Chap. II. of Monfieur T a ve rnie r. 3 



CHAP. If. 



Of the (Road from Conftantinople to Ifpahan , %bich the Author 

 kept in his firji Travels into Perfia. 



T is feldom that arty Caravans go from Conftantinople into Perfia ; but from 

 Bur fa they go every two Months: Burfa is the Capital City of Bitlynia, not 

 above three clays journey from Conftantinople, or a little more. Thele two Roads 

 meet at Cbabangi , where you may be from Burfa in two Days : and fo I will 

 only fpeak of the Roads horn Conftantinople to Ifpahan. This Journey is to be under- 

 taken either with the Caravan of Camels, or elfe ten or twelve Men in a Company, 

 well mounted and well arm'd. 



From Conftantinople , you crofs over to Scutari . upon the Coaft of Afia. 



Setting out from Scutari , the firft days journey is very pleafant , over Fields gayly 

 painted with Flowers in their leafon. At firft for forae time together , on both fides 

 the way, you lee nothing but fair Sepulchers with their Pyramids, and you may 

 eafily dilccrn the Womens Monuments from the Mens. For there is a Turbant upon 

 the Pyramid of the Mens Sepulcher, but the Pyramids of the Womens Monuments are 

 trimm'd with the Head-Attire which is worn by the Women of the Country. That 

 Evening you mud lye at Cartati, a Village or Bithynia , the next Day at Cebifa, 

 anciently Lybiffa , famous for the Tomb of Hannibal. In that place there are two 

 good Inns, and two fair Fountain?. 



The third Day you come to Ifnich , which is thought to be the ancient Nicea • one 

 part of the City is built upon the dei'cent of a Hill , the other part upon a Plain that 

 reaches to the Sea , and makes the golf of Ifnich. The Haven confifts of two Moles 

 made of Frcc-ftonc, and three great Enclofures encompafs'd with Walls , which lervc 

 inflcad of fo many Arfcnals , wherein there are Store-houfes full of large Timber 

 for building Houfes and Galleys. The Country round about being an excellent place 

 for Hunting , and the Soil bearing rare Fruits , and rich in Wine , caus'd Sultan 

 Amur an to build a Seraglio in the higheft part of the Town, from whence there is 

 a profpecT: at the lame time both over the Sea and the Country. The Jews inhabit 

 the greateft part of the Town, dealing chiefly in Timber and Corn. When the Wind 

 ferves, you may go from Conftantinople to Ifnich in feven or eight Hours , there being 

 no danger in the palTage. 



The fourth Day you (lay at Chabxngi, a fmall Town built upon the fide ef a Lake, 

 call'd Chaban-Gigul, where there are two Inns. From the beginning of the Lake 

 for two Leagues together you travel partly over Mountains , partly by the Lake- 

 fide, where in ibme places the Horfe will be up to the Belly. This Lake is not above 

 ten Leagues in compaf, :, but it yields great ftore of large Fifth, inibmuch that I 

 have bought a Pike two Foot and a half long for three Sous. Many Emperours have 

 had a defign to make a Cutt out of this Lake into the Sea , for the more eafie tranf- 

 por-ting to Conftantinople the Timber which grows upon the Mountains near the Lake. 

 And if the Grand Vifur , who by a Miracle dy'd in his Bed, and left his Son fuc- 

 ceflbr to his Employment, had liv'd fomc few Years longer , he had no qucftion added 

 this to the reft of thole famous Works that eterniz'd his Memory. 



Departing from Chabandi, you come to lye at Night upon the Bank of a River call'd 

 Zacarat, which runs Northward and falls into the Blacl^Sca. It is a River plentiful 

 inFifh, and you crofs over it with a wooden Bridge. There is neither Town, nor 

 Inn in that place ; but a League from the River is a great Town call'd Ada, the chiefeil 

 part of the Inhabitants whereof are Armenians. Thither we fent for excellent good 

 Wine , and other nccefTary refrefhments. 



From that River to Cancoly, where you lye the next Night, and have your choice 

 of four Inns-, you travel all the day in the Merfhes, over wooden Bridges and 

 Caufeys. 



Tmkebafir is the next place , a fmall Village with two Inns. From thence to Car- 

 gucflar, a great Town, with one Inn^ built upon a River, where there is great 

 ftore ofFifh taken, which the Inhabitants call Boxrma-babnky , that is to fay, the 



A 2 Fifk 



