Chap.V. of Monfieur Tavernieb. 25 



Out of this Court you pafs into another which is lei's , and pav'd with broad 

 Stones, with a Rivulet running through the middle. The Entry into it is through 

 a Door, fortifi'd with Iron Chains like the former, and is made at a corner of the 

 great Court upon the left hand. It brings you prefently under a Portico , where 

 there are fair Balconies rais'd after the fafhion of the Country. Thofe Balconies 

 are full of feveral People •, either Pilgrims , or peribns whole Crimes conftrain them 

 thither for San&uary. In that place you muft leave your Stick and your Sword, 

 before you go any farther:, and give fomething befidcs to a Moallak, who is always 

 attending there with Books. 



In that fecond Court through which the Rivulet glides , on the one fide are Baths, 

 on the other Granaries for Rice and Corn •, and upon the left hand , at the end of 

 the lame Court, there is a little Door which brings you to a place where the Royal 

 Alms are diftributed to the Poor, Morning and Evening;, being juft againft the 

 King's Kitchin. This Gate is cover'd with Plates of Silver ■ and in the Kitchin 

 there are about thirty Ovens contriv'd in the Wall , with as many great Caldrons 

 to drels Pilaw and other Food, as well for the Poor as for the Officers of the Mofquce. 

 While thele Alms are diftributing, the Mafter-Cook , who commands all the reft, 

 fetsupon a Chair cover'd with Plates of Silver, and lees that every thing be done in 

 order. He fees to the meafuring out the Rice every day for the Kettles, and 

 caufes the VLftuals to be divided in his own fight: For there is an excellent Oeco- 

 noray in the King's Houfe. 



At the end of the Portico beyond the firft Court there are two Gates, one beyond 

 another, both cover'd with Plates of Silver; between thole two Gates on the 

 right hand appears a little Mofqnee, where are the Tombs of feveral Per/fart Princes 

 of the Blood Royal. You muft have a great care not to tread upon the Tbrefholds 

 of the Gates*, for it is a Crime not to be expiated without a fevere Punifhment. 

 From hence through a little lie , you come into the Body or the Church, richly 

 hung with Tapeftry, and let about with high Desks , where lye a great many Books, 

 wherein the MoulLihs , or Doctors of the Law read continually , having Stipends 

 to Officiate in the Mofqucc. At the end of the Body of the Mofqnee , "is a little 

 Octagonal Monument , like the Choir of a Church, in the midft whereof {lands the 

 Monument of Sha-Stfi. It is only of Wood , but curioufly carv'd and inlaid. It 

 exceeds not the height of a Man of an ordinary ftature , and feems like a great Cheft, 

 having four Apples of Gold let up at each corner. It is cover'd with a Crimfon 

 Satin purfi'd witn Gold •, and all the other Tombs that are by it , are cover'd with 

 Silks as rich. As well in the Choir as in the Body of the Church , 'there are abun- 

 dance of Lamps, lome of Gold, fomc of Silver*, bu.t the biggeft of all is of Silver^ 

 gilded and vermilion'd, and neatly engrav'd. There are alio fix great Branches of a 

 curious fort of Wood, cover'd with Silver, with great Wax Candles in them , which 

 are never lighted but at their great Feftivals. 



From the Duomo where ftands the Tomb of Sba-Scfi , you go under a little Vault, 

 which enclofes another Monument of another King of Perpa , whofc Name I could 

 not learn. It looks like another great Cheft, curioufly wrought, and cover'd 

 with Satin. The Roof of the Mofqnee is adorn'd within with a Painting of Gold 

 and Azure, a la Morcfque ; on the outfide, with a fair VarnifTi of feveral Colours, 

 like the (lately M«fqnce at Twis. 



In the adjacent Parts round about ArdeUil are feveral Monuments worth a Man's 

 fight, being very ancient-, and fome which are ruih'd , fricw by what remains the 

 care which they took to enrich them with curious Workmanfhip. A quarter of. 

 a League from the City ftands a Mofqnee , in which are the Tombs of the Father 

 and Mother of Sba-Sefi. It is a fair Structure, with Gardens and Courts, in one 

 of which there is a very clear Fountain where they keep Fifh.. 



Ardenil is not only famous , as I have faid already , for the Royal Sepulthers 

 which are in it, and for the Pilgrimages which have been made to it from all part? 

 offerfui but the numerous Caravans of Silk, which fome times confift of eight or 

 nine hundred Camels, add very much to its Grandeur, For being near to (jnilan 

 and Shtmaquiy from whence thofe vaft quantities of Silk come*, and for that the 

 Road from both thofe places , to Conftaxtinople and Smyrna, lyes through this .City, 

 there is a continual confluence of Merchants, - and all forts of Merchandizes are here 

 to be had as well as at Taitris* 



D Ftfdra 



