131. The Authors Servant finds a great parcel of Jewels which he gave for lost 125 c. He demands Justice of the Prince 130. He is robb'd a second time by a Mingrelian 148. He resolves for Georgia 151 c. Tax'd 20 Crowns by Sabatar 152. His usage at Gony 158. His Goods arrive safe at Mingrelia 161 162 c. Advises with the Capuchins at Gory 170. His Journey from Gory to Cotalis 173 c. His dispute with one of his Servants there 178 He waits upon the King of Imiretta 180. He returns to Gori 183. His Reception by the Governor of Tifflis 224 c. By the Governor of Irivan 254 c. Azerbeyan 350. B. BAcrat Mirza King of Imiretta 136 Baptism of the Mingrelians p. 101 Basha of Akalzikè invades Imiretta dethrones one and set up another King 147 Bichni in Armenia and Monastery belonging to it 244 Black-Sea the Description of it 155 C. CAffa describ'd 68 The Kingdom of Kaket subject to the Persians 206 Carthuel a Province of Persia 188 Casbin the Description of it 378 Cashan the Description of it 411 Cassem-abad 411 Cherks a savage people 76 An Account of Christian Corsaires in the Archipelago 3. The grounds of the Candy War 53 c. The Caous a sort of Giants 371 Carashiman a fair Village in Persia 371 Casbin describ'd 378 c. Colchis the Description of it 77 c. Com the Description of it 390 Cotatis describ'd 177 Cotzia betrays Darejan 146. Slain himself by Treachery ibid Couh-Telisme a famous Mountain 389 Coolom-sha the King's Slave 257 Their Employment ibid. Cuperli Mahamet Basha made Grand Visir 15. He resents the French Embassadors slights 16. The most remarkable Passages of his Life 57 c. Cupri kent 239 D. DAdian the Title of the Prince of Mingrelia He is guilty of the Robbery committed upon the Author 131 Darejan Daughter to the last King of Georgia would have married her Son in Law 136. Her wicked Pranks to continue her self in the Dominion 137 c. She marries Vactangle one of her Lords 137 which causes a Revolt of the rest ibid. Bitray'd 138. her tragick End 145 Darejan Levans Aunt and Wife 134 She sets up her Son Vomeki 136 Deria-shirin or the Lake of Irivan describ'd 247 Dily-jan and the Country about it 240 E. EBber the Description of it 377 Echmiazin or the Monastery of the three Churches 249 Echmouil a place famous for the Pilgrimages of the Persians 387 F. FEast the order of a Nuptial Feast in Persia 226 Two Fryers Commissioners for the Holy Land their claim at the Port 39 c. Their large Offers to the Turk and the Reasons 45 G. GEnoeses maintain a Consul at Smyrna 11 George Prince of Libardian 134 his Wife is taken from him ibid. He dies for grief 135 Georgia the Description of it 186 c. the Religion of the Countrey 192 Conquer'd by Ishmael the the Great 193. The History of Georgia ibid c Revolts from the Persian and conquer'd by Rustan Kan 203 Gonie describ'd 185 Gori describ'd 188 Guriel the Description of it p 105 its tribute to the Turks 106 H. MOnsieur de la Haye French Embassador at the Port 15 16 16 19 recall'd 20 Monsieur de la Hay the Son Embassador 21 22 23 24 c recall'd 28 The best Horses in Persia where bred 370 Huns whence originally 106 I. I Miretta the Description of it 106 its Tribute to the Turks ibid The Title of the Prince 107 descended from David 108 Impositions upon the French at Constantinople 10 Ioseph the Prince of Mingrelia's Brother endeavours Levan's Assassination 135 his Eyes pull'd out 136 Irivan describ'd 245 Isgaour the Description of it 108 Julfa the Old otherwise Ariamene 347 K. KEsil-beusè a River 374 Koskeirou a famous Inn 385 Kotzia a Lord of Imiretta he procures the murder of Vomeki 140 L. A Copy of the Viceroy of Georgia's haughty Letter 230 A Letter of Recommendation from a Persian Grandee 222 another 367 Levan Dadian Prince of Imiretta the Story of him 132 c. M. MArant the Description of it 351. The place where the Ark rested not far from it 352 Marriages among the Mingrelians p 102 Matrimony in Persia 295 Media the Description of it 349 Miana a Persian Town 372 Mingrelians their opinion of Confession 102 of Ordination ibid. they understand not the Bible p. 103 Their Fasts ibid. their Opinion of the Sign of the Cross ibid. their Prayers ibid. their Sacrifices ibid they work on Sundays 104 their chief Festivals ibid their Mourning ibid their Tribute to the Turks 107 the Title of their Princes 107 descended from David 108 fearful of danger 152 Popish Missionaries slighted in Georgia 211 The Mountain where Noah's Ark rested 252 Moutshacour a large Village 416 Music not us'd in the Mahometan Religion 229 N. NAcchivan the Description of it 346 The Deputy Governor uncivil to the Author 349 Turkish Navigation 66 M. Noyntel French Embassador at the Port 28 c his Negotiation frustrated 44 O. OTta Chekaizè betrays Q. Darejan 138 Oyl Sacred call'd Myrone p. 101 P. PArthia the Air and Description of the Country 373 The Vice roy of Georgias Pass 236 The Governor of Irivan's Pass 342 Mirza-Thair's Pass 368 The King of Persia's Patent 236 The Patriarch of Armenia a Story of his Extravagance 333. ill us'd by the Governor of Irivan 365 Pervarè a Village of Persia 372 The River Phasis 156 Policy of the Turks surpasses the Europeans 51 The Plain suppos'd to be the place where Darius was murder'd 416 Pride of the Georgians and Eastern people 230 Q. SEnior Quirini Agent for the Venetians at the Port. 50 R. REy formerly a vast City in Persia 387 A great Robbery committed upon the Persian Caravan 363 Roman Catholicks in Persia 346. An Embassador from the Pope in their behalf ibid. how us'd in Georgia 350 Rustan-Can his vertues 366 S. SAbatar Owner of the Fortress where the Author secur'd himself 149 c. Sapias the Description of it 119 Sava a City of Persia describ'd 386 Scorpions where troublesome in Persia 413 Sephi-Kouli-Kan Governor of Irivan 256 Mahamed Sephi's Letter of Recommendation 343 Segs-abad 385 Mr. Sesè the French Embassador farms the Customs of Constantinople and Smyrna p. 10 Shaboni the fairest Grape in Persia 380 Shanavas Can Vice roy of Georgia 139. he is offer'd the Kingdom of Imiretta for his Son Archylus if he would expel the Mingrelians ib. He invades Imiretta 140 Shemashè 188. the place where Noah dwelt 189 Sirsham a Parthian Inn. 374 Slaves at what rate sold in Mingrelia 114 Several Persian Songs 402 Stones a wonderful Pile 371 Sophian thought the ancient Sophia of Media 352 King of Spain his health drank by the Governor of Tifflis 230 The Governor of Tifflis how akin to him ibid. Sultanie the Description of it 375 The Sun troublesome where the Snow lies all day 244 Suram in Georgia 188 T TAuris the Descriptivn of it 352 c.
these Kings Slaves in the Court of Persia is almost the same with that of Gentlemen-Ushers who are Childern of good Quality employ'd very young in Duty as well for the Profit which they get by it as to give 'em a fair Opportunity to make their way to Preferment at Court There are some Persons who send their Sons to these Imployments at the Age of Five Years To whom the King assigns Exhibitions according to the Quality of their Family or the Service which it does the King for that serves in stead of other Recompence to the Parents The usual Exhibition is Twenty Tomans a Year and their Diet which Twenty Tomans make about Seventy Pounds Sterling And the Diet taken in Money amounts to about Forty Pounds But these Exhibitions are frequently enlarg'd proportionably either to the Service which they do the King or to the Kindness which the King has for their Persons For which reason they are very diligent at Court and are employ'd in the Execution of all Orders of Importance They are sent with the Kings Presents to the Governors and out of their Number are taken several to supply the Vacancies of Officers Orders that require Expedition are carry'd Post Which Couriers are call'd Tshapars a word that comes from a Turkish word that signifies Galloping whence that other word Tsapgon which signifies a Courier These Tshapars make great haste though they do not always meet with Horses when they have occasion for 'em For there are no setl'd Stages in all the East In Persia the Kings and Governors Couriers take Horses where-ever they find 'em nay they have Authority to dismount Travellers upon the High-way besides the Magistrates of the Places through which they pass are oblig'd to furnish ' em However this is a very mischievous Custom for such as have neither the Strength nor the Courage to resist are constrain'd to give Money to these Couriers or to alight and suffer their Horses to be rid away with and then to run after 'em if they intend to have 'em again Nevertheless they dare not meddle with Persons of Quality nor the Kings Officers nor Strangers that are going to the Court for fear of being call'd to Question Usually therefore they take up Horses in the Villages through which they pass which they must not make use of however above one Days Journey for which reason they generally send a Runner along with 'em to bring the Horses back These Couriers are easily known by their Habit For they wear a Cloak ty'd behind 'em and a little Cloak-bag which runs through the Pommel and is fasten'd to the Saddle-Bow They carry a Poniard a Sword and a Quiver by their Sides and a Cudgel in their Hands Their Bows hang about their Shoulders besides all which they have a Scarf that comes twice about their Necks which is brought down Cross-wise upon their Backs and Breasts and ty'd to their Girdle When they are descry'd at a distance they who are afraid of being dismounted flee out of the way and hide themselves or compound for Money or else offer 'em their Horses These Couriers ride generally two and two and if they be Persons of Quality 't is the more difficult to get rid of 'em for they will take no Composition and upon the least Resistance they either up with their Battoons or out with their Swords well knowing they shall be upheld in what they do which is a Violence that other Couriers dare not offer One of the Principal Extraordinary Expences which the Grandees are constrained to be at is when the King sends 'em his Orders or Presents by a Coolom-Sha or by any other Person of Quality for he must Cloath him upon his Arrival and at his Departure he must make him a Present answerable to his Imployment and the Reputation that he bears besides that he must be well Feasted and Entertained all the time of his stay This Coolom-Sha that I speak of cost the Governor of Erivan as I was inform'd Four Hunderd Tomans which amount to Fourteen Hunderd Pounds besides Lodging and Diet. Many times the King himself Taxes the Present which is to be giv'n to the Person whom he sends but then the Person is oblig'd to pay it presently down as a Debt and to bestow in Gifts and Largesses many times double the Present in short they treat their Messengers according to their Birth their Merit and their Credit at Court This they diligently observe so that when they understand that a Messenger or his Relations have free Access to the King then they are more free in their Entertainment to the end he may make an Advantageous Report of his Usage and the Civility shewn him I remember to this purpose in the Year 1669 when the King conferr'd upon the Son of the Prime Minister the Command of Colonel of the Musketeers his Majesty sent the Dispatches and Habit by his Goldsmiths to reward 'em for some Jewels which they had made to his liking and that he Tax'd the Present which the Colonel was to give 'em at Three Hunderd Tomans Thereupon four of the chief Goldsmiths carry'd the Dispatches and the Habit who instead of Three Hunderd receiv'd 400 Tomans which make Fourteen Hundred Pounds and a Present besides in Stuffs I stay'd three Hours at the Wedding and took my leave after Dinner The Feast was kept in a low Dining-Room rais'd about two Foot opening into a Court which was Rail'd about like a Tilt-Yard where several Wrestlers and Gladiators divertis'd the Company while the Governor spent his time in looking on and discoursing sometimes with the Kings Messengers sometimes with the Company and sometimes talking with my self about the news of Europe There were but nine Persons at the Feast among whom the Bridegroom and his God-father were sumptuously habited their Turbants being garnish'd with Heron-Tuffs set with precious Stones The Master of the Houshold his other Brothers and his Sons standing upon their Feet at the lower end of the Room with several of the Governours Officers Every one of the Guests were serv'd at their first coming with a Voider of Sweat-Meats Dry and Wet upon small Porcelaine Plates the Voiders themselves being of Wood Painted and Gilt so that nothing could be seen more Neat. Matrimony in Persia is very expensive frequently to the Ruin of those that engage in it So that only Persons of Estates will venture upon it as for the meaner sort they are contented with a Concubine or a Slave The Mahometans that follow the Tenents of Ali take their Wives after three manners either by way of Purchase by way of Hire or by Marriage All which three ways they hold to be Lawful Their Religion allows and teaches 'em this Liberty and the Civil Law acknowledges the Childern Born in any of these three sorts of Wedlock to be equally Legitimate So that if a Man have a Son by his Slave before his Marry'd Wife brings him one the Son of the Slave is acknowledg'd for the Eldest and
rid themselves therefore from these Fears they resolved between themselves to throw the Election upon the Youngest of all Habas's Sons who being as yet but an Infant would in all likelihood continue a long time under the Tuition of his Mother and his Ministers from whom they could not expect to suffer any thing that was Fatal or Dreadful And here we must observe that Habas the second left behind him two Sons or at least I never heard that he left any more Nor is it known whether he left any Daughters or no. For what is done in the Womens Apartment is a Mystery concealed even from the Grandees and Prime Ministers Or if they know any thing it is meerly upon the account of some particular Relation or dependence which the Secret has to some peculiar Affair which of necessity must be imparted to their Knowledg For my part I have spared neither for pains nor cost to sift out the Truth But I could never discover any more only that they believed he never left any Daughter behind him that lived A man may walk a Hundred days one after another by the House where the Women are and yet know no more what is done there than at the farther end of Tartary Now of these two Sons of Habas the Eldest who was called Sofie-Mirza was then entring into his one and twentieth Year being Born in the year of the Egire 1057. for the superstition of the Persians will not let us know the Month or the Day Their Addiction to Astrology is such that they carefully conceal the Moments of their Prince's Birth to prevent the Casting their Nativities where they might meet perhaps with something which they should be unwilling to know His Father begot him at Eighteen years of Age enamoured of a Circassian Slave or Cherkes in the Persian Language whose extraordinary Beauty and rare Endowments so won the Affection of that Monarch that she was the first of all his Women that he chose for a Wife For which reason during her Husbands Life she was called Nekaat Kanum or the Lawful Dutchess tho there were also other Women which were his Lawful Wives according to the Law and Custom of that Country This Eldest Son according to Custom was bred up in the Womens Palace and committed to the Care of certain Eunuchs under the Eye of his Mother and his Nurse who was a Lady of great Quality and the Wife of Mustaufie-Elmemalek which according to the force of the Persian words signifies a Watcher over Kingdoms There he was bred up with all the Tenderness and Pomp that his High Birth required and enjoyed all the Liberty that could be allowed to a Person of his Quality which was to go up and down over all that spacious Palace where he pleased himself for to go further into the Mens Apartments is by no means permitted those young Princes When he arrived at the Age of seventeen Years an Accident befel him that rendered his Confinement much more close For it happened that an Eunuch brought him some Peices of Cloth of Tissue at what time the Prince being of a haughty Temper and not thinking them Rich enough rejected them with very scornful and slighting Language nor was he better pleased when it was told him that the Peices were sent him by the Order of the King his Father Which being carried back and perhaps aggravated to the jealous Monarch his Majesty believing that the overmuch Liberty which was allowed the young Prince did but serve to heighten his Arrogance and augment his natural Pride confined him to the remotest Part of all the Palace Some persons were of opinion that he would have caused his Eyes to have been put out But when they found that the Walls of the Place to which he was confined were ordered to be raised the more Intelligent Sort believed that the King would not proceed to that Extremity of Rigour for that he would not have been so careful to prevent the Escape of one that was Blind whose Misfortune would have been sufficient to render him incapable to attempt any Enterprize of that nature However when the King was setting forward for Mazendaran in the year 1665. according to our Computation his Actions were such that even the Grandees and most Politick Courtiers began to suspect that he had then determined the Dreadful Execution For he was not gone above Eight Leagues from Ispahan when he turned back again of a sudden toward the City with a very small Retinue without imparting his Design to any one of all his Favourites but when he arrived all that he did was to enter unexpected into the Womens Apartment where after he had staid about two hours he came forth again very Pensive and Melancholy Of which the Courtiers not being able to conjecture any other apparent Cause attributed it to some Fatal Resolution which the King had taken against the Prince his Son Tho as it appeared afterwards they were all deceived in their judgments and that there was another Motive that put him upon this swift and sudden return For as to what concerned this Young Prince his Father was satisfied with his close Confinement in a Quarter of the Apartment remote from the rest in the Company of his Mother and such Ladies as the King had appointed to attend her without stinting her any Number commiting him also to the farther care of the Great Eunuch Aga-Nazir or the Perspicacious Lord to observe his Action and to prevent him from attempting any dangerous Enterprize This Word Nazir most usually signifies some Superintendant or General Overfeer And therefore the Person last mentioned besides that he had the Tuition of the Prince was Entrusted also with the Government of the Womens Palace and to overlook the Management of all Affairs of the Royal Houshold in Jepahan an Employment which gave him great Credit and caused him to be respected both in the Court and City In both which Places he was highly esteemed till the Death of his Master being as it were the Lieutenant and next to the Grand Superintendant of the Kingdom who is likewise stil'd the Nazir As for the Younger Son he was about Eight Years of Age when his Father Died being Born in the year of the Egira 1069. of an Iberian Lady or Gurgi as the Persians call them to whom they gave the Title of Nour-Nissa-Kanum which Signifies word for word Dutchess the Light of Women the Young Prince himself being called by the Name of Hamzeh Mirza Tho I never could find or learn the true Signification of this word Hamzeh I must confess in the Persian Language it answers to the word Apostroph in our Tongue but in that sence I do not apprehend how it can signifie a Proper Name Nevertheless a Proper Name it is whether it signifies something or nothing and that must suffice As for the Title of Mirzah it is as much as to say the Son of a Prince as we have observed in another Place where we have
but which most People were assur'd was begot by Levan But this Young Prince whose Name was Vomeki did not Reign long For the Vice-Roy of that part of Georgia which is under the Dominion of Persia dispoil'd him of his Principality and reinvested in it Levan's Lawful Heir after he had invaded Mingrelia and the Territories of Imiretta Which Invasion being an Accident that happens to be genuinely apposite to this Recital I shall only give a short accompt of the occasion The Deceas'd King of Imiretta who was call'd Alexander and who dy'd in the Year 1658. had Two Wives the First was the Daughter of the Prince of Guriel call'd Tamar whom he divorc'd for her Adulteries after he had had a Son and a Daughter by her The Son who was call'd Bacrat Mirza Reigns at this present King of Imiretta The Daughter is Princess of Mingrelia the same that I have giv'n ye such an accompt of that would have both Robb'd and Marry'd me to her Friend The Second Wife which Alexander Marry'd was call'd Darejan a Young Princess and Daughter of the Great and Famous Taymur Razkan last Soveraign King of Georgia He had no Children by her and left her a Widow after he had been Marry'd to her four Years They talk Wonders of her Beauty and her alluring Graces So soon as his son-in-Son-in-Law Bacrat came to the Throne she wou'd have had him to Marry her Bacrat was not then above Fifteen Years of Age so that the Charms of her Beauty could not make those deep Impressions upon his Heart as being so young that the Evil Customs of his Country had not yet corrupted him VVhich was the Reason that he abhorr'd the Proposal and return'd disdainful Answers to her Courtship Darejan therefore finding she could not support her self upon the Throne immediately advanc'd to his Bed a young Person of Twelve Years of Age her Kinswoman call'd Sistan Darejan the Daughter of Daitona the Brother of Taymur Razkan whom Bacrat Marry'd at Fifteen Years of Age as has been already said So that Darejan assur'd her self of the Soveraign Power and of keeping the King and Queen continually under her Guardianship But Bacrat as young as he was perceiv'd his mother-in-Mother-in-Laws Design and one Day gave her apparent Testimonies of his Disgust Upon which Darejan to satisfie Bacrat assur'd him that she would forbear to take any Authority upon her Who being a good-natur'd well-meaning Prince easily believ'd Darejan and restor'd her to his former Confidence not dreaming of the Treason that she was meditating against him To that purpose she feign'd her self sick and sent for the King to come to her who went accordingly with a great deal of Frankness and VVillingness at what time certain People that she had posted in her Chamber seiz'd and bound him Presently she order'd him to be conveigh'd to the Fortress of Cotatis the Principal City of the Country the Governour of which place was her own Creature Soon after she came thither her self sent for all the Grandees whom she had gain'd to her Party and of whom she was assur'd and with them consulted for five Days together what to do with the King Some advis'd her to put him to Death others to pull out his Eyes which latter advice she follow'd and so the Prince was depriv'd of his sight VVhich happen'd Eight Months after the Marriage of that poor Prince which they said moreover he had not fully then consummated Among the rest of the Lords that were of Darejan's Party there was one with whom she was passionately in love whose Name was Vactangle Him she Marry'd and caus'd him to be Crown'd King in the Fortress Which highly incens'd the rest of the Lords who thought themselves all affronted by his Advancement Thereupon they fell oft from siding with Darejan joyn'd themselves with the contrary Party took Arms and call'd to their Assistance the Princes of Guriel and Mingrelia offering the Kingdom to which of the two should first come to their Aid Vomeki Dadian was the first that appear'd in the Field with all the Forces of his Country and soon reduc'd under his Subjection all that part which held for Darejan except the Fort of Cotatis However he laid Siege to that also but for want of Artillery he could do little good against the Besieged only that he kept 'em from stirring forth out of their Walls and it would have cost him a long time before he could have brought 'em to a surrender had it not been for the Politick Contrivance of a Lord of the Country whose Name was Ottia Chekaizè who brought that to pass by his Wit which they could not do with all their Force He went to the Fortress full of a feign'd Despair occasion'd by the Prince of Mingrelia he made Darejan believe that he was reduc'd to that extremity that he knew not where to find a more secure Sanctuary that he came to throw himself at her Feet to beg her Pardon and desire her Protection against that Prince Darejan fell into the Snare She believ'd whatever Ottia said and that his extraordinary Zeal for her Interests was true She admitted him into her Council soon after encreas'd by the Bishop of Tifflis and the Catholicos of Georgia whom the Viceroy of that Country had sent her fearing lest they in whom she most confided should betray her But this same Runagate deceiv'd 'em both as quick-sighted as they were He told Darejan in their hearing That considering the Condition of her Affairs there was no other way to expel the Prince of Mingrelia to regain what he had won and to Reign securely but to have recourse to the Turk That her best way was to send her Husband to Constantinople for Assistance and the Confirmation of his Coronation That the Kingdom of Imiretta was Tributary to the Port and that the Grand Signior had both Right and Power sufficient to restore the Country to Peace and fix him in the Throne Darejan was Charm'd by this Advice and while he that gave it offer'd to assist in the Management of it and to Conduct Vactangle to Constantinople she threw her self at his Feet not having Words enough to express that Acknowledgment which she had in her Heart Vactangle took only two Men along with him to the end he might Travel with the more Security and Privacy Thus being soon ready the cunning Ottia Chikaizè his Guide caus'd him to set forth out of the Fortress about Twilight and carrying him through By-ways to bring him the more insensibly to the Besiegers brought him in less then an Hour into their Camp The Prince of Mingrelia caus'd his Eyes forthwith to be pull'd out and sent that Night to Darejan to let her know that he had her Husband Pris'ner and that he had put out his Eyes This News surpriz'd her so that her Courage and Resolution quite fail'd her and in a short time after she surrender'd the Fortress which was plunder'd from Top to Bottom Insomuch that it was certainly
enjoys all the Priviledges of Eldership to the Exclusion of the Son of the Lawful Wife be she a Princess and of the Blood Royal. And therefore in Persia Quality and Nobility descends only from the Father The Wives who are Slaves are call'd Canizè of whom the Law allows a Man to have as many as he can maintain Nor does the Government either Ecclesiastical or Civil take any Cognizance how they are us'd They that have put 'em to all manner of Drudgery as they please themselves being not only Masters of their Chastity but of their Lives Nor is it a dishonour in the East for a Slave to serve her Master as a Wife but rather a great Honour and the best Fortune she can arrive at for when tkey are advanc'd to their Masters Bed they have an Apartiment seperate from the Rest of the Slaves They are well Clad allow'd Servants and a Pension and if they bring Childern their Allowances are enlarg'd For then they are no more lookt upon as Slaves but as the Mothers of the Lawful Heir of the Family The hir'd Wives are call'd Moutaa from Amovad which signifies a Concubine and also a Servant of which they may take as many as they please and as long as they please for the price they agree upon At Ispahan which is the Metropolis of Persia those that are handsome and Young may be hir'd for Five and Thirty Pound a Year besides Cloaths Diet and Lodging Which sort of Marriage is a contract purely Civil At the end of the Term if both parties are agreed they may renew the Bargain and they are at Liberty to break off before the end of the Term and to put away the hir'd Wife but then they must give the whole Sum contain'd in the Contract Yet cannot the Woman so dismiss'd let out her self again nor give her self to another till Forty Days after her Dismission Which interval is call'd the Days of Purification They who understand the Ceremonial Law of Moses may easily perceive that the Mahometans borrow'd this custom from the Jews though new modell'd and alter'd after their own humour And indeed the Law both of the one and the other agrees in the point of Marriage and the Behaviour of Men toward Women The Espous'd Wives are call'd Nekaa of which the Mahometan Religion allows a Man to Marry Four Nevertheless they never Marry above one to avoid the Expence and because of the disorders that Multiplicity of Lawful Wives creates in a House For every one will Command and their mutual Jealousie keeps the House in perpetual Confusion Therefore People of Quality Marry generally into Families equal in Degree if they cannot content themselves with one Woman which is a Misfortune that never fails to befall 'em they make use of their Slaves By that means the Peace of the Family is never disquieted for the Marry'd Wife is always Lady and Mistress As to other things whether contented or no her Relations never take any notice As for hir'd Wives seldom any Body takes 'em but People of mean Condition or Strangers which they do that they may be rid of 'em when they please The lowest sort of all never make use of that Custom as not being able to pay 'em their Wages Neither do Persons of Quality in regard they scorn the Leavings of another or that another should make use of a Woman who has belong'd to them But if by chance a Person of Quality falls in love with a Woman either publick or not fit to be his Wife he hires her for Ninety-Nine Years and by that means he is sure to enjoy her as long as he lives without Marriage And they take this course especially if They are Marry'd to Women of Quality or Nobly descended because their Relations would take Themselves to be highly affronted should They bring into their Houses Women of mean Birth to be their Companions In Persia they usually-Marry by Proxy because the Women are never seen by the Men. Which Ceremony is perform'd after this manner The Kindred of both Parties meet at the House of the Party intended to be the Husband or Bridegroom Thither they send for a Churchman to make the Contract Or if the Parties are Persons of high Quality then the Cedre who is the chief Pontiff or the Sheikelislam who is the chief Civil Judge and is invited for that purpose If they are Persons of mean Degree they endeavour to get the Kazy who is the Lieutenant Civil and if they be very poor People they send for a Molla or Priest of the Law Presently the Party Affianc'd in the Company of several Women repairs to a Chamber not far from the place where the People are met where the Door stands half open but the Tapestry is let down that there is no Body to be seen Then the Proxies of both Parties rise and the Proxy for the Party Affianc'd setting himself against the Door of the Chamber and stretching out his Hand cries out aloud I N. Authoriz'd Proxy for you N. Marry yee to N. here present You shall be his perpetual Wife with such a prefix'd Dowry according as you have agreed Then the other Proxy thus answers I N. Authoriz'd Proxy for N. take thee N. in his Name for my perpetual Wife who hast been given him for such by N. his Proxy here present upon Condition of the Dowry prefix'd and agreed on by both Parties After this the Minister or whoever he be that is present to make the Contract rises and laying his Head to the Tapestry which divides the Room cries out to the Affianc'd Do you Ratifie the Promise which N. your Proxy has made in your behalf Who answers Yes Then he puts the same Question to the other Proxy makes the Contract fixes the Seal and causes the rest that are met to Seal it likewise and gives the Contract to the Proxy of the Affianc'd Virgin Which Contract is kept by the Woman for the Security of her Dowry There is no difference between this and the Ceremony of Marriages for time when they hire VVives only that the Proxies make their Promises on other Terms As thus I N. by Virtue of an Authentick Procuration receiv'd from N. give her to N. to the end he may have the use of her for such a Term and at such a Price Or thus I N. by Virtue of an Authentick Procuration from N. take in his Name N. to Wife I take her upon the Conditions agreed upon I take her upon my Soul The poor People make less stir without any Proxy For the VVoman enters Veil'd with her Parents who are also in the Room where the Men are and then says the Party himself I N. Proxy for my self take you N. for my perpetual Wife at such a certain Dowry I take ye for such upon my Soul Now the VVomen are the Match makers and as soon as the Articles are agreed upon the Husband settles the Dowry upon the clearest part of his Estate and then
Chappels upon a Line To the middlemost belongs an Entrance eighteen Foot deep every way magnificent the Portal being of the same white Marble already mention'd The Top which is also a large half Duomo is over-laid without with large square Tiles of Cheney painted with Moresco Work and within embellish'd with Gold and Azure The Door which is twelve foot high and six broad is all of transparent Marble The folding Doors are plated with Silver embellish'd with Vermillion guilt carv'd Work and polish'd which make a Mosaic altogether costly and full of Curiosity The Chappel is Octogonal cover'd with a high Duomo the lower part of which Chappel is cover'd with large Tiles of Porphiry wav'd and painted with Flowers in Gold and Colours so lively and full of Lustre that they dazle the Eye The upper part is of Moresco Work of lively and glittering Gold and Azure and the Bottom of the Duomo is all of the same This Duomo is very large and wonderfully beautiful being overlaid without like the Portal From the top of all arises a Spire with a Crescent fixt at the top the ends of which are reverse as you see in the Figure This Pinacle which is of a remarkable Bigness is comoss'd of several Bowls of several Proportions set one upon another and appears as you stand below to be about twenty foot high with the Crescent the whole of fine Gold The Persians affirm it to be all Massy which if it be true the Pinacle is worth Millions but let it be what it will 't is a noble Ornament of which the Value cannot but amount to a large Summ. In the midst of that Chappel stands the Tomb of Fatima the Daughter of Mousa Casem one of the twelve Califfs which the Persians believe to have been the lawful Successors of Mahomet after the Death of Ali his son-in-Son-in-Law It contains eight feet in length five in bredth and six in height Over-laid with Tiles of China painted alamoresca and over-spread with Cloth of Gold that hangs down to the ground on every side It is enclos'd with a Grate of Massy Silver ten foot high distant half a foot from the Tomb and at each Corner crown'd as it were with large Apples of fine Gold Which is done to the end the People should not sully the Tomb with their kissing and handling it for the Tomb is lookt upon as a sacred Piece Several breadths of Velvet hung about the inside of the Grate hide it from the view of the People so that only Favor or Money can procure a sight of it The Flooer likewise is cover'd with a Carpet of very fine Woollen over which at great Festival Times are spread others of Silk and Gold Over the Tomb about ten foot in height hang several Silver Vessels which they call Candil being a sort of Lamp of which there are some that weigh sixty Marks and are otherwise fashion'd then the Church Branches as may be seen in the Figures But they never light up any fire therein which they are not made to hold nor any sort of Liquor as not having any Bottom Upon the Grate hang several Inscriptions in Letters of Gold upon thick Velloms as large as a large sheet of Paper Which Inscriptions contain the Elegies of the Saint and her Family The Inscription upon the Front of the Entrance contains the Prayer which they all generally say that come in the Pilgrimage to the Sepulcher The Pilgrim when he enters kisses the Threshold and the Grate three times and standing upright with his Face towards the Tomb one of the Molla's that attend there day and night comes to him who causes him to say the Prayer word for word After the Prayer so said the Pilgrim again kisses the Grate and the foot of the Door then giving the Priest four or five pence more or less according to his ability he retires If he desires a Certificate of his Pilgrimage they write him one in due form the dispatch of which costs him half a Pistole or eight or nine shillings All the money which the Pilgrims and other Votaries give is put into a little iron Chest like the Trunk of a Tree that stands at the entrance into the Chappel which is open'd every Friday and what is found therein is distributed among the people that belong to the Mosque and do Duty in that consecrated place It would be too long and perhaps to irksome to insert all the Inscriptions I have mention'd and therefore I shall only give you the Translation of the two Principal Prayers which the Pilgrims are bound to say In the name of God clement and merciful I Visit my Lady and Mistress Fatima the daughter of Mousa the son of Dgafar upon whom be all Salvation and Peace eternally And out of my zeal to approach to God by her Intercession I invoke her for my self my Father and Mother and all the truly Faithful In the name of God soveraignly pitiful I wish thee Health eternal O Apostle of God I wish thee Health eternal O Elect of God I wish thee Health eternal O the best and most perfect of all men Mahamed the son of Abdalla God grant thee his Mercy his Grace and his Benedictions and to all thy Family I wish thee eternal Health O Prince of the Faithful O Lord and Chief of the true Vicars of God I wish thee eternal Health O thou that art the Truth it self I wish thee Health eternal and the Mercy and Benedictions of God ô Ali who art the true Balsom for the wounds of sin I wish the Health eternal O virgin most Pure most Just and most Immaculate glorious Fatima the daughter of Mahammed the Elect the best beloved Wife of Ali the Mother of twelve true Vicars of God of Illustrious Birth and I also wish the Mercy of God and his Benedictions to thy Mother the most precious the most pure and high-born Khadidge I wish the mercy of God and his Benedictions to Hasan and Heussein true Directors of the way of Truth Celestial Flambeaux's of the dark Night of the World Great Standards of true Piety unreproachable Testimonies of God against the World Lords of all the young Men who are in the Glory of Paradise I wish thee Eternal Health O Fatima the Daughter of Mousa Virgin Holy Vertuous Just Directirix of the Truth Pious Sanctifi'd worthy of all our Praises who Soveraignly lovest the Faithful and who art Soveragnly belov'd Virgin without blemish and exempt from all Impurity May God take his Greatest Delight in thee look upon thee as pleasing to Him and Establish thee in Paradise which is thy Eternal Habitation and Refuge I am come to seek thee O Mistress and Lady of my Soul in hopes that I may approach the most High God by this Act of Piety and of his Apostle and his Holy Children The Mercy of God be upon him and them Eternally I Abhor and I Detest my Sins of which I have made me an unhappy Burthen that sinks me to the
Lieutenant of the King of the World according to the true Law is Safiè We have in another Place explained these Inscriptions more exactly and literally On the other side was this Persian Distich Zibad Destiè shae Abas sanie Safiè zad Zikkeh saheh Karaniè That is After Habas the Second was in Corporeal Being Or thus After Habas the Second quitted his Corporeal Being Safiè Master of the World coined this Money Which is as much as to say He was declared King in regard that in those Countries as well as here none but Sovereigns can coin Money Underneath were these words Zarby sefahaan hazar haftad ou Heft Coined at Ispahan the year of the Hegirah 1077. It was almost near Midnight before the Ceremony ended At what time the King rose up in his Royal Habiliments which he did not put off till he was retired into his particular Apartment in the Womens Palace All the while there was to be observed a great alteration in the Countenance of the Young Prince He looked with a Countenance all in disorder like a Person that was not well in his Senses And indeed what other could be expected from a Person that had been all along mued up under a close confinement and had never seen the World Besides that by a secret Fatality of the ill humour of his Father he had been shut up in a more rigorous Imprisonment than ever was practised before toward the Kings Children Could he observe a certain Posture of Majesty that should have performed all things after a surprizing manner who had never been instructed before Much less was he able to make any Reflections upon himself Add to this that the Young Prince passed of a sudden from one Extremity to another He heard himself called Master of the World He that but a little before was in condition little inferiour to that of a Slave True it is that he wanted for no Conveniences in his Captivity which was accompanied with all the Pleasures grateful to the Senses but those Pleasures became Torments when sowered with the continual fears of Death or deprivation of his Eyes that continually threatned him And this was that which made him he could not tell what to do For what may we say of that last assault that attacked his very Soul How many dismal Apparitions did the dreadful Cries and frantick Lamentations of his Mother and his Wives and others of the same Sex present to his Mind His Soul to speak after the Persian manner was like a Sea which being agitated by a furious Tempest expresses its disorder by the roaring of the Waves and shews the disturbance it was in after the Storm is over and tho a pleasing Calm succeed The Grand Dutchess for that Title is given to the Mother of the New King from the very moment of her Sons being Crowned was not in a worse condition They had told her the very first words which the General of the Musquetteers had uttered throwing himself at her Sons Feet they brought her the news every Minute of what passed But Fear and Grief had so possessed her Imagination that there was no entrance for any other Passion It was above a quarter of an hour before she would so much as listen to the welcome news which they brought her she refused obstinately to believe And tho she had such forcible reasons to rejoyce she still continued weeping and lamenting according to the humour of her Sex that are willing to dwell upon sorrowful Objects and wilfully refuse to put away those Idea's from their Minds However at length so many Eunuchs came to tell her the news of the Death of her Husband and the Election of her Son for whose Coronation they were preparing that she began to lend an Ear and to surcease her fears Nevertheless her Soul continued still in suspence between Joy and Grief For as the good Fortune of her Son and his Exaltation afforded her a happy occasion of Gladness so the mournful death of her Husband recalled her Tears So that those two Passions equally prevailing in her heart kept the ballance so even that her joys and sorrows hung in an equal Poise But at length Custom and good Manners turn'd the Scales So that for a while she relapsed into her first Commotions she rent her Garments calling upon the Soul of the Deceased expostulating with him as if he had been present what reason he had to quit the World and leave her in that forlorn condition with other moans and lamentations of the same nature However she gave over when she understood that the King her Son was returning to her Thereupon after she had performed the usual Ceremonies of Purification which the Law ordains she changed her Habit as did the Princess the New Monarchs Wife with the rest of the Ladies of Quality that belonged to the Court to receive the King who till then had lived among them as a Prisoner So soon as they had notice that the New King was entered into their Palace they went all to meet him The Great Dutchess was the first that paid her duty to him upon her Knees bowing her Head three times to the ground which done his Wife and his Concubines did the same and then the rest of the Persons belonging to the Place whose Quality and Employments priviledged them for that Honour I could not learn what was done more the rest of the Night for I have already informed you how difficult it is to be informed of the Transactions in those secret Habitations that seem to be Regions of another World There are none but Women that can approach within a League of it or some Black Eunuchs with whom a Man may as well converse with so many Dragons that can discover those secrets and you may as well tear out their hearts as a syllable upon that Text. You must use a great deal of Art to make them speak just as we tame Serpents in the Indies till they make them hiss and dance when they please In the mean time the noise of the Nakara resounded from the Terraces of the Royal Palace And in regard it continued longer than ordinary which is generally not above three Quarters of an Hour it gave an occasion to those that were wakened with the din to wonder what was the matter But in regard it was then Midnight and an unseasonable time to stir out of the House there were very few unless they were such as lived near the Royal Palace that would so far gratifie their Curiosity as to enquire the Reason The rest contented themselves till next Morning at what time they understood that Saphiè the Second was seated upon the Throne as Successour to his Father Habas deceased I leave the Reader to conjecture how every body was surprised For my part I apprehended something so strange upon the novelty of the Accident that I thought my self in a dream That they could conceal the Death of so great and Potent a Prince so long