64 The Persian Travels Book II. 



embroider'd Quiver full of Arrows, together with a Buckler , the whole coming 

 to about eleven or twelve hundred Livers', and adding to thel'e of his own a piece 

 of Scarlet , four pieces of Tiffue of Gold and Silk , and fix pieces of Tifliie of Silver 

 and Silk, made a Prefent of all together to the Emir. But he rcfus'd all, demanding 

 only two hundred thoufand Fiaflers for Larins : which exchange being no way for 

 the Merchants profit, rais'd a great dilputc. But at length, confidering that it was 

 in his power to flop and ftarve us there, we only endeavour'd a Compofition •, which 

 was obtain'd. Thereupon he took the Prefent, which perhaps he would not ellehave 

 done. For two days that we (laid to weigh the Money , he lent Provifions to the 

 chief of the Caravan; and at our departure, he lent us twelve Frails of Dates, 

 and four young Camels that might be worth about forty Crowns a-piece. 



Two days after we met a Scheie who among the Arabians is one of the chief of 

 the Law. He was going to Mecca , erofs ibme part of Arabia the Happy , with a 

 Train of ten or twelve Camels. He ftaid all night with us, and one ot his Servants 

 having been dangeroufly wounded about two days before with a Musket-bullet, 

 my Chirurgeon dreft him, and gave him Salve and Tents, for which he was extremely 

 thankful. He lent me to Supper a great Difh of Pilaw, and the next day a whole 

 Sheep. The Caravan-Bafn likewife prefented him with two Ells of Scarlet. 



The next we met with nothing worth obfervation , but the day following we 

 met another Emir , of about Five and Twenty years of age , who came from 

 Euphrates , and was travelling into the Happy ^Arabia. He had with him about 

 five hundred Horfe , and three hundred Camels that carry'd his women. He pre- 

 fently fent to know what Caravan it was, and underftanding that it coftftfted of 

 many Franks , among whom there was a Chirurgeon : He fent again to defire the 

 Caravan B.ijbi to follow with the Caravan , to the place where he intended" to 

 pitch his Tents , which was not far out of the way. We did not think to have 

 gone lb far that day, but he led us to the bell water in all the Defer r. 7 he Princes 

 Tent being fet up, he fent for my Chirurgeon, with whom I went along to know 

 what his pleafure was. He had upon his left Arm a Tetter , with a moft filthy 

 Scab as broad as a Crown piece *, and this went and came at certain times in the 

 year. He prefently ask'd the Chirurgeon whether he could cure him ? to whom 

 the Chirurgeon made anfwer , that the cure was not irupoffible , provided he knew 

 where to get fuch remedies as were convenient : For had he laid, he could haveablb- 

 lutely cur'd him , the Emir would have carryM him away with him , without 

 any farther Ceremony. Thereupon he would have giv'n the Chirurgeon five hun- 

 dred Crowns to have bought Medicines. But I made anfwer, that the cure would 

 not coft fo much, and that if the Chirurgeon could meet with proper Drugs, I 

 would lay out the Money myfelf. The Emir content with that anfwer, fent one 

 of his chief People to Balfara , to come back with the Chirurgeon , when he had 

 bought his Medicines. He himfelf ftay'd three days in expectation of him; but 

 after we had pretended to fcek for what we wanted , up and down the Town 

 ( for we enquired for fuch things as we knew were not to be had ) we fent him back 

 word that wc could not find what we look \\ for, and defir'd his excufe , in regard 

 the attendance of the Chirurgeon would be of no ufe , where he had not proper 

 remedies*, which was the only way we could think of, to get cleverly rid of 

 him. 



The next days Journey after we had left the ^Arabian Prince , was through a 

 Country altogether uninhabited ■, but the day following , which was the fixty- 

 fifth and laft day of our being in the Defert , we met after fome time, with the 

 ruines of fome houfes on both fides the way -, which made us conjecture , that 

 fome great City had flood formerly in that place. 



At length we came to Balfara , which I fliall defcribe in another place. 



While I ftay'd at Balfara , which was about three weeks , an AmbafTador from 

 the Great Mogul arriv'd there , who from Co?iftantinoplc went to Bagdat to congra- 

 tulate the Grand Signor for the Conqueft of that City which he had taken in fo 

 fhort a time. The Emperour prefented him with three (lately Horfes , and a little 

 Watch , the Cafe whereof was fet with Diamonds and Rubies. But the Ambaf- 

 fador not knowing what belong'd to that little Engin , winding it up the wrong 

 way , broke the firing. Coming to Balfara he fent to the Carmelites to defire them 

 to mend his Watch; for he fear'd the lofs of his head, fhould he return to his 



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