middle of the Country into Places which could not be conquer'd are yet in Being and Rob those Caravans which Travel by the Places of their Residence and often Sally out to the Gates of the most strong and populous Cities for Booty They have many brave Soldiers that accompany them in these Enterprises who are by some call'd Rasphootes or Rasboten and Rasbookes and by others Resbuten Raspouten Reisbutos and Ragipous which signifie Kings Children for being of the Tribe of the Kutteries in all probability they were deriv'd from those Noble Persons that were destroy'd in the Conquest of Surrate Among those that were not conquer'd and are at present living is one Raja Surmulgee whose Residence is at Raspeplaw another Raja Berumshaw at Molere the Raja Ramnagar Raja Burmulgee and the great Raja Rannah who have maintain'd many a Field-Battel against the Great Mogols Army There are above a hundred Rajas or Pagan Princes sprinkled up and down in this Realm that are not under Subjection to the Great Mogol nor pay any Tribute to him some of them dwell near others a good distance from Dely among them are fifteen or sixteen very rich and powerful but chiefly five or six as the Raja residing in the Country of Jesselmeer who formerly Reign'd as Emperor over the Rajas and is said to be Extracted from King Porous and likewise Jesseingue and Jessomseingue which are rais'd to that heighth that if those three would but joyn together they would keep the Mogol sufficiently employ'd each of them being able in an instant to bring twenty thousand Horse into the Field better Exercis'd and Arm'd than those of the Mogol The present Great Mogol's chiefest Soldiers are Rajas as Jesseingue Jessomseingue and others to whom he gives great Salaries to be always prepared with a certain number of Ragipouts their Subjects and maintains and keeps them as Omrahs that is to say as other strange Lords and Mahumetans sometimes among those Forces which he always has to Guard him and sometimes in the Field These Rajas are commonly oblig'd to perform the same Duties that the Omrahs do that is to be upon the Guard though with this distinction they do it not in any
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
Walls The Streets in both Towns are narrow and the Houses built of Stone or Earth are very low after the Eastern manner The Caravansera's or Royal Inns. Hard by the Market-place stand two great Caravansera's or * Built at the Kings Charge Royal Inns provided with many Galleries and large Rooms in which the Merchants of other Countreys dispose of their Commodities which they sell by whole-sale The one call'd Schach Caravansera is appointed for the Muscovites who lay up their Goods in the same The other nam'd Losgi Caravansera is built for the Circassian Tartars who also bring thither their Merchandise which for the most part consists in Horses Women young and full grown Maids and sometimes little Children which they either buy or take from the Russians on their Borders or else from one another Moreover the Jews have their Residences in the Caravansera Losgi bringing very fine Wooll thither from Tabessaran The Hamans or publick Baths There are likewise three publick Hamans or Baths in the City which are very much frequented by the Persians two of them stand open in the day-time for the Men and in the Night for the Women The third call'd Hammam Schech being onely for Men near which stand two large Trees which are held in great veneration by the Persians as having been planted there by one of their Saints call'd Schich Murith who not far from thence lies bury'd in a Metzit or Temple to which the People flock more than to any other in the City which contains in all six Metzits or Temples The Revenues which the Baths produce yearly are bestow'd on those things which go to the setting forth of their Funerals and what happens to be over and above is distributed amongst the Poor The Bazar or Market-place On the South side of the City is a Bazar or Market-place with several little Streets or rows of Shops furnish'd with all sorts of Cotton Stuffs Silk Cloth-of-Silver Bowes Arrows Simiters and other Manufactures which are all to be bought at easie Rates The Inhabitants are generally Persians Armenians and Georgians speaking each their peculiar Languages besides the vulgar Tongue of Scervan which is the Turkish There is nothing remarkable or of Antiquity in this City excepting the great Tower which Mr. Cartwright affirms to be built of Free-stone and Flint intermixt with the Sculls of their ancient Noblemen who being overcome and taken Prisoners in a War against the King of Persia were put to death and had their Heads so fixt for a signal Mark of terror to prevent future Insurrections But this Assertion is by some deny'd and judg'd to have been grounded upon the appearance onely of Heads carv'd there in Stone Half a League Northward from the City on a pretty high Hill call'd Caleculistan appear the Ruines of a decay'd Fort where there is a large Cave Vaulted with Free-stone and near it a deep Well Culistan whence denominated The Persians have a Tradition that Schirvan an ancient King of this Province caus'd this Castle to be built in memory of Culistan one of his Concubines from whom it also took Denomination They add moreover that it was taken by Alexander the Great and afterwards by him demolish'd But it is more probable that it receiv'd the Name of Culistan from an adjacent Valley made very fruitful by a Brook and exceeding pleasant in the Spring from the variety of Tulips and other diverse colour'd Flowers Culistan signifying a Valley of Roses Tulips or whatever sort of curious Flowers and Cale a Castle or Fort. Not far from Cale-Culistan towards the side of Schamachie stand two Chappels on another high Hill In the first and chiefest which is built in form of an oblong Square appears a high Sepulchre Rail'd about each Bar arm'd at the top with an Iron Spike and adorn'd with Tassels or small Pennons of divers colour'd Cloth In the other Chappel are other Tombs bedeck'd after the same manner being the Sepulchres of their Saints to whom the Persians often kneel and pay their usual Devotions This last Chappel leads to a deep Vault Amaleck Canna ' s Tomb. in which they say Amaleck Canna one of their King's Daughters lies bury'd who being forc'd by her Father contrary to her Inclination to Marry a Tartar Prince slew her self and some have reported that all Virgins thereabouts come yearly to the foremention'd Burying-place of Amaleck Canna to Mourn there over her Tomb. 'T is true indeed the Inhabitants of Schamachie and those also of the neighboring Villages in some Weeks in the Summer do repair to the foremention'd Mountain not for Amaleck Canna's sake as some imagine but rather for the coolness of the Air which at that Season they find upon the tops of those Hills when at the same time it is intolerabe hot below Some Artificers and those of the meaner sort that use Manufacture go thither in the Morning and having tarry'd there all day at their Work return to their Houses in the Evening but the Nobility commonly take up their Residences there for three Moneths together during which time the Heat continues The Cattel at that time also are driven to Mount Elburs where there is not onely a temperate Air but also good Pasturage The Elburs is part of Mount Caucasus bordering on the side of Tabesseran and Georgia and may plainly be seen from Culistan and other Mountains The Worshippers of Orimasda fled to India It is said that in ancient times the Persians preserv'd and worshipp'd their Orimasda or ever-burning Fire on this Elburs but at this day neither the Fire nor the Worshippers thereof are according to Texeira and others to be found in all Persia nor Jesche but some relate that they are fled from thence to India where they affirm is at this day a sort of Fire-Worshippers At Schamachie is yet to be seen a Cross of hard black Wood which some believe was a piece of Noah's Ark. The Village Mordow To this City belongs a Village call'd Mordow which in the Turkish Language signifies Morass because the Countrey about it is Fenny and all drown'd with abundance of Water which descending with the concourse of many Brooks and Rivulets falls with such violence that the disturbed Waters never freeze in the hardest Winter The Rusticks live here like the Tartars in Astracan in little Houses like Huts In the foremention'd Village and in others thereabouts dwell a People call'd Pedar which speak a peculiar Dialect though not much differing from the Turks and Persians and are of their Religion with some different Perswasions for they account it a great Crime to eat their Meat hot holding it as an Abomination that any should breathe upon it which if any one chance to do they will not touch it but judge the same to be defil'd by their prophane Breath Three Leagues from Mordow lies the Village Tachousie and three Leagues from Schamachie lies Pyrmaraas in which is the Tomb of an eminent Saint or Holy
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
diligent in their Employments and not be idle and others were Commanded to prevent the Soldiers or any Enemy from oppressing the Inhabitants In this place it will not be amiss to subjoin the several Dynasties of the Kings of Persia that have had the Government of this renowned Empire wherein by way of Entrance we will note That when this Countrey was first peopled the several Tribes were under the Command of their own Princes among which was Chedorlaomer who was overthrown by Abraham as holy Writ mentions By this means their Princes were scarce known till the time of Perses who wrested the same from Sardanapalus the Assyrian Monarch and first laid the Foundation of this great Empire in whose Race it continu'd six Descents in this Order The first Dynastie Anno Mundi 3590 1. PEerses the Conqueror of Sardanapalus who Reigned Anno Mundi 3059. succeeded by his Son 2. Achaemenes from whom his Successors were termed Achaemenides and his Subjects Achaemenii as Propertius witnesses where he writes Non tot Achaemeniis armantur Susa sagittis where by Achaemeniae sagittae he means Persian Arrow he left the Royal Seat to 3. Cambyses by Herodotus sometimes call'd Darius 4. Cyrus the Ancestor of Darius Histaspis as we will shew anon 5. Cambyses the Second the Son of Cyrus 6. Cyrus surnam'd the Great Son of Cambyses and Mandane the Daughter of Astyages King of Media who overthrew the Babylonian Monarchy and translated it to the Medes and Persians Of his strange preservation from his Grandfathers cruelty Education amongst Rusticks acting the King among his Playfellows with several other remarks we have at large in Herodotus and Justine His first Expedition was against his Grandfather Astyages whom having vanquish'd he march'd against rich Craesus of Lydia whom he overthrew took and made one of his Council then fell upon the Greeks of Ionia afterwards set upon Babylon as we said before and lastly going against the Sâ—ythians was by Tomyris slain as most Histories agree Institut Cyr. lib. 8. yet Xenophon gives him a peaceable departure in his Bed with an excellent Farewel to those about him His Successor was his Son 7. Cambyses the Third 3423 Herodot lib. 3. who overthrew the Egyptians with their King Psamniticus the Son of Amasis His deriding and wounding Apis their God This was he that overturned the whole Learning and Religion of the Egyptians and open'd the unviolated Conservatories of their long preserved Princes then becoming Mummies worshipp'd in the likeness of a Calf and the flaying of Sisamnis an unjust Judge and hanging his Skin over the Tribunal to be a warning to his Son Othanes whom he put in his Place to do better are Passages worth the taking notice of His Death came by a wound in the Thigh from his own Sword falling out of the Scabbard as he was taking Horse to go against the Magi who had rebell'd against him He dying without issue the seven Counsellors of State or Magi resolv'd to chuse one from amongst themselves and by that consent and the timely neighing of his Horse at Sun-rising the Scepter was obtain'd by 8. Darius Histaspis descended from Cyrus the fourth King of Persia He Marry'd Atossa Cyrus's Daughter for the strengthning of his Title recover'd Babylon by the Stratagem of Zopyrus over-ran a great part of Asia and assail'd the Greeks who by their General Miltiades totally routed him at the Battel of Marathon Herod lib. 6. Justin lib. 2. registred as Plutarch saith by almost three hundred Historians which Loss while he study'd to repair the Quarrel of his Sons about the Succession broke his Heart and the youngest Son carry'd it viz. 9. Xerxes the Grandchild of Cyrus by his Daughter Atossa This was that Emperor whose Queen was Vasthi who made that great Feast mention'd in the Book of Hester He went to revenge his Fathers Quarrel upon Greece with an Army of seventeen hundred thousand Men Sir Waâ—â—er Rawlegh but was so terrifi'd by several Defeats that he return'd towards his Countrey over Hellespont in a Cock-Boat This was he that pretended to put a Bridle upon the Sea and at last was slain in his Bed by Artabanus his Uncle leaving to succeed him the Son he had by Queen Hester nam'd 10. Artaxerxes surnam'd Longimanus His entrance was good doing Justice on his Uncle for the Death of his Father and Brother His Generosity likewise is much commended to that great Captain Themistocles who was forc'd by his ungrateful Citizens to cast himself upon such an Enemy Though he was more favorable to the Jews in regard of his Mother yet such strong opposition was made by the Faction against them that the building of the Temple was by his Decree prohibited After him follow'd 11 Darius Nothus Son-in-law to Longimanus by Marrying his Daughter Parysitades In his time Amyrteus the Egyptian rebell'd and deliver'd his Countrey-men from the Persian Servitude He is noted in Scripture for setting forward the building of the Temple Ezra 6. which by his Father had been interrupted By his Wife Parysitades he had two Sons of which the elder 12 Artaxerxes Mnemon so call'd for his great Memory succeeded He slew in Battel his Brothee Cyrus surnam'd the Younger who affecting the Empire had made War upon him and call'd in the Greeks to his aid whose memorable Retreat back to their own Countrey is describ'd by Xenophon a principal Commander in this Expedition Lib. 7. de expedit Cyr. Justin lib. 10. This Mnemon is said by Plutarch to have had a hundred and sixty Sons by Concubines onely three in Matrimony of which Darius was Executed for Rebellion with fifty more of his Brethren whom he had drawn into the Conspiracy This breaks the Father's Heart his youngest Son 13. Ochus takes Place He recover'd Egypt by his Generals Mentor and Bagoas and subdu'd Assyria Cyprus and some part of India But his Tyranny growing intolerable he was slain by Bagoas who set up in his Throne 14. Arses one of his Sons otherwise Arsames who was in a short time sent after his Father by the same Hand and was succeeded by 15. Darius the Third surnam'd Codomannus Cousin-german to Arses who being set upon by Alexander the Great and vanquish'd in three pitch'd Battels viz. at Granwick Issus and Arbela was the last of this Race of Persian Kings After this the Name of the Persians was almost forgotten how it was reviv'd you may read in Herodian in these words After Darius had lost his Kingdom to Alexander and the Victor himself was dead also the more potent Captains shared Asia amongst them till at length Arsaces of the Parthian Nobility perswaded the People of the East and amongst them the Persians to cast off the Grecian Yoke To which purpose he took upon him the Title of King and became the Head of the Arsacidan Family of Parthia who successively held the Crown in this following Order The second Dynastie Anno Mundi 3718 3741 1.
Cup to him When Dadian saw himself thus deceiv'd not regarding the Kings Presence he fell upon Artabeg and cut off his Beard which Injury Artabeg respecting the King's Presence would not at that time revenge but not long after Dadian pursuing a Stag into the Governor Artabeg's Dominions his Subjects finding him separated from his Company seiz'd on him and brought him to their Lord who put him into a Dungeon under Ground in the mean while his Followers suspected that he had broke his Neck by Riding down some steep Rock and accordingly bemoan'd his Death but at length having remain'd a considerable time in Prison Artabeg went to visit him where amongst many other Discourses Dadian declar'd his intention that he had to make himself absolute Master of his Territory shewing him also the easiness to accomplish it Whereupon Artabeg promis'd him his aid and assistance telling him that he had the same Design so they both invented ways to execute their intent and made their Subjects to acknowledge them their Kings who before had the same Power though derivative under the Title of Eristaves The King himself was forc'd not being willing to hazard the remaining parts of his Kingdom to acknowledge his Servants for his Companions insomuch that his Successors entred into a League with them yet nevertheless they went to War with him The present King of Mengrelia The Chesilpes or King which now Governs Mengrelia nam'd Levan Dadian is the fifth of that Family and Son to thc King of Munacchiar who upon a certain time going a Hunting Rode with such force unawares againft another Horseman that his Horse tumbling backwards broke his Rider's Neck whil'st Prince Dadian was yet very young so that one of his Uncles nam'd George Lipardian Govern'd the Realm during his Minority This young Prince Marry'd afterwards a Daughter of the Prince of the Abcassians of the Family of Sciarapsia which is very much affected by this Nation Lipardian though very ancient also Marry'd a young Virgin who Name was Dareggian out of the Family of Ciladze but this Lady delighted more in the company of Dadian who was equal to her in years than in her Husband Lipardians of which Dadian taking notice and resolving to slip no opportunity to satifie both his own and her desire took advantage of this occasion One of his prime Nobles call'd Paponia insinuated himself into the Queens Favor which being nois'd abroad about the Countrey was fo ill resented by the King that according to the Custom of the Greek Church he Divorc'd her cut off her Nose and sent her in the Head of an Army to her Father and committed Paponia to Prison under the custody of the Prince of Guriel his Nephew After this more publickly declaring his Amours towards his Uncle's Wife he took her out of his House and made all his Subjects acknowledge her for Dalboda or Queen In the interim whil'st Dadian kept his Nuptial Feast with all the signs and testimonies of Joy Lipardian in his House perform'd all the Funeral Ceremonies as if his Wife had been dead going with his whole Court into Mourning and crying for forty Days together according to the usual Custom each Person also sympathizing with him he was also visited daily by many of the Nobles till at last being poyson'd his Wife became absolute Queen After this the Countrey had remain'd quiet a long time had not Paponia to revenge himself of Dadian perswaded the Prince of Guriel to proclaim War against him and also contriv'd a Plot betwixt him the Abcassians and the Prince of Basciaciuk the design of which was to kill Dadian and to Crown one of his Brothers nam'd Joseph in his stead to which purpose they hir'd an Abcassian who on a set-day as Dadian was looking over a Balcony ran him through the Back with a Lance which done the Assassinate immediately fled and was never heard of after but one of the Officers that stood by when the King received the Stab which was not mortal being committed to Prison discover'd the Plot upon which Paponia was Strangled and his Body being cut into divers pieces was ramm'd into a Cannon and shot into the Air his Brother also was condemn'd to have his Eyes put out and committed to perpetual Imprisonment the Prince of Guriel was likewise taken Prisoner and his Eyes put out his Wife and Children taken from him and his Territory given to the Patriarch his Uncle call'd Malachia Moreover Dadian afterwards Warred against the Abcassians Dadian conquers the Abcassians who during these Disturbances had made Incursions into his Dominions in revenge of the Disgrace done to his first Wife their Prince's Daughter but he in a short time reduc'd them and made them pay Tribute Makes War upon Imerets Dadian having finish'd the Civil Wars bent his study how to conquer Imereti and accordingly proclaim'd War against it and though to this day he hath not made himself absolute Master thereof because the foremention'd Prince always secures himself in the Castle of Cottis which could never yet be conquer'd yet he hath miserably harras'd all his Territories Dadian an excellent Ptince This King Dadian which now Governs this Countrey is of such excellent Parts that had he been bred amongst a civiliz'd People he would undoubtedly have been one of the greatest Princes in his time for he abhors Gluttony and Drunkenness to which the Natives are much inclin'd often dispensing with his Dinner to dispatch Business he is of an undaunted Courage Prudent Generous and a great lover of his Subjects whom he supports and assists on all occasions suppressing all manner of Tyranny and Oppression And that the Turk his too near Neighbor may not have an itching desire towards his Countrey he uses this policy When he expects Agents from Constantinople he sends several of his Nobles to meet them upon his Borders and to conduct them through Mountains Woods and the worst Ways they can find and also to Lodge them in mean Huts where they have nothing but a little Straw to lie on and Cheese to eat When they are admitted to Audience he receives them sitting under a Tree on an old Carpet in mean Clothes with a great many Servants in pitiful Habits standing about him After Audience they are Lodg'd in a House which will scarce keep the Weather out where they are so ill Entertain'd that the Agents returning to Constantinople affirm this Countrey to be the meanest in the World 'T is not long since he caus'd one of his Noblemens Eyes to be put out for endeavoring to extol his Subjects He Entertains both Jews and Armenians in his Dominions and by that means gains a considerable Trade he also sends for Workmen out of all the adjacent Countreys whom he obliges to stay by giving them Wives and Lands He also makes daily great Presents to the Temple and Spiritual Persons and wants nothing but Architects to build magnificent Churches The Panishment of Malefactors Of all Punishments which
Sobai Chobartei and Abacuas Ananias places also in this Countrey the City Derbend which he takes for the ancient Alexandria but Derbend is by others justly plac'd in the Province of Schirwan Niger makes the City Scamachie which he supposes to be the Samunis of Ptolomy in Albania but Olearius and others place the same rightly also in Schirwan One of the fairest Cities of this Countrey is Zitracha which Thevet calls Zitrack at present a City of great Trade Thevet makes the Metropolis of this Countrey to be Bambanach but Boterus Stran or Stranu formerly call'd Getara or rather Gagara which Niger supposes to be the City Bachu Ananias places here the Countrey of Hanse and Paults Jovius Gorgora of which he makes the Royal City Agazapes though Davity will rather have it to be the Gagara or Gangara of Ptolemy than the Stran or Bachu of Boterus The Air of this Countrey The Air of this Countrey is very healthful and temperate notwithstanding there is a Valley near Hanse constantly cover'd with thick Mists The Countrey near Armenia is partly low and partly mountainous and exceedingly fertiliz'd by the Rivers Cur and some others producing all sorts of Fruit-trees and Plants which are always green and with small trouble yield a fifty-fold increase Vines also thrive here nor want there tame and wild Beasts Scorpions and Spiders otherwise call'd Tarantula's Paulus Jovius tells us that the Albaneses are a valiant People and exceed herein the Mengrelians but Niger on the contrary that they are for the most part Herdsmen and take no delight in Matters of War Anno 1492. Mahomet the Turkish Emperor march'd with an Army against this Countrey from whence he return'd without effecting any thing by reason of the Cliffs and high Mountains over which the Horsemen were not able to pass About the Year 1500. Agasappas Govern'd Albania or at least a part thereof Government and pay'd Tribute to the Sophy of Persia This Countrey according to Thevet is under the Jurisdiction of him who Governs the Tartars which perhaps is the Chan of Zagatey The Inhabitants are Christians who live like the Georgians after the manner of the Greek Church The Province of Curdistan CUrdistan that is The Countrey of the Curdes by Davity reckon'd to be in Great Armenia was anciently by Ptolomy nam'd Gordene by Dion Corduene and by others The Countrey of the Cordiaques or Gordians Della Valle supposes this Countrey had no peculiar Name but was divided amongst many People of several Nations and that the Carduchans deserting the Army forc'd Xenophon with his Army to return back from whence he came They possess according to Purchas the City Bitlis and some other Villages and Mountains of the Countrey of Curduene as also the City Manuscute The Bounds of Curdistan The Curdes are a People who have their Residence in the Mountains which divide Media from the Province of Susiana now call'd Suster It also divides Turky from Persia and bordering at Aderbeitzan hath from East to West not above ten or twelve days Journey in breadth but extends a vast way in length from the North to the South It begins between the Countrey of Babylon and the Province of Chusistan towards the side of the Caspian Sea and extends Northward beyond Ninive between Armenia and Media near the Black Sea It is a strong Countrey and very difficult to come into by reason of the many Mountains which inclose the same It might justly be call'd an Arm of Mount Taurus which parting from it runs through Asia in this part quite into the Caspian Sea so that Nature seems to have delighted her self in making this Countrey as a Bulwark between these two great Realms of Persia and Turky as it was anciently a Boundary between that of the Romans and Parthians Some will have these People deriv'd from the Chaldeans and Mesopotamians for we find what they alledge many Princes of the Curdes in the Countrey of Bagdad Chaldea Carahemid and Diarhekir Moreover Chaldea is by the Turks and Persians call'd Curdistan from the People Curdes who Planted it The Habit of these People agrees with that of the Turks and Persians but is very mean The Habit of the People The Women go bare-headed and are very familiar with all manner of People Their Language and Living Their Language is peculiar and different from the Turks Arabian and Persian but hath most affinity with a certain course Speech of the Persians Many of them live in Huts in the Countrey and range up and down with their Cattel like the Tartars others live in Caves but all that have any Knowledge or Breeding dwell in the Towns They have no manner of Fruits but Feed on Butter Milk and Flesh They are very quiet and free from Pride The Government thereof The Eastern part of Curdistan which separates Media from Susiana or Suster near the City Hamadan and a Boundary of Persia was Anno 1618. Govern'd by one Hilao Chan who besides the annual Tributes and Acknowledgements sent his Son Myrza Chan to the King of Persia thereby to manifest the zeal he had to his Majesty's Service but because of the nearness of the Turks on the side of Assyria and a part of Susiana gave some suspicion to the King he resolv'd to assure himself of the Sons Inclination by placing him in his Father's stead in order to which the King sent for Hilao Chan to come with speed to Casbin where he then kept his Court there being a Report at that time that the Turk intended with a strong Amy to fall into the Countrey through the Borders of Media Hilao Chan not daring to disobey the King's Order fearing to run the same fate of many other Curdistan Lords his Neighbors who unawares offended a Prince that never let any Injury pass unpunish'd went with his Wife and Children and the rest of his Family to the Court where he no sooner arriv'd but the King receiv'd him very graciously telling him that he had great need of his Counsel on all occasions and therefore sent for him to stay by him whil'st his Son should Govern in his stead When the King went from Casbin to Sultania he told him that he would not give him the trouble to follow him in his Journey in respect of his age but order'd him to repair to Ispahan where he expected to find him at his coming thither The Nobility and primest Persons are free from this kind of Servitude Some of the also exceeding the rest in Might and Power are able to bring an Army of ten or twelve thousand Horse into the Field The Powerfullest of the Nobles shew not that Obedience as the Deputies and Subjects to their supream Governors in Europe for theirs consists onely in an acknowledgment that they live under the protection of one of the two Lords for notwithstanding they acknowledge them yet they live free Out of hopes of Gain the Curdes often change their Masters and as Cezy makes mention in his
said Come swathe me up and carry me to Goggel on the opposite Shore of the Stream Siemmena into the House of the Brahman Nen whose Wife Jessouda is just deliver'd of a Daughter change me for her and leaving me there bring the other Infant hither and all things will be well But the Father replying said How is it possible for me to carry you out of this close Prison where not so much as the Wind can find any passage out or in How then shall I be able to get through these Iron Gates and great number of Centinels Trouble not your self said Kisna for that was the Name given the Infant by his Father about effecting what I have desir'd for the Doors will fly open and the Watchmen all fall asleep so that none shall discover you Which the Infant had no sooner said but the Locks and Bolts flew open and Wassendeu taking the Child in his Arms walk'd by the Watches without being seen by any of them But coming to the River Siemmena opposite to the City Goggel he was much troubled to see the Water extraordinary high and run down with great violence till Kisna commanding the River to open a way in the midst for his Father the Water immediately divided it self and stood firm on each side like Walls until they were past over Being come to the House of the holy Brahman Nen the Door whereof opened of it self Wassendeu entred boldly with his Son and found the Brahman Nen with his Wife in a sound sleep and they not hearing him he chang'd Kisna his Son for the new-born Maid with whom he return'd to the Prison the Stream Siemmena opening a Path for him as before When he was come to the Gates he found them open and the Watch still asleep but no sooner was he entred one Gate but the same shut after him and so likewise all the seven Being come into the Prison he deliver'd the Child to his Wife but the Watch awaking and quickly hearing it cry they entred the Chamber where these two unfortunate Lovers were lock'd up and taking the Child from them carried it to Ragia Cans who seeing that it was a Maid said What did this foolish Brahman Narret Prognosticate He was mad and did not know the truth of the business Cans nevertheless for fear she might hereafter bereave him of his Life resolv'd to murther her but taking the Infant by its Legs intending to strike it against the Wall it slipp'd out of his Hands and starting up said O most inhumane Blood-hound What do you seek to murder me for I am not the right Party but he that shall bereave you of Life Crown and Realm and revenge the death of his Brothers and Sister so inhumanely butcher'd by you is alive and well in the City Goggel Which said the Child flew into the Air where Mahadeu transform'd it into Lightning which was never seen before that time The Ragia Cans exceedingly amaz'd hereat and calling all his Council ask'd what this Wonder might portend They all told him that some great Event would suddenly follow yet none knew certainly what the issue thereof would be which made him sorrowful and perplex'd in mind Mean while being inform'd That in Goggel was a most beautiful Youth kept by the Pious Brahman Nen he fear'd that he might be the Revenger of the Infants death which he had murder'd as the Maid had told him therefore he seriously consider'd how this Youth might also be destroy'd which by force he durst not attempt fearing that all his Subjects would oppose him and the rather because of the Piety of the Brahman But at last he invented the following means viz. He call'd his eldest Sister Poetena saying Poetena if at once you love me your own Life and will preserve my Realm and Crown then do me this kindness viz. Take Presents with you and go to the House of the Pious Brahman Nen whose Wife hath lately been deliver'd of a Son whom I desire you by some means or other to let suck out of your Breast which you must first annoint with the most powerful Poyson that can be had that by that means when the Child comes to suck you it may be kill'd Which she promising to do was sent with many rich Presents to Goggel where so soon as she was arriv'd she went to the House of Nen whose Wife she wish'd much Joy with her young Son giving her great Presents thereby to be the less mistrusted and cover her false design and desir'd to have the Child lie in her Lap which being given her and she looking upon it said Indeed the Reports which go of this Youth in Mottera are no ways false for I never saw a more beautiful Babe in my whole life I do not repent my trouble of coming hither Thus Poetena flattering the Babe sometimes kiss'd it and danc'd it up and down the better to hide her wicked intent At last opening her poysonous Bosom she laid the Infant Kisna to the same hoping that it would there breathe its last but the Child strengthned by Mahadeu's Power against all Poysons taking the Nipple into its Mouth not onely suck'd away all her Milk but the Blood out of her Veins and also her Soul and by that means immediately growing cold and stiff she fell down dead Which when King Cans heard he grew exceeding sorrowful practising divers ways to destroy the Infant Kisna but all in vain for growing up in years he for a time became a Herdsman and under that form wrought many strange Miracles too tedious to insert And amongst others when the last Hour of his Altar was come he went out of Dowarca and taking up a handful of Dirt threw the same over the City by which means all the Golden Roofs Streets and stately Structures became nothing but Hay Clay Wood and Stones Imediately after which Kisna deserting the World ascended to Heaven so ending his Altar which had lasted only a hundred Years in the third Age call'd Duapersing containing 864000 Years Kissna of Krissna of Krexno d'achtste autaer Bhodes of Bouddhas autaer de negende Kallenkyns autaer de tiende This Kisna or Krexno is represented with four Arms whereof one of the Left is held up pointing with the Fore-finger to the Cow Camdoga one of the Right Arms holding a Periwincle in the Hand extends downwards the other two Hands seem to stop the holes of a Fife held to the Mouth of the Image The Feet also seem as if treading the Measures of a Dance The Head is cover'd with a Golden Crown with several Points rais'd and beset with Pearls and Precious Stones The Garments it has on are made after the Indian Fashion very wide and large About the Neck and Shoulders hangs a long red Scarf On each side stand two Images of Women in rich Habits each in a different posture worshipping him Bhodes or Boudhas Altar the Ninth BHodes or Boudhas hath neither Father nor Mother and is to most invisible but those few
Kings of the Countrey or famous Heroes who for their heroick Exploits were very highly reverenc'd amongst them honoring them as the Greeks and Romans did Jupiter and Mars Mahumetanism professed in some places These divine Heroes are not all one and the same but very different for those on the main Land of India which is under the Great Mogol's Jurisdiction are quite contrary to those in the Kingdom of Coutzyn and in the Countreys lying near the Sea as also others in Pegu Siam China and Japan This is to be concluded from the several Names that differ exceedingly which possibly may arise from the several Languages us'd in the various Countreys where they are worshipped yet nevertheless these Demi-gods are but the same as he who anciently by the Egyptians was worshipp'd by the Name of Osyris was by the Greeks reverenc'd under the Name of Bacchus Their high esteem of Ramna The number of these ancient Heroes amongst the Indians is almost infinite amongst others one nam'd Crusen is highly esteem'd by them but the chiefest of all is Ramo or Ram or Ramna which Name is in such veneration amongst them that they use the same in their Salutations and in stead of bidding one another Farewel at their departure they say Ramo Ramo This Idol is very eminent amongst the Japanners and known by several Names as Sotoqui Siacka Amida and Saka amongst the Chineses by that of Sekia or Saka amongst the Tungkindans by that of Tecka What this Ramo did during his stay on Earth we have already related They have Houshold Gods Besides Ram and many other Gods they make another every New-years-day of some Creature or other every one selecting that which prov'd successful to him on the first day of the new Year They also carefully preserve that thing which they have elected for their Idol in their House and worship it as the Romans their Dii Penates or domestick Gods committing all their Concerns to their discretion About the latter part of the year they repair to the River Ganges to throw their old Idols into it that they may chuse new ones as they had done the year before Idosl giving answer like Oracles In many places of India are also Idols which by the delusion and instigation of the Devil are like Oracles resolving Questions after the same manner as in the time of the Greeks and Romans They make their Demands and speak to them after this manner viz. the Implorer having said several Prayers puts a Flower or any such like thing into the Hands or Bosom of the Idol which they desire either to throw to the right Hand if their Business shall be successful but if not to the left whereupon as they say the Idol immediately casts the Flower to the one or other side according to the intended good or bad success of the Business but if the Idol chance to keep the Flower some time before he throws it away then they desire him not to delay and judge also that the longer he keeps it the more difficult it will be to accomplish their Designs They worship the Sun The Brahmans also worship the Sun when it rises and sets building Pagodes in honor of it wherein they shew Reverence to its Image Good Angels they call Dewetaes and evil Spirits Raetsjasjaes which they believe were begotten by a Man viz. the Brahman Cassiopa who was Father to both his Wives the one call'd Deti Mother of the Dewetaes and the other Aditi or Caddrowawiuneta Mother of the Raetsjasjaes Moreover the Cassiopa before mention'd some suppose to be Adam and Aditi to be Eve for they maintain that Cassiopa was the first Brahman who had a Son by Bramma And as we have already mention'd they do not make God to be the Creator of Mankind but one Bramma whom they affirm to have created nine in the beginning and out of these nine and those which he begot by his Wife Saraswati the whole Generation of Mankind proceeded Outward zeal in Religion they judge very necessary as appears by their following the Commandments written by Bramma wherein consisted according to his testimony the Service of Wistnow and Eswara who require as well the outward Worship as inward Devotion and to that purpose they have these Commandments viz. The Commandments impos'd by the Brahman I. A Man must not be proud but wholly give his Thoughts and Soul to God II. He must remain God's Servant III. He must always be a great Friend to God IV. He must think on his Might and Omnipotence Those which concern their outward Worship are these I. A Man must always be ready to hear any Discourse of God II. He must often call on his Name and speak of his Glory III. He must make use of and perform his Laws according to the Explanation of the Brahmans IV. Their Images they must adorn and beautifie with Ornaments V. Lastly they must worship their Images The Brahmans affirm that those who for a certain time faithfully perform and obey the foremention'd Commandments shall attain to great knowledge nay to that perfection that they shall never need more to observe the outward Ceremonies but do God great Service by onely thinking on him and thereby merit Heaven As to what concerns their outward Worship they first according to the Contents of these Rules build Temples in honor of Wistnow and Eswara which are not onely bigger than those erected for lesser Deities but have also indifferent high Steeples which the other have not And because the Disciples of Wistnow and Eswara are scatter'd through the whole Countrey therefore there is a Pagode in every Town dedicated to these two Deities The several Pagodes of Wistnow and Eswara in the Realm of Carnatica In the Realm of Carnatica the most noted Pagodes are these following which are all dedicated to Wistnow and Eswara In Madure the Pagode Jockenata which is very large and magnificent In Trisinapoli the Pagode Sriringam In Wistow Canje the Pagode Warderason In Trivelour the Pagode Wireragna In Seva Canje the Pagode Ecaubranata in honor of Eswara for Prettevi or the Earth In Triwanacawere the Pagode Jembounateswara consecrated to Eswara for Apou or the Water In Trinamula the Pagode Aranajaleswara in honor of Eswara for Tseejem or the Fire In Calist the Pagode Calist Eswara in honor of Eswara for Waijou or the Wind. In Settamberam the Pagode Settamberam Eswara in honor of the same for Acasjem or the Air. In Tripeti the Pagode Winket Eswara besides more in several places of India Strange things related by the Brahmans of their Pagodes To make these Pagodes esteem'd and reverenced the Brahmans relate strange things of them which make such an impression upon the Minds of the ignorant People that they are thereby mov'd to bestow rich Gifts thereon towards their Maintenance viz. either in honor and praise of the Idol which is erected in the Pagode or else some wonderful or remarkable thing which either hath or
for if a Father Commanded over a thousand Horse he will make the Son Commander over fifteen hundred and afterwards increase or decrease his number according to his Deserts The King's Treasure is not a little increas'd by the many Presents which are made to him for none whether Stranger or Subject may appear before him without a Present especially on Neuruz or New-years-day for then rich Presents are sent him from all parts of his Dominions They make their Presents with great Ceremony and Cost some giving ten nay a hundred and twenty thousand pound Sterling worth in Jewels Moreover he receives Custom from the Commodities of his Countrey and causes all Travellers to pay Toll at every Town through which they pass Weight Measure and Coin THe Weight in Zurratte being all of one sort is call'd Mao that is A Hand with which they weigh Butter Flesh Sugar Indigo Wood Salt and the like each Mao containing forty Ceer that is thirty pound and a half English and a Ceer eighteen Peyses a sort of Copper Money like our Farthings each Peyse weighing three quarters of a pound Troy weight In Measuring they use two sorts of Ells nineteen of the biggest making about seventeen Yards and a half The least differ onely an Inch from the Dutch Ell or three quarters of a Yard The Mogol Coins several sorts of Money in divers places of his Dominions viz. Mamoedys and Ropias both of Silver The Mamoedys which are Coin'd in Zurratte of course Silver are worth about an English Shilling and go currant onely in the Towns of Brochia Cambaya Brodera and Zurratte The Ropias otherwise Ruky Rupias and Copias Chagamy make each 2 s. 2 d. they are good Silver and pass through all Zuratte There are also Tols Savoys and Jagaries the Tols make each a silver Ropia and ten Tols a golden Ropia a Savoy is one Tol and a half and five Jagaries six Tols On the Coast of Cormandel is a Coin call'd Pagode from an Idol which is stamp'd on the same and goes for 7 s. 8 d. There is likewise a Coin call'd Fanos of ordinary Gold which are pieces like the Scales of Fish and go for Five-pence-halfpeny Their small Money being of Copper is call'd Peysa and resemble our Farthing but are heavier according to the common Accompt ten Peny Weights five or six and twenty of them make a Mamoedye and three or four and fifty a Ropia Moreover Almonds in the Shells pass for Money thirty six of them making a Copper Peysa as also a sort of Cockles with a black Speck in the Countrey Language call'd Cauries which are found on the Shore along the Sea-coast eight whereof make a Peysa There are also Laryns a Persian Coin of good fine Silver of an oval fashion each worth 1 s. 6 d. Moores or Xeraphins Eckbars so call'd from King Eckbar who first Coin'd them is a golden Coin worth thirteen Ropias and a half but are not very common the Nobility usually hoarding them up There is also another sort of Coin call'd Jeckas or Jeckai The Money of this Countrey doth not always bear one Price but rises and folls very often according to the Exchange in which many Benjans drive a vast Trade to their great advantage for they buy all the Gold and Silver upon the coming of the English Dutch and other European Ships and the Moors Vessels from Aden and Persia when commonly they are at the lowest and afterwards raise the Money when any quantity is to be sent up to the places lying up in the Countrey All the Gold and Silver both Coin'd and uncoin'd which is brought thither out of other Countreys is melted and Coin'd into Money stamp'd with Persian Characters expressing the Name and Dignity of the Kings But there is great deceit in this Coin wherefore in many places and corners of the Streets sit Benjan Exchangers of Money call'd Parastes who for a small Reward looking upon the Money try the same with such nimbleness and exactness that they distinguish all the good from the bad so that few receive any Money without shewing it to these Parastes who are oblig'd after it hath been shewn to them if there be any clipt or nought amongst it to make it good but this seldom happens because they are very exact in the telling and looking of it over They reckon great Sums by Crous otherwise Carroras or Caroor and by Lecks though there be no Coin of so great a value a Carrora being a hundred thousand Tun of Gold or as others affirm a hundred Lecks a Leck being a hundred thousand Ropias They reckon also with uncoin'd Gold or other precious things by a certain Weight call'd Barman or Maun which is fifty five pound English Their manner of Travelling They travel on Horseback Mules and Camels both Men and Women as also in Coaches or Chariots The Grandees use Elephants and Palakins which are carry'd on the Shoulders of several Men especially Noblemen and Persons of Quality who account it a great Disgrace to go on Foot In Zurratte and several other Places in India and most part of the Mogol's Countrey they travel in a pretty sort of Chariots with two Wheels the bottoms whereof are square and rais'd very high from the Ground above the Wheels there are no Seats in the same but they sit on the Floor after the Eastern manner with their Legs across under them both before and behind are Cushions to lean against These Chariots are very like those us'd by the ancient Indians and mention'd by Strabo they are for the most part us'd in the Plain-Countrey to travel withal from one Town to another and also to ride abroad in for Recreation they being very light and easie When they come to a bad Way or Hills they take out their Oxen and the Wheels from the Chariot which also if occasion require may be taken in two pieces and with ease carry'd by two Men on the top of a Mountain or Hill and put together again when they are past the troublesom Way After our manner of sitting two would scarce be able to sit in one of these Chariots but after the Indian manner four with ease They are drawn by Oxen in stead of Horses two to each Chariot generally fastned to the Axletree which is made like a Yoke These Oxen are of a curious shape and colour the best are generally white and some speckled black they are very slender and have on their Shoulders towards their Necks a Bunch like the Camels they trot and gallop as fast as Horses and are able to travel thirty five or thirty six Miles in a day they are guided by a Cord run through Holes made in their Noses and are as easie to be commanded therewith as Horses In like manner the Chariots are neatly adorn'd with the like crimson Cloth or else with Velvet When any Women ride in these Chariots they shut them close round about to keep them from being seen Persons of Quality who are allow'd
had trapann'd and by his subtilty deceiv'd him Oranchzef â—s policy Mean while Oranchzef and Moradbeck were exceedingly encourag'd by their first good success in the foremention'd Battel and Oranchzef to animate his Soldiers the more boasted that in Darasja's Army there were thirty thousand Mogollans who were at his command Moradbeck desir'd nothing more than to come to a second Battel and therefore hastned his March which Oranchzef delay'd perswading him that it was convenient for the Army to refresh themselves a while on the Banks of that pleasant River whilst he wrote to his Friends and receiv'd Advice concerning Affairs at the Court and a true Information of all Businesses In the interim Schach Jehan clearly perceiving the Design of Oranchzef and Moradbeck and that he had no hopes of perswading them to return he knew not in that Exigent what to do fain he would have prevented this Battel on which all depended and to which Darasja made all imaginable Preparations but what could he do to oppose it he was still very weak and in the custody of Darasja in whom as is said before he repos'd no great confidence wherefore he was forc'd to leave the management of all things to his discretion and surrendred to him the chief Forts and Castles in his Dominions and likewise commanded all his Officers to obey him Whereupon all Persons were immediately put into Arms so that an Army was form'd as it was reported of a hundred thousand Horse and twenty thousand Foot and a vast Train of Artillery Yet notwithstanding this was the most compleat and biggest Army that ever was seen in Hindostan and sufficient to defeat three or four such as that of Oranchzef who had not above thirty five or forty thousand Men in all and those tir'd and spent by their long and troublesom March by reason of the excessive Heats a thing almost incredible there was scarce one Person but ominously presag'd Darasja's ruine especially because none of the Omrahs had any respect or kindness for him and all the prime Soldiers on whom his dependance lay were in Soliman Chekou's Army To venture a Battel all his Friends as well as Schach Jehan disswaded him from His Father also proffer'd himself in the heighth of his Sickness to be carry'd into the Field before Oranchzef which undoubtedly would have been a great introducement to Peace and also very beneficial to Schach Jehan for certainly Oranchzef and Moradbeck would never have dar'd to fight against their own Father and though they had bin powerful enough to have attempted they would certainly have suffer'd for it not onely because their Forces were not equal and all the great Omrahs were so fix'd for Schach Jehan that they would not have fail'd seeing him in the Head of the Army to have fought very resolutely but also because that Oranchzef and Moradbeck's Commanders had so great an affection for this Prince whose Creatures most of them were that they would have turn'd their Swords against them their Generals and perswaded the whole Army to Declare themselves for their old Prince Then they perswaded Darasja since he would not hearken to any Advice not to march with his Army into the Field but to stay till Soliman Chekou came to joyn with him which would be very suddenly he being already on his March to Agra which also was good Counsel because he was a Person belov'd by all having return'd victoriously and the most loyal and brave Soldiers being still in his Army But Darasja would not regard any Propositions that were offer'd to him how reasonable and advantageous soever thinking on nothing but giving speedy Battel to Oranchzef whom he resolv'd to Encounter in Person and certainly he did not amiss herein in respect to his own Honor and particular Interest if Fortune had befriended him but things fell not out as he had contriv'd them and very probably for these reasons He look'd upon himself as Master of Schach Jehan whom he knew he could sway as he pleas'd He was at that time Owner of all his Treasures and strong Holds Chasausa was half defeated and his two other Brothers came with a faint and tir'd Army to throw themselves into his Hands which they could not miss if he won the Battel That then he should at once be absolute Master at the end of all his Troubles and attain to the heighth of his Wishes without any ones contradiction when as on the contrary if his Father should go into the Field all Affairs would be accommodated and his Brothers return to their Dominions Moreover that if he should stay for Soliman Chekou his Son Schach Jehan might plot some Design to his Disadvantage or contrive something with Oranchzef and that whatever he should do to gain the Victory the Reputation his Son had already gotten would give him all the Honor thereof What would not he be capable to undertake swoln with so much Glory and Success and especially being supported as he was by the Favor and Affection of Schach Jehan and the greatest part of the Omrahs What did he know whether he would keep any Respect or Duty for his Father and what his Ambition might prompt him to These Considerations made Darasja conclude to refuse all Persons Advice and act according to his own Humor and thereupon immediately commanded his whole Army to march into the Field and went himself to take his leave of his Father then in the Castle of Agra who shed a multitude of Tears embracing him and thus bespeaking him Well Darasja you are resolv'd to follow your own Will go and God bless you but remember these few words if you lose the Battel take heed of ever coming into my Presence But all this making no great impression on him he went away boldly and taking Horse rode with his Army to block up the Passage through the River Schembel about twelve Leagues from Agra where Intrenching himself he resolutely expected his Enemy But Oranchzef who being more subtil and crafty wanted not good Spyes that inform'd him of all Transactions knowing it there to be very difficult never attempted to force it but coming to Encamp himself on the other side opposite to Darasja's Army was seen by them whilst he sent to a rebellious Raja nam'd Chempet several rich Presents and made him many Promises if he would permit him to march through his Countrey that so he might find a place where the River was more fordable Chempet not onely consented but proffer'd to be his Guide to lead him cross his Countrey through the Woods and Mountains Whereupon Oranchzef raising his Camp privately in the Night left onely some Tents standing thereby to amuse Darasja and marching night and day got over the River before he had any notice thereof but as soon as ever he receiv'd the news he left his Station and hasted to Engage his Enemy who was said to march with great speed towards Agra to gain the River Gemna and there without trouble and at his pleasure
crafty humor of Oranchzef and his passion for the Crown and that he was not to be trusted for all his Words Schach Jehan circumvented yet nevertheless he suffer'd himself to be circumvented and in stead of playing the surest Card by using his utmost Power by stirring by appearing by causing himself to be carried through the Town and by assembling all his Omrahs for it was yet time to have done all this he went to out-wit Oranchzef one that was his Crafts-master and attempts to draw him into a Snare in which he will be found taken himself He then sent an Eunuch to him to let him know That he well understood the ill Conduct and incapacity of Darasja That he could not but call to mind the particular inclination he always had and express'd towards him That he could not doubt the continuance of his Affection and lastly That he should come to see him and advise with him what was best to be done in these disorders The Counter-policy of Oranchzef Oranchzef on his part also saw that he was not to trust too much in his Fathers words well knowing that Begum Saheb his Enemy as well as his Sister was night and day about him and that it was very probable he acted nothing without her advice He apprehended likewise that if he should come unto the Fortress he might be seiz'd on and ill treated it being indeed according to report so resolv'd on and that several of the Tartarian Women which serve in the Seraglio were armed to set upon him so soon as he should enter into the Castle yet however it was Oranchzef would not hazard himself though he caus'd it to be rumor'd abroad that the next day he intended to visit his Father but when the time was come he sent away the People which came to wait on him till the next day and so prolong'd the time by putting them off from one day to another insomuch that he never went Meanwhile he continu'd his secret Counsels and Cabals and sounded the minds of all the greatest Omrahs so far that at last after he had well and closely laid his Design and politickly dispos'd all things for the success thereof he sent his eldest Son Sultan Mahmoud into the Castle under a pretence of speaking with his Father who was no sooner entred but he fell boldly upon the first Sentinel and drove away all that oppos'd him whilst a great number of Men appointed for that purpose forceing their passage after him immediately made themselves Masters of the Walls which exceedingly astonish'd Schach Jehan he seeing himself taken in the same Snare which he had prepar'd for another imprison'd in his own Palace and Oranchzef Master of the Fort 'T is said that he presently sent to try the temper of Sultan Mahmoud and promis'd him by his Crown and the Alcoran That if he would be faithful to him and serve him in this Conjuncture he would make him King and that in order thereunto he should immediately come to him and not slip this opportunity Besides that it would be an action that would accumulate on him the Blessings of Heaven and an immortal Glory in regard it would be said for ever That Sultan Mahmoud had deliver'd Schach Jehan his Grandfather out of Prison And certainly if Sultan Mahmoud had been resolute enough to undertake the Work and Schach Jehan could have come abroad to shew himself to the Town and to take the Field no Man doubts but all his great Omrahs would have follow'd him nor would Oranchzef have had the boldness to fight against his own Father in Person especially since he must have apprehended that all the World would have abandon'd him and possibly Moradbech himself And thus it appears that Schach Jehan committed a great error that he did not come out of the Castle after the Battel and Darasja's Flight though as others affirm he did very prudently therein The same Reasoners maintain That the greatest fault which Sultan Mahmoud could possibly commit was that he knew not how to make use of this occasion to secure himself of the Crown by the most generous Action that ever he could be capable of to set hi Grandfather at liberty and thus to do himself Right and Justice as the Sovereign Umpire of Affairs whereas as things then stood he must one day go and die in Govaleor But Sultan Mahmoud whether he fear'd that Schach Jehan would not keep his Word or durst not displease his Father would not hearken to any Offers nor enter into the King's Appartment alledging That he had no Order from his Father to see him but that he was by him commanded not to return from thence without bringing him the Keys of all the Gates of the Fortress that so he might come with all safety and kiss his Majesties Feet Two days were past before it could be resolv'd whether the Keys should be deliver'd to him during which Sultan Mahmoud watch'd night and day with all his Troops about him till at length Schach Jehan seeing all the Guards which watch'd at the little Gate to disband one after another and perceiving no more safety on his part deliver'd the same to him with Order to tell Oranchzef that he should come and see him that day if he were wise for he had Business of grand concern to impart to him But Oranchzef being too subtile to commit so great an error instantly made his Eunuch Etharcan Governor of the Fort who presently lock'd up Schach Jehan with his Daughter Begum Saheb and all his Women causing many Gates to be stopp'd up that so he might neither speak nor write to any body nor go out of his Appartment without leave Mean while Oranchzef wrote a short Letter to Schach Jehan which before he Seal'd he shew'd publickly to all in which amongst other things he told him Oranchzef's Letter to his Father That he knew from good hands that notwithstanding those great Protestations of esteem and affection he made to him and the contempt he express'd of Darasja he had for all that sent two Elephants charg'd with Ropias of Gold to Darasja to enable him thereby to recommence the War and that therefore in truth it was not he that Imprison'd him but Darasja and that he might thank him for it as the cause of all these Misfortunes and if it had not been for him he would have come the very first day of his arrival to him and paid him all the most dutiful respects he could have look'd for from an humble Son That for the rest he begg'd his pardon and a little patience and that as soon as he should have disenabled Darasja from executing his evil designs he would come himself and open the Gates to him And indeed the same night that Darasja left Agra Schach Jehan sent him two Elephants laden with golden Ropias of which the youngest Sister Rachenara Begum gave notice to Oranchzef and also of the Plot laid against him with the foremention'd Tartarian
Succors to raise the Siege of Tatabacar for he made full account to fetch his Treasure from thence and going with it to Candahor find out a means to get into the Kingdom of Cabul And this he thought the more feasible because he repos'd great confidence in Mahobetcan who being Governor of that Place was exceedingly belov'd and obtain'd his Government by Darasja's means But his Nephew Sepe Chekouh though very young observing his Resolution threw himself down at his Feet and begg'd of him not to enter into the Countrey of that Patan His Wife and Daughter also did the same remonstrating to him That he was a Robber a Revolted Governor and that he would infallibly betray him That he ought not to stand upon raising of the Siege but rather endeavour to gain Cabul which would not be altogether so impossible because it was very improbable that Mirbaba would raise his Siege to follow him and prevent his getting into the foremention'd Countreys But Darasja being carry'd headlong by the violence of his unhappy Destiny rejected this Counsel and would hearken to nothing that was propos'd to him alledging as was true that the March would be very difficult and dangerous and being confident that Gioncan would not be so base as to betray him after all the good Service which he had done him wherefore he went thither notwithstanding all that could be said to him and went to prove at the price of his Life that no trust is to be put in a wicked Man This Traitor believing at first that he had numerous Troops following of him gave him the fairest Reception that could be and to all appearance Entertain'd him with great civility and kindness Quartering his Soldiers here and there amongst his Subjects with strict Orders to treat them well and give them what Refreshments the Countrey afforded but as soon as he found that Darasja had not above two or three hundred Men he quickly appear'd what he really was It is uncertain whether he receiv'd any Letters from Oranchzef or whether his Avarice was not tempted by some Mules which were said to be laden with Gold being all that could be sav'd hitherto as well from the hands of Robbers as from those that convey'd it But whatsoe're it was one Morning when all Persons thought themselves most secure and the wearied Soldiers took no care but how to rest and refresh themselves believing all to be safe behold this Traitor who had bestirr'd himself all Night to get Armed Men from all Parts fell upon Darasja and Sepe Chekou Darasja is made Prisoner by Gioncan kill'd some of their Men who stood up to defend themselves seiz'd on the Mules and Camels and all the Womens Jewels and caus'd Darasja to be ty'd fast upon an Elephant commanding an Executioner to go behind him and cut off his Head on the least sign given in case he should be seen to make any resistance or if any one should attempt to rescue him In this manner he was carried to the Army at Tatabacar and deliver'd to the General Mirbaba who caus'd him to be conducted in company of this vile Traitor to Lahor and from thence to Deli. When Darasja was come to the Gates of Deli Oranchzef consulted whether he should be brought through the midst of the City or sent directly to Govaleor Many were of opinion that he ought to travel guarded to prevent any Disorder that might happen to arise or lest some Attempt should be made to rescue him which would be a great dishonor to the Royal Family Others maintain'd the contrary viz. That it was absolutely necessary he should pass through the Town to astonish the World and manifest the absolute Power of Oranchzef and to free the common People from their doubtings who else might more firmly be perswaded in their Minds that it was not he as indeed many Omrahs were and also take away all hopes from those that entertain'd any affection for him Is carried in teiumph through Deli. which Arguments prevailing he was set upon an Elephant with his two Nephews on each side and behind him Badurcan in stead of the Executioner This was none of those stately Elephants from Geylon or Pegu richly caparison'd on which he us'd to Ride but an old poor dirty Beast with a ragged Cover and a pitiful Seat all open He had then no more the Necklace of Pearls which those Princes use to wear nor those rich Turbants and embroider'd Vestures his Garments being a Vest of dirty course Linnen and a Turbant of the same with a tatter'd Scarf of Cackmire over his Head like a Varlet his Son Sepe Chekouh was in the same Equipage In this miserable posture he was made to enter into the Town and to pass through the high Streets to the end he might be seen by all People and by that means fully satisfie all those who till then very much doubted that it was not he Most People were exceedingly amaz'd at the boldness of making him pass through the Town and the more because he was but ill guarded and exceedingly belov'd by the Vulgar who at that time exclaim'd highly against the cruelty and tyranny of Oranchzef as one that kept his Father in Prison and also his own Son Sultan Mahmoud and his Brother Moradbeck but not one Man had the boldness to draw his Sword onely there were some of the Fakiers and some poor People who seeing that infamous Gioncan ride by his side began to rail and throw stones at him and to call him Traitor and indeed all the tops of the Houses and Shops being throng'd with Spectators there was nothing heard but loud Outcries and Lamentations with Invectives and Curses heap'd upon Gioncan in a word both Men and Women great and small so compassionate are the Indians were ready to melt into Tears yet none durst attempt to rescue him Being thus conducted through the City he was put into a Garden call'd Heider Abad A Consultation held whether to put him to death or send him to Govaleor Several Persons of Quality that were there present were not wanting to tell Oranchzef that most of the People seeing Darasja pass by lamented for him very much and cursing the Patan that had deliver'd him were ready to stone him to death and consequently there was great fear of an Insurrection or Disturbance Whereupon the Council being call'd they again consulted what was best to be done viz. Whether they should send Darasja away to to Govaleor as they had before concluded or whether they should put him to death without any farther delay Some were of opinion that he ought to be carry'd to Govaleor with a strong Party of Horse upon which Daneck Mendcan though an old Enemy of Darasja's insisted very much But Raichenara Begum in prosecution of her hatred against this Brother of hers perswaded Oranchzef immediately to destroy him and not run the hazard of sending him to Govaleor In like manner all his old Enemies as Calullacan Chahestcan and especially
cruel manner for Oranchzef observing that so long as he was in Prison the Affections of the generality of the People were towards him he thought it would not be safe for himself to put him to death in private with Poust as he had done the rest for fear the Vulgar should always be doubtful of his Death and still believe him to be in Prison and therefore devis'd the following Crime to accuse him withal The Children of a very rich Sahed Moradbeck's Death whom Moradbeck had put to death in Amadabad onely to get his Goods when he rais'd his Army and forcibly took or borrow'd all the Money from the Merchants made complaint thereof in the publick Assembly and demanded his Head for the Blood of their Father which not one of the Omrahs durst contradict first because he was a Sahed that is one of Mahomet's Relations to whom for that reason they shew'd great respect and secondly because they all observ'd Oranchzef's Design herein and that it was onely a meer pretence to put him to death publickly so that the Head of him who had kill'd their Father was given them without any farther Examination And thereupon an express Order was immediately sent to Govaleor to Behead him And now there remain'd no other Thorn in Oranchzef's Foot but Sultan Chasausa who still defended himself in Bengala yet he was at last forc'd to submit to the Power and Good Fortune of Oranchzef who sent so many Forces to Emir Jemla that he at last encompass'd him on both sides of the Ganges and all the Isles which lye in the Mouth thereof which forc'd Sultan Chasausa to flie to Dake the last City of Bengala lying on the Sea-shore And here comes the Conclusion of this whole Tragedy Chasausa flies for refuge to the King of Racan For this Prince being destitute of Ships to put to Sea and not knowing whether to betake himself sent his eldest Son Sultan Banque to the King of Racan or Moy a Heathen to know whether he would permit him to make his Court his Place of Refuge for some time and do him the favor when the Mousons or Trade-Winds should come to furnish him with a Vessel to Mecha that from thence he might pass into some Parts of Turkey or Persia The King return'd Sultan Chasausa word That he should be very welcom to him and have all possible Assistance With which Answer Sultan Banque return'd to Dake the King having also supply'd with several Galleys Mann'd with Franks viz. Renegade Portuguese and other Christians who had enter'd into the foremention'd King's Service and maintain'd themselves by Plundering of the Lower Bengale In these Gallies Sultan Chasausa Embarquing with his whole Family viz. his Wife his three Sons and Daughters set Sail and arriving at their desir'd Port they were courteously receiv'd and supplied with all things which the Countrey afforded at the King's Charge Some Months being past He requests a Ship to transport him to Mâ—cha but is deny'd the Season for the Trade-Winds came but he could not obtain the Ship that was promis'd him though he desir'd it upon no other account but for his Money for he wanted not as yet either Gold Silver or Precious Stones but had rather too much of them his Riches being the occasion of his Destruction or at least a great Inducement thereunto For these Barbarian Kings are destitute of all true Nobleness neither do they regard Fidelity or Promises minding nothing but their present Interest and never considering the Inconveniences and Mischiefs that may befal them for their Perfidiousnes To get out of their Hands one must either be very Powerful or at least have nothing that may tempt their Avarice And the more Sultan Chasausa implor'd for a Ship the further he was from having it the King on the contrary beginning to grow very cool and complaining that he did not come to see him It is not known whether Sultan Chasausa look'd upon it as a dishonor to himself and a thing below him to go and visit a King or whether he fear'd that he might secure his Person when he should come into his Palace and so make himself Master of all his Treasure and deliver him to Emir Jemla who promis'd him great Sums of Money and many other considerable Advantages to do the same However it was he would not go thither but sent his Son Sultan Banque who being come near the King's House shew'd his Liberality to the People throwing handfuls of Ropias of Gold and Silver amongst them and coming before the King he presented him with several Embroider'd Coats and wrought Pieces of Gold beset with Precious Stones and excus'd his Father Chasausa's not coming by alledging he was indispos'd desiring him also to furnish him with a Ship and perform the Promises which he had made to him But all this avail'd not for five or six days after the King sent to Sultan Chausasa to request one of his Daughters in Marriage which he not granting so highly incens'd this Barbarous Prince that he suffer'd Chasausa to be driven to great Extremities the Season for putting to Sea being now past When behold he took a strange Resolution which may give a great Example of what Despair can do His Plot against the King of Racan discover'd Though this King of Racan was a Heathen yet he had abundance of Mahumetans in his Dominions which either retir'd thither voluntarily or have been brought thither as Slaves by the Franks These Chasausa privately gain'd to be of his Party and with two or three hundred Men which he had yet remaining he resolv'd one day to fall unexpectedly upon the Barbarian's House and putting all to the Sword make himself Master of Racan Which indeed was a very bold Enterprise and had more of the Desperado in it than of a Prudent Man yet the thing was not impossible to be done But the day before the Stroke was to be given the Plot being discover'd quite overthrew Chasausa's Design and in a short time prov'd the occasion of his Ruine For seeing there was no way to recover himself he attempted to flie to Pegu a thing in a manner impossible by reason of the vast Mountains and Forests which he was to pass Besides He is pursu'd and defeated he was immediately pursu'd so close that he was overtaken the same day he fled when defending himself very valiantly he kill'd a great number of Indians but they at last press'd upon him in such Multitudes that he was forc'd to quit the Battel Sultan Banque being not so far advanc'd as his Fathers defended himself also like a Lion but after having receiv'd divers Wounds with Stones which the Indians threw at him he was taken Prisoner and carried away with his two younger Brothers Sisters and Mother Uncertain what became of him Some say That Sultan Chasausa himself fled with his Wife one Eunuch and two other Persons to the top of a Mountain where he receiv'd a
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
by means of Oranchzef who would not Storm that part of the Wall where the English French Portuguese and Dutch had planted great Guns for which this was his reason viz. because he would not have it to be said that the Fortress of Candahar should be conquer'd in Darasja's time who was the first Agitator of this Design and at that time resident with his Father in the City of Cabul Schach Jehan some years before these last Troubles was also resolv'd to Besiege Candahar a third time had not Emir Jemla and Aly Merdaman disswaded him from it and advis'd him to send his Forces towards Decan Lastly King Oranchzef like his Predecessors in these later years made Preparations to Besiege Candahar whether because he was provok'd thereto by Letters which the King of Persia had sent to him or for the bad Entertainment and Disgrace which his Ambassador Tarbietcan receiv'd from him is uncertain but being inform'd of the King of Persia's Death he retreated alledging as some say that he would not War against a Child but this seems not very probable for Schach Soliman who succeeded his Father was then twenty five years old Calabust taken by the Persian An. 1649. the Persians took the Fortress Calabust from the Mogol which hapned after the following manner viz. On the fourth of January in the Afternoon the Persian Army came before the Fortress which was Garrison'd with seventeen hundred Indostans under the Command of an Indian Prince call'd Bourdelchan the principal Officers were Alichan of Meschet and Asolachan from Kilan with twenty thousand Men but the chief Command was given to Myrub Chan because he had formerly surrendred the said Place to the Mogols upon Articles of Agreement Mean while Schach Abbas King of Persia went from thence to his grand Army at Candahar ten days Journey with the Cafili or Caravan from Calabust Moreover they cast up onely one Battery having no convenient place to raise any more from whence they daily play'd their great Guns at the Walls being continually answer'd not onely with great but small Shot This continu'd one and twenty days when having made a Breach in the Wall they Storm'd three several times yet were beaten off with the loss of three hundred Men. On the same day a Tzapor or Royal Messenger came with a Letter to the General who in the presence of two other Chans opening the same with great Reverence they read it one after another Whereupon all the prime Commanders as also some of the chief Quizilbascies being sent for the Letter was publickly read before them all the Contents whereof was to this effect Myrub do you eat the King's Bread and Salt and not press on with the Souldiers under your Command Remember that you formerly surrendred Calabust to the Mogol Cleanse your self from your Crime and look you gain me the Fortress in a few days which if you do not expect to receive a Sword from me The next night they Storm'd more fiercely than before and Myrub Chan whether out of fear of the threatned Punishment or out of Despair press'd on daily more and more nay resolv'd to lose all his Men rather than break up the Siege but after a sharp Encounter the Persians forc'd their way into the City and slew above ten thousand Men the rest flying into the upper Castle the Governor of which nam'd Bourdel Chan coming down alone with his Sword drawn was espy'd by Myrub Chan who saluted him with the word Hoschammedi but Bourdel Chan making no answer still advanc'd towards him and laying down his Sword fell at Myrub Chan's Feet who bid him rise up then Boardel standing up said There lies my Sword at your Feet I am conquer'd I am your Slave do with me what you please onely spare my Wife and Children Myrub Chan hereupon commanded his Men not to hurt him nor any that belong'd to him and stretching out his Hands laid them under Bourdel Chan's and withal kissed him Then causing the Trumpets to be sounded he commanded all the Indostan Soldiers that were remaining to lay down their Arms and acknowledge themselves the King's Slaves which if they refus'd to do they must expect no Quarter But the Indostans not regarding this Threatning would not lay down their Arms and so were every Man kill'd Many of the Quizilbascies deoculated the slain Indostans cut off their Hands and then flead and stuft up the Skins The Heads they carry'd on their Launces as Trophies of their Victory some carried four or five stuck one above another on long Pikes to Candahar for amongst the Persians he who brings home most of his Enemies Heads is not onely accounted a brave Soldier but also advanc'd to the highest Offices As to what concerns the Countrey of Balassy it is also as Ananias affirms a part of the ancient Paropamisa The City of Balassan The Metropolis of Balassy is Balassan a great City lying on the River Gehun or Gelcon An Arabian Writer nam'd Abulfeda Ismael Prince of Hamah seems to call this City Balassagun and places it over the River Sihun near Cashgar It lay formerly on the Turks Confines but was afterwards reduc'd to the Tartars Jurisdiction On the Banks of the foremention'd River stand also Semergian and Bocan the Residence of the Kings of Balassy wherefore he is call'd The King of Bacan Eastward from these Places is the Indus near which lies the great Mountain Bellor and the far spreading Countreys of the Mountain Pamer The Goverrment of Balassan Balassan is a Place of great Trade many Merchants resorting thither from China and all parts of India and a very strong Town fearing neither Persian nor Tartar It is Govern'd by peculiar Kings who call themselves Dulcarneim or according to our pronunciation Zulcarneim which Name the Eastern People gave to Alexander the Great from whence these Kings perhaps boast their Extract The Towns and People of Sablestan Sablestan lies Eastward bewond Chorazan The Towns which it comprehends are Becksabath Meimine Asbe Bust and Sarevitz The Inhabitants thereof are a rude ill natur'd and ignorant People destitute of all kind of Civility The Kingdom of Cabul THe Kingdom of Cabul The Borders otherwise Caboul is the utmost Northern part of the great Mogol's Dominions It borders Eastward at Caximir being separated from it onely by the River Bhat Southward it faces Penjab Westward Candahar and Northward verges upon the Usbeck Tartars The Derivation of the Name Cabul is deriv'd from a Syriack word which signifies Unfruitful as indeed the Countrey is very barren cold and subject to great Winds except along the Banks of the River Nilab which rising in this Countrey glides Southward and falls near Lahor into the Indus The City Cabul very large The chief City is Cabul of the same Denomination with the Territory which some as Ananias take to be the ancient City Arachosia or Cosen and is as big according to the relation of a Persian nam'd Aviadat as Cairo the other
They make them of two several sorts of Stuffs namely Inland Wooll which is much softer than the Spanish and another sort of Wooll or rather Hair call'd Touz which grows on the Breasts of wild Goats which breed in Tibet These last are much dearer than the first the Hair of Beaver not exceeding it in softness but it is very subject to Moths and Worms if not beaten and air'd They are much worn by the great Omrahs who give for some of them a hundred nay a hundred and fifty Ropias each Ropia being 2 s. 2 d. whenas those made of Inland Wooll cost not above fifty It is said that the King of Caximir Govern'd formerly over all the Mountains which extend to Tartary and over all Indostan quite to the Island of Ceilon The Histories of this Countrey make mention that the Dominions of the Raja of Gamon Cachguer and Serenaguer were anciently under the Jurisdiction of this Kingdom the Inhabitants whereof were all Heathens till about three hundred years ago that the Mahumetan Religion was instituted so that the greatest part are now Saracens Caximir conquer'd by the Mogol To prevent all Invasions the Great Mogol keeps four thousand Soldiers in Caximir which was formerly a Kingdom by it self and was Govern'd by an absolute King who pay'd Tribute to none till Anno 1665. that Ecbar conquer'd the Countrey at a time when the Inhabitants were at Difference and maintain'd War one against another for otherwise he could never have master'd it because Caximir is the most powerful of all the neighboring Kingdoms At present Caximir is Govern'd by a Vice-Roy of the Great Mogol's The present Governor is call'd Diaretcan sent thither by Oranchzef Moreover the Great Mogol Ecbar took this Countrey by force from the last King Justef Chan after the following manner viz. When Ecbar was about to conquer the Kingdom of Maurenahar and the King of Caximir lying between was preparing to prevent him he sent Alli Myrza to tell him that he should immediately come to Lahor and bring his Son with him where he should be well Entertain'd and receiv'd with as much kindness as could be expected from a neighboring Prince and Friend who would leave him in quiet possession of his Countrey and assure him of his Fidelity but if he resolv'd to hazard his Fortunes on an uncertain War he would not onely drive him out of his Realm but also make him his Slave and banish his Son The King of Caximir affrighted with these Threatnings surrendred himself immediately to Ecbar But Jacob Chan his Son who was not able to brook this Oppression fled and was immediately followed by so many Friends that he had Strength sufficient to drive the Indians out of his Fathers Kingdom and caus'd himself to be proclaim'd King yet he enjoy'd the benefit belonging to that Title not long for Ecbar being exceedingly enrag'd at his rebelling sent Ally Myrza and Cassem Chan with thirty thousand Men against him with Command to give him Battel But the young Prince not daring to Engage with such unequal Forces fled into the high Mountains of Bunkery whither Cassem Chan pursuing him by the guidance of some of the Natives made himself Master of all the Mountains and forc'd Jacob Chan to flie to Serenaguer where in a short time after he was Besieged and though the Place was very strong and he had Men enough he was forc'd to surrender himself and being bound Hand and Foot was carry'd to Indostan The Territories of Banchish Jangapore and Jenba Their Situation and Bounds THe Territory of Banchish lies Eastward a little Southerly from Chismeer from whence it is separated by the River Indus it borders Northward upon the People Cackares and Southerly at Jangapore The chief City thereof is call'd Bishur The Province of Jangapore lies on the Stream Caul one of the five Rivers which water Penjab It hath Siba on the East Banchish on the North Jenba on the South and Penjab on the West The Territory of Jenba Eastward from Penjab hath Jangapore on the North Nagracat on the East and Dely on the South The Metropolis thereof is Jenba The Countrey is very mountainous The Kingdom of Dely. Situation and Limits THe Kingdom or Province of Dely or Delly is by Terry call'd Dellee and by others Dely which signifies A Heart because it lies in the heart of the Mogol's Dominions and as Terry saith between Jenba and Agra Maginus places this Kingdom between those of Decan Narsinga Orixa and Cambaya and extending about the Province of Narsinga is separated from the Kingdom of Cambaya by great Mountains The River Jeming running along one side thereof serves for a Moat over which a Bridge with ten Arches leads into the City The ancient Metropolis being also call'd Dely was once a fair and large City and the Seat and Burying-place of the Mogol Emperors who afterwards remov'd from thence to the new-built Dely. Its Glory consisted in many Tombs in which above twenty great Kings and Lords lie buried The superstitious Indians flock thither in Pilgrimage It hath plenty of all things and was anciently the Seat of King Porus who near this Place was conquer'd by Alexander the Great when he came to Invade him with Elephants and abundance of Horses Three Leagues from the City on a place call'd Old Dely where King Homayon Father to Ecbar lies buried stands a great Marble Pillar or Pyramid which having a Greek Inscription is the greatest Remark in all the Province notwithstanding the Letters are almost worn out with age About fifty years ago Schach Jehan Father to the present Great Mogol Oranchzef causing a City to be built not far from Old Dely call'd it Schach Jehan Abad that is The Peopling of Schach Jeham and made the same the Metropolis of the Realm in stead of Agra where he said the Heat was too great in Summer Jehan Abad 2 new City how seated By reason of the nearness of the two foremention'd Places the Ruins of the old City hath serv'd for the new one and there is at present scarce any mention made of Dely but altogether of Jehan Abad which is a new City lying in a barren Field on the Banks of the River Jemna and built onely along one side of the Stream there being but one Bridge over the same which is laid cross several Hulks It is quite unwall'd on that side which respects the Water The Walls are of Stone yet not very tenible or defensive there being no Moats nor any Breastworks but round Towers after the old fashion about a hundred Paces distant from one another and behind them a Mud Wall about four or five Foot thick The circumference of the Wall with the Castle which is inclos'd in the same is about two Leagues and a half but if you include a long Suburb which runs to Lahor and being a Rellick of the old Dely is inhabited it will make above a League in a direct Line and a Circumference which cannot justly
then consults with the Father and Mother about naming of the Child which as soon as they have agreed upon the Mother in presence of the whole Company gives the Child its Name without any other Ceremony which done the Mother and Father taking the Child follow the Daroo to the Eggaree or Temple where the Priest takes clear Water which he stirs in the Bark of a certain Tree growing near Yesd in Persia call'd Holma on which it is affirm'd the Sun never makes any shadow and at last taking up a handful of the said Water sprinkles the Child therewith and prays to God that he would cleanse the Child from his Fathers and Mothers Uncleanness which said he leaves the Infant with the Parents When the Child is attain'd to the seventh year of its Age and judg'd fit to be receiv'd and made a Member of their Church the Parents carry it to the Temple to be instructed where the Daroo teaches the Youth several Prayers and instructs him in his Religion The Child being perfect herein repeats all the Prayers which he hath learn'd over a Fire with a Cloth ty'd about his Head which covers his Mouth and Nostrils so to prevent the Breath which comes out of his unclean Body from blowing upon and thereby defiling the holy Fire After performance of these Prayers the Daroo gives the Child Water to drink and the Rind of a Pomegranate to chew thereby to cleanse it from its inward uncleanness Then they wash his Body with clean Water and put him on a Shuddero or Cotton Coat which reaches down to his Ancles and also give him a Girdle made of Camels Hair by them call'd Cushee which the Youth must never leave off After all this the Daroo says this Prayer following God grant that you may be a faithful Maintainer all your Life of the Persian Religion of which your Habit is a Efficient Badge and never believe any other Law but that which Zertoost brought with him from Heaven Moreover that you may always remain constant in the worshipping of the Fire neither eat the Meat of others nor drink out of their Cups but undefil'd preserve the Ceremonies and Customs of the Persians This done the Youth passes for a real Persian and one of their Sect. They have five different kinds of Marriage among them which have each their proper Name Their Marriages The first call'd Shausan is a Marriage of the Son of one Man to the Daughter of another during their Minority which the Parents manage among themselves without the knowledge of their Children This sort of Marrying is highly esteem'd amongst them affirming That those who are thus Marry'd shall undoubtedly go directly to Paradise The second sort of Marrying call'd Chockerson is when a Widow Marries a second Husband The third nam'd Codesherahassan is when a Woman makes choice of a Man her self The fourth nam'd Ectsan is when a Youth or Maid dies after having been Betrothed before the consummation of the Marriage for in such Cases they have a Custom to give another Youth or Maid in Marriage to the Deceased because they account Marriage to be a great means to make Men happy in the other World Persons of Quality commonly Marry after this manner because with their Money they purchase such as will undertake such a Marriage as is before mentioned The fifth nam'd Ceterson is when a Father having no Sons but having a Daughter Married who hath Sons takes one of them to be his real Son and gives him in Marriage as his own Child for they esteem a Man most miserable who hath no Children to bestow in Marriage Their Burying Places Their Burying-places are built round a good heighth from the Ground pretty broad and pav'd with Free-stone In the midst of them is a deep Well into which drop the Bones of the Deceased the Bodies both of Men and Women being hung round the Wall in the open Air. These Burying-places are of two sorts and stand some distance from each other the one is appointed for those that have lived piously and honestly and the other for those that have liv'd viciously and wickedly and those that have committed Crimes and were punish'd for them whilst they liv'd When any Person amongst them lies upon his Death-bed they send for a Herbood or Priest who whispers this following Prayer in the dying Person 's Ear viz. O Lord thou hast commanded us not to sin yet nevertheless this Person hath sinned thou hast comanded us to do good yet this Person hath done ill thou hast commanded us to worship thee yet this Person hath neglected it but nevertheless good Lord pardon his Crimes and offences Their Funeral Solemnities As soon as the Breath is departed out of the Body the Priest keeps ten Foot distance from the same and commands the Nicesselars or Bearers to carry it away on an Iron Bier for by virtue of their Law they may not touch any dead Corps with Wood because it is a Material with which they keep in the Fire which they worship Moreover those that accompany the Corps are forbid to speak because the Grave according to their Opinion must be a Place of Rest and Quietness Coming to the place where the Defunct is to be buried the Bearers set down the Corps whilst the Priests who stand at some distance from thence speak the following words When this our Brother liv'd he was conjoin'd of four Elements now he is dead let each Element take his own the Earth the Earth the Water the Water the Air the Air and the Fire the Fire Next they implore Sertau and Asud whose Offices are to wait on Lucifer and some other Daemons that they would prevent all evil Spirits from doing the Deceased any harm when he shall go to cleanse himself by their celestial Fire for the Soul as they believe remains ranging up and down the Earth three days after during which time Jupiter they say would torment the same if it did not flie to the sacred Fire to avoid his punishments After this the Soul being try'd is according to her behaviour either condemn'd to go to Hell or convey'd to Heaven As this Opinion is firmly rooted in them so they forget not to meet every Morning Noon and Evening during the space of three days to implore God to shew Mercy to the Soul of the Deceased and to pardon the Sins which he hath committed in his Life-time After the expiration of the three days when the Soul hath received her sentence then the Relations make a great Feast on the fourth day and so end their Mourning One Twist tells us That they take the Sick from his Bed and laying him on the Ground or a Bed of Sand let him die there and about thirty or forty days after the Burying of the Dead they carry the said Bed of Sand and strew the same on his Grave But Herbert saith That they wrap up their deceas'd Bodies in a perfum'd Cloth and that the Relations which
this Castle were anciently kept according to the Custom of the Country seven Kings with their Families and Retinues which never came from thence except that King of the Country which was nearest related to him dy'd without a Male-Issue Within it is a Fountain of fresh Water The other Towns of this Country are Saddise lying near the River Tynde nine Leagues from the City Netherbey and two Days Journey from Brampour the next is Caddor fifteen Leagues from Brampour on the side of the Bulloits Country then follows Sawbon fourteen Leagues from Caddor Kanowe a great City three days Journey from Caddor fourteen Leagues farther flows the great River Andere which runs to Bengala where the utmost Limits of the Heathens terminate and crossing this River you go out of the Heathens Couâ—try into that of the Bulloits Five Leagues Journey from Agra is a Castle call'd Hoffer the most eminent and the strongest of all the Province of Chandish it is built on the top of a high and steep Mountain incredibly fortifi'd by Nature and able to contain forty thousand Horse in the middle of it are Springs which water the Mountain and make the Earth so fruitful in the production of Grass Herbs and Corn that there is no want either of Provisions or other Necessaries it is also Planted round about with very fine Brass Guns which were brought thither by the last King of Surratte But the Water which springs out of this Mountain is very unwholsom to drink and causes Worms to grow in the Legs which was the only Instrument whereby Ekbar conquer'd this Place The Inhabitants of Brampour are very affable and courteous occasion'd perhaps by their converting commonly with many of the Nobility by whose Example the Vulgar are very much civiliz'd Every Person may Hunt freely without any interruption and those that will not go on foot may be furnish'd with a Horse at a very low Rate The Inhabitants of Kanowe drive a great Trade in Clothes Swords Musquets and a certain Fruit to Dye withal and those of Brampour in Cloth of Gold and Silver Silks and Woollen Cloth The Country is sufficiently fortifi'd against an Enemy for Anno 1609. the King of Kanowe came with an Army of fifty thousand Elephants thirty thousand Horse ten thousand Camels and three thousand Dromedaries to attack the same It is at this day Govern'd by a Substitute of the Great Mogol's The Inhabitants are Heathens and worship the Sun as their Supreme God They eat not the Flesh of any living Creature according to the manner of the Pythagoreans They adore all Creatures as Gods and worship that Beast they meet with first in the Morning for their God all that Day Anno 1600. the City of Brampour with the whole Kingdom and Fort of Sye was conquer'd by the Great Mogol Ekbar for at the coming of Ekbar with his Army after having conquer'd the Kingdom of Dekan King Miram deserted die City of Brampour and fled with all the Inhabitants and their Goods to the Fort Sye so that Ekbar got nothing but the empty City and therefore went from thence to Sye with an Army of 200000 Men. The Fortress was plentifully stor'd for many Years with Wood Corn and other Provisions for sixty thousand Men and was fortifi'd with three thousand Pieces of Ordnance In the Fort was besides King Miram and the seven other Heroick Princes which though of the Mahumetan Religion yet Extracted Portuguese who having the sole Conduct of this War fortifi'd the Fort with no less Care than Art so that the Mogol's Labor though he had besieg'd the Fort with two hundred thousand was all in vain for the Besieged by the convenient Situation of the Fort their continual discharging of great Guns and prudent management of Affairs they prevented him from taking the same by Storm When Ekbar saw that it was impossible to Conquer the Fort by Force he resolv'd to try what he could do by Policy wherefore he endeavor'd to attain his Ends by Money and Presents and desir'd to enter into Conference with King Miram swearing by his Head the greatest Oath imaginable that immediately after he had spoken wiâ—h him he should return in safety to the Fort again Miram being doubtful what might be the Event of this Busines entred into Counsel with his Officers about it where the Abyffinian Commanders and seven other Princes judg'd it altogether inconvenient for him to go out of the Castle but others who were entic'd thereto by Bribery seem'd to be quite of another Opinion whose Advice he following went out of the Fort having upon him a Garment in fashion of a Cloke which reach'd down to his Knees as a testimony of his Submission Coming to the Great Mogol whom he found sitting like an Image yet with a smiling Countenance he bid him welcom three times upon which Miram approaching nearer to him bow'd down his Head when one of the Mogol's Princes taking hold of him threw him on the Ground to which rude Affront 't was judg'd Ekbar consented notwithstanding he seemingly reprehended him for his rashness and mildly perswaded Miram to send Letters to the Watches which Guarded the outward Walls After which Miram requir'd liberty to return to the Castle but Ekbar not regarding his Oath would not permit him to go back again The Abyssinian Governor was no sooner inform'd of what had pass'd but he sent his Son with a Letter to the Mogol in which he tax'd him with Injustice for detaining Miram contrary to his Oath advising him to to let him return peaceably according to his Promise The Mogol hereby understanding that the whole management of Affairs were left to the Discretion of this Abyssinian thought if he could but corrupt him the Place might be easily subdu'd wherefore he ask'd the Son If his Father would not come thither in case King Miram should command him To which the Youth boldly reply'd That his Father was no such Person as he took him for neither would he leave his Castle to come and Consult with him that he must in vain expect to obtain the Fort with his Father's Consent and if he would not release Miram yet there should not long want a Successor Which confident Answer so incens'd Ekbar that he caus'd the young Man immediately to be Stabb'd which when his Father had notice of he presently sent the Mogol word That he would beg of the Gods never to behold the Face of such a perfidious Prince and afterwards taking his Sash in his Hand he went amongst the Soldiers and thus bespake them Oh Brothers the Winter approaches which will drive the Mogol from the Siege and to avoid their utter Ruin force them all to retire home None but God shall ever he able to Conquer this Place unless the Inhabitants thereof will surrender the same therefore resolve valiantly to defend the same Having ended this Speech he went and Strangled himself immediately After his Decease the Inhabitants defending the Place for some time kept
or Fatipor by Jarrick call'd Fateful or Pateful by Cowert Fetterbat and by Herbert Fettipour was anciently call'd Tzikkerim or Sykary and lies twelve Kours or four Leagues from Agra This City was upon the following occasion built by the Great Mogol Ekbar viz. At his Return from Asmer whether he went to visit the Tomb of Mandy he visited St. Derwis or a poor Monk call'd Seid Selim that is Seid Selim who accounted himself highly honor'd that God had employ'd him to tell Ekbar that in a short time he should be the Father of three beautiful Children and indeed Ekbar to acknowledge the Kindness would have his eldest Son call'd Selim the second Chan Morad or Amurath and the third The Haen Schach or Daniel nay this Prophecy was so acceptable to Ekbar that he caus'd a fair Mosque to be built there and inclos'd both that and the ancient City Tzikerim or Sykary with a high Wall and from that time caus'd it to be call'd Fettipore that is A Place of Delight nay his Affections were so strongly inclin'd to this City that he built a Palace there and also a Bazar or Exchange the fairest in all the Eastern Parts resolving farther to make it the Metropolis of the whole Kingdom for which it stood very convenient being seated on the Bank of a River yet the unwholsomness of the Air forc'd him to leave the same since which time it is become a ruin'd and desolate Place Robert Cower affirms that this City is much bigger than London and is adorn'd with a Temple very artificially built though much decay'd The whole Tract of Land between this City and Agra is always throng'd with People like a Market The City Bian is four Leagues from Fatipor beyond which are the Towns Ladana Mosabadan and Bandason next lie Asmeer or Esmeer where the Great Mogol Ekbar had a large House or Stable in which he commonly kept six hundred Elephants and a thousand Horses The City Asmeer lies in 35 Degrees and 15 Minutes Northern Latitude on a high and inaccessible Mountain twenty five Leagues from Agra The greatest part of the City lies at the foot of the Mountain well built but ill fortifi'd notwithstanding the Wall is of good Stone A Prophet one of Mahomet's Disciples lies buried there in a stately Tomb to which belong three pleasant Yards pav'd with Free-stone polish'd after the Persian manner Not far from hence is Godach formerly the Residence of an eminent and very valiant Rasbout Some place the City Fatipor in the Province of Bando At every half Leagues distance between Agra and Asmeer stands a Pillar or Column resembling those which the Romans us'd to erect at the distance of a thousand Paces At the end of every twenty five Mile there is an Inn or Place of Entertainment for Men and Horse where certain Women constantly give their attendance and get ready such Victuals for every one as they desire for which and their Horse-meat they pay Three pence There are also fair Houses at every ten Miles distance which were built by the Great Mogol Ekbar for the convenience of his Women when he took a Journey to Asmeer to visit the Tomb of Mandy Mahomet's Disciple The whole Country being water'd by the Stream of Jemna aboundeth with Corn Lemmons Oranges Cherries Pears Apples Plums and other Fruit amongst which are Grapes which being preserv'd are as big as Damas Pruins There also grows abundance of Anil or Indico and store of Cotton Saltpetre is likewise very plentiful here and all sorts of Poultry Falcons Pheasants Partridges Hearns and Wild-ducks Here are also great store of Goats Cows and Hogs and Fish in such abundance that Eighteen pence will purchase enough to feed three hundred Men. In Agra are generally kept four Markets where besides Provisions divers other Goods are sold From Persia and China are Transported hither considerable Quantities of Gold and Silver Cloths which though slighter are yet dearer than those of Europe In this City as also in Lahor the Inhabitants drive a great Trade in Anil or Indico and at Bandason there is vast quantities of Course Wooll Cotton Lances Bowes Javelins Swords and other Arms. In Lahor are commonly kept two Markets The Inhabitants drive also a great Trade to Forein Parts When the King resides at Agra no Stranger is permitted to stay there above twenty four Hours unless they give him an account of their Business and of what Quality and Country they are but none are permitted to see him without a Present In this City the Netherlanders keep a Factory for their East-India Company who maintain four or five Persons which formerly made a great advantage on Scarlet Cloth great and small Looking-glasses and other Merchandises and also by buying of Indico which grows about Agra but especially at Bianes two days Journey from thence whither travelling twice a Year they have built a Lodge or Store-house there where they buy in all those Stuffs or Cloths which come from Jelapour and Laknau about six or eight days Journey from Agra But at this time it is said the Gain is nothing so considerable whether it be because the Armenians drive that Trade themselves or because Agra lies so far from Suratte that one Accident or other doth generally befal their Caravans which are constrain'd to travel by the City Amadabad through the Raja's Country to avoid the bad Ways and Mountains which lye on the side of Govaleor and Brampour which is the shortest way The Country of Bulloits THE Bulloits which by Robert Covert are call'd Pythagoreans border on one side at the River Andere which seperates them from the Country of Kanawe or Brampour otherwise Chandisch and Surratte and on the other side at the River Tamlao or Tamliko which is the Boundary between them and the Kingdom of Agra The Towns of this Country are Gorra Sandaye Erasmie Zingrene Barrandon Tranado Zajoberdee and Haud Gorra lieth a days Journey from the River Andere and is about two Leagues in Circumference Two of the King's Sons formerly maintain'd a long War about this City till Thei le King of Ostlohm obtain'd the Victory and after a seven year peaceable possession thereof he was also conquer'd by the Great Mogol the sixth of Tamerlain's Successors who made himself absolute Master of all this Country Two days Journey from Gorra is the City Sandaye beyond which about twenty two Leagues further lies Erasmie and seven Leagues further Zingrene eight Leagues from which is the City of Barrandon After six days Journey from hence through a thick Wood you come to the City Tranado eight Leagues beyond which is Zajoberdee and nine Leagues further Haudee which hath a Castle built on a Rock and fortified with many Guns A days Journey from thence flows the River Tamliko which falls into the Indus at the Place where it separates the Indostans from the Bulloits In this Country near the City Zajoberdee is great plenty of Corn and about Zingrene great abundance of Oats and Beasts But
as big as a Hens Egg about his Neck hung four Strings of Pearl each Pearl being as big as a Musquet Bullet When he sat on his Throne he us'd commonly to order his Elephants Horses Dromedaries Camels and Mules to be drawn by him to see if they were all fed and kept as they ought excepting onely the Tsam-days on which he gave audience to all Persons of what Degree soever Rising from the Throne he retires to a place call'd Gosselchanne where none but his chief Nobles may appear except those which are call'd by his Majesty The Walls of this Edifice are of white Alabaster inlay'd with golden Flowers and the Floors cover'd with Carpets Near this place stands a Pond of clear Water which runs into the same through golden Pipes very curiously made Near this Tank or Pond stands also an invaluable Throne though low made after the manner of a Footstool with four Feet This place also is the King's Treasury for his Jewels which he often looks upon there and also sits here in Council about State Affairs after which he repairs to his Haram or Seraglio where he spends his time commonly till Evening in seeing his Concubines Dance and hearing them Sing with other such like Pastimes then the King to delight himself the more causes two Elephants to fight after which he goes to the Gosselchane where the Nobles must again appear before him and wish him a good Night the King having first commanded one of them with ten or twelve of his trustiest Servants to watch at his Chamber His Entertainment of Ambassadors The King also to Entertain foreign Ambassadors causes Lyons Tygers and Bulls to fight one against another or with noble and valiant Men who would be accounted the Heroes of the Countrey or else fight to gain the Mogol's Favor Next a Tygar being let in a strong Person entred the Lists to encounter him but the Tygar being too subtil and nimble leap'd suddenly upon him first tearing out his Throat and afterwards his whole Body In the third place a little Man of mean aspect entring the Lists ran undauntedly like a Mad-man to the Tygar and at the first Encounter cut off both his fore Feet which forcing him to fall he gave him his mortal Wound Whereupon the King calling to him ask'd him his Name he answer'd Geiby then the King immediately order'd one of his Servants to carry him a Cloth of Gold Cambay or Coat who when he deliver'd it to him said Geiby receive this Coat which the Mogol of his Bounty hath sent you He receiving the Coat with great humility kiss'd it seven times pressing it each time upon his Eyes and Breast and soon after holding it up Pray'd to himself for the Mogol's prosperity which done he cry'd aloud God grant the Mogol to grow as great as Tamerlane from whom he is deriv'd may he live 700 years and his Generation continue for ever No sooner had he utter'd his Wishes but he was conducted by an Eunuch to the King and coming near the place where his Majestry sat he was receiv'd by two Chans and brought before him to kiss his Feet and at his going away the King said to him Be prais'd Geiby Chan for your heroick Exploit this Name you shall keep for ever I am your favorable Lord and you my Vassal The Mogol also keeps several tame Lions which walk up and down peaceably like Dogs at the Court amongst the People never hurting any yet they have Keepers that always have an Eye over them The Mogol possesses an incredible and unvaluable Mass of Treasure having according to report in ready Money in his Treasury seventeen Caroor or Caroras each Carora being a thousand Tun of Gold besides Jewels and other Rearities Purchas affirms the Revenue of his whole Realm to amount to fifty Crous Ropias or five thousand Lecks that is seven Millions and a half yearly of English Money The King's Revenuâ—s According to the testimony of the King's Books of Accompts the Countreys and Realms of Candahar Habove Cassamier Chasane Bannazad Guzeratte Sinde Hatta Ganday Barampour Bengala Orixa Odillo Maloveagra witht he adjacent Places and Delly afford him yearly six Areb and ninety eight Carroras or according to the Accompt of the Countrey a hundred and seventy Caroor and forty five Lack or Leck or a hundred seventy four Millions and five thousand Ropias or nineteen Millions a hundred ninety five thousand pound Sterling In the Treasury at Agra as it is suppos'd is in Gold six hundred Lecks of Eckbars Seraphins which are ten Copias and ten thousand more which are not above half that value besides all which there are thirty thousand Tols each worth a silver Ropie twenty five thousand pieces of another Coin each worth ten Tols and fifty thousand of another sort each worth five Tols In this Treasury likewise is thirteen Crous Eckbars Ropias fifty thousand pieces of another Coin each worth a hundred Tols forty thousand pieces each of thirty Tols thirty thousand each of twenty Tols twenty thousand more each of ten and a hundred thousand each of five besidâ—s two Lecks Savoys and one Leck Jagrys This Treasury incloses also a Batman and a half in Diamonds of which some are rough but the least two Carats and a half in weight two thousand Rubies Balais two Batmans in Pearls two Batmans of Rubies of all sorts and five Batmans of Smaragdes of all sorts besides a great quantity of Topazes Coral and the like almost invaluable There are also two thousand two hundred golden Swords beset with Precious Stones two thousand Ponyards full of Gold and Precious Stones besides an incredible number of Gold and Silver Arms and two thousand Batmans worth of Golden Dishes and other Vessels and a thousand Batmans more in other wrought Gold In Lahor is another very rich Treasury The Mogol keeps a great part of his Riches in six strong Castles viz. in that of Agra Guallier Ratomboe Hassier and Boughtaz His Throne in the Royal Metropolis Lahor is of massie Gold Inlay'd with Precious Stones and richly Enammell'd Likewise the Throne at his Court in Agra which Schach Selim made is beset with Precious Stones and Pearls worth many Millions The Architect of this last was one Augustine Hiriart a Frenchman All the Ground and Land of the whole Countrey is the Kings own so that no Man possesses a Foot of Land but through his favor The King gives to each of his Commanders and Grandees that are in his Countrey certain Lands Lordships and Revenues for which they are oblig'd excepting onely one Third which is the Kings to maintain a certain number of Soldiers as well in time of Peace as War as also some Elephants Horses Camels and Leopards When a Nobleman dies all his Goods not onely what was given him by the King but also what he purchas'd himself falls again to the Mogol who commonly leaves their Widows the Horses and Housholdstuff and gives to the Children some Place of note
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
murder their Fathers are ty'd to the Tail of an Elephant and dragg'd along the Streets so long till they die Others are kill'd by Elephants wild Beasts and Serpents No Malefactor lies above one Night in Prison and sometimes not at all for if he be apprehended in the Morning he is immediately carry'd before a Judge who either discharges him or passes Sentence upon him which if it be to be whipt he is immediately stript naked receiving his punishment in the presence of the Judge if to die they instantly carry him to the Bazar or Market-place This sudden way of punishing Offenders keeps the People in such awe that they seldom commit any Crime to deserve it The King's Robes given to the Omrahs It is said that the Mogol never wears a Sute of Clothes above one day after which he sends the same with great Ceremony to such Omrahs as are his Favorites who account it a great honor to be clad in the King's Robes He is weigh'd upon his Birth-day The Mogols Birth-day is kept as a great Festival on which he is weigh'd in the Scale against some Jewels Gold Silver Cloth of Tissue Butter Rice Fruit and many other things each of them successively being put into the Ballance all which falls to the Mollas or Priests share This is done in great state whil'st several Elephants hung with Chains Bels Gold and Silver Caparisons and Breastplates beset with Rubies and Emeraulds are brought before him From the weight of the King of which the Physicians take an exact Account they boast to know his Abilities When the Mogol is thus weigh'd he throws small pieces of Silver amongst the Spectators as also some Gold in the form of Flowers Cloves or Nutmegs but very thin and hollow which done he drinks with his Nobles Their way of Salutation The usual Salutation which the Indians shew to their King as also to one another is in the Persian Tongue call'd Teslim in the Indian Sumback and by a corrupt Name amongst the Europeans Sombaya The manner of Salutation is perform'd with the right Hand without taking off their Turbants with which they almost touch the Ground and lifting it up again very leisurely to their Mouthes as if they would kiss it and so still higher and higher by degrees till they hold it above their Heads After the same manner but with both Hands folded together they Salute and shew Reverence to their Gods and other Consecrated things The Indian Heathens in stead of wishing one another Health or a good Day salute one another with the Name of their Idol Ram. The Reverence they shew to their Prince When the King 's Vice-Roys come to the Court or any other place where he is they bow down their Heads to the Ground and touch the same with their Hands after which approaching him by degrees they bow several times one after another till they are very near him when they are search'd by those whose Office it is to see if they carry any Arms about them after which they go to touch his Feet whil'st he stands as if immovable The greatest sign of Friendship that he can shew them is to lay his Hand on their Shoulders Moreover the rest of the Kings of India who are not his Substitutes when they speak of him bow their Heads in sign of Reverence All the Mogol's Provinces are Govern'd by Sultans or Vice-Roys either Moors Heathens or others In the chiefest Towns and Sea-Ports are three Governors or Officers of the Kings viz. the Omar or Nabab who is the Governor or Lord of the City the Governor of the Castle and the King 's Confident call'd Vakea Nevis who oversees the other two The Omar being the Lord of the City Commands also in the Countrey round about and takes care to receive the Customs Excises and other Revenues of which he gives an Account to the King He bears the Title of Nabab which signifies My Lord and keeps two Deputies viz. one in the Countrey call'd Cavasioram whose Office it is with several hundred Bow-men to keep the Ways clear from Robbers and the other in the City nam'd Cotonal or Cutwal who performs the Office of Provost-Marshal seising on all Malefactors and committing them to Prison but his Power extends not without the Liberty of the City except by express order from the Governor The Omar or Nabab Treats of Peace and Matters of Traffique on the Boundaries and Sea-coasts Amongst them also is a Sabandar or Master of the Cinque-Ports The Governor of the Castle who seldom comes out of his Fortress takes upon him the Title of Omar The King 's chief Officers in Cities and Sea-Ports and may refuse the Nabab entrance into the Fort if he comes thither without the King's Order or with too great a Train He also orders the People to Watch and Ward causes the Drums to beat and Trumpets to sound three times a day and as often in the night at each time an hour and a half The Vakea Nevis or Inquisitor General takes notice of the Actions of the Nabab the Governor of the Castle and other eminent Officers inquires into all disorders and informs the Mogol by Letters every eighth day of what happens in that time in the City where he resides The Mahumetan Princes never give any Lands to their Officers for Inheritance nor do they enjoy their Employments any longer than their Princes please The Mogol's Eldest Son inherits the Crown unless for some misdemeanor or want of ability he is by the Father in his Life-time and with the Consent of his Council judg'd undeserving thereof The Indians derive their right of Inheritance from the Mothers side notwithstanding the Men commonly have the whole Conduct of the Realm as being fittest to command Of the Name and Title of Mogol The reason of the Name Mogol THey give their King the Name of Mogol because he is extracted out of a Tribe or Family of the Giagatian Tartars for there are many Tribes of Tartars which is properly call'd Mogol and belongs to the City Samarcand in the Province Giagata or Zagatai otherwise Usbeck which is the ancient Sogdiane and in the Persian Maps call'd Soghd For this reason many of his Subjects and especially the Mahumetan Soldiers which are in his Service though Native Indians call themselves Mogols or Mogolleans because they are deriv'd out of Tartary It s signification Terry tells us That the Name or Title of Mogol signifies Circumcised as he himself is and all the Mahumetans and from hence he is call'd the Great Mogol as being the Chief of the Circumcis'd Some also call him the Emperor of the Ganges The Provinces and Countreys between the Bay of Cambaya and that of Bengala as Telengone or the Kingdom of Visiapour Decan Golconda and many other Territories were not Govern'd in ancient Times by peculiar Princes but by one Supreme Head or by two at the most viz. The Southern Parts were Govern'd by the