to return it by a courteous inclining of his Head and which he always does smiling He has a masculine and agreeable Voice a great deal of sweetness in his manner of speaking and his Shape and Person are enclin'd to the Tallest He has often given sufficient proofs of his great strength of Body His Strength and 't is said there is no body able to contend with him at Wrestling Princes are sometimes accustom'd to this Exercise to make 'em the more Vigorous and Robust He easily draws a Bow that another would not be able to bend His Address He manages a Scymiter with a great deal of Address And in short there is not one Noble-Man of all his Court that can in the least come near him for any other Exercises He is of a very bountiful soft and sober Nature His Nature He has so great an abhorrence of Blood-shed that he scarce cares for allowing the commonest Executions but nevertheless he is inexorable to Traytors who never obtain his Mercy tho' they were of his own Blood He loves his Subjects extreamly He often goes Incognito amongst 'em His love for his Subjects to see if he can hear of any of their Wants and to inform himself also of any Exactions made upon 'em by his Officers He has been many times seen disguised like a Country-Man buying of bread the better to surprize the Leutenant of the Policies and as often appear'd in such like Equipage to discover the making Money current which he had cry'd down by his Edict He loves the Christians His great Love to Christians and will not suffer 'em to be distmb'd in the exercise of their Religion He disapproves of those violent means of making 'em Mahometans and he easily consents to their returning to Christianity where they complain they have been forc'd to quit it He made it sufficiently appear not many Years since An Example of his kindness to them That he did not approve of the prevailing upon the Miseries of Christians to engage 'em to the Mahometan Religion For those Armenians of the Country of Lingen who were transplanted thither by Cha Abbas having agreed to pay the King a certain Summ every Year for their Tribute and duty as Christians and not being able thro' their Poverty to raise it for many Years the Grand Visier the better to get it assigned 'em the payment of the Militia These poor wretches not finding themselves in a condition to satisfie so rigorous a Demand and foreseeing it impossible to avoid the Insults and cruel Bastinades of the Soldiers and being altogether unprovided of Missionaries to assist 'em in so pressing a necessity immediately went together in Crowds to the Etmadaulet humbly intreating him that they might be admitted Mahometans This Wise Minister demanded of 'em what obliged 'em to change their Religion they answered It was their Poverty and Inability to pay the King their Annual Duties The Etmadaulet went immediately to give His Majesty an account who causing 'em to appear before him and whose tender Heart being mov'd by their deplorable condition instantly remitted their Debts and received 'em into favour He also forbad the receiving their offer to turn Mahometans And thus we may see by what surprising means Heaven touch'd with the Misery of those that belong'd to him and having only a mind to make 'em asham'd of their Cowardliness excited in a Mahometan Prince a Zeal for the true Religion whilst it was almost obliterated in their Hearts He never exacts Tribute of the Armenians or other Christians when they come to Trade in his Kingdom altho' the Grand Signior makes the Persian Christians pay severely whenever they pass thro' Turky to Traffick in Europe in a manner that one may very well affirm with Justice that whereas in Turky the Christian Professors groan under a cruel and intolerable Slavery in Persia if the Will of the Prince be but observed they enjoy an undisturb'd and serene Liberty The King grants the Missionaries the free exercise of their Religion His kindness to the Missionaries and a power to establish it where they please And moreover the last Mission recommended to him by the Most Christian King has obtained an exemption from all Taxes and Quit rents where-ever they come Likewise His good will to the French Merchants this Generous Monarch has not shew'd a greater kindness for the French Missionaries than to the French Merchants For Monsieur Mont Ferré the French Consul at Bandar Abassi for the East India Company having been continually molested by the Great Douanier for a very considerable Summ at last beg'd a discharge of the King for near Eleven Years which was fully granted him and other favours he afterwards received from the Chief Minister Upon the first report at this Court His Commands to receive the French Vessels kindly in the Gulf. in February 1693. that the four French Vessels were bound for this Kingdom the King immediately commanded all the Governours of the Persian Gulf to receive them with Honour and to furnish them gratis with whatever Necessaries they should require This King Solyman He calls himself Son of a Saint and a Prophet after the Example of his Ancestors down from Chiek Sephi takes upon him the quality of the Son of Isman which is as much as to say the Son of a Saint because they believe themselves lineally descended from Mortus Ali Son in Law and Cousin-Germain to Mahomet The Persians also pretend that this Mortus Ali was left absolute Heir by Mahomet to his Grandeur and seign'd Prophetick Spirit in opposition to Omar to whom the Turks attribute these Prerogatives and it is upon this account that these two Nations live in such irreconcilable Hatred to one another By means of this quality of the Son of a Prophet the King arrogates to himself to be Head of their Religion and to establish this the better the Persians are of Opinion that he can neither be Damn'd or Judg'd whatever Crimes he commits They are not offended at his neglecting to observe the Ramazan or in drinking Wine because they believe he can never Sin and therefore neither subject to Laws or Customs being the Son of a Saint and legal deseendant of a Prophet I shall say nothing of the Princes of the Blood Of the Princes of the Blood because in Persia they make too miserable a Figure to be taken notice of The Kings Sons never see the Light but in the closest part of the Haram and whence they never come out whil'st the King lives There is none of 'em but he that is to succeed can have the liberty to see him after he 's dead and for the most part as soon as they are seated upon the Throne they deprive their Brothers of the use of their sight Their sad Fate by passing slowly a red-hot Iron before their Eyes This so barbarous a Custom which they make use of to hinder their Brothers from aspiring
to the Throne seems to them so reasonable and of so great benefit that they never cease to laugh at the Great Mogul and the Grand Signior who have a long time omitted it For they say That Aurengzebe might have prevented the Revolts of his Children and Mahomet the Fourth his Deposition by his Mutinous Troops if the first had kept his Children close during his Life time and the last put out his Brother's Eyes as soon as he came to the Throne The Dispensers of the Mahometan Religion taking place at the Persian Court Mahometan Priests I shall take notice of 'em before the Officers of the Crown over whom they have always precedency in the Council Publick Feasts and Audiences which the King gives to Embassadors and Missionaries The greatest Priest in Persia is call'd Sadre Cassa Of the Sadre Cassa that is the Chief or Arch-Bishop He is Super Intendant over all the Spiritualities of the Empire but his business is only to govern the King's Conscience and Order the Court and City of Ispahan according to the Rules of the Alcoran He deputes the second Bishop of whom I shall speak by and by for the rest of the Kingdom He is the first Minister of State and has his Seat at the foot of the Sofa and Right-hand of the King These Priests are so much reverenc'd in Persia that Kings have taken their Daughters for their Wives And the last Sadre Marry'd the King's Sister but nevertheless his Dignity could not secure him from having his Children Strangled that were Males for this barbarous Custom is so undistinguishably practis'd that if the King's Sisters or Nieces should omit to call the Eunuch's of the Haram at the time of their Lying-in to strangle the Child if it were Male they would inevitably merit Death by their neglect and seldom any such Offenders have been known to obtain Mercy This Law seems to have been newly made for there was no such in use at the time of the famous Cha-Abbas who was Contemporary with Henry the Fourth They give to the Sadre the Title of Narab which is as much as to say Vice-Roy of the King and Mahomet And there is none but him the Sadre Elman Alek and the Etmadaulet on whom this Honour is bestow'd This Sadre has his Deputies in all Capital Cities of Provinces His Jurisdiction which are call'd Modarrés and are not much unlike to our Bishops The Governours cannot give a decisive Judgment without their Approbations which they call Felfa These Deputies Heads of Mosques Principals of Colleges Presidents of the Circumcisions Curates that Marry and Divorce by Bills of Repudiation In short all that have any Employments which relate to the Law of Mahomet take their Orders and Measures from this Sadre and which procures him a vast Revenue for here as every where else Preferments are Bought and Sold. The second Person in Spirituals is nam'd Sadre Elman Alek Of the Sadre Elman Alek he is properly as Coadjutor or Assistant to the Sadre Cassa He does throughout the whole Realm what the Chief Bishop does only in the King's Court and Precincts of Ispahan He is moreover a Lateral Judge with the Divan Begui who can give no Sentence without his consent inasmuch as all the difference that I could take notice of between these two Bishops was only that one is Supream Head of the Law His Functions and the other his Deputy and Head of the Civil Tribunal He is Assistant to the Divan Begui to see that he does Justice according to the Rules of the Alcoran and what we would call the Cannon-Law which has been explained to them long fince by the Imans whom the Persians as Apes of us Christians worship to the number of Twelve as we do our Twelve Apostles This Bishop has also a Power to Try and Condemn Criminals which shews That he is not only an Ecclesiastical but Civil Judge The Divan Begui pronounces Sentence according to his Decisions This Bishop as Vicar General in all the Courts of Justice of the Kingdom has the Title of Naib Sedaret and he has the same Power over the Governours as he had over the Divan Begui He has his place below the Sofa on the Left-hand of the King The third Bishop of Persia is call'd Akond or rather Chiek Alislam Of the Alislam which is as much as to say Wise by Experience or The Venerable Old Men of the Law of Mahomet This Judge is properly the first Lieutenant Civil who takes Cognizance of the Affairs of Minors Widdows Contracts and other Civil Matters The King gives him Fifty Thousand Livres Annual Pension that he may have no occasion to be Corrupted by taking Bribes This is the Judge that dispatches most business His Substitutes He is Chief of the Law-Colleges and constantly reads upon it his Subaltern Officers every Wednesday and Saturday He has also his Substitutes in all the Courts of Justice of the Realm who together with those that belong to the Second Sadre draw up all Contracts and Agreements He has his place at the foot of the Sofa next to the Great Sadre The fourth Bishop is the Kazi The fourth Bishop is also second Lieutenant Civil who is the second Lieutenant Civil He takes Cognizance of the same Causes does the same business and enjoys equal Prerogatives with the former He has like him his Seat below the Sofa next the second Sadre But not one of those may appear at the time of Publick Feasts because then the King drinks Wine The Kazi has two Substitutes in every Tribunal their business is to determine small differences in Coffee-Houses and the Governour always requires their Assistance to consult about matters of Importance Over and above these four Bishops The Great Almoner the King has a kind of Great Almoner call'd Piche Nahmaz He reads Prayers in the King's House performs Circumcisions Marriages Burials and all other Functions of Religion in presence of the four Chief Bishops He is as it were the Universal Divine of the whole Empire for he disputes and marshals all Conferences in Religion This Lord Almoner is of the King's Council and enjoys near as great Prerogatives as any of the other Bishops There are Six Great Ministers of State in Persia Six Ministers of State which are call'd Rohna Doulets that is to say the Pillars and Supports of the Empire The First is the Grand Vizier The Etmadaulet call'd Etmadaulet that is the Prop of Power He is the Great Chancellour of the Kingdom President of the Council and Superintendant of the Customs He takes care of all foreign Affairs and Commerce with other Nations No Pensions or Gratifications are paid without his Orders and in short he is even as the Vice-Roy of Persia He Authorizes the King's Mandates by endorsing 'em with these Words Bende derga Ali il Alia Etmadaulet that is By the Port is meant the Court. I that am the Prop of Power and
his Prophet Learned Men explain the Alcoran Of Learned Men. they study the interpretation of it and they love to dispute about their Religion When a Missionary has convinc'd 'em they commonly have no other fruit of their Victory than a few Elogiums and marks of Esteem they conceive of ' em You have a great deal of Wit quoth they I wish you were of our Religion you would be a notable defender of it The Courtiers The Courtier 's Faith who have commonly a great deal of Knowledge never seem'd to me to have much kindness either for Mahomet or the illusions of his Alcoran yet they all profess Mahometism The Missionaries can easier gain ground upon them than the common People They hear us willingly and love to be entertain'd with Discourses of Religion for they always put us first upon talking of it and they are always extreamly attentive to our Reasonings Also they have had the honesty to confess when they have been Convinced that our Arguments had a great deal of force over ' em All those who I have had any thing to do with upon this occasion have been of this Character The last Year I travell'd by Ouriguerd Ouriguerd a City where situate This City is in the 13th Degree of the Equator 't is situate upon the Border of Susiana and Media built in Amphitheatre upon the declining of a little Hill something like an Horse-Shooe At the Foot of these Walls runs the River Gamasan The Governour of this City is a Sultan who keeps in it 1000 Horsemen which serve for a Guard to the whole Country There are no Christians here but there are abundance of Jews When I brought a Letter from the King of Persia to our King an Officer of the Court with two Life-Guard-men accompanied me with express Orders to defray my Expences throughout the Kingdom At this place the Pontiff came to see me at the Mayor's House where I was lodg'd His visit was chiefly employ'd to propose Questions of Religion and amongst others he ask'd me If Wine was not forbid Christians as well as Mahometans I answer'd him We sometimes abstain from it upon account of Penitence and our Law controll'd the excessive use of it but it did not forbid it as an ill thing I added moreover That it was with Wine as with all other things which God had created for the use of Man they were all good in themselves but that unruly Lusts Defence of Wine caused by Sin abus'd the best things and render'd 'em bad That Wine was good after that manner the Patriarchs used to drink it that it was made use of by Melchisedec in his Sacrifices that the Outrages we see too often committed thro' the Excess of it are not sufficient Reasons or Arguments to condemn and forbid it For by the same reason you might forbid Meat because some Men are Gluttons and so People would be depriv'd of both the kinds of natural Sustenance I believe truly reply'd the Pontiff it was only the ill use of Wine that made Mahomet forbid it Our Interpreters have not fully understood the Law of the Alcoran but you have found out its true meaning Then we began to talk of Marriage Polygamy condemn'd whereupon he ask'd me If Polygamy were allow'd to Christians I told him No and that I believed he would agree with me That the Gospel in that as well as all other things was according to the Principles of right Reason What time said I do you believe that Reason has been in its greatest Purity and Strength He reply'd In Adam 's time before the Fall You know then said I how many Wives he had at that time this is clear enough in the Turat that is the Bible He had but One says he Then hence I must draw my Conclusion reply'd I That the Law of pure and right Reason permits but One Wife and therefore those Laws that allow many are manifestly Erroneous I added moreover some Reflections upon the Inconveniencies arising by Polygamy so that at length he seem'd entirely satisfied Of all the People of the East the Persians rellish a Moral Reasoning best From Ouriguerd I went on to Laurestan Laurestan This is the Kingdom of the Elamites where Chedorlaomer reign'd in the Days of Abraham It borders with the Government of Goulpakan to the East to Susiana on the South the River Tygris on the West and Lower Media on the North It s Capital City is Courmabat City of Courmabat It lies in the 33d Degree of Latitude It is all but as one Fortress It has nothing remarkable in it but the Governour 's Palace and the stately Shops which the last Vali built there This Vali lost his Head at Casbin and the King gave his Government to Abdel Kassum Kan I had Orders from Court concerning Missions directed to him therefore was receiv'd with a great deal of Civility for it was a great while that I had been acquainted with him Many times at Court he propos'd to me Questions about Religion and now he was at the same Play again at his Table There cannot be too much praise given to the Franks A Conference about Religion says he to the Intendant of the Province and the other Lords of his Court for they are really Men of great Wit Ingenious and capable of every thing After this honest Prelude which always precedes their Discourses of Religion he directed his Discourse to me and said I believe you know better than to affirm as the Armenians doe that JESUS CHRIST was crucified by the Jews I answer'd him That that Belief only was the Foundation of the Christian Religion and I prov'd to him out of the Prophets that the Messias was to be put to Death And moreover because it is the Custom amongst them to make use of Parables I thought that way fittest to convince him My Lord said I God has given you great Knowledge to apprehend the obscurest Cases therefore I would make you Judge of the following one A Man comes to complain at your Tribunal that his Father has been kill'd The Murtherer is present and confesses and glories in his Crime A Third comes a great while afterwards and denies the Fact Would your Lordship now believe this Man Would you receive his Evidence No says he but I would immediately order him 100 blows on his Feet for a Reward of his Impudence Pardon me then my Lord said I if I proceed to make the Application of this Parable The Christians complain their Father has been murther'd on the Cross The Jews acknowledge they have been the Murtherers Then ought Mahomet to come 600 Years afterwards to give 'em the Lye Why then says the Intendant the Prophet comes under the Batoon Ay says the Governour laughing but the Doctors will presently deliver him for I have past Sentence according to forms But when we grant reply'd the Intendant that Jesus Christ is dead does it follow that Jesus Christ is God
thought criminal in being the first occasion of displeasing so merciful a Prince But for the Superintendant of the Slaves he took only an innocent Liberty of interceeding for his Friend without acting any thing contrary to the Respect that was due to his Commands for that all his Predecessors had confirmed that Law which forbid any one to execute such Orders as this till they had been reiterated thrice and that knowing of what importance it was to oppose sometimes an humble Intercession to their Anger they have always allow'd of solliciting their Clemency in favour of the Accus'd Very well then says the King I pardon the Superintendant of the Slaves But you Divan Begui I command you thrice go execute my Orders go instantly and strike off that Traytors's Head Whereupon the Divan Begui though very unwillingly was forc'd to go and seize the Constable and to degrade him by snatching off his Turban and throwing it on the ground when dragging him out of the Hall he took off his Girdle and bound his Hands behind him The Constable all the while wishing Prosperity and long Life to the King without daring to murmur any Complaints against his Usage and to shew his entire Submission to his Master's Orders he often kiss'd the Divan Begui's Robe and conjur'd him to entreat his Majesty that he would be pleased to pay his Debts and not to extend his Wrath to the reft of his Family they being altogether innocent and he only guilty Then he desired the Alcoran to pray in and to know whether his last Hour were yet come hoping always the King's Anger would mitigate But the Divan Begui fearing by delay to incense the King farther against himself fix'd the last Minute of his Life by discharging a Stroke into his Neck which through Grief to see his Friend in that Condition was not strong enough to do his Business wherefore the Constable entreating by their ancient Friendship to dispatch him the Divan Begui not being farther able himself caus'd his Gentleman to come up who with three Blows of a Scymetar sever'd his Head from his Body Which done it was immediately carry'd to the King who looking upon it with a stern Countenance cried Very well Traytor Am I now asleep Am I now in a Lethargy as you sent word to my Enemies No no you find I am not Then ordering the Head to be taken from him he turn'd himself to the Lords of his Court and told 'em That that Head was but the First of Four that should fall Which surprizing Speech made every one tremble and look pale for fear it should be his own The Wedding that the King promised to the Princess his Aunt was by these means chang'd into a bloody and frightful Tragedy for he immediately order'd an Eunuch to carry her the Constable's Head and moreover to acquaint her from him that it belonged to the Husband he had made choice of for her and that it was certain she had yet made no attempt against his Person Nevertheless he should not be contented by punishing her only with Griefs to see her Lover's Head in a Platter he would also have her's for reparation Whilst these Executions were doing in the Palace the Great Master of the Houshold and Governour of Shiras were sealing of the Constable's House The King terminated these tragical Actions by giving the Government of Hamadan to Abdelksum-Kan who had been dispossest thereof Eight Years before by the Wiles of the Constable But the King tho' he restor'd him his Government yet kept his Goods which he had confiscated and united to his Demesns This so absolute Authority that makes the King of Persia Unaccountable at the same time renders his Subjects Miserable Chiek Sephi restorer of the Monarchy of Persia and who rais'd its Power to that height we see it in at present was without doubt an excellent Politician Original of the King 's Despotick Power He knew how to make use of the Advantages he had by being descended from Mahomet and whose Religion the greatest part of the Medians came in Crowds to embrace He had immediately a Reputation of being a Saint of that Law his Life being very regular and retir'd Upon which occasion he had leisure to invent a great many Improbable Revelations but which nevertheless he put off to the People for Oracles In short he knew so well how to manage their weakness with his Hypocrisy He is Head of his Religion that he made 'em acknowledge his Son Cha Ishmael for the Sovereign and Supream Head of their Religion Insomuch that the succeeding Kings have retain'd this Power and Advantage For the People ignorantly believe His Subjects believe him Infallible That being descended from Mahomet they are always faultless in their Manners and infallible in their Decisions In a manner that the Emperor of Persia holds in his Hands both the Reins of Spiritual and Temporal Authority which are the Two only Foundations that can support an Arbitrary Power The Persians are so pre-possess'd and bigotted with the Infallibility of their Prince that they receive his Commands and Ordinances as Oracles descended from Heaven Their respect to his Commands And however innocent a Person in disgrace is yet they look upon him as a Traytor and a Villain Being of Opinion That to incurr the displeasure of their Prince is one of the most enormous of Crimes 'T is therefore they always treat 'em like Cain with the terms of Traytor Ingrate and unworthy to see the Light it being not possible to enter into their Heads That the King can ever condemn any Body without just Cause This spiritual Power is to be remarked in all the Addresses and Discourses they have to and with him As Kourban Olim which is May I be sacrific'd for you Din Imanum Padicha My King my Saint my Law Bachanha Dunim May I turn about your Head This way of expressing themselves May I turn about your Head is not of modern Invention but was in use with the ancient Persian Kings and it is practised now in so particular and frequent a manner that it cannot well be past by For when the King bestows any charge he to whom it is given takes his Instalment by turning thrice about his Person and saying May I turn about your Head and afterwards by falling on his Knees and kissing his Majesty's Feet He protests by this Ceremony That he is ready to expose his Life for the safety of his Masters and acknowledges withal that his and his Family's dependance is altogether upon his Pleasure and 't is therefore they call their King Veli Nahmet that is The Master and Distributer of Favours All things are well order'd in the King's Privy-Council The King's Council His Counsellors of Religion the Sword and the Gown are of an equal number all chosen Men both of Wit and Experience They have a deep Penetration and a great deal of Vivacity They conceive things easily and always give every
Kandahar have so often betray'd the King A Precaution to keep the Frontiers secure in delivering the Fortress to the Mogul that there are no more sent but such as are Faithful Rich and Powerful and who would not have been able to have found greater Advantages in his Court than they had at home in their own And besides they always pitch upon a good Family that they may retain 'em for Hostages The King always keeps a strong Garison in the Province of Candahar for fear of being surpriz'd by the Bullodges and Agwanes that inhabit the Mountains These are People that live in Tents like our First-fathers They are very Warlike and know how to use a Bow admirably well but they are great Thieves and never give any Quarter to the Caravans They live in Scythia yet are Subjects of the Great Mogul but still he is not so much their Master but that they 'll serve them that give 'em most Persia knows how to manage 'em very well for it allows 'em so many Privileges and Advantages Colony of Christians in Scythia that if they do not altogether engage 'em to their Service yet they take away their Inclinations of doing 'em any harm They make the Sign of the CROSS and love Christians extreamly but have as great an Aversion for Mahometans They are of those Armenians of Turcomania and the Countries about the Caspian Sea which Tamerlan carried away to plant 'em in Colonies in Scythia They have forgot their Religion but for the little that remains in 'em of Christianity it would be much easier for the Missionaeries to make good Christians of them than to convert those Schismatick Armenians so much these last are wedded to their Errours and Superstitions The Intrigues the King of Persia has in the Mogul's Court The Mogul 's Son a Refugee in Persia and the favourable Reception he gave to his Fourth Son Cha Hegber seven Years since has made some believe he had a secret Intelligence with that Prince about the Revolt against his Father 'T is very well known that Cha Abbas his Father got the Province of Kandahar upon the like occasion But nevertheless these Conjectures are not very valid for the King has not only refus'd this Prince Assistance but given sufficient proofs that he on the contrary highly disapprov'd of his Designs against his Father Yet it is to be doubted whether he will make any scruple to assist him against his Brothers after his Father's death and whether he would not be very glad to divide that Empire whose daily encrease gives him so much Jealousie Cha Hegber is Son of a Recheboude His Rebellion against his Father those of his Nation who are the best Soldiers the Mogul has being revolted against him engag'd this Prince to seize upon the Government for fear his elder Brothers should do it before him after their Father's death Therefore putting himself at their Head he advanc'd towards the Capital City where he might very well have surpriz'd his Father who had no Forces about him had not the wary Monarch oppos'd his Designs after this manner He counterfeited his Son's Hand and Seal and dispatch'd away a faithful Servant immediately into the midst of his Son's Army where pretending he was coming from his Son towards him he was immediately stopp'd by the Recheboudes who surprizing him found the Letter in these Words Dear Honoured SIR DO not believe me capable of daring to make any Attempt against your Person or Kingdom the Recheboudes who have given you so much Disturbance in their Rebellion have at length found in me a General who know my Duty so far as to submit 'em to your Pleasure I have therefore brought 'em to your Capital City to deal with according to your Discretion But be sure to have your Guards ready to seize upon the Chief Ringleaders and be humbly assur'd I shall be one of the first who shall endeavour to deliver 'em to Justice and you shall be fully satisfied of my Fidelity by my Diligence to punish the rest Your Dutiful CHA HEGBER When the Recheboudes had read this Letter they immediately resolv'd to disengage themselves from Cha Hegber and all the Protestations he was able to use were not sufficient to appease ' em The greatest part of 'em left him and the others would not advance a step farther insomuch as the Mogul had time to raise Men with which he gave a total Overthrow to his Son and forc'd him to save his Life 'T was then he fled into Persia where the King entertain'd him with a most magnificent and numerous Court for many Great Lords follow'd him in this Disgrace and do now wait for some favourable Revolution when they may enter into India They impatiently expect the King's Death who is at present said to be above an Hundred years old The Persians have more reason to fear the Usbeg Tartars for Enemies Usbeg Tartars how troublesome to Persia for tho' they be worse Disciplined yet the unexpected courses they take in unproper seasons are so much the more grievous to the Persians as they cannot possibly be prevented and when they have ravag'd a Country they cannot be pursu'd They are not to be stopt by the vast and burning Desarts that separate them from the Province of Kandahar They make these Enterprizes in the very hottest part of the Summer and trouble themselves but little with carrying Provisions their natural love of Flesh enclining 'em to eat any thing Their natural Barbarity nay so much as their Baggage-Horses after they have spent all the Hay and Oats they carry'd for the sustenance of those for their Saddle They always eat their Flesh raw and when they are adry they prick their Horses Necks and suck out the Blood which serves 'em instead of Drink They have a sort of little Pads which are as indefatigable as they are fleet The Persians were never made to live after this manner and therefore they suffer the more by their Incursions These Usbegs do not content themselves with only Ravaging they have at present a numerous Army on foot which has so weakened the Persian Troops with their frequent Skirmishes and Surprizes for near these six Years that this War has been begun that 't is to be fear'd they may at last take the City of Masched and recover the Province of Corrassan which Cha Abbas the Great took from them 'T is not to be doubted but that the Mogul will be ready to encourage 'em and to furnish 'em with requisite supports And this Suspicion is not without a reasonable ground for 't is certain that the Usbegs did not begin this Wat before the King of Persia had receiv'd this Princes Son into his protection Masched is a City very Rich City of Masched the place of the Persian Pilgrimage because 't is the place whither the Persians make their Pilgrimage Cha Abbas having a mind to prevent his Subjects carrying Money out of his
Kingdom to that of the Ottoman's dissuaded 'em from their Pilgrimage to Mecca and inspir'd 'em with great Devotion for Iman Reza one of the Twelve Saints of Persia who has his Sepulchre at Masched He has made this Tomb Famous by a great many false Miracles he caus'd to be practis'd there for placing People there on purpose who should counterfeit themselves Blind they suddenly receiv'd their Sight at this Sepulchre and immediately cryed out A Miracle He procur'd so great a Veneration for this Tomb of Iman Reza that most of the greatest Lords in Persia have desired to be bury'd in his Mosque and to which they give great Legacies From thence arises the great Treasure it has in it and of which no doubt the Vsbegs are more desirous than of the Town it self They were so near to it about two Years ago that the King was oblig'd to send a puissant Army thither under the Conduct of Roustan Kan his Divan Begui and Favourite He omitted nothing to divide these Usbegs insomuch that his good Deeds prevail'd upon the Prince D' Organge to be detach'd from their side The good Intelligence the King of Persia always has with the Kalmoukes and Lezguis Good Intelligence with the other Tartars against the Muscovites serves for a Bulwark to defend him against the Muscovites on the North Nevertheless they might very much incommode Persia by Pyracies on the Caspian Sea For the Cossacks who live under their Obedience dayly encrease in strength there but yet they would not do wisely to make any descent for their Troops are not fitting to grapple with those of Persia especially such as live about Mount-Caucasus for they retain too much of the Courage of the Amazons from whom they descend ever to be overcome The Women also have a great deal of their Valour in them They are very Tall and very Fair and do not want for Chastity Their Men have also a great Meen and are very strong but are unreasonably Brutish and have little or no Neatness The Grand Signior is the most formidable Enemy the Persians have The Persians Politicks in regard of the Grand Signior His State confines with Persia from the Black Sea even to Balsora which comprehends both the West and the South The Christian Princes in League against the Grand Signior not being satisfied with the Answers they receiv'd byt their Ambassadors sent Solomon Skourki whom I have mention'd before once more to Sollicite the King of Persia with new Arguments in which they employ'd all the power of Politicks to engage him to advantage himself by the Confusion and Disorder the Grand Signior was in and moreover they endeavour'd to persuade him that he might now restore his Empire to that glorious condition it was in in the Reign of his Predecessor Ahasuerus who Govern'd 27 Provinces and of which the Grand Signior now enjoys Arabia Chaldaea Syria and the other Countries which are between Tygris and Aethiopia which confin'd the Empire of Ahasuerus But he was answered anew That the King of Persia would rather chuse to lose his Kingdom than to Conquer another contrary to Articles of Peace made betwixt him and the Grand Signior The Arabians who had possest themselves of Balsora two Years ago dispatcht away Couriers to the Governour of Laurestan to desire him to send thither a Garrison to take possession of that place for the King his Master whom the Governour sent away immediately to Court with other Couriers from him But the King did not think fit to accept of their Offer and they had the same Answer with the former The Persians His managing Alliances with his Neighbours against this Powerful Neighbour take care to manage their Alliance prudently with the Princes of Turcomania Curdistan and Arabia Deserta all which owe no Obedience to the Grand Signior They also carefully keep Correspondence with the Prince of the Arabians of Mascat to assist 'em against the Portuguese when they come with Sword in hand to demand their share of the Customs of Congo Bandarik and Baharin The King's Politicks are admirable in respect of the Georgians His Politicks with the Georgians who might give him a great deal of disturbance if they were once united against him But he knows how to keep 'em divided the better to correspond with his Interest He preferrs so advantageously all their greatest Lords that they forget both their Country and Religion to apply themselves wholly to his Service The greatest Trusts in the Empire are at present in their hands and they who have no Preferments yet have all their Places at Royal Feasts their Expences out of the Treasury and enjoy all other Privileges of the King's Guests and Tablers The care that Chiek-Sephi took to Establish a particular Sect which was so very different from the other Mahometans was an admirable Invention to prevent the People from Revolting through the Solicitations of either the Turks Tartars or Indians who are all their Neighbours for it has imprinted 'em with such an horrour of their belief that the Persians have a saying That if you should boil together a Sunni that is a Follower of Omar with Chiai who is a Follower of Ali their Substances would never Mix but keep their Antipathy and Opposition tho' they were both dissolv'd The Sunni's for their part and above all the Usbeg Tartars have so great an aversion for the Persians that a Soldier returning from the Campagne would be but ill received by his Wife if he should not bring her some of a Persian's Blood wherein she might indulge her Joy for his safe return The Persians have no other Codes The manner of administring Justice in Persia or Digests than the Interpretation of the Alcoran made by the Imans descended from Mortas Ali. They have three sorts of Tribunals 1. The Criminal which they call Ourf 2. The Civil called Cheher And 3. the Legal which has the name of Divan Ali that is The Soveraign Tribunal The Chief Justice of the Courts at Hispahan The sole Chief Justice of the Kingdom and all other Superiour Courts of the Kingdom is the Diven Begui He has a Derogat to execute his Sentences who also serves as Jaylor and sometimes as Judge to determine petty Criminal Causes The Kans are also Chief in their own Courts in their Provinces but there always lies an Appeal from them to the Divan Bigui The Divan Bigui has no cognizance of Treason for that is try'd in the inner part of the King's Palace without any relation had to the Council as I observed before But no Criminal whatever he be is Sentenc'd without the King's knowledge who must be fully acquainted with the Sadre's Decision who always determines the sort of Punishment according to the Laws prescribed by the Imans They proceed in these Courts much after the same manner with us of Europe viz. by Proofs Confronting of Witnesses and Tortures There are two sorts of Tortures in use in Persia as
Jerusalem when he foretold the Miseries he saw would fall upon her Also those he shed upon the Tomb of Lazarus The Mortal Affliction his Soul was seiz'd with in the Garden of Olives at the sight of the Torments he was a-going to suffer The Prayer he made to his Father three times to remove the bitter Cup far from him The Humble Circumstances of his Passion And lastly His Ignominious Death It was a Glorious and Triumphing Jesus Christ that they ought to have preach'd and not one that could be humbled and ty'd to a Cross The Zeal you see us have my Lord to maintain that Christ dy'd on the Cross should be a Motive to encline you to believe us For else why could not we agree with you that it was Judas was Crucify'd in his place and spare our selves the shame of Adoring a God fix'd to a Gibbet But 't is this shame alone which is the cause of our Glory We Preach Jesus Christ Crucify'd which is a subject of Scandal to the Jews and to you a Motive of Mockery and Laughter The Curiosity the Persians have about Religion gives the Missionaries a great advantage over ' em To Convert 'em to Christianity there is need of a great deal of Candour and even Temper and little or no Passion or over-hot Zeal They will never believe a Man inspir'd with the Spirit of God who is govern'd by Rage and Passion Also as they have themselves a great deal of Flegm too brisk a Method would not have its end To make 'em sensible of the Contradictions and Absurdities of the Alcoran has prov'd to me of great use Also as they have the Bible and some of the Fathers amongst 'em we might advise 'em to read ' em They find out themselves how different those Histories are from the Fables of Mahomet left 'em in his Alcoran This Reading has been a means God has made use of to induce many of the Greatest Men about 'em to be led to the true knowledge of him and his Son From Laurestan I took my Journey towards Hamadan a City of Media and Capital of a Province of the same Name and chief Residence of a Begueler-Begui 'T is situate at the foot of Mount Alvand which the Persians call Sultan Alvand that is to say Queen of the Mountains because it is the most Fertile and one of the highest in all Persia It is a branch of Mount Taurus which leaves it at the Town of Zengan and runs even to the Persian Gulf. The famous Avicen liv'd a great while upon this Mountain to make his Observation upon Simples with which it is all cover'd over Hamadan has 35 degrees and 12 Minutes of Polar Elevation It is a very Ancient City as may be judg'd by the ruins of a new Magnificent Temple there and of which there remains nothing at present but a very high Dome built with Bricks and Painted like Porcelane upon which appear some few Hebrew Characters Under this Dome there is a Chappel 18 foot square where are the Tombs of Hester and Mordecai Upon these Tombs are rais'd two stately Mausoleums made of a very hard Wood and Engraven with the Story of Hester in Hebrew Characters Upon Hester's Tomb is writ The Great Queen HESTER and on Mordecai's These Mausoleums have been plac'd here by Ardachir or Arsaces But there is no Date to distinguish which of the Arsaces is meant The Mausoleum of Mordecai is on the right hand It has 7 foot in length and heighth upon 3 of breadth That of Hester is on the left built after the same fashion only it is a foot higher than that of Mordecai The Jews keep there a great number of Lamps which burn Night and Day They Pray here only on their great Days Our House was not far from this Temple We were establish'd there in 1684. I brought the King of Persia's Patents thither obtain'd by our King's Recommendation and which confirm our Establishment One day making a Visit about our Affairs to a Persian Lord call'd Reza-Kouli-Begue a Dervich a Man of very good Sence an excellent Philosopher and one that was very well read in the Holy Scriptures He of a sudden turn'd all the discourse upon Religion He began by giving great commendation to the Christian Faith and said That he thought it every where very conformable to Reason unless in that place where it teaches that Jesus Christ is GOD. 'T is true reply'd I we do acknowledge his Divinity that Point is the Foundation of our Religion But what amazes me is That you should have the same thing in your Alcoran and yet not believe it For under correction what signifies Rouh Allah which is the word that Mahomet gives to Jesus Christ This Arabian word Arguments with a Persian Lord to prove Christ's Divinity says he for I have thoroughly study'd that Language signifies the Spirit or Soul of God This Spirit or Soul of God then said I is it distinct from God or the same thing with him It cannot be distinct from him without doubt says he Then reply'd I Jesus Christ must be God For what is the same thing with God is God He seem'd touch'd with this conclusion but I extreamly commended his being so Ingenuous as to give me the true sense of the word Rouh Allah I have not met with said I in other Mahometans the like sincerity they have always given this word a different sense to elude the consequence I have drawn from it We all reply'd Reza Kouli-Begue acknowledge Jesus Christ for a Divine Person and we have for him a very great respect when you Christians do but slight and vilifie our Holy Prophet Mahomet You respect Jesus Christ said I because you every where meet with a Saint in his Character that moves you but shew me throughout all Mahomet's Life the least shadow of such Characters You respect Jesus Christ because you own him for a Prophet sent by God to Man and you acknowledge him such by evident Proofs of his Holiness which you are not able to resist But is there any one that can give us such an Idea of Mahomet What has been his Conduct What Doctrine has he taught Men By what Miracles has he prov'd that he was sent from God What Prophets have foretold his Mission or his Conduct I shall not insist Sir upon any shameful Circumstances of his Life because I 'm well assur'd that you your self do secretly detest 'em in your heart His Conduct No Sir I have too good an opinion of you to say any thing of that It is not from his Conduct I 'm sure that you believe him a Prophet His Alcoran where he has dar'd to publish his own Uncleannesses in all Ages will rise up in Judgment against him And had you never so many Miracles to boast in his behalf his Infamous Life alone would be enough to cancel 'em all and no Man of good sense would suffer himself to be gain'd to his Party But now I
they call the Persians Blasphemers and Idolaters The Interpretations of the Alcoran by these two Nations are altogether contrary and therefore because they have their Codes and Ceremonials from hence their Laws and Ceremoniés of their Religion are also different The Turks wash before Prayer by letting the Water run down from the top of their Arms to their Hands and the Persians quite contrary Each defends his particular manner of Purifying and maintains it against his Adversary with so much heat that they have both entire Volumes about it Their Postures and Prostrations in Praying are altogether contrary and their Opposition goes even to their Habits The Persians as I have told you before have from the Jews their legal Impurities They believe every thing impure that has but touch'd what was esteem'd such by the Law of Moses The mean People and those that belong to the Law would not easily be prevail'd upon to touch any thing or eat in the same Plate with Christians Jews or Indians nay even with the Sect of Omar as much Mahometans as they are The Turks are not given to those Superstitions they eat indifferently with all the World and except it be Pork without any distinction of Viands The Courtiers and Soldiers do the same thing in Persia The Persians hold Dissimulation necessary that Dissimulation is not only permitted but necessary in Religion to avoid being ill treated by the Mahometans their Neighbours for when they go amongst 'em in Pilgrimage to Mecca they change their Habits and Turbans and profess themselves Followers of Omar But on the other side the Turks have this Dissimulation in great abhorrence for they never change those Habits which distinguish their Religion The Turks have a superstitious Kindness for Green because they say that Colour was consecrated to their false Prophet and they will condemn a Christian to death that shall ever be known to wear it but the Persians on the contrary laugh at this Superstition I have heard say in Persia that Amurah should send an Ambassadour to Cha Abbas to complain that he had suffer'd this Colour to be profan'd by the Christians To whom Cha Abbas answer'd I shall endeavour to hinder this Colour being profan'd by the Christians when Amurah shall forbid his Green Meadows to be profan'd by his Cattle There are at this Day a great number of the ancient Persians in Persia Religion c. of the Gaures or ancient Persians who could never be persuaded to change their Religion for the Mahometan but these People do retain little of the Politeness Knowledge and Valour of their Ancestors They groan under a cruel Slavery They are forbid the Liberal Arts and exercise only the mean Drudgery of Labourers Gardeners and Porters They are always put upon the vilest and most painful Works insomuch as their continu'd Slavery for many Ages has at this day render'd 'em Cowardly Simple Ignorant and Dull yet they still retain the ancient Persian Idiom and some few of 'em can read and write it This Language is altogether different from the modern but of no more use than common Talk amongst them for it serves neither for Learning nor Commerce Their Belief is contain'd in several Skins which their Magi or Priests read to 'em upon certain Days these Skins are fill'd with Fables and superstitious Traditions but which are nevertheless kept private by their Priests for they make it a point of their Religion not to show 'em to any body so that 't is impossible to know any more of their Faith than whiat is discover'd by their Priests and they are commonly so dull that there is little or nothing to be learn'd from them The modern Persians call 'em Gavres that is Idolaters and treat 'em worse than they do the Jews they accuse 'em of worshipping the Sun and the Fire But however great my Curiosity has been I have been able to know but little of 'em yet this I have observ'd That they have no Images and that they very much abhorr those that have When you ask 'em why they fall down before the Rising Sun they shall answer That they do Homage to that Creature which is the most perfect next to Man that God hath made out of nothing They say also That God has establish'd his Throne there and that his Glorious Majesty must needs merit their so humble Respects This Salutation they pay the Rising Sun is not particular to them the modern Persians also make use of it by profound Reverences and the Armenians by frequent Crossing themselves They say they believe Fire worthy of Respect because it is the purest of all Elements The care they take to keep it alight is very scrupulous and ridiculous for they dare not blow for fear of polluting it with their Breath and then they would believe themselves defil'd if they should chance to let fall any Filth upon the Wood they burn They don't observe Circumcision No Circumcision their Priests present their new-born Infants to the Sun and before the Fire and so they believe 'em sanctified by this Ceremony They believe a Paradise Their Paradise where which they say is within the Sphere of the Sun The Happiness of their Saints consists in viewing the Sun clearly in which they say they see God by Reflexion as in a Glass But no body is admitted to this Felicity 'till three Days after his death and that is the reason they carry three Days Provision to their Tombs that they may neither hunger nor thirst The poor Mahometans and in their absence the Birds and Dogs profit themselves by this Superstition They believe Hell to be a Prison under-ground Their Hell where damp and stinking being every-where full of Worms Serpents and other sorts of Insects but above all a great number of Crows and Frogs for 't is these two sorts of Animals that they have the greatest aversion for They call Crows Messengers and Heralds of the Devil and Frogs Musicians to the Damn'd The manner of examining what shall be their Lott in the other Life is very pleasant They carry the dead body out of the Town they set it up against a Wall with its face towards the East then the Priests and Parents of the Dead retire to a convenient distance where they observe what notice the Crows take of it If they fall first upon the Right Eye for with the Eyes they commonly begin then it is a sign of Predestination and they play and dance about the Carkass with a great deal of Joy But if it be the Left that 's an Argument they are not pure enough to be admitted into the Sphere of the Sun nor yet impure enough to be condemn'd to the obscure Prison of Hell but must remain some time in the middle Region of the Air there to endure the Cold and from thence to be translated to the Fire to be purify'd At these Funerals they are sad and mourn If the Crows pick out both their Eyes then
Court 117 Enemies irreconcilable to the King of Persia 3. The Name they give him ibid. Envoys how receiv'd in Persia 50 Esteem of the Persians for Jesus Christ 178 Etmadaulet Grand Vizier and Chancellor of Persia 17. His Salary Perquisits and Maintenance 18. His Six Deputies or Viziers ibid. They are like the Intendants of the Revenue 20. His Secretaries ibid. Eunuchs their Authority in Persia 104. They enjoy the Chief Offices of the Kingdom ibid. c. They have the Management of all in the King's House 105. What they are and whence they come ib. Executions the Judges and Great Lords assist at ' em 135 Exercises of young Persian Lords 34 Example of the Goodness of the King of Persia towards Christians 7 Expressions of the Persians to acknowledge the Spiritual Power of their King 98 F. Fast See Ramazan Feasts Publick of the King of Persia with the manner how the Guests are served at 'em 41. Their Magnificence 42. Their Plenty ibid. Pusileers of the King of Persia 73 G. Guards of the King of Persia 72 Georgians their Advantages and Prerogatives in the Persian Court and wherefore 128 Government Politick of Persia 77 Governments Establish'd Order in 'em 106 Guests of the King of Persia who they are 50 H. Habits of the Persian Lords 46. Of the Persian Ladies 63. A Powder they make use of and wherefore 64 Hakim Bachi the King's Physician he is personally responsible for the King's Life 25 Hall of Audience of the King of Persia 40. Other Halls of Audience 41 Hamadan a Capital City in Persia 78 Hazar-Pecha what it is 48 Hazar-Dgerib what 57 Heads brought to the King of Persia the first day of the Year 104 Horses of the King richly Harnassed 44 Hunting of the King of Persia with his Ladies 59. Of the Lords 65 I. Jealousie of the Persians in respect of their Wives 37 Indians more Effeminate than the Mogul's Subjects 117 Infantry the King of Persia has none 75 Intendants Particular of the Revenue 71 Intelligences c. of the Kans to hinder the People from complaining to the King 107 Judges of Persia cannot all condemn to death 137. Disorder thereupon ibid. Julpha Suburbs of Ispahan 56 Justice how administred in Persia 129. The Tribunals ibid. The Chief Justice c. ibid. Those that can condemn to death 130 K. Kalenter who he is 19 Kalmoukes and the Lezguis what sort of Tartars 125 Kans or Governours of Persia 29 Kans Begueler-Begui's of Provinces 31 Those of Towns c. ibid. Kaurs Ysaouls what they are 73 Kazi Fourth Pontiff or second Lieutenant Civil 116 His Deputies ibid. The King of Persia 2. His Titles and Qualities ibid. Very Affable to Strangers 5. His Name Age and Character ibid. His Strength 6. His Address and Nature ibid. His great love for his Subjects 7. His Kindness and goodness to Christians ibid. His Good-will towards the Missionaries and French Merchants 9. He calls himself Son of a Saint and a Prophet 10. He exacts no Tribute from the Armenians and other Christians that Trade in his Kingdom 9. His Absolute Authority 77. The Origin and cause of it 97. He is Supream Head of his Religion ibid. His Subjects believe him Infallible ibid. His Commands always very much respected 98. His scorn of the Mogul 's Troops 116. His taking the Air and other Diversions 52. His Politicks against the Usbeg-Tartars ibid. Kodafa who he is 28 Kortchi-Bachi who and his Salary what 20 Koulam Vizier who 26 Kouler Agasi Captain of the Troops of Slaves 21 Kouls what they are 72 Kzel-Baches what 47 Kzel Baches who Their Merit superior to the Indians 118 L. Laurestan a Kingdom of the Elamites 157 Its chief City ibid. Lending no encouragement for it in Persia 138 c. Lords of Persia 32 M. Manner of Mounting the Guard in the King's Court 73 Masched a strong Town in Persia 124 Magnificence of Publick Feasts of the King of Persia 41 Mahomet and his false Miracles 174 Master Great of the King's Houshold 24 Manufactures of Persia what is there made 116 March or Cavalcade of the King of Persia 57 March of the Lords after the King when he goes a Hunting with his Ladies 65 Mariam Kanum the King's Aunt Her Amours and Intrigues with the Constable 89. Her Discourse with the King and what follow'd 90 Martyrdom of a Christian 135 Maxim to incline Mahometans to the Truth 168 Media a Province 169 Megdeles Rou's what they are 33 Meheurdar Keeper of the Seals with his Deputies 25 c. Mehmoudar Bachi what is his Office 27 Meidan what it is 33 c. Meats Persian 43 Minarreés what 37 Minarreés or Tower built with Bones and Horns of Beasts taken in one Hunting 67 Ministers of State 17 Mirachor-Bachi who 26 Mir-Chekar Bachi who ibid. Modesty of the Persians whilst they are Eating 49 Manners and Customs of the Persians different from the Mahometans 181 Moullahs what they are and their Employments 37 Mouadgen-Bachi chief Astrologer 24 Modarés Deputies of the Sadre 14 Money Persian become bad and how 115 What makes it so scarce in Persia 116 Mosques of Persia 35. Their Description ibid. They have no Altars 149 Moucheruff who he is 26 Moustofi Elmam Alek who 19 Moustofi Cassa who ibid. Musick Persian 39 N. Nacoda what it signifies 76 Naib Sedarets what they are in Persia Navab Alié the Queen-Mother 62 Navigation why the Persians don 't love it 76 Nazir who he is 24 O. Observations on the Persians ancient manner of Expressing themselves 99 Omara's who they are 33 Opinion of the Persians concerning their Kings 10 c. Orders of the King of Persia for the favourable Reception of the four Vessels of the French Company ibid. Orders barbarous to Strangle Children 13 Order of the Sophi's in Persia 27. It s Institution 28. Their Duty and Head ib. They are at present in Disgrace 29 Ouriguerd a Town in Persia Its Situation 156. Odious manner of exacting an Oath from a Christian 141 P. Palace of the King of Persia 33. It s Description ibid. Its Situation ibid c. and Riches of the Place 124 c. Petitions they are not presented easily to the King 107. The several Difficulties 108 Other but Chargeable ways to present Petitions 111 Persians they are more Warlike better Disciplin'd and Stronger than the Indians 117. Their good Intelligence with the Tartars against the Muscovites 125. Their Politicks towards the Grand Signior 126. And with other Neighbouring Princes 127. Their Belief 145 c. What they Reject 147 Piche-Nahmaz Great Almoner 16 Pilgrimage of the Persians Its Origin Politicks of the Persians towards their Neighbours 118 Precaution of the Persians to prevent Surprize on the Frontiers ibid. Priests of the Mahometan Religion 12 Privileges granted to Merchants Invaded by the Viziers which is the reason of the little Commerce now into Persia 113 c. Prayers of the Persians 150 Of the Princes of the Blood and King's Sons 11. Their sad Fate ibid. What is
done to his Brothers who Mounts the Throne ib. c. Proverb Persian and the Occasion 117 Punishments Rigorous to those who are met when the King goes with his Haram 59. What sort they make use of for Criminals 131 c. For those who sell by false Measure or too dear 137. For the Crimes of Uncleanness 132. Divers other Punishments 136 Purification Persian 181 Q. Queen of Persia vid. Cassa and Mariam Kanum R. Raillery by the Son of the Great Mogul on the Court of Persia 64 c. Ramazan or Lent of the Mahometans 11 Rekib Kana-Agasi who 26 Religion of the Persians upon what grounded 180 Religion c. of the Gaures or ancient Persians Their Belief What Name the Modern Persians give ' em Their Opinions about the Fire Their manner of examining what shall be their Lots in the other Life Their Saints Divers Opinions and their Principal Feast 183 c. What benefit accrues by changing Religion c. 68 Revenue of the King of Persia 72 Rohna Dolvet's what they are 17 Revenge of a Christian upon a Turk 37 S. Sacrifices of the Persians how they are perform'd 149 c. Sadre Cassa Chief Pontiff of Persia and his Authority 12. His Titles Qualities and how much he is respected 13. His Jurisdiction 14 Sadre Elman Aleck second Pontiff ibid. His Function ibid. Sahab-Rakam's who they are 20 Seasons for Hunting very long in Persia 66 Seat of the King 45. Of the Officers near the King ibid. Of the Lords 46. Of the Musicians ibid. Of the Stewards ib. Sects different of Mahometans in Persia 154. Every Condition has its own ibid c. Security none either to buy or sell Houses or Lands in Persia 142 Siege Famous of Mourg-ab 81 c. Schools Publick of Persia 154 Strangers how receiv'd and Treated in Persia 2 Stratagems of the Persians 76. Towards the Hollanders 100 Subordination amongst the Priests of the Persian Religion 153 Sultan-Abdulla his Valour 81. His Garison revolt against him 84. His strange Resolution ibid c. He is taken and made Captive 86. His good Fortune in his Captivity ibid. He Commands the Enemies Army 87. He gains a Battel ibid. He obtains his Liberty ibid. His Reception and Re-establishment in Persia ibid. His Arrival causes an Alteration in the Persian Court 89 Superstitions of the Persians about Eating 65 T. Taxes of the Kingdom of Persia 68 Tamerlan from a mean Shepherd become a famous Conquerour 14 c. He overcomes Bajazet near the City of Angory in Galatia 4. Bajazet had but one Eye and Tamerlan but one Leg ibid. He Forces the Walls of China and enters Egypt and Greece 5. After his death Chick Sephi restores the Empire of Persia ibid. Tats and the Kzel-Baches who they are 27 Tefantchi-Agasi who 21 Tents of the King and his Ladies 60 Tomans what they are 72 Tombs of Hester and Mordecai 170 Toptchi-Bachi who 22 Tortures how practis'd and how many sorts 130 Treasures of the King of Persia 42 Treason of a certain Governour 82 Tribunal of Religion and its Chief Judge 142. Difficulties there decided 143 Tribute of Christians 69. Of Places of Debauchery 70. How the Money rais'd of these is employ'd 71 Trumpets speaking distinguish degrees of Honour in Persia 31 39 Troops of the King's Guards and their Number 72. Of the Frontiers of the Kingdom and their Number 74. Of the King's Forces in general and their Number 75 Turban its difference with that of the Turks 46. That which the King wears 47 V. A Vessel of Gold of the King of Persia 's 43 Vaki Anevis and his Office 24 Vackmiat Visiri who 26 Vali's who they are 30. Their Number ibid. Their Prerogatives at Court ibid. c. The Vice Roy's 32 Veli-Nahmet what this word signifies 99 Visier Elmulki who 19 Vizier Cassa who ibid Usbeg Tartars Naturally Barbarous 122 c. They have a numerous Army on Foot against the Persians 123. They have an Eye upon the Riches of the Town of Masched 125 W. Watch who are those that keep it 73 Wife Lawful of the King 62 Wine a Discourse about its Use 157 Witnesses how many are requir'd to prove a Debt and what Qualifications they must have according to the Mahometan Law 139 Workmen French entertain'd and Caress'd by the King of Persia 52. Their several Salaries ibid. How the King values their Works ibid. Workmen Chinese and others ibid. Z. Zendroud a River in Persia 54 Finis Tabulae