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^o The Persian Travels Book I % 



There are two forts of Camels •, the one which is proper for hot Countries, 

 the other for cold Countries. 



The Camels in hot Countries , fuch as go from Ormtu to Ijpahan , cannot travel 

 if the Ground be dirty and flippery, for their Bellies burft, while their hinder 

 Quarters rive from their Bodies. Thefe are fmall Camels , that carry not above 

 five or fix hundred Pound weight ', but they are kept for little , and endure Thirft 

 a long time. They do not tye them Head to Tayl , as they do the great ones, but 

 let them go as they plcafe themfelves, like a Herd of Cows. The Camel-driver 

 follows them fmging, and lbmetimes playing upon his Pipe: the louder he fings 

 and pipes, the fafter the Camels go*, nay they will ftand ftill when he gives over his 

 Mufick. When the Camel-drivers come to a Heathy Ground , they will give them 

 leave to feed for half an hour, taking their Tabacco the while-, and then finging 

 them together again , they fet forward. The Camels bred in the Deferts are hand, 

 fom , but very tender , fo that they muft be gently us'd , and never be put upon 

 long Journies. However, they eat and drink lefs than others, and endure thirft 

 more patiently. 



The Camels of cold Countries , fuch as thofe that travel from Tawris to Conftan- 

 flantiwple, are large Camels, that carry great Burthens , and will pull themfelves out 

 of the dirt : But in fat Grounds and flippery Ways the Drivers are fain to fpread 

 Carpets, fometimes an hundred one behind another:, othcrwife their hinder Quarters 

 are alio apt to rive from their Buttocks : but if the Road be flippery for too great 

 a diftance together , there is no way but to tarry 'till it be dry'd up and fair. Thefe 

 Camels ufually carry a thoufand Pound weight : but if the Merchant has any hank 

 upon the Camel-driver , he will lay upon every Camel fifteen hundred weight, 

 thereby making two of three Burthens. This the Merchants do , when they come 

 near the Cuftom-Houfes, efpecially that of Erz.erom , which is the moft levere. The 

 Merchant does this for his own Profit: So that when the Cuftomer miftrufting, 

 demands how fo many Camels come to travel empty, he makes anfwer, that they were 

 Camels that car ry'd Proviflon : But the Cuftomer moft commonly winks at that good 

 Husbandry of the Merchant , for fearoflofing his Cuftom, and obliging the Mer- 

 chant to take another Road. 



There is as much knavery among the Camel-drivers , as among our Horfc-Courfers. 

 For I remember, that being once at Cafbin, a Perfian Merchant, thinking he had 

 bought eight good Camels , was deceiv'd in four which he thought the beft : He 

 terily believing they had been fat and in good cafe , but they were only blown up. 

 For thofe Cheats have a trick to cut a Hole near the Tail , of which the Purchafer 

 takes no notice, and which they know neatly how to fow up again: In this Hole 

 they will blow till they have puft up a lean Camel , that he (hall appear as fat and 

 plump as the founded that ever fed : whereby they often deceive the quickeft 

 fights , efpecially when the Hair is all off, and that the bare Skin is all rub'd over 

 with Tar. 



CHAP. XII. 



Of the Coyns and Money of Perfia. 



N the firft place, you muft take notice that there are no Pieces of Gold coyn'd 

 in Perfia , but only fome few, to be thrown among the People when a new 

 King afcends the Throne : which Pieces are neither currant among the Mer- 

 chants, nor of a certain Price. When the Solemnity is over, they who get 

 the Pieces, are not fo curious to keep them , but carry them to the Changer, who 

 gives them the value in currant Money. Thefe Pieces of Gold may be worth five 

 ♦ A Frank is * Franks, about the finenefs of ^W/w-Ducats. Once I receiv'd ten thoufand of 

 worth 2 s. them of one Merchant, at a prefix'd rate} for their value is uncertain, 

 sterling. Jn ^ fecond p j ace ob fc ryc ? That the Si j ver ^ p ^ ^ g ^ ^ whether it be 



inBarrs, or in Plate, or in Money, and it is taken for itsgoodnefs. For when a 



Merchant 



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