74 The Persian Travels Book I L 



feveral Fenns and hot Waters , that part the two Empires. Entring thus into 

 Perfia, we met with a high "Mountain cover'd with fair Oaks , which bear the Gall- 

 Nuts, fo high , that the Caravan was fome hours ere it could get to the top. As 

 we aicended , but efpecially when we were up, we heard feveral Muskets go off. 

 At frrft we thought the people had been hunting the wild Boars or Stags, of which 

 the Mountains are full : but the report of the Guns being too loud and too thick 

 for Hunters, we flood upon our guard-, and I believe we fhould have mended 

 our paces , had we known what was intended us. Befides , I remember'd that the 

 Country-people would not fell any thing but for Powder and Bullet , which the 

 Caravan-Bafiri advis'd me not to let them have , for fear they fhould make ufe of it 

 againft our felves. From the Mountain we defcended into a fertil Plain , water'd 

 with feveral Rivers-, and night approaching, we fet up our Tents, not fearing any 

 thing, becaufe we were in the Dominions of the King of Perfia, where there is 

 fo much fecurity in travelling. After that we lent our Servants to the Tents of 

 the Country-men , but they brought us nothing but Bread made of Acorns , than 

 which the poor people thereabouts eat no other. This Acorn is about the bignefs of 

 our Nuts*, and once I met with a Branch that had thirty Acorns, and twenty-three 

 Gall-Nuts , all at one time growing upon it. 



The Province which we travel'd through then , compos'd the gveatcft part of 

 the ancient AJJyria. But now to come to the Story of Dominico de Santu the Ve- 

 netian. He had Letters of Credence from the Pope, the Emperour, the King of 

 Poland, and the Republick of Venice , to the King of Perfia ; and he went in the 

 Caravan through the Grand Signer's Territories , never difcovering himfelf who 

 he was ; but coming into Perfia, he took upon him without fea* the Title of Ambaffa- 

 dor from the Commonwealth of Vc?nce. 



From the Plain where we lodg'd , it is two days journey to a good big Town , to 

 which belongs a Fortrefs , where the Governour of the Province has a Lieutenant, 

 with about two thoufand Horfe under his Command. The Fortrefs is upon the 

 right hand toward the South , after three hours riding upon the High-way. To 

 this Lieutenant , the Caravan-Bafln was according to duty bound to give notice of 

 the Arrival of the Caravan . and an account of the Perfons and their Merchandize. 

 This Venetian was a perfon ill fitted for the quality of an Ambaflador , hem* a 

 perfon of no Parts*, which made me wonder that fuch great Princes, and lb wife 

 a Commonwealth {hould fend fuch a perfon upon a Concern of that importance". 

 For the Grand Signer then afTailing Candy , he was lent to excite the King of Perfia 

 to engage him in a War againft the Turk^, thereby to keep off the Storm that 

 threaten'd Chriftendom. Thereupon I told. the Ambaflador, that it was necefTary 

 for him to give the Commander of the Fort firft notice of his coming, to the end 

 he might give advice thereof to Solyman-Kan Governour of the Province, whole 

 duty it was to advertife the King. Thereupon he requefted me to fend my Inter- 

 preter, which I did. Upon whole intelligence the Lieutenant of the Fort came 

 to Compliment the Ambaflador on the behalf of the chief Commander , and to 

 conduct him to the Caftle. 



Thereupon the Ambaflador , my felf, and my Interpreter, together with fome 

 Armenian Merchants went with him , travelling for three hours over the Mountains. 

 By that time we came half the way, as we pafs'd through a Wood, we heard 

 as it were fome perfon give a Whiftle:, at which when the Lieutenant perceiv'd us 

 to be fomewhat ftartl'd , he carry'd us to the place from whence the Whiftle came, 

 where we faw a Serpent about as big as a Man's Thigh , and about twelve Foot 

 long , whole head was fqueez'd between two Trees , that put him to pain. From 

 that Mountain we defcended into a pleafant Plain , where the Commander of the 

 Fortrefs {laid for us under his Tent. He had let it up by the fide of a River , under 

 the (hade of feveral great Walnut-trees. So foon as he faw us , he rofe from his 

 great Silk Tapcftry Coverlet, and (aimed us in a moft civil manner, telling us, that 

 afiuredly Sha-Abas, his Mafter, would be very glad to hear that the Monarchs of 

 Chriftendom had fent him an Ambaflador , and that he would write to Solyman-Kan, 

 whofe duty it was to advertife the Emperour. Thereupon he wrote and difpatch'd 

 away a Meflenger , giving him order to tell the Deroga , or Judge of the Town, 

 through which we were to pais , that he (hould make Provifion for us and our 

 Morfes 'till we came to the Governour. After he had ask'd us feveral Queftiotis 



concerning 



