describe the manner of the Conception of Pearl in those sorts of Shell-fish which ingendred them of which in those days great Traffick was made by the Natives that were expert in diving for them But at present as there is much more of India and other Parts of Asia discover'd than was formerly so we have a more perfect and certain Account of all the Chief Places of Trade and what the peculiar Productions and Exportations are of the several Provinces and Emporiums of Persia India c. Olearius Tobacco in Asia For the Province of Chilan in Persia abounds with Silk Oyl Wine Rice Tobacco Lemons Oranges Pomegranates and other the most delicious sorts of Fruit. The Provinces of Iruan Nachtxuan Kerabath Aderbeitzan and Chorasan bring forth in very great plenty Cotton which the Persians call Pambeh The Trade of Pearl-fishing is most especially eminent in three Places near the Isle of Baharem in the Persian Sea near the Isle of Manar upon the Coast of India and near that of Ainan towards China Near the City Saha in the Province of Erac grows abundance of Cotton and Rice in which the Inhabitants drive a great Trade In the City Katschan is a great Trade driven of Silk Stuffs and Gold and Silver Brocados At Caswin the Chief City of Erac are bought Turqueses which the Natives call Firuse and which are found near Nisabur and Firusku as also Rubies and Granats very cheap At Scamachie the Principal City of Media Atropatia the Chief Commerce lies in Stuffs of Silk and Cotton as also Gold and Silver Brocadoes and rich Scymitars The Provinces of Kilan and Sahetzan are noted for Silks Near Baku are several Sources of Nefie From the Salt-pits of Kutb Urum Kemre Hemedan Bisethun Suldus and Kilissim there is drawn out great quantity of Salt as clear as Crystal The Country of the Malabars in India Mandelslo i. e. from the City of Goa as far as the Cape of Comory is very fertile of Spices but particularly of the best Pepper of the Indies The principal Commerce of the City of Cochim is in Pepper Ginger and Cinnamon The Isle of Ceilon produces Cinnamon all sorts of Precious Stones except Diamonds Pearls somewhat-inferior to those of Baharam but the best Ivory of the World It abounds also in all sorts of rich Fruits as Ananas Bananas Cocos Jacques Mangas Citrons and hath whole Forests of Oranges and Lemons and also Mines of Brass and Iron and it is thought of Gold and Silver especially in the Kingdom of Candy The Soil also is very Productive of Corn Wine Oyl Cotton several Roots for Dyers Ginger Nutmegs Cardamoms Mirobalans Corcoma and divers other Medicinal Drugs In the City of India the Chief City of the Province Odya the principal Commerce consists in Stuffs brought from Suratta and the Coast of Coromandel all sorts of China Commodities Precious Stones Gold Benzoin Wax Copper Lead Indico Calamba Wood Brasil Wood Cotton Saphires Rubies Likewise great quantities of Rice are hence transported to the neighboring Islands and Deer-skins to the Japoneses The Isle call'd Java Major is term'd by Julius Scaliger in his Exercitations against Cardanus The Compendium of the World because there is not that Animal Plant Fruit Metal nor Drug which is not here in greater plenty than in any other part of the Universe beside Particularly the costly Drugs of Java are Wild Cinnamon Carcapuli Costus Indicus Zorumbet Galanga Benzoin Sandale Ginger Anacardium call'd by the Portuguese Java di Malacca the Wood call'd Pala di Cuebra Lignum Aloes call'd Palo d' Aguila and by the Indians Calamba the Drug Pody the Root Carumba the Wood Conjuapi the Root Samparentam the Fruit Gatogamber with innumerable others At Bantam they vend great store of Gum Lacca of which they make Spanish Wax and the curious Varnish wherewith the Cabinets and other choice Pieces of Art of China and Japan are overlaid also Anil or Indico Sandal-wood Nutmegs Cloves Tortoise-shell whereof they make Cabinets and Ivory which the Mandorins who have their Chairs made of it prefer before Silver The Island of Sumatra is rich in Diamonds and other Precious Stones Silk Spices Wax Honey Camphire Cassia White Sandal in great abundance and Cotton There is said to be also in this Island a Fountain of Balsom incessantly running It likewise contains rich Mines of Gold Silver Copper Iron Brass and abounds with Rice Millet and the most delicate of Fruits as Oranges Lemons Bananas Tamarinds Batalas and that rare Tree call'd in the Malayan Tongue Singadi by the Persians and Turks Gul and by the Portuguese Arbor triste di Dia of which we shall speak more particularly in its proper place having already spoke sufficiently concerning the Riches of Asia in general Of the several Religions profest in Asia OF the four Religions profest in this Quarter of the World viz. The Jewish the Mahumetan the Pagan and the Christian the last is here of the smallest extent and the Mahumetan of the greatest But here it was that they were all first planted Idolatry or the Pagan Religion was first broach'd among the Syrians Judaism among the Hebrews Christianity began in Palestine or the Holy Land Mahumetanism in Arabia Several Missions have been appointed by Christian Princes for the Propagating of the Christian Religion that is to say Those of Turkie under the Protection of France Those of India under the Protection of Portugal Those of the Philippines under the Protection of Castile In the East-Indies are four Archbishopricks and seven Bishopricks There also the Jesuits have three Provinces that of Goa that of Malabar and that of Japan From France the Bishops of Heliopolis Metellopolis Beritus and Coesarea were sent to propagate the Christian Religion in China Mahumetanism hath been receiv'd by the four Principal Nations of Asia Turks Arabians Persians and Tartars The Turks are the most free the Arabians the most superstitious the Persians the most rational and the Tartars the most simple Of the Mahumetans there have been reckon'd sixty two Sects which nevertheless are reduc'd to two Principal ones that of the Turks which follows the Doctrine of Homar and that of the Persians following the Doctrine of Ali. The Persians have their Patriarch at Ispahan the Turks theirs at Bagdat The Christians of these Parts are principally those of the Greek Church who have also their two Patriarchs the one at Antioch the other at Jerusalem The other Chief Sects are the Jacobites who have a Patriarch at Caramit the Nestorians the Cophites the Georgians the Sirians so call'd from Sirus their first Teacher not from the Country of Syria the Armenians who have their two Patriarchs the one at Massivan in Media the other at Ciz in Cilicia and lastly the Maronites who have theirs at Canobin in Mount Libanus Of the Ancient and Modern Division of Asia THE Ancients divided the whole Continent of Asia into Asia the Less or Asia properly so call'd and Asia the Greater which is also subdivided into the
Tagestan is divided into several Lordiships Division viz. Osmin by others Ismin Boinack c. each having a chief Town of the same Denomination in which the Governor hath his Residence Olearius is of opinion that a part of this Countrey was anciently possess'd by the Amazones which as Curtius affirms dwelt betwixt the Caspian Sea and Mount Caucasus The Metropolis The Metropolis of Tagestan call'd Saru lies partly upon and partly between the Mountains which are Rocky and at a distance appear as if they were cover'd with Mussle-shells for there is scarce any piece to the bigness of a Mans Hand but what hath five or more Shells sticking upon it The Stones of the Rock are as hard as a Pebble Beyond these craggy Mountains are good Pastures for Cattel Behind Tarcu lies the Castle Suchur In the City which hath no Walls are about a thousand Houses built after the Persian manner though somewhat sleighter Out of the Rocks spring several Brooks which with a pleasant murmuring noise glide down the Mountains through the City The Tagestans of Tarcu and those of Boinack that dwell towards the North are call'd Caitack Westward beyond Tarcu is another sort nam'd Cumuck and Casucumuck who are under the Jurisdiction of peculiar Lords The Tarcuan Tartars are not less in number than those of the Province of Boinack The Prince of Tarcu styl'd Surchow Chan boasted himself to be Extracted from the Family of the Kings of Persia with whom he always held an amicable Alliance and when the Tagestans made War upon each other he receiv'd Aid from Persia The Natives maintain themselves by breeding of Cattel which the Women take care of whil'st their Husbands Ride abroad to steal whatever comes to hand not sparing Men Women or Children for they account it no Sin to sell their nearest Relations Brothers or Sisters to the Turks Those that dwell near the Rivers live by Fishing especially by catching of Sturgeon which they take with strong Harping-Irons and the Pole to which the Line is fastned fix'd in the Ground The Diet of the Grandees or Chans is commonly Mutton cut into small Slices Their man of Eating and Drinking and roasted on a woodden Spit as also Sturgeon cut in little Pieces which being boyl'd with Salt they eat it with Butter and Vinegar They use no Knives but pull their Meat in pieces with their Fingers When any one of them lays down a Bone he that sits next to him taking it up picks it much cleaner and sometimes it is taken up by three or four after the same manner Their Drinking-Cups are long Cows Horns out of which they Drink a Liquor made of Barley and call'd Brega which in colour is like Mead. They are very boisterous in their Cups They spread their Tables on the Ground after the Persian manner All their Vessels consist in woodden Bowls and Troughs The Tartars of Tarcu are wild and valiant but the Women are very courteous they are all Mahumetans and suffer themselves to be Circumcis'd yet are great Zealots and some of the Tartar Women are privately inclin'd to the Christian Religion The Inhabitants of the Village Andre have amongst other Nuptial Ceremonies these following viz. Every Guest brings an Arrow with him which he shoots either into the upper part of the Wall or the Roof of the House where they stick till they rot or fall down of themselves what the signification hereof is none knows They are a valiant and undaunted People caring neither for the King of Persia nor the Great Duke of Muscovia but boast themselves Tagestans and consequently subject to none but God which their audaciousness depends chiefly on the inaccessible Mountains whither they retire when any stronger Enemy falls into their Countrey The Merchants that travel through their Dominions are forc'd to pay great Customs and yet if they are not strong enough to defend themselves are sure to be Robb'd and therefore they always go with the Caravans in great Companies This Countrey is under the Subjection of several Princes Government by one general Name call'd Myrsa but many Cities are Govern'd by a peculiar Lord yet they have a supream Commander nam'd Schemchi and by others Schafcal who is as a King and chosen by the throwing of an Apple viz. at the Election all the Myrsa's or Princes meet together and standing in a Ring their Priest throws a Gilded Apple amongst them and whoever he hits therewith is immediately chosen Schemchal who though he hath great Honor and Respect yet he finds but litte Faith and Obedience from them and therefore cannot be said to Govern with arbitrary Power He keeps his Court in a Village nam'd Andre situate on a Hill near the River Coisu His Habit is a Silk Coat of green Darai and over it a black Furr Mantle and when he Rides out he is commonly Arm'd with a Scimiter Bowe and Arrows Beyond Tarcu lies a wild and brambly Countrey Five Leagues from Tarcu lies the Stream Coisu which abounding with Fish takes its original from Mount Caucasus and runs very swift the Water muddy of a reasonable breadth and generally eighteen or twenty Foot deep which Olearius supposes to be the Albanus of the Ancients which according to Pliny falls into the River Cassia In this Water breeds abundance of Sturgeon and another sort of Fish not much unlike it Two Leagues and a half from Coisu runs a Brook nam'd Acsai which is not above twenty five Yards broad Some take this Acsai to be onely a Branch of Coisu which unites with the same again not far from the Caspian Sea If any Strangers are desirous to Ferry over this River with their Goods they are forc'd either to pay a great Sum of Money to the Inhabitants or else they take away their Goods Beyond Acsai is a barren Heath seven Leagues long Rivers half a days Journey beyond which runs the River Bustro which is also one of the chiefest and almost as deep as the Coisu the Water thereof is muddy but runs not so swift as the foremention'd it serves for a Boundary between Circassia and Tagestan Northward about two Leagues from the Caspian Shore it divides it self into two Branches one of which now call'd Temenki but formerly and by some to this day Terk is about thirty Yards broad and hath given the City by which it glides the Denomination of Terki which is the last Town in those Parts under the Czar of Muscovy the other beyond this and of the same bigness bears the Name of Kisilar because it carries along in its Sand a kind of Gold-dust and lying somewhat higher than the former is commonly dry'd up in the Summer The place of its disemboguing is about eight Leagues beyond the City Terki All these Brooks come Out betwixt the North and the West and the Kisilar is the last in these Parts but fifty six Leagues farther is the Volga which springs in the North. Olearius according to Ptolomy will have the Acsai
Philosophy Notwithstanding there are not so many in Persia as in Europe which learn the Liberal Arts and Sciences yet they highly esteem those that study therein which they corruptly call Filosuf The Persian Phylosophers in Matters of Phylosophy and other Sciences highly esteem the Christian Books especially such as treat of Morality natural Phylosophy and Religion They also hold Disputations with great Confidence concerning the Mystery of their Religion with People that are or another Opinion quite contrary to the Turks who out of stubborness will not admit any to speak thereof Their Universicies For the Instruction of their Knowledge there are several Universities or Schools in the Cities which they call Madresia or Madressa and the Scholars Mederis the Chiefest whereof are at Ispahan Schiras Ardebil Mesched Tebris Casbijn Com Jest and Schamachie to all which the Sedder or Governor must allow a sufficient Maintenance which he receives from such Countreys as are free from Tribute and other Taxes to the King as Cochtzeh by Erwan Utzatznik near Carabach Tabachmelick lying between Georgia and Carabach and also Agdasch and Kermeru What they study The Learning in which they instruct them is Geometry Surveying Poesie Astrology moral and Natural Phylosophy Physick and Law They have all Aristotle's Works translated into Arabick and call him Danja piala that is The Cup of the World for as we may use the Cup to refresh our selves so we may likewise to inebriation so according to their opinion we may use and misuse Phylosophy for they say that strong Liquor and Phylosophy make good Orators but excess of both makes wise men Fools They teach their Youth Arithmetick so soon as they can write and read the Common-people use the Indian Figures but the Learned the Arabian Their Poesie and Orations are comprised in short Lessons and are studied both together because their Histories and Disputations are mixt with Verses and other Eloquent Expressions Their chief Book is as we said before Culustan that is Rose-Valley made by the famous Poet Schich Saadi Their chief Books and some Years since Translated into the German Tongue by Olearius it consists not onely in pleasant Prose but delightful Verses and therefore every Persian hath this Book in his House nay some there are which carry it in their memory and are therefore accounted very learned this they repeat at all Feasts and other Merry-meetings Delight in reading Histories Moreover they delight much in reading of Histories especially those of Aly's Life and Death as also of Hossein Aly's Son which are written in a lofty Style They have likewise several other Books as Chronicles as well of their own Kings Reigns and Wars as other eminent Transactions and these are term'd Mirchond Emveri Tzami Walehi Nussegri and the like amongst which the chiefest is Mirchond who in an excellent Style hath written a Persian Chronicle in Four Volumes which are there sold for two hundred Crowns but we cannot credit the Persians much in their Histories and Matters of Religion because they often mix fabulous Invention with real Truths The number of Books that treat of Philosophy are but small in these Countreys and those few are in the Hands of the most learned Persons who keep them as a great Treasure The Books that are generally sold there are either Romances or Verses treating of their Law besides which they have no Books worth mentioning Arms. THe Persian Horse-men are arm'd with Bowes The Housemens Arms. Arrows and a bending Sword like a Scymetar their main strength consists in the Cavalry and though their Horses are small and lean yet they are strong and swift The Hilt of their Swords is onely a cross Bar yet sufficient to defend the Hand and for the most part set forth with inchased work the Scabberds are either of red or black Leather and plated after the same manner as the Hilt their Belts are narrow and plain without any other Ornament or Colour than the skins naturally bear their Bowe-men are call'd Curtschi and their Musquettiers Tufenktschi for they have Musquets and also Pistols which they say Schach Abbas first brought in use among them They also have some great Guns which they use more in their Fortifications and Sieges than in a Field Battel Yet Anno 1604. Schach Abbas had one hundred and fifty Cannons when he beat off Vlutzali Bassa from Cigale They use many Stratagems In former times the Persians always engag'd their Enemies on Horse-back but since the use of Musquets was brought amongst them they have made a Body of Foot which in these last Wars hath done them great Service Moreover they are very subtile in contriving Plots and Stratagems to circumvent their Enemies At the Siege of Iruan Anno 1633. the Persians had a sort of Poyson in little Glasses which they shot with Darts into their Enemies Forts by which means they so infected the Air that it swell'd the Inhabitants Arms and Legs to an extraordinary thickness and by that means made them unable to resist Their defensive Arms are Brest-plates Shields Coats of Mail and Helmets The Soldiers of Persia made up of three Bodies The Soldiers of Persia are made up of three sorts The first sort are Turkomans which are like Hirelings and have Ziefs that is Pensions which the Sons inherit from their Fathers and are bound to furnish the King with a certain number of Horse as often as occasion shall require The second sort is that which Leunclaivus and Soranzo call Corrises or Coridsches but in the Turks Language might more properly be call'd Curchins or Georgians which receive no pay but have onely their Dyet Horses Apparel Arms Tents and all other Necessaries The third sort are Friends and Allies viz. Armenians and other Georgians who are Enemies to the Turks Four Degrees in their Militia In Persia are four Orders or Degrees in their Militia the first are Musquetiers or they that use Fire-arms not many years since brought in by King Abbas through the perswasions of Sir Anthony Sherley one of our three famous Sherleys so much celebrated in former times All the Musquetiers are Natives and Inhabitants of the Cities Musquettiers Towns and Villages though more dwell in the Villages than the Towns or Cities and they are accounted Tat or ignoble and may not wear the Tag but the common Turbant Formerly they continually fought on Foot yet march'd on Horseback like our Dragoons All the Captains of these and other Companies are by a Turkish Name call'd Juzbassi that is The Head of a Hundred for Juz is a Hundred and Bassi the Head notwithstanding they often have above two hundred and sometimes under one hundred in their Companies Those that dwell in several Provinces or Places meeting at a general Rendezvouz march together to the Army either with the Chans of the Province or else alone especially those that have no Chans Those of Mazanderan are accounted the best Musquettiers but there are more beside them
occasion requires he wets the Seal with Ink which the King constantly wears about his Neck to make an Impression with from whence he also receives his Denomination Dawat or Ink-carrier for the Persians Print all their seals wetted with Ink on Paper in stead of making Impressions in Wax Mohur signifies a Signet or Seal-Ring and the word Dar which hath a general signification of Officer is us'd in a commanding sense in stead of having as if you would say Haver or Keeper of the Seal Besides the Great Seal the King hath a less Signet to seal his Letters withal which he sends to his Vice-Roys and Governors and other publick Writings wherewith no Person is intrusted for the King wears the same in his Ring and makes an Impression with his own Hand therewith The Myrachurbasschi is the Master of the Horse Myrischicar the chief Falconer Sechhahnbaschi the Huntsman Jesaulcor like our Knight Marshal which rides before the King and with a Cane clears the way is under the Lord Marshal and hath a Deputy under him call'd Jesaul which are as our Marshals Men whom he imploies on all occasions and sometimes to apprehend Malefactors Suflretzi the King's Carver Abdar the King's Cup-bearer who has deliver'd to him the Wine or Water for the King 's drinking in a seal'd Vessel which he publickly opens and so presents it to the King Chasinedar the Treasurer Ambadar the Purveyor of Corn Jesaul Nesar the Person that keeps the Kings Shoes when he goes into the Hall Mehmandar or Mehimander he that provides Lodgings and all other Necessaries for Forraign Ambassadors and not onely waits upon them but also acquaints the King with their business he being the first that hath any knowledge thereof given him nay all Affairs of what consequence soever must pass through his Hands though the Agents were sent from other Princes to treat of nothing else but Matters of State which makes the Mehimander to be in great Esteem and Reputation The King also ordains another peculiar Mehimander to take care and provide for such Ambassadors as he esteems more than ordinary the other Officers are of meaner degree viz. the Isauly are a People who as Messengers wait at Court and are sent abroad on all occasions The Kischiktzibaschi is Captain of the Guard as the Tzabedar is Master of the Ordnance and the Tzartzi chief Herald at Arms who proclaimeth all the King's Edicts The Tzelaudarbaschi is Captain of the King's Horse-Guard and Master of the Stirrop The Mostofi is the principal Secretary of State who is permitted to keep several Clarks The Seraidar or Surveyor of the Works who keeps in repair pair the King's Pallaces The Clitar serves as Porter the Muschrift is the Clark of the Kitchin the Cannati is the Confectioner the Sbherbedar buies all the King's Sweet-meats the Omatzdar being an Archer teaches His Majesties Pages and other Courtiers to shoot at Marks the Bildars are Pyoneers which keep constantly at the Court and attend when the King travels cleaning the ways or cutting steps in rocky Ascents which otherwise the Camels having round feet are not able to climb they also help to pitch the Tents and dig deep Pits in the ground for water The Schatir are the Footmen the Rica carry Battel-axes and oftentimes perform the office of Execution and always attend the King as his Life-guard All Officers or Servants belonging to the Court have each according to their Qualities great Pension or Salary which is not paid them out of the King's Revenue or Treasury but from several Villages which are allotted for that purpose The Allowance of the Chans The Chans have certain Lands and Villages thereto belonging allowed them yet they receive the Revenue and are as Magistrates judging and determining all things but Matters of Life and Death some have certain Customs given them others receive for their Salary the Taxes laid on Houses of Entertainment They hold durance beneplacito All the foremention'd Officers keep their places during the King's pleasure who seldom discharges them but for Misdemeanor or else to prefer them to some greater Dignity The most eminent Officers and Courtiers belonging to the King which were living Anno 1640. in the time of Schach Sofi and had serv'd also his Predecessor Schach Abbas being of a mean condition Schach Sefi kill'd all but two viz. the one a Herdsman's Son the other a Slave to Schach Abbas who were afterwards by Sefi promoted to greater Dignity Those that he put to Death were Eahtemad-Dowlet a Scriveners Son born in Mazanderan The Wakenuis or Privy-Counsellor a Rusticks Son born in the Village Dermen near Casbijn most of them had Christian Parents viz. Georgians Circassians or Armenians for the Persians repose greater confidence in a Chistian if he be circumciz'd than in one of their own Religion Their highest Oath The King is exceedingly honor'd in his Realm when any one takes an Oath they never swear but by the King's Head which is accounted the most sacred and solemn of all other Their Complements In their wishing of Joy and Happiness one to another they say not God give you Joy but in the Turkish Language Schach Mura di sun that is I wish that the King may shew his favor to you and many other things they attribute to their King which belong to God onely All see the King once a year According to an antient Custom in Persia and the Command of King Abbas none dare though a person of but an indifferent Estate neglect to see the King and shew him Reverence once a year On their Neuruz or New-years Day the King according to an antient Custom receives Presents from all his chief Officers unless the day be suspected ominous for then the King never comes out of his Haram or Seraglio How the King gives Audience to Ambassadors as we have before mention'd The King seldom grants Audience to any Ambassadors in private but always at a publick Dinner and in presence of all the Guests notwithstanding their business be never so secret No Persian whatsoever whether Subject or Stranger may appear before the King without great Presents nay not the Ambassadors from strange Princes which is a very antient Custom and was as Philostratus tell us us'd in the time of the Kings of Media The King expects Presents The Kings of Persia demand Presents from those that are their Homagers who pay no Tribute and this Custom is kept amongst all Eastern Princes to this very day they publickly provide that if any Foreigners bring Presents that are not thought fit for the Emperors Greatness they make him remain still there with more of the like Petitioners so by that means their Presents make the greater shew and appear the more glorious to the Spectators they report further that if the Present seems not equivalent to the King's Greatness there is an addition out of the Wardrobe silently hinting that they or whoever else cannot come too well provided
and Iberia as also a part of Armenia and some of Albania within whose Limits as Strabo tells us is inclos'd the Countrey inhabited by the Moschi for Georgia extends in length from the Eastern Shore of the Black Sea almost to the Caspian Others make Georgia comprise the ancient Iberia and the Countrey of Georgia mention'd by Pliny and Mela. It hath for Neighbor on the East the Countrey of Albania now under the Jurisdiction of the Persians and wherein the Towns of Bacu and Demircapi or Derbend lie and bending from thence a little Southerly it touches upon the Province of Scirvan in the West it verges with the Black Sea Its Bounds in the North fronts the Caspian Mountains which are Branches of Mount Caucasus and extend along from the Black to the Caspian Sea and defend Georgia from the Northern Blasts as also from the Invasion of the Salvages on the South it conterminates with that part of Armenia which borders upon Media and somewhat lower Westerly towards Trebizonde with a part of Cappadocia and is by the Circassian and Caspian Mountains divided from Muscovy It s several Denominations The right Name of this Countrey according to Texeira is Gurgistan that is The Countrey of the Gurgians It is also call'd Garia and Chartuelaba as a Georgian in the Countrey Language Chartueli or Kartueli which word Della Valle affirms to signifie a Christian The Turks name them Kurchin or Gurgin or Jurian to which must be added the Turkish word Lar a sign of the plural Number and is pronounced Jurianu-Lar The Name of Georgia or Georgians some suppose they have receiv'd from St. George whom they highly reverence and carry his Picture in their Standards though Postellus affirms from the information of the Georgians in Constantinople that the Name of St. George is altogether unknown to them Division of the Countrey Georgia is by some divided into several Provinces the chiefest whereof are Imereti or Busciaciuk Cacheti Cardel or Carduel Curiel and Mengrelia This Countrey of Georgia is very fertile It s Fertility and in many places produces plenty of Corn Wine and other Fruits Most of the Vines grow up by the Trees There are likewise many Woods and Mountains and abundance of Mulberry-ttees for the feeding of Silk-worms which furnish Persia with great quantities of Silk Wild Beasts are also here in great numbers Wild Beasts and likewise Faulcons and Eagles which they call Avigi Rivers and Lakes It is water'd by the Rivers Araxes now call'd Aras Cyrus now Cur and the Canak The Cyrus or Cur which the Natives of the Countrey call Ser the Turks Chur and others Elkar takes its original with the Araxes out of Mount Taurus in Armenia from whence it glides down to the Plains of Georgia where augmented with the Waters of many Rivers and at last united with the Araxes disembogues into the Caspian Sea There are also two very eminent Lakes the one call'd Geluchalatdu in the North is four days Journey in circumference and hath on its Banks the Castle of St. Leonard the other nam'd Esechie is taken for the ancient Lake Licinitis The People very courteous The Georgians are very civil and courteous after their manner The Nobles are call'd Asnaure which going continually Arm'd always maintain War against the Unbelievers or Mahumetans But they are not so much inclin'd to Learning as the Greeks neither are they so ambitious proud and subtle but very meek and honest of an affable nature and so easie of belief that their greatest misfortunes have fall'n upon them from the Mahumetans through their too much credulity Cootwick tells us that the Georgians are much inclin'd to Drinking and that they will not Engage with an Enemy before they have drank their Fill. The Women are very courteous civil modest and the best featur'd in all Asia both Men and Women are tall and slender having generally brown Hair black full Eyes white and ruddy Complexions occasion'd perhaps by the abundance of Wine which they drink The Language one through the whole Countrey Through the whole Countrey is but one sort of Language spoken which being peculiar and common to these People is by them call'd Cardueli it is written with two distinct Characters or Letters the one call'd Cudsuri which is us'd onely in godly Books and in their Churches and the other Chedroli is us'd in all other Affairs The Alphabet of the vulgar Georgians hath thirty six Letters shap'd like those represented in the Sculp Figueroa tells us that the Georgian Characters differ from the Caldean Hebrew and Armenian and that they write like the Europeans from the left hand to the right They are of the Greek Church The Georgians receiv'd the Christian Religion in the time of the Emperor Constantine who kept his Court at Constantinople from the Greeks by means of a strange Slavess of whom they relate many great Wonders but to this day none of them know her Name yet the Roman-Catholicks in their Book of Martyrs call her Ancella And as they receiv'd the Christian Religion from the Greeks so they likewise observe their Church Ceremonies and Liturgies They perform Divine Service in their own Language and not in the Greek as Minadoi and others affirm nor do they boast the antiquity of their Church as the Greeks do and though they acknowledge the Patriarch of Constantinople yet nevertheless they are not subject to him for they chuse their own Church-Rulers They bear great reverence to Rome St. Peter St. Paul and the Pope to whom contrary to the Greeks they attribute the antiquity of their Church They shun the company of the Armenians and abhor their Superstition but affect the Latines and Roman-Catholicks and what Conquests soever the Turks and other People have gain'd over them yet they have always remain'd firm in the Christian Faith and though their Princes have very often apostatiz'd and forc'd many after several ways to change their Opinions yet nevertheless the Christian Religion hath gotten the upper hand and the Christians have regain'd the Dominions which they had lost or forc'd their Princes again to embrace Christianity which they had forsaken Many Ways lead into Georgia especially three the first and shortest whereof is through Constantinople from whence they travel thither by Land viz. through Scutarie in Asia with the Caravans who go along the Way of Trabizonde and finish their Journey in a Moneth though it is much shorter over the Black Sea viz. in five or six days more or less according to the Season The second Way is through Persia from whence they go easily with the Caravans into the Prince Luarsab's Countrey The third and last Way is through Poland cross the Black Sea from whence in a few days you arrive in Georgia as we said before This Countrey was formerly Govern'd by a King Government whom the Persians as Texeira affirms call'd Schach of Gurgistan for Anno 1430. Cara-Issuf falling into Gurgistan
Predecessors though as others say not rigid in maintaining the Laws which are prescrib'd them The Issue of Schach Jehan Schach Jehan had four Sons and two Daughters the eldest Son was call'd Dara that is Darius or according to Bernier Darachacour the second Sultan Sujas that is A Prudent Prince the third Aurengzebe which is The Ornament of the Throne and the fourth or last Morad Backche that is Perfect Desire Others call'd Darachacour Darasja Sujas chasausa Aurengzebe Orang Oranchzef Moradbackcha and Moradbeg all which he made Vice-Roys or Governors of divers of his best Provinces or Kingdoms viz. Oranchzef Commanded in Decan Sultan Chasausa in Bengala Moradbeck in Zurratte but he always kept Darasja by him as being Heir apparent to the Crown and his Successor Two years before viz. Anno 1654. Schach Jehan at his return from Asmeer fell exceeding sick insomuch that his Recovery was very doubtful and a rumor that he was dead spread through the whole Realm from whence there arose a great Difference between these Brothers who all aiming at the Crown maintain'd a Civil War for five years but at last Oranchzef after the Decease of of his Father who dy'd in Prison and also the Death of his three Brothers made himself Master of the Realm The Character of his Children The eldest Daughter of Schach Jehan was named Begum Saheb that is My Lady Princess and the youngest Raichenara Begum that is Illustrious Princess or Light of Princesses which kind of Names are very frequently given to the Princes and Princesses of this Countrey because all the Lands belonging to the King there are no Dukedoms Earldoms nor Lordships from whence the Nobles can derive their Names and Titles they having nothing but Rewards for their good Services either in Lands or ready Money which the Mogol gives them and increases decreases or takes away when he pleases wherefore the Omrahs or Omars have no other but such kind of Names as these viz. Raz Andazekan Safe Chekenkan Bark Andazekan and Dianetchan or Danechmendkan or Fazelkan which signifie Striker of Thunder Confounder of the Rich Vomiter of Lightning Faithful Knowing Perfect Lord and the like Darasja the eldest Son wanted not good Parts for he was courteous in Conversation subtil very civil and exceeding bountiful yet so self-conceited that he believ'd himself able to do all things and could not imagine that any one was capable of giving him Advice He often scoffed at those that had given him Council so that his best Friends durst not adventure to discover to him the secret Intentions of his Brothers He also on a small occasion would rail curse and threaten the greatest Omrahs or Lords in his Passion which soon ceas'd And although he was a Mahumetan and manifested the same in his publick Devotion yet he privately profess'd himself a Heathen amongst the Heathens and a Christian amongst Christians He constantly kept some Pendelt or Heathen Teachers by him who receiv'd great Rewards and perswaded him into an Opinion contrary to the Religion of the Countrey He also hearkned some time since to the Instructions of a Jesuit call'd Buze and took great liking to his Doctrine and yet some affirm that he was of no Religion at all and that that which he did was onely out of curiosity or for his pleasure or rather out of subtilty to make himself belov'd by the Christians of which he had great numbers in his Army and especially to gain the Rajas or Heathen Lords Tributary to this Realm that when occasion should require he might get them to side with him but let it be how it will it did not much tend to his advantage as shall appear in the following Relation for the Pretence which Orangzef made use of to cut off his Head was because he was turn'd Caffer which is properly an Unbeliever or one without Religion Sultan Sujas or Chasausa was almost of the same Temper and Disposition but more subtil and reserv'd and withal very politick in contriving of Plots for the management whereof he got many Friends by making Presents to the chief Omrahs and eminent Rajas yet still at times of recess was so exceedingly inclin'd to the Sports of Venus that keeping many Concubines he spent whole Nights and Days in their company Singing Drinking and Dancing with them He profess'd himself of the Persian Belief although Schach Jehan and all his Brothers were of the Turks Opinion which he did for this reason because the most eminent Persons at the Mogol's Court and those which have the greatest Employments being for the most part Persians as also their Children he hop'd by this means to gain their Affections to be of his Party Oranchzef had not that generous Spirit nor affable Deportment as Darasja but seem'd to be of a more profound reach well knowing all his People and chose those that would certainly stick to him in time of need He was very reserv'd subtil and a great Dissembler insomuch that he pretended himself a long time to be a Fakier or Derwis that is a poor Monk who hath deny'd all the Glories of the World and seemingly disown'd any Interest in the Crown and that he desir'd to spend his days in Prayers and Devotion whil'st he was still plotting at the Court especially when he was made Vice-Roy of Decan and carry'd his whole Designs with so much secrecy that no Person could take any notice thereof He also insinuated himself exceedingly into his Father Schach Jehan's favor who notwithstanding the great inclination he had towards Darasja could not hide his affection to Oranchzef which bred such Jealousies in Darasja that he us'd often to say to his Friends Of all my Brothers I fear none but this Nemaz that is This great Dissembler Moradbeck the youngest of all was none of the most subtil thinking on nothing but how to recreate himself either in Drinking Hunting and Arching yet nevertheless he had some good Parts and accounted it a great Vertue to keep nothing secret He was indeed a Prince of a noble Temper which had it been accompany'd with a little more reservedness and prudent Conduct he would certainly have been preferr'd before his Brother and made King of Indostan as shall appear hereafter SCHAH IEHAAN The Mogol's youngest Daughter Raichenara Begum was never accounted so beautiful nor ingenious as Begum Saheb but delighted as much in lasciviousness She always sided with Oranchzef and declar'd her self an Enemy to her Sister and Darasja which made her not to be so well belov'd nor had she so much Interest to dispatch Businesses like her Sister yet nevertheless being in the Seraglio and holding Correspondence with many Intelligencers she was not negligent in discovering many Secrets to Oranchzef Schach Jehan a little before these Troubles seeing himself charg'd with these four Princes all grown up and Marry'd and observing that each of them pretended to the Crown and carrying themselves as Enemies one to another sought privately to compass their Designs was exceedingly perplex'd
God had wholly destroy'd the Family of the Kutteries therefore he resolv'd to renew the same by a Prince and ordain'd that the Kings for the future should be Extracted out of the Family of the Brahmines the chiefest whereof that were then living having been preserv'd by Wistney were call'd Ducerat The first Child which was born after this universal Destruction was ordain'd to be the Race of Kings and Princes who being zealously brought up manag'd both the Affairs of State and Religion Governing the People with great Wisdom and Piety according to their several Tribes perform'd many heroick Acts and was a Protector of all Brahmines and other Spiritual Persons His Name was Ram and by his Just and Pious Life attain'd to that Dignity that his Name is to this day exceedingly honor'd amongst them for in their usual Salutations they with a loud Voice cry Ram Ram that is I wish you Health and all Happiness 'T is certain many Just and Pious Kings Reign'd after him but as all things do daily degenerate so in process of Time receding farther and farther from their original Purity they grew proud and ambitious insomuch that they acted daily contrary to the Commandments comprehended in the Book of Bremaw These hainous Enormities did once more so highly incense the Almighty that he gave Power to Ruddery to open the Earth that it might swallow them up alive except a few of each of the four Tribes which he preserv'd to re-people the World anew with And in this manner ended the third Age of the World Soon after God commanded that the World should be re-planted by those that were preserv'd which was one Kysteney or Kistna who was a famous King Wise and Religious and one of the most comely Persons of the former Age. He propagated Religion with great Zeal insomuch that during his Life there was great Reformation amongst the People and very hopeful beginnings of Piety and Honesty When by Kysteney's coming Wistney's time was expir'd God as they relate took him up to Heaven there being no further need of his Service here below because there would be no other World after this fourth Age which now in being will according to the Opinion of the Brahmines last much longer than any of the former and that after its ruine Ruddery will be taken up to Heaven likewise They call these four Ages by four several Names viz. the first Kurtain the second Dnauper the third Tetrajos and the fourth Kolee The manner of destroying this last Age will as the Brahmines relate be much more terrible than any of the former to wit by Fire at what time Ruddery will gather all his Powers together as absolutely necessary for the execution of so grand a Destruction The Moon will shine red the Beams of the Sun will be like the Flames of burning Brimstone Thunder and Lightning will make a dreadful noise the Sea will change into all manner of Colours and Fire and Smoke will cover the surface of the Earth the four Elements of which the Heavens were first made will maintain War against one another and the World being thereby utterly destroy'd will resolve into its first Primordia The World will be destroy'd by Fire as they suppose for this reason That it must be extinguish'd by that which gave it beginning and because it consists of Earth Water Air and Fire therefore it must be destroyd by these four Elements for the former Ages on which this Opinion is grounded were destroy'd the first by Water the second by Wind and the third by Earth therefore the fourth and last must be consum'd by Fire This being finish'd Ruddery shall carry all humane Souls up to Heaven there to rest in the Bosom of the Almighty but all Bodies will decay for they deny the Resurrection of the Body affirming That Heaven is too pure a Place for such gross and unclean Bodies The Kingdom or Territory of Chandish or Sanda THe Kingdom or Territory of Chandish otherwise call'd Sanda is by Robert Covert call'd The Land of Heathens or Countrey of the Great Can of Canouwe formerly the Overseer of the Great Mogol's High-ways Jarrick calls this Country or a great part of it The Kingdom of Brampour or Brampore or Barampour from its Metropolis It borders in the West on the Kingdom of Surratte in the South at Dekan having the Dukedom of Parthapsha between in the North at the Provinces Chitor and Malway and in the East at Berar A certain English Writer borders the same on the one side upon the Kingdom of the Benjans from which it is separated by the Tynde or Tasy and on the other side upon the Country of Bulloits having the great Stream Andre between and is suppos'd to lie in 28 Degrees Northern Latitude Terry affirms this Kingdom to be a mighty and populous Country and the South part of the Mogol's Dominions It is divided in the middle by the River Tynde or Tasy which makes the Country conveniently pleasant and fruitful about those Places through which it flows though for the most part it is a barren unwholsom sandy and dry Tract of Land the Metropolis thereof is call'd Brampore or Barampour by Herbert and Jarrick Breampour and lies in 28 Degrees and 3 Minutes Northern Latitude 220 Miles Eastward from Surratte 420 from Asmeer and 100 from Agra Herbert holds the same to be the ancient City Baramatis of Ptolomy and signifies Brachmans Pous or The City of the Brachmans because it was formerly and is still to this day an University of the Brahmines Jogues or Gymnosophists The City lies low in a healthful and spacious Plain it hath many Streets but very narrow their Houses are indifferent handsom though low Purchas renders the same to be a very fair City much bigger than London and the most famous and richest which the Mogol possesses On the North-East side of the City is a large strong Castle or Fort on the Banks of the Stream Tapy This City was formerly the Metropolis and Residence of the King of Dekan who was in process of time driven from thence Not far from thence is a Garden or Chan Channa in which are many delightful Springs and Fountains The City is for the most part inhabited by Benjans Before the Town in the River Tapa stands an Elephant most curiously Carv'd of Marble which the Benjans worship Anno 1600. the Great Mogol Ekbar after having conquer'd the Kingdom of Dekan made himself Master of this City Brampour which was then desolate and deserted by King Miram who was fled to the Fort Syr which for its Situation and Strength is the most considerable of all the Country and impregnable for it lies on the top of a high Mountain and is three Leagues in circumference surrounded with three Walls which are so made that the one may conveniently defend the other for though Ekbar besieg'd King Miram with a hundred thousand Men yet he could not conquer the same by Force but only by Policy and Treachery In
in their Ears and as many more inferior Servants Then said Tzumtzume to Eissi Who are you and what is your Religion To which the Prophet answer'd I am Eissi who teach the true Belief Tzumtzume reply'd hereupon Then I will embrace your Belief After which he begg'd of Eisi that he would permit him to die again for he rather chose to die than to be depriv'd of that happy Life he formerly enjoy'd Whereupon his Request was granted by Eissi and Tzumzume suffer'd to return a lifeless Carcase to his Grave Near the same Tomb stands an old Tree on a Bank rais'd in form of a Stage inclos'd within a Wall four Yards high and seven in the square to which rhere is an Ascent by several Degrees or Steps One side of Derbend is noted for Tomb-stones and Monuments amounting to several thousands most of them three Foot broad and on the top of them Arabick and Syriack Characters Engraven The Persians relate the following Story of the foremention'd Tomb viz. That not many Ages after after Mahomet a King call'd Cassan Reign'd in Media who in a Battel against the Tagestan Tartars whom the Persians call Lesgi losing many thousands of his Men caus'd the chiefest of his Officers to be bury'd in the foremention'd place with Tomb-stones and Inscriptions to perpetuate their Memory There is yet another peculiar Coemeterie or Burying-place towards the Sea surrounded with a Wall within which are to be seen four of the foremention'd kind of Tomb stones together by the Persians call'd Tziltenan and by the Turks and Tartars Kerchler They say also that forty Princes all devout Men who dy'd in the aforesaid Fight lay bury'd there Wherefore the Persians both Men and Women come daily to kiss the Tomb-stones and laying their Hands upon them Pray very devoutly In the City Derbend dwell no Christians but onely Mahumetans and Jews of the Tribe of Benjamin There is no considerable Trade driven here except that the Tartars bring their stoln Children as also full grown Turks and Russians to sell which afterwards are sent farther into Persia The Tombs of Pyrhr Mucur and Imam Churchud A quarter of a League from the City where the Borders of Persia and Tagestan are separated by a small Brook are two Sepulchres of Mahumetan Prophets The first being that of Pyrhr Muchar stands in a Plain and the other of Imam Curchud in the Mountains of whom the Tradition goes that he was ally'd to Mahomet and that being always with him he was instructed by him and liv'd three hundred years after him Moreover that going to the King of Cassan he so prevail'd with him by playing on a Musical Instrument and Singing that he drew him to side with the Lesgi or Tagestan Tartars But when he undertook to Convert the Lesgi who were Heathens and began to Preach amongst them they conspir'd against him and murder'd him His Grave is in a great Cavity cut in a Rocky Mountain the Coffin being onely four Planks nail'd together without any Ornaments and to be seen by all People onely with the leave of an old Woman who sits continually by to watch it But when they come hither to make Offerings they cover the Floor with Straw Mats and hang Tapestry before the Cavity in which the Coffin stands Women and Maids repair thither in great numbers from the City and other remote places and go bare-footed into the Sepulchre kiss the Chest and kneel down to Pray by it which done they make their Offerings to the old Woman who is reverenc'd as a holy Person and keeps a Lamp burning all Night long in the Tomb. Their Offerings consist in Cheese Butter Milk Bread Money Wax and the like The City Bachu Another City call'd Bachu or as others write Bacuse lies also near the Caspian Sea and is a safe Harbor for Ships insomuch that some Writers have given this Sea the Name of Mare de Bacu or The Sea of Bacu. The Mountain Barmach Three Leagues from the Village Tachousi lies the Mountain Barmach which appearing at a great distance is round and hath a very high steep Rock on the top which in the Turkish Language they call Barmach that is A Finger because it reaches above other Mountains like a pointing Finger From the Valley there leads a Way up to the same which is dangerous to be ascended by those that are unacquainted with it On the top of this Mountain the Air is so cold that the Grass and Herbs are as it were candy'd or crisp'd over with Ice when yet it is very pleasant and warm Weather below The broken Walls and other pieces of Ruine sufficiently testifie that it was anciently crown'd with a strong Castle and is said to have been built by Alexander and ruin'd by Tamerlane for at the foot of the high Rock is a Plain of fifty Rods square about which are to be discern'd the Foundations of an ancient thick Wall with Bulwarks In the middle thereof is a deep Well wall'd about and not far from thence two Tombs cover'd with great round Stones On the North side also and at the going up to the Rock stands a great piece of a Wall and heaps of Stone which without doubt are the Ruines of another Castle from whence several Steps lead to the top of the Rock where there is another Arch which serves for a third resting place Near the old Wall on the Stone Rocks grow Fig-trees in several places The Trade of this Province The Inhabitants of this Countrey drive a great Trade in Silk especially in the City Serwan where it is sold in such abundance that it is Transported from thence through all Muscovy and the East Countrey The City Ere 's also was formerly famous for the abundance of white Silk which the Merchants call'd Mammodees but through the long Wars and destruction of Serwan both Staples formerly so famous are now fail'd The Military Strength The Military Strength of this Province of Schirwan herein chiefly appears that the City Schamachie alone is able in time of need to set forth eighteen thousand Horse The natural Fortifications are also no less considerable the chief whereof is that foremention'd Pass call'd The Iron Gate being one of the strongest Bulwarks in the whole Province securing the Way against the Albains Russians Turks and Tartars Change of Government The ancient Kings of this Province with their several Dynasties and Revolutions are sufficiently known in History but the last of the native Median Kings was Aydar who was slain by Farrock Yacar whose Son Xa Ismael Sophi reduc'd the Kingdom to a Province since which time it hath been Govern'd by his Chans or Lieutenants There belong to the Province of Schirwan the Territory call'd Muscur extending along the Caspian Sea from Derbend to Kilcan comprising two hundred Villages But the chief Town in this Territory which is Govern'd by the Sultan of Derbend and lying near the Sea is call'd Schabran Description of the Countrey of
viz. Kiriseck der deheni Abubeker Omar Hanife bat That is A Dogs T in Abubeker 's Teeth which to the Turks seems so great an abomination that it makes them exceeding inveterate against the Persians Another ground of difference Della Valle tells us that the greatest differences between the Persians and other Mahumetans proceeded from this occasion viz. When Mahomet in his last Expedition with his Army between Medina and Mecha riding upon a Camel before all his Followers taking Aaly by the Hand commanded him to get up behind him saying to his People Those that have had me for their Veli shall also have Aaly my adopted Son The word Veli in the Arabick hath two significations and may be taken either for the Chief or Head of a Church or for a Friend or Favorite Aaly and his Successors believ'd the first signification and ever since maintain'd that Mahomet by this Saying chose Aaly to succeed him as well in the Government of Spiritual as Temporal Affairs and that by the Power of this Declaration Aaly and his Successors ought for ever to be the Governors of Mahomet's Race but after Mahomet's Death a Will was brought forth wherein Abubeker Mahomet's Father-in-Law for Mahomets last Wife Aisne was Abubeker's Daughter was nam'd Heir and Califa or spiritual and worldly Successor which Will was made by the Practice of Aisne or as the Persians say forg'd by her but the Turks and Arabians say that Mahomet himself chang'd his opinion because Aaly was too yong and unexperienc'd whereas Abubeker was aged and a man of prudence and good conduct so that they conclude that Mahomet by the foremention'd discourse never intended to make Aaly his Heir or Successor but onely to make known to him that they should shew the like respect arid honor to Aaly as they had done to him And in truth they do little less for they reverence Aaly as a great Saint and account him the chief Head of their Religion nay for the true Calif or Successor of Mahomet though not the first immediately after him as the Persians relate but the fourth in order viz. after Abubeker Omar and Odsman A great Feast in Honor of Aaly The Persians celebrate yearly that Day of the Moneth on which Mahomet chose his adopted Son Aaly to be his Successor as a great Feast and call it the Sheep roasted Now in regard the Persians promote Aaly to that Dignity and ascribe divine Vertues and Powers to him they judg'd it fit that his Successors which were undoubtedly inspir'd with the like Graces ought to have more Honor shew'd them than other Common-people and therefore they visit their Tombs and pray at them with great devotion and make rich Offerings to them They also give Aaly the Name of Mortoza which is a name of Holiness or at least hath some such signification Moreover His Offspring the Persians say that Aaly had the mark of Mahomet's Seal-Ring on his back He had two Sons call'd Hassan and Hossein from whom sprang Seinel Abedin Mahumet Bagur Tzafer Saduck Musai Casum Risa Mahumet Taggi Alli Naggi Hossein Askerri and Mehedi which ly all bury'd viz. Hassan Seinel Abedin Mahumet Bagur Mahumet Taggi Alii Naggi in Medina Tzafer Saduk in Babylon Maer Hossein Musai Casum and Hossein Askerri in Kelbula or Cufa But Mahedi they say never dy'd but went into a Cave near Cufa before which he left his Shoes which when they shall be turn'd with the Heels towards the Hole as already they are half way he will put them on again and coming forth convert the people to the Alcoran The Persians call all these twelve Imams that is Maintainers of their Religion and are at this day with Schich Sofi accounted Holy-men and offerings made at their Shrines especially by those that travel to Mecha and Medina They also keep several Feasts in honor of these Saints but especially Aaly and Hossein Their Saints which the Turks do but laugh at but on the contrary reverence Abubeker Omar and Odsman Nor is Hanifa the Explainer of the Alcoran in less esteem among them but by the Persians accounted a Seducer and false Expositor adding that he was Tzafer Saduks Boy and held up the Water with which the Saints wash'd themselves that he went into Turky and with the foremention'd Water gave sight to many blind people and other Miracles that made him so highly esteem'd amongst them Hanifa dig'd up and his Tomb destroy'd When Schach Tamas conquer'd Babylon he caus'd this Hanifa who lay bury'd there in a stately Tomb to be digg'd up and turn'd the Masar or Chappel into a Stable and of the Grave it self he made a Jakes The Persian Legends The Persians believe many strange Fables mention'd by their Writers viz. That Aaly's Horse Duldul proceeded from a Stone That the Angel Gabriel bringing him his Two-edg'd Sword Dhulfacar he perform'd great Miracles with the same that he kill'd a Seven-headed Dragon and drunk with the Angels in Heaven That Sultan Mahmed Chodabende hunting near Cufa digg'd a Chest out of a Hill on which was written Herein lies Adam Noah and Aaly bury'd and at the same time he built the City Netzef and made Aaly's Tomb there with other such like stuff But besides this they ascribe something of a divine Power to Aaly and to that purpose relate many of his Miracles viz. that being in his Infancy in the Village Sahedam in Kilan he went to Scheich Sahad a holy man and observing the people to weed the till'd Lands he commanded the Weeds to wither of themselves which accordingly they did Scheich Sahad observing it said Not so my Son for though you know this Art yet you must not practise the same lest you should make the People lazy and unwilling to work Sofi who judg'd this Reason very rational entred into his Service and staying seven years with him learn'd much Wisdom and from thence the Village was enfranchis'd with great priviledges and so remains to this day This Sect greatly spred According to Texeira this Sect or Doctrine spread it self a vast way in the time of Sultan Xeque Juneyd who liv'd in the Reign of King Joonxa Son to Cara Issuf which Juneyd being daily visited by many Persons Joonxa began to suspect him and commanded him not to admit so much company Hereupon Juneyd left Ardebil and went to Ozun Acembeck otherwise call'd Usum-Cassan Lord of Diarbeck or Mesopotamia who gave him his Sister Cadijacatum to Wife who was after Mother of Xeque Ayder Juneyd thus grown Eminent over-ran many Countreys with his Army and in all the places where he came he made those he took Prisoners imbrace his Religion After this Scach Haider Son to Juneyd marry'd Hasan Beig Usun who bare him a Son and call'd him Ismael who was Sir-nam'd Sofi because he promis'd to live a holy Life and being come to be absolute Master of Persia he establish'd this Sect of Aaly and commanded all his new Subjects
descended from Mahomet's and Aaly's Family and accordingly to their Successors wherefore they have great Priviledges and are honor'd by several Titles The Turks call those of Mahomet's Extract Emirs and the Arabians Scherifs The Persians nevertheless distinguish the Successors and Relations of Scheich Sofi from all others of Mahomet's Relations and honor them by a peculiar name of Scheichavend that is the Line of Scheich being as the say two thousand in number and most of them resident in Ardebil because that City was the Habitation and Birth-place of Scheich Sofi The Seyds in Persia shave their Hair two Fingers breadth above their Ears Their Habit. but let it grow long on their Crowns and in their Necks they wear a white Habit and a kinde of Pumps as also a peculiar sort of Mendils or Turbants They may not marry out of their Families nor drink Wine yet are free to go to Feasts where in stead of Wine they drink Water The Seyds which dwell in the Cities are generally rich People for they possess whole Villages and are free from all manner of Taxes which makes them not a little proud There are another Sort that pretend themselves Seyds that go from Town to Town shewing their Marks and living on the Alms of People but these are commonly Deceivers and are call'd Cherseyds that is Cherseyds what they are Holy Asses some carry Hair in a round silver Box alledging that it was cut from Mahomet's Head which through a little hole they shew to the People This Hair is sold at a great Rate and laid on their Books when they read or pray At Kisma in Kilan was one of these Deceivers who with a piece of Crystal held in the Sun would fire Cotton or Paper and perswaded the People that he was of Mahomet's Race and had made a Contract with the Heavens There are also a Sort of these who boast their original from Aaly and are here as the Dervises among the Turks which are such as live retir'd lives like Recluses There are others call'd Abdalles Abdalles what they are and their Habits resembling Monks wearing course Coats stitch'd like quilts and girt about them with a Copper Serpent which when they are made Abdalles is given them by their Masters as a Testimony of their Learning and Wisdom At Ardebil they are receiv'd into this Order by the Sofi-Chans at Ispahan and Meschet by the Sofi-Baschi or Chief of the Sofy's These Abdalles are frequently seen in the Markets and other places where calling the people together they preach of the Miracles wrought by their Saints Aaly and others railing against Abubeker Omar Odsman and Hanifa the Saints of the Usbekes or Tartars wherefore these Abdalles dare not approach the Turk's Borders These are for the most part a vile debauch'd thieving and sodomitical People yet there are several little Chappels built for them near the Metzids or Temples wherein they reside in Ardebil they are the most numerous A general Tolleration All Strangers of what Religion soever have according to antient Custom in Persia Liberty of Conscience being permitted to live after their own Manner and after the Laws of their several Princes Admit discourse of Religion The Persians also speak with great freedom concerning the Mysteries of their Belief to strangers and are also very curious in matters of Religion willingly spending their time to discourse thereof nay harken with patience to such as argue against their Religion which is quite contrary to the nature of the Turks They hold Christ our Saviour in great Reverence and call him Isael Messih that is Holy Messiah thus much of Scheich Sofy's Doctrine The Heathen Persians are call'd Mayucy Heathen Persians or Maurigy and Gaoryasdy of which the last Name is very common the Pagans of Zuratte and Cambaya by a general Name call'd Banjan have among other superstition Customs that of worshipping Cows which the Persians call Gao and he that keeps them Gaopon and call and these kind of Idolaters Gaor They also call them by another Name Zarduxt that is Friend of Fire though Zar in the general Language signifies Silver and the Fire is call'd Attex These People worship the Sun and Fire which last they have kept above three thousand years on a Mountain call'd Albors Cuyh or Atez Quedah that is The Residence for Fire lying a days Journey from Yazd These Idolaters are very numerous and the more because all the Kingdoms in Persia were such before the Arabians coming thither How they dispose of aged People They also have a Custom not to suffer aged People to die a natural Death but to carry them to the beforemention'd Mountain where they set them in a kind of Cage in which they can but just stand upright and leave them there without any other Subsistence than what the Air will afford them till they die and because there blows a continual Wind and the Air being very thin the Bodies keep entire a long time But if any one dies young they take the Corps and tie it on an Ass in a sitting posture setting on his Head a Pot full of Cream in the Persian Tongue call'd Mast with which they wash his Face and Eyes and then drive the Ass with a Whip cross a Field where generally the Ravens coming about the Corps pick out the Eyes whil'st the Followers narrowly watch which Eye is first pickt out for if it happen to be the right they judge that the Deceased's Soul is happy but if the left that it is in a state of perdition Great numbers of Jews in Persia There are likewise above nine or ten thousand Families of Jews in Persia who have a general Toleration as also many Christian Armenians and Nestorians brought in by King Cozroe when he was conquer'd by the Emperor Heraclius whom he suppos'd to vex by being of that Opinion destroying at the same time all the Roman-Catholick Churches throughout his whole Dominions for the Persians once embrac'd the Catholick Religion first Preach'd there by St. Thomas Chistianity Preach'd in there by St. Thomas till such time as their King Sapor put to death seventeen thousand of them with the most exquisite Tortures imaginable Whereupon Constantine the Great sent Letters to perswade him to be favorable to them wherein when he could not prevail he proclaim'd War against him But when Christianity was by these Persecutions in a manner extinguish'd it was restor'd again in the time of Maruthe Bishop of Mesopotamia and Abdias Aclatus Bish of Persia and though many oppos'd it yet about the Year 411. the Churches were re-built as before but since that by the Mahumetans again utterly extirpated There are also Melchites in Persia Melchrites and their Opinions who have spread themselves quite to the Countrey of Chorazan These People are infected with the ancient Opinion of the Greek Church condemn'd in the Council of Florence which Doctrine is also follow'd by the Georgians Mengrelians and Circassians who
is made by the Caspian Sea It is separated from Tagestan by the River De Bustro Others inhabit that part of Albania which in the East borders upon the Caspian Sea on the South verges Mount Caucasus in the North is bounded by the same Bustro and the Tartarian and Astracan Heath George Interian tells us that Circassia extends from the River Don formerly call'd Tanais all along the Coast to the Cimmerian Bosphorus now nam'd Vospeto or The Mouth of St. John and sometimes The Mouth of the Sea of the Zabachees from thence stretching beyond this Bay along the Coast of the Black Sea almost to the Cape of Bussi on the South-East to the River De Faso or according to Baro of Heberstein to the River Cupa or Coppa formerly Rhombites where on the North they border at Avogasia and possess the whole Countrey from the River Cuya to that of Meruli Their whole Coast extends outwards about seventy five Leagues but they possess above eight days Journey of the Lands lying into the Countrey on that side where they approach the Tartars John de Luca makes them to border in the North upon the Nagaian Tartars in the East to aspect the Cornuchi who are also Tartars though of another Religion and manner of Life in the South the Abcassians are their Neighbors and in the West high Mountains part them from Mengrelia and this is the largest extent of the Countrey from Taman to Derbend or Demircapi a City lying on the Shore of the Caspian Sea a Tract of twenty six days Journey This Countrey hath troublesom Ways to come to it viz. on the one side the Caspian Sea and on the other very high Mountains and deep Valleys As the Muscovites relate Alexander the Great could never get into it Between Taman and Tameruchi is a narrow Tract of Land with many Villages which are under the Jurisdiction of the Tzar of Muscovy and some Myrza's or peculiar Lords of his Court to whom he hath given them in requital of some good Service done From the Mountain Varrada to Cudescio which the Circassians possess along the Sea-Coast is a Tract of seventy five Leagues yet notwithstanding it is very fruitful is wholly destitute of Inhabitants They reckon thirty five Leagues from Cudescio to Abassia The People which dwell in these Mountains all themselves Christians as also those which have their Habitations in the Woods and on the Plains and are subject to peculiar Princes The chiefest Places under their jurisdiction and the distance thereof are these From Tomaruchi to Carbarei is eighteen days Journey a populous Countrey under the Jurisdiction of Schaban Ogoli Two days Journey more from Tomaruchi to Giana and as many from Giana to Codichoi From Giana to Bolettekoi it is four days Journey of which Countrey Gian Cosobey is Lord. From hence to Bezinada eight days Journey more From Bezinada to Carbatai eight more and from thence to Derbend ten The Lords of the Countrey The Princes Scaence and Temircas Allies to the Cham of Tartary are Masters of this Countrey The Princes Casibei and Sancascobei Brothers Command all the Villages along the Sea-shore which are all surrounded with Trees complicated together to keep out the Tartarian Horse Olearius tells that the Metropolis of the Circassians was formerly Terki but the great Tzar of Muscovy having subdu'd them Garrison'd all their considerable Towns with Russians forcing the Circassians to live in the Villages about them or else in peculiar Towns on this side of the River yet under the Jurisdiction of Myrza How they are Govern'd or Princes of their own who are sworn Subjects to the Tzar to whom they pay Tribute And when anygreat Differences arise in the Law they must be defended by the Russian Weiwodes the FORT TERCKI ent MARE CASPIUM The common Garrison is two thousand Men How Garrison'd under the Command of a Weywode and Colonel for in the City are three Pricases or Chancellors each having five hundred Strelitses under him besides the Turkish Prince Mussal hath five hundred Men attending at his Court who must joyn with the rest in cafe of necessity The Circassian Horses are more esteem'd of than the Tartarian for their extraordinary swiftness John de Luca affirms That there are no fairer People in the World than the Circassians but we approve not thereof for although the Men have well proportion'd Bodies yet they are swarthy and somewhat broad Fac'd their Hair is long and black which cutting off a Thumbs breadth from the Forehead to the Neck they leave a small Lock on their Crown which hangs down into their Neck The Women are generally well shap'd of a pleasant Countenance and indifferently fair of Complexion they let their Hair which is also black hang down intwo Braids over their Cheeks The Habits of the Circassians and go bare-fac'd The Mens Clothes are like those of the Tagestan Tartars onely their Caps being broader resemble those that the Jesuits wear Their Cloaks which are for the most part Sheep-skins hang by a String over their Shoulders on that side from whence the Weather comes for they cover onely half the Body Their Shirts being made of Cotton are Dy'd red The Women wear black Hoods Edg'd in stead of Lace with fine Cotton Cloth which they tie under the Chin. The Widows wear behind on their Heads two great blown-up Bladders cover'd with white Cotton on each side one which at a distance shews like three Heads In the Summer they go onely in their Shifts which are either colour'd red green yellow or blew and are open down to their Navels they likewise wear Amber Beads painted Shells Stones Tin and Copper Plates about their Necks which hang down below their Breasts The Women are very familiar especially with Strangers the Parents permitting their Daughters to be handled by any Person and if Strangers be Lodg'd in their Houses their Daughters in the Mornings visit them arid entertain them with amorous Discourses Virgins also go naked in the prefence of all Persons into the Rivers to Bathe themselves Their chief Employment is keeping of Cattel and Husbandry Their Employment Those of Terki and others near the Caspian Sea maintain themselves by Fishing and some of them Trade with Slaves Stags Oxen Tyger-skins and Wax which they plentifully find in the Woods The Women spend their time in embroidering of Linnen and the like It is accounted ill breeding amongst the Nobles to have any knowledge in Arithmetick or to drive any Trade because a Nobleman as they say should never trouble himself with anything but to preserve and defend his People Hunt and be a good Warriour Their common Tongue agrees with the other Tartars Their Language but most of them speak also Russian which is broken Sclavonian but they have no peculiar Alphabet so that when they have occasion to write they have recourse to the Jews who write for them in Hebrew Characters Their Marriages are nothing else but reciprocal Promises
Husband which last word Husband she repeated five times whereupon they answer'd This shall be done in the other Life then she immediately dy'd and the Sun arose the next day as before Liverty given to Women A Woman may Dress her self when her Husband is from home or be merry during his absence but she must die with her Husband or presently after and in confirmation of this some Brahmans maintain that the Women ought to hold their Husbands in so great esteem that they must be the first thing in their thoughts and spend their whole time in studying how to oblige them telling them that though they spend their time without one thought of God yet it is no sin especially if they will die with them A Brahman's Funeral When a Brahman is dead and his Body brought to the place where it is to be burnt they wash their Hands and lay each a little Rice on the Deceased's Mouth which done they wash their Hands a second time then a Beteani which is a Perrea one of those which beat on small Drums when a Corps is to be burn'd goes thrice about the Body which is laid on a Pyle of Wood and afterwards makes an Oration to the People after his manner speaking earnestly in the Name of the Deceased alledging that he Governs over all young and old rich and poor and that those which do good in their life-time shall be requited after their Death and those that do ill shall meet with the same But all the Bodies of the Brahmans are not burnt but some are bury'd Likewise the Bodies of the Wistnowa's and Smarta's are always burnt but those of the Seivia's and Sanjasies are bury'd The two first give this Reason for the burning of their Bodies viz. because the Fire purifies the Souls from sin for those that have serv'd Wistnow never so faithfully are not wholly free from sin and therefore must on necessity be purifi'd by Fire The Defunct whether those which are to be bury'd or burnt are in some places clad in rich Apparel as if living and sitting in a Sedan and so carry'd to the place of Interment the Sedan being open before that the Corps may be seen behind follow several Persons carrying Vessels of Oyl which are to be thrown into the Fire with the Body A Woman may not Marry after her Husbands Death A Woman is not permitted to Marry after her Husbands Death but the Man may neither will any Marry her because she would be accounted Dishonest to have had two Husbands These severe and strict Laws prove very prejudicial to young Widows who being cautious to preserve their Reputation by continuing single do privately prostitute themselves to People of another Religion or to any else others on the contrary abhorring so wicked a Life suffer themselves to be burnt with their Husbands dead Body which is done after this manner How she is burnt with his Corps As soon as the Breath is departed out of the Man's Body if his Wife hath resolv'd to follow him at his death they immediately make ready all Necessaries thereto belonging for then the Woman cannot go back from her word of recall her promise if she be a Brahmans Wife she is carry'd to the Funeral Pyle in a handsom Sedan under a Canopy accompany'd by all her Friends who encourage and extol her resolution present her with Betel and delight her Ears with the noise of Cymbals and Drums The Settrea's and Soudra's mix their Betel which they give to the Woman with a certain Powder which takes away all apprehensions of fear and makes them courageous and bold but this is never done by the Brahmans they being not permited to force perswade or use any means to a Woman to gain her consent to be burn'd If she be of the Family of the Settrea's or Soudra's then she carries a Lemmon in one Hand and a Looking-glass in the other but if of the Brahmans or Weinsja's Tribe onely a few red Flowers such as they strew in the Pagodes on their Idols and have already been Offer'd to them Coming to the place where her Husband is to be burn'd she first go's to a Pool of Water to wash her self giving away her Jewels if she hath any after which a Brahman says a Prayer this done and the Woman having put on a yellow Garment she goes with great joy to the place from whence she is to leap into the Fire which is made of glowing Coals in a deep Pit and that she may not be terrifi'd with the sight of the Fire they put Mats quite round to prevent her looking into it At the side of the Pit is a little rising Ascent made on which she sits down against the Mats and takes leave of her Relations and Friends who still encourage her Undertaking Lastly having thus taken her leave she throws a Pilang or Pestle with which she us'd to stamp Rice a small Ricepot and the like Kitchin Utensils over the Mat into the Fire poures also a Pot of Oyl over her Head and Body whereupon the mat being taken away she suddenly leaps with the Pot of Oyl into the Fire round about which stand divers People with great pieces of Wood in their Hands which they throw upon her as soon as she is in the Fire and cover her therewith above a Man's heighth Thus the Women of the Settrean Weinsja's and Soudrean Tribes come to their ends but those of the Brahmans endure far greater pain viz. they leap not into the Fire but are laid on a Pyle of Wood by their dead Husbands as if they were to sleep by them then they lay over them a great heap leaving onely their Heads bare on which they pour Oyl and other such combustible stuff Not allow'd amongst the Mahumetans This Burning is not allow'd in those Countreys which are under the Mahumetans unless the Governor of the Countrey gives consent thereto who first examines the Person whether she be willing which if he find then he gives permission Neither is this Custom at all observ'd except amongst People of great Quality who are more exact in preserving their Honor than other People for Noblemens Wives account it a great testimony of their love and fidelity to their Husbands to be burnt with their dead Bodies Others are carry'd on Horseback about the Towns in State with a Lemmon in one Hand and a Looking-glass in the other in which they look as they ride and in a mournful tone sing certain Elegies whil'st many other Men and Women follow them on foot over her Head they carry an Umbrella after the Custom of the Countrey and before her walk several beating on Drums In all their Passage they shew a pleasant and undaunted Countenance not shedding one Tear expressing more sorrow for the death of their Husbands than their own and seeming more joyful to go to him in the other World than sorry to leave this But some chuse to be burnt alive with him after
Hoggi's or Saints There likewise go yearly from Surrat Brotchia and Cambaya several lesser Vessels to Persia laden with the same Commodities which are carried to Arabia and Aden and they bring back also the same Returns besides abundance of Gold and Silk Stuffs Chamlets Cloth Velvet Pearls Fruit viz. Almonds Raisins Nuts Dates and some Rose-water and other Persian Commodities The Ships set Sail in January or February and return in April or May. There also go yearly Ships of about a hundred two hundred and three hundred Tuns to Achin and Quedda laden with Anfion Cotton and all sorts or Clothes made in Surrat and bring in return Brimstone Benjamin Camphire Porcelan Tin Pepper and other Spices Many lesser Vessels of sixty eighty or a hundred Tuns Trade also to Goa Diu Daman and other Portuguese Factories with Corn melted Butter in Pots and other Provisions for which they bring in return Course Salt from Ormus and a sort of Sedge or Rushes whereof they make Paper The Portuguese used formerly to drive a great Trade to these Places but at present are bereav'd of most of their Chief Factories by the Hollanders It cannot certainly be said what the just Revenues are which the Mogol receives yearly from Surrat but it is related that they amount to 150 Tuns of Gold The Customs of Brotchia onely raise 134400 Mamoedys or 6720 l. a Mamoedy being reckoned at 12 d. The Customs of Brodera 400000 Mamoedys The Government of Surratte Surrat being formerly a Kingdom of it self was Govern'd by a peculiar Pagan King not at all subject to the Mogol And amongst others of these Kings Maffeus makes mention of two the one called Madrafa Scha and the other his Son Mamud who Reign'd Anno 1508. both of whom maintain'd great Wars against the Portuguese But when the Great Mogol Ecbor had driven all the Patans out of Bengala he also Conquer'd the Kingdom of Surrat and bringing it under his Jurisdiction caus'd the same ever since to be Govern'd by a Vice-Roy whom the Moors generally call'd Sultan or else by a Supreme Governor sent thither by the Great Mogol Under him are all other Petty Governors of the peculiar Towns and Provinces which are obliged to give him an Account of all The time of enjoying their Places is at the King's will and pleasure and therefore they commonly make good use of their time minding more how to enrich themselves than regarding the welfare of their Countrey and oftentimes especially at the coming of a new Governor Accusations are brought against Rich Merchants so to get great Sums of Money put of them by Imprisonment and other kinds of cruel usage The State of Chan or Supreme Governor The Supreme Governor lives in great State keeping commonly four hundred Men to wait on him which are all fed out of his Kitchen When he rides abroad which for the most part is on a well-caparison'd Elephant he is attended by all the Nobility and several Horsemen to the number of two hundred Persons armed with Bowes Pikes Shields and Swords Before him are led several Elephants with rich Trappings adorn'd with Pennons and Flags and accompanied with Drummers Trumpetters and others Yet nevertheless he goes but mean in Apparel and commonly in Black Cotton Cloth whilst on the contrary his Servants go very rich and gay The Chan is obliged always to keep 1200 Lescheri or Troopers for the Mogol and fifty Elephants besides fifty for his own use The Revenues with wich they are maintain'd are rais'd from the Towns and Villages under their Jurisdiction as likewise the Forces with which the Chan is guarded the City Amadabat eighteen substitute Towns and a thousand Villages being able to raise 140000 Men. There is likewise a Tziabander or Farmer of the Customs in each City He is Royally attended and served in his Palace none daring offer without his leave to speak to him He gives publick Audience once a Week seated on a Royal Throne and administers Justice to all Persons that make their Complaints to him He is not allow'd any Counsellors or Judges from the King but in Businesses of Consequence he calls some of his Nobles to consult with Yet whatever he thinks fit is decreed so that these Counsellors signifie little All Forfeitures Revenues and Customs which amount to an incredible Sum of Money come into the Chan's Treasury besides which he receives Pay for 12000 Horse when as he seldom keeps above 2000 So that all the Remainder is spent in his Court. All petty Businesses 〈◊〉 decided by the Cowtewaels or Sheriffs who generally shew most favour to the Plaintiff whether he deserve it or not The Punishment of Criminals Matters of Life and Death are determined by the Magistrates of the Towns who refer giving the Sentence to the Coutewaels But if they be rich People that are condemn'd they commonly come off for a Sum of Money which they give to the Governor Poor Criminals are for petty Thefts and other small Offences whipp'd several days together with a great Whip call'd Siambak but for grand Faults as Breaking open of Houses and the like they have their Hands and Feet cut off or some other severe Punishments inflicted upon them Robbers on the High-way if they buy not their Lives with a great Sum of Money are Decollated and their Bodies put on Stakes plac'd alog the Roads Murder is amongst them accounted an unpardonable Crime as also Adultery especially in Women of Quality And for the preventing of the last Common Whores are freely permitted to dwell in every City who with permission of the Sheriff to whom they pay a certain Acknowledgment may go to any Person that sends for them or be visited in their own Houses which rather tends to their Honour than Disgrace for there are no Feasts accounted Compleat and Noble unless there be present some of these Common Women to Dance and Sing before the Guests The Religion of the Surratteans As to what concerns the Religion of the Surratteans some of them especially the Chiefest are Moors or Mahumetans the rest Benjans Brahmines and other sorts of Pagans There are in Surrat many Gioghi's a People much resembling the Romish Monks being in severity of Life and outward Penitence inferior to none for they go stark naked in the coldest Weather and sleeping on Horse-dunghils cover their Heads and Faces therewith and wear very long Hair which makes them look frightful and deform'd The People are very Charitable being much inclin'd to the giving of Almes to the Poor very Pious and sollicitous of their Salvation though deluded by their Teachers some giving twenty five others fifty Ducats at a time and some more Perushi affirms That Anno 1595. there was on one day viz. the eighth of January above a Tun of Gold given in Alms. The reason of this great Charity on that day is upon the account of some grand Tradition mentioned in their Law-book Their two main Duties next to giving of Alms are Pilgrimage
affirms their right Name to be Vaneans but their common Name is Benjans Some ascribe a peculiar Country to the Benjans and border the same on one side of the Kingdom of Brampous from which it is separated by the River Tynde and on the other at the Country Surratte The Towns of this Country are Daytaote near Surratte and a Days Journey from Naubonne Netherbey and Saylote five Leagues from Netherkey The Country yields all sorts of Grain and Fruit in great abundance especially Lemmons Sugar-Canes and Cotton Under the Name of Benjans are comprehended all those that are Merchants and Broakers for there is nothing bought but by the Mediation and Approbation of those which are call'd Benjans which in the Language of the Brahmines signifies An Innocent and Just People for they cannot endure that a Wasp or Flye or any other living Creature should be hurt enduring patiently to be beaten without resistance They manifest themselves to be a very Just and Pious People for which reason and because they are well acquainted with the Country the English and Dutch Merchants employ them as Broakers to Buy and Sell for them They range all over Asia in great numbers to Traffick but reside chiefly in Surratte Moreover they Buy and Sell after a strange and peculiar manner quite different from any other People for the Benjan or Broaker that treats with the Seller making a Price of the Goods appears with a little Board full of Figures which is ty'd about his Waste and laying it on his Knee points to the number of Guilders which the Buyer is willing to give after which the Seller in like manner expresses his Mind by pointing to the Number which he will have for his Commodity Thus they Buy and Sell without speaking a word according to the Commandments of their Law The fourth Tribe or Family which is that of the Wyses hath its Denomination from Wyse the fourth Son of Pourous and Parkoutee who was sent to invent all Arts and Handicrafts wherefore all Artists and Mechanicks are comprehended under this Tribe The Commandments relating to them and contain'd in the Book deliver'd to Bremaw tend chiefly to instruct them how to behave themselves justly and honestly in their Employments The Name Wyse signifies A Hireling or one that is us'd like a Servant because these People work for those that have occasion for them as Wyse did and all those that deriv'd from him This Tribe consists of two sorts of People for some like the Benjans abstain from Flesh and Wine or use them very sparingly The others are the Heathens of Visceraun which they call Defil'd or Unclean Pagans because they allow themselves the liberty of eating Flesh Fish and other Creatures that had Life These are generally the Rusticks and meanest sort of People which are Coulees And as the most zealous of these Heathens have the greatest resemblance in Points of their Religion with the Kutteries so do they likewise agree in the number of their Tribes which are thirty six equal to the Trades among them In all Mechanical Operations they use as few Tools as is possible performing every thing they do in a contrary manner to that of the Europeans and Christians This is in short the Contents of the third Treatise of the Book of Bremaw concerning the four Tribes or Families according as they live to this day This Book which contain'd the Grounds of their Religion and Rules of Government being first given to Bremaw and by him deliver'd to the Brahmines who publish'd the same among the People by teaching them the Precepts of Religion and Rules of Life which each Tribe were to observe in order to which those who had Power to Govern kept their People in subjection causing every one duly to perform his Office the Priests or Brahmines instructed the People in their Religions the Merchants drove the Trade and the Handicrafts follow'd each their several Callings to the great satisfaction of all those that made use of them Affairs being thus manag'd in the second Age all things went very well Religion was strictly observ'd and honor'd Prayers were directed to God and the three Persons Bremaw Wistney and Ruddery the Banks of Rivers were frequently visited and the daily and usual Cleansing never neglected But after the World increased the Inhabitants thereof grew wicked and degenerated from their first Principles the Brahmines became Dissemblers the Kutteries or Governors grew proud and ambitious oppressing their Subjects and abusing their Authority the Merchants dealt fraudulently the Handicrafts grew idle and set too high a Price upon their Lahor The World thus degenerating God was extremely incens'd thereat and descended on the Mountain Merapurbatee where he acquainted Bremaw how hainous the Sins of Mankind were that he might admonish them to turn from their wicked Ways and warn them of the approaching Judgments which their Offences had justly merited The World hearkned a while to his Admonitions but soon after slighted them and return'd to the commission of their former Crimes which oblig'd Bremaw to intreat God for them but God being unwilling to be reconcil'd to them took him away his limited time being expir'd that so he might not be a Witness of those dreadful Judgments that soon after were to fall upon the Children of Men. Then God acquainted Wistney with his Resolution to destroy all humane Creatures wherefore Wistney interceded for them but God not hearkning to him commanded Ruddery who was appointed to punish all Offenders to raise a great Wind out of the Earth to destroy the People and blow them away like Dust from the Ground Ruddery hereupon provok'd the Winds which were imprison'd in the Bowels of the Earth causing them to break forth with great violence insomuch that they shook the Foundations of the Earth the Day grew as dark as the Night the Hills and Mountains were turn'd topsie-turvy and the River Ganges remov'd out of its place so that this terrible Storm destroy'd all Mankind except a few Persons whom God permitted Wistney to preserve for the propagating and re-peopling the World in the third Age the second being ended in this dismal manner When Ruddery had asswag'd the rage and fury of the Winds all things were still and quiet yet in a deplorable Condition to see the World thus depriv'd of its Inhabitants and utterly ruin'd some were bruis'd against the Rocks others lay heap'd one upon another in the Fields which the Almighty seeing was troubled at it and Ruddery also very much griev'd to have been the Instrument of so great a Destruction Now since these great Misfortunes and Punishments proceeded from the bad Conduct of the Kings and those who Govern'd God utterly destroy'd the Tribe of the Kutteries Those that were sav'd by the Prayers of Wistney consisted in a small number and were only of the three other Tribes But because the four sorts of Tribes were so perfectly necessary for the Governing of the World insomuch that it could not be without them and