his Prophet Learned Men explain the Alcoran Of Learned Men. they study the interpretation of it and they love to dispute about their Religion When a Missionary has convinc'd 'em they commonly have no other fruit of their Victory than a few Elogiums and marks of Esteem they conceive of ' em You have a great deal of Wit quoth they I wish you were of our Religion you would be a notable defender of it The Courtiers The Courtier 's Faith who have commonly a great deal of Knowledge never seem'd to me to have much kindness either for Mahomet or the illusions of his Alcoran yet they all profess Mahometism The Missionaries can easier gain ground upon them than the common People They hear us willingly and love to be entertain'd with Discourses of Religion for they always put us first upon talking of it and they are always extreamly attentive to our Reasonings Also they have had the honesty to confess when they have been Convinced that our Arguments had a great deal of force over ' em All those who I have had any thing to do with upon this occasion have been of this Character The last Year I travell'd by Ouriguerd Ouriguerd a City where situate This City is in the 13th Degree of the Equator 't is situate upon the Border of Susiana and Media built in Amphitheatre upon the declining of a little Hill something like an Horse-Shooe At the Foot of these Walls runs the River Gamasan The Governour of this City is a Sultan who keeps in it 1000 Horsemen which serve for a Guard to the whole Country There are no Christians here but there are abundance of Jews When I brought a Letter from the King of Persia to our King an Officer of the Court with two Life-Guard-men accompanied me with express Orders to defray my Expences throughout the Kingdom At this place the Pontiff came to see me at the Mayor's House where I was lodg'd His visit was chiefly employ'd to propose Questions of Religion and amongst others he ask'd me If Wine was not forbid Christians as well as Mahometans I answer'd him We sometimes abstain from it upon account of Penitence and our Law controll'd the excessive use of it but it did not forbid it as an ill thing I added moreover That it was with Wine as with all other things which God had created for the use of Man they were all good in themselves but that unruly Lusts Defence of Wine caused by Sin abus'd the best things and render'd 'em bad That Wine was good after that manner the Patriarchs used to drink it that it was made use of by Melchisedec in his Sacrifices that the Outrages we see too often committed thro' the Excess of it are not sufficient Reasons or Arguments to condemn and forbid it For by the same reason you might forbid Meat because some Men are Gluttons and so People would be depriv'd of both the kinds of natural Sustenance I believe truly reply'd the Pontiff it was only the ill use of Wine that made Mahomet forbid it Our Interpreters have not fully understood the Law of the Alcoran but you have found out its true meaning Then we began to talk of Marriage Polygamy condemn'd whereupon he ask'd me If Polygamy were allow'd to Christians I told him No and that I believed he would agree with me That the Gospel in that as well as all other things was according to the Principles of right Reason What time said I do you believe that Reason has been in its greatest Purity and Strength He reply'd In Adam 's time before the Fall You know then said I how many Wives he had at that time this is clear enough in the Turat that is the Bible He had but One says he Then hence I must draw my Conclusion reply'd I That the Law of pure and right Reason permits but One Wife and therefore those Laws that allow many are manifestly Erroneous I added moreover some Reflections upon the Inconveniencies arising by Polygamy so that at length he seem'd entirely satisfied Of all the People of the East the Persians rellish a Moral Reasoning best From Ouriguerd I went on to Laurestan Laurestan This is the Kingdom of the Elamites where Chedorlaomer reign'd in the Days of Abraham It borders with the Government of Goulpakan to the East to Susiana on the South the River Tygris on the West and Lower Media on the North It s Capital City is Courmabat City of Courmabat It lies in the 33d Degree of Latitude It is all but as one Fortress It has nothing remarkable in it but the Governour 's Palace and the stately Shops which the last Vali built there This Vali lost his Head at Casbin and the King gave his Government to Abdel Kassum Kan I had Orders from Court concerning Missions directed to him therefore was receiv'd with a great deal of Civility for it was a great while that I had been acquainted with him Many times at Court he propos'd to me Questions about Religion and now he was at the same Play again at his Table There cannot be too much praise given to the Franks A Conference about Religion says he to the Intendant of the Province and the other Lords of his Court for they are really Men of great Wit Ingenious and capable of every thing After this honest Prelude which always precedes their Discourses of Religion he directed his Discourse to me and said I believe you know better than to affirm as the Armenians doe that JESUS CHRIST was crucified by the Jews I answer'd him That that Belief only was the Foundation of the Christian Religion and I prov'd to him out of the Prophets that the Messias was to be put to Death And moreover because it is the Custom amongst them to make use of Parables I thought that way fittest to convince him My Lord said I God has given you great Knowledge to apprehend the obscurest Cases therefore I would make you Judge of the following one A Man comes to complain at your Tribunal that his Father has been kill'd The Murtherer is present and confesses and glories in his Crime A Third comes a great while afterwards and denies the Fact Would your Lordship now believe this Man Would you receive his Evidence No says he but I would immediately order him 100 blows on his Feet for a Reward of his Impudence Pardon me then my Lord said I if I proceed to make the Application of this Parable The Christians complain their Father has been murther'd on the Cross The Jews acknowledge they have been the Murtherers Then ought Mahomet to come 600 Years afterwards to give 'em the Lye Why then says the Intendant the Prophet comes under the Batoon Ay says the Governour laughing but the Doctors will presently deliver him for I have past Sentence according to forms But when we grant reply'd the Intendant that Jesus Christ is dead does it follow that Jesus Christ is God
go without its Effect for we had immediate Justice done us It was upon this Occasion that the King did me the Honour to admit me into the number of his Guests for so they term all Envoys and Agents of Princes By means of this Quality I had admittance into the Palace which is only allowed to the great Lords of Persia I assisted at all Audiences which the King gave and had my Place assign'd me at all Publick Feasts This Prince has now sent me home with Letters to our King And his Majesty has been pleas'd to command me to make a Collection of my Memoirs of Persia which I have done pursuant to my Duty And I am apt to believe that the publick will not take it much amiss if I oblige them with this Impression Advertisement These BOOKS following are now in the Press and will be speedily Publish'd THE Present State of the Empire of Morocco wherein the Situation of the Country the Manners Customs Government Religion and Politicks of that People are fully described By Monsieur De St. Olon the French King's Ambassador at the Court of Morocco To which is added Audiences given by the Emperor with the Answers Adorn'd with Sculptures The Life of the Cardinal Duke of Richlieu Principal Minister of State to Lewis XIII In Two Volumes Octavo A New Voyage into Italy with necessary Instructions for those who undertake the same By Maximilian Misson Done out of French and Illustrated with near an hundred Sculptures THE Present State OF PERSIA MY Design being only to give an entire description of the Present State of the Empire of Persia I shall not trouble my self with what it has heretofore been or the frequent Revolutions it has from time to time undergon but keep exactly to my following Method 1. First I shall speak of the Kings Person His Houshold The Number and Employments of his Principal Officers Of his Magnificence Divertisements Revenues and Armies 2. I shall treat of his Political Government The Kings Authority His Council of State The Power of his Eunuchs The Establish'd Order in Governing Provinces and the Manner how the Persians behave themselves towards their Neighbours 3. I shall explain their Methods of administring Ecclesiastical and Secular Justice 4. What relates most to my Ministry and what seems most important I shall discourse of their ancient and present Religions For the First Of the King therefore Altho' the King of PERSIA be absolute Sovereign over more than Twelve vast and famous Kingdoms yet he takes upon him no other Title than that of CHA which signifies no more than King yet nevertheless his Subjects believe him to be the most Magnificent His Titles Potent and Absolute of that kind in all Asia They call him also Alam Pena which is as much as to say The Protection and Sanctuary of all Nations And which glorious Name is given him with no ordinary justice for of all the Kings of Asia none receives Strangers better loves 'em sincerer or allows 'em greater Privileges and Advantages The Grand Signior the Great Mogul and the Usbeg-Tartars who are his irreconcileable Enemies never afford him any other Title than that of Chiek Ogli which signifies the Son of a Priest because the latter Kings of Persia have been of the Race of Chiek Sephi Father of Cha-Ismael first King of that Branch But the Persians instead of being offended at this design'd Affront do chuse rather to glory in it because that Chiek Sephi was descended from Mahomet and Son of a Grandchild of Falma's only Daughter to this false Prophet who was bestowed by him in Marriage upon Mortus Ali whom the Persians believe to be his truest Successor It was this famous Chiek Sephi who with the assistance of the Lords of Media restored Persia to its former Glory after it had been invaded and almost ruined by Tamerlan This so famous Tartarian who carried his victorious Arms even into the very Bowels of Asia and Europe was named Tamour and sirnamed Lang which signifies Lame because he really was so For this reason therefore the People took occasion to give him the name of Tamerlan which is but a corruption of Tamour-Lang which he never disowned being the first that ridicul'd himself for that defect For having taken Bajazet in that famous Victory of his near the City of Angorie in Galatia in the beginning of the Fifteenth Century he caused him to be brought under his Pavillion where as soon as he had seen him he immediately began to laugh heartily When Bajazet who was very far from abating any of his Pride even in disgrace and which he afterwards made good tho' he was shut up in an Iron Cage believing this Prince insulted over his Misfortunes broke out with Indignation into these Words You need not be so much puft up with this Advantage you have gained over me since You know by Experience it is equally in the power ef Fortune to make a Slave or a Conqueror To which Tamerlan replied I am better acquainted with the instability of Humane Affairs than to mock at your present Misery But added he in beholding You and My self I cannot forbear laughing at the fantastical choice Fortune has made of two Men to govern the Empire of Asia You having but one Eye and I but one Leg. And truly this Prince ought to have been very sensible of the favours of Fortune for from a Shepherd he was rais'd to force the Walls of China and to extend his Conquests over the greatest part of Aegypt and Greece But his Successors knew how to profit so little by his Victories that they gave way to Chiek Sephi to restore the Empire of Persia which their Father had subdued The present King was call'd Cha Sephi at his coming to the Crown His Name and the change of it But 't is reported that the Jews having practised some Sorcery upon his Person he was at length reduc'd to that languishing condition that he was ready to drop down dead when Chiek-Ali-Kan his Etmadaulet or Chief Minister discovering their malice advis'd him to change his Name to prevent their having any power over him Whereupon he assum'd the Name of Solyman for that of Sephi which had belong'd to his Grandfather and the famous Chiek Sephi before him This King Solyman is at present in the Twenty Seventh Year of his Reign His Age. and the Forty Eighth of his Age. His personal Description and Character He is a fine Prince the Lines of his Face equalling the goodness of his Complexion and it may be he is a little too Effeminate for a Monarch who ought to have a more Warlike Air. He has a Roman Nose very well proportioned to other Parts Blue Eyes and very large a midling Mouth a Beard painted black shav'd round and well turn'd even to his Ears His Air is affable but nevertheless Majestick He is so very engaging that when you but bow to him he seems in some measure
to the Throne seems to them so reasonable and of so great benefit that they never cease to laugh at the Great Mogul and the Grand Signior who have a long time omitted it For they say That Aurengzebe might have prevented the Revolts of his Children and Mahomet the Fourth his Deposition by his Mutinous Troops if the first had kept his Children close during his Life time and the last put out his Brother's Eyes as soon as he came to the Throne The Dispensers of the Mahometan Religion taking place at the Persian Court Mahometan Priests I shall take notice of 'em before the Officers of the Crown over whom they have always precedency in the Council Publick Feasts and Audiences which the King gives to Embassadors and Missionaries The greatest Priest in Persia is call'd Sadre Cassa Of the Sadre Cassa that is the Chief or Arch-Bishop He is Super Intendant over all the Spiritualities of the Empire but his business is only to govern the King's Conscience and Order the Court and City of Ispahan according to the Rules of the Alcoran He deputes the second Bishop of whom I shall speak by and by for the rest of the Kingdom He is the first Minister of State and has his Seat at the foot of the Sofa and Right-hand of the King These Priests are so much reverenc'd in Persia that Kings have taken their Daughters for their Wives And the last Sadre Marry'd the King's Sister but nevertheless his Dignity could not secure him from having his Children Strangled that were Males for this barbarous Custom is so undistinguishably practis'd that if the King's Sisters or Nieces should omit to call the Eunuch's of the Haram at the time of their Lying-in to strangle the Child if it were Male they would inevitably merit Death by their neglect and seldom any such Offenders have been known to obtain Mercy This Law seems to have been newly made for there was no such in use at the time of the famous Cha-Abbas who was Contemporary with Henry the Fourth They give to the Sadre the Title of Narab which is as much as to say Vice-Roy of the King and Mahomet And there is none but him the Sadre Elman Alek and the Etmadaulet on whom this Honour is bestow'd This Sadre has his Deputies in all Capital Cities of Provinces His Jurisdiction which are call'd Modarrés and are not much unlike to our Bishops The Governours cannot give a decisive Judgment without their Approbations which they call Felfa These Deputies Heads of Mosques Principals of Colleges Presidents of the Circumcisions Curates that Marry and Divorce by Bills of Repudiation In short all that have any Employments which relate to the Law of Mahomet take their Orders and Measures from this Sadre and which procures him a vast Revenue for here as every where else Preferments are Bought and Sold. The second Person in Spirituals is nam'd Sadre Elman Alek Of the Sadre Elman Alek he is properly as Coadjutor or Assistant to the Sadre Cassa He does throughout the whole Realm what the Chief Bishop does only in the King's Court and Precincts of Ispahan He is moreover a Lateral Judge with the Divan Begui who can give no Sentence without his consent inasmuch as all the difference that I could take notice of between these two Bishops was only that one is Supream Head of the Law His Functions and the other his Deputy and Head of the Civil Tribunal He is Assistant to the Divan Begui to see that he does Justice according to the Rules of the Alcoran and what we would call the Cannon-Law which has been explained to them long fince by the Imans whom the Persians as Apes of us Christians worship to the number of Twelve as we do our Twelve Apostles This Bishop has also a Power to Try and Condemn Criminals which shews That he is not only an Ecclesiastical but Civil Judge The Divan Begui pronounces Sentence according to his Decisions This Bishop as Vicar General in all the Courts of Justice of the Kingdom has the Title of Naib Sedaret and he has the same Power over the Governours as he had over the Divan Begui He has his place below the Sofa on the Left-hand of the King The third Bishop of Persia is call'd Akond or rather Chiek Alislam Of the Alislam which is as much as to say Wise by Experience or The Venerable Old Men of the Law of Mahomet This Judge is properly the first Lieutenant Civil who takes Cognizance of the Affairs of Minors Widdows Contracts and other Civil Matters The King gives him Fifty Thousand Livres Annual Pension that he may have no occasion to be Corrupted by taking Bribes This is the Judge that dispatches most business His Substitutes He is Chief of the Law-Colleges and constantly reads upon it his Subaltern Officers every Wednesday and Saturday He has also his Substitutes in all the Courts of Justice of the Realm who together with those that belong to the Second Sadre draw up all Contracts and Agreements He has his place at the foot of the Sofa next to the Great Sadre The fourth Bishop is the Kazi The fourth Bishop is also second Lieutenant Civil who is the second Lieutenant Civil He takes Cognizance of the same Causes does the same business and enjoys equal Prerogatives with the former He has like him his Seat below the Sofa next the second Sadre But not one of those may appear at the time of Publick Feasts because then the King drinks Wine The Kazi has two Substitutes in every Tribunal their business is to determine small differences in Coffee-Houses and the Governour always requires their Assistance to consult about matters of Importance Over and above these four Bishops The Great Almoner the King has a kind of Great Almoner call'd Piche Nahmaz He reads Prayers in the King's House performs Circumcisions Marriages Burials and all other Functions of Religion in presence of the four Chief Bishops He is as it were the Universal Divine of the whole Empire for he disputes and marshals all Conferences in Religion This Lord Almoner is of the King's Council and enjoys near as great Prerogatives as any of the other Bishops There are Six Great Ministers of State in Persia Six Ministers of State which are call'd Rohna Doulets that is to say the Pillars and Supports of the Empire The First is the Grand Vizier The Etmadaulet call'd Etmadaulet that is the Prop of Power He is the Great Chancellour of the Kingdom President of the Council and Superintendant of the Customs He takes care of all foreign Affairs and Commerce with other Nations No Pensions or Gratifications are paid without his Orders and in short he is even as the Vice-Roy of Persia He Authorizes the King's Mandates by endorsing 'em with these Words Bende derga Ali il Alia Etmadaulet that is By the Port is meant the Court. I that am the Prop of Power and
Creature of this Sublime Port have read this This Etmadaulet has every Lunary Month His Salary out of the King's Exchequer a Thousand Tomans for his Salary and you must take notice that a Toman is worth Forty five Livres of our Money so that this makes Five hundred and forty Thousand Livres a Year But this is the least part of his Revenue for being as it were Absolute and Independant His Perquisites he disposes of all Governments and grants all Commissions in the Army Exchequer or elsewhere at his Pleasure and must needs drain great Summs from his numerous Competitors Moreover all Governours of Provinces and Officers in the Court being oblig'd to make their several Presents to the King the First Day of every Year which the Persians begin always with the Spring they never dare to forget the Etmadaulet And besides their Designs would be in vain if they did not oblige him to be their Friend Also he always gets something to favour the Proviso of his Grants He has under him Six Viziers or Deputies who assist him in managing the King's Revenue and they also together compose a Council of which he is the Head They are also of the King's Council and have their several Seats at Publick Feasts and Audiences The First is call'd Mustosi Elma Alek His Assistants or Deputies that is Comptroller-General of the Revenue who presides immediately after the Six Principal Ministers The Second is The Mustosi Cassa that is to say Particular Comptroller of the King's Houshold and the Government of Ispahan who has his Place a little below the former The Third is The Derogat of the Deftar that is Keeper of the General Register of the Revenue who is seated amongst the Valis The Fourth is The Vizier Elmulki that is he that keeps the Register of the Government of Ispahan and who is plac'd amongst the Governours The Fifth they call Vizier Cassa and is he that keeps an Account of the Expences of the King's Houshold He is seated near the Secretary of State The Sixth is The Kalanter who is Chief Provost of the Merchants of the City of Ispahan and has Right to fit amongst those foreign Princes who are Royal Pensioners These Six Viziers have severally a certain Number of Provinces in their Divisions They are as 't were Intendants of the Revenue or Jurisdictions as our Intendants of the Revenue have in France They keep their Sessions in the King's Palace as well as the Divan Begui and other Ministers which occasions a prodigious and magnificent Concourse of People in all Parts by reason that the Principal Officers of the Crown come to do Justice there twice a Day The Etmadaulet Two Secretaries of the Etmadaulet over and above the Officers I have just spoken of has under him Two Secretaries who dispatch all Orders of the Court and are call'd Sahab Rakams The Kortchi Bachi The Second Minister of State who is now no more than the Second Person of the Realm was heretofore the First He had as great Authority as the ancient Constables of France He was born General of all the Armies but now the King disposes of that Great Trust at his Pleasure Nevertheless he is still Captain-General of the Cavalry call'd Kortchis which are always commanded to cover the Frontiers These are Troops which are never reform'd or broken Every Kortchi has an hundred Crowns paid him a Year out of the Exchequer The Sons succeed their Fathers if the General will consent The King commonly conferrs one of the Principal Governments of the Kingdom upon this Person But he seldom leaves the Court 'till he has the Command of some Army which very seldom happens For the King knowing he is oblig'd to provide him a Court suitable to so great a Charge is commonly very backward to put him at the Head of his Troops when he can reserve to himself both the Honour and Profit The Third Pillar of the Empire The Third Minister is the Quer-Koule Agasi who is Captain of the Band of Slaves This is a Body of Men compos'd of many Persons of Quality who call Themselves the King's Slaves They are much less in number than the former but have altogether as great Pay They that have a mind to arrive to great Employments should pass thro' this Militia whose General is always provided of a great and wealthy Government and consequently able to prefer ' em The Fourth Pillar is the Tefanktchi Agasi that is General of the Infantry The Fourth Minister which is not here compos'd of above two thousand Fufiliers and is the same with our Regiments of Guards in France The Fifth Pillar is The Fifth Minister the Toptchi Bachi who is Great Master of the Artillery He has under him Troops which answer to our Musquetiers and Gard du Corps in France There is but Four thousand of 'em who are Commanded more immediately by Four Colonels and are always about the King on any Days of Ceremony The Divan-Begui The Sixth Minister or Superintendant of Justice has but the last Rank amongst these Six Supports of the Crown tho' he takes the Second Place in all Courts of Justice for he is never dispossess'd of his Charge but to give him one of the Four foregoing insomuch as he is always oblig'd to descend if he has any mind to rise I believe he is plac'd so high because of representing the King in his Court of Justice but yet he would find it more advantagious to be provided of one of these Charges for whereas he is only Dignified with the bare Title of Kan here he would be really so they having always a Kanat or Government annex'd to their Honour The Divan-Begui has all the Messengers of the Court at his command The King gives him Fifty thousand Crowns a Year Salary that he might do Justice with the less design of Advantage himself His Ordinances are respected throughout the whole Realm and there lies an Appeal from the Governour 's Tribunals to his Court He has his Seat below the King 's Sofa next after the Pontifs or Bishops but he is oblig'd nevertheless to give place to the Generalissimo of the Armies when he appears The Echik-Agasi-Bachi The Great Master of the Ceremonies His Duty who has also the Quality of Kan is the Great Master of the Ceremonies at the time of Audiences He carries a Staff in his Hand cover'd with Plates of Gold and garnish'd with several precious Stones This is that Lord of all the Court whose Habits are richest He is Commander of all the Officers of the King's Guards and is always standing before the King leaning upon his Staff of Authority He holds all Ambassadours and Homagers by the Arm whilst they make their Reverences and he always goes before the King when he is on Horse-back His Place is one of the most considerable of all the Court and the Government of Teheran near Casbin has been always annex'd to
Viziers 5. The Sultans 6. The Derogats The Vali's are Descendants from such Princes as have been conquer'd by the King of Persia and whose Kingdoms he leaves to their sole Governments There are Ten of this kind viz. 1. Georgia 2. Laurestan 3. Aviza 4. Bactiaris 5. Zeitoun Ardelan 6. Mazandran 7. Tcharkez 8. Herat. 9. Kandahar And 10. Karamania Their Priviledges at Court or Kerman These Vali's have their Places at the Council-board and at Feasts and Publick Audiences immediately after the Six Rohna Dolvets They are consider'd of as Princes and have those Priviledges as the King's Guests have which is to be Pensioners and Tablers during their stay at Court The King has lately seiz'd upon the Government of the Vali of Kerman as also of the other Begueler-Begui's I know not whether because their Race fail'd or that he had a Jealousie they had a mind to rebell Also there is a great likelihood he will do the same in Laurestan where he had already plac'd a Governour The Vali of Georgia also has some reason to fear the like Fate if the endeavours he seems to be making to recover his Ancestors Right should not succeed All these Vali's are Begueler-Begui's and have a right to the sounding of Twelve Kerona's which are a sort of long Trumpets like Speaking-Trumpets in which they bawl aloud mixing with their confused Cries the Harmony of Hautbois Drums and Tymbals and which they are wont to play upon at Sun-setting and Two Hours after Mid-night There 's none but the Vali's and Kans that can have so compleat a concert of Musick for the other more inferiour Governours must be content with only Drums Tymballs and Hautbois They carry 'em always with them when they Travel or Hunt Over and above these Vali's there are Twelve Kans Begueler-Begui's The Governours of Provinces who are the Governours of 1. Tauris 2. Ardaville 3. Lar. 4. Masched 5. Asderabat 6. Kermoncha 7. Hamadan 8. Chouster 9. Kandgia 10. Schiamaki 11. Erivan and 12. Kors Those Kans which are only Governours of Cities and Countrys are called Col Beguis that is to say Governours of Cities c. Kans of Support or Strength because they are obliged to send their Troops to the Kan Begueler-Begui when-ever he shall command them There are but Two Viziers or Vice-Roys in all Persia The Vice-Roys viz. 1. Of Schiras which is the ancient Kingdom of Persia and 2. He of Recht who is over all Guilan or Hircania There are also but Two Sulcans One at Sultanie under the Begueler-Begui of Tauris Two Sultans and the other at Ouriguerd under him of Kourmabat Casbin is governed by a Derogat who is the only Person that has the Prerogative of a Kan in Persia In all Cities where there is a Kan Officers of the Governours there is a Modarés or Pontif One Deputy of the Sadre another of Chiek-Alislam and Two of the Kasi There is also a Visier or Lieutenant for the King who has care of his Revenue One Kalantar who is Proyost of the Merchants and One Derogat who determines petty differences and executes all Process out of the Kan's Court. This last Office is very profitable at Ispahan yet it is esteem'd but mean and scandalous altho' it be executed by a Prince of Georgia For thereby he not only loses his Precedency at the King's Feasts but is slighted and avoided by all the Great Lords and reflected upon as one that executes the Office of a Gaoler and Bailiff All the other Lords or Officers I have spoken of are Megdeles-Rou's that is to say They have all Places at the King's Feasts All those of the Council and all Kans are styl'd Omara's that is The ancient Satrapes Grandees of the Kingdom as were heretofore the Satrapes 'T is easie to guess by the Number of Officers I have nam'd how great is the Magnificence of the Persian Court But because it never appears more splendid than when the King invites all his Grandees to a Banquet The King's Palace I shall go immediately upon the Description of both his Palace and the Feast Altho' the Buildings in Persia have not that exactness in their Structure as those of Europe It s Description yet they have nevertheless a certain sort of Agreeableness which moves even the Europeans themselves to admire ' em And I believe there never yet was any one of us who had seen the Palace of the King of Persia but was immediately surpris'd with its Beauty It is built on the West-side of the great Place call'd Meidan which signifies Market This Market-place is the prettiest Spot of Ground in all the East It is of great extent and longer than large Its length is seven hundred Paces and breadth of it but three The four Sides are rais'd in Portico's of the same Structure with the Wings of the Entrance into the Palace as you may see by the Design I have here taken of it The young Persian Lords exercise themselves in this place Exercises of young Lords with playing at Mall on Horse back throwing the Lance and then catching it again before they quit their Stirrups and by drawing the Bow behind 'em at full speed according to the custom of the ancient Parthians They shoot at a Mark in a Plate of Gold which is fix'd to a Pole rais'd in the middle of the Market The King who sees this Exercise from his Hall of Audience gives a Reward together with the golden Plate to him that brings it to the ground He also sends him a Present of Four hundred Crowns to defray the Charges of a Collation which he does him the Honour to come to take at his House And all the Lords go to congratulate his Skill and this Honour has been done him On the East side of this place and over-against the King's Palace appears a stately Mosque A fine Mosque whose Dome is a very bold Work by reason of its largeness The out-side of it is painted like Porcelain and 't is encompass'd round with a white List of two foot broad wherein are carv'd a certain number of great Persian Characters The Globe and Crescent which are on the top of it are gilded It s Porch is of Marble and enrich'd with a great deal of curious Workmanship In one of the Corners of this Meidan on the West-side Another great Mosque is that Great Royal Mosque which Cha Abbas the Great dedicated to Methi the last of the Twelve Imans or Persian Saints They call him also Sahab Zaman that is to say The Master of Time They affirm That he was translated to Heaven alive as Enoch was and that he shall come at the end of the World to judge all Nations after having given 'em every one a Visit mounted upon the Horse Duldul which was the ordinary Pad of Mortus Ali. The Gate of this Mosque is a piece of Art that might very well amaze the most skilful Architects of Europe 'T
those of Fifteen Years old Seven Livres and Ten Sols and those of Twenty Fifteen Livres The principal Custom-Houses in Persia are that of the Persian Gulf The Custom-Houses and that of Guilan whence comes the Silk That of the Persian Gulf which comprehends the Ports of Bandar Abassi Bandar Congo Bandar Ric and the Isle of Babarin is farm'd at Threescore and five thousand Tomans which make of our Money Two millions Nine hundred and twenty five thousand Livres The English for having assisted Cha Abbas to take Ormus from the Portuguese shar'd the Customs of Bandar Abassi with the King of Persia and the Portuguese those of Bandar Congo but at present they have little or no Benefit from ' em The Customs of Guilan bring the King in Fourscore thousand Tomans which make Three millions and Six hundred thousand Livres of our Money The Customs of Tobacco produce Two millions and 500 thousand Livres and those on the Oyl of Naphté about a Million This Oyl is brought from Sciamaki I can't tell how much the Pearl-Fishing at Baharin the Fishing at Guilan or the Mummy they draw out of Wells in certain places of Persia and not embalm'd Bodies out of the Sands like those of Egypt produce the King That which distills from a Rock near the City of Lar is so precious and so rare that none but the King has of it I am also ignorant of what duties are laid upon Weights and Cattle but I know they give two Sols and six Deniers for every Beast and fifteen Deniers for an Hundred weight of all Commodities sold in Markets The Searchers of the High-Roads take Five Sols for every Horse-Load of Merchandise without opening Searchers or examining what it is The Governours of Provinces farm these and the foregoing Customs and that is the reason I could not learn what they were worth The King gets a swinging Summ from Bawdy-Houses but Cha Abbas fearing to sully his Treasury with Money rais'd from so infamous a Commerce order'd it should pass the Fire to purifie it that is be employ'd to defray the expence of Flambeaux Illuminations and other artificial Fire-works that are made at the King's charge There is in every City a Vizier Intendant of the Customs or Intendant of the Customs who collects all these Duties and out of which the Governour has always Ten per Cent. for his part For he has no other Revenue than what is assigned him upon these Duties and the several Causes he determines where he always takes the Tenth of the Summ adjudg'd But his Officers are maintain'd out of the Royal Treasury for only those of Garisons who compose his Court are entertain'd in his Government These Soldiers serve both for Messengers and Collectors of Taxes These Troopers are maintain'd out of the King 's Demesn Lands Trooper's Pay He gives a County to a Colonel and such a number of Villages to a Captain on condition they raise their Soldiers Pay out of ' em A Trooper's Pay is an Hundred Crowns a Year The Generals are also provided of Governments to defray their Charges and those Princes that retire into Persia The Ambassadors and Guests who are entertain'd at Court are all charg'd upon the Demesn Lands which also furnish Expences to the Kings Houshold The King 's vast Revenue Thus all Charges paid the King lays up overy year Eight hundred thousand Tomans which make 28 millions of Livres The King's Guards are compos'd of Fourteen Thousand Men The King's Guards who are divided into Five several Bodies The first is that of the Sophi's but which is none of the most Honourable Five Bodies as I observ'd before Nevertheless they have the nearest Guard to the Gate of the Haram They make together a Body of Two Thousand Men over whom the Echik Agassi or Great Captain of the Guard is Colonel The Second is the Dgez Hairtchis that is Guards du Corps They perform Duty in the Inner Court of the Palace Their Body is compos'd of Four Thousand Men whose Colonel is the Toptchi Bachi or Great Master of the Artillery The Third is of the Kouls or King's Slaves who keep guard in the Cloysters between the First and Second Gate of the Palace Their Body also consists of Four Thousand Men of of whom the Kouler Agassi is Colonel The Fourth is of the Fusiliers who guard the Entrance into the Palace Their Body is of Two Thousand Men commanded by the Tfankchi Agassi The Fifth is of the Kaurs Ysaouls who are the Messengers on Horse-back They make Two Thousand Men whose Captain is the Great Constable But when they are in the Country upon Duty they are commanded by the Captain of the Watch. These Messengers watch a-nights about the King's Palace They remove the People out of the way when the King gets on Horse-back keep silence in the Divan Begui's Courts persorm all Executions Seizures Arresting of disgrac'd Kans and cutting off their Heads whenever the King commands it The Five Colonels that command these Troops Order of Mounting the Guard mount the Guard in their turns and they are never reliev'd but from three Days to three Days Their Troopers are Tablers whilst they are upon the Guard and they have over and above Three Hundred and Fifty Livres paid 'em a Year which is assign'd 'em out of the Demesns They are all oblig'd to accompany the King when he commands the Army in Person except only the Sophi's who are left to guard the outside of the Haram whilst the Eunuchs guard the inner The chief Eunuch has supream command over these as also of governing the Kingdom in the King's absence The Kingdom of Persia is of great extent yet has a great many Enemies from those Mahometans of a different Sect who have always for 'em an unappeasable Aversion Whence it comes that the King is always oblig'd to keep a strong Guard upon his Frontiers viz. Number of Troops to guard the Frontiers 12000 Men in the Province of Candahar which confines with the Great Mogul 20000 in Korassan which borders with the Tartars of Balk Bocara and Samarkand 15000 in Mazandran and Guilan which border with the Moscovites and Cossacks by the Caspian Sea 12000 at Derband and Chirvan which confine with the same People And also a great number at Circassia Georgia and Colchide 20000 in Media whose Upper part confines with Turcomania and Lower with Curdistan 12000 at Erivan which borders with the Empire of the Grand Signior towards the Lesser Armenia 12000 in Laurestan which confines with Bagdat 15000 in the Province of Susa which confines with Arabia and 12000 in the ancient Persia and Karamania which extend themselves from the Persian Gulf even to the River Indus These Troops Number of the Ordinary Forces together with the King's Guards make no less than an Hundred and Fifty Thousand Men without comprehending the Garisons of Cities which are in the Heart of the Kingdom They are all provided
Affair as much Attention as it deserves They deliberate maturely and are never very hasty to decide Their Qualities They have this Maxim amongst 'em That Time does more than an Army And That To know how to Temporize is to be able to Conquer without running any risque The Hollanders in 1686 were very sensible of the Advantage the Persians drew from this Maxim Their Cunning For having several times complain'd that they furnish'd 'em with bad Silk out of the King's Magazine and whence they were obliged to take 300 Charges every Year not being able to obtain the Justice they desir'd they at length sent Four Ships into the Persian Gulf who cannonaded Bandar-Abassi and possess'd themselves of the Isle of Quixme near Ormus The Persians who had no power to oppose 'em by Sea were forc'd to give 'em good Words and perswaded 'em to send an Agent to Court to whom they would not fail to give satisfaction Upon which the Hollanders dispatch'd away immediately Van Heuvle for that purpose who came thither with a great Retinue but who was suffer'd to stay Three Years without ever being ask'd the occasion of his coming At length the Dutch man weary with presenting so many Petitions and receiving no Answers determin'd to deliver up the Island which they had been at so prodigious an Expence to keep and without reckoning the farther Charges he was at to obtain leave to be gone Which when he had procur'd he was dismiss'd with this Reprimand That it did not suit with the Quality of Merchants to demand Justice of a King by Cannonading Also nothing has been more judicious than those Answers they gave to the Envoys from Germany Poland Judicious Answers and Muscovy when they came to propose to 'em to enter into a League with their Masters against the Grand Signior The Arch Bishop D'Abaranel a German who brought a Letter from the Emperor to the King of Persia very earnestly sollicited this Prince to enter into a League with his Master and represented to him many Advantages he might obtain by it To which the Etmadaulet answer'd That the King ought not to shew greater hast for this League than the Emperor and his Allies had discover'd Inclinations for that which his Master propos'd to 'em by his Ambassadors at his coming to the Crown And as for the hopes of Advantages by this League the King knew none more prevailing than to keep his Word given to the Grand Signior and to live in Peace with him The Arch-Bishop Reply'd That the Turks had but too often broke their Words with the King of Persia and that they never made so many Scruples to violate the Faith of Treaties To which he was answer'd That it did not consist with the glory of the King of Persia to be worse than his Word And that the Grand Signior might be as false as he pleas'd for he should take no care to imitate him The Polish Ambassador represented That there was a very favourable Opportunity for the King of Persia to recover from the Turks the Cities of Balsora Bagdat and Erzerom But he was answer'd That those places were not more important to the Persians than Caminiec was to the Poles and that when they could take one they would take the other The Envoy of Muscovy shew'd how great a Confusion the Grand Signior was in and how easie a matter it was to Ruine him Let him be humbled a God's Name says the Etmadaulet but let him not be ruin'd He is a potent Neighbour 't is true and one that often incommodes us but we should be less able to endure a Prince of another Religion And moreover it is not for our Interest that he should be too much weakned because his Kingdom serves for a Barricado to defend us on the Christians side And upon their last Importunities at their Audience of Leave the Etmadaulet told 'em That it was dangerous to open too large an Hole in an Hive for fear of being expos'd to the Bees Stings Giving 'em to understand that Persia was at quiet whilst the Grand Signior his most formidable Enemy was busied in resisting the Christians But if they should join with them in League against him the Usbeg Tartars and the Mogul would pour in in Shoals to defend him being of the same Sect Who tho' their Forces may be as weak as Bees in respect of those of Persia yet their great Numbers would not fail to plague 'em continually without their ever being able to be deliver'd by the Christians by reason of their great distance Secrets are kept so nicely in the Council Secrets nicely observ'd that it has been observ'd a Father has not discover'd to his Son the Measures he knew were taken against his Life The Condemnation of Persons out of favour is not known before their Heads are seen brought in a Charger to the King's Table All the Heads that have been cut off in one Year are presented to the King the first day of the ensuing a sad spectacle this and one would think very little suiting with the solemn Joy of a Feast Whatever discussions are made of Affairs of State in this Council Authority of the Eunuchs yet they are never decided there They treat only of Means and the Application is reserv'd to the Privy-Council which is compos'd of the principal Eunuchs In this Council are determin'd the most important Affairs of State The chief Minister and the other Lords know nothing of what is transacted there These Eunuchs are Men of Wit and the King always relies upon their fidelity The Governour of the Princes is an Eunuch They enjoy the Chief Offices Their Tutors are Eunuchs The Affairs of the Kingdom are in the hands of an Eunuch and 't is an Eunuch alone that chuses which of the King's Sons shall succeed him after his death and who gives him notice accordingly and immediately places him upon the Throne In fine they are all Eunuchs who have the management of any thing in the King's House The Royal Treasure is confided in an Eunuch as well as the Royal Wardrobe with all other Rareties which are presented to the King And they have this reason for their Trust That these Eunuchs being bought Children out of the Indies and who know neither Country Father or Mother nor have any Families to raise they will be the likelier to be more Faithful and Honest Besides these gainful Offices are bestowed upon them because the King is their Heir and whatever they heap up is sure to come again into his Treasury The King does nothing in the Council of his Revenue without the knowledge of this Eunuch who is the keeper of it The Etmadaulet and the King's Secretary gives him every Month an account of the Charges and Royal Who takes the Accounts Bounties within the Kingdom Also of all other Summs they have out of the Treasury The Nazir likewise or Great Master of the Houshold passes his Accounts with him and
are plac'd so far from a Remedy The Chamber of great Days will redress many other Grievances which are crept into the Government The Chamber of great Days as well those in respect of the Soldiers as those which concern Trade Those Soldiers are ill paid which are assign'd their Money upon the Villages and Lands which the King has confiscated for the Viziers who have the management of it make 'em run sometimes 300 Leagues after it and then they know how to bubble 'em so well that 't is much if they can but get two thirds The Kans are oblig'd to maintain such a number of Soldiers but if the Vizier and they can agree they 'll get the Profits of half to themselves And this they do without any fear as they are at a greater distance from Court They are not also more just in observing the Treaties and Privileges the King grants Merchants The Persians have lost their Credit to facilitate their Commerce in his Kingdom and they have now no more Credit with any Nation because there is none which they have not abus'd upon this Article The Hollanders of all Strangers have had the greatest reason to complain of the little regard the Officers and Farmers at the Ports shew'd to the Articles and Privileges the King granted 'em The Hollanders most reason to complain For having made a Treaty with the King about Silks they oblig'd themselves to take every Year 300 Charges and for which they were to pay 1000 Livres upon every Charge more than the Market-price on condition that they should be excus'd from paying Customs for Spices which they sold in Persia Upon this they thriv'd very well before the last Wars but since their Trade is very much weaken'd and now they carry but little Merchandice into Persia So that the Benefit they have by the Release of Customs does not equal the Gain the King makes of his Silks for the Officers of his Court gave 'em so very bad that they could not put 'em to any other use than to make Cordage for their Horses at Batavia Whereupon four Years ago they sent a famous Embassie to remedy this Disorder and their Ambassadour Van Leenen made the King a great many magnificent Presents to obtain a more reasonable Price upon his Silks and at last with much ado he got it lower'd Thirty Crowns every Charge But in all likelihood this was only a politick Promise that he might not think much of his Presents for he has been never able to get it in Writing ever since though he spar'd no Reward to the Great Ministers insomuch as he protested against this Commerce when he came to Lar and threatned to bring Ships from Batavia to ruin the Ports of Persia But the Persians were not so ill Politicians but they knew that their Company was not able to do it because of some French Ships that from time to time appear'd in that Sea The Hollanders are not the only People who do not find it worth their while to traffick into Persia for their Money is become so bad that no body cares to carry their Goods so far to receive their Price in Copper This Corruption of Money proceeds from their supine neglect to find out the false Coiners and when they have found any Coiners how punish'd from their contenting themselves with only confiscating their Goods and so leaving their Hands at liberty to return to the same Trade More than ten Years a Reformation of this has been labour'd at The King has stamp'd Pieces of very good Allay at Ispahan Erivan Dadian Tauris Ardaville Hamadan and Avisa But scarce have they come out of the Mint but they have been immediately spirited away to the Indies notwithstanding the many rigorous Edicts the King has made against it They got the Kan of Bandar Abassi on their side and so the more Money is coined in Persia the less is to be seen in the Kingdom How prevented They might remedy this Inconvenience by raising the value of those Pieces that were good for then the Indians would not be so ready to carry 'em away They have so much abated the Price of our Gold and Silver European Money lower'd in value that now no Merchant will carry any thither but our Zekins of Venice and Crowns of Spain are transported by way of Balsora to the Indies So that Persia having no Mines in a short time there will be no Silver in the Kingdom to coin new Pieces Also two other Inconveniences arise from this abatement of Money viz. the interruption of Trade The Inconveniencies thereby and the loss of the Customs that other Nations will benefit by The King does not suffer this so considerable loss by any Cessation of Commerce of Silks for they are now wrought as much as ever and Manufactures are establish'd at Ispahan Cachan Tauris and Masched but these Manufactures where they work very fine and rich Silks are made only for the use of the Kingdom for the Great Mogul to hinder the utterance of 'em in his Empire has forbid his Subjects to wear ' em And the Turks seldom wear any Gold or Silver as also few others of the Neighbours of Persia So that these Commodities being not in use elsewhere must of necessity be confin'd to that Kingdom The Great Mogul The Great Mogul not their greatest Enemy whose State joins on the South and East-side to Persia is not the most formidable Enemy they have though he be the most considerable in extent of Dominion and Riches For the Frontiers are so well guarded on that side by Mountains and the Castle of Candahar which is the only Place of Strength in the Kingdom that he cannot easily anoy ' em Those that have writ of the Wars of those two Nations observe these Advantages the Persians have had over the Indians The Persians are more Warlike How the King despises the Mogul 's Armies better disciplin'd and much stronger than they Cha Abbas the Great always sent but a Third part of Troops against 'em and 't is said that to ridicule their Weakness he one day gave the Command of his Army to a Concubine who entirely defeated the Indians Routed by a Woman and kill'd 'em abundance of Men. It was she that to insult over the Indians after her Victory gave occasion to this Proverb Ker kerguiabir dasche There needs but one Stone to kill forty Crows Meaning It was much for a Woman to rout so many Indians who are black as Crows The King of Persia has a great many Emissaries in the Great Mogul's Court Emissaries in the Mogul 's Court. who give him constant Advices of all Transactions there The Great Mogul plays his Part better on that side near Golconda where the Indians are much more soft and effeminate than those of his own Country but he has no Troops which are fitting to compare with the Kzel-baches for Shape Strength Address or Wit The Governours of
Kingdom to that of the Ottoman's dissuaded 'em from their Pilgrimage to Mecca and inspir'd 'em with great Devotion for Iman Reza one of the Twelve Saints of Persia who has his Sepulchre at Masched He has made this Tomb Famous by a great many false Miracles he caus'd to be practis'd there for placing People there on purpose who should counterfeit themselves Blind they suddenly receiv'd their Sight at this Sepulchre and immediately cryed out A Miracle He procur'd so great a Veneration for this Tomb of Iman Reza that most of the greatest Lords in Persia have desired to be bury'd in his Mosque and to which they give great Legacies From thence arises the great Treasure it has in it and of which no doubt the Vsbegs are more desirous than of the Town it self They were so near to it about two Years ago that the King was oblig'd to send a puissant Army thither under the Conduct of Roustan Kan his Divan Begui and Favourite He omitted nothing to divide these Usbegs insomuch that his good Deeds prevail'd upon the Prince D' Organge to be detach'd from their side The good Intelligence the King of Persia always has with the Kalmoukes and Lezguis Good Intelligence with the other Tartars against the Muscovites serves for a Bulwark to defend him against the Muscovites on the North Nevertheless they might very much incommode Persia by Pyracies on the Caspian Sea For the Cossacks who live under their Obedience dayly encrease in strength there but yet they would not do wisely to make any descent for their Troops are not fitting to grapple with those of Persia especially such as live about Mount-Caucasus for they retain too much of the Courage of the Amazons from whom they descend ever to be overcome The Women also have a great deal of their Valour in them They are very Tall and very Fair and do not want for Chastity Their Men have also a great Meen and are very strong but are unreasonably Brutish and have little or no Neatness The Grand Signior is the most formidable Enemy the Persians have The Persians Politicks in regard of the Grand Signior His State confines with Persia from the Black Sea even to Balsora which comprehends both the West and the South The Christian Princes in League against the Grand Signior not being satisfied with the Answers they receiv'd byt their Ambassadors sent Solomon Skourki whom I have mention'd before once more to Sollicite the King of Persia with new Arguments in which they employ'd all the power of Politicks to engage him to advantage himself by the Confusion and Disorder the Grand Signior was in and moreover they endeavour'd to persuade him that he might now restore his Empire to that glorious condition it was in in the Reign of his Predecessor Ahasuerus who Govern'd 27 Provinces and of which the Grand Signior now enjoys Arabia Chaldaea Syria and the other Countries which are between Tygris and Aethiopia which confin'd the Empire of Ahasuerus But he was answered anew That the King of Persia would rather chuse to lose his Kingdom than to Conquer another contrary to Articles of Peace made betwixt him and the Grand Signior The Arabians who had possest themselves of Balsora two Years ago dispatcht away Couriers to the Governour of Laurestan to desire him to send thither a Garrison to take possession of that place for the King his Master whom the Governour sent away immediately to Court with other Couriers from him But the King did not think fit to accept of their Offer and they had the same Answer with the former The Persians His managing Alliances with his Neighbours against this Powerful Neighbour take care to manage their Alliance prudently with the Princes of Turcomania Curdistan and Arabia Deserta all which owe no Obedience to the Grand Signior They also carefully keep Correspondence with the Prince of the Arabians of Mascat to assist 'em against the Portuguese when they come with Sword in hand to demand their share of the Customs of Congo Bandarik and Baharin The King's Politicks are admirable in respect of the Georgians His Politicks with the Georgians who might give him a great deal of disturbance if they were once united against him But he knows how to keep 'em divided the better to correspond with his Interest He preferrs so advantageously all their greatest Lords that they forget both their Country and Religion to apply themselves wholly to his Service The greatest Trusts in the Empire are at present in their hands and they who have no Preferments yet have all their Places at Royal Feasts their Expences out of the Treasury and enjoy all other Privileges of the King's Guests and Tablers The care that Chiek-Sephi took to Establish a particular Sect which was so very different from the other Mahometans was an admirable Invention to prevent the People from Revolting through the Solicitations of either the Turks Tartars or Indians who are all their Neighbours for it has imprinted 'em with such an horrour of their belief that the Persians have a saying That if you should boil together a Sunni that is a Follower of Omar with Chiai who is a Follower of Ali their Substances would never Mix but keep their Antipathy and Opposition tho' they were both dissolv'd The Sunni's for their part and above all the Usbeg Tartars have so great an aversion for the Persians that a Soldier returning from the Campagne would be but ill received by his Wife if he should not bring her some of a Persian's Blood wherein she might indulge her Joy for his safe return The Persians have no other Codes The manner of administring Justice in Persia or Digests than the Interpretation of the Alcoran made by the Imans descended from Mortas Ali. They have three sorts of Tribunals 1. The Criminal which they call Ourf 2. The Civil called Cheher And 3. the Legal which has the name of Divan Ali that is The Soveraign Tribunal The Chief Justice of the Courts at Hispahan The sole Chief Justice of the Kingdom and all other Superiour Courts of the Kingdom is the Diven Begui He has a Derogat to execute his Sentences who also serves as Jaylor and sometimes as Judge to determine petty Criminal Causes The Kans are also Chief in their own Courts in their Provinces but there always lies an Appeal from them to the Divan Bigui The Divan Bigui has no cognizance of Treason for that is try'd in the inner part of the King's Palace without any relation had to the Council as I observed before But no Criminal whatever he be is Sentenc'd without the King's knowledge who must be fully acquainted with the Sadre's Decision who always determines the sort of Punishment according to the Laws prescribed by the Imans They proceed in these Courts much after the same manner with us of Europe viz. by Proofs Confronting of Witnesses and Tortures There are two sorts of Tortures in use in Persia as
done to his Brothers who Mounts the Throne ib. c. Proverb Persian and the Occasion 117 Punishments Rigorous to those who are met when the King goes with his Haram 59. What sort they make use of for Criminals 131 c. For those who sell by false Measure or too dear 137. For the Crimes of Uncleanness 132. Divers other Punishments 136 Purification Persian 181 Q. Queen of Persia vid. Cassa and Mariam Kanum R. Raillery by the Son of the Great Mogul on the Court of Persia 64 c. Ramazan or Lent of the Mahometans 11 Rekib Kana-Agasi who 26 Religion of the Persians upon what grounded 180 Religion c. of the Gaures or ancient Persians Their Belief What Name the Modern Persians give ' em Their Opinions about the Fire Their manner of examining what shall be their Lots in the other Life Their Saints Divers Opinions and their Principal Feast 183 c. What benefit accrues by changing Religion c. 68 Revenue of the King of Persia 72 Rohna Dolvet's what they are 17 Revenge of a Christian upon a Turk 37 S. Sacrifices of the Persians how they are perform'd 149 c. Sadre Cassa Chief Pontiff of Persia and his Authority 12. His Titles Qualities and how much he is respected 13. His Jurisdiction 14 Sadre Elman Aleck second Pontiff ibid. His Function ibid. Sahab-Rakam's who they are 20 Seasons for Hunting very long in Persia 66 Seat of the King 45. Of the Officers near the King ibid. Of the Lords 46. Of the Musicians ibid. Of the Stewards ib. Sects different of Mahometans in Persia 154. Every Condition has its own ibid c. Security none either to buy or sell Houses or Lands in Persia 142 Siege Famous of Mourg-ab 81 c. Schools Publick of Persia 154 Strangers how receiv'd and Treated in Persia 2 Stratagems of the Persians 76. Towards the Hollanders 100 Subordination amongst the Priests of the Persian Religion 153 Sultan-Abdulla his Valour 81. His Garison revolt against him 84. His strange Resolution ibid c. He is taken and made Captive 86. His good Fortune in his Captivity ibid. He Commands the Enemies Army 87. He gains a Battel ibid. He obtains his Liberty ibid. His Reception and Re-establishment in Persia ibid. His Arrival causes an Alteration in the Persian Court 89 Superstitions of the Persians about Eating 65 T. Taxes of the Kingdom of Persia 68 Tamerlan from a mean Shepherd become a famous Conquerour 14 c. He overcomes Bajazet near the City of Angory in Galatia 4. Bajazet had but one Eye and Tamerlan but one Leg ibid. He Forces the Walls of China and enters Egypt and Greece 5. After his death Chick Sephi restores the Empire of Persia ibid. Tats and the Kzel-Baches who they are 27 Tefantchi-Agasi who 21 Tents of the King and his Ladies 60 Tomans what they are 72 Tombs of Hester and Mordecai 170 Toptchi-Bachi who 22 Tortures how practis'd and how many sorts 130 Treasures of the King of Persia 42 Treason of a certain Governour 82 Tribunal of Religion and its Chief Judge 142. Difficulties there decided 143 Tribute of Christians 69. Of Places of Debauchery 70. How the Money rais'd of these is employ'd 71 Trumpets speaking distinguish degrees of Honour in Persia 31 39 Troops of the King's Guards and their Number 72. Of the Frontiers of the Kingdom and their Number 74. Of the King's Forces in general and their Number 75 Turban its difference with that of the Turks 46. That which the King wears 47 V. A Vessel of Gold of the King of Persia 's 43 Vaki Anevis and his Office 24 Vackmiat Visiri who 26 Vali's who they are 30. Their Number ibid. Their Prerogatives at Court ibid. c. The Vice Roy's 32 Veli-Nahmet what this word signifies 99 Visier Elmulki who 19 Vizier Cassa who ibid Usbeg Tartars Naturally Barbarous 122 c. They have a numerous Army on Foot against the Persians 123. They have an Eye upon the Riches of the Town of Masched 125 W. Watch who are those that keep it 73 Wife Lawful of the King 62 Wine a Discourse about its Use 157 Witnesses how many are requir'd to prove a Debt and what Qualifications they must have according to the Mahometan Law 139 Workmen French entertain'd and Caress'd by the King of Persia 52. Their several Salaries ibid. How the King values their Works ibid. Workmen Chinese and others ibid. Z. Zendroud a River in Persia 54 Finis Tabulae