more Westerly Part and the more Easterly part The more Westerly Part into India the Less and India within the Ganges the more Easterly Part into India the Greater and India without the Ganges Ptolomy in his fifth sixth and seventh Books reduceth the Provinces of Asia which he makes to be forty eight into twelve Tables In his fifth Book are comprehended these Provinces Pontus and Bithynia properly call'd Asia Phrygia Magna Lycia Galatia Paphlagonia Pamphylia Cappadocia Armenia Minor Cilicia Sarmatia Asiatica Colchis Iberia Albania Armenia Major the Island Cyprus Coelosyria Phoenicia Palestina Judaea Arabia Petraea Mesopotamia Arabia Deserta Babylonia In his sixth Book Assyria Susiana Media Persis Parthia Carmania Deserta Carmania altera Arabia Faelix Hircania Margiana Bactriana Sogdiana the Sacians Scythia within the Mountain Imaus Serica Aria Parapomisus Dranchiana Arachosia and Gedrosia In the seventh India within the River Ganges India without the River Ganges China which is by him call'd Sinarum Regio and the Island Taprobane The Modern Division of Asia is generally into those five Great Kingdoms already mention'd viz. The Turkish Empire in Asia The Kingdom of Persia or the Territory of the Great Sophi The Tartarian Empire or the Territory of the Great Chan the Empire of China which is now in the Possession of the Tartar and the Empire of the Great Mogol But to be more particular Our first Part of Asia we shall divide as followeth viz. into 1. The Kingdom of Persia containing the Provinces Schirwan anciently Media Atropatia Erak anciently Parthia Aderbeitzan anciently Media Major or Satrapeni Iran or Carabach Sagistam anciently Drangiana the Country of Nixabur Kilan or Gilan Mazanderan Chusistan anciently Susiana Kirman or Caramania Circan anciently Gedrosia Moghostan Lorestan Chorasan Siston Aria or Ery Dagestan or Tagestan the Kingdom of Amadan 2. The Country of Georgia anciently Colchis and Iberia c. containing the Provinces of Imereti or Basciaciuk Cacheti and Cardel or Carduel Guriel Mengrelia anciently Colchis with that of Avogastes or Avogasie 3. The Province of Circassia with Albania and Curdistan 4. India and particularly the Empire of the Great Mogol containing these following Kingdoms and Territories viz. Parapomisa or Candahor Sablestan and Balassy the Kingdom of Cabul Territory of Multan the Kingdom of Ballochi or Hangichan the Province of Buckor the Kingdom of Send or Sind the Provinces of Sorit Jesselmeer and Attack the Province of Penjab the Kingdom of Caximir the Territories of Banchosh Jangapore and Jenba the Kingdom of Dely the Kingdom of Mando the Territories of Sanga and Utrad the Kingdom of Zurratte or Cambaya the Kingdom of Candish or Sanda the Provinces of Berar and Narvar the Province of Gualiar the Kingdoms of Agra or Indostan Decan Ballagate Cuncan or Visiapour the Country of Bulloits the Provinces of Hindows Nagracat Siba Kakares Gor Pitan Canduana and Patna PERSIA Sive SOPHORVM REGNVM THE DESCRIPTION OF THE KINGDOM OF PERSIA Description of Persia THE Kingdom of Persia hath for several Ages by that Name been known to the ancient Greeks and Romans and at this Day to most People of Europe and it may properly be so call'd from Perseus Son of Jupiter and Danae The Inhabitants term it Agem or Agiam By the Turks it is call'd Agem Vilager or Agem Memlaket the first signifies The Countrey and the second The Kingdom of the Persians But the proper Name as Texeira affirms is Agem or Pars and that of the Inhabitants Parsey or Agemy though the Name of Pars belongs peculiarly to the Province of Persia It was anciently a Noble and very famous Country having for two hundred and thirty Years been the Head of the second Monarchy nay it rose to that heighth that according to Brisonius no Kingdom upon Earth could either in Power or Riches compare with it wherefore the Governors were call'd The Great Kings or Kings of Kings as appears by Plato Strabo Suetonius and other eminent Writers The Borders of this Kingdom formerly extended very far many populous Provinces being under its Jurisdiction as amongst other Remarks appear'd by the great Army and the mighty Train thereto belonging with which King Darius prepar'd to oppose Alexander the Great as Quintus Curtius hath related at large How far the Limits of this Empire anciently extended may be found in Strabo Pizarrus and other ancient Writers It s ancient Limits and Extent Persia in former Times compris'd most of the Countries of Asia towards the East as also a part of India and Egypt which then was within the Bounds of Asia viz. it extended in length from the Hellespont beyond the Mouth of the River Indus two thousand eight hundred English Miles and in breadth from the Pontus to the Jaws of the Arabian Gulf two thousand in which Circumference were comprehended many Provinces and Kingdoms But since the downfall of the second Monarchy of Persia which flourish'd two hundred and thirty years from the first rise thereof by Cyrus This Kingdom partly by Intestine Wars and partly by the Invasion of Forein Princes was so much abated in its former Splendor that the Inhabitants thereof were absolutely enslav'd and after the Arabians had Conquer'd them forc'd to deny their Name and from that time forward were not permitted to style themselves Persians but Saracens Not long after which it was subdu'd by the Tartars and first brought under Subjection of the Chinguis Chan and then under Tamerlane yet at length it began again to flourish and regain'd much of its ancient Lustre in the last Age by the Valour of Ismael Sefi and is now reckon'd amongst the most powerful Monarchies of the East As to the present Extent of Persia it cannot certainly be said because of the various Alterations in the Frontiers by means of the War against the Turks and Tartars divers times losing a Province or two and sometimes regaining them or others in lieu thereof from the Enemy The Extent of Persia Olearius from his observation of the Persian Maps makes Persia to extend taking in all the circumjacent subdu'd Provinces from the North to the South from the Caspian Sea to the Bay of Persia from East to West from the Borders of Candahar to the River Euphrates or Moratsu nay it extends half way on the West side from the Caspian Sea upward to the Armenian Mountains and Eastward towards the River Ruth Chane formerly Oxun on the North side whereof dwell the Usbeki and Bucharian Tartars who partly pay Tribute to the Persians Maginus makes Persia extend from East to West 38 Degrees because its Longitude from the Meridian of Tenariff is in 82 Degrees and the most Eastern in 129. but from the North to the South to 20 Degrees viz. from the 23. to the 43. Degree So that the Dominion of Persia hath five hundred and sixty Leagues in length and three hundred in breadth a Degree being reckon'd to contain eighteen German or sixty English Miles According to Cluverius and Golnitius it makes out
valiant of them use they often put their Enemies to flight This Countrey was formerly Govern'd by a peculiar King and belong'd not long since to the King of Pattan but of late hath been subdu'd by the Great Mogol who in the beginning kept his Court in the Metropolis thereof The Inhabitants are most of them Moors or Mahumetans the rest Heathens who live very miserably for being subdu'd by the Moors who bereav'd them of what they formerly possess'd they are forc'd to range up and down the Countrey from one place to another and are therefore call'd Joguez The Kingdom or Province of Mando or Bando THe Province or Kingdom of Mando otherwise Bando by the Inhabitants according to Texeira call'd Mandou and by Purchas Mandao borders in the East at Agra in the North at Dely in the West at Jesselmeer and in the South at the Province of Malway The Description of the City Maudo The Metropolis which bears one and the same Name with the Province hath six Miles in circumference It lies on a high Mountain the top whereof is flat and spacious The Ascent to the City is very high and steep and troublesom to walk up Not far from the foot of the Mountain is a large Town call'd Achabar Pore by which glides a broad River call'd Narbodag The top of the Mountain is overgrown with shady Trees in such a manner that it is very pleasant to â—â—hold either from the foot upwards or from the top downwards This wooddy Mountain serves as a Recess for Lions Tygers and wild Elephants In this City the Great Mogol hath a House or spacious Palace built of square Stone in which he often resides Not far from this Palace is a Cave cut in a Rock which is no less artificial than pleasant by reason of its coolness The Countrey is barren sandy and mountainous full of Lions Tygers and wild Elephants and produces great plenty of Costus in the Malayan Tongue call'd Pucho and Amphion or Opium There is also abundance of Azur with which the Inhabitants Trade to China Cambaya and Ormuz It is said that the valiant Amazones Reign'd in this Countrey but at present they retain nothing of their Predecessors Qualities but onely to Ride well on Horseback with half Boots and Spurs Whenever the Queen Rides abroad she is accompanied by at least two thousand Women on Horseback The Province of Malway or Malva THe Province of Malway or Malva bordering in the East at Narrat in the South at Chilor and in the North and West at Jesel is very fruitful The chief City thereof is call'd Rantipore the other Towns are Toda and Upen which Thomas Rohous makes to be the Metropolis A pretty way from the City glides the Stream Cepra which is a Branch of the Ganges which is said to fall into the Bay of Cambaya Near this Stream lies the City Callenda formerly the Court of the Kings of Mando or Bando The Territory of Sanga or Chitor and Vtrad THe Territory of Sanga or Chitor formerly a great and ancient Kingdom borders in the North-East and East at Malway in the West at the Mount Ranas and Jesselmeer and in the South at Zurratte and Chandi half way between the Towns Chitor and Asmeer The City of Chitor anciently a glorious City The Metropolis is also call'd Chitor but anciently Taxila and was the chief City of India when King Porus went to Fight against Alexander the Great It lies in 25 Degrees Northern Latitude on the top of a high Mountain inclos'd within a Wall of about ten Miles in circumference Before the ruine thereof it was a fair City not onely for its Buildings but also its Bulwarks and Walls for which reason it was in the Countrey Language call'd Citor that is The Fan of the World It may compare for antiquity with any City in India but at present it is not above three Miles in circumference There are yet above a thousand ruin'd Temples seen in the same several large though decay'd Palaces besides many stately Columns There is onely one Ascent which leads up to the City to which they go through four stately Gates along a Path cut in a Rock The chief Inhabitants at this day are Birds and wild Beasts which the Benjans hold in great veneration By whom destroy'd This City was formerly possess'd by an ancient Prince call'd Ranas whom King Gelaladin Acbar forc'd in the latter end of the former Age to leave his Kingdom and to flie into the Mountains from him call'd Ranas where he setled in the City Odipore to which he was forc'd by a long Siege which the Inhabitants werre not able to hold for want of Provisions The City when surrendred was by the Conqueror laid waste and so continues at this day Others affirm that Badur Sultan of Cambaya Besieg'd the City and that when the Inhabitants saw no likelihood to preserve it any longer they burnt all their Gold and Silver Precious Stones and other things and also themselves insomuch that above seventy thousand perish'd by the Fire which lasted three days together after which Badur enter'd the City Not long after the Kingdom of Cambaya was totally subdu'd by the Great Mogol The Province of Utrad conterminates with that of Chitor and lies near the City of Sinde The chief City thereof bears the same Denomination Productions of the Province of Vtrad This Countrey affords Sal Gemmae or Stone Salt by the Inhabitants call'd Geucar a Name deriv'd from Geu which signifies Barley and from Car which signifies Salt This Province also produces a certain Dreg or Gum by Physicians in the Latine Tongue call'd Assa Foetida and in English for its ill scent Devils-Dung Avicenna and other Arabians call it Altit the Indians Juden and the Benjans Inguh or Hing That which grows here is the least bitter of any The Plant which produces it is of two sorts the one is a high Tree or Bush with little Leaves not unlike those of Rew the other is like a Raddish and hath several great and small Stalks with Leaves almost like the Fig-tree This Plant grows best in Mountains and barren places it is gather'd in Harvest for about die latter end of the Summer the Gum begins to run out of it Theophrastus Dioscorides and others take this Gum to be the Juice of a Plant which they call Laser or Laserpitium The Benjans of Zurratte use this Gum in all their Meat and account no Dish or Sawce to be well made without it They also anoint all their drinking Vessels therewith nay they are so us'd to it that the strong scent which turns the Stomach of others is sweet and pleasant to them The Kingdom of Zurratte or Cambaya THe Kingdom of Cambaya hath receiv'd that Denomination from the Portuguese who so styl'd it from the City of Cambaya which being a Sea-port Town is better known to the Portuguese than any other in this Countrey by reason of the vast Trade which they drive there
that is The Armenian Stone Amongst many other Beasts which breed in Persia there is one peculiar to this Province which the Persians call Castar and the Spaniards Adives and is perhaps the Hyena of the Ancients They breed for the most part in the Hedges about Schiras and are as Garcias de Sylva affirms a kind of Dogs bred first in Barbary They come in great companies out of the Hedges in the Night to seek for Prey making a hideous howling They are naturally so subtile that if they were not so very greedy they could not be taken They tear up the Graves in the Fields and devour the Dead Bodies and often when hungry they venture into Houses where if they find any thing they call their Companions by making a great noise whereof the Inhabitants taking notice surround and catch them This Province of Persia comprehends the ancient Kingdom or Dukedom of Lar or Lara with a Metropolis of the same denomination from whence the Laryns a Coin so current in all the Eastern Countries had their name as we observ'd before The Province of Lara is by Figueroa accounted part of the old Carmanie as Oëssa commonly call'd the Kingdom of Monbareca the other part besides the Countries of Mogosthan This ancient Dukedom was formerly possess'd by a peculiar Prince who Govern'd with an Arbitrary Power and not subject to the Crown of Persia The last Prince according to Gaspar Bernardino was call'd Abrahi Mochom but by Della Valle Ibrahim Chan by Figueroa Hambrain Chan and by our Mr. Herbert Erahim Cawn an Atheistical and bloody-minded Person But Alvaredy Chan Sultan of Schiras invading him Anno 1602. by the Command of Schach Abbas storm'd the City of Lar and kill'd the King besides all the Nobility and Gentry to the number of five thousand causing also the Castles to be pull'd down and the Walls thrown to the Ground leaving nothing standing that was of any Strength or Consequence And in this manner the Kingdom of Lar was joyn'd to the Crown of Persia and added to the Dominion of Schiras The City Lar at Lara is a very ancient City and of great note amongst the Arabians being the Metropolis as Figueroa supposes of the old Carmanie It is situate in 27 Degrees and a half of Northern Latitude at the end of a great Plain so enclos'd with Mountains that they leave onely a little Opening or Way which leads to Schiras When this City was first built cannot certainly be resolv'd Some ascribe the Age thereof to that of our first Forefathers others say it was founded not much above a thousand years ago The Walls of the Houses are made of Sun-dry'd Bricks and Clay and plaster'd over with a kind of Mortar made of chopt Straw and Earth which the Persians use in all their Buildings especially in the Provinces of Lara Querman and Persia Most of them are but one Story high having few Windows and those very small and cover d with Lattices or stopt with Mats In this City is an ancient Palace formerly the Residence of the Prince with a large Court before it which had stood empty a considerable time when the Chan of Schiras came to Lar to take possession thereof Here are likewise two other remarkable Places The one a Castle or Fort the other the Bazar or Exchange The first being almost half a League in circumference is built of Free-stone on the West side of the City on a little Hill and fortified with thirty eight strong Bulwarks which defend the City from any outward Attempts and also Commands it Figueroa affirms That the Castle covers the whole top of the Mountain which is Oval and fortified with a Stone Wall and a Breast-work with divers Loop-holes for small Shot It is very large in circumference and hath a Well with excellent Water above two hundred Fathom deep for it reaches quite down to the City yet is the Water nevertheless very easily drawn up with a Wheel turn'd by an Ox. The other Place of note in this City is the Bazar that is A Street full or Shops like the Exchange This Bazar was the Work of Alvaredy Chan the before-mention'd Sultan of Schiras and is without doubt one of the fairest and best in all Asia It consists of an exact Square enclos'd within high Walls of white Stone each Square being 150 Paces and in every one a large Gate through which you enter into a fair Walk that opens into four Rows of Shops each twenty Foot broad making a Cross-way in the middle whereof is a very high Turret full of large Windows built on four Arches of Stone which taking their beginning from thence cover the four Walks The Materials so neatly painted and polish'd that they out-vie Marble The Ground is also very curiously pav'd In four other Squares but much less than the former are four other small Cross-ways which have also a Turret in the middle of each from whence as from the great one run four other lesser Arched Walks of fifteen or sixteen Foot broad Almost in the middle under the great Turret or Arch is a Spring of Fresh Water which is brought thither in Pipes from Places far distant and convey'd from thence to all Parts of the City In the Bazar are sold all manner of Merchandises as well in the Shops by the Inhabitants as by Foreign Merchants who stay here all day to vend their Goods and return to their Lodgings in the Evening when the Bazar is lock'd up and guarded by a Company of Soldiers appointed for that purpose In some of these Shops are sold both Green Dry'd and Preserv'd Fruit as also In-land Bread call'd Hapas or Curichas But the Country-People which bring their Commodities to sell have no peculiar Shops but lay their Merchandise on Stalls before the Shops leaving a sufficient space between for the People to pass Near the Bazar is the Mint where they Coin the Laryns before-mention'd There are few Mosques here but amongst those which are there is one built round to represent Eternity after the same manner with the Alcaba or Holy Mosque at Mecha which Schach Abraham is said to have brought from Heaven On some Places thereof are Arabian Letters Cyphers and short Sentences graven after the Mosaick manner It is a low Structure having in stead of Windows onely Carv'd Ballisters The Entrance into the same is through a Copper Gate near which hangs a great Looking-glass There are also many Lamps some of which are kept continually burning and others hang onely for Ornament Some of the Persian Prophets lie here interr'd and amongst others one call'd Emir Ally Zedday Amir who if what they affirm upon Oath may be credited hath been there above 1500 Years viz. 600 Years before Mahomet yet nevertheless they stick not to affirm that he was a good Muselman or Mahumetan At Lar is the usual meeting-place of the Caravans or Cafilas which travel from Persia Querman and other Places to the Isle of Ormus and come from thence and
what occasion built we find not on the said Mountain but the greatest Wonder is how such a quantity of Brick or Stone could be carry'd up such a vast heighth it requiring above three hours time to get to the top by reason of the steepness of the Mountain Situation and Description of the City Saba The City Saba is by the Persians accounted to lie in eighty five Degrees of Longitude and in thirty of Northern Latitude but Olearius hath found the same to lie fifty six Minutes more Northerly and Rui Gonzales de Clavaco places the same in thirty Degrees and eighteen Minutes Northern Latitude The Plains about the City are in some places Morassy the City it self built on a Plain which on the right side hath the Mountain Elwend which rising exceeding high appears very pleasant at a distance This City which is not very big lies inclos'd with a slight Wall and hath many ruin'd Houses The glory of this City is the Gardens and Orchards which are full of Pomegrate and Almond-Trees Not far from the City the Inhabitants plant Rice and Cotton in which their chief Trade consists The City Rhey A day and a halfs Journey Eastward from Saba in the same Latitude lies a City call'd Rhey now very ruinous and the adjacent Countrey red and infertile occasion'd as the Persians say from a War rais'd against Hosseyn one of their great Saints by Omarsand who getting the better and having possess'd the Countrey by right of Conquest suddenly had a Curse upon his impiety in shedding innocent Blood for he had slain Hosseyn in Battel whereupon the City then populous and the Countrey fertile suddenly became desolate and barren Situation and Description the City Com. Eleven Leagues from Saba lies the City Com which according to the Persians observation lies in 85 Degrees and 40 Minutes Longitude and in 34 Degrees and 40 Minutes Northern Latitude but Olearius makes the same to lie 18 Minutes more Southerly viz. in 34. Degrees and 23 Minutâ—o Northem Latitude Com an ancient City and by Ptolomy call'd Guriane was formerly very big as appears by several Ruines of Houses and of an old Wall at a good distance round about it It lies in a Plain like Saba and being inclos'd within a Wall hath the Mountain Elwend on the right side which appears white with sandy tops at a great distance from whence descend two Streams which are convey'd through the City in a broad Chanel which by melting of the Snow in March often overflows much of the Town and some years the Flood hath been so great that it hath wash'd away many Houses but in the Summer it is pretty dry The Suburbs belonging to the City extend half a League When any Strangers come into this City the Women either through Superstition or the Jealousie of the Men are not suffer'd to shew themselves and especially to Frenchmen yet nevertheless they make shift sometimes to procure private access Description of the Village Casmabath A days Journey from Com lies the great Village Casmabath where the Houses are most of them joyn'd to one another with Arches Four Leagues from Com lies another Village call'd Caem Abao According to Texeira Erack comprises also the Cities Nahaoand Targazin and Damaoand formerly counted within the Jurisdiction of Aderbajon Davity tells us that Damaoand is the City which Minadoi names Diagman and places the same on the Borders between Persia properly so call'd and great Media Texeira also writes that the City Taharon is the same with Giem which Davity would have to be John the Persian's Guieche being the Metropolis of a Kingdom near Aderbajon Swaert also places in this Province the Countrey of Thaparstam which he supposes to be the ancient Pathienne a Countrey lying Northward and the Passage through inaccessible Mountains and troublesom Ways into Hircania but this is certainly the Countrey Taberstam which Texeira onely names with Hinel its Metropolis The City Casbin Casbin as the same Texeira and Olearius have it is a City belonging to the Province of Parthia or Erack notwithstanding John the Persian makes it a peculiar Kingdom and is in some Maps plac'd near Aderbajon in others farther towards the North-East than Rey Xarear It s Situation and Description The City Casbin or Caswin by others call'd Casbin and formerly Arsatia lies as the Persians and Arabians inform us in 85 Degrees Longitude and 36 Degrees and 15 Minutes Northern Latitude as Olearius hath also observ'd It is situate on a barren and sandy Plain about half a days Journey from which on the South side begin the high Mountains Elwend which extend South-West towards Bagdat or Babylon The City is a League in circumference hath no Walls nor any Soldiers in Garrison because it lies a great way from an Enemy yet as they say hath a hundred thousand Inhabitants out of which on all occasions a good Army might easily be rais'd The ordinary Houses are built of Stone after the Persian manner which though they seem mean on the out-side yet are handsome and well contriv'd within having several Apartments white or else curiously Painted All the Streets being unpav'd and the Ground naturally sandy the least Wind raises Dust and makes it very troublesom walking to the Inhabitants There are no Springs nor Wells but all the Water is convey'd from the Mountains in Pipes laid under Ground into publick Cisterns where it is free for every ones use There are also many Conservatories wherein they keep Ice and Snow to use in Summer The City hath two great Maidans or Market-places the chiefest whereof is call'd Atmaidan being somewhat longer than that of Ardebil though not so broad On the South side thereof stand large and magnificent Structures built most of them by the Princes or Chans of Persia In the Bazars or Shops of this Market-place as also in the Senke Maidan which lies more Westward commonly all manner of Rarities and rich Merchandizes are to be had at reasonable Rates especially Turkoises Rubies and Granates But after Sun-set another kind of Trade is driven on the East side of the Maidan viz. divers Cahbeha or Girls of Pleasure stand in a long Row with cover'd Faces holding up their Coats and behind every one of them an old Woman call'd Delal who carries a Cushion and Blanket or Cotton Quilt on their Backs and an unlighted Candle in their Hands which as soon as any one comes and discourses with the Cahbeha she lights and presents the Party whereupon he turning up their Vails bids her whom he fancies best follow him In this City are likewise above fifty Metzids or Temples Temples whither the Persians daily go to their Devotions the chiefest is Tzame Metzid towards the South not far from the Maidan where their Sabbath or Friday Meeting is principally celebrated There are also many well built Caravansera's for strange Merchants and likewise many publick Baths The King's Palace Near the great Maidan is a large and
a great Wood through which is a broad Way shadow'd by high Trees This Road is very plashy because many little Brooks run in it which in the Winter makes it so deep and rotten that the Camels though they have long Legs often sink up to the Knees Four Leagues from this Village lies a strong large and populous Place call'd Saru where the King hath a magnificent Palace and thereby has gain'd the repute of a City though consisting chiefly of a sort of Thatch'd Houses except a few scatter'd Dwellings that are Tyl'd It is call'd Saru which signifies Yellow from the abundance of Oranges and other yellowish Fruits that grow about the same Beyond Saru lie several great Plains which in former Ages were overgrown with Woods but since that being clear'd and Manur'd they are become very fertile and the Ways which then were very deep are now the Ground lying open to the Sun become very hard and some places of late made into Pav'd Cawseys These Plains are also inhabited by several People most of them Christians sent thither from divers Countreys An. 1620. to make several Plantations especially from Armenia and Georgia The Way from Saru hath all along the sides Houses rais'd onely of Boughs and Mud viz. of the Trees which were cut down in the same place by the Inhabitants to make the Countrey fit for Cultivation This Province is divided from the South to the North by the River Teggine Rude which taking original out of the Mountains more Southward of the Rice-Valley runs through it as also the City Ferhabad two thousand Paces from which it discharges its Waters into the Caspian Sea having in the Way receiv'd so many Brooks Streams and Rivulets that from the City Saru it is Navigable with flat-bottom'd Boats made on purpose of the Bodies of great Trees to Row with Oars Some of them can carry ten or twelve Men or Goods of the like Burthen The Townsmen of Ferhabad often go out a Fishing for their Pleasure into the Caspian Sea with such Boats and make use of them in the City to go from one place to another The Brook Cinon About a League from Ferhabad glides the Erook Cinon which also sends its Water into the Caspian Sea and is somewhat broader than the Teggine Rude The Countrey Lahetzan The County Lahetzan where the best Silk is to be had campriseth the Towns Lenkeru Cutzesbar and Amelekende The Countrey of Chusistan Situation of Chusistan with us several Denominations CHusistan that is The Countrey of Chus lies between Fars or Persia and the Stream Ditzel and was anciently by Mercator and since by Olearius call'd Susiana and as the same Olearius believes comprised Elam from whence came the Elamites Cluverius will have Chusistan to be the ancient Assyria and Susiana the Countrey at this Day call'd Elaran in which he partly agrees with Olearius Bounds of Susiana Susiana as Ptolomy saith conterminates in the North wiâ—h Assyria in the West with Babylon in the East hath * Properly so call'd Persia and in the South Borders at part of the Persian Gulf. Susiana compris'd anciently Meltilene Elimais Cabamene Characene Cissia Chaltapitis and the fertile Countrey of Dera The eminentest Rivers which water'd Susiana Rivers were Moseus Oroates by Ptolomy nam'd Rhunates by Ammianus Vatrochites and Euleus by the Prophet Daniel Ulai both which had such exceeding clear Water that the Kings would have no other to drink The Inhabitants of Susiana were Elamites and Cossites Inhabitants Chief Cities The chiefest City was anciently call'd Susa mention'd by Daniel in the place where he speaks of the destruction of Persia and foretells the beginning of the Grecian Monarchy It is now nam'd Desu not far from which was the Royal Palace Susan lying at the Stream Ulai by Pliny call'd Uleus where Ahassuerus who Reign'd over a hundred and twenty seven Provinces made the great Feast to all his Princes mention'd in sacred Writ The other populous and Trading Cities are Alewas Ramehormus Schabur Asker and Arhan The Inhabitants who have the Mountains to the Northward of them are forc'd by the violent heat to retire amongst them during the Summer Carmania or Kermon otherwise Kirman The several Names THis ancient Countrey by Ptolomy call'd Carmania is at this day nam'd Kirman and by Niger Kerman from its Metropolis According to Cluverius it compris'd anciently these Territories viz. Modomastice Parepaphitis Cabadine and Chantonice but at this day onely Kirman Goadel and Ormus It is inhabited by the ancient People Isaticheans Zuthians Gadanopidrans Camelobocians By what People inhabited Sozotes Agdenites Rhudians Arians Charadreans Pasargades and Armozens The ancient Cities were Carmania Samydace Alexandria and Armuze It is water'd by one River nam'd Samydace hath the Mountain Semiramis and the Wilderness Reobarle Kermon or Carmania is divided into two Parts the one Great Carmania Division which conterminates with the Sea and is by the Persians call'd Erach Ajan the other which lies farther into the Country and was anciently nam'd Wild Carmania hath now the Denomination of Dulcinde or as Corsal saith Rasigut Erack Ajan compriseth yet two Kingdoms viz. Macran and Guadel Besides these two Carmania's this Countrey comprehends Mogostan and the Kingdom of Ormus Wild Carmania borders according to Ptolomy in the North upon Parthia the West verges Persia the South looks upon Great Carmania and in the East it lies terminated by Aria The old Wild Carmania compriseth the well known Kingdoms of Lara and Oessa commonly call'd The Kingdom of Monbareca or Mombareck from the Name of the Governor besides the Countreys of Mogosthan The Countreys which lie to the Northward from the Tigris and Euphrates at the side of Persia were formerly possess'd by one Mombareck Son to a mighty Arabian which Texeira places hard by Bagdad or Babylon where there are many good Cities as Magdon Oexa and Ooreca surrounded with rich Land yet lying waste for fear of the Turks who have many Garrisons in this Mombareck's Countrey to guard those which pay him Tribute The greater Carmania borders in the North upon Wild Carmania in the East faces Gedrosia the West looks upon a part of Persia and a part of the Persian Gulf and the South is limited by the Indian Sea The River Bagrada so call'd by Ptolomy and plac'd in Wild Carmania is now nam'd Bintmir or as others Budmir by Niger Biserti and in the Arabick as Thevet affirms Biquelmick This Countrey Davity tells was possess'd by Zizaerian Arabians that formerly dwelt in Bassora Wild Carmania as Maginus writes hath not one City nor indeed doth Ptolomy mention any therein Great Carmania boasts the River Bassiri and the Cape Jasquette or Jasques about twenty five or twenty six Leagues from Ormus near the Persian Gulf opposite to Arabia Felix Ortelius says Ptolomy call'd it The Cape of Ormus Up into the Countrey lie the Towns Sirgian Tesirco Serent and Kirman or Kirmon the chief City of the Region
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
ARsaces the first Parthian King of Persia 2. Mithridates or Arsaces the Second invaded by Antiochus the Great but with little effect 3. Pampatius 4. Phraartes Son of Pampatius 5. Mithridates the Second Brother of Phraartes He conquer'd the Medes and very much enlarged his Dominion 6. Phraartes the Second 7. Artabanus Uncle to Phraartes the Second 8. Pacorus Son of Artabanus 9. Mithridates the Third the Brother of Pacorus 10. Horodes Brother of Mithridates whom he kill'd and took the Crown This was he that fought with and vanquish'd M. Crassus the great Roman Consul but brought under by Ventidius one of the Lieutenants of Mark Anthony and at last slain by his Son 11. Phraartes the Third who after a long War submitted himself and Kingdom to Augustus Caesar restoring the Ensigns and freeing the Captives taken at the Defeat of Crassus He was kill'd by his Son 12. Phraartes the Fourth who succeeded him 13. Horodes the Second Son of Phraartes the Fourth slain in a Tumult 14. Vonon took his Place but was depos'd by 15. Tiridates with whom the People being displeas'd for his submission to the Roman Power one Artabanus a Stranger to the Blood of the Arsacidae taking advantage thereof kill'd Tiridates seiz'd the Kingdom and became the Head of another Parthian Family of which we find upon Record the Names of twelve Kings as follows The third Dynastie 1. ARtabanus 2. Bardanes 3. Goteres 4. Vonones 5. Vologeses 6. Artabanus the Second 7. Pacorus 8. Chosroes who lost Armenia and Mesopotamia to the Emperor Trajan 9. Parmaspates 10. Vologeses the Second 11. Vologeses the Third 12. Artabanus the Third This was the last King of this new Parthian Race from whom the Diadem was once more translated to the natural Persians by Artaxerxes a Nobleman who became the Head of the next Race The fourth Dynastie of natural Persian Kings Anno Christi 228 1. ARtaxerxes the first Raiser of the Family 2. Sapores who took Prisoner the Emperor Valerianus 3. Ormisdates 4. Vararanes the First 5. Vararanes the Second 6. Vararanes the Third 7. Narses He discomfited Galerius and ruin'd his Army but was afterwards defeated by him 8. Misdates 9. Sapor the Second a great and puissant Prince but a Persecuter of the Christians 10. Artaxerxes the Second 11. Sapor the Third 12. Vararanes the Fourth 13. Isdigertes a great Favorite of the Emperor Arcadius 14. Vararanes the Fifth 15. Vararanes the Sixth 16. Peroses 17. Valens 18. Cabades depos'd a Friend to the Christians 19. Lambases 20. Cabades restor'd 21. Chosroes the Great a constant Enemy of the Romans 22. Hormisda 23. Chosroes the Second a great Enemy to the Emperor Heraclius from whom he took Mesopotamia Assyria and the Holy-Land which when the Emperor recover'd in despight he caus'd all the Christians to turn Nestorians 24. Siroes the First 25. Adhesir 26. Sarbatus 27. Barnarius 28. Hormisda the Second and the last of this Dynastie who being first weakned by Civil Dissentions was at last vanquish'd by Haumar a Saracen Calif who held it for a while These Arabians or Saracens carry'd it so absolutely that the Persians were forc'd to deny their Names but their Deputies quarrelling amongst themselves one Tangrolipix of the Turkish Race Founded a new Dynastie The fifth Dynastie being of the Turkish Line Anno Ghristi 1030 1. TAngrolipix the first Raiser of this House 2. Axan the Son of Tangrolipix He dispossess'd the Christians of a great part of Asia Minor 3. Balak Sultan of Persia in the beginning of the Wars in the Holy-Land 4. Cassanes the last of this Race being absolutely conquer'd by the Cham of Tartary An. 1202. The sixth Dynastie being Tartarian Kings of Persia Anno Christi 1260 1. THe Cham of Tartary having utterly extinguish'd the whole Family of the Galif of Bagdet in the Year 1260 made Haalon or Vlah Kukkan King of Persia and the first of that Line and was succeeded by his Son 2. Habkakaihon the Son of Haalon 3. Nikador-Oglan the Brother of Habkakaihon a Mahumetan 4. Argon Khon the eldest Son of Habkakaihon 5. Gemotakhon Brother of Argon 6. Badukhon Uncle to the last 7. Gazun the Son of Argon Khon who made Casbin his Imperial Seat 8. Aliapta who remov'd the Court to Tauris and built Sultania a City of Media 9. Abusaid the Son of Aliapta and the last of this House After his Death there was nothing but confusion every neighboring Prince seizing into his own hands what he could lay hold of till at last the Armenians got the Diadem and began the seventh Dynastie The seventh Dynastie Anno Christi 1472 1. Ussan Cassanes Son of Tracheton a poor Armenian Prince began this Dynastie by a Victory obtain'd against Zeuzes one of the most powerful Rulers of Persia and having held the Crown some years left it to his second Son 2. Jacub who beat the Mamaluckes out of Mesopotamia and Assyria but was at last poyson'd by his Wife 3. Julaver a Kinsman of Jacubs kill'd by 4. Baisinger a Prince of the Blood that liv'd in Adultery with Jacub's Wife 5. Rustan set upon by Aider or Schach Aider of the Sophian Race which now began to appear in great Eminence and Power 6. Alamat the last King of this House Fought with the beforemention'd Aider and slew him but his Son Ismael Sofi taking up the Quarrel and having overcome and slain Alamat and his Son Elwan he was Crown'd King or Shaugh of Persia and became Head of the present Royal Family in that Dominion The eighth Dynastie being of the Sophian Race Anno Christi 1505 1. Ismael Sofi the Founder of this Family had great Wars with the Turks especially with Selimus the First 2. Tamas the Son of Ismael overcome in some Fields by Solyman the Magnificent who tore from him divers great Countreys having been part of his Dominions 3. Aider the second Son of Tamas by the Imprisonment of his Brother seiz'd the Kingdom but was quickly depriv'd of it and made away by his own Sister Periancona 4. Ismael the Second eldest Son of Tamas Reigned two years at the end of which he was murther'd by the same Periancona his Sister 5. Mahomet Chodabend being advanc'd to the Throne immediately caus'd her to be Beheaded Before he was well setled Amurath the Third took from him a great part of Armenia Media and Georgia 6. Abas commonly call'd Schach Abbas second Son of Chodabende having murther'd his elder Brother stept into the Throne and undertaking with great resolution the War against the Turks regain'd the greatest part of what his Predecessor had lost and withal made a large addition of the Kingdoms of Ormus Heri Candahor and Hircania 7. Soffye the Nephew of Abas by his Son Myrza succeeded his Uncle at the age of fifteen years but after his coming to age very fortunately maintain'd the War against the Turks The Countrey of Georgia Extent of Georgia THis Countrey comprehends all that Land which the Ancients nam'd Colchos
Journal ten thousand Curdes Subjects to the Turk deserting their Countrey went and desir'd other Lands of Schach Abbas King of Persia who giving them a sufficient Maintenance occasion'd a War between the Turks and Persians They have absolute Command in some parts of their Territory as in Gozire a City of Mesopotamia built on an Isle in the River Tigris and in the Mountains by the Inhabitants call'd Tor. The Inhabitants are very valiant and are look'd upon to be able to do great prejudice to the Turk against whom they commonly maintain War Their Arms are Bowes Arrows Shields and Simiters Their Religion Their Religion is that of the Mahumetans either according to the Turkish or Persian way as they see convenient Moreover they are strongly inclin'd to divers Superstitions which are peculiar to them and savor much of Idolatry Some affirm that they worship the Devil because he should not do them or their Cattel any hurt Many Chaldean Christians of the Sect of the Nestorians or Jacobites live in the Dominion of the Curdes and Serve them in the Wars THE EMPIRE OF THE Great Mogol AND INDIA Of India in general India why so call'd INDIA is so call'd from the River Indus and the Word East generally added to India because it is the most Easterly part of Asia and hence America or the New-found World has borrow'd the Name of West-India in opposition to it It s Division Extent and Bounds Ptolomy affirms that anciently and to this day India is divided into two great parts whereof one which extends from the River Indus to Ganges is by the Persians call'd Indostan that is The Countrey of Indus and by the Greek and Latine Writers India intra Gangem or India within Ganges The other part is call'd Mangi or India extra Gangem or Without Ganges The first comprehends all the Countreys under the Great Mogol's Jurisdiction as also the Kingdom of Narsinga or Bisnagar Kannara Orixa the Coast of Cormandel and Malabar the Kingdom of Golconda and many others The second part without Ganges contains the Kingdom of Bengala Arracan Pegu Siam Malacca Cambaya Champa or Tzampa Lao Cochinchina besides many lesser and lastly the vast Empire of China Both these parts also comprehend divers Islands amongst which Japan if so it be is the most Eastern as also the most eminent This whole vast Countrey according to the ancient and modern Writers conterminates on the West with the River Indus the Countrey of Arachosia and Gedrosia on the South with the Indian Sea on the East with the Eastern Shore and on the North with some Branches of Mount Taurus or Imaus a part of Taurus Texeira tells us that India begins at the end of the Kingdom of Macran The largeness of its Circuit lying in 106 Degrees of Longitude and extends to 159 from East to West a Degree being reckon'd to be fifteen Leagues a Tract of eight hundred Leagues in a direct Line India also extends from North to South from the Equinox to the Cape of Malacca almost to the 40. Degree the utmost part of China a Tract of about six hundred Leagues not reckoning the Indian Isles some of which lie a great way to the Southward of the Equinoctial The most eminent Rivers of India are the Indus and Ganges Rivers which come from the Northward out of the Mountains Imaus and Caucasus by the Inhabitants according to Castaldus call'd Dalanguer and Nangracot and both as the Inhabitants affirm spring from one Head though some Geographers make the distance between them to be a hundred and eighty Leagues and others but a hundred and thirty though the first seems most probable because the Ganges takes its course Easterly and the Indus Westerly Philostratus places the Head of the River Indus in Mount Caucasus and makes the same in some places to be a League and a half broad and transplanting abundance of Soil along with it which like the Nile in Egypt makes the adjacent Grounds exceeding fertile MAGNI MOGOLIS IMPERIVM The Course of the River Indus The Indus or Send thus enrich'd with the Waters of other Rivers takes its course Southward through the Provinces of Attack Backor and Tatta and near the City Dul which gives its Denomination to the same it discharges its Water through two Mouths into the Ocean and not through seven as Texeira affirms These Openings are in 23 Degrees and 35 Minutes Northern Latitude Most Maps and many Geographers are greatly mistaken in placing this River as if it fell into the Sea near the utmost Point of the Gulf of Cambaya but this is a great error and as wide from the truth as the whole Countrey of Zuratte is broad for the Indus runs not from the East to Zuratte as it should do if it disembogu'd at Cambaya but the River which discharges its Water into the Bay of Cambaya is another call'd Mehi The River Indus hath divers Isles especially near its Mouth which are very pleasant and fruitful and one City nam'd Varaxes Pliny affirms that nineteen Rivers contribute their Waters to the Indus the chiefest whereof are the Hydaspes now call'd Moltan which receives four other lesser Streams the Catabra the Hypasis and Acesina The Course of the River Ganges The River Ganges now call'd Gangia arises from Mount Caucasus and bends its course to the South through or between the Rocks of the Province of Siba and soon after becomes very broad then proceeding on its course Southward it receives by the way the Waters of thirty Rivers as Ananias saith or according to Pliny ninety so that it swells exceedingly and spreads above four Miles in breadth yet not above eight Fathom deep and at last after a long course falls through many Mouths into the Sea the chiefest whereof and most Westerly is Satigan or Satiguam so call'd from a City of that Name built on its Banks a Sea-port Town where the Portuguese us'd to drive a great Trade the other being the most Easterly is also near a famous Sea-Harbor and is call'd Chatigan both which are under the Jurisdiction of the Kingdom of Bengala The Ganges at last discharges its Water through two noted Mouths into the Bay of Bengala These Mouths Ptolomy places in the eighteenth and nineteenth Degree of Northern Latitude but Barros and Linschot set them in twenty two or twenty two Degrees and a half Accounted holy and why Those of Bengala as the same Linschot writes affirm the Head of Ganges to be in the terrestrial Paradise and therefore account the Water thereof holy and for that cause the Benjans and other Indian Heathens go thither in Pilgrimage to bathe themselves and to drink of it and the Inhabitants of Bengala lying on their Death-beds cause themselves to be thrown into the said River or at least to have their Feet dipt in A Pint of Water a thing very remarkable of the Ganges Lighter than other Water is not above half so heavy as that of
Persons of Quality drink is Persian Wine they also drink Spirits distill'd out of Dates and Sugar also Palm-Wine call'd Terri or Tori which they drink when fresh tapt out of the Palm-trees The Habits of the Mogollans The Habits both of Men and Women are almost of one and the same fashion and made either of Cotton-Linnen or Silk or Cloth of Tissue each according to his Degree and Quality Their Coats call'd Cabaya are narrow at the top and close about their middle hanging down to their Knees Their Breeches hang in divers Pleits down to their Feet Their Shoes made after the fashion of the Countrey either of Leather or rich Silk they tread down at the Heels that they may pull them off with the more ease when they go into their Temples or Houses or sit down on their Floors which are cover'd with white Carpets On their Heads they wear Turbants after the Turkish manner generally made of fine white or red Callico wrought with Silk and Gold which they never take off when they salute one another About their Shoulders both noble and ignoble wear in stead of a Cloak a yellow red green white or other colour'd Cloth call'd Pomerys against the Cold or Rain About their Middle they wear a Girdle wrought with Gold and Silk and over it another small white Linnen one pleited Persons of Quality wear a short Sword or Dagger by their Sides the Hilt and Scabberd being of Gold and often beset with Precious Stones this Weapon they call Ginda or Kitteren The Women commonly adorn themselves with Diamonds and Pearls and also wear Gold and Silver Pendants and Armlets each according to their Qualities Christians disperced all over India In divers places of India are many Christians from all parts of Europe as also Jews and native Heathens converted to Christianity by the Catholicks and Protestants residing amongst them Moreover there are Thomists or Followers of St. Thomas in the Countrey Language call'd Armenians Abyssines c. each of a peculiar Sect. In Zurratte is a Sect or Tribe of Heathens which the Moors call Guenure the Persians Atexperes Zarduxt Kebbers and Gauri and the Indians Persi which Name they give themselves because they derive their original out of Persia Thus much concerning India in general we shall now give a Description of the Mogol's Realm and Kingdom in particular running through all the Provinces in order into which this whole Kingdom is divided The Realm of the Groat Mogol otherwise Hindostan or Indostan The Bounds of the Kingdom THe Kingdom of the Great Mogol or Mogor which for its bigness and Power over the Substitute Kingdoms deserves the Name of Empire is on the West bounded by the River Indus and Eastward by the Ganges in the South it verges with one part at the Ocean and with the other at the Kingdom of Cuncan or Visiapour in the North it borders at Usbeck the Mountains of Tibeth and the Kingdoms of Srinagar Caparangue and Radock and lastly in the East at the Kingdom of Neckbal Edward Terry makes this Kingdom border in the East at the Kingdom of Maug or Mavy in the West at Persia in the South at the Ocean the Kingdom of Decan and Gulph of Bengala and in the North at the Mountains of Caucasus and Tartary Texeira conterminates the same on one side onely with the Indus and on the other with the Ganges According to Peruschi the Mogols Kingdom is properly the Main Land lying between the Indus and Ganges just like the Holy Land between the Tigris and Euphrates Others as Bulaye le Gouze and Daviti bound this Kingdom in the North at the Countrey of the Great Cham of Tartary and at Samarcan in the South at the Kingdom of Visiapour the Gulph of Bengala the great Indian Sea Diu and Damaon both Countreys lying under the Jurisdiction of the Portuguese in the East at the Kingdom of Pegou Edrabat and Thebet in the West at Agemistan or the Empire of the Schach or King of Persia But there can be no certain Boundaries ascrib'd to this Kingdom because of the continual losing of old and taking in of new Provinces Anno 1582. the Mogol's Dominions extended Northward to the Mountain Imaus now call'd Cumae which separates the Mogol's from the Tartars in the South it border'd at Calecut the Gulph of Bengala and the Indian Sea along Cambaya in the East at the utmost Borders of Bengala in the West at the Stream Indus and the Border of Persia This Countrey of the Mogols compris'd within these Bounds viz. from the River Indus to Ganges the Ancients call'd Inward India or India within the Ganges otherwise Indostan or Hindostan that is The Countrey of the Indus for Stan signifies Countrey The Circumference and Extent The Circumference of the whole Realm was at that time 900 French Miles the Length from East to West 600 and the Breadth from North to South 400. Others affirm That it is at least a thousand Cos from East to West two Cos being an English League or three Miles Terry tells That this Kingdom 1615. had in length from the North-west to the South-west above 2000 English Miles and from North to South about 1400 laying the utmost South Point in twenty and the utmost North Point in forty three Degrees of Northern Latitude And that the Breadth at that time from the North-east to the South-west was about 1500 English Miles The Division Purchas according to the Instructions of Mr. Hawkins divides the Realm of the Great Mogol into five Kingdoms the first whereof is call'd Pengab by Davity taken to be the Countrey lying near the River Hind otherwise call'd Pangab which signifies Five Waters the Metropolis whereof is call'd Lahor the second Bengala its Metropolis being Sonargham the third Malua with its Metropolis Vagain the fourth Decan whose Chief City is Barampor the fifth Cambay with the City Amadavar Boterus maintains That the Great Mogol Governs over forty seven Kingdoms According to Edward Terry the Great Mogol Anno 1615. had thirty seven Provinces anciently peculiar Kingdoms under his Subjection the Names whereof being by him copied out of the Mogol's Books of Account are these Candahor Cabul Multan Haiacan or Bolochi Buckar Tatta Soret Jesselmeera Attak Peniab Chismeere Banchish Jengapore Delii Bando Malway Gwaliar Ayra Sanbat Bakar Chytor Guzarat Chandis Berar Narvar Nagrakat Siba Cacares Gor Petan Canduana Patna Jesuat Mevat Udessa and Prugale A Province is by the Inhabitants call'd Soubach The South side of the Mogol's Countrey between the Bay of Cambaya and that of Bengala extends a vast way Southerly in the form of a Triangle There are neither Gold nor Silver Mines in Hindostan Bengala a fertile and rich Kingdom The Kingdom of Bengala is exceeding fruitful the whole Countrey being stor'd with rich Commodities as Silk Cotton Indico and the like This spacious Countrey possesses fruitful Plains and abundance of all sorts of Provisions it lying between the two great
whom the Great Mogol is displeas'd The Skins of the foremention'd Chans being stuff'd were hung on a high Pole erected near the Maidan and their Flesh thrown to the Dogs Soon after which the King caus'd their Wives and Children to be Beheaded and sent out Soldiers to kill their Relations which dwelt up and down in the Countrey which was accordingly perform'd and their Heads brought before the King The Court Splendor Magnificence and Riches of the Great Mogol THe Ancient Seat of the Mogol Kings was at Deli but King Ecbar remov'd his Court to Agra and by reason of the loss of his two Sons there built another Magnificent Palace and call'd the same Pateful or Fatefur Since the Conquering of the Kingdom of Lahor the Metropolis thereof being of the same denomination with the Kingdom was chose to be the Royal Seat of the Kings Texeira tells us That the King spends one part of the Year in the City Lahor and the other in Agra the two eminentest Cities of the Kingdom and in the Heart of Indostan Others affirm That the City Agra is the Chief Residence of the King in the Winter besides which he hath several other Towns and Fortresses wherein he resides in the Summer Season viz. from the latter end of March till the beginning of August sometimes at Gasmir sometimes at Cabul and sometimes in Mandoa The King's Houses are generally built of Marble or white Alabaster and the Wall 's inlaid with Gold The Description of the Mogols Court at Lahor The Court at Lahor is seated in a very delightful place near the River Zunnenena being inclos'd within a fair Freestone Wall on which are mounted several Guns On that side which is towards the City it hath a Gate or Entrance before which is a spacious Quadrangular Plain on which the most eminent Traders keep their Shops On each side of the Gate is a huge Elephant cut in Stone where stand several Centinels About half a Mile inwards from the Gate you come to the Namchas or the Court where the King appears daily to his Subjects which being a large Place is built round with Lodgings for the Amurouwen or Nobles who stay in them till the King comes to his Throne when every one of them must appear before him standing in their several Places The King's Throne is first encompass'd with a large Wooden Rail within which stand all the Servants with Wooden Clubs and within this Rail is another of Silver about which stand the Kings Guards clad in red Cloth embroyder'd with Gold and Arm'd with Swords Shields and Silver Truncheons Within this Rail lie many rich Golden Quilts In the midst of the Square stands the Throne rais'd about a Mans height from the Ground and is of massy Gold emboss'd with Precious Stones and richly enamell'd As to what concerns the Kings Attendance at Court it is very Magnificent and exceeds all the other Eastern Princes The Persons which wait upon him daily are 12000 in number besides 1200 Concubines and 600 Eunuchs which he buying as Slaves trains them up in all manner of Warlike Exercises so to enable them to serve him on any occasion t' Hof vanden grooten Mogol Assafchan Lord of twelve thousand Horse on an Elephant Matemetchan Lord of five thousand Horse Assaletchan Lord of four thousand Horse Chalilchan Lord of three thousand Horse Serrendas Bhadux Lord of two thousand Horse Mocker Metchan and Jufferchan each of them Lord of five thousand Horse The Contelwael of the Army Lord of a thousand Horse Zabberdeischan Lord of a thousand Horse Chaine Waschan and Terbiatchan each of them Lord of three thousand Horse The King 's second Son Sultan Siousa Lord of twenty five thousand Horse accompany'd by the following Noblemen ziz Zatschan Lord of five thousand Horse Ragia Siessing Commander of seven thousand Horse Nosebetchan Lord of three thousand Horse Ragia Ammersing Lord of five thousand Horse All which were to meet with these Lords following about Candahar viz. Noosserichan Commander of seven thousand Horse Chanchan and Chamia Statchan each Commanders of seven thousand Horse Vasuerchan and Zeldchan each Commanding five thousand Horse A Ragia Governor of Candahar Commander of ten thousand Horse besides many other Grandees as well Ragias as Eunuchs of great Command The King's Train Behind the King came about a hundred and fifty Elephants with Blunderbusses and Field-Pieces fastned in little Towers on their Backs then came a great number of Soldiers carrying several Fire-works as also a mighty Train of Horse and Foot and the Eunuchs of Zackebbegem the King's Daughter famous for her Beauty sitting in a Chair which being cover'd with Cloth of Gold and rich Embroidery was carry'd on the Backs of two Elephants accompany'd by four hundred Ladies on Horseback and in Sedans besides sixty of seventy Elephants which in Houses cover'd with Sarsanet carry'd also many Ladies of Honor Before the King's Children came several hundreds of Horses richly caparison'd with golden Saddles and Bridles beset with Diamonds Rubies and Saphires the rest with silver Saddles and Bridles next follow'd sixty or seventy Elephants with the King's Standards and golden Caparisons then came twenty Wayns with four Wheels and a hundred with two as also fifty Palakins and Sedans all richly cover'd The King's Baggage was laden on several hundreds of Wayns Camels and Mules besides three hundred Elephants which carry'd the Tents and Ammunition Upon the King's coming to Lahor the Chancellor Asselchan dying Issalamchan Lord of five thousand Horse and Governor of Bengala being chosen in his stead went on the tenth of September through Agra to Lahor There also dy'd Matemetchan General of the King's Horse which Office he gave to the Duke of Asselletchan The King not long after sent for his second Son Sultan Siousa from Candahar to Lahor whe he was no sooner come but he had the Government of the great and little Kingdoms of Bengala given him whither he went with Hastchan a Commander of five thousand Horse After his departure the King went with his whole Army to Cabul but without effecting any thing At the same time the Mogol sent an Ambassador to the Tartar with an exceeding rich Present valu'd at thirty six thousand pound in return for which he sent an Agent with forty or fifty lame Horses seventy starv'd Camels and a hundred Sheep whereby it appear'd how little he regarded the Mogol The splendor King Choram's Court King Choram kept an incomparable splendid Court his Dishes Basons Urns Kitchin Utensils Candlesticks which ten Men were scarce able to carry the Poles which supported his Tents the Palakins the Houses on the Elephants Bridles and Stirrups for the Horses Sedans and Chariots of his Concubines Bedsteads and many other things being all of Gold and beset with Diamonds Rubies Emeraulds Pearls and other Precious Stones This King also wore an Armlet of Diamonds valu'd at ten Tuns of Gold the biggest thereof weighing above a hundred and twenty Carracks was ground oval and
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
restor'd Hamayon to his Kingdom and slew the Rebel Xyrcan A Tartarian Prince settles in India and becomes Founder of the Royal Family there Della Valle writes That a Nephew of one of the Tartarian Princes after Tamerlane had distributed his vast Dominions amongst his Children and Grandchildren travell'd over the Mountain Imaus or Taurus to seek his Fortunes in India at a Prince's Court who possess'd a great part of the Countrey where by means of the chiefest Persons in the Kingdom and many good Services done for the State he so insinuated himself that he got firm footing in the Countrey insomuch that in process of time and several vicissitudes one of his Successors attain'd to the Throne and was made the Founder of the Royal House which Reigns at present and of which Schach Selim who Reign'd about the Year 1620 was the Fourth The Successor of Hamayon Myrza was his Son Gelaladin Eckbar or Ackbar or Akebar otherwise Achabar that is Great or Most powerful Peruschi calls him Mahomet Zelabdin He was born in a Territory call'd Chaquata which lies Northward between the Tartars and Persians and borders Southward upon India SCHACH SELIM Ecbars Death and Character This Eckbar dy'd on the twenty seventh day of October Anno 1605. in the sixty third year of his Age He was belov'd by all his Subjects fear'd by his Nobles and courteous to all he deported himself with equal moderation to Strangers and to the Natives whether Christians Mahumetans or Heathens which oblig'd all Parties to him and rendred them devoted to his Service He Pray'd to God constantly every Morning and Evening Noon and Midnight abhorr'd Cruelties insomuch that by virtue of a Law made by him none were to die unless Sentence had been pronounc'd against them three times and easily pardon'd Criminals if they could but make any reasonable Excuse Mean Presents he receiv'd with as great kindness as those of biggest value regarding onely the good will of the Presenter He fed sparingly eating Flesh not above three or four times in a year the rest of the time his Diet being Rice Milk and Preserves He gave Audience to his Subjects and others twice a day out of a Window He could neither Write nor Read yet nevertheless understood very well all the Affairs of his Realm for the News that his Deputies writ him from all Places he caus'd to be read to him as also several Books He made strict enquiry of Strangers concerning the Power of their Princes and manner of Traffick He order'd a silver Bell to be hung at a Chain of fifteen yards long to the end that all those who could not obtain Justice from his Officers should come and complain to him thereof giving him notice of their being there by pulling the Bell which he no sooner heard but immediately came forth and saw that they had Right done them He had three Sons and two Daughters the eldest who succeeded him in his Throne was Scieco to which as a Title of Honor was added Gio which in the Countrey Language signifies Soul so that Scieco-Gio signifies The Soul or Person of Scieco The second was call'd Pahari by Jarrick Sultan Morad and by Peruschi Sultan Horad who being deliver'd to some Jesuits to be instructed by them in the Romish Religion was slain in the Wars of Decan The third was call'd Dan or Daniel Texeira calls the eldest Xequa Patxa the second Pary Patxa who dy'd of some Distemper Anno 1602 and the third Sabelxa Patxa But the eldest is by Purchas Della Valle and others generally call'd Selim. Scieco Gio succeeds his Father by the Name of Schach Selim. When Scach Selim was born his Father nam'd him Sceichu for Eckbar who till that time had no Male issue believ'd that he had obtain'd him from God by the Prayers of one Schach a Man accounted very holy and religious But his Father about the twelfth or thirteenth year of his Age changing his first Name according to the Custom of the Countrey call'd him Schach Selim which in the Arabick signifies A Peaceable King supposing this Name to agree best with his Temper and Disposition On the the eighth day after Eckbar's Death Selim in the beginning of his Reign to gain the favor and good opinion of the Mahumetans whom he had promis'd to defend their Laws caus'd their Temples to be cleans'd and took upon him the Name of Nurdin Mahumed Jahanair or according to Della Valle Nura Eddin Muchamed Gihon Ghir that is The Light of the Belief of Mahomet and Conqueror of the World because he publickly declar'd to be a Mahumetan notwithstanding in his heart he neither esteem'd Mahomet nor his Laws nor did he regard any Religion yet he kept the Name of Schach Selim by which he was call'd amongst the common People This Scach Selim amongst all his Women had one who was acknowledg'd as a Queen and being honor'd above all the Ladies of his Court bore a great sway nothing being done in the Kingdom but by her Conduct and Power She was a native Indian but of Persian Blood viz. Daughter to a Persian who deserting his native Countrey came into India to serve the Great Mogol as many Persians do who for the many good Services which he had done him made him a Chan and Vice-Roy of a Province A Persian Lady gains to be made Queen by her resolute Carriage This Queen was first Marry'd to another Persian Nobleman who was also in the Mogol's Service after whose Death by some means or other she came acquainted with Schach Selim who falling in love with her desir'd her to go into his Haram or Seraglio amongst his other Concubines which she modestly refusing said That she had once been the Wife of one who in all Places had given proofs of his Valor being never daunted by any of his Enemies Moreover that she was the Daughter of such a Father as accounted Honor the greatest Good wherefore she could never be brought to forget her self so much as to be guilty of any unchaste Action neither would her Birth and Quality permit her to be put into the King 's Haram and us'd as a common Slavess but if the King had so great an Affection for her as to make her his lawful Consort she should never be wanting in the Duty which she ow'd to the King but at all times be subject and ready to obey his Commands This her bold Answer so incens'd the King that it wanted very little but he had forc'd her to Marry one of those Persons call'd Halalchor who are those that without scruple eat of all sorts of Meat and are the most despicable and scorn'd People of all India yet nevertheless she remain'd so firm and constant that she resolv'd rather to die than change her Mind The King more and more overcome by her Beauty at last consulted to Marry her as his lawful Wife and caus'd her to be acknowledg'd as Queen and chief of all the King 's Haram which
design had not the Hollanders assisted teaching them to spring a Mine which overthrowing a piece of a Wall drove the Besieg'd to the utmost extremity But this Conquest did not a little advantage his Design the fame thereof being spread all over the Countrey That Moradbech had won Surat by springing a Mine Which sounded strange in the Indians Ears who till that time knew not the Invention Yet notwithstanding all this Fame and good success in the beginning added to the continual Letters and great Promises from Oranchzef the Eunuch Chan Abas a Man of great Understanding Courage and really inclin'd to his Master's Interest did not at all approve of Moradbech's joyning with Oranchzef thinking it much better to keep him in suspence with Words and let him march to Agra whilst they might receive certain News of Schach Jehan's death advising him also to Fortifie Surat which was a good Place and would make him Master of a great Tract of Land and large Revenues and by degrees he might secure Brampour which is a great Through-fare and as it were the Key to Decan But the continual flattering Letters from Oranchzef added to the small Forces Goods and Moneys which he had besides his Ambition to Govern absolutely made him slighting all advice march from Amadabad and desert Surat and go through Woods and over Mountains to be the sooner at the Place of Randezvouze where Oranchzef had staid expecting him two or three days Oranchzef and Moradbech joyn Great demonstrations of Joy were exprest in high Feasting at the meeting of the two Armies The Princes visiting one another Oranchzef made thousands of Promises to Moradbech alledging anew That he had no pretence at all to the Crown nor any other Design but to assist him against Darasja their common Enemy and settle him on the Throne After this meeting and confirming of Friendship the two Armies March'd together Oranchzef still continuing his Promises and Protestations of Kindness to his Brother and treating him both in Private and Publick like a King which perswaded Moradbech into a certain belief that Oranchzef was real in his intentions and that his exceeding love towards him made him so submissive and therefore willingly and without returning the like Ceremonies he receiv'd the Services shew'd him by his Brother in stead of thinking on what had hapned in Golconda and considering that he who had with such great danger adventur'd to conquer a Kingdom was not inclin'd to live and die like a Fakier They march forward These two Armies thus united made a considerable Body which made a great noise at the Court and gave cause of fear not onely to Darasja but to Schach Jehan himself who knew the Policy and Subtilness of Oranchzef and the Valor of Moradbech and also foresaw that a Fire once kindled was not so easily quench'd Wherefore Schach Jean wrote divers Letters in a courteous Style to this effect That he was now better in health That they should return each to his Government and that he pardon'd and forgot all which had been hitherto acted But these Letters kept them not from coming forward And as Schach Jehan's Distemper was reported to be mortal and they wanted no Intelligence so they always said and perhaps believ'd the same that the Letters were writ by Darasja that Schach Jehan was either dead or lay a dying and that they were resolv'd if he liv'd to kiss his Feet and deliver him out of the Hands of Darasja The Mogol raises Forces though unwillingly The unfortunate Mogol observing that his Sons regarded not his Commands and hearing that they hastned in the Head of their Army towards Agra whilst he lay sick in the custody of Darasja a Man who design'd nothing but War and the destruction of his Brothers was necessitated in this extremity to leave his Treasures at his disposal and sending for his eldest and trustiest Officers whom he knew had no very great kindness for Darasja commanded them to fight for Darasja against the rest of his Blood against his Children and against those whom they most respected In order whereunto he immediately sent an Army to meet Sultan Chasausa who was come nearest to Agra and made ready another to send against Oranchzef and Moradbech who also approach'd the Metropolis Soliman Chekouh Darasjas Son made General against Chasausa Soliman Chekouh eldest Son to Darasja a Prince about twenty five Years old of a well-shap'd Body good Conduct Courteous and belov'd by most Persons especially Schach Jehan who had already enrich'd him and design'd to make him his Successor rather than Darasja was made General of this Army against Chasausa Schach Jehan nevertheless who rather desir'd to see Chasausa return to Bengala than to engage in a bloody Fight which must undoubtedly prove very hurtful besides the danger of losing one of his Sons sent an ancient Raja call'd Jesseingue one of the richest and most powerful of all Indostan and the ablest in his whole Realm to accompany this young General with private Orders not to engage in a Battel unless forc'd thereto but endeavor by all means possible to perswade Chasausa to return and save his Forces till there was more need to use them viz. when Schach Jehan should be dead and he see Oranchzef and Moradbech approach the Court But as this young Prince Soliman Chekouh full of Courage thought on nothing but how by some Heroick Exploit he might make himself Famous and Sultan Chasausa fear'd that Oranchzef by the winning of a Field-Battel would first make himself Master of the Treasures and Cities of Agra and Deli So it was impossible for Raja Jesseingue to prevent their engaging one with another For the two Armies were no sooner in sight but they prepar'd to fight He fights Chasausa's Army and gets the Victory and staid not long before they saluted each other with a Volley of small Shot The first On-set was very fierce on both parts but at last Soliman Chekouh with great force and eagerness broke the Ranks of Chasausa and forcing him to retreat soon after put his whole Army to flight insomuch that if Jesseingue and Patan Delickan one of the Chiefest Commanders and valiantest Men but a private Friend to Raja without whose advice he did nothing had faithfully assisted him Chasausa's whole Army had been destroy'd and he himself in danger of being made a Prisoner But Raja besides that he was commanded to the contrary was too subtile to lay Hands on a Prince of the Blood and Son to the King so that he gave Chasausa time to retreat without losing of many People But because Soliman Chekouh was Master of the Feld and had gotten some Guns the Report immediately went at Court that Chasausa was utterly destroy'd This Victory made Soliman Chekouh very famous and lessening the esteem which the People formerly had of Chasausa made all the Hearts of the Persians which were formerly inclining to him grow very cold The young Prince having spent
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
noted Towns are Sim the Chief of a County Sapurgan and Baglian Most of the Inhabitants are Benjans Their Houses are low and small They possess two strong Castles in one of which King Babar was born By reason of the abundance of Robbers spread through all the Countrey they us'd to spend three Moneths in the Journey from Cabul to Lahor whereas now they finish it in twenty days for a certain King of Cabul to prevent all Robberies caus'd very strong Houses to be built along the High-way in stead of Inns at a certain distance one from another and put Soldiers to inhabit the same by which means many of those Places are grown very populous and become Towns This Countrey produces a certain Fruit by the Druggists generally call'd Mirabalones It hath this many years been under the Mogol's Jurisdiction and generally maintains twelve or fifteen thousand Men in Arms for a Defence against the Persians Augans Balouchs and other Inhabiters of the Mountains Between Candahar and Cabul dwell a People in the Mountains call'd Afgans or Augans which range up and down the Countrey without having any certain Habitations but live onely by Robbing like the Arabians and demand Toll from such as travel through their Countrey The Territory of Multan THe Territory of Multan The Borders by Texeira Multon borders on the North at Candahar and Cabul on the West at Persia on the South at Haiacan or the Countrey of the Balouchs and in the South on Penjab Daviti Texeira and others place it far into the Countrey from Indus or Indostan and as it were in the heart of this great Countrey making it to border at the Kingdom of Mandou and the Countrey of the Hindouns but certainly they understand by Multan the Kingdom of Lahor otherwise Penjab which lies farther into the Countrey The Metropolis thereof according to Terry and Ananias bears the Name of Multan though Texeira makes Lahor the chief City of the Kingdom and affirms that the Multans dwell in the Countrey of Lahor Excellent Bowes and Arrows This Countrey is famous for the many excellent Bowes and Arrows which are made in it and are better and much neater than any other in all India The Bowes are made of Horn curiously joyn'd the Arrows are of small Canes both richly colour'd and varnish'd The Countreys of the Bullochs or Bobochs or Kingdom of Ballochy otherwise Haican or Hangi-Chan THe Countrey of the Bullochs is properly call'd Haiacan The Borders or Hiacan and by others Hangican It borders Northerly at the Province of Multan Eastward at the Province of Penjab and the River Indus South-East at Buckor Southward at the Territory of Taffa and Westward at the Mountains which separate Persia from India Some make this Countrey border on one side of the Pattans or Bottans Terry saith that this Countrey hath no nominated City but Davity calls the Metropolis Buckara which lies on the midst of an Island in the River Indus Others make Seckara the first City towards the side of the Kingdom of Multan But Buckara and Seckara seem to be one and the same City and is by Terry made the Metropolis of the Province of Suckor Next you come to the City Gorra after having travell'd three days through great Woods and five days farther to that of Norry the least Town in this Countrey towards the side of the Pattans This is perhaps that City which Ananias from the information of the Persian Anvadet calls Negariot The nature of the People The Bullochs who are Neighbors to the Pattans are a very resolute strong valiant and mighty People like Agents though mild in their Conversation yet stubborn Man-eaters Robbers and Pyrates yet some affirm that they are a very faithful People and will rather lose their Lives than suffer any as they travel in the Caravans to have their Goods taken away by Robbers They maintain themselves by carrying of Goods from Place to Place on Camels and other Beasts of Burthen of which they keep many They also till their Lands and worship the Sun The Province of Buckar or Buckor THe Province of Buckor or Buckar The Borders is divided by the River Indus to its great benefit It borders on the North on the Territory of Haiacan and Astack in the East at Jesselmeer in the South at Tatta and in the West at Haiacan before mention'd Terry calls the chief City of this Province Buckor-Suckor lying in an Island on the River Indus Others call this City Buckara or Buckero and Suckera and make it to be the Metropolis of the Countrey of the Bullochs and some as we said before make it to be the Metropolis of Multan The Trade of Suckera At Suckera a great Trade is driven with Indian Clothes and other Commodities The Inhabitants are Mahumetans The Chan or Governor which the Mogol keeps at Buckor-Suckor generally keeps a great number of Soldiers in the Castle to curb the Bullochs who are exceedingly addicted to Mutinying The Kingdom of Send or Sind otherwise call'd Diu and Tatta The Name and Borders THe Kingdom of Send or Sind so call'd by the English Portuguese and Spanish from its chief River Send or Sind anciently Indus near which it lies and by Terry from its Metropolis Tatta or the Countrey of the Abinds and by the Arabians The Kingdom of Diu Maffaeus seems to call it Dulcinde and makes it border in the South upon the Kingdom of Cambaya But Terry makes it border in the North with Buckar in the East upon Jesselmeer and Soret in the South touches the Indian Sea in the West faces the Mountains lying on the Borders of Persia and the Mogol's Countrey It is divided by the River Indus otherwise Sind which in its course through this Countrey makes many pleasant and delightful Isles and at last falls into the Sea near the City Sinde famous for many Handicrafts Tatta a Place of good Trade The Metropolis Tatta is very eminent for the Trade there driven formerly by the Portuguese Some English Travellers call'd it Gutu Netgar Tutta though commonly by the Natives Tutta onely without addition of the other Names The other Towns lying on this River are Cossompacco and Callitallowny and the Fortress of Seyvon beyond Tatta This Fort prevents the passage of such as come down the River The chief Harbor The chiefest Harbor is Lowribandel or according to Texeira Singlybandel three days Journey from the prime City Tatta This Haven of Lowribandel hath one Property beyond the rest viz. the Ships that come to an Anchor in the same are not eaten by the Worms as in the Havens of Sovally Chaul Dabul Daman Goa and other Places This Countrey is rich and fruitful and frequented by the Indians Portuguese and other People for Trade Here are divers sorts of fine Cotton-Linnen made The Commodities which the Inhabitants call Jarrin Turbants Oyl of Coco-nuts and abundance of Butter It also affords plenty of Sugar-Canes Pitch Rosin Leather-works wrought with
with Water-courses Channels and some little Lakes and Rivulets and every where planted with European Trees and Flowers as Apples Pears Plumbs Apricocks Nuts and Vines European Plants and Herbs here in great abundance In the private Gardens of this Countrey grow Musk-melons Patequos or Water-melons Beets Raddishes most of our Potherbs and some which we have not yet these Fruits are not so good as those in Europe which proceeds rather from the ignorance of Gardners than the Soil wherefore the Mogols have not improperly call'd this Countrey The Terrestrial Paradice neither did the Great Mogol Ecbar without just reasons take so much pains to get it from the lawful Kings and his Son Schach Selim was so much taken therewith that he could not possibly forsake it often saying That he would rather lose all his whole Kingdom besides than Cachemire When Oranchzef came Anno 1664. from Deli to recreate himself in this Countrey in the Month of March all the Poets strove to exceed one another in making Verses in praise of the same which Oranchzef receiv'd rewarding the Authors of them very bountifully The Description of the City and Lake of Cachemire The chief Town of this Countrey bears the same Denomination with the Kingdom and being without Walls is three quarters of a Mile long and half a Mile broad It is situate in a barren Field about two Leagues from the Mountains which seem to make a Semi-circle about a Lake of sweet Water of about four or five Leagues in circumference This Lake is made by running Springs and Brooks which glide from the Mountains and discharges its Water through a navigable Channel into a River which runs through the middle of the City and hath two Bridges over it This Lake is also full of Islands which resemble so many pleasant Gardens with delightful Walks and Arbors and are surrounded with Poplar and other Trees which have Leaves about two Foot broad and are as tall as the Masts of Ships with Boughs onely on the top like Date-trees On the other side of the Lake upon the hanging of the Mountains are also abundance of Banquetting-houses and Gardens for which that place is most convenient because it hath a delicate Air a Prospect on the Lake Islands and a City and is full of Springs and Rivulets The best of all the Gardens being the Kings is in the Persian Language call'd Schach-Limar that is The King's Garden Out of the Lake they go into this Garden through a Channel between two rows of Trees planted along its Banks about five hundred Paces long This Channel leads to the King 's Sugar-house which is also in the midst of the Garden where begins another brave Moat reaching to the upper end of the Garden The bottom of the foremention'd Channel is pav'd with Freestone and the sides thereof rais'd also with the same Stone in the middle thereof are many Springs of Water which being in a row fifteen Paces distant one from another shoot up above the other Water Moreover there are Receptacles of Water like Ponds out of which by means of several Springs the Water rises up in many small Streams which make divers Figures This Channel ends at another great Banquetting-house not much unlike the former The foremention'd Pleasure-houses built almost like Cloysters lying in the middle of the Moat are surrounded with Water between the two rows of Poplar Trees they have Galleries or Balconies built round about them and four Doors opposite one to another two whereof fronting the two rows of Trees have two Bridges which lead cross the Water one on each side the other two front the two ends of the Channel Each Summer-house consists in a great Room in the midst of four lesser which make the Square the Walls of both the great and small Rooms are richly Gilded and Painted and full of Inscriptions in large Persian Characters the four Doors are very stately of large Stones with two Columns fetch'd out of the ancient Pagan Temples which Schach Jehan caus'd to be ruin'd The value of these Stones is not known nor of what species they are unless Marble or Porphyrie Most of the Houses are built of Wood two Storeys high not for want of Stone there being many old ruin'd Deuras or Temples but for the cheapness by reason of the abundance of Wood which grows on the adjacent Mountains from whence it may be fetch'd for a small matter and carried to the City along a little River The Houses built along the River side have each of them a Garden which hath a Prospect on the Water The other Houses that do not stand near the River have Gardens also and many of them a little Channel which runs into the Lake into which they can Row from their Houses in small Boats At one end of the City appears a very steep Mountain at the foot whereof are many fair Houses with Gardens and on the top a Mosque with an Orchard and Garden belonging to it In regard whereof the Inhabitants in their Language call this Mountain Hary Porbet that is Green Mountain Opposite to this appears another Mountain being also crown'd with a Mosque and likewise an ancient Structure which seems to have been a Deura or Pagode but it is call'd Tackt Souliman that is The Throne of Salomon because as the Mahumetans say Salomon built it when he came to Cachemire A wonderful Spring At the Confines of this Kingdom two or three days Journey from the City Cachemire a Spring near the foot of a Mountain works Wonders as the Mahumetans affirm in May when the Snow melts on the Mountains viz. it ebbs and flows for fifteen days together three times in a day in the Morning at Noon and at Night after the first fifteen days its Course is not so exact and after a Months time it stops altogether the remaining part of the year except in the time of great and long Rains when it overflows like other Springs The Heathens have on the Brink of this Spring a little Deura or Pagode built in honor of one of their Idols wherefore they have call'd it Send Brary as if they would say Water of Brary whither many People go in Pilgrimage to Bathe themselves Many strange Relations they give concerning the original of this Spring the Mountain at whose foot it springs extends in length from North to South and appears at a distance like a Plain somewhat rising in the middle and is about a hundred Paces broad on the top the North side hath some Verdure but quickly decaying for want of the Suns influence the other side on the West is shaded with Trees and Brambles Some distance from the High-way is a pleasant Seat of the ancient Kings of Cachemire and at present of the Great Mogol call'd Achiavela The most remarkable thing belonging thereunto is a Spring whose Water runs round about the Structure and through all the Gardens in many little Channels This Spring boyls with such great force out
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
Cambaya erected in a Temple which is much frequented by the superstitious Benjans A Mile from the City is the Garden and Palace of Chanchonna Son to the great Byram Chan of Persia The Countrey of Cambaya to Amadabat is for the most part desolate and uncultivated In the Way are several Pits each above thirty Yards deep in which is salt Water though at a great distance from the Sea it is drawn out by Oxen. The Countrey about Amadabath is nothing but a vast Wilderness and the Ways very dusty and troublesom for Travellers The High-ways are Hedg'd in on both sides with a certain Fruitless and Leafless Plant which shoots forth onely little long Stalks of a deep Green both Winter and Summer out of which when broke asunder drops a milky Juice like that of green Figs and being very sharp eats into that part of the Skin on which it drops The Fields which border the High-ways are full of Ambe-trees which bear a Fruit like great Olives and also af Tamarind-trees Without the City are many great Tombs of Marble erected by the Moors and are much statelier than their Houses A League and a half from the City lies a great Village call'd Zirkes or Sirkesia where there is a very magnificent Tomb the whole Structure with its Floors being all of polish'd Marble and distinguish'd into three parts one whereof rests on a a hundred and forty Marble Pillars each thirty Foot high curiously adorn'd with Festunes and Pedestals after the Corinthian Order This Structure is said to be the Tomb of one Cacis Tutor to one of the Kings of Zurratte to whom they ascribe great Sanctity and Wonders and that the said King who with three other Kings lies buried in another Chappel built the same in commemoration of his Tutor At a certain time of the year most of the Mahumetans come hither in Pilgrimage firmly believing thereby to obtain pardon for their sins On one side of it is a large Pond About a Mile from the City is another fair Tomb of an eminent Mahumetan Merchant call'd Hajom Majom who being enamor'd of the Beauty of his Daughter and threupon Ravishing her was Beheaded by the King's Command and buried here with all his Family wherefore the Inhabitants to this day call the same Betychint that is The uncover'd shame of your Daughter De Stadt Souratte The Water of the foremention'd River is convey'd round the said Banquetting-house not far from which you come into another Garden over a high Stone Bridge four hundred Paces long and though this Garden be but small yet it is very pleasant and high and hath also at the end against the Bridge a brave Banquetting-house The Water in the droughty Season is drawn up but of the Wells by Oxen and put into two great Stone Cisterns before the Banquetting-house This Garden wherein commonly young Women Bathe themselves in the foremention'd Cisterns is call'd Nicunabag that is The Garden of Precious Stones and is said to have been made by a beautiful and rich Lady There is yet another delightful Garden with a Banquetting-house which was built by the Great Mogol Ecbar in commemoration of his conquering the last King of Zurratte call'd Sultan Mahomed Begeran in that very place whereby the Kingdom of Zurratte became subject to the Great Mogol Ten Leagues from Amadabath lies a little Town full of pretty Houses and Pagan Temples call'd Niervant Six Leagues from the said City also lies another Town call'd Mamadabad on the Bank of a pleasant River on the North side of it is a fair Palace The Inhabitants of this Town are for the most part Weavers Description of Suratte The City Surat or Surratte according to Davity the Village Surastra or Syrastra of Ptolomy is for its neatness by the Moors call'd The Mogol's Beard and lies in about 21 Degrees and about 30 Minutes Northern Latitude near the River Reinier or Reunier otherwise call'd Pani Hind that is The Water Indus and Tapi or Tapti and Tyndee two Leagues up into the Countrey from the Bay or Gulf of Cambaya The City extending along the Banks of the foremention'd River built square lies open towards the Water but inclos'd on the Land-side with Mud Walls and dry Ditches It hath three eminent Gates which are lock'd every Evening the one leads to the Village Brion which is a Throughfare for those that travel to Brotcha Cambaya and Amadabat the other to Brampour and the third to Nassary It is adorn'd with many fair Houses with flat Roofs built after the Asiatick manner There are also many stately Palaces in this City which for its defence hath a strong Castle near the River built after the manner of the Romans and surrounded with Walls of Free-stone and deep Moats which receive their Water out of the River Reinier It is an ancient Structure built by the Inhabitants long before the coming of the Portuguese into these Countreys or as some say by the Romans According to the Relation of the Inhabitants to Mandeslo the Turks coming thither with many Ships out of the Red-Sea and conquering several Places built this Fort which hath but one Gate towards the side of a great Plain or Market and is very strongly guarded none daring to come into the same but those that are upon Duty nor are any Persons Listed to serve in the same but native Indostans the Rasbutes though valiant Soldiers often mutinying against the Mogol the Benjans and Usbecks being accounted Enemies and the Benjans and Cambayans never serving for Soldiers accounting it a great sin to shed Blood Next to the Castle is the Nabab or Sultan's House and next to that the Custom-house and the Market to which the Inhabitants of the neighboring Villages and Strangers bring their Goods to sell The City Surratte is very populous and inhabited partly by native Indians and partly by Strangers and Foreigners for Trade The Indians of these Parts consist generally of Zurrattans Cambayans Benjans Brahmans Decans and some Rasbutes who are all generally Idolaters or Mahumetans the last mention'd are the smallest number and the Benjans are the richest driving the greatest Trade All these People live very quiet one amongst another for the Great Mogol though himself a Mahumetan makes no distinction amongst his People of several Religions but gives them Offices alike both at his Court and in his Army Amongst the Foreigners or Strangers the English and Hollanders drive the greatest Trade here besides which there are Portugueses Arabians Persians Armenians Turks and Jews wherefore Suratte is accounted one of the most eminent Cities for Trade in all India both in respect of its Haven and because the convenience of carrying the Commodities through all Suratte from Cambaya and other Places draws the Merchants thither The English and Dutch Traders have many fair Houses in the City very convenient to dwell in and also to stow their Goods The People of several Nations have each of them a Church here and their own Teachers Without
Hoggi's or Saints There likewise go yearly from Surrat Brotchia and Cambaya several lesser Vessels to Persia laden with the same Commodities which are carried to Arabia and Aden and they bring back also the same Returns besides abundance of Gold and Silk Stuffs Chamlets Cloth Velvet Pearls Fruit viz. Almonds Raisins Nuts Dates and some Rose-water and other Persian Commodities The Ships set Sail in January or February and return in April or May. There also go yearly Ships of about a hundred two hundred and three hundred Tuns to Achin and Quedda laden with Anfion Cotton and all sorts or Clothes made in Surrat and bring in return Brimstone Benjamin Camphire Porcelan Tin Pepper and other Spices Many lesser Vessels of sixty eighty or a hundred Tuns Trade also to Goa Diu Daman and other Portuguese Factories with Corn melted Butter in Pots and other Provisions for which they bring in return Course Salt from Ormus and a sort of Sedge or Rushes whereof they make Paper The Portuguese used formerly to drive a great Trade to these Places but at present are bereav'd of most of their Chief Factories by the Hollanders It cannot certainly be said what the just Revenues are which the Mogol receives yearly from Surrat but it is related that they amount to 150 Tuns of Gold The Customs of Brotchia onely raise 134400 Mamoedys or 6720 l. a Mamoedy being reckoned at 12 d. The Customs of Brodera 400000 Mamoedys The Government of Surratte Surrat being formerly a Kingdom of it self was Govern'd by a peculiar Pagan King not at all subject to the Mogol And amongst others of these Kings Maffeus makes mention of two the one called Madrafa Scha and the other his Son Mamud who Reign'd Anno 1508. both of whom maintain'd great Wars against the Portuguese But when the Great Mogol Ecbor had driven all the Patans out of Bengala he also Conquer'd the Kingdom of Surrat and bringing it under his Jurisdiction caus'd the same ever since to be Govern'd by a Vice-Roy whom the Moors generally call'd Sultan or else by a Supreme Governor sent thither by the Great Mogol Under him are all other Petty Governors of the peculiar Towns and Provinces which are obliged to give him an Account of all The time of enjoying their Places is at the King's will and pleasure and therefore they commonly make good use of their time minding more how to enrich themselves than regarding the welfare of their Countrey and oftentimes especially at the coming of a new Governor Accusations are brought against Rich Merchants so to get great Sums of Money put of them by Imprisonment and other kinds of cruel usage The State of Chan or Supreme Governor The Supreme Governor lives in great State keeping commonly four hundred Men to wait on him which are all fed out of his Kitchen When he rides abroad which for the most part is on a well-caparison'd Elephant he is attended by all the Nobility and several Horsemen to the number of two hundred Persons armed with Bowes Pikes Shields and Swords Before him are led several Elephants with rich Trappings adorn'd with Pennons and Flags and accompanied with Drummers Trumpetters and others Yet nevertheless he goes but mean in Apparel and commonly in Black Cotton Cloth whilst on the contrary his Servants go very rich and gay The Chan is obliged always to keep 1200 Lescheri or Troopers for the Mogol and fifty Elephants besides fifty for his own use The Revenues with wich they are maintain'd are rais'd from the Towns and Villages under their Jurisdiction as likewise the Forces with which the Chan is guarded the City Amadabat eighteen substitute Towns and a thousand Villages being able to raise 140000 Men. There is likewise a Tziabander or Farmer of the Customs in each City He is Royally attended and served in his Palace none daring offer without his leave to speak to him He gives publick Audience once a Week seated on a Royal Throne and administers Justice to all Persons that make their Complaints to him He is not allow'd any Counsellors or Judges from the King but in Businesses of Consequence he calls some of his Nobles to consult with Yet whatever he thinks fit is decreed so that these Counsellors signifie little All Forfeitures Revenues and Customs which amount to an incredible Sum of Money come into the Chan's Treasury besides which he receives Pay for 12000 Horse when as he seldom keeps above 2000 So that all the Remainder is spent in his Court. All petty Businesses 〈◊〉 decided by the Cowtewaels or Sheriffs who generally shew most favour to the Plaintiff whether he deserve it or not The Punishment of Criminals Matters of Life and Death are determined by the Magistrates of the Towns who refer giving the Sentence to the Coutewaels But if they be rich People that are condemn'd they commonly come off for a Sum of Money which they give to the Governor Poor Criminals are for petty Thefts and other small Offences whipp'd several days together with a great Whip call'd Siambak but for grand Faults as Breaking open of Houses and the like they have their Hands and Feet cut off or some other severe Punishments inflicted upon them Robbers on the High-way if they buy not their Lives with a great Sum of Money are Decollated and their Bodies put on Stakes plac'd alog the Roads Murder is amongst them accounted an unpardonable Crime as also Adultery especially in Women of Quality And for the preventing of the last Common Whores are freely permitted to dwell in every City who with permission of the Sheriff to whom they pay a certain Acknowledgment may go to any Person that sends for them or be visited in their own Houses which rather tends to their Honour than Disgrace for there are no Feasts accounted Compleat and Noble unless there be present some of these Common Women to Dance and Sing before the Guests The Religion of the Surratteans As to what concerns the Religion of the Surratteans some of them especially the Chiefest are Moors or Mahumetans the rest Benjans Brahmines and other sorts of Pagans There are in Surrat many Gioghi's a People much resembling the Romish Monks being in severity of Life and outward Penitence inferior to none for they go stark naked in the coldest Weather and sleeping on Horse-dunghils cover their Heads and Faces therewith and wear very long Hair which makes them look frightful and deform'd The People are very Charitable being much inclin'd to the giving of Almes to the Poor very Pious and sollicitous of their Salvation though deluded by their Teachers some giving twenty five others fifty Ducats at a time and some more Perushi affirms That Anno 1595. there was on one day viz. the eighth of January above a Tun of Gold given in Alms. The reason of this great Charity on that day is upon the account of some grand Tradition mentioned in their Law-book Their two main Duties next to giving of Alms are Pilgrimage
God had wholly destroy'd the Family of the Kutteries therefore he resolv'd to renew the same by a Prince and ordain'd that the Kings for the future should be Extracted out of the Family of the Brahmines the chiefest whereof that were then living having been preserv'd by Wistney were call'd Ducerat The first Child which was born after this universal Destruction was ordain'd to be the Race of Kings and Princes who being zealously brought up manag'd both the Affairs of State and Religion Governing the People with great Wisdom and Piety according to their several Tribes perform'd many heroick Acts and was a Protector of all Brahmines and other Spiritual Persons His Name was Ram and by his Just and Pious Life attain'd to that Dignity that his Name is to this day exceedingly honor'd amongst them for in their usual Salutations they with a loud Voice cry Ram Ram that is I wish you Health and all Happiness 'T is certain many Just and Pious Kings Reign'd after him but as all things do daily degenerate so in process of Time receding farther and farther from their original Purity they grew proud and ambitious insomuch that they acted daily contrary to the Commandments comprehended in the Book of Bremaw These hainous Enormities did once more so highly incense the Almighty that he gave Power to Ruddery to open the Earth that it might swallow them up alive except a few of each of the four Tribes which he preserv'd to re-people the World anew with And in this manner ended the third Age of the World Soon after God commanded that the World should be re-planted by those that were preserv'd which was one Kysteney or Kistna who was a famous King Wise and Religious and one of the most comely Persons of the former Age. He propagated Religion with great Zeal insomuch that during his Life there was great Reformation amongst the People and very hopeful beginnings of Piety and Honesty When by Kysteney's coming Wistney's time was expir'd God as they relate took him up to Heaven there being no further need of his Service here below because there would be no other World after this fourth Age which now in being will according to the Opinion of the Brahmines last much longer than any of the former and that after its ruine Ruddery will be taken up to Heaven likewise They call these four Ages by four several Names viz. the first Kurtain the second Dnauper the third Tetrajos and the fourth Kolee The manner of destroying this last Age will as the Brahmines relate be much more terrible than any of the former to wit by Fire at what time Ruddery will gather all his Powers together as absolutely necessary for the execution of so grand a Destruction The Moon will shine red the Beams of the Sun will be like the Flames of burning Brimstone Thunder and Lightning will make a dreadful noise the Sea will change into all manner of Colours and Fire and Smoke will cover the surface of the Earth the four Elements of which the Heavens were first made will maintain War against one another and the World being thereby utterly destroy'd will resolve into its first Primordia The World will be destroy'd by Fire as they suppose for this reason That it must be extinguish'd by that which gave it beginning and because it consists of Earth Water Air and Fire therefore it must be destroyd by these four Elements for the former Ages on which this Opinion is grounded were destroy'd the first by Water the second by Wind and the third by Earth therefore the fourth and last must be consum'd by Fire This being finish'd Ruddery shall carry all humane Souls up to Heaven there to rest in the Bosom of the Almighty but all Bodies will decay for they deny the Resurrection of the Body affirming That Heaven is too pure a Place for such gross and unclean Bodies The Kingdom or Territory of Chandish or Sanda THe Kingdom or Territory of Chandish otherwise call'd Sanda is by Robert Covert call'd The Land of Heathens or Countrey of the Great Can of Canouwe formerly the Overseer of the Great Mogol's High-ways Jarrick calls this Country or a great part of it The Kingdom of Brampour or Brampore or Barampour from its Metropolis It borders in the West on the Kingdom of Surratte in the South at Dekan having the Dukedom of Parthapsha between in the North at the Provinces Chitor and Malway and in the East at Berar A certain English Writer borders the same on the one side upon the Kingdom of the Benjans from which it is separated by the Tynde or Tasy and on the other side upon the Country of Bulloits having the great Stream Andre between and is suppos'd to lie in 28 Degrees Northern Latitude Terry affirms this Kingdom to be a mighty and populous Country and the South part of the Mogol's Dominions It is divided in the middle by the River Tynde or Tasy which makes the Country conveniently pleasant and fruitful about those Places through which it flows though for the most part it is a barren unwholsom sandy and dry Tract of Land the Metropolis thereof is call'd Brampore or Barampour by Herbert and Jarrick Breampour and lies in 28 Degrees and 3 Minutes Northern Latitude 220 Miles Eastward from Surratte 420 from Asmeer and 100 from Agra Herbert holds the same to be the ancient City Baramatis of Ptolomy and signifies Brachmans Pous or The City of the Brachmans because it was formerly and is still to this day an University of the Brahmines Jogues or Gymnosophists The City lies low in a healthful and spacious Plain it hath many Streets but very narrow their Houses are indifferent handsom though low Purchas renders the same to be a very fair City much bigger than London and the most famous and richest which the Mogol possesses On the North-East side of the City is a large strong Castle or Fort on the Banks of the Stream Tapy This City was formerly the Metropolis and Residence of the King of Dekan who was in process of time driven from thence Not far from thence is a Garden or Chan Channa in which are many delightful Springs and Fountains The City is for the most part inhabited by Benjans Before the Town in the River Tapa stands an Elephant most curiously Carv'd of Marble which the Benjans worship Anno 1600. the Great Mogol Ekbar after having conquer'd the Kingdom of Dekan made himself Master of this City Brampour which was then desolate and deserted by King Miram who was fled to the Fort Syr which for its Situation and Strength is the most considerable of all the Country and impregnable for it lies on the top of a high Mountain and is three Leagues in circumference surrounded with three Walls which are so made that the one may conveniently defend the other for though Ekbar besieg'd King Miram with a hundred thousand Men yet he could not conquer the same by Force but only by Policy and Treachery In
the Mogol continually employ'd who after he had us'd all possible means in vain having no great Guns at hand wherewith to batter down the Walls at last resolv'd to try if he could purchase the Inhabitants to a Surrender by great Sums of Money which to accomplish he sent to the Governors very considerable Presents of Gold and Silver whereby he did so cool and abate their Courage that none of the seven Successors of the Realm durst assume the Government for they perceiving the Generals to be fearful and their Courage no longer to exert it self could foresee and expect nothing but the sudden loss of the Place and accordingly it so fell out for after a few Days the Fort was surrendred and with it the whole Kingdom was subjected to the Mogol who got peaceable possession thereof with an invaluable Treasure He received all the Inhabitants favourably except the imprison'd King and the seven successive Princes whom he dispersed into several Provinces allowing King Miram three thousand and each of the other two thousand Ducats per Annum for their Maintenance The Province of Berar and Narvar THis Country of Berar lies on the South side of the Kingdom of Chandâ—â— and Borders on Surratte and the Mountains of Rana The Metropolis bears the Name of Shapore The Province of Narvar is moistned by a great River which discharges its Water into the Ganges The Chief City is call'd Gehud The Province of Gwaliar or Gualier THe Province of Gwaliar or Gualior otherwise Gualier hath a City which bears the same Name The Mogol hath a vast heap of Treasure which he keeps in this Country in a very strong Castle Garrison'd by a Company of well Disciplin'd Soldiers who also Guard such of the King's Prisoners as are Persons of Quality The Kingdom of Agra or Indostan THe Kingdom or Province of Agra is so call'd from Agra the Royal Metropolis of the Great Mogol's whole Kingdom besides Dely and Lahor Others call it Indostan or Indoustan which signifies The Country of Indus for Stan in the Country Language is A Country or Province and Indus is the Name of the River Indus which moistens the Country It borders on one side upon the Stream Paddor which separates it from the Henderons and conterminates on the other side with the River Tamliko or Tamlou which is a Boundary between this and the Country Inhabited by the Bulloits The Metropolis bears the same Name with the Province of Agra and lies in 28 Degrees and 7 Minutes North Latitude on the Banks of the River Jemini which glides by its Walls and disembogues near the City Andakoda into the River Ganges two days Journey from Agra According to Herbert this City was formerly call'd Nagra and anciently Dionysia and was built by Bacchus but this seems incredulous because within this hundred years the City Ratipor was far more beautiful and bigger than that of Agra which is believ'd to have had its Denomination from the River Arrany which as Arrian affirms falls into the Ganges It was built by King Ekbar after his Conquest of Surratte and for its pleasant Situation made choice of for the Mogol's Court and chief Place of Residence It lies almost Triangular or as Herbert saith Semi-Circular surrounded with a strong Walk of Free-Stone and a Moat of a hundred Paces broad The Circumference of the City is reckon'd to be twelve German Miles The Streets which are very straight are dirty and three Leagues and a half long In the Northern part of the City not far from the River lies the great and famous Royal Castle or Residence of the Kings which is the most beautiful and glorious Piece of Work in all Asia It appears outwardly like a City containing five hundred and twenty Paces in circumference The Structure is for the most part built of Free-stone with many Galleries and Piazzaes very stately after the manner of the Country At the Entrance of this Castle stands the Royal Court of Judicature in the Persian Tongue call'd Diwanchane before which is a large square Maidan or Plain planted about with Trees under which Persons of Quality in hot Weather walk to cool themselves In the middle of the Plain stands a Pole having a Bird on the top of it at which they shoot with Bows and Arrows Opposite to this Court stands a large square Building call'd Karchanay Schah that is The King's Treasure-house with eight Arch'd Vaults in which are kept the greatest part of the Mogol's Treasure Two of these Cellers are reported to be full of Gold and two of Silver in the seventh are kept Pearls Gems and other such like Rarities and in the eighth are contain'd all such Presents as are sent from forein Princes by Ambassadors Behind this Treasury stands another large square Palace with a very delightful Garden and is call'd Hara Michan that is The King 's Womens Lodgings for in it are kept twelve hundred of the King's Concubines which are guarded and waited upon by six hundred Eunuchs Others describe this Court thus It is three or four Leagues in circumference surrounded with strong Walls of red Stone and broad Moats with Draw-Bridges it hath four Gates one on the North which is very strong the second on the West side is call'd Citsery near the Bezar or Market Within this Gate is the King's Court of Judicature where he decides all Differences and behind that is the King's Hall the Seat of the Vice-Roys Within this Gate is also a Street built full of Houses and about a Mile long The third Gate call'd Achabaerbederiwage that is The Gate of King Achbaer lies on the South side and and leads to the King 's Derbaer the Royal Throne or inner Court before which is a small Court surrounded with Golden Rails and cover'd on the top with Carpets to keep off the heat of the Sun beyond it is a Gallery in which stands the King's Throne adorn'd with Gold Diamonds and Pearls and all sorts of Precious Stones No Person is permitted to approach this Place without being call'd except the King's Sons which standing near him cool him by continual fanning of him with Fans in the Country Language call'd Pankhamh and the Chief Secretary Within the foremention'd Court none are suffer'd to enter but Ommirades or Omrahs which are Dukes and great Lords Opposite to this Place hang golden Bells which are rung by those that have sustain'd any prejudice and are thereupon admitted to speak to the King to make their Complaints to him but not without great danger if their Cause be not just In this Place the King appears every Afternoon between three and four a Clock besides thousands of other People which take their Places according to their Qualities and with the King stay there till the Evening hearing all forein Letters which are read by the Setretary and determining all other Businesses Hither are also brought his Horses and Elephants which are try'd by some of his Servants appointed for that purpose Within this third
call'd Banda or Dando but by Della Valle Danda Rajiapori Near this lies the City Ziffardan or Zeferdani the utmost Limits of the Kingdom of Decan In the same Tract towards Banda is a Bay call'd Kelsi the Country on the South side whereof is very Mountainous In Decan is also a City call'd Petan or Patan which produceth abundance of fine Callico The Country of Decan is very fertile producing all things in great plenty and agrees in most things with that of Cuncan and the Inhabitants also agree in their Constitutions Habits and manner of Living Wherefore we will here give an accout of them promiscuously and at large The Air at Chaul is more hot than cold The Soil thereabouts plentifully produces all things except Raisins Nuts and Chess-nuts Oxen Cows and Horses are here in great numbers The Inhabitants of Decan are call'd Decanyns as those of Cuncan Cuncanyns After what manner the Countries of Decan Ballagate and Cuncan or Visiagour which were formerly under the Jurisdiction of one Prince are become subject to several Lords I shall here give this brief Account About three hundred years since the King of Dely brought all the neighboring Kingdoms but particularly those of Decan Cuncan and Ballagate and the Country of Goa under his Subjection At the same time when the Country of Cambaye was conquer'd by the Mahumetans who treated the Reisboutes Inhabitants or the Country very tyrannically The Kingdoms of Ballagate and Decan were formerly govern'd by Heathen Kings and inhabited by a mighty People of which the Venasars and Collers the present Inhabitants are Successors They joyn themselves with the Reisboutes and commit many Robberies forcing Tribute from the Inhabitants of Decan and Ballagate without being punish'd for the same by their King After the King of Dely had made these Conquests the Mogols took up Arms and made themselves Masters of the greatest part of Dely. About the same time there was an eminent Lord of Bengale who to revenge himself of his King for putting his Bother to death unjustly bereav'd him both of his Crown and Life and afterwards fell into Dely forc'd the Mogols to fly and at the same time made himself Master of all the Country of Ballagate and Cuncan extending to the Borders of Cambaye But he not being capable of Governing so many Countries and being also desirous of qâ—iet resolvâ—d to return back to Bengale and committed the Care of Governing the Kingdoms of Decan Ballagate and Cuncan to one of his Nephews who being a Lover of Strangers divided those Countries amongst several Lords of divers Nations as Arabians Turks Rumeans and Corasons giving to one whom the Portuguese call'd Idalcan the Country of Cuncan otherwise call'd Visiapour or Gingive lying eight Leagues from Goa He also gave to one of his Captains nam'd Nizzamaluko the Country of Siffardan which extends it self six Leagues to the North along the Coast of Negotana He divided the Kingdom of Ballagate into Provinces and gave one part thereof to Imademaluko another to Coralmaluko and a third to Melik Vervide But all these immediately rebell'd against their Lord and Benefactor and marching to the Metropolis Beder took the King Prisoner committing him to the custody of Melik Vervide They also procured several other Heathen Princes to joyn with them in this Conspiracy amongst whom were Mohade Koja and Veriche who possess'd rich Countries replenish'd with Towns and Villages Amohade got the Cities Visiapour Solapor and Paranda lying near Goa but not long after the City Paranda was taken by Nizzamaluko and Salapor fell into the Hands of Idalcan who was also call'd Sabayo that is Lord. He possess'd the Island Goa of which the Portuguese afterwards made themselves Masters His House or Palace stands yet at Goa but is now converted to a House of Inquisition The Place lying between the Great Church and the said House bears the Name of Sabayo Idalcan who Reign'd Anno 1535. was Grandson to one of those foremention'd Kings After this Division thus made there was a Quarrel between Idalcan and the King of Narsinga his Neighbor who by his Power subduing Idalcan and the other Kings of Decan made them Tributaries to him But in process of time Idalcan or his Successors subdu'd all those Countries which were possess'd by peculiar Kings or Lords except that of Melik which the Mogol had conquer'd F. Bernier relates That all this great Island of Hindoslan reckoning from the Bay of Cambay to that of Bengale near Jagannate and from thence to the Cape of Comori was all some Mountainous Parts onely excepted about two hundred years agoe under one particular Lord or King who was a very great and Powerful Prince But at present it is divided into many Dominions and the People are likewise of several Religions The Reason of this Division was as followeth A certain Raja or King nam'd Ramras the last of those which Reign'd absolute in this Country imprudently promoted three of his Slaves to too great Dignities by making them Governors viz. The first he made Governor of a great part of that Country which the Mogol at present possesses in Decan round about Daulet-Abad from Bider Paranda and Surratte to Narbadar To the second he gave the Government of all those Countries which are now comprehended in the Kingdom of Visiapour and to the third that Part which is known by the name of the Kingdom of Golconda These three Slaves growing very Rich and Powerful and being supported by many Mogols which were in the Service of Ramras and of the same Religion with the Persians agreed together to rebell against and kill their Lord and Benefactor which having effected they return'd into their several Dominions each of them taking upon him the Title of Schah or King The Successors of Ramras finding themselves not able to engage in a War against these Usurpers were content to retire and seat themselves in a Place call'd Carnateck or Bisnaguer where to this day they Reign as Rajas or Kings The three Slaves and their Successors defended their Kingdoms very valiantly so long as they agreed among themselves and assisting one another maintain'd great Wars against the Mogols but when they went about to defend their several Countries they were immediately sensible of their Division to their great prejudice being soon after reduc'd under the Subjection of the Mogols Decan belong'd formerly to a peculiar King but is at present Govern'd by one of the Great Mogol's Vice-Roys The Great Mogol Akebar or Ecbar was the first which conquer'd the Kingdom or Country of Decan He sent his Son Sultan Morad Anno 1595. against Melik Amber Vice-Roy of Decan to whom belong'd formerly the City of Chaul who setting forth from Cambaye as being the nearest Place to this Province was kill'd with many of his Officers After this in the Year 1598. he sent one of his youngest Sons to maintain the Wars against Melik and revenge the Death of Sultan Morad And soon after he follow'd in his own Person
resolving to be present at the Conquest but he staid about a Year in the City of Agra from whence he march'd Anno 1600. to the Kingdom of Decan But the Queen of Decan who Reign'd at that time being a Woman of great Spirit and Valour and being also assisted by the Portuguese and some great Lords oppos'd him with so much Courage and Resolution that many of his People were slain at their entrance into the Kingdom of Barara at a Pass near the Mountains by which they were to come into the Country of Decan Yet nevertheless the Decanyns after the death of this Princess divided themselves into divers Parties from which proceeded their overthrow and total subduction for some being corrupted by Money and others by Promises they all upon hopes of greater Employments contributed their Assistance to the Great Mogol in his Conquest of the Kingdom of Decan Having by this means at last added this Kingdom to his Territories he elected one of his Sons to be his Vice-Roy leaving with him a considerable Garrison Texeira says the King of Decan was formerly by the Inhabitants call'd Nezal al Malucho that is The Lance or Spear of the Kingdom and also Malek or Melik which signifies King Della Valle affirms that the right Name of the Kings of Decan is Nizam Sciah which some translate King of the Spear induc'd thereunto by the Portuguese Word Nize which signifies A Spear but falsly because the King calls himself Nizam Sciah and not Nize Sciah as this explanation requires Others call him according to the signification of the Word Nizam King of Falcons for Nizam in the Indian Tongue signifies A Falcon or other Bird of Prey because this King before he was made a Governor was perhaps Falconer to that Great King under whose Jurisdiction all this Country was so that he retains that Name to this day The King which Reign'd Anno 1623. being a Child of about twelve Years of age gave the Government of his Realm to one of his Slaves call'd Melik Amber by Extract an Ambassine and of the Mahumetan Religion who Govern'd with so much Policy that this Country was more known by the Name of The Dominion of Melik than that of the Kingdom of Nizam Sciah He Govern'd with great Fidelity and Obedience to the King and not as some pretended like a Tyrant Neither did he keep the King as a Prisoner though it is said by some that he design'd to marry his Daughter to the young King that so he might the better hold his Governor-ship and make his Heir his Successor He was a Man of great Prudence and Understanding yet not without the Name of being very wicked and inclining to Sorcery of which some affirm he made use to continue himself in his Princes Favor It is also said That for the accomplishing his Designs he would offer to the Devil several hundreds of Children that were his Slaves with abundance of other People hoping thereby the more easily to obtain his Desires These and other such barbarous Wickednesses and Impieties have been reported of him This Melik Amber maintain'd at that time great Wars against the Mogols not sparing his own Person but himself engaging often very valiantly The Kingdom of Ballagate THE Kingdom of Ballagate lieth between and beyond the Mountains of Gate as some Writers affirm These Mountains are about nine Leagues from the City Banda they are very high and extend from the Country of Decan to the Coast of Choromandel they also reach to Dabul with many Points and Inlets which render them altogether unfit to be Travell'd over either by Men or Beasts On that side towards Decan is upon the top a Plain of an extraordinary compass planted on the Way-sides with Mangas and other Fruit-Trees Ballagate in the Persian Tongue signifies High Mountains for Balla is High and Gate A Mountain Some also call this Country The Kingdom of Decan The Cities of Lispor and Ultabad or Dubtabad are very famous for the great numbers of Merchants that resort thither The Kingdom of Cuncan or Visiapour THE Kingdom of Cuncan is by Linschot call'd The Kingdom of Dialcan and by others from Visiapour its Metropolis The Kingdom of Visiapour and by Della Valle The Country of Telengone or Telanga It takes its beginning on the Sea-shore of Ingediva or Angedive twelve Leagues Southward from Goa or according to John de Barros from the River Aliga in Sintacora which is a Boundary between Cuncan and the Country of Canara and extends Northwardly to the Land of Decan or the Land of Siffardan a Tract of sixty Leagues Westward it runs to the Sea and Eastward to the Mountains of Gate or to the Kingdom of Bagenael or Golconda and is by a Stream separated from the Island Goa Della Valle makes Telengone the Metropolis of this Kingdom to border Southerly next that which belongs to the Portuguese in Goa Some reduce the City Visiapour and Goa under the Province of Daman and place the Province of Telanga much further to the Southern part The most eminent Sea-Towns are Geytapour Rasapoue Carapatan and Dabul besides which there are several other very good Bays Rivers and Roads The Chief City of this Kingdom the Court and Residence of the Kings is call'd Vasiapour Bizapor and Visipor or peculiarly Vidhikpor notwithstanding Linschot places the King's Court at Solapor but it is probable he keeps his Court sometimes at the one and sometimes at the other Visiapour lies up into the Country about 30 Gau each Gau being three Leagues or 90 German Miles from Dabul and 25 from Goa It is surrounded with high Walls of hard Stone and deep Moats which nevertheless are dry in several places Round about on the Walls and some Platforms made for that purpose are mounted above 1000 Brass and Iron Guns some whereof are of an incredible bigness De Stadt VISIAPOER About a League and a half from Visiapour lies another City call'd Nouraspour formerly the Residence of King Abrahim Chan whose Palace besides several other fair Structures are to be seen at this day but quite ruin'd the Materials of them being employ'd for the building of the present King's Houses and Palaces Travelling from Visiapour to Dabul you pass through these Cities From Nouraspour you come to the City of Sirrapour and Tickota six Kos from Visiapour Three Kos beyond Tickota is the City Honnowaere and three more beyond that a City call'd Calesen Six Kos further is a great and Trading Town nam'd Atteny two days Journey from Visiapour Four Kos from Calesen and two from Atteny between both lies the Village Burgie and two Kos from Atteny the great Dorp Agelle Six Kos and a half from Atteny is the City Areka with two Bary or Villages lying upon the side of the Road about four Kos and a half from Areka and one and a half from Atteny Three Kos from Areka lies the City Berek with a small Village in the way one Kos and a half from Areka and is under the Jurisdiction
which have no peculiar Name but belong to other Villages are in general call'd Bary One Kos from hence lies the Village Worry and two and a half further another call'd Attrowaad adorn'd with a Pagode built on a Mountain which may be seen at a considerable distance Two Kos and a half further lies the Village Badaraly and as much beyond that the Dorp Kerwes two Kos more from which is Secoery Five Kos from hence is a Pagode from whence you may plainly see the City Mirsie with its Castles and Towers Seven Kos from the Village Secoery lies Raiabaeg a pretty large and Trading In-land City fortified with a Castle and belonging properly to the King's Consort About one Kos from the City is a fair Well and two Kos further runs the River Gagni Three Kos and a half from this City of Raiabaag is another City call'd Gotterny which hath a Fortification at one of its Gates A Cannon-shot from thence are two Villages call'd Coetesy and Omgar and half a Kos further the eminent River Corstena one Kos and a half from which is the Village Eynatour beyond that the Dorp Caterna and one Kos and a half further the River Agery with the Villages Tangely and Erary Three Kos from Erary is the City Atteny and one Kos beyond the City Bardgie from whence to Agger is three Kos and a half more three Kos thence to the City Talsenge and as much from thence to Hamowaere Tickocata lies three Kos further and about six from Visiapour having Nouraspour and Sirrapour between both Tickocata is an In-land City provided with a large Sarry or Publick Inn for Travellers The Kingdom of Cuncan is water'd by several Rivers viz. A little to the Northward of Goa is the River Madre Dios and beyond the City Banda the River Dery falls into the Sea and is Navigable in small Vessels Two Kos from the City Kaiabaag glides the River Corstena which passes through the whole Country of Cuncan to the Jurisdiction of Masilipatan about three Kos from whence the Stream Agry hath its Course Between the two Towns Great and Little Graeen runs a large River call'd Coecenna on whose Banks those Towns are situate The River Coyna which signifies Great Water passing through the Village Helewaek hath its Original near the City Chaury lying twelve Gau or thirty six Leagues up into the Country and extends it self in several Branches beyond the Metropolis Visiapour and the whole Kingdom of Cuncan The River Ghayhkeer discharges its Water into the River Helewacko whose Shore is border'd by many Dorps and planted with Cocos and other Trees very delightful to the Spectators This River hath its rise out of the Mountains of Ballagata and posses by the City Eabul into the Indian Sea where it makes a convenient Bay From the North to the South Point cross this Bay is a Bank which at low Water is quite dry so that those which sail up the River to the City must pass along close by the South Point At the entrance is commonly five or six Fathom Water at low Tide Four Leagues to the Southward of Dabul and thirty to the Northward of Goa glides the River Zanguizar by Barbosa call'd Cinguicar Its entrance into the Sea is in 17 Degrees and 13 Minutes Northern Latitude and makes a large Bay or In-let with several commodious Roads for Shipping Next is the River Bardes which runs by a Town call'd Banda The Stream Aliga of Sintacora which rises in the Mountains of Gate from thence taking its Course to the Westward falls into the Sea opposite to the Island Anchedive in 14 Degrees and a half of Northern Latitude The many Rivers and Brooks which flow through this Country of Cuncan make the same very fruitful especially in the production of Rice which is sow'd in such Grounds as lie low and are overflow'd in the Winter Yet it produces but little Corn but abundance of Areka and Betel especially on the Banks of the River Betel The Fruit Mangas growing in Ballagate are highly esteem'd weighing about two Pound a spiece and are of a much pleasanter taste than those which grow in Charanna Quindor Mandanagor and Dultabado and especially those of Nisamoxa Ballagate and Decan produce also abundance of Grapes but inferior to those of Spain and also great Quantities of Cotton and Silk There are likewise divers sorts of Stones found in Ballagate as Amethysts Chrysolites and Hemathites or Blood-stones and by Decan beyond Ballagate very rich Diamonds are found on the Mountain which the Portuguese call Rocca Velha that is The Old Rock Some of these Precious Stones which are cut naturally are in the Country Language call'd Naiffez and are by the Indians esteem'd above all others By Ustabado is a certain Stone found by the Arabians call'd Hageramini and by the Portuguese Pedra Armenia that is The Armenian Stone because the same sort being of a blueish green are found in Armenia The Moors make use of them in their Sickness to provoke Urine About the Countries of Ballagate is a sort of excellent Varnish Here are also many Tygers and Serpents of a prodigious length and bigness The Natives of Decan and Cuncan are either Decangeans or Cuncanyns and corruptly by the Portuguese call'd Canaryns and Corumbyns but besides there are Moors Persians Benjans and other Heathen People which far exceed the Natives in Number Linschot tells us That the Inhabitants both in Complexion Constitution and Clothes do very much resemble those of Zurratte and the Benjans But Barbosa makes them Black and Barthema Sallow or Swarthy They are naturally Valiant being for the most part extracted from Strangers excellent Horse-men and well skill'd in managing of Elephants but they are very proud insolent and self-conceited Their Women are much enclin'd to Venery Their Clothes are either of Silk or Cotton except their Shoes which are open at the Toes and lac'd over their bare Feet on the top yet Pyrard saith That they are Red sharp-toe'd gilt and open on the top The Women walk with their Faces veil'd and the Children stark naked till their seventh or eighth Year They eat all things without distinction except Cows Hogs and Buffaloes which Beasts according to an ancient Custom of the Brahmines are accounted Holy nay they are so superstitiously grounded in this belief that they sleep a nights under these Beasts and catch their Dung in their Hands imagining that thereby they do their Gods great Service They also abstain from all sorts of Fish Most of their Houses are built of Straw with such little Doors that they are forc'd to creep in and out Their Furniture is inconsiderable for a Mat spread on the Ground serves them in stead of a Bed and a Hole digg'd in the Earth for a Mortar to stamp their Rice in There are many Gold and Silver-smiths among them and also very good Artists in the working of other Minerals besides many other Handicrafts and Tradesmen Physicians Chirurgeons Carpenters Masons and the like Every Child is
the same length reckoning from Araxis to the River Indus a thousand eight hundred and forty English Miles and the breadth from Oxus to the Persian Sea eight hundred and ten Botteras makes the breadth from North to South to be eighteen Degrees a Tract of eight hundred and ten Miles But Olearius confutes all these Writers in this Point and affirms That Persia hath 12 Degrees in breadth from North to South for if you take the utmost Limits or Corners which lie at both the opposite Seas viz. the Caspian Sea and Persian Gulf you will find that the City Hasum by the Inhabitants call'd Resht is situate scarce two Leagues from the Caspian Sea under 37 Deg. and Ormus at the Persian Gulf in 25 Degrees so that the extent of this breadth is but 12 Degrees a Tract of two hundred and eighty German Miles Its Borders This Kingdom hath for Borders in the East the River Indus the Mogol's Countrey as also the Countrey of Zakatey On the West it conterminates with Diarbek and Great Armenia the Countries of the Turks the River Tigris and the Lake Giocho on the North it verges with the Caspian Sea or Bachu besides the Tartars from Usbeki or Zagatey and a part of Muscovy to the Eder or Vola and on the South is partly wash'd by the Persian Gulf the rest limiting with Ormus and a little part of the Indian Sea Cluverius affirms That the Empire of Persia is on the North inclos'd with the Caspian Sea the River Oxos and Mount Caucasus on the East with the River Indus in the South with the Indian Sea and Persian Gulf and in the West with the Euphrates and Tigris the Nifean Mountains and River Araxis The same Borders are set down by Golnitius viz. on the East the Stream Indus and a part of Tartary on the North the Tartars besides the Oxos and the Caspian Sea on the West the Turks the Lake Giocho and Euphrates Tigris and Araxis and on the South the Persian Gulf call'd Elkatist and the Indian Sea In ancient Times Persia also compris'd the Countries of Gedrosia Carmania Drangiana Arachosia Paropamisis Bactriana Marigana Hyrcania Aria Parthia Persis Susiana Assyria and Media most of them in this Age having receiv'd new Names as shall be made appear more at large hereafter The same Cluverius divides the Modern Dominion of the Sofi into the following Countries or Provinces to wit Sark Cusistan Elaran Tarsi Arak Elsabar Diargment Corasan Sablestan Candahar Sigestan Sigesimur Kirman and Goadel besides the Kingdom of Ormuz and the Indian Province of Guzaratte but this last is now under the Great Mogol This Dominion comprehends the Province of Persia or Forsistan which comprises the Regions of Lahor and Sofian Servan Adherbajon Arak or Hierak divided into the Provinces of Casbin and Armadan the Countrey of Guilan or as Texeira saith Gheylon or Kilan Sayabat Strava Diargument besides the Substitute Countries of Mazandaran beyond which Texeira places along the Caspian Sea Bostam Sabzabah and Nixabur formerly Metropolises of so many Kingdoms but of late reduc'd to peculiar Lordships or Dominions But the Persians at this day possess Korazan Candahar the Kingdoms of Sistan and Hucenche besides the three Kingdoms of Curdistan one of which is peculiarly call'd Malaga or Miraga containing part of Chaldea and Assyria and extends to Bagdat Sagistam Tabastan Kablestan or Sablestan Nimruz Stakar Lorestan or Luristan Ciran Eri Kirman and several other Isles are also under the Jurisdiction of the Persians The most eminent Provinces in Persia are at this day as Olearius affirms Pasargadas the most South-East Province of Persia Erak Fars Schirwan Kilan Adirbeitzan Thabristan or Mazanderan Iran or Karabach Chorasan Sablustan Sitzestan Kirman Chusistan Tzisire and Diarbek Others make the Kingdom of Persia to contain the Province of Persia in the Country Language call'd Fars Erak Adirbeitzan Iran or Karabach Drangiane or Sagistan Nixabur Kilan Mokan or Mogan Betziruan Mazanderan Chusistan Carmania Gedrosia or Cirkan Kache Guadel Nakran Mogostan Lorestan Chorazan Siston Aria or Erie Dagestan and Amadan The Province of Persia or Fars THE Province of Persia anciently call'd Persis from which the whole Kingdom is so call'd is in the Country Language nam'd Fars and Farsistan which last properly signifies The Country of Fars for Stam in the Persian Tongue generally signifies A Country Niger besides several others call it Azamia and the Turks according to Megisser Farsik It is a great Country and hath on the East the two Carmania the West part thereof borders at Susiana now call'd Suse or Suster otherwise call'd Kusistan the North verges with Media now Sarch and the South shoots to the Persian Bay or Sea of Ormus The Coast of Persia is every where an open and sandy Plains and without Harbors yet the Inhabitants call all those Places where Boats can put in Brendor that is A Haven The Sea-Coast of this Province comprehends the Country inhabited by the Nautaques Arabians and Mihelus or Nichilu which have their Name from that Sea-Coast and maintain themselves by Piracies They pay Tribute to the Sefi yet some of them own the Portuguese and Sail freely with their Passes which secures them from being molested by the Portuguese Carraks On the Bay of Persia stands the Fort Rexel and more Northward into the Country lies Resh Ceyfadin that is The Tract of Sand of Ceyfadin The Metropolis of this Province is Schiras by the Italians and Sir Walter Raleigh nam'd Siras and according to Mr. Herbert from the pronunciation of the Persians themselves Scheraz By reason of its Situation on a Plain some term it Imurezam that is A Plain-City Ben Jonas calls it Syahaz Osirus Niras Sephanus Cynebatha and Ctelius Cyropolis though mistaken as Mr. Herbert affirms because all the ancient Geographers place the City of Ciropolis near the River Cyrus in Hyrcania lying in 39 Degrees and a half Northern Latitude whereas Sciras lies in 28 Degrees and 44 Minutes Aelian affirms That there is a Ciropolis in India and Pliny hath observ'd a River of the same Denomination in Armenia but none of the Ancients make mention of any City of that Name yet nevertheless Garcias de Sylva and Fiqueroa certainly believes Schiras to be the ancient City of Ciropolis lying in the Province of Pasargadas Herbert would have Scheraz to be deriv'd from the word Sheer which signifies Milk in the Persian Tongue or else from Sherap which is A Bunch of Grapes for no Place in all Asia affords better Vines Some but especially Philips of Ferrara would have Sciras to be the ancient City Persepolis or at least that Sciras was built out of its Ruins on the same Foundation but this is a grand Mistake because Schiras is not an ancient City and the Place where Persepolis stood is above ten Persian Miles to the Northward from Schiras Yet nevertheless Mr. Herbert affirms that Schiras was raised out of the Ruins of Persepolis Some ascribe the building of this City to Jamshid
Sea and as Olearius says is at this day call'd Cur or Aras The other which we now speak of glides from the North to the South through Persia by the Walls of the City Schiras and falls into the Persian Gulph From the Banks of this River the famous Cyrus was thrown in his Infancy and gave his Name to the Place and not to that where he was born which was call'd Agradat Most of the Persian Geographers as Olearius Garcias de Sylva Figueroa and others judge the River Cur or Bendemir to be the same with Araxes This Araxes is the biggest of all those Rivers which water the Provinces of Persia and Lara notwithstanding which it is not very broad but runs in a narrow Channel in many Meanders between high Mountains being well replenish'd with all sorts of Fish This River takes its Original out of the Mountain Jessel lying between the famous Cities Suster and Margascan formerly call'd Susa and Persepolis and first directingits Course Southward bends afterwards to the East separating the ancient Province of Susiana from the Western part of Carmania and so enters into the Kingdom of Persia and after having receiv'd the Waters of many little Rivolets and divided the Province of Kerman and the ancient Caramie Foelix finding its Current to the Sea stopt by the exceeding high Mountains it returns with great force to the North-East being grown bigger than before and much deeper by the Waters which fall from the fore-mention'd Mountains thence it again runs Southward visiting the ancient Gedrosie and at last falls into the Indian Sea making a spacious Bay Near the Ruins of Cehil Minar and the ancient Persepolis glides the River Pelevar which takes its Course towards the South and falls into the Cur after having first water'd one of the fruitfulest Parts of Persia Persia is very Mountainous in several Places but they are not altogether sterill for the Mountains of Neriz have many Iron Mines and some relate that many Smaragds are found in this Province About ten or twelve Leagues from Schiras are several high Hills full of Palm and Lentisk-Trees where breed many Wild Hogs The Inhabitants of Schiras which is common to all the other Provinces of this Kingdom are very white the Women generally beautiful and the Men well-proportion'd There is also a great Trade driven in Schiras occasion'd by the Caravans which coming from Samarcand and Zagatay pass through this Place with great Quantities of Silk Musk Rhubarb and Turcoises all which those of Chorazzan receive from the Merchants which come from Catay or the Northern China And by this means Schiras furnishes other Countries with Provisions as Wooll Copper and many other things besides Distill'd Rose-water for they make another sort than we in Europe by decocting the Roses They also get abundance of Silk from the Silk-worms they breed here and have likewise Rubies Balayses which come from the City Balasan and great store of Lazuus Stones and Tutty Persia or Fars is not very cold though its Situation be more Northerly than the other Provinces for in December all the Gardens about Schiras are green and the Trees retain their Leaves because the Ground being moisten'd by so many Rivers is not onely preserv'd from all extraordinary Scorchings but so cooled and the Fruit becomes ripe so late that it may be preserv'd all the Winter and kept very good till March. The Country about Schiras and the Plains between the Mountains and the River Pasa is naturally dry and barren The Country about Rexel near the Sea-coast yields very excellent Wheat and also good store of Fruit That Tract of Land which extends Southerly produces abundance of Dates as also the Ground about the City Com but no Vines The Country of Tarom with the other neighboring Places are all planted with Date-trees under whose the Inhabitants sow Cotton There is also abundance of Sweet-briar out of whose Flowers the Inhabitants distill a sort of Water which they call Gulaep that is Rose-water Out of the gaping Ciefts of a high Mountain in the Country Stahanon distils a Liquor or Juyce which the King of Persia causes to be gather'd by Persons sworn for that purpose which yearly take up thirty Meticals or about forty or fifty Ounces of the said Distillation which by the Persians is call'd Monmaky Cony that is Precious Water and is kept onely for the King's Use it being as they affirm an excellent Antidote against all Poyson and an infallible Remedy against inward Bruises as also outwardly apply'd for Sinew-strains Contusions and the like The King many times bestows some of it upon those Princes that are in League with him as an extraordinary Mark of his Favor In stead of this the Turks use Terra Sigillata the Mahumetans of the Eastern Countries Pazar Cony which is a kind of Jews-Gum gather'd at Maxulpata or Musulipatan in India but is not of that Vertue and Power as this of India About Schiras the Persians find a sort of bitter Root by the Apothecaries call'd Cost from the example of the Arabians and Persians though they generally add the Word Talk to the same viz. Cost-Talk that is Bitter Cost to distinguish it from the common Indian Cost which they call Cost Xerir that is Sweet Cost The Bitter Cost hath a Root very hard and firm of a yellow Colour somewhat inclining to white if it be fresh and good but if it be digg'd out of season or carelesly dry'd it becomes blue or brown The Shell or Rind is streak'd and the Pulp white and bitterish The old Roots are very unsavory and ill-tasted It is brought into Europe either in round Pieces or else in long Slices The Country about Lastan produces abundance of Ingo by the Apothecaries call'd Assa foetida In Fars and Persia especially about Schiras they have very excellent Wine the best in all Persia which they call Xarao or Charab and it is sent to all Parts of the Country especially to the Court for the King and his Nobles drink no other and if any Person of Quality entertains another he always treats him with this Wine This Province also produces Bezoar-stones which the Persians properly call Pazahar which is a Compound Word of Pa and Zahar the first signifying Against and the other Poyson They are chiefly found in a County call'd Stabanon three days Journey from Lara where also grows in the Fields a Plant like Saffron which the Goats eating causes the foremention'd Stones to grow in their Stomachs and are esteem'd above all other Gems by the King of Persia Nay the Fields wherein the said Goats graze are constantly guarded and the collecting of the Stones look'd after by Officers appointed particularly for that purpose There is also a Stone by the Physicians call'd Lapis Judaicus that is The Jews Stone and by the Persians and Arabians Ager Alyud that is The Stone of Judas There is likewise the Armenian Stone otherwise call'd Lapis Lazuli and in the Persian Tongue nam'd Ager Armeni
Arabia to these Provinces Wherefore this City is much frequented by Merchants as well Persians and Arabians as Benjans and Jews and to that purpose are built many Caravanseras for the accommodation of strange Merchants that come thither with their Commodities This City hath been much ruin'd by Earthquakes one of which in Anno 1400. threw down above a hundred Houses and another Anno 1593. above three hundred or as Texeira affirms five hundred at which time also many Water-Cesterns and the greatest part of the City Walls were spoil'd The ancient Castle formerly built by a Georgian call'd Melek on a Stone Rock on the East side of the City was also cast down A League from Lar is a Caravansera call'd Charcaph The last Place in this Dukedom of Lar at the entrance of the Country which belong'd to the King of Ormus when he was absolute Master of his whole Kingdom on the Main Continent of Persia and Arabia is Abi Dunger Concerning the Climate we cannot say there is any great Cold at Lar the Air being so temperate that in March you can scarce get into the City for the abundance of Flies and Gnats which in great Swarms fill the Air. But in June there blows such a hot and dry Wind that on all Places over which it passes it leaves Impressions as of Fire and withal scorches the Faces Hands and Legs of Strangers to their great trouble and pain call'd therefore by the Persians Bad Semum that is An infectious and burning Wind. The whole Country of Lar is very destitute of Water for there are neither Brooks Springs nor Wells onely in several Places on the Road are plac'd Troughs which catch the Rain-water which serves for the accommodation and refreshment of Travellers Mr. Herbert says this Water is very unwholesom and occasions many Distempers as well in the Inhabitants as Strangers viz. Rheums Sore Throats and Worms in the Legs which causes Itching and Lameness and is not to be cur'd without taking out the Worm and this must also be done with great care for if the Worm chance to break it causes Putrefaction and Numbness in the Part affected which is only to be remedied by continual cutting and slashing of the Flesh There is nothing worthy of praise in all the Country about Lar but the Charitable Inclinations of divers of the Inhabitants who besides the Cesterns which the ancient Kings of Lara and their Governors made for the Publick good and Refreshment of the Inhabitants and Travellers which come daily hither in their last Wills appoint certain Persons to build with their Estates Cesterns Caravanseras and Alms-houses some great and others little according to their Capacities and Zeal in their Religion and by this means there are so many Cesterns that the adjacent Plain is full of them and the Water therein is very clear and cool in Summer notwithstanding the great Heat About Lar and the Parts adjacent are several sorts of Fruit-trees as Oranges Lemmons and the best Dates in all Persia Most of the Inhabitants live on Dates partly by making them their Food and partly by selling and bartering them for other Necessaries Between Lar and Gamron grows abundance of Assa Foetida by the Maleyans and Javanners call'd Hin The ancient Inhabitants of this Country were Arabians of which there are yet many living SCHAMACHIE Schirwan or Scerwan in ancient Times call'd Media Atropatia or Little Media The modern Names of Media Atropatia THis Province anciently a Kingdom is at this day in the Countrey Language call'd Schirwan and Xirwan or Xyruan and generally by the Europeans Serwan Magin supposes Xyruan to comprehend all Media though it be onely a part as Minadoi Leunclavius Olearius and others have observ'd who take it onely for old Media or Atropatia Our Mr. Jenkinson will have the same to be Hircania But Schirwan is rather the Northern Media as appears by the nature of the Soil for accordtng to Herodotus and Strabo that part of Media is mountainous as the Countrey now call'd Schirwan is found to be The Bounds This Province conterminates in the East with the Caspian Sea on the West with Georgia on the North with Albany and somewhat higher with the wandring Tartars which inhabit between Mount Caucasus and the River Volga and in the South it juts out against Great Armenia where the River Canack running betwixt serves for a Boundary and thence passes on till at last it comes to limit Great Media It s whole length is accounted about a hundred Miles The Metropolis of this Province of Schirwan is by divers Writers differently nam'd by Bizarro and Barbaro Sumachia by others Samachia and by the Spaniards Namachi but the common Name is Schamachie of which Namet here is but one City in Media or Persia notwithstanding Ferrarius in his short Geography makes mention of two one anciently call'd Ciropolis and the other Samunis It lies in 84 Degrees and 30 Minutes Longitude and 40 Degrees and 50 Minutes Latitude about six days Journey from the City Derbend or Demircapi by reason of the turnings and by-ways which you must travel through the Mountains but it is not above two days Journey along the Caspian Sea through Bacuy and the Mountains of Lahats and very passable either on Foot or on Horseback The Cammels commonly go the first Way finishing the Journey according as they are laden It is situate in a Valley betwixt Mountains which prevent its being seen till you come just upon it The Castle thereto belonging stands on a Hill near the City Walls which together with the City was built as the Persians affirm by King Schirwan Sehach The Description of the City Schamachie This City formerly was much bigger in circumference than at this day having been much ruin'd in King Abbas's time by the Turkish Wars It was anciently divided into two parts each being severally inclos'd with a Wall but the foremention'd King seeing that the Turks aim'd at nothing but strong and well fortifi'd Places for the better maintaining of their Conquest and never medled with open Villages also observing that the Forts lying in the middle of the Countrey and not on his Borders did him more hurt than good he caus'd the Walls of the Southern part of the City to be pull'd down and likewise those that inclos'd the Cities Tauris or Tabris Nachtzuan and Kentze This South part of Schamachie lies like a peculiar Town separated from the Northern by a little Hill which serves as a publick Market-place to both It is said that when the Turk conquer'd this City and went about afterwards to fortifie it he demolish'd the Persian Tombs to repair the City Walls with the Material thereof The North part of the City lies at the foot of another Hill and being somewhat less than the foremention'd South part is surrounded with a sleight Stone Wall so ruin'd that though the Gates which are five in number belock'd you may get into the City at any time of the Night over the
of which so many breed here that the Fishermen dare not go into above four Fathom Water which Pomponius Mela seems to have observ'd when he saith in his Geography This Sea is more dangerous than any other by reason of the many Monsters that breed therein It hath been reported that in Kilan over against the Mountain Sahebelan where they breed most they are taken with Hooks fastned to thick Lines and Baited with Flesh Divers other sorts of Fish Nor doth it onely breed Monsters for contrary to the Opinion of Contareno and Bizarro it produces several sorts of excellent Fish as Salmon Sturgeon Carps an Ell long a sort of Herrings great Breams call'd Chascham Scwit or Schivit and a sort of Barbels a Yard and a half long but others less which are tough and not fit to be eaten The Inhabitants there catch another sort of Salmon-Trouts which they dry in the Smoak and Dress after this manner viz. They lay the smoak'd Fish wrapt in a Linnen or Cotton Cloth upon a hot Hearth and then cover it with Ashes till it be enough whereby it gaineth a most delicate taste This abundance of Fish breeding in the Sea causes the King of Persia to Farm out the Fishing thereof towards the Mouth of the fresh Rivers which brings him yearly considerable Sums of Money This Fishing Farm begins in September and lasts to the end of March during which time the Rivers are shut up to prevent Intruders that have no right to Fish there but all the rest of the year not onely the Rivers but the Sea it self lies free and open to all Persons This Sea in the Summer the Persians Tartars and Russians Navigate in sleight and miserable Vessels with which they dare not Sail but onely before the Wind nor venture from the sight of the Shore There are but few Harbors and those neither good nor safe the place between the Island Tzenzeni and the main Land is counted one of the securest and therefore the Persians always Anchor there in the Night they also us'd to Ride with their Vessels near Bacu Lenkeran and Ferabath according as the Wind favors them But the best in all that Sea is towards the East on the Tartars side and is call'd Chuaresm and Minkischlack but by some nam'd Manguslave This Sea according to Herodotus Ptolomy and Aristotle is distinct from all other being wholly inclos'd within the Land so that it may justly be call'd a Mediterranean from whence appear the Errors of Dionysius the Alexandrian Pomponius Mela Strabo Pliny Solinus Basilius Magnus and others who would make it to mix with the Scythian or Tartarick Sea or else a Bay of the Northern Ocean and not totally surrounded by the Land The Province of Mazanderan Borders of the Province of Mazanderan THe Province of Mazanderan or Mazanderon conterminates in the West with Gilan or Kilan the East Borders upon Estarabat the South touches Erack Media and a part of Gilan and the North verges with the Bacu or Caspian Sea Its length is accounted to be thirty Leagues and Compriseth twenty five Cities the Metropolis of which bears the same Denomination with the Province but Della Valla and Olearius name it Ferhabad and aver that formerly it was call'd Tahona Description of Ferhabad The City Ferhabad which lies about two thousand Paces from the Caspian Sea is in a great Plain and as Della Valla witnesseth in a few years after the first Building grew to the bigness of Rome or Constantinople but was not inclos'd with Walls Nor have the chief Cities in this Countrey any such Inclosures The Teggine Rude that is The Swist-River runs through the middle of the City over which there is but one Bridge but that neatly built in that place where commonly the greatest concourse or People is in other parts a good distance from the Bridge they Ferry over in slat-bottom'd Boats made of one great Tree This Place by reason of its nearness to the Caspian Sea and convenience of the beforemention'd River is accounted a Sea-port Town because the Ships Sail up to the aforenam'd Bridge where they drop their Anchors and though the Vessels are not very big yet all that drive this Trade viz. to the City Gilan Esterabad Bacu Demircapt and to Astracan in Muscovia lade and unlade here King Abbas not long since call'd it Ferhabad that is The City of perfect Joy which is an Arabick word compounded of Fer which signifies Joy and Habad that is Finished Two Reasons induc'd the King to build this City the one was a desire he had to beautifie his Kingdom and extend the Limits thereof for he built divers Cities in several other places the other was his kindness to this particular Region partly because it was the Birth-place of his Mother and partly because it was the strongest part of his Dominions for it lies on one side surrounded with the unnavigable part of the Caspian Sea and on the other with inaccessible Mountains through which none can come but by narrow and craggy Paths besides all which this Countrey lay remotest from the Enemy especially from the Turks The Houses in the beginning were not above a Story high and cover'd onely with Canes to keep out the Weather The Walls consist of a certain Stuff very common in this Countrey which being mix'd with Straw is call'd Calghil that is Straw and Earth to which a quantity of Sand being added and beaten like Mortar makes a most strong and durable Cement But the King's Palace is built of Sun-dry'd Brick which in the time of a great Fire proving a safeguard to it self and all within caus'd the King to command all the Houses to be built of the like Materials The City Eskerf Eastward from thence lies a City call'd Eskerf about two Leagues from the same Sea at the end of a large Plain near the foot of a Mountain which environs the same on the South side This City was also built by Abbas at the same time with Ferhabad It hath many Gardens and a great Bazar or Street full of Shops besides divers other meaner Houses standing without order among shady Groves in a delightful Plain which is full of Inhabitants sent thither by the King and is much frequented especially when the Court Resides there which is the greatest part of the Summer for in Winter Ferhabad was the Royal Chamber and this the King did to draw Inhabitants thither and cause a Trade and likewise because it was well seated for Hunting and other Recreations The Houses are built under high Trees and so shaded with the Boughs that they are scarce to be seen insomuch that one may doubt whether Eskerf be a City erected in a Wood or a Grove inhabited like a City In the middle of the Gardens behind the Houses stand Chambers or rather Galleries because they are onely cover'd on the top which being about a Man's heighth above the Ground are ascended to by Steps and serve both for Eating
that is Darius's City Beyond Darabghierd we see the Villages Dechair and beyond that the Wilderness of Moghokiel Next you come to a Mosque of an Imamsade's Tomb who was call'd Meir Abas Son to Iman Giafer Sadick a Man highly esteem'd amongst the Persians yet the Mosque is quite ruin'd notwithstanding it is near a Village About it are pleasant Gardens with all sorts of Fruit-Trees water'd by a little Brook At the entrance is a Court where several People superstitiously desire to be bury'd In the middle of this Court stands a great Palm-Tree by whose Foot runs another Brook replenish'd with all sorts of Fish for the Service of the Court. Meir Aba 's Tomb. On one side of the Mosque is Meir Abas's Tomb cover'd with sleight Turkish Linnen Here Della Valle says he found a bound Book and also some Leaves of an old Book with certain Medals which were brought from Kierrila and the famous Hossein's Tomb on which were Imprinted in Arabick Letters the name of GOD and some other pious words as Elhemdu lillah that is God be praised Beyond this Tomb you come between narrow Mountains which formerly serv'd for the Boundaries between the two Provinces of Persia and Lar when Lar was a peculiar Dukedom and not subject to the Persians Somewhat farther you come to the Village Furg and beyond it to several Heaps of Rubbish being the Ruines of an ancient Structure by the Vulgar call'd The Mountain of the King of Behmen who as they report Reign'd a considerable time in Persia before Darius was conquer'd by Alexander the Great Next you approach the Village Tascui and Seid Geuder in the County of Tarom the salt Water of Absicur the Village Pelengon and the Tenghi Cebarrud or Narrow Gate beyond which a Brook glides gently into a Moat near which Travellers commonly resting themselves cut their Names and Verses on the Rocks which shadow this Brook from the heat of the Sun all the day Hence you go to Pise or Pisce a little Village in the Countrey of Gurhe not far distant Next appears the Town Curihazirgon and Serzehirevevon the Mountain of Ginan and Countrey of Issur where the Way again parts into two one running by the Village Abidunghur to the City Mina and the other to Cambru In the Road to Cambru lies the Village call'd Ciah Ciacor the common Resting-place for Travellers beyond which is a Row of Houses nam'd Pailulon or Pailuli Dagheli that is At the foot of the Lulen full of Leaves for by these Houses grow abundance of Trees by the Inhabitants call'd Kuli Dagheli as if they would say Trees full of Boughs for out of the great Branches grow many lesser down to the Ground which taking Root produce new Trees which being very common in India are by the Portuguese nam'd Arbores de Raiz that is The Rooting Trees Lastly you come to the Fort and City Combru at present by the Persians call'd Abassi The nature of the Inhabitants of Wild and Great Carmania The Inhabitants of Wild Carmania are most of them Thieves and Robbers but in Great Carmania the Women work all sorts of Shapes on Cloth of Tissue or Silk of divers colours as also on Curtains Hangings Cushions and the like In this Province are made also excellent Saddles Bridles Spurs and all manner of Weapons for War The Inhabitants drink a kind of Beer in stead of Wine and make use of the Arabian Abe The Inhabitants in the Wilderness Reobarle which lieth in this Province live by Pilfering and are great Sorcerers like the Arabians Their Turbans are long but narrower than those of the other Persians with a great Lappet behind Herb Daru Kermon Amongst many other soveraign Herbs growing here there is one exceeding good against Worms call'd Daru Kerman or Daramnack Kermony which is to be understood two several ways viz. for a Medicine for Worms or for a Medicine from Kermon for Kermon is a compound word signifying not onely This Province but A Worm and Daru or Daramnack is a Physical Herb. The chiefest Commodities with which the Inhabitants Trade are Rose-water Wormwood or Daru Kermon and the Stone Surmah Commodities of the Countrey The Carpets made here are by the Persians call'd Caluchey by the Portuguese Alcatifas and commonly by other Europeans from their Example corruptly Alcatifs which are made in three several Places in Persia viz. the richest finest and dearest are made in Izad a City in Hierack where some are sold for a thousand Ducats the second sort are those of Kerman and the third from Carason There is also a black and glittering Stone found in this Countrey which looks as if it were strew'd with File-dust or Sand and is call'd Surmah of which there are two sorts one is found in Kerman as also in Carason which is of greatest value and the other Moches because it comes from Mochi or Mecha The Arabians Indians and Persians use this Stone much against the Distemper of the Eyes for the cure of which it is very prevalent being prepar'd with other things It is good to preserve Beauty insomuch that both Men and Women wiping their Eyes with the Stone wetted account themselves much younger and fairer Gedrosia or Circan Cache Guadel and Macran The several Names of Gedrosia THis Countrey by the Ancients call'd Gedrosia is at this day according to Castaldus nam'd Circan and by Olearius and Melam taken to be the Kingdom of Tarsus of which the Psalmist speaks Niger thinks it is compris'd in Carmania Maffeus calls the Gedrosians Nautaques which are the same the Portuguese call Motages Cluverius will have Gedrosia to comprehend Kesimur and Guzaratte and anciently the two Provinces of Paradene and Parisene and several People as the Orbites Parsires Musarnes and Rhamniers The chiefest Towns were Parsis the Metropolis Chief Towns Arbis and Cuni. Ptolomy borders Gedrosia in the North Borders at Drangiana or Cagisan and Arachosia or the Countrey of Cabul Carmania bounds the West the East borders upon India or the Kingdom of Cambaya and the South fronts the Indian Sea and includes the City Guadel with the Lands belonging thereto and the Towns Calamare and Partinis beyond the Mouth of the River Ilment sometimes call'd Arke near which the Motages and Nautaques reside The County of Mecheran In the same Tract in the Province of Kirman lies another County Eastward call'd Mecheran otherwise Macran and by Texeira Macron who hath given it the Name of a Kingdom with the Denomination of Kyche or Chike by the Portuguese call'd Cache between the Dominion of Guadel and the Abindes of Indostan and betwixt the Countreys of Persia and Send or India and to the Eastward of the Kingdom of Sistan The known Towns of Mecheran are Thir Kitz and Chalack The Metropolis is by some nam'd Mecheran The Inhabitants of Erack seldom come into this Province There is also a City by some call'd Cobinam where very excellent Looking-glasses or Mirrors of Steel are made The
River which waters this Countrey is now call'd Barbarum and formerly Arabis Commodities of Cache The Kingdom of Cache produces plenty of Hemp and Flax of which the Inhabitants make Linnen Cloth and affords Oyl of Gegelin and other sorts in great abundance There are likewise many Horses call'd Cachis from the Name of the Countrey which are as good as the Persian or Arabian Guadel hath its peculiar Xeque or Vice-Roy and Macran a particular Prince but Cobinam is under the Jurisdiction of the Sophy The Province of Moghostan Bounds of Moghostan THe Province of Moghostan which signifies Date-Tree Wood because that Tree grows all over the Countrey conterminates on one side with the Dukedom of Lar and extends from thence East and South of the places which verge with the Persian Gulf. There is another Moghostan anciently so call'd for the reason before mention'd but quite differing from this by Diodorus Siculus mention'd to lie in Arabia Felix not far from the Arabian Gulf. The Village Ciuciululion The first place in this Province as you travel out of the Countrey of Lar is Ciuciululion consisting of about forty Houses built a good distance from each other in a Wood of Dates Olive and other Trees which bear no eatable Fruits but onely Leaves from whence this Village hath receiv'd its Name Five Leagues from Ciuciululion passing towards the Metropolis Mina is a very mean Hamlet call'd Dazrack Near the Sea lies Benderi du Ser a small Town that is A Haven with two Mouths Not far from which is the Shore of Scechierri or Sechierri The Haven of Combru is about two days Journey from Mina and was formerly so call'd by the Portuguese but the Persian King Abbas taking it from them gave it the Name of Abassi from his own Name The Metropolis Mina The Metropolis of Moghostan call'd Mina which is two days Journey from Ciuciululion and twelve with Camels from Lar lies in 26 Degrees and 35 Minutes Northern Latitude and hath two Fortresses on the East side inclos'd within a Wall which runs directly through the Town and at a certain distance having some sleight Towers the biggest hath two great Gates one respecting the North and the other the South and almost quite surrounded with Water In the City Mina are two Baths near neighbors to each other the first is very large and formerly had several Shops and Houses about it which were most of them ruin'd Anno 1632. the other being much less is built upon a Hill on the East side of the great one and being wash'd by a little Brook is inhabited by the Beigh and his Guard which keep Watch all the Night and call aloud at certain hours according to a Custom amongst the Eastern People Not far from Mina lies Binder Ibrahim that is The Haven of Ibrahim Cuhesteck is a Town lying on the Coast of Mina near Ormus where the Air is so unwholsom that most Strangers coming thither are afflicted with the Disease of the Countrey in so violent a manner that few escape The Houses in Mina are made of the plash'd Boughs of Date-Trees In this Province grow abundance of Trees Trees by the Arabians call'd Nebo and by the Persians Conar which bear a small Fruit with a Stone in the middle like our Cherries the dry'd Leaves thereof rubb'd to Powder and put in Water not onely turn the same white but make it Lather like Soap which most People use when they Bathe themselves Here also grows a Tree call'd Amba brought from India In Moghostan and other Places in Persia Beasts breeds a strange sort of Beast in colour and shape like a Tyger but hath a Head and Snout like a Hog it makes a great screeking in the Night and desires to prey upon the dead Bodies of Men which it endeavors to scrape out of the Graves wherefore Della Valla believes it is the same Beast which the Latines and Greeks call Hyena or a Mungrel Wolf The supream Governor of Moghostan is styl'd Sceheriari and being subject to the Chan of Schiras keeps not his Court in the Metropolis Mina but in a neighboring Village where one Schach Sefi Reign'd Anno 1630. Lorestan BEsides the Provinces before mention'd those of Nimruz Sichar and Lorestan are reckon'd Members of the Crown of Persia though we onely know the Names of the two former but Lorestan some call Luristan and Paulus Venetus onely Lor which perhaps is the Name of its Metropolis for Stan is a vulgar word in Persia for Land or Countrey John the Persian places Lorestan ninety Leagues from Casbin and makes Cormana to be the Residence of the King of Persia but Texeira who calls it Cormatu and Cormavat affirms that it is onely a strong Place in this Province the Kings of which paid as a yearly Tribute fifty thousand Ducats The Province of Chorazan THe Province of Chorazan or Carason by Olearius taken to be the ancient Bactriana contrary to Davity who makes Bactriana a part of Zagatey or Usbeck Carason according to Davity compriseth the ancient Countrey of Margiana bordering upon the River Gehun by some styl'd Geichon and by others Oxus which according to Ptolomy conterminates in the North with Margiana Chorazan saith Davity comprises also a great part of Aria and Texeira places Kerman or Carmania between Persia and Carason and Ptolomy borders Carmania in the West with Persia and in the East at Ery Cluverius nevertheless takes Margiana for Elsabat which is accounted a part of Tartary and Zagatey Castaldus calls the ancient Margiana Jezelbas or Jesilbax that is Green Head the general Name given by the Tartars to Zagatey who formerly possess'd this Countrey and was first taken from them by Ismael Seff but afterwards being lost was by Schach Abbas re-taken and ever since kept Herbert divides Chorazan into three great Territories viz. Hery Farihan and Tocharistan anciently call'd Aria Paropamisa and Tocharia Chorazan according to Olearius conterminates in the East with Mazanderan and is divided into many lesser Counties amongst which Hery is the chiefest Chorazan taken for the ancient Margiana borders in the East upon Bactriana m the West faces Hircania or Starabat the South verges with a part of Aria and the North looks upon a part of Tartary or Scythia viz. from the Mouth of the River Oxus to a part thereof near Bactriana The City Mesched This Countrey comprehends many large Cities the chiefest whereof is Mesched otherwise Maxad and by the Persians call'd Thus. This City standing on a Hill near the River Habin is environ'd with Walls and strengthned with Moats Towers and other Fortifications insomuch that Texeira affirms there are three hundred Towers a Musquet-shot from each other and that with the Gardens and Banquetting-houses the City is accounted to be six Leagues in circumference and inhabited by a hundred thousand People In this City may be seen a stately Tomb of one of the twelve Persian Imams or great Saints of the Family of Aaly call'd Imam
Risa or Eman Reza that is Holy Son of Aaly and is no way inferior in beauty and costliness to that of Schach Sefi at Ardebil John the Persian places Mesched which he calls Maxet sixty Leagues from Hery adding moreover that there is a Tower eighteen Foot high consisting wholly of massy Gold Arch'd on the top with Precious Stone on whose Pinacle if you will believe him is fix'd a Diamond about the bigness of a Chesnut which glittering in the Night may bee seen a League off The City Herat. Not far from Mesched lies the City of Nisabur but not to be compar'd with Herat which is the second best and biggest whither Schickhard supposes the ten Tribes of Israel were led into Captivity whence they never return'd Texeira affirms it built by Alexander the Great but Davity supposes it to be the City Aratha of Ptolomy Those that travel from Ispahan to Candahar must come through this Place The other Towns in this Province are Thun Tabeskileki Thabes Messinanalle all great Cities as also Sebsewar Turschis Cain Puschentz Badkis Meru Merwerud Tzurtzan Fariab Aschurcan Belch Barman Semcan Thalecan and Susen all populous and Cities of great Trade Merwerud by some call'd Marwoh was built by Alexander near the River Jehun or Oxus though Davity will have it to be the Antioche of Ptolomy in Margiana first call'd Alexandria the rest are by Davity call'd Tubas Cahem Tirbeth and Chirazza The River Oxos or Jehun which runs between the Province Turkestan and Usbeck and that on the other side call'd Maurenahar makes the Countrey exceeding fruitful especially near the City Herat where the best Manna is gather'd This whole Countrey abounds with Assa Foetida in the Persian Tongue call'd Inghze Production of the Countrey which is little esteem'd there sa also Surmah The Land about Thun abounds with Mulberry-Trees and consequently produces much Silk and about Cahem Saffron grows in great quantities In this Province are a sort of Cats which for their handsom colour and shape are sent through all Persia they resemble our Tabby or Cyprus Cats There are also Sheep of several colours some with grey or black others with white Hair or Wooll curl'd at the ends which is oftentimes three Inches long or more yet some have Wooll above an Inch long and others so short that it but just curls round some of them have long grey and shining Wooll white at the ends which curling behind appears at adistance like Strings of Pearl The Natives of Chorazan are Whites and very valiant but not civilis'd Nature of the Inhabitants The Inhabitants of most Cities make several Stuffs and drive a great Trade with the Indians Muscovites Tartars and others In Heart dwell many Indian Merchants who Traffick in Carpets made after the Turkish manner Silks Manna Inghze or Assa Foetida Saffron Surmah Precious Stones and other things The Goverment Chorazan is partly the Subjection of the Usbecks or Tartars of Zagatey who seeing the King of Persia Engag'd with the Turks made themselves Masters of most Places thereabouts notwithstanding they have been driven out of many parts of this Province by Schach Abbas The few Christians which are here are Melchites of the Greek Church and use their Liturgy Herbert places the Mountain Albors or Elburs in this Countrey but Olearius in the Province of Schirwan on which the ancient Persians were said to have built their Temple for their ever-burning Fire The Province of Siston Situation and Description of Siston THe Countrey call'd Siston or Sistam lies South-East from Chorazan towards the Sea or Gulf of Persia having Persia on one side and the Kingdom of Macran near India on the other Siston extending thirty Leagues in length comprehends fifteen Towns of which the Metropolis bears the same Denomination with the Countrey and lying according to Hues in 105 Degrees and 30 Minutes Longitude and 28 Degrees and 40 Minutes Northern Latitude is inhabited by five thousand People This Countrey is Morassy and unwholsom though Mountainous and the People hardy and much inclin'd to the Wars being within the Jurisdiction of Chorazan under the Subjection of the Sophy Aria or Ery The several Names and Bounds of Aria ARia or Ery by Pinetus Billius and Olearius taken for Turkestan Mercator calls it Sernere but Giravar and Herbert Hery though others as Niger Minadoi and Texeira affirm that it hath retain'd its ancient Name or at least that of Hery or Ery It lies Bounded according to Ptolomy with Paroparmisade in the East Parthia and Wild Carmania in the West Drangiane by Sagistam in the South and Margiana and a part of Bactriana in the North and as Strabo writes it extends to a certain part of Persia and Media and to the Northern Sogdia The chief Towns The prime City of this Province call'd Ery anciently Aria and by the Persians Sargultsar i. e. The City of Roses boasts that it can shew six or seven thousand Houses The other Towns are Sazuar or Sapzoar Cauran perhaps the Chadurine of Ptolomy Bachachi beyond which lies Caffa and Jarsadman the Lake of Burgian and the River Aria Temperature of the Air and Fertility of the Soil The Air in this Province is very hot and would be much hotter if not refresh'd by the Northern cool Breezes The Countrey is encompass'd with Woods and Mountains and in many places very fertile in the bearing of several sorts of Grain and Fruits especiall Vines the Wine whereof well Cask'd will as they say keep almost a hundred years About Ery grow likewise abundance of Roses and in the City Silk is so plentiful that it may be bought at a reasonable Rate three or four thousand Camels loads being vended in a day Moreover there is store of Rhubarb and Musk sold by the Inhabitants who are Mahumetans Dagestan or Tagestan Situation of Tagestan THe Countrey of Dagestan as Ptolomy Dionysius the Alexandrian and Strabo write was a part of the Province of Albania comprehended between Iberia and the Caspian Sea though Cluverius and Golnitius would have Albania lying betwixt Iberia and the Caspian Sea to be the Eastern part of Georgia Some joyn this Countrey to Persia as a part thereof notwithstanding Ptolomy hath separated them Others affirm that Dagestan was formerly call'd Susiana and Golnitius that it was old Susiana and now Elaran but Olearius avers that it is Chusistan It lies divided from Cincassia by the River Bustro and Southward a quarter of a League from Derbend by a small Brook from * Properly so call'd Persia and extends Northerly with Mountains along the Caspian Sea to the City Terki Tagestan signifies A Mountainous Countrey for Tagh in the Countrey and Turkish Language is a Mountain and Stan in the Persian a Countrey Moreover the Inhabitants call themselves Tagestan Tartars that is Highland or Mountain Tartars but the Persians name them Lesgi for they dwell between the Mountains twenty and thirty Leagues Westward from the Caspian Sea
to the Poor Their Paper differs not much from ours being for the most part made of Cotton Their Paper Ink and Pens but sometimes of Silk and polish'd with a Pumice Stone or smooth Shell which makes it very free from Knots or Hairs and as smooth as Glass Their Ink they make of Granate-shells mix'd with Gauls Copperas and Powder of bak'd Rice but the best they have comes ready made out of India in hard pieces of a Fingers length which are melted with Gum and put into their Inkhorns with sleazed Silk Their Pens are not made of Quills like ours but of Canes which being brown are somewhat thicker than ours they are brought from Sciras and the Arabian Gulf near which they grow in great abundance The Persians are very ignorant in the Art and Rules of Painting They are but ruâ—e Painters for though their Pictures are set off with variety of good Colours yet they wrant the excellency which ours have as being neither Shadow'd nor Drawn to the Life Their Language THe Persians have a proper Language yet in many things agreeing with the Arabick and divided into three Dialects call'd Xirazy Rostazy and Harmazy the first is the Court Language of Sciras the second is us'd by the Gentry but not so eloquent as the former and the third is the vulgar being of a harsh and unpleasant sound and chiefly spoken in the Kingdom of Ormus But besides this general Language each Province hath a peculiar Speech though most of them covet to speak the Turkish besides their own but especially those that inhabit the Provinces heretofore possess'd by the Turks viz. Schirwan Adirbeitzan Erack Bagdat and Eruan in which Places most Children are taught the Turkish Language but especially those that reside in Ispahan and frequent the Court and therefore they slight their native Tongue and the reason hereof may be because the Militia consists in Quizilbascies most of which are natural Turks and the King's Slaves though intermix'd with several Nations which speak that Language so that not onely the Officers but also the King himself who spends most of his time amongst them is oblig'd to speak that Language if he intends to be understood by and convese with them by which means it is common through all the Court But the Persian Tongue is us'd in all their Books and Writings as also in all Obligations and Edicts publish'd by the King and in all Matters of consequence and State Businesses As the Turkish Language is esteem'd by the Persians so is the Sclavonian by the Turks and the Persian by the Indians nay it is at this day common through all the East especially in the Mogull's Countrey and from thence to China The modern vulgar Tongue us'd by the Persians is a confus'd Mixture started up since Mahomet's time from the several Nations which have harras'd and inhabited these Countreys Those of the Province of Fars or Persia proper of which Sciras is the Metropolis speak the best and purest Persian The similitude of the Persian Language with the Teutonick There are many words in the Persian Tongue which resemble and are so like the Teutonick that they seem to be the same as for Example Brader is Brother Dochter Daughter Berber Barber Leb Lip Starch Stares Nahm Name Nau New Beheter Better and Der Door from whence many late Writers as Boxhornius and others suppos'd that the Persian Tongue hath great affinity with the old Teutonick for the Persians and Germans as the said Boxhornius affirms out of ancient Writers both are extracted from the Scythians therefore it must necessarily follow that the Language of these People must have some affinity besides the manner of pronunciation which differs but little The Persian Tongue hath also many words agreeing widi the Latin viz. Pader is Pater Father Mader is Mater Mother Musch is Mus A Mouse Dend is Dens A Tooth Calem is Calamus A Pen. Ne is Ne No. Jug is Jugum A Yoke Tu is Tu You or Thou Du is Duo Two No is Novem Nine De is Decem Ten Pare is Pars Part. Cal is Calvus Bald. Herodotus writes that all the Persian Names end with S. but we finde no such thing now of late The Greeks according to the Testimony of Brissonius The difficulty to learn the Persian Tongue accounted the Persian Tongue very hard to learn but we suppose that the difficulty if there be any is in pronouncing the Letters which are for the most part gutturals but as John Gravius and Olearius witness there is not one of all the Eastern Tongues which require fewer Rules than the Persian by reason of it's few Anomala but the want of the Vowels makes great difficulty in the reading of their Books for many Words with one and the same Consonants onely with several Vowels signifie several things viz. Ghyl signifies smooth Ghul a Rose Keschten to turn about Kischten to sowe Koschten to kill One Word in the Persian Tongue hath oftentimes several significations from whence many conclude that it is Lingua nuda a barren Speech As for Example from the word Chane which properly signifies a House there are many other words are deriv'd and compounded viz. Barchane a Stable for Horses Carchane a Work-house or Store-house Treschane an Armory Tabchane a Great-hall Diwanchane a House of Justice Moreover this word is us'd in many other things As in the business of eating c. for they use to say to eat to drink to have to carry away to receive to understand and to express many other things for they say to eat Wine eat Heat and Cold eat Money eat Wounds eat beating with a Stick besides many other strange kind of Expressions Use the Arabick in stead of Hebrew Greek and Latine Hebrew Greek and Latine the Persians understand not but in stead thereof they use Arabick as their most learned Tongue which is as common amongst them as Latine with us and divers Books are written therein Their Alphabet As to what concerns the Alphabet of the Persians they had antiently their own Letters and Characters but after the Arabians had made themselves Masters of Persia they were not onely laid aside but upon their Califs Command all the Writings of that sort were burnt for they judg'd that so long as the Persians kept the Books which contain'd the Laws and Religions of their Idols they would never be brought to be good Mahumetans so that the Arabians establish'd their Letters and manner of Writing which the Persians affected so much that they totally neglected their own insomuch that there is at this day not one amongst them that understands their own antient Letters All those that ever intend to speak the Persian Tongue must first be well experienc'd in the Arabick for the Persians not onely use Arabick words apart but also joyn them to their Names of which John Gravius Lodowick de Dieu Reyer and many others treat more at large in their Persian Grammars They study
descended from Mahomet's and Aaly's Family and accordingly to their Successors wherefore they have great Priviledges and are honor'd by several Titles The Turks call those of Mahomet's Extract Emirs and the Arabians Scherifs The Persians nevertheless distinguish the Successors and Relations of Scheich Sofi from all others of Mahomet's Relations and honor them by a peculiar name of Scheichavend that is the Line of Scheich being as the say two thousand in number and most of them resident in Ardebil because that City was the Habitation and Birth-place of Scheich Sofi The Seyds in Persia shave their Hair two Fingers breadth above their Ears Their Habit. but let it grow long on their Crowns and in their Necks they wear a white Habit and a kinde of Pumps as also a peculiar sort of Mendils or Turbants They may not marry out of their Families nor drink Wine yet are free to go to Feasts where in stead of Wine they drink Water The Seyds which dwell in the Cities are generally rich People for they possess whole Villages and are free from all manner of Taxes which makes them not a little proud There are another Sort that pretend themselves Seyds that go from Town to Town shewing their Marks and living on the Alms of People but these are commonly Deceivers and are call'd Cherseyds that is Cherseyds what they are Holy Asses some carry Hair in a round silver Box alledging that it was cut from Mahomet's Head which through a little hole they shew to the People This Hair is sold at a great Rate and laid on their Books when they read or pray At Kisma in Kilan was one of these Deceivers who with a piece of Crystal held in the Sun would fire Cotton or Paper and perswaded the People that he was of Mahomet's Race and had made a Contract with the Heavens There are also a Sort of these who boast their original from Aaly and are here as the Dervises among the Turks which are such as live retir'd lives like Recluses There are others call'd Abdalles Abdalles what they are and their Habits resembling Monks wearing course Coats stitch'd like quilts and girt about them with a Copper Serpent which when they are made Abdalles is given them by their Masters as a Testimony of their Learning and Wisdom At Ardebil they are receiv'd into this Order by the Sofi-Chans at Ispahan and Meschet by the Sofi-Baschi or Chief of the Sofy's These Abdalles are frequently seen in the Markets and other places where calling the people together they preach of the Miracles wrought by their Saints Aaly and others railing against Abubeker Omar Odsman and Hanifa the Saints of the Usbekes or Tartars wherefore these Abdalles dare not approach the Turk's Borders These are for the most part a vile debauch'd thieving and sodomitical People yet there are several little Chappels built for them near the Metzids or Temples wherein they reside in Ardebil they are the most numerous A general Tolleration All Strangers of what Religion soever have according to antient Custom in Persia Liberty of Conscience being permitted to live after their own Manner and after the Laws of their several Princes Admit discourse of Religion The Persians also speak with great freedom concerning the Mysteries of their Belief to strangers and are also very curious in matters of Religion willingly spending their time to discourse thereof nay harken with patience to such as argue against their Religion which is quite contrary to the nature of the Turks They hold Christ our Saviour in great Reverence and call him Isael Messih that is Holy Messiah thus much of Scheich Sofy's Doctrine The Heathen Persians are call'd Mayucy Heathen Persians or Maurigy and Gaoryasdy of which the last Name is very common the Pagans of Zuratte and Cambaya by a general Name call'd Banjan have among other superstition Customs that of worshipping Cows which the Persians call Gao and he that keeps them Gaopon and call and these kind of Idolaters Gaor They also call them by another Name Zarduxt that is Friend of Fire though Zar in the general Language signifies Silver and the Fire is call'd Attex These People worship the Sun and Fire which last they have kept above three thousand years on a Mountain call'd Albors Cuyh or Atez Quedah that is The Residence for Fire lying a days Journey from Yazd These Idolaters are very numerous and the more because all the Kingdoms in Persia were such before the Arabians coming thither How they dispose of aged People They also have a Custom not to suffer aged People to die a natural Death but to carry them to the beforemention'd Mountain where they set them in a kind of Cage in which they can but just stand upright and leave them there without any other Subsistence than what the Air will afford them till they die and because there blows a continual Wind and the Air being very thin the Bodies keep entire a long time But if any one dies young they take the Corps and tie it on an Ass in a sitting posture setting on his Head a Pot full of Cream in the Persian Tongue call'd Mast with which they wash his Face and Eyes and then drive the Ass with a Whip cross a Field where generally the Ravens coming about the Corps pick out the Eyes whil'st the Followers narrowly watch which Eye is first pickt out for if it happen to be the right they judge that the Deceased's Soul is happy but if the left that it is in a state of perdition Great numbers of Jews in Persia There are likewise above nine or ten thousand Families of Jews in Persia who have a general Toleration as also many Christian Armenians and Nestorians brought in by King Cozroe when he was conquer'd by the Emperor Heraclius whom he suppos'd to vex by being of that Opinion destroying at the same time all the Roman-Catholick Churches throughout his whole Dominions for the Persians once embrac'd the Catholick Religion first Preach'd there by St. Thomas Chistianity Preach'd in there by St. Thomas till such time as their King Sapor put to death seventeen thousand of them with the most exquisite Tortures imaginable Whereupon Constantine the Great sent Letters to perswade him to be favorable to them wherein when he could not prevail he proclaim'd War against him But when Christianity was by these Persecutions in a manner extinguish'd it was restor'd again in the time of Maruthe Bishop of Mesopotamia and Abdias Aclatus Bish of Persia and though many oppos'd it yet about the Year 411. the Churches were re-built as before but since that by the Mahumetans again utterly extirpated There are also Melchites in Persia Melchrites and their Opinions who have spread themselves quite to the Countrey of Chorazan These People are infected with the ancient Opinion of the Greek Church condemn'd in the Council of Florence which Doctrine is also follow'd by the Georgians Mengrelians and Circassians who
slew Constantine in Battel who then was King of the Countrey An. 1507. it was Govern'd by a King call'd Pancrace after which the King dividing his Kingdom into four parts gave the same to his four Sons giving them equal Power leaving onely the Superiority to the eldest to whom he had given the best and biggest part wherefore this Prince is respected by all the other and being of greater eminency is honor'd with the Title of Mepet-Mepe which in the Countrey Language signifies The King of Kings the rest being contented to be call'd Princes of Georgia which at this day are six in number for besides the four before mention'd Extracted from Royal Blood there are two others who at first were Deputies to Mepet-Mepe being Governors of two great parts of hâ—s Dominions beyond the Black Sea but at last rebelling against him made themselves Masters thereof as we shall hereafter relate more at large The Province of Imereti or Basciaciuk THe Province of Imereti or being the Centre and strongest part of the Countrey was without doubt the ancient Iberia It is fortifi'd with several Mountains especially towards the South side of Persia wherefore the Persians never make any Inroad that way It borders on the West at Dadian or Mengrelia and at Gunel This Countrey hath a City of the same Denomination besides many other inferior Towns The King's Title The King or Prince or King that Governs this Countrey is call'd Ghiorghi that is Georgian and with a shorter Title of Mepet-Mepe which they use onely in writing but speaking they generally call him Giorghi Mepe that is The Georgian King but the Turks call the Princes as well as the Countrey People thereof Basciascive or Basciaciuk that is Bare or Uncover'd Head Formerly the Princes of Dadian and Guriel were subject to the Prince of Basciaciuk or Imereti and serv'd him as Gentlemen of the Horse one holding his Stirrup and the other the Bridle when he mounted on Horseback but being of late grown more powerful they have not onely freed themselves from his Authority but made themselves his Equals nay by their Warring against him are fear'd not onely by him but by other neighboring Princes Anno 1622. when the Prince of Dadian had obtain'd a Victory against the Prince of Imereti and done him much hurt he forc'd him to send Agents into Persia to request Aid there with promise to become Tributary to the Sofi if he would send him the Soldiers which lay in Garrison in the Towns of Teflis and Gori under the Command of a Georgian Nobleman call'd Battoni Mehrab but Schach Abbas receiv'd the Message with much displeasure refusing their Presents and Request saying that they did it out of a private Design and treacherous Intention yet proffer'd him some Persian Soldiers but the King disliking to admit Strangers into his Countrey refus'd that Offer and Espous'd one of the Prince of Dadian's Sisters so closing the Breach that had been made upon him The Province of Cacheti Situation of this Province EAstward from the Province of Imereti lies Cacheti which being a part of Iberia and perhaps also of Albania was the Dominion of the youngest Brother of the four before-mention'd call'd Teimuraz who kept his Court in a City nam'd Zagain or Zagam which is one of the chiefest in this Countrey and next to that Grim or Grien The King and Nobles whom they call Asnauri take more pleasure in living in Huts in the Countrey than in the City which they account a fit place for Handicrafts Mechanicks and the vulgar sort of People to dwell in All the Georgians are wedded to this Opinion that all those who are not Asnauries or Noblemen will not debase themselves to live in the City or drive any manner of Trade but leave it to be perform'd by Strangers as Armenians Jews and many other the like People themselves spending their time either in the Wars or in Tilling of their own Lands for which reason they were by the ancient Greeks justly call'd Georgi that is Agricultors or Husbandmen The reason of the Name Georgian For this reason also there are but few Cities in this Countrey and those but of small consequence yet is it every where well inhabited and full of large Timber Houses after the fashion of the Countrey and likewise many handsom and well built Churches This Countrey was formerly Govern'd by peculiar Princes the last whereof was call'd Teimuraz The Province of Cardel or Carduel The Bounds of this Province THe Province of Cardel or Carduel lying Southward from Cacheti or Imereti borders with its South side upon Persia a extends Westward to that of Teimuraz and lies near Great Armenia of which perhaps it is a part The chiefest City call'd Teflis lies in a very secure place which being water'd by a small River nam'd The Chiur gliding from an adjacent Mountain and falling into the Araxes is accounted to be the Zogocara of Ptolomy a City of Great Armenia and as Joseph Barbosa affirms there are yet to be seen the Tombs of the Kings who Rul'd this part of Georgia which in the beginning of this Age had a Prince call'd Simon who afterwards dy'd in Prison at Constantinople and afterwards another nam'd Luarzab Heir and Nephew of Simon who with Teimuraz Prince of Cacheti was by the Persians driven out of his Countrey and carry'd alone to Persia where he dy'd without Issue After him about the Year 1622. the King of Persia plac'd a Mahumetan Son to a deceased Bagred Myrza and Nephew to the Prince of Luarzab in this Dominion not to possess it as supream Governor but as a Deputy or Chan as all other Chans of Persia the occasion whereof hapned thus How the Kings of it came to be dispossess'd In the War between the Turks and Persians whil'st they Treated about a Peace and the Armies of both Parties stood each on their Defence and disputed the Business of the two aforesaid Georgian Princes under whose Subjection they were to stand for the Turks would have them under their Jurisdiction the King of Persia told the Turkish Agent who Treated with him about Peace That Teimuraz and Luarzab were and ever had been his Subjects in testimony of which he could command them into his Army when he pleas'd Whereupon the Agent reply'd That they should be his if he could make them come Upon which the King sending for them they in obedience to his Command were coming but seeing the Turkish Army so near durst not declare themselves for the Persians but flatter'd the one as well as the other excusing themselves to the Persians but came not into his Army which highly incens'd the King against them and as soon as a Peace was concluded and the Turkish Army gone out of his Dominions the King of Persia growing subtilly malicious and plotting Revenge sow'd the Seeds of Contention between Luarzab and Teimuraz and at last wrought it to that heighth that they fell to open War one with
any other Water in India and is also very wholsom and hath a good relish In the middle of the Ganges lie many great and small Isles which are very fruitful and all of them overgrown with wild Fruit-trees but most of them at this day lie waste by reason of the French Pyrates from Racau yet they have store of wild Swine and divers sorts of Fowls on the same as also Tygers which swim from one Island to another and therefore it is very dangerous to Land on any of them The Ganges is suppos'd to abound with Gold and Pearls Its Riches and from its bottom are fetch'd all manner of Precious Stones on some of which are perfectly represented the shapes of Beasts Plants and other things There is another Ganges being onely two Streams joyning their Waters which rise first Eastward of Gavel near the Mountain Gate in 18 or 19 Degrees of Northern Latitude The River which comes out of the Northermost Spring is call'd Kinsuar as that out of the Southern Benhora but by their conjunction losing their former Denominations are call'd Ganga like the other But this River at last discharges its Waters into one of the Mouths of the Ganges between Angely and Picholda in about 20 Degrees of Northern Latitude The Inhabitants also hold this Water in great veneration by which means it is very advantageous to the Mahumetan Lords of the Countrey through which it runs because they permit no Person to wash his Face in the same without paying them a certain Sum of Money The River Bark rises from another Spring on the West side of Mount Gate and empties it self through the Gulf or Bay of Bombain separating the Kingdom of Zuratte or Cambaya from that of Decan The Stream Aliga likewise discharges its Water on the West side of the same Mountain against the middle of the Isle Anchedive in 14 Degrees of Southern Latitude having before separated the two Kingdoms of Decan and Canara The great River Nagundy gliding from Mount Gate which is beyond Cananop and Calicut runs Northerly but within sight of the Aliga changes its course Eastward and passes on through the Metropolis of Bisnagar and the Province of Orixa and afterwards loses it self in the Bay of Bengala between the sixteenth and seventeenth Degree where the two Towns Guadenary and Masulipatan are built The Lake of Chiamay lying in the North towards Tartary is the Head of six great Rivers The Lake of Chiamay of which three uniting one with the other make a large Stream which cuts through the middle of the Kingdom of Siam as the other three fall into the Bay of Bengala Many more Rivers and Lakes hath India and the Mogol's Countrey which in our following Discourse shall be describ'd in their proper places Floating Bridges Cross the Rivers near which any High-ways lie are almost no other Bridges made than of Ships by reason of the Waters in the rainy Seasons which would carry away any other that do not float In several places of India are Wells or Cisterns on which the Inhabitants bestow great Cost being very large and spacious rais'd up with Free-stone neatly joyn'd together and cover'd on the top with an Arch the Water is drawn up by Oxen in little Pales or Buckets The Stagna's or Ponds which are all artificial of which there are very many in India may justly be accounted amongst the best of their Rarities though they account them for things of small consequence they are made in low places and some of them very deep and broad and a Mile or more in circumference and are able to furnish a populous City with Water a whole year most of them are inclos'd within a low Stone Wall having several Doors and about the inside of the Wall are many Steps leading down to the bottom which is pav'd with Free-stone These kind of Ponds are near populous Towns for the accommodation of the People and built for the most part at the charge of the Publick they are fill'd with Water in the rainy Seasons being first made clean that so the Water may be clear and it continues so sweet that not onely Men and Beasts drink of it but they also use it upon all other occasions The Mountains As to what concerns the vast Mountains in this Countrey the most famous are those of Balla-Gate which begin in the North and extend Southward to the Cape of Comory by the Inhabitants and also by Ptolomy call'd Cory a Tract of a hundred and twenty Leagues they begin to raise their tops near the River Carnate not far from the Cape and Mountain Dely and are good Marks to those that Sail along the Coast and lying in twelve Degrees and a half of Northern Latitude divide the Kingdoms of Decan Cuncan Canara and Malabar from Balla-Gate the Coast of Cormandel and Fish-Coast of which particularly and their general Denominations more hereafter India abounds with great and small Beasts Beasts as Oxen Cows Goats Sheep Hogs and all manner of other Cattel the Flesh whereof is not so well tasted as ours by reason of the great heat of the Countrey They seldom kill any Oxen because they use them to work Mutton is little esteem'd so that all sick Persons are prohibited to eat thereof but Pork is reckon'd very wholsom Food The Horses here are but ordinary the best being brought thither from Arabia and Persia by the Portuguese and of late from Usbeck are yearly brought twenty or thirty thousand as also a great number through Candahor out of Persia some also are transported hither by Sea from Ethiopia Arabia and Persia out of the Havens of Moca Bassora Bander and Abassy But here are great numbers of Buffalo's of whose Milk the Owners make little dry and salt Cheeses and when they do not yield that plenty they kill and eat them Here are also many Elephants and Rhinocerots call'd Abadas as also abundance of Apes and Bats as big as Cats which some call Flying-Cats In Malacca Siam and Bengala are abundance of wild Goats whose Horns are good against Poyson the Portuguese call them Cabras de Mato that is Wild or Forrest-Goats In India likewise are great numbers of Fowls as Pheasants Partridges Pigeons Parrots and Parraketo's of all sorts of colours There are also Camelions divers sorts of Serpents and Hedghogs In Balagate are Rams without Horns yet notwithstanding are so strong that a Youth may easily ride on them In many places of India up into the Countrey breed abundance of Tygers especiall in Bengala near Mount Caucasus and the Island of Iava insomuch that the Natives for fear of them dare not venture to gather such quantities of Gum Benzoin as they would Some say this Beast is about the bigness of an Ass others that it is no bigger than a Greyhound but Nearchus swells it to the bigness of a Horse affirming to have seen the Skin of one above five Foot long it much resembles a Cat having a thick Head spotted
Their Midwives which they call Dayas use also the dry'd beaten Fruit by mixing Betel amongst the same to force away the Secundine Many Precious Stones found here Between the Island Zeilan and the Cape of Comori near the Island Manar the Natives Fish for Pearl The Kingdoms of Decan and Golconda afford the Inhabitants excellent Diamonds India also produces Topazes Berils Rubies which the Arabians call Yacut Hyacinths Granats Smaragds Chrysolites Amethysts Agats Bezoar-stones and Borax Some Places also yield Gold and Silver and all manner of other Metals The Seasons in India are much differing from ours and one Coast from another Little Rain in India In Suratte and through all India there falls little or no Rain excepting at the Season in the Countrey Language call'd Pausecal which lasting about three Months begins in June and by reason of these constant Rains some name these three Months Winter Notwithstanding at this time as well in India as in other Countreys lying in 23 Degrees from the Equinoctial Line they feel the greatest and powerfullest Heat On all the Coasts of India the Rainy Seasons begin not at one time 's for it begins first in the Southern Countrey from the Cape Comoryn and runs from thence to the Northern Parts wherefore it begins later in Cambaya and other Northerly Places than at Goa where it appears on the eleventh of May. Wherefore the farther the Places lie to the Northward the longer it is before the Rainy Season comes thither And for the same reason the Persians in their Table-books and Almanacks set the down the Rainy Seasons to begin in India on the fifteenth of their third Month which they call Cordad and according to our Account of Time falls out on the twenty third of May For these Almanacks are made suitable to the Latitude of the Northern Countreys as to Cambaya Surat and many other Places where the Portuguese drive the greatest Trade The beginning of their Winter and Summer From the Kingdom of Cambaya which is the first Westward to the Cape of Comoryn along the Coast of Malabar Winter begins about the latter end of April and continues till August and at the same time from this Cape to the Coast of Cormandel it is Summer and the contrary in the following Moneths when it is Summer every where else for from August to April so long as it is Winter in the Eastern parts of India or on the Coast of Cormandel the Inhabitants Westward on the Coast of Malabar enjoy plenty of Summer Weather whenas both these Places lie under one Climate and in one Latitude Benefit of the great Rains Many years since it hath been found by experience that this Rain having continu'd some days in India and ceasing and fair Weather following for many Weeks after it begins to Rain with greater violence than before and therefore without doubt this Rain is the onely work of Divine Providence because India without these great Rains would not be inhabitable in those times by reason of the exceeding Heat and Drought which is made temperate by the Rain which also moistens the Ground being before parch'd and burnt and not onely makes these Countreys habitable but also fruitful causing the Ground to produce all things in a plentiful manner whil'st the Air grows much sweeter and pleasanter and much healthier for all Persons There is also this difference in respect of the several remote Countreys viz. the Rain being sooner and much more in one place than the other as in Bagnola and along the Coast of Cormandel to the Island Ceilon it begins and ends a Moneth sooner than on the Coast of Malabar In Bagnola the rainy Season continues four Moneths and sometimes it Rains eight days and Nights without ceasing whenas in Doly and Agra it is nothing near so vehement nor of that continuance three or four days passing together without a drop of Rain and commonly from Sun-rise till nine or ten a clock it Rains very little or not at all But the most remarkable difference is that the Rain which falls in these several places comes out of divers parts of the World as towards the City of Dely it comes out of the East in which Bengala lies whenas there and on the Coast of Cormandel it comes out of the South and on the Coast of Malabar always out of the West According as the Summer Heats come earlier or later or are hotter or milder so the rainy Season comes also sooner or later falls in more or less abundance and continues longer or shorter It seldom Rains at Dely till after several days abundance of Clouds are driven Westward Lastly this rainy or tempestuous Season is commonly by a corrupt Arabick word call'd Mauzon Mausem Anciently five thousand great Cities in India Ancient Geographers relate that in former Ages five thousand great Cities flourish'd in India the best of which was Nysa in which as the Natives affirm Father Liber or Bacchus was born and to this day all the Towns and Cities in India are very large and populous which is no wonder considering the Indians an ancient People never went out of their native Countrey Bacchus was the first that marching with his Army into India subdu'd them after which the Persians vanquish'd and possess'd the Countrey lying between the Indus and Ganges till Alexander having vanquish'd Darius defeated Porus King of India after this it enjoy'd the happiness of a luxuriant Peace every one under his peculiar King till they were invaded by the Portuguese the first whereof was Vasques de Gama who setting Sail Anno 1497 from Spain discover'd the Sea-Coasts from India after which others of the same Nation and lastly the English and Hollanders about the latter end of the last Age have made farther Inspections into these Countreys Their general Name All the Inhabitants of India are by a general Name call'd Indig or Indians though they have several other Titles given them according to their several Qualities or the divers Countreys wherein they reside All the Indians along the Coast of Cormandel Division and other Countreys thereabouts are divided into four Tribes viz. those of the Brahmanes Settrea's Weinsja's or Benjans and Soutra's others add a fifth but themselves think it not worthy to be reckon'd amongst them Diodorus Siculus and Strabo anciently divided these People into seven Tribes who all follow'd several Employments or Studies and amongst these the first were the Philosophers which without doubt were the Brahmans or Brahmines concerning whom they say that as amongst Beasts The Brahmans highly esteem'd the Cows amongst Birds the Gorouda which is a red Sparrow with a white Circle about the Neck amongst Trees the Rawasistow is the most esteemed so likewise amongst Men the Brahmans are best belov'd of God and therefore are highly reverenc'd and honor'd by their own Natives The Vedam or Law-Book hath not a little added to the Honor of this Tribe for by that Law no Brahman can be put to death
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
Predecessors though as others say not rigid in maintaining the Laws which are prescrib'd them The Issue of Schach Jehan Schach Jehan had four Sons and two Daughters the eldest Son was call'd Dara that is Darius or according to Bernier Darachacour the second Sultan Sujas that is A Prudent Prince the third Aurengzebe which is The Ornament of the Throne and the fourth or last Morad Backche that is Perfect Desire Others call'd Darachacour Darasja Sujas chasausa Aurengzebe Orang Oranchzef Moradbackcha and Moradbeg all which he made Vice-Roys or Governors of divers of his best Provinces or Kingdoms viz. Oranchzef Commanded in Decan Sultan Chasausa in Bengala Moradbeck in Zurratte but he always kept Darasja by him as being Heir apparent to the Crown and his Successor Two years before viz. Anno 1654. Schach Jehan at his return from Asmeer fell exceeding sick insomuch that his Recovery was very doubtful and a rumor that he was dead spread through the whole Realm from whence there arose a great Difference between these Brothers who all aiming at the Crown maintain'd a Civil War for five years but at last Oranchzef after the Decease of of his Father who dy'd in Prison and also the Death of his three Brothers made himself Master of the Realm The Character of his Children The eldest Daughter of Schach Jehan was named Begum Saheb that is My Lady Princess and the youngest Raichenara Begum that is Illustrious Princess or Light of Princesses which kind of Names are very frequently given to the Princes and Princesses of this Countrey because all the Lands belonging to the King there are no Dukedoms Earldoms nor Lordships from whence the Nobles can derive their Names and Titles they having nothing but Rewards for their good Services either in Lands or ready Money which the Mogol gives them and increases decreases or takes away when he pleases wherefore the Omrahs or Omars have no other but such kind of Names as these viz. Raz Andazekan Safe Chekenkan Bark Andazekan and Dianetchan or Danechmendkan or Fazelkan which signifie Striker of Thunder Confounder of the Rich Vomiter of Lightning Faithful Knowing Perfect Lord and the like Darasja the eldest Son wanted not good Parts for he was courteous in Conversation subtil very civil and exceeding bountiful yet so self-conceited that he believ'd himself able to do all things and could not imagine that any one was capable of giving him Advice He often scoffed at those that had given him Council so that his best Friends durst not adventure to discover to him the secret Intentions of his Brothers He also on a small occasion would rail curse and threaten the greatest Omrahs or Lords in his Passion which soon ceas'd And although he was a Mahumetan and manifested the same in his publick Devotion yet he privately profess'd himself a Heathen amongst the Heathens and a Christian amongst Christians He constantly kept some Pendelt or Heathen Teachers by him who receiv'd great Rewards and perswaded him into an Opinion contrary to the Religion of the Countrey He also hearkned some time since to the Instructions of a Jesuit call'd Buze and took great liking to his Doctrine and yet some affirm that he was of no Religion at all and that that which he did was onely out of curiosity or for his pleasure or rather out of subtilty to make himself belov'd by the Christians of which he had great numbers in his Army and especially to gain the Rajas or Heathen Lords Tributary to this Realm that when occasion should require he might get them to side with him but let it be how it will it did not much tend to his advantage as shall appear in the following Relation for the Pretence which Orangzef made use of to cut off his Head was because he was turn'd Caffer which is properly an Unbeliever or one without Religion Sultan Sujas or Chasausa was almost of the same Temper and Disposition but more subtil and reserv'd and withal very politick in contriving of Plots for the management whereof he got many Friends by making Presents to the chief Omrahs and eminent Rajas yet still at times of recess was so exceedingly inclin'd to the Sports of Venus that keeping many Concubines he spent whole Nights and Days in their company Singing Drinking and Dancing with them He profess'd himself of the Persian Belief although Schach Jehan and all his Brothers were of the Turks Opinion which he did for this reason because the most eminent Persons at the Mogol's Court and those which have the greatest Employments being for the most part Persians as also their Children he hop'd by this means to gain their Affections to be of his Party Oranchzef had not that generous Spirit nor affable Deportment as Darasja but seem'd to be of a more profound reach well knowing all his People and chose those that would certainly stick to him in time of need He was very reserv'd subtil and a great Dissembler insomuch that he pretended himself a long time to be a Fakier or Derwis that is a poor Monk who hath deny'd all the Glories of the World and seemingly disown'd any Interest in the Crown and that he desir'd to spend his days in Prayers and Devotion whil'st he was still plotting at the Court especially when he was made Vice-Roy of Decan and carry'd his whole Designs with so much secrecy that no Person could take any notice thereof He also insinuated himself exceedingly into his Father Schach Jehan's favor who notwithstanding the great inclination he had towards Darasja could not hide his affection to Oranchzef which bred such Jealousies in Darasja that he us'd often to say to his Friends Of all my Brothers I fear none but this Nemaz that is This great Dissembler Moradbeck the youngest of all was none of the most subtil thinking on nothing but how to recreate himself either in Drinking Hunting and Arching yet nevertheless he had some good Parts and accounted it a great Vertue to keep nothing secret He was indeed a Prince of a noble Temper which had it been accompany'd with a little more reservedness and prudent Conduct he would certainly have been preferr'd before his Brother and made King of Indostan as shall appear hereafter SCHAH IEHAAN The Mogol's youngest Daughter Raichenara Begum was never accounted so beautiful nor ingenious as Begum Saheb but delighted as much in lasciviousness She always sided with Oranchzef and declar'd her self an Enemy to her Sister and Darasja which made her not to be so well belov'd nor had she so much Interest to dispatch Businesses like her Sister yet nevertheless being in the Seraglio and holding Correspondence with many Intelligencers she was not negligent in discovering many Secrets to Oranchzef Schach Jehan a little before these Troubles seeing himself charg'd with these four Princes all grown up and Marry'd and observing that each of them pretended to the Crown and carrying themselves as Enemies one to another sought privately to compass their Designs was exceedingly perplex'd
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
But the Inhabitants call it Gazoraste or Zurratte and the Persians The Countrey of the Gaores or Cow-Worshippers because they adore those Beasts Some suppose Zurratte though improperly to be the ancient Gedrosia because Gedrosia is without the Limits of India and this Countrey or Kingdom within wherefore the King of Cambaya is call'd King of the first India The Extent and Limits of Zurratte This Countrey extends into the Sea like a Peninsula having a great Bay on each side the one lying towards the South is eighteen Leagues broad at the entrance of the Mouth but grows narrower and narrower and runs up North-East and by East above forty Leagues It verges in the West and South at the Indian Sea in the North it hath a broad ridge of Mountains and beyond them the Territories of Soret Jesselmeer and Bando in the East Chitor and Candish in the South the Kingdom of Decan with the River Gate between Maffaeus borders this Countrey in the East upon the Kingdom of Mando and other Provinces belonging to the Tartars or Mogols in the West with the Countrey of the Nautaques or Gedrosians in the North at the Kingdoms of Dulcinde Sanga and Chitor and in the South at the Indian Sea and the Province of Decan The Limits of this Countrey extended formerly much farther viz. from the Indian Sea to Gualor or Gualer eight days Journey from Amadabat The Sea-coast of this Kingdom which is very large extends according to Twist above four and forty Leagues along the Sea according to Maginus a hundred and fifty Italian Miles viz. from Circan to the River Bat yet Zurratte doth not extend to Circan lying beyond the Indus which proves the Limits of Maginus to be erroneous This Countrey is full of Towns Villages Hamlets and People and reckon'd formerly twenty thousand inhabited Places besides many more ruin'd by the Wars and at present under other Dominions The Sea-port Towns The chief Sea-Ports are situate on both the Bays as followeth Between Cape Jaquete eighteen Leagues from the River Sinde to the City Diu a Tract of thirty Leagues lie Gigat Cortiane Mangalor Choras Pattan Patepatan Corimer and Diu between which and Cambaya being a Tract along the Sea of thirty three Leagues are the Towns of Madrelaba Mocas Talaia Gundim Goga and Cambaya Next you come to the City Goga lying twelve Leagues farther from Cambaya In these two Promontories of the City Cambaya and Jaquette is comprehended a part of the Kingdom of Zurratte with the mountainous Countreys of the Resbites From the City of Cambaya to the Stream Bate or rather to that of Nagotava are seventy Leagues in which space lie the Towns Machigan Gan and the City Baroch where the River Narbada hath its original Eight Leagues farther is the Mouth of the famous Stream Japety or Tapte on whose Banks lie the Towns Zurratte and Reinier or Reiner Farther along the Coast towards the side of Decan are the Towns Noscary Gandiu by Robert Covert call'd Gandeve and Balsar all three lying about two Leagues up into the Countrey the first six the second nine and the last fourteen Leagues Southward from Zurratte with great Havens convenient for many Ships Next you come to Daman Danu Tatapor Quelmain Agacim and Bazain There are yet along the Coast the Towns Maim and Nagotava four Leagues from Chaul which belongs to Decan and also the Town Bate near a River of the same Name in the utmost Limits of this Kingdom Besides this City there is another call'd Sabaja six Leagues from Gandiu and Nawdon three days Journey from Zurratte between which Towns you travel two days Journey through pleasant Fields without any Villages Many other Towns there are which lie up into the Countrey and amongst others Amadabat the Metropolitan of this Kingdom which deserves a large Description The City Amadabath or Ahmedabath THe Metropolis of this Kingdom of Zurratte is not the City of Cambaya though the Portuguese have given the whole Kingdom its Denomination from thence But Amadabath or Ahmedabath otherwise Amadavar and Hamed Ewat that is The City of Homed or Amad for Bath in the Persian Tongue signifies a City and Amad or Hamed is the Name of the King who laid the first Foundation thereof nine hundred years ago Mr. Herbert tells us That the City Amadabath is very ancient by Ptolomy call'd Amastis and by Arrianus Amadavastis and that King Hamed onely enlarg'd the same Anno 375. after Mahomet's flight from Mecha Amadabath is one of the four Cities where the Mogol as a peculiar Favor keeps his Court. It lies in the middle of the Countrey in a delightful Plain on the Bank of a small River call'd Saker Mati a Branch of the Indus in 33 Degrees and 10 Minutes Northern Latitude or according to Herbert in 23 Degrees and 18 Minutes but according to Mandeslo in 24 Degrees and 109 Minutes Longitude eighteen Leagues from Cambaya sixty two or as some say forty five Leagues from Zurratte and sixteen from the Sea It is surrounded with a Wall of Free-stone about six Miles in circumserence forty Foot high and fifteen thick and fortifi'd with many round Turrets About the Wall runs a Moat about six Paces broad though quite decay'd and in many places dry The Streets are streight and broad yet lie unpav'd and very troublesom to walk in by reason of the Dust which by means of the continual Drought is very great The chiefest Streets are planted on both sides with Coco Terri Orange and Tamarind-trees The Houses which are for the most part built of Sun-dry'd Brick are pretty large but very low and flat after the Eastern manner There are likewise several Bazars or Exchanges the biggest and most eminent whereof is call'd Bazari Colam that is The great Bazar or Exchange It is a broad streight and long Street full of Shops on both sides in the midst thereof stands a Stone Structure cross the Street like a Bridge on three Arches in a triangular manner Beyond this Edifice is also in the midst of the Street a great Well inclos'd within a square Earthen Bank the Water in it is very useful to the Inhabitants who flock thither in great numbers to fetch the same Near the end of this Street stands a great Portal with its Front towards the Street between two Towers and is the Gate of a small Burrough in the Persian Tongue call'd Cut. Near this Burrough at the end of the Street Maidan are two Galleries one on each side rais'd a little from the Ground where the King's Edicts or Proclamations are generally read going from hence through a great Gate on the right hand you behold at a little distance from thence on the left side the Vice-Roy or Governor's Palace or Castle which as others say lies in the midst of the City on the Bank of the River inclos'd within a Wall of Free-stone This Castle which is accounted the best and strongest Fortress which the Mogol hath in all India except that
accompany the Corps to the Grave go beating themselves yet with a profound silence till they come within fifty or a hundred Paces from the Place of Interment where the Herboot at a lesser distance from the Grave expects them having a yellow Cloth wrapp'd about his Body and a little Tulbant on his Head The Bearers carry the Corps to a little House built like an Oven where they perform certain ancient Ceremonies which done they draw the Body up to the top of a round Stone Building of twelve Foot high and twenty four in Circumference with a double Entrance on the North-East side consisting of two Holes through which they put the Bodies viz. those that have lived well through the one and the wicked through the other This Structure is flat on the top and paved with white Clay which when dry is very hard and smooth like Plastering In the middle there is left an open Hole into which fall the Bones of the Deceased who are laid naked in two Rows on this Structure in the heat of the Sun and serve for Food for the Fowls of the Air which in great numbers coming thither tear and disfigure the Bodies after a horrid manner And the Air round about this Place is in the heat of Summer so infected with the smell of the corrupted Carcasses which often lie to the number of three or four hundred on the top of the forementioned Place that it often occasions great Sicknesses especially in Strangers Twist affirms That these Burying Places are a League or more From the Towns or Villages to which they belong and being built of Stone are about three Fathom high with a Hole in the middle over which the Deceased are laid for the Fowls to devour and their Flesh being consum'd their Bones fall through an Iron Grate into the foremention'd Hole or Pit These kind of Grave are of three several sorts one for Men another for Women and the third for Children On the North side of the City Surrat beyond the great Pool of Water before describ'd and about a Bowe-shoot beyond the great Prince Garden the Persians have three round Stone Towers about a Pistol-shot from each other and about three Fathom high where they also dispose of their Dead In each of these Towers is a Door or Entrance about six Foot from the Ground through which they draw the dead Bodies up to the top which are made flat and so as that the Corps may lie round in three Rows in Troughs or Chests of about half a Foot deep They account the Bodies of Men to be much more unclean than those of Beasts and more especially the Bones of them for they will by no means touch the Bones of a dead Man or Woman And if any should chance accidentally to touch them with their Clothes they are oblig'd immediately to put them off and all things they have on and throw them away as being unclean and after having wash'd their whole Bodies to put on others and stay within nine days without driving any Trade or so much as touching their Wives or Children Moreover they account all those Persons damn'd whose Bones after their decease happen to fall into the Water and believe That the Souls of such have committed many hainous Sins whilst living upon Earth The Riches and Trade of Surrat The Kingdom of Surrat though very rich hath neither Gold nor Silver Mines but three Plants which are exceeding profitable viz. That of Cotton Anil or Indico and Opium so call'd by the Greeks and by the Arabians who pronounce the P like an F Ofion and corruptly by the vulgar sort of People Anfion It is incredible what an advantage this Kingdom reaps by each of these Plants for which it is resorted unto from all Places and swallows all the Gold and Silver which comes from the Persian Gulph and Arabia as also as great part of the Riches of India and the Gold of China All the Trade is driven in the Haven of Surrat from whence every Year a Ship lading is sent to Gidda or the Straits of Meccha The Commodities which the Europeans generally fetch from Surrat are all sorts of Cloths and Fine Linnen with which they Trade in the Inland Countries as also to Persia Indico Quilts or Carpets Cotton Spica nardi Guaiacum dry'd white Comyn Assa Foetida which comes out of the Province of Utrad Borax Saltpetre Amfion all sorts of Drugs preserv'd Mirobalans Diamonde Aggats and other Precious Stones For all which Commodities Surrat receives Spices Tin Lead Copper Aguil-wood Pepper Camphire from Japan and Borneo Brimstone Elephants Teeth Tortoise-shell Benjamin Coral Amber Saffron Chinese Silks Ruynas Gum-wax Sugar Allom Turpentine China-Root Sandal-wood Quicksilver Vermillion Cloth of all Colours though in no great abundance Chinese Anniseeds c. The chiefest Factories which the Hollanders possess in Surrat are the Towns of Surrat Protchia Brodera and Amadabat As to what concerns the English with the Progress of their Trade in these Parts we shall reserve the Relation thereof to a particular Place apart by it self The Malabarins drive a great Trade with their Vessels to Surrat Cambaya and Brotchia whither they come in December and go from thence again about the middle of April The Commodities which they bring thither are Cayro or the Bark of Coco-Trees of which they make their Cordage Copera or the Pith of Coco-Nuts without the Shell and some whole Coro-Nuts Sigaga or Black Sugar which comes most from the Maldives Islands Areka and Betel Leaves a sort of Red Wood call'd Pang Rozin which they use about their Ships as also abundance of Rice and other Provisions For which they receive and carry away in Barter Afion or Opium Saffron Coral course Cloths as Baftas black Candakyns and several others besides Cotton and Cotton-yarn The General Trade of Surratte The Moors of Surrat drive also a great Trade to Arabia viz. Mecha and the Coast of Aden and to several Places along the Red Sea to which they carry Cotton Callicoes of all sorts Tobacco Allom Camphire Indico Brimstone Benjamin Spices Preserves and Mirabalons The Commodities which they bring from thence consist in Red Coral Amber Misseyt a certain Stuff to Dye withal Kahoe or Coffee-berries some Druggs and Anfion which is accounted the best in all India The rest consists in Gold and Silver Ducats The Ships which Sail thither from Surrat though big enough are very ill built their Guns being placed upon the Deck without any shelter against the Weather They set Sail generally at a New Moon in March and return again in September They might easily make their Voyage much shorter viz. in two Months but that the tempestuous Winds which in the Rainy Season rage in the Indian Sea are very prejudicial to Navigation In each Ship are commonly a thousand People which do not all go to Trade but the most part out of Zeal to visit Mahomet's Tomb for those which have been there are ever after accounted
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
is the utmost Northern part of the Mogol's Jurisdiction The Chiefest Towns thereof are call'd Decalce and Purhola The County of Gor lieth North-east from Kakares and is very Mountainous The River Sersily takes its Original in this Country and after long Course Southerly discharges it self into the Ganges The Metropolis bears also the name of Gor. The Provinces of Pitan Canduana and Patna THE Province of Pitan conterminates Northwards at that of Kakares Eastward at the River Sersily Southward at the Territory of Patna and Westward at that of Siba It is water'd by the Stream Canda which empties it self on the Borders into the Ganges The Chief City is nam'd Pitan The County of Canduana verges Westward on the River Sersily which divides it from Pitan This and the Territory Gor are the furthest Limits of the Mogol's Jurisdiction to the North-east The Metropolis is call'd Carhacatenca The Province of Patna borders Westward at the River Ganges Eastwards at Sersily and the County of Jesuat and Northwards at Pitan The Territories of Jesuat Merat and Vdessa THE Territory of Jesuat borders on the West at that of Patna and on the East at Merat The Chief City thereof is call'd Raiapore Merat joyns On the East to Udessa and on the West to Jesuat It is a Mountainous Country and hath Nariel for its Head City The Province of Udessa is the furthest part of this Jurisdiction Eastward and hath Jekanat for its Metropolis The Kingdom of Decan THE Kingdom of Decan is according to Juan de Baroes generally taken for the whole Extent which the Country of Cuncan comprehends because the Inhabitants call that Tract of Land Cuncan which extends it self along the Sea from North to South to the River Aliga and from East to West from the Sea to the Mountains of Gate So that these People are call'd Cuncanyns and not as the Portuguese improperly stile them Canariins But the Coast of Decan which extends Eastward to the Mountains of Gate is call'd The Kingdom of Decan and the Inhabitants Decanyns and as Linschot hath it this Country is also call'd Ballagate that is The Upper Gate for Balla signifies Upper and Gate A Mountain Or rather the Country of Ballagate by Ananie call'd Bilagate is that Land which extends over and among those Mountains as appears by the Description of Linschot who makes three Kingdoms of this Country dividing it into Ballagate Decan and Cuncan All these three Countries taken together border on the North at the Kingdom of Cambaye or Zurratte with the Stream Bate between both and also at the Kingdom of Orixa on the East at the Kingdom of Narsinge on the West at the Sea on the South at Canara being parted by the River Aliga This Country extends it self along the Sea above 250 Italian Miles or as Ananie saith full sixty two German that is from the Mouth of the Stream Bate to that of Aliga or rather as Juan de Baroes hath it from Chaul to the River Aliga in Sintacora is sixty five Spanish Miles But Texeira and other Modern Writers rightly distinguish the Country of Decan from that of Cuncan or Visiapour by its extent to the North calling that Country Cuncan which extends to the South and that which lies more to the North and nearer to Cambaye Decan Decan borders on the North at Cambaye on the East at the Mountain of Ballagate on the South at Cuncan and on the West at the Sea It extends from the South to the North along the Sea-coast of Sifferdan to Negotana a Tract of twenty Leagues and runs up into the Country near Cambaye The Metropolis of Decan according to Texeira is call'd Hamedanager by Ananie and some others singly Danager by others Amdadanager who place it up in the Country and make it the King's Residence affirming That he made this the Seat of his Realm because of the pleasant Situation of the City and the delightful Gardens about the same Yet there are some that make Beder or Bider by Barbosa call'd Mavider the Metropolis of all Decan and Residence of the Kings Next to this is reckon'd the City of Decan In this Kingdom lies also a City built near the Sea-shore which Texeira calls Chaul but Baroes Chiaul by Della Valle Ciul and Chaul and by Barthema Ceuul which by Castald is taken for the ancient City Camane of Ptolomy It lies ten Leagues to the Southward of Bazzain in 19 Degrees and 50 Minutes of Northern Latitude two Leagues from the Sea near a River which by the help of the Flood coming from the Sea brings up Ships close to the Walls of the City It runs up a great way into the Country from whence it takes its Course trending through Hills and Valleys till it discharges it self into the Sea making a spacious Haven in the midst of the Bay below the City The Portuguese have two Forts here whereof the one was built Anno 1520. by Diego Sequeira who obtain'd leave of the King for it The other built by the Moors is on the other side of the Haven viz. on the Right hand when you enter into it To the Southward of this Haven lies a famous Mountain in the Portuguese Tongue call'd Il Morro di Ciul that is A Member of Ciul which commands both the City and Harbor having a Fortress built on the top which is in a manner inaccessible and belong'd formerly to the Moors of Decan that is to Nizam Schiah King or Lord over all the adjacent County This Fortress was conquer'd by the Portuguese who with discharging their Musquets at an Elephant which was by the Moors plac'd to defend the Gate with a great Chain in his Mouth so frighted him that he remov'd to one side and permitted the Portuguese to creep under his Belly and make themselves Masters of the Place But others relate that the Place was taken after this manner viz. When the Portuguese had first with a handful of People defeated a considerable Party of the Moors and put them to flight they retreated to the Fort Il Morro di Ciul where they thought to be secure from the fury of the Portuguese but an Elephant being wounded in the Battel and retiring amongst them towards the Fort fell down dead at the entrance of the Gate which then could not be shut against the Portuguese who by firing boldly upon their Opposers soon made themselves Masters of the Place which since that time they have made much stronger and by that means defended the City Chaul from the continual Assaults of the Moors Pyrard tells us That there are two Cities call'd Chaul in one of which inhabit abundance of Handicrafts and Tradesmen In this City is a famous Temple dedicated to the Goddess Crangene Without the City is a Toll-house Also the Chief Church of the Portuguese stands near the Sea-shore not far from which is a Cloister of the Jesuits with a Church dedicated to St. Peter Southward from Chaul by the Sea lies a Place by Barbosa
Air c. Fol. 199 The Kingdom or Territory of Caximir Its Borders Situation and Extent ibid. Great Heats in March and the Effects thereof The difference of Air in the Mountains The Women very handsom European Plants and Herbs here in great abundance Fol. 200 The Description of the City and Lake of Cachemire A wonderful Spring on the Confines of this Kingdom Fol. 201 A Description of the Mosque at Baramoulay A strange Fable of a Stone The Character of the Cachemirans Fol. 202 Caximir Conquer'd by the Mogol Fol. 203 The Territories of Banchish Jangapore and Jenba Their Situation and Boundaries c. ibid. The Kingdom of Dely. It s Situation and Limits Jehan Ahad a new City how Seated ibid. Sixty thousand Houses consum'd by Fire Anno 1663. Fol. 204 The Furniture of their Houses Dely stor'd with divers sorts of Fruit from other Parts The several sorts of Provisions in Dely. The Description of the Castle Fol. 205 The Course of the River Jemini Fol. 206 The Nature of the Tree Baxama Fol. 207 The Kingdom or Province of Mando or Bando The Description of the City Mando c. Fol. 207 The Territory of Sanga or Chitor and Utrad The Description of the City Chitor anciently very Famous ibid. By whom destroy'd Fol. 208 The Productions of the Province Utrad ibid. The Kingdom of Zurratte or Cambaya By whom and why call'd Cambaya It s Extent and Limits The Sea-Port Towns ibid. The City Amadabath or Ahmedabath The Reason of its Name and its Description Fol. 209 The Description of a stately Pagode and two Magnificent Tombs Fol. 210 The Description of Surratte with several Remarks of note therein Fol. 211 The Legend of Oman Hidal Chan. The Haven or Harbor of Sohali The Fertility of the Soil The Derivation of the Name and Situation of Cambaya The Compass and Strength thereof It s Description c. Fol. 212 The Description of the City Brotha The Jurisdiction of this City The Tomb of Polmedony whereunto Pilgrimages are made The Description of Goga The City Bysantagan Fol. 213 Pattan a very large City Daman a large City Conquer'd by the Portuguese Anno 1559. The City Bazaim Fol. 214 The Productions of the Country c. Fol. 216 Serpents and other noxious Creatures Fol. 217 The Ancient and Modern Inhabitants of Surratte The Apparel of the Persians of Surratte their Diet c. Fol. 218 The Description of the People Their several Feasts The Original of Fire-Worship Fol. 219 Their Ceremonies of Fire-Worship Their Initiation of their Children Their Marriages and Nuptial Ceremonies Fol. 220 Their Burying-places and Funeral Solemnities Fol. 221 The Riches and Trade of Surratte Fol. 222 The Government of Surratte Fol. 223 The State of the Chan or Supreme Governor Their Punishment of Criminals The Religion of the Surratteans The Opinion of the Benjans concerning the Creation Fol. 224 The Kingdom or Territory of Chandish or Sanda It s Name with the Description of its Metropolis call'd Brampore It s Strength and manner of Government Fol. 237 The Provinces of Berar and Narvar Their Borders and Principal Cities Fol. 238 The Province of Gwaliar or Gualier It s Chief City The Mogol's Treasure kept here ibid. The Kingdom of Agra or Indostan It s Name and Metropolis A great and famous Castle ibid. The Description of the Royal Court Fol. 239 The Jurisdiction and Extent thereof Fol. 240 The Product of the Country Fol. 241 The Country of Bulloits It s Situation and the Fertility of the Soil ibid. The Province of the Hendowns or Hindous It s Meteopolis Fertility of the Soil and Manners and Customs of the Inhabitants Fol. 242 The Province of Sanbat or Sanbal and Bakar It Borders Some Special Remarks A Magnificent Tomb ibid. The Province of Nagrakat It s Metropolis and the Splendor thereof c. ibid. The Provinces of Siba Kakares and Gor. Their several Metropolisses and other Chief Towns c. Fol. 243 The Provinces of Pitan Canduana and Patna Their several Boundaries and Principal Cities ibid. The Kingdom of Decan Its Borders Extent and Metropolis ibid. Chaul a great City where the Portuguese have two Forts The famous Mountain Il Morro di Ciul The Fertility of the Soil The Air c. Fol. 244 The first Conqueror of Decan The ancient Name of the Kings of Decan A Story of a prodigious Gun Fol. 245 The Kingdom of Ballagate It s Name Extent and the Cities therein contain'd Fol. 246 The Kingdom of Cuncan or Visiapour It s Extent and Chief Cities ibid. The Description of its Metropolis Visiapour Fol. 246 247 The City Tamba ibid. The Kingdom of Cuncan how Water'd Fol. 248 The Armenian Stone found near Ustabado The several Inhabitants of Decan and Cuncan Their Complexion and Constitution Their Habits and some Superstitious Customs The Arts by which they are maintain'd and their several Manufactures Fol. 249 Their several Coins and Weights Their Arms both Offensive and Defensive ibid. Their manner of Fighting A Gun of an incredible bigness The Inhabitants speak several Languages The manner of their Marriages and Funerals Fol. 250 The King's Name and Title His Court and Attendance Adel Schiah takes Goa twice from the Portuguese ibid. The King of Cuncan desires Assistance of the Netherlanders and grants them great Immunities Fol. 250 251 A Peace concluded between the King of Visiapour and the Portuguese Fol. 251 The King professes the Mahumetan Religion Fol. 252 Many Portuguese reside in Cuncan Fol. 253 DIRECTIONS For Placeing the SCULPS IN THIS First Volume of ASIA THe Title Persia sive Sophorum Regnum Fol. 1 Schamachie Fol. 9 Derbendt Fol. 11 Ispahan Fol. 13 Kom Fol. 17 Saba ibid. Cachan Fol. 18 Soltaine Fol. 21 Ardebeile Fol. 25 Caspise Zee Fol. 30 Tabula Colchidis Hodie Mengrelie Fol. 90 Magni Mogolis Imperium Fol. 104 The Ten Altars Matsias or Matx the first Fol. 135 Caurams or Courmas the second ibid. Warras or Warrahas the third Fol. 136 Narsing the fourth ibid. Vannams the fifth Fol. 137 Passerams or Paresje Ramas the sixth Fol. 138 Rams or Ram Katas the seventh Fol. 140 Kistnas or Cristnas or Crexno the eighth Fol. 142 Bhodes or Boudhas the ninth Fol. 143 Callenkyns the tenth ibid. The Court of the Great Mogol Fol. 160 Schach Selim Fol. 169 Schach Jehan Fol. 172 Schach Oranchzef Fol. 174 Nurmahal Fol. 188 Rauchenara Begum Fol. 193 Begum Saheb Fol. 194 De Stadt Souratte Fol. 211 Dabul Fol. 214 Visiapour Fol. 246
and Iberia as also a part of Armenia and some of Albania within whose Limits as Strabo tells us is inclos'd the Countrey inhabited by the Moschi for Georgia extends in length from the Eastern Shore of the Black Sea almost to the Caspian Others make Georgia comprise the ancient Iberia and the Countrey of Georgia mention'd by Pliny and Mela. It hath for Neighbor on the East the Countrey of Albania now under the Jurisdiction of the Persians and wherein the Towns of Bacu and Demircapi or Derbend lie and bending from thence a little Southerly it touches upon the Province of Scirvan in the West it verges with the Black Sea Its Bounds in the North fronts the Caspian Mountains which are Branches of Mount Caucasus and extend along from the Black to the Caspian Sea and defend Georgia from the Northern Blasts as also from the Invasion of the Salvages on the South it conterminates with that part of Armenia which borders upon Media and somewhat lower Westerly towards Trebizonde with a part of Cappadocia and is by the Circassian and Caspian Mountains divided from Muscovy It s several Denominations The right Name of this Countrey according to Texeira is Gurgistan that is The Countrey of the Gurgians It is also call'd Garia and Chartuelaba as a Georgian in the Countrey Language Chartueli or Kartueli which word Della Valle affirms to signifie a Christian The Turks name them Kurchin or Gurgin or Jurian to which must be added the Turkish word Lar a sign of the plural Number and is pronounced Jurianu-Lar The Name of Georgia or Georgians some suppose they have receiv'd from St. George whom they highly reverence and carry his Picture in their Standards though Postellus affirms from the information of the Georgians in Constantinople that the Name of St. George is altogether unknown to them Division of the Countrey Georgia is by some divided into several Provinces the chiefest whereof are Imereti or Busciaciuk Cacheti Cardel or Carduel Curiel and Mengrelia This Countrey of Georgia is very fertile It s Fertility and in many places produces plenty of Corn Wine and other Fruits Most of the Vines grow up by the Trees There are likewise many Woods and Mountains and abundance of Mulberry-ttees for the feeding of Silk-worms which furnish Persia with great quantities of Silk Wild Beasts are also here in great numbers Wild Beasts and likewise Faulcons and Eagles which they call Avigi Rivers and Lakes It is water'd by the Rivers Araxes now call'd Aras Cyrus now Cur and the Canak The Cyrus or Cur which the Natives of the Countrey call Ser the Turks Chur and others Elkar takes its original with the Araxes out of Mount Taurus in Armenia from whence it glides down to the Plains of Georgia where augmented with the Waters of many Rivers and at last united with the Araxes disembogues into the Caspian Sea There are also two very eminent Lakes the one call'd Geluchalatdu in the North is four days Journey in circumference and hath on its Banks the Castle of St. Leonard the other nam'd Esechie is taken for the ancient Lake Licinitis The People very courteous The Georgians are very civil and courteous after their manner The Nobles are call'd Asnaure which going continually Arm'd always maintain War against the Unbelievers or Mahumetans But they are not so much inclin'd to Learning as the Greeks neither are they so ambitious proud and subtle but very meek and honest of an affable nature and so easie of belief that their greatest misfortunes have fall'n upon them from the Mahumetans through their too much credulity Cootwick tells us that the Georgians are much inclin'd to Drinking and that they will not Engage with an Enemy before they have drank their Fill. The Women are very courteous civil modest and the best featur'd in all Asia both Men and Women are tall and slender having generally brown Hair black full Eyes white and ruddy Complexions occasion'd perhaps by the abundance of Wine which they drink The Language one through the whole Countrey Through the whole Countrey is but one sort of Language spoken which being peculiar and common to these People is by them call'd Cardueli it is written with two distinct Characters or Letters the one call'd Cudsuri which is us'd onely in godly Books and in their Churches and the other Chedroli is us'd in all other Affairs The Alphabet of the vulgar Georgians hath thirty six Letters shap'd like those represented in the Sculp Figueroa tells us that the Georgian Characters differ from the Caldean Hebrew and Armenian and that they write like the Europeans from the left hand to the right They are of the Greek Church The Georgians receiv'd the Christian Religion in the time of the Emperor Constantine who kept his Court at Constantinople from the Greeks by means of a strange Slavess of whom they relate many great Wonders but to this day none of them know her Name yet the Roman-Catholicks in their Book of Martyrs call her Ancella And as they receiv'd the Christian Religion from the Greeks so they likewise observe their Church Ceremonies and Liturgies They perform Divine Service in their own Language and not in the Greek as Minadoi and others affirm nor do they boast the antiquity of their Church as the Greeks do and though they acknowledge the Patriarch of Constantinople yet nevertheless they are not subject to him for they chuse their own Church-Rulers They bear great reverence to Rome St. Peter St. Paul and the Pope to whom contrary to the Greeks they attribute the antiquity of their Church They shun the company of the Armenians and abhor their Superstition but affect the Latines and Roman-Catholicks and what Conquests soever the Turks and other People have gain'd over them yet they have always remain'd firm in the Christian Faith and though their Princes have very often apostatiz'd and forc'd many after several ways to change their Opinions yet nevertheless the Christian Religion hath gotten the upper hand and the Christians have regain'd the Dominions which they had lost or forc'd their Princes again to embrace Christianity which they had forsaken Many Ways lead into Georgia especially three the first and shortest whereof is through Constantinople from whence they travel thither by Land viz. through Scutarie in Asia with the Caravans who go along the Way of Trabizonde and finish their Journey in a Moneth though it is much shorter over the Black Sea viz. in five or six days more or less according to the Season The second Way is through Persia from whence they go easily with the Caravans into the Prince Luarsab's Countrey The third and last Way is through Poland cross the Black Sea from whence in a few days you arrive in Georgia as we said before This Countrey was formerly Govern'd by a King Government whom the Persians as Texeira affirms call'd Schach of Gurgistan for Anno 1430. Cara-Issuf falling into Gurgistan
Garrisons like the Omrahs but in their Tents for they cannot brook being lock'd up twenty four hours together in a Fort nor do they ever go into any of them but with a great Company of resolute Men which have sworn to die by them on the Spot as it sometimes happens when any Design has been plaid upon them The Mogol is oblig'd for several Reasons to keep these Rajas in his Service First because the Rajas People are very warlike and valiant and there are several of them able to bring above twenty thousand Horse into the Field Secondly that he may be the better able to keep in Subjection those Rajas which are under his Pay and force them to pay Tribute when they refuse or when out of fear or otherwise they will not venture out of their Country to come into the Field when the Mogol has occasion for them Thirdly to heighten or increase their Jealousies one among the other the more by shewing greater Favor to one than to another Fourthly to employ them against the Patans or his Enemies the Omrahs and Governors in case any should offer to rebell against him Fifthly to use them against the King of Golkonda when he refuses to pay Tribute or against the King of Visiapour when he offers to Plunder them or bring them under his Subjection at which time the Mogol cannot repose any confidence in his Omrahs which are most of them Persians and of another Religion viz. not Sounnys but Chias as the King of Persia and the King of Golkonda is Sixthly and chiefly to employ them against the Persians when any opportunity presents for then he cannot confide in his Omrahs who as we said before are most of them Persians and consequently can have no inclination to Fight against their natural King The Country of the Resbutes borders on the side of Persia to the Motages on the sides of the River Indus at the City Cambaya also to the Kingdom of Dely and Southerly to the Sea According to Purchas this Country lies in the Road that leads from Surratte to Agra and as Maffee affirms borders on the West at Carmania though more probably as Davity hath it Gedrosia or the Country of the Motages or Nautaques The Towns of this Country are Agra Crodi Vamista Argeng and Saurou which last hath a very strong Castle besides the great City Sarruna from whence it is fourteen Leages to Sinde the Metropolis of this Kingdom The Inhabitants also possess several strong Places amongst which is Dewras This Country is very fruitful and of an exceeding fat Soil producing abundance of all sorts of Provisions having plenty of all things on the very Mountains The Resbutes or Subjects of these Rajas or Indian Princes were anciently in the time of the Heathens Kings of Countries and Peers of this Realm who defended their Country against Invaders maintaining a continual War but â—ow they live in the Mountains maintaining Wars against the Moors to avoid paying Tribute This Tribe hath spread it self very much and is extreamly inclin'd to Robbing and Stealing from whence in India they call a Robber Resbut or Rasapout Ram granted them the liberty of taking as many Wives as they pleas'd as also other warlike Families that so the Soldiers might not settle their Affections in one Place but might be the freer to make Conquest and propagate wheresoe're they came for were they confin'd to one Woman they might perhaps take her along with them to their conquer'd Places and setling there be unwilling to depart thence The Resbutes are a rustick deceitful ill-natur'd but yet a strong valiant and undaunted People fearing no Dangers though threatned with Death whereas other Indian Heathens are mean spirited and timerous carrying their Arms in their Mouths and esteem Railing before Fighting They are very famous for Robbing and Stealing for they Plunder the Caravans and murder all Travellers they meet with if they make the least Resistance They have several little Harbors for small Barques with which they Pyrate along the Coast They go naked from their Navel upwards and wear Turbants which differ in fashion from the Mogols Their chiefest and only care from the eldest to the youngest is how to handle a Sword well The Rajas or Kings of the Ragipous give their Subjects Lands for their Subsistance on condition they shallal ways be ready to Fight when call'd to it so that they might properly be styl'd a sort of Nobles if the Rajas gave them Lands for them and their Children They drink Amfion in great abundance which they use from their Infancy and when at any time they go to meet their Enemies they take a double Portion for Amfion emboldning or rather inebriating makes them fearless of any Danger so that they maintain a Battel like so many ravenous Beasts never retreating but die resolutely at the Feet of their Raja They want nothing but good Discipline to make them good Soldiers for Strength and Valor they have enough It is very pleasant to see them intoxicated with the foremention'd Amfion how they embrace and bid each other farewel like Men making account of nothing but Death For among so many Sects of Hindouns or Heathens subject to the Mogol there is only one Tribe of Soldiers or Fighting People call'd Resbutees of whom the Great Mogol for their Valor and some other Reasons is necessitated though a Mahumetan and consequently a Heathen to entertain a great number in his Service treating them like other Omrahs and making use of them in his Army as if they were Mahumetans nay they are promoted to the greatest Offices and highest Employments under the Great Mogol as also under the King of Visiapour and Golkonda Their Arms are Half-pikes Swords or Simiters and Shields which being large and hollow are fashion'd like a Bee-hive and serve them to feed their Horses and Camels out of Most of the Rajas use Horses which are swift of foot handsom and strong and are always rid unshod The Resbutes eat all manner of Meat except Beef and the Flesh of Buffalo's which Beasts they hold in great Veneration They drink Palm-Wine and Brandy but not out of a Vessel out of which any other Tribes have drank before They are all of them Heathens and would never permit any Mahumetans to mix amongst them The Women resolutely leap into those Fires in which their Husbands were consum'd The third Tribe or Family which is that of the Schudderies derives its Name from Schuddery the third Son of Pourous and Parkoutee who was design'd for Trade for all Traders are comprehended under that Name and Tribe That which the Book given to Bremaw exprest concerning this Tribe consisted only in a few Commandments instructing them how to live Honorably in their Emyloyments to be Just as well in Words as Deeds and not to practise any Deceit or Fraud in their Trades either in Buying or Selling. Amongst this Tribe are those which by the Portuguese according to Texeira are call'd Beneans though he
affirms their right Name to be Vaneans but their common Name is Benjans Some ascribe a peculiar Country to the Benjans and border the same on one side of the Kingdom of Brampous from which it is separated by the River Tynde and on the other at the Country Surratte The Towns of this Country are Daytaote near Surratte and a Days Journey from Naubonne Netherbey and Saylote five Leagues from Netherkey The Country yields all sorts of Grain and Fruit in great abundance especially Lemmons Sugar-Canes and Cotton Under the Name of Benjans are comprehended all those that are Merchants and Broakers for there is nothing bought but by the Mediation and Approbation of those which are call'd Benjans which in the Language of the Brahmines signifies An Innocent and Just People for they cannot endure that a Wasp or Flye or any other living Creature should be hurt enduring patiently to be beaten without resistance They manifest themselves to be a very Just and Pious People for which reason and because they are well acquainted with the Country the English and Dutch Merchants employ them as Broakers to Buy and Sell for them They range all over Asia in great numbers to Traffick but reside chiefly in Surratte Moreover they Buy and Sell after a strange and peculiar manner quite different from any other People for the Benjan or Broaker that treats with the Seller making a Price of the Goods appears with a little Board full of Figures which is ty'd about his Waste and laying it on his Knee points to the number of Guilders which the Buyer is willing to give after which the Seller in like manner expresses his Mind by pointing to the Number which he will have for his Commodity Thus they Buy and Sell without speaking a word according to the Commandments of their Law The fourth Tribe or Family which is that of the Wyses hath its Denomination from Wyse the fourth Son of Pourous and Parkoutee who was sent to invent all Arts and Handicrafts wherefore all Artists and Mechanicks are comprehended under this Tribe The Commandments relating to them and contain'd in the Book deliver'd to Bremaw tend chiefly to instruct them how to behave themselves justly and honestly in their Employments The Name Wyse signifies A Hireling or one that is us'd like a Servant because these People work for those that have occasion for them as Wyse did and all those that deriv'd from him This Tribe consists of two sorts of People for some like the Benjans abstain from Flesh and Wine or use them very sparingly The others are the Heathens of Visceraun which they call Defil'd or Unclean Pagans because they allow themselves the liberty of eating Flesh Fish and other Creatures that had Life These are generally the Rusticks and meanest sort of People which are Coulees And as the most zealous of these Heathens have the greatest resemblance in Points of their Religion with the Kutteries so do they likewise agree in the number of their Tribes which are thirty six equal to the Trades among them In all Mechanical Operations they use as few Tools as is possible performing every thing they do in a contrary manner to that of the Europeans and Christians This is in short the Contents of the third Treatise of the Book of Bremaw concerning the four Tribes or Families according as they live to this day This Book which contain'd the Grounds of their Religion and Rules of Government being first given to Bremaw and by him deliver'd to the Brahmines who publish'd the same among the People by teaching them the Precepts of Religion and Rules of Life which each Tribe were to observe in order to which those who had Power to Govern kept their People in subjection causing every one duly to perform his Office the Priests or Brahmines instructed the People in their Religions the Merchants drove the Trade and the Handicrafts follow'd each their several Callings to the great satisfaction of all those that made use of them Affairs being thus manag'd in the second Age all things went very well Religion was strictly observ'd and honor'd Prayers were directed to God and the three Persons Bremaw Wistney and Ruddery the Banks of Rivers were frequently visited and the daily and usual Cleansing never neglected But after the World increased the Inhabitants thereof grew wicked and degenerated from their first Principles the Brahmines became Dissemblers the Kutteries or Governors grew proud and ambitious oppressing their Subjects and abusing their Authority the Merchants dealt fraudulently the Handicrafts grew idle and set too high a Price upon their Lahor The World thus degenerating God was extremely incens'd thereat and descended on the Mountain Merapurbatee where he acquainted Bremaw how hainous the Sins of Mankind were that he might admonish them to turn from their wicked Ways and warn them of the approaching Judgments which their Offences had justly merited The World hearkned a while to his Admonitions but soon after slighted them and return'd to the commission of their former Crimes which oblig'd Bremaw to intreat God for them but God being unwilling to be reconcil'd to them took him away his limited time being expir'd that so he might not be a Witness of those dreadful Judgments that soon after were to fall upon the Children of Men. Then God acquainted Wistney with his Resolution to destroy all humane Creatures wherefore Wistney interceded for them but God not hearkning to him commanded Ruddery who was appointed to punish all Offenders to raise a great Wind out of the Earth to destroy the People and blow them away like Dust from the Ground Ruddery hereupon provok'd the Winds which were imprison'd in the Bowels of the Earth causing them to break forth with great violence insomuch that they shook the Foundations of the Earth the Day grew as dark as the Night the Hills and Mountains were turn'd topsie-turvy and the River Ganges remov'd out of its place so that this terrible Storm destroy'd all Mankind except a few Persons whom God permitted Wistney to preserve for the propagating and re-peopling the World in the third Age the second being ended in this dismal manner When Ruddery had asswag'd the rage and fury of the Winds all things were still and quiet yet in a deplorable Condition to see the World thus depriv'd of its Inhabitants and utterly ruin'd some were bruis'd against the Rocks others lay heap'd one upon another in the Fields which the Almighty seeing was troubled at it and Ruddery also very much griev'd to have been the Instrument of so great a Destruction Now since these great Misfortunes and Punishments proceeded from the bad Conduct of the Kings and those who Govern'd God utterly destroy'd the Tribe of the Kutteries Those that were sav'd by the Prayers of Wistney consisted in a small number and were only of the three other Tribes But because the four sorts of Tribes were so perfectly necessary for the Governing of the World insomuch that it could not be without them and