Chap.IH. of Monfieur Tavernier. 65 



VVhidTis the reaibn" that this Mofquee is no more ennch'd by the Ptrjfak For 

 bcfides th<> Lamps and Tapers that burn continually, there are only two MmBa&s 

 that read the Acoran according to cuftom. In this Town there are only three or 

 lour bad Wells of brackifh Water, and a dry Channel, which they lay Sha-Abas 

 made to bring the Water of Euphrates to the Town for the benefit oi the PugntK. 

 As for Food, we met with nothing but Dates, Grapes, and Almonds, which the 

 people fold at a dear rate. When any Pilgrims come thither, which is very rare, 

 and that they want Viduals, the Shecl^ caui'es a diftribution to be made among 

 them of Rice boy I'd with Water and Salt, and a little Butter pour'd a top. For 

 there is- no Pafturage for Cartel, and by coniequence there can be no (lore of 



Food 



Two days journey from Ai\ Town, by nine of the Clock in the morning we met 

 two voun* Arabian Lords that took upon them the name of Sultans. They were 

 two Brothers, one of the age of fev.enteen years, the other of thirteen-, and us 

 we pitch'd our Tents , they pitch'd theirs dole by us*, which were of a very fine 

 Scarlet Cloth-, and among the reft there was one covered with Purple Velvet, lae'd 

 with a rich Galoon-lace. So foon as they were ietl'd in their Tents, the Caravan- 

 Balhi and I went to wait upon them •, who undemanding that there were Franks 

 in the Caravan, ask'd me whether I had any Curiofities to fell them j but when I 

 made them anfwer that I had nothing worthy their purchafe, they would not 

 believe me , and therefore commanded the Curavan-Bajhi to fetch my Trunks , that 

 they might be open'd in their preience. While they were opening , one of the 

 chief pcrfons about thole Princes would not fuller any of the reft ol the Arabs to 

 come near, for though moftof the Aabs are great Thieves , yet fome of them are 

 perfons of great integrity. Now I had in my company a young Painter, who had 

 in his Cheft fevera! engravM ( uts , part Landskips , part Figures , together with 

 the Piftures of certain Courtifans drawn to the Waft. 'I he young Lords made 

 choice only of twenty of thole Courtifans , which I would have prefented to them^ 

 but they gave me to'underftand, that they knew how to pay for what they had, 

 and efpecially the youngeft , who feem'd to be very generous •, him I plcas'd in an 

 extraordinary manner-, for his Teeth being very foul, I order'd a Chirurgeon that 

 I carry'd along with me at the fame time to clean them, which he did to the great 

 iatisfoaion of the young Prince. Thereupon they lent me and my Train , of their 

 heft Victuals they had. The Caravan-Safin prefented them with half a piece of 

 Scarlet , and two pieces of TifTue of Gold and Silver. When we were ready to go, 

 the young Sultan gave me twelve Ducats for my Pictures , and lent the Caravan- 

 Bajln and my felf two Frails of the beft Dates that we had met with fince we left 

 Aeffo. 



About midnight the Princes diflodg'd , and took to the North, toward Euphrates. 

 We fct forward after them , driving Northward toward the fame River. After we 

 had travePd four days we met one of the moft potent Emirs of Arabia , who coming 

 from the South , and going Northward , was to crois the Road that we kept. He 

 was about fifty vears of age, well made, and of a comely preience. He had not 

 then above two thoufand Horfe , of thirty thoufand which we heard had pafs'd by 

 fome days before. Behind the two thoufand Horfe were fifty Camels that carry'd 

 his Women*, their Cajavas being cover'd with Scarlet-cloth fring'd with Silk. In 

 the midft of thefe Camels there were fix encompafs'd with Eunuchs , the Fringes of 

 the Cajavas being Silk, Silver, and Gold. The Arabians 60 not fcem to be jealous 

 of their Wives , as in Turkic and other places -, for they led their Camels by ou* 

 Caravan , never requiring us to retire, as is the cuftom in other places. They lodg'd 

 a quarter of a League off, where we thought to have pitch'd , for the conveniency 

 of two or three Ponds , which they depriv'd us of. This Arabian Prince had a 

 great number of lovely Horfes richly harnefs'd : others he had that were neither 

 fadPd nor bridl'd, yet the Riders would turn them with a W 7 and which way they 

 pleas'd, and upon a full gallop would flop 'em, by only holding them by the Hair. 

 He had fome Horfes of an exceflive price-, and this is to be obferv'd , that they are 

 never (hod. 



The Gvavan-Bafiti believing he mould not ellape fcot-free from fo powerful a 

 Prince, among the Merchants of the Caravan found out a rich Saddle, with Bridle 

 and Stirruns, which were all fet out and gamifhM with many Silver, with an 



ensjbroidcr'd 



