onely sometimes especially at the beginning of the New and Full-Moon The Winds blow also here six Moneths Northerly and six Months Southerly The Weather is exceeding hot here in April May and June and very unhealthful occasioning Feavers and other Distempers but when it begins to Rain the Wind blows very strong and tempers the excessive Heat but in the dry Season it it hath this inconveniency viz. it draws up the Dust like a Cloud and disperses the same on Travellers to their great annoyance In the rainy Season especially in May and June they Till their Lands and Sowe their Corn which being moistned by the Rain produces so rich and plentiful a Harvest and such abundance of Grain that all the adjacent Countreys are supply'd therewith for Surratte according to Linschot is the fruitfullest Spot of Land in all India The Countrey produces great quantities of Beans and Wheat but much bigger and whiter than ours also Barley Rice Tares and Pease which are less than those which grow in Europe Linseed and a small Seed call'd Thill out of which they press abundance of Oyl There is likewise a sort of Beans or grey Pease which they call Danna growing on little Stalks along the Ground and serving the Horses in stead of Oats The Inhabitants Sowe abundance of Mustard-seed and Tobacco which is much better than that of other Places but they cannot prepare the same so well as the People in the West-Indies The Productions of the Countrey In the Gardens which are very pleasant and near the Towns grow divers sorts of Herbs both for the Pot and Salleting also Raddishes Turnips Cucumbers Garlick Onions Beet-roots Potatoes and Colworts besides eight or ten sorts of Drugs and little Herbs as Turbith Galanga Spica-nardi Assa Foetida or Devils-dung Boran and some others There is much Cotton Silk Sugar Wax many Fruit-trees and Plants as Oranges Pomegranates Lemmons Limes Citterns Ananas Bananas Figs Jackas Coco-nuts in great abundance and in some peculiar Gardens Grapes though not in very great plenty and therefore are dearer than other Fruits The Fruit Mangas is much better here than in Ormuz but not so big yet of a more delicate smell and having a small Kernel in the middle They are transported to many Places especially to the Village Chirches two Leagues from the Metropolis Amadabat from whence it hath receiv'd its Name This Countrey hath plenty of Indigo Cassia Mirobolans Calamba Opium or Amphion two sorts of Cummin white and black Ginger which being Preserv'd is sent to Persia and other Places as also certain Leaves by the Indians call'd Tomalapatra Tamarinds and Palmito-trees besides many other wild Trees not known in Europe About Bazaim grows a Tree which bears the Fruit call'd Jangomes The Countrey near about Brotcha which is very low and without Mountains hath many Gardens planted with Palmito-trees out of which the Natives press a Wine in the Countrey Language call'd Terry or Tory which is drunk by many The Wine which drops from the foremention'd Tree in the Night is pleasant and wholsom but that which drops out of the same in the day-time being spoil'd by the Heat is very hurtful for the Brain It produces likewises plenty of Rice Wheat Barley all sorts of Rice and Cotton but not in such abundance as in Nederbaer and the adjacent Countreys The Mountains of Pindaetche are fertile in the production of Corn and other Grain the Soil being Clay mix'd with black Earth The Inhabitants of this Place make little Cheeses which are very dry and Salt In Surratte are few Date but many Coco-trees found The Trees and Fields are green all the year but the Grass in the Summer is scorch'd up by the Sun neither is the Grass Mow'd here as in Europe but just when they have occasion for it and as much at a time as may serve two or three days The Fields abound with a sort of Roses and Rosmary which have no scent nor have they have above two sorts of Flowers more all the year viz. the Mogeri which is white and the Schampi which is yellow both smelling very odoriferously and worn by Women about their Necks and strew'd in their Beds The Countrey round about Brodera and the adjacent Villages is very fruitful and produces Wheat Barley Rice and other Grain as also Cotton in great abundance The whole Coast of Bazaim hath plenty of Rice Pease and other Corn besides Butter Oyl and Coco-nuts There are many Hiacinthes in this Kingdom as also Diamonds Pearls Granads Topas's Cornalines Spinellaes and Amethists besides Alabaster red Marble Hematites or Blood-stones and Jaspers which are but little regarded The Inhabitants make green Dishes of their Jaspers and Plates which resemble those of Smerads There are likewise Bezoar Stones and also a Stone by the Portuguese call'd Olhos de Gata or Cats-Eyes and Agats in great abundance of which they make curious Hafts of Knives at Cambaya and many other Curiosities Abundance of Sealing-wax is made about the Village Amadabat but the greatest part in the Village of Sindickera eight Leagues Eastward from Brodera and in many other Places in Surratte It drops first out of several sorts of Trees not unlike the Thorn and Plumb-tree When the Wax is raw as it drops from the Tree it is of a dark-brown colour but being afterwards beaten to Powder and melted with red green or black colours according as they please and put on Sticks it is sold here in Europe to Seal Letters with They varnish many Ships therewith as also Tables Cabinets Stools Bedsteads and other Wood-woork which is the occasion that great quantities thereof are us'd in Surratte The Enamel which they use with their Silver and Gold-works as Hafts of Knives and the like they fill up with Wax within and cover the same with Gold so neatly that unless a Stranger were inform'd thereof he could not discover it from massy Gold Near the Village More twenty nine Leagues from the City of Surratte is a Spring which casts up boyling hot Water at the foot of a Mountain out of a hard Rock a piece of Meat wrapt in Callico is boyl'd in a short time therein neither need they put Salt to it because the Water is Salt yet of a good taste as if Alants Roots had been boyl'd therein Six clays Journey from the City Cambaya is a Mountain which produces Cornalines and Chalcedony which last the Inhabitants according to Barbosa call Bacayores A League from the City Brotcha is another rich Mine of Chalcedony and white Agats which are commonly carry'd to Cambaya and not to Brotcha they make abundance of round and oval Dishes and other small Vessels of the same for an Ornament in their Chambers In most Places of Surratte are abundance of Oxen Cowes Sheep from Persia with large Tails Goats and Buffaloes which yield good Milk and Butter and Flesh which tastes like Beef though spoil'd by the Heat of the Countrey The Oxen no way differ from ours onely they have a Bunch on
visit him moreover on every Quilt lies a Cushion of Cloth of Gold round about the Chamber against the Walls stand also many of these great Cushions of Flannel or flower'd Sattin to sit on In the Walls about four or five Foot from the Floor they make several Windows of different fashions even one with another and adorn'd with Flower-pots and Porcelane Dishes but they have no Images of Men or Beasts because their Religion permits it not Most of the foremention'd Houses in Dely are furnish'd after one and the same manner though more or less rich according to the Quality of the Owners by which means Dely is not without many fair Buildings yet far inferior to our European Notwithstanding Dely is the Seat and Court of a mighty Prince and the Staple for many Merchandises yet it is not to be compar'd to London Paris or Amsterdam the richest and most valuable Commodities being oftner found in Ware-houses than Shops for where there is one Shop furnish'd with fine Cloths Silk-Stuffs mixt with Gold and Silver Turbants embroider'd with Gold Cloth of Tissue and other rich Commodities there are above twenty which fell nothing but Butter Rice Barley Pease Wheat and other Corn the common Food not onely of the Heathens who never eat Flesh but also of the vulgar Mahumetans and Soldidrs Dely stor'd with divers sorts of Fruit from other Parts In this City is a most excellent Fruit-Market and many Confectioners Shops who ih the Summer sell all sorts of dry'd Fruit brought thither from Persia Balk Bocara and Samarcand as Almonds Pistachoes Nuts Raisins Plumbs Apricocks and others In the Winter there are excellent Grapes brown and white which being wrapt up in Cotton are also brought from the foremention'd Countreys as likewise Apples two or three sorts of Pears and rare Melons which lasting the whole Winter are sold very dear There are no Fruits growing in this Countrey but Melons which being not very good are sold at a small rate Persons of Quality who take care to have the Seed brought from Persia and Till or Manure their Ground well may have excellent good Melons yet they are very scarce the Earth being so barren that after the first year they degenerate There is another sort of Fruit call'd Amba or Mangas which for two Moneths in Summer are very plentiful and cheap There are likewise all the year round Patecues or Water-Melons Their Preserves are very ill made being full of Dirt and Flyes The several sorts of Provision in Dely. Every Street affords Shops full of Bread which by reason there are but sew Ovens is not well prepar'd yet in the Castle is much delicate Bread sold and the Omrahs also make good Bread in their Houses not sparing Milk Eggs and Butter to put into it yet it commonly tastes mealy and burnt In the Bazars are several Cook Shops where Meat is dress'd but after a sluttish manner besides their Meat is very unwholsom for they commonly roast or boyl a piece of a Horse or Camel or of an Ox that dy'd in a Ditch so that all Persons who will eat good Meat must dress it in their own Houses In most parts of the City are Shambles where Flesh is expos'd to Sale but the Buyers must take special care that they buy not Mutton in stead of Goats-flesh because both their Beef and Mutton is very feaverish windy and bad to digest though well enough tasted The best Victuals in this Countrey is a raw Buck which is not sold in Joynts by Butchers but alive so that if any Person hath a mind to it he must buy a whole Buck which is very inconvenient because the Flesh though kill'd in the Morning will be tainted before Night They have no Capons in this Countrey the Inhabitants whereof are more compassionate to Beasts than Men whom they bereave of their Genitals to serve them in the Seraglio but in the Market are abundance of Hens which are cheap and good and amongst others there are a sort of little Hens with black Feathers which are very dainty and therefore dear There are also Pigeons to be sold but no young ones because they account it criminal to kill them There are also Pheasants but much smaller than ours which are taken in Nets and brought alive to the Market as they do Ducks and other Fowl As to what concerns the Fish there are few which love it notwithstanding there are some very good especiall two sorts the one is call'd Hinghala and the other resembling our Carps is call'd Rau. The Description of the Castle The Castle of which we have before made mention comprehends the Seraglio and other Royal Structures but they resemble not the European nor need they be like them for it is sufficient that they have the splendor and strength which this Climate requites There is nothing remarkable at the Entrance except two great Elephants of Stone which stand on each side of the Gate on the one sits the Image of Jemel the famous Raja of Chitor on the other that of Polta his Brother These are the two Heroes who with their Mother more valiant than they vex'd the Great Mogol Ecbar and shew'd excellent proofs of their Valour in the Towns which he Besieg'd resolving rather to die with their Mother than become subject to the Mogol By reason of this unheard of Valour their Enemies themselves have thought them worthy to have the two foremetion'd Statues erected in honor of them Having pass'd through the Gate of the Castle you come to a long broad Street which is divided into two by a Brook of running Watet and hath on each side a long Divan of five or six Foot high and four broad with several Arches like Gates On this long Divan Scriveners Registers and others have their several Offices out of the Press and Crowd of the People which pass by them along the Street which lies lower than their Shops on which also the Mansebdars or petty Omrahs keep Guard in the Night There is a Brook running through the midst of the Seraglio which fills other Moats with its Water and hath its original out of a River three or four Leagues from Dely whence it is convey'd in a Channel cross the Plains and between many Rocks which have been open'd with great difficulty and hard Labor Coming through the other Gate of the Castle there opens another large and broad Street which also hath its Divans on each side with Shops This Street being properly a Bazar is very commodious during the Rainy and Summer Season because it is covere'd with a long and broad Arch which on the top hath a fair Cupula through which it receives Light Besides these two Streets are several other lesser on the right and left side which lead to the Lodgings where the Omrahs watch twenty four hours once a Week by turns These Lodgings are very stately the Omrahs beautifying them at their own Costs and Charge and are commonly the great Divans
each side of this Structure is forty Foot of Ground in which are ten eight-square Ponds which are each half a Fathom deep to serve the House with Water This Edifice is not cover'd with Tyles but with Lome and chopt Straw or Chaff which being temper'd together and bak'd becomes so hard that no Water will soke through but runs off into Gutters join'd to the Wells On this Roof as also on those of all other Houses stands a Marble Pillar of about three or four Foot long and one thick On the top of the Seraglio you have a Prospect of the whole Garden as also a cool walking-place in the hot Summer Nights This Garden affords all sorts of European Fruits but especially Pears and Grapes of divers sorts beautiful to the Eye and very large also Pistacho's Almonds and Filberds Sixty or seventy Paces from the Haram appears a square Fountain with a handsom Ascent each Square is about a hundred Foot long and Wall'd with Marble also fill'd with Water in which are kept two Pleasure-boats for the Women to recreate themselves with All the Walks are on both sides Hedg'd in with Province-Roses out of which they Distill abundance of Rose-water and send it in great quantities to Ormus and India and other remote Countries In this large Garden are abundance of great Pheasants Woodcocks and other Fowls which are there as in a Cage breeding and hatching up their Young Ten Leagues from Schiras is a Village call'd Maragaskan otherwise Mardash it lies in 28 Degrees and 48 Minutes Northern Latitude four League North-West from the Village Mahin between which the Way is very straight pleasant and delightful being overgrown with Grass This Village contains about two hundred Houses so inclos'd with Trees that at a distance it appears to be a Wood divided into several small Parks The Air thereabouts is very temperate and the Water good and fresh besides which all sorts of Provisions very cheap Near Mardash at the end of a neighboring Plain nigh the Foot of a high Mountain not far from the Brook Sirt may be seen the Ruins of an old Castle in the Persian Tongue call'd Tzehilminar that is Forty Towers though at this Day only thirty of them remain viz. nineteen high ones and eleven broken ones but as Della Valle affirms there are not above twenty which may be true and the Place not misnam'd for though now so few remain without doubt there were more at first the Persian word Thehil signifying Fort and Minar A Tower Joseph Barbaro affirms that the Towers before mention'd are as big as three Men can Fathom and as Mandeslo relates consists of black and white Marble The Persians relate that this Edifice was erected by a King call'd Tzemshied Schach famous for Wisdom but Olearius questions that Others say That King Solomon built it and some believe that Darius was the Founder thereof and that Iskander which is Alexander the Great ruin'd it But Aelian ascribes the erecting thereof to King Cyrus The Foundation or Platform of this Structure is about eighty Yards being cut out of an intire Rock of Marble They ascend the same on four pair of Stairs consisting of ninety five Steps cut out of white Marble On the top not far from the Stairs appear four Pieces of a broken Wall that seem to have been two large Gates on the first two are cut two great Horses with strange Furniture and on the other two are other kind of Beasts with Bodies like Horses but Heads like Lyons with Crowns upon them and Wings at their Shoulders Not far from hence on the right side stand the thirty foremention'd Pillars A little distant from these Towers and somewhat higher were two indifferent large Chambers of which are remaining some of the Doors and Windows which are of Marble as also the Walls which are so polish'd that one may see their Face therein as in a Looking-Glass Farther in on the side near the Doors are all manner of ancient Shapes and Figures hewn in Stone and bigger than the Life some sitting others standing with long Hair broad Beards and long Coats down to their Feet with wide Sleeves a Sash about their Middle and strange round Caps on their Heads Not far from these Chambers stands a square Pillar with a great polish'd Stone in the top which some judge to be a Jasper on this also as on several other Columns are strange Characters Engraven which none can Read All that remains of the Relicks or Ruins of ancient Persepolis we find very well describ'd in Mr. Herbert wherefore we shall give you the Description in his following words The Ribs or Ruins of Persepolis saith he are at this Day call'd Chill-Manor or Chehel-Manor that is Forty Towers in the Idiom of Persia and might more properly have said Hashtot-Manor or Eighty Towers for so many are easily told two Yards out of the Ground and if from so many Pillars as are perfect and lofty then may they say Nouzda-Manor or Nineteen Towers at this Day no more standing one excepted at the East below above a Bowe-shot thence The whole Basis is cut by incredible toil out of the solid Marble Rock twice the compass of Windsor Castle ascended by fourscore and fifteen easie Steps dissected from the durable black Marble so broad that a dozen Horses may go abreast the Perpendicular is two and twenty Geometrick Feet and where the Stairs are not the Rock is precipitious near the highest Step is the Entrance into the Palate the Breadth is visible in despight of Flame and Weather on one side of the Gate stands a monstrous great Elephant on the other a Rhinoceros the distance is about twenty Foot the Portraicts are cut out of the shining Marble ten Yards high either of them fixt and perpetual A few Paces thence are of like Work Bulk and Matter two gallant Towers and to finish the Porter's Lodge near them is another Ruine a Pegasus an Invention of the Sculptor to illustrate his Art And being past this Portal the Apollo opens a fair even Ground deplorable in many Ruins a hundred white Marble Pillars whole and broken dignifying this once most excellent Structure Upon many of these white Marble Pillars the Storks have builded their Nests where the rage of Wind and Weather is more offensive to them than any dread they have of the People who inhabit near them In all unseasonable stormy or cold Weather they forsake the Region and fly where the Sun can comfort them The Persians have many superstitious Stories concerning them and suppose them as else-where I have noted the Emblems of Piety and Gratitude The Pillars which are at this day standing but seem to groan under the Tyranny of Time are betwixt fifteen and twenty Cubits and rise beautifully in forty Squares or concave Parallels every Square having full three Inches whereby the Circuit may be gather'd Most excellent is the Matter most elegant the Work and no less commendable the Order and Shape how they are
regard of their swift running and withal made so tame that the Huntsmen carry them on their Horses and most Gentlemen keep them as we in England do Mastives for the security of their Houses The Rivers abound with all sorts of Fish Fish so that Kilan hath not onely sufficient for her own Provision and Store but enough to furnish both her Neighbors and Strangers at remoter distance Constitution of the Inhabitants The Inhabitants of this Countrey are of two sorts viz. the Talians who for the most part possess the Mountains and the Kilaneans who inhabit the Plains The Kilaneans by reason of the Climate they live in are generally of a more sallow Complexion than the Persians being a surly and self-conceited People especially those that dwell between Mazanderan and Kesker who relying on the Strength of their Countrey often bid defiance to the Kings of Persia Their Apparel The Habit of these People in general is much shorter than of other Persians occasion'd by the wetness of the Place wherein they live onely herein they differ that the Kilaneans wear Caps of course Linnen and the Talians of black Sheep-skins The Talian Women being of a better compos'd Countenance than the other wear not so many Head-clothes as their Neighbors Virgins braid their Hair in many Locks which hang down about their Shoulders some above forty but Women have onely eight or twelve They wear in stead of Shoes woodden Sandals which are fastned on by a Button between their great Toes yet they trip very nimbly with them even in the most plashy Ways And the Men go barefoot which is the cause that they generally have such broad Feet Their Language The Language of this Countrey as the People is two-fold The Kilanean and the usual Persian differ onely in some few Letters but the Talian hath so little resemblance with it that they scare understand each other for proof whereof we give this Instance Speck in the Talian Language signifies a Dog in the the Persian they call it Seck and the Gilans say Seggi But in Mazanderan they speak the common Persian Tongue There is no Province in Persia wherein the Women have so much Respect and do so little Work as Kilan where they employ themselves onely in points of Huswifery as Spinning Weaving making Dubarsita or Syrrups which they sell in great quantities to Houses of publick Entertainment for in other Places they Till the Ground and Sowe Rice and whil'st the Man Ploughs the Ground the Woman in her best Apparel brings the Seed into the Field in Baskets which he takes and scatters abroad she Weeds whil'st he Waters the Land and as he Reaps the Corn she binds it up in Sheaves which being brought home by him she Threshes Sifts and Sells And here we are to observe that every mans particular Ground lies behind or about his Dwelling This Countrey by reason of its strong Situation seems almost invincible being surrounded by a continu'd Ledge of Rocky Mountains through which there are but four Passages the first whereof runs Northward by the Desart of Mocan through the Province of Lengercunan the second South-West through Mazanderan Ferabath and by Astarabath through Chorazan These Ways or Passages are as Oleareus supposes the Portae Caspiae or Caspian Gates mention'd by Strabo Pliny Solinus Ptolomy and others of the Ancients and they might so be call'd because they led out of Persia to the Caspian Sea and are indeed so narrow that through some of them two Horses or Camels cannot go abreast and in others scarce one as particularly appears by the Description of Pyle Kubar Within this Province is reckon'd the City Derbend near the Caspian Sea where there is also a narrow Passage being the Iron Gate before mention'd out of Tartary into Persia Camels go with ease along this Way to Gilan but Men that ride that way excepting some desperate People are forc'd to lead their Horses over the Mountains wherefore a few Men plac'd at these Entrances may keep a great Army out of the Countrey And that the Way over the Mountains might be kept secure a great Wall was built from that City fifty Leagues in length down to the Caspian Sea and onely one Gate through it and this in part is manifested by the Name Derbend for Der signifies a Gate and Bend a Line Moreover as we hinted before whoever takes notice of this City and the Countrey about it will certainly conclude that Derbend is the strongest and safest Door to those that will travel by Land through Persia and that if the same be secur'd it is impossible for any on that side to come thither And they are no less safe by Sea in regard no Ships can approach the Shore by reason of the many Sands and shallow Water the Cossacks onely now and then with their small Vessels pilfer along the Sea-Coast Their Religion Most of the Inhabitants are either down-right Mahumetans or of the Sect of Hanifa and keep Aaly's Feast on the twenty fifth of January Their Government This Kilan was heretofore under the Heptarchy of seven petty Kings yet all having or at least assuming to themselves an arbitrary Power and as they gain'd an opportunity took advantage of each other and yet some of them continu'd in Power till Schach Abbas a little before his Death subdu'd the same The Plains of Mocan or Mogan Description of the Plains of Mocan NOrthward from Kilan near the Sea lies a Champain Countrey water'd by several narrow but deep Rivulets the chiefest whereof are Uskeru and Butaru which have Bridges over them towards the Sea The whole Tract of Land ere you come to the Mountains is very full of Villages Garrison'd with the King's Soldiers each under a peculiar Captain to resist the Invasions of the Turks to which purpose those Villages are assign'd for their Maintenance and the Rusticks not onely pay a certain Tribute to them but they have Lands also set out which they must Till for the Soldiers This Champain contains sixty Leagues in length and twenty in breadth bordering in the South at Kilan and in the West verging the Province and Mountains of Betziruan On this Plain which the Turks call Mindualuck that is A thousand Chimneys and the Persians Mogan or Mocan dwell several sorts of People which in the Reign of Hossein making an Insurrection under one Jesid being vanquish'd were condemn'd thither and not permitted to live in any other Towns or Villages they are by one general Name call'd Sumeck Rajeti According to our Law-Term they hold in Villenage that is The Kings Villains because from Generation to Generation they are the King's Slaves and have small Allowances according to that most inferior Qualification Their chief Support is gain'd by keeping of Cattel which they drive in the Summer to the Mountains where they â—â—nd good Pasturage and wholsom Air but in the Winter they return to the Plains Their Children go stark naked in Summer but
of Brandy out of Dates Sugar and Palm-wine Persons of Quality in the Mogol's Countrey drink Chirassan Wine for they have no Wine of their own there being no Vines planted in all India They take strong Tobacco and chew Betel Most of the Indians take very strong Tobacco but after a peculiar manner agreeing most with the Persians All Indians likewise as well Moors as Pagans constantly chew the Betel Leaf with Areca and a little Chalk or Ashes of burnt Oyster-shells Have good skill in Herbs The Pagan Indians especially those of Zuratte and the Coast of Cormandel have extraordinary understanding in the nature of Herbs knowing how to distinguish the good from the bad for as these People according to the Pythagorean manner do not eat of any thing that hath Life but onely Roots and Herbs so they know by daily experience how to distinguish the eatable Herbs from the medicinal or venomous The Indians never use any Table-cloths but in stead thereof lay a great Leaf of the Tree Mauz which also serves them for Dishes and Trenchers neither do they use Spoons but wholly make use of their Hands and Fingers They commonly wear Jewels and Pendants in both Ears especially all the Idolaters who also highly esteem all Strangers or Christians that wear them Their Apparel The Apparel of the Indians is for the most part of Cotton or Callico either fine or course according to every ones Quality for Linnen they wear none because India produces no Flax. These Clothes are put on over their bare Skins and from the Middle upwards serve at once for Vest and Shirt being very narrow at top wide at bottom and reaching down to their Knees From the Middle downwards they wear a pair of Drawers of the same Stuff which reaching below their Legs touches their Feet All the Indian Women who for the most part are swarthy and have long Legs but short Bodies go barefoot both at home and abroad Women of Quality have commonly great Umbrella's carry'd over their Heads to keep off the Sun As to what concerns the Men some go barefoot others that are of higher Degree either wear Slippers or Sandals but in most places they go barefoot Their Sandals are very easie because of the extraordinary Heat of the Countrey They wear likewise according to the Custom of their Predecessors very long Hair quite contrary to the manner of the Mahumetans who shave it all off as also the lower part of their Beards On their Heads they wear a fine Turbant flat on the top and almost square The whitest People generally wear a Turbant whipt with divers colour'd Ribbons upon a white Ground and sometimes also Gold Their Girdles are of white Cotton but the richer sort have silken ones stitch'd with Gold They ride on Horseback with a Simitar by their Sides a Shield about their Necks and a little broad Dagger sticking at their Girdle They anoint their Bodies The Indians both Men and Women anoint their Bodies against the heat of the Sun as also to make their Joynts nimble and pliable This Ointment is made by the Women of all the sorts of Sandal Wood pulveris'd the Leaves of Chanpock the Flowers Mogori of each a handful Camphire so much as will give it a scent all these Ingredients being ground like Colours are mix'd with Oyl of Coco-nuts or Roses which is brought thither from Persia and made thick like Paste and though these People look very strangely with this Ointment as if colour'd with Saffron yet the smell thereof is very pleasant For the same purpose also they make another Ointment of the Flowers of a certain Tree which is not very high and hath Leaves like a Peach-Tree both Leaves and Flowers are by the Indians call'd Sampaga otherwise Champacka and Champe which are of great esteem amongst them for the Indians especially the Moors are extraordinary lovers of sweet and pleasant Smells and chiefly those of Flowers wherefore there are scarce any Women that walk along the Streets but wear those or the like Flowers in their Hair to render them the more acceptable to their Husbands or Suitors Through all India are likewise highly esteem'd the Leaves of a Tree by the Arabians call'd Alcanna of which we have spoken before at large Moreover in the hot Seasons Persons of Quality whether lying on their Floors or sitting have several Servants stand by them who continually fan them with Leather Fans with which they not onely cool them but also keep off the Flies whil'st they cause their Barbers to rub their Backs Shoulders and other parts of their Bodies so to cause the motion of the Blood Places of Recreation Their places of Recreation consist in Woods and Orchards in which grow many pleasant Fruit-trees as also in their Gardens wherein amongst other Plants grow small Vines which bear extraordinary sweet and delicious Grapes which they eat green or dry'd for Wine they make none because most People by their Law dare not drink any There are also many Pomegranate-trees besides divers other excellent Flowers In the middle of their Gardens are livers Springs or Fountains which are considerably rais'd above the Ground From these Springs the Water is convey'd through narrow open Channels for they know not the use of Leaden Pipes to all parts of the Garden in the droughty Season of the Year Moreover there are round Cisterns to Bathe in rais'd up and pav'd with Free-stone and cover'd with fine Plaister The Furniture of their Houses very mean In their Houses they have neither Stools Tables Beds or Bedsteads for all their Ornaments consist in the Floors which are made very even of fine Earth or Plaister on which they lay rich Carpets as well in their Houses as in their Tents laying a worse Cloth underneath to preserve the other On these they sit both when they eat and drink after the Eastern manner with their Legs across under them and without their Sandals which are left off partly for neatness and partly to keep their Feet cool They also sleep in the Night on these Carpets or else on a hard Quilt or Hammock call'd Cot but whereever they lay themselves to sleep they stretch themselves out to their full length and for the most part lie on their Backs without either Pillow or Bolster under their Heads The common People sleep on the Floor in the dry Season of the Year covering themselves from Head to Foot with a white Cotton Cloth so that they appear like dead Bodies laid out The Hammocks or Cots hang by two Ropes a little above the Floor which being made fast at four corners are by the Servants mov'd to and again to rock them asleep They go always Arm'd The Indian Pagans as well as Mahumetans go always Arm'd whether walking in the City or way travelling with a Sword Shield Bowe and Arrows nay perform all manner of Offices though in their own Houses thus Arm'd never leaving their Armor off but when
to use the Water and fortifying himself expect Darasja's coming This Place formerly call'd Samongues and now Fatabad that is The Place of Victory is not above three Leagues from Agra Not long after Darasja appearing on the Shore of the said River Encamp'd with his Army between Agra and Oranchzef whilst Schach Jehan wrote several Letters to Darasja acquainting him that Soliman Chekou was not far off and therefore it would be prudence in him not to begin the Battel but to draw nearer to Agra and chuse a good place where he might fortifie himself and expect his Son 's coming But Darasja return'd him in answer That before three days pass'd he would bring Oranchzef and Moradbeck bound Hand and Foot before him to punish them as he should think fit and without any farther delay at the same hour drew out his Army planted all his Guns before and fastned them together with Iron Chains to prevent the Enemy's Horse from breaking in upon him behind these Guns he also plac'd many Camels each with a Musquet made fast on their Breast which a Man might Charge or Discharge without setting a Foot on the Ground behind these Camels were drawn up the greatest part of the Musqueteers and behind them the rest of the Army which chiefly consisted in Horse Arm'd with Sword Bowes and a Quiver full of Arrows as commonly the Mogols by which Name are understood the white People as Mahumetans Persians Turks Arabians and Usbeques or with a Sword and a Half-pike like those which the Ragipous carry The Wings how order'd and their strength Of all these foremention'd sorts of Men he made three Bodies the right Wing whereof being Commanded by Cali-lullahkan consisted in thirty thousand Mogols the left was Commanded by Rustam-kan Dakny a very eminent and valiant Commander besides Raja Chatresale and Raja Ramseingue Routle Mean while Oranchzef and Moradbeck on the opposite side drew out their Army almost after the same manner onely they privately plac'd in the midst of the Troops of some Omrahs several Field-pieces an Invention of Emir Jemla with no ill effect they also plac'd here and there several Men to throw Bannes which being a sort of Granadoes fastned to a Stick are cast amongst the Horse which often frighting them puts them into disorder and many times do great mischief The Horse very expert All their Horse fall back and draw up with exceeding swiftness and Discharge six several Flights of Arrows sooner than the Musquets two Volleys They also keep close together in a Body under their respective Officers especially when they come up to Fight Hand to Hand with their Swords The Battel Being thus drawn out the Guns began to play from both sides for they always Discharge their Cannons first and Arrows were now seen to flie through the Air when on a sudden there fell a mighty Shower of Rain that interrupted the Combat which began again as soon as it ceas'd Darasja mounted on a stately Elephant commanded his Men to fall on on all sides whilst he advanced in the midst of a Body of Horse directly towards his Enemies Artillery which receiv'd him so valiantly that abundance of Men were kill'd round about him and not onely that Body which he Commanded put into disorder but also the other Horse that follow'd him nevertheless he being seen to sit firm on his Elephant without offering to retreat and courageously looking about and making signs with his Hands to advance and follow him This disorder soon ceas'd and every Man resuming his Rank march'd on with him but he could not reach his Enemy before he was saluted with another Volley of Cannon-shot which caus'd a second and great Disorder amongst his Men making many of them Retreat yet Darasja without changing his Countenance sat fast on his Elephant and encourag'd his Men giving them still signs to follow him and to advance with all possible speed without any loss of time Thus vigorously pressing forward he forc'd the Enemies Artillery broke their Chains entred into their Camp and hewing down the Camels and Infantry which stood in his way on that side he open'd a good Passage for the Cavalry that follow'd him when the Enemy's Horse facing him they began a fierce Combat A shower of Arrows fill'd the Air from both sides Darasja himself letting flie several amongst them But these Arrows do but little Execution most of them being broken either in the Air or faln on the Ground without doing any hurt The first flight of Arrows being made they fell upon one annother with their Swords whilst Darasja sitting still on his Elephant encourag'd his Soldiers call'd and made signs to them and at last advanc'd with so much resolution and force against all that oppos'd him that he overthrew the Cavalry and forc'd them to retreat and flie Oranchzef who also sat on an Elephant seeing this disorder was exceedingly perplex'd yet labour'd with all his might to defend them though to little purpose wherefore he drew up the Body wherein his choicest Men were to make a Head against Darasja who likewise forc'd them to retreat in great disorder notwithstanding all that Oranchzef could do to hinder it yet nevertheless he lost neither his Valour nor Courage though he saw the whole Army in a confus'd and flying posture insomuch that he had not above a thousand some say but five hundred that stood to defend him he also saw that Darasja notwithstanding the difficulty of the Way which was uneven and full of Holes in many places made as if he would rush in upon him yet still his Courage abated not but he kept his Station without the least apprehension of fear or thought of retreating and calling every one of his Commanders that were about him by their several Names cry'd out Delirane Codahi that is Take courage my old Friends God is what hope is there in flying know you not where our Decan is Codahi Codahi God is God is and that none might doubt his Valour but see how far his Heart was from recoiling he instantly commanded in the presence of them all that Chains should be put on his Elephants Feet which had certainly been done but that all those that were near him declar'd their courage and resolution to live and die with him Mean while Darasja endeavor'd to break in upon him though he was a good distance from him but the difficulty of the Way much hindred him and also the opposition he met with from the disorder'd Horse which cover'd all places he was to pass This Encounter with Oranchzef he look'd upon as that which was to assure him of the Victory and decide the Battel and doubtless he would have overcome all the soremention'd Difficulties and Oranchzef with the small number which he had left would not have been able to resist his till then victorious Army but Darasja not knowing how to make use of his advantage fail'd in the whole of which I will now shew you the occasion and
colour'd Silks which they use for Carpets Boxes Cabinets and other curious Wood-work Inlay'd with Mother-of-Pearl which by the Portuguese and others are carried from thence to India Tatta is one of the most eminent Provinces for Traffick of all India Many great Barques by the Inhabitants call'd Risles and Capuses come fraighted with all sorts of weav'd Stuffs Sugar Anniseeds and other Commodities down the River Sind from Lahor Multan Agra Dely Nandou Citer Utrad and other Places and putting into the Haven Lowribandel lay the said Commodies aboard of bigger Ships for Ormuz where they are unladen by Netherlanders Portuguese and Mahumetans The Inhabitants are all Mahumetans yet by reason of the great Trade which is driven in this Countrey there are commonly People of all Religions found in the same The Great Mogol Ecbar first conquer'd this Territory The Provinces of Sorit Jesselmeer and Attack SOret The Borders a small but rich Province borders Eastward at Zurratte in the West at Tatta in the North at Jesselmeer and in the South at the Sea The Metropolis is call'd Janagor or Ganagor The Territory of Jesselmer The Limits or Jesselmure verges Southward at Soret Eastward at Bando Northwards at Attack and Westward at Buckor and Tatta The chief City bears the same Denomination with the Countrey The County of Attack conterminates in the West The Bounds with Haiacan the River Indus onely parting them in the North it is bounded with Penjab and in the East with Jenba and Mando The Metropolitan Town bears the Name of Attack The Province of Penjab or Pangab The Name THe next is the Province of Penjab or Pangab which in the Persian Tongue signifies Five Waters for its Situation between five Streams viz. the Ravy Behat Obcan Wiby and Sinde or Sindar all which discharge their Waters into the Indus and make a great Lake somewhat Southward from Lahor The City of Lahor The chief City of this Territory according to Terry is Lahor but others affirm Lahor to be the Metropolis of Multan The City being very large and ancient is one of the most eminent Towns in all India and is no way inferior either in bigness or beauty to Agra It lies in 35 Degrees and 50 Minutes Northern Elevation and hath large and well pav'd Streets The Air in and about Lahor is very healthful The Air. There are also many remarkable Structures in the same as the Palace Mosques Hamans or Baths Tanks or Springs Gardens and many other delightful Places It is a spacious and fruitful Territory and the most pleasant Spot of Ground in all India and is that part of it which according to Della Valle was in the time of Alexander the Great Govern'd by King Porus. There is a Castle which being very large strong and artificially built in a delightful place of white hard polish'd Stones hath twelve Gates three whereof respect the City and the other nine lead into several parts of the Countrey Within this Castle is a stately Palace into which you enter through two Gates and two base Courts and after you have pass'd through the last you come to two parting Ways the one leading to the Durbar or Joreo where the King appears daily before the People and the other to the Diwanchane which is a great Hall wherein he spends part of the Night viz. from eight of the Clock till eleven with his Omrahs On the Walls of this Castle are Engraven the Images of Kings Princes and other Great Men as Schach Selim the great Mogol Ecbar's Son sitting on a rich Carpet under a costly Throne with his Son and his Brothers d' Han Schach or Daniel and Schach Morat on his right Hand and opposite to him Emorza Sherif eldest Brother to Chan Asorn With many other Persons of note The River Rawy which springs out of Mount Caximir and runs through the same with several Rivulets having finish'd a Course of three hundred Miles along a deep Navigable Channel discharges its Water into the Indus near the City Tatta not far from Diul It lies in 23 Degrees and 15 Minutes Northern Latitude The Kingdom or Territory of Caximir THe Kingdom of Caximir or according to some Cascimir and Cachmire by Mercator taken to be the ancient Arachosia or Archotis of Ptolomy and by Herbert for the ancient Sogdiana The Borders borders in the North at Mount Caucasus in the North-West at the Province of Banchish the Indus onely separating them in the South-East at Penjab in the West at Cabul and Northerly at the Kingdom of Maurenahar Jarrick conterminates this Kingdom with that of Rebat It is but a small Countrey and lies as Texeira tells us fifteen days Journey from Lahor and according to Herbert in 41 Degrees and 9 Minutes Northern Latitude about three hundred Miles from Agra Jarrich gives the Name of Syranacar both to the chief City of this Kingdom and to the Countrey it self lying in 30 Degrees Northern Latitude About three Leagues from the City is a Lake or Pool of sweet Water about fifteen Miles in circumference Navigable for great Ships yet not above half a League broad In the middle of it lies a pleasant artificial Island with a Royal Banquetting-house therein whither as Jarrick affirms the King resorts when he intends to recreate himself in catching of wild Geese and Swans Through the midst of this Lake as also through the Countrey glides the Stream Behat or Bhad which by its trending or meeandring Bays makes many Islands and at last unites it self not far from Jahor with the River Indus or as others say with the Ganges which last is somewhat improbable because of its distance towards the East Another River call'd Chanab by Jarrick Chenao and by Terry Nilab having also its original in this Countrey unites it self likewise with the Indus The Countrey abounds in Rice Wheat and other Provisions and also hath plenty of Grass Woods Gardens and Springs Of the Roots of their Mulberry-trees they plant Vines This Countrey formerly lay under Water The ancient Histories of the Kings of Caximir make mention that this Countrey was formerly a great Lake and that a certain ancient Man call'd Cacheb open'd a Passage for the Water through the Mountain of Baramoule But this seems to be incredible yet not but that this Countrey was formerly overflow'd with Water but to open a Passage for it through the foremention'd Mountain is a thing altogether impossible the Mountain being so very high and broad rather an Earthquake to which this Place is very subject opening the Earth swallow'd up a part of the Mountain and so open'd a Passage for the Water But however it was dreyn'd It s Extent and Situation Caximir is no more a Lake but at present a most fertile Soil about eighteen Leagues long and three or four broad interlac'd with many little Hills It is the farthest part of Indostan to the Northward from Lahor and inclos'd by Mount Caucasus the Mountains of the
of the Earth that it may rather be call'd a River than a Spring The Water thereof is so exceeding cold that one cannot hold ones Hand in it The Garden is very large and pleasant having many brave Walks and abundance of Fruit-trees as Apples Pears Plumbs Apricocks and Cherries and also many Fountains and Fish-ponds Not far from Achiavel is another brave Royal Garden in which are all the foremention'd things for recreation but it excells in having a Pond full of Fish which upon calling or throwing of Bread into the same appear above Water the biggest of them have been seen with golden Rings in their Noses with Mottoes engraven on them which are said to have been put on by order of the famous Nourmehalle Queen to the Great Mogol Schach Selim. A Description of the Mosque at Baramoulay About as far from the City Cachemire as Send-brary is a Place call'd Baramoulay where a curious Mosque is built and in it a brave Tomb of one of the famous Mahumetan Pires or Saints which daily as the Moors relate works miraculous Cures upon the Sick which resort in great numbers to the said Tomb. Near this Mosque is a Kitchin in which are many great Copper Kettles full of Flesh and Rice which perhaps is the Load-stone that draws the Poor thither and the Miracle which cures them On the other side is a Garden about which are Chambers for the Mollahs who quietly spend their Lives there A wonderful Stone There is also another Wonder viz. there is a thick round Stone which the strongest Man can scarce lift up from the Ground yet nevertheless eleven Men by the help of the foremention'd Saint may take up the same without any trouble by putting each of them onely one Finger thereto Eleven Mollas saith F. Bernier who was present Anno 1664. at the working of this Miracle standing close round about the said Stone with their long Coats prevented the exact discerning after what manner they lifted up the same but all of them said that they touch'd it not but onely with the ends of their Fingers and that the Stone felt as light to their appearance as a Spunge As for my part who well observ'd them and look'd upon them with a curious Eye I could not perceive but that they took great pains and made use of their Thumbs besides their Fingers yet I forgot not to cry with the rest of the Mollas and other Spectators Coramet Coramet that is A Miracle A Miracle and at the same time gave a Ropia to the Mollas earnestly desiring them to let me be one of the eleven which should next lift up the same which at first they would not grant till throwing them another Ropia and seeming really to believe the Miracle one of them gave me his Place they judging amongst themselves that ten of them would be enough though I took no pains to lift it up so nimbly that I should not perceive them but they were exceedingly deceiv'd for the Stone which I lifted not but with the end of my Finger stirr'd not till they pushing the same on me I was forc'd to put my Thumb to it also in which manner we lifted the Stone though with great trouble from the Ground yet when I saw they all look'd angrily upon me and being a Stranger fear'd they might have ston'd me I readily cry'd out with the rest Coramet and gave them another Ropia A considerable distance from Baramoulay is a great Lake through the midst of which runs a River to Baramoulay It is full of Fish especially Eels and swarms with Geese wild Ducks and other Water-fowl which draws the Governor of Cachemire thither to spend the Winter In the midst of this Lake is a Cell with a little Garden about it which is said to drive after a strange manner upon the Water In this Place a Recluse spends his Life without ever coming from thence They relate divers Stories concerning this Hermitage but by most it is generally believ'd that an ancient King of Cachemire out of curiosity built the same on great pieces of conjoyn'd Timber About this Lake is also a remarkable Spring which boyling leisurely rises very slowly with little Bubbles and also casts up a certain fine Sand which returns back to the bottom after the same manner as it came up In a moment after the Water becomes still without boyling or casting up the Sand and then begins a fresh as before yet without observing exact times between It is said that this Wonder proceeds from a Man's speaking or standing near the same especially if he stamp with his Foot against the Ground In the Mountains is a great Lake which is full of Ice in Summer and resembles a little Icy Sea for the Winds breaking the Ice asunder moves the same up and down The Stone Sengsafed Next you come to a Place call'd Sengsafed which signifies A White Stone which is very eminent because it is overgrown with several sorts of Flowers all the Summer and at all times when many People travelling that way make a great noise there instantly falls a great Shower of Rain But whether this be true or no may be a little question'd for when Schach Jehan went over the same some years since he thought he should have dy'd there by reason of an excessive and unusual Shower of Rain notwithstanding he had given strict order to make as little noise as was possible The same happens often on the Mountain Pire Penjale The Character of the Cachemirans The Cachemirans are accounted a beautiful People and have as handsom Bodies as the Europeans having no resemblance at all with the Tartars onely they have little Eyes like those of Cachever and great Tibet their Neighbors The Women are very slender and streight Bodied which makes most of the Strangers that come to the Mogol's Court covet them for Wives to have Children by them that may be whiter than the Indians and so pass for right Mogollans Women of any Quality come seldom into the Streets but the meaner sort scruple it not These People are very crafty and more subtil and ingenious than the Indians and no less addicted to Poesie and other Sciences than the Persians Moreover they are very Lahorious and quick of apprehension and are good Artists in making Sedans Bedsteads Cupboards Desks and other neat Works They varnish their Wood-work very curiously and imitate the Veins of a certain Wood on any thing what they please by Inlaying it with Gold Wyres But that which is remarkable and peculiar to these People and that which brings a Trade and Money into their Countrey is the great number of Sashes or Chales which they make and also teach their Children the Art of making them These Chales are certain pieces of Stuffs about an Ell long and three quarters broad Embroider'd at both ends The Mogols and Indians both Men and Women wear them on their Heads or throw them over their Shoulders like a Cloak