Chap. X. of Monfieur Tavernier, 95 



put my choiceft Goods in a Cheft directed for the Hollaad Commander at Qrnms , by 

 which means 1 got the Cuftom free. 



The Perfian Gulf is the moft dangerous Gulf I know , by reafon of the fhallow- 

 nefs and (harp Promontories that point out into the Sea j and therefore the beft way 

 is to take a Pilot atOrmus or Bander-Congo , and the moftproper Pilots are the Fisher- 

 men , who are only skill'd in that Sea and no farther. The SoyI about the Per fan 

 Gulf is dry Sand and without Water, fothat it is impoffible to Travel by Land from 

 Ortnkt to Balfara. The Merchants would be glad to find a way through the Coaft 

 of Arabia to get to Mafcate , whence there might a cut be made to Sindi , Din , 

 or Swat, which are the three chief Ports of India. During the difference between 

 the King of Perfia and the Hollanders , the Emir of Vodana an ^Arabian Prince , 

 offcr'd to fhew them an eafie Road from Mafcate to Balfara. But the Philanders 

 fearing to break with the King of Perfia, where they vended above fifteen or 

 fixteen hundred thoufand pounds of their Pepper, and paid therewith for all their Silk, 

 did not think it worth their while to quit Ormm to fettle themfelves at Maf 

 cate'. 



Hid it been yielded to , the way had been from Balfara to Elcatif a Sea-Town 

 in Arabia the Happy , where there is a Fifhcry for Pearls that belongs to the Smir 

 of Elcatif. From Elcatif to Mafcalat , another City of Arabia , and the refidence 

 of another Emir. From Mafcalat to Vodana , a good handfom City feated upon the 

 meeting of two little Rivers that carry Barques to the Sea , and run together by the 

 finglenameof Moyefitr. The Soyl about Vodana produces no Corn, and very little 

 Rice-, but it abounds in Fruits, efpecially Prunes and Quinces, which are not fo 

 four as ours, and are eaten by the Natives as Pears. There are extraordinary good 

 Melons and great Store of Grapes, of which the Jews, w r ho inhabit the beft part of 

 the City , are permitted to make Wine. From Vodana to the Gulf, the County 

 of each fide is full of Palm-Trees , the Dates being the Food of the common people, 

 who have not Money to buy either Corn or Rice. From Vodana to Mafcate it is 

 but fifteen Leagues, though by the Maps, which are Erroneous, the way is defcrib'd 

 to be much longer. 



Being at Ornms , the Emiroi Vodana fhew'd me a Pearl tran (parent and perfectly 

 round , that weigh'd feventeen Abas , or fourteen Carats and feven Eights •, for in 

 all the Pearl Fifheries of the Eaft they ufe no other weights but Abas, which make 

 feven Eights of a. Carat. I offer'd him 300000 P i afters , or 60000 Roupies for the 

 fame Pearl , but the Emir refus'd to take it, telling me that he had been orFer'd 

 more Money for it by feveral Princes of Afia , who had lent to him to buy it, but 

 that he was refolv'd never to part with it. 



CHAP. X. 



Of the Authors firjl Voyage 9 and the adventures of four French- 

 men. 



I Departed out of Paris in the year 1657, and Embark'd at MarfeiUes for 

 Ligorn. 

 We fet Sail from Ligorn feven Veffels together, two bound for Venice , one 

 for Conflantinople , one for Aleppo , and three for Smyrna, in one of which be- 

 ing a Dutch Veflel I Embark'd. But before I leave Smyrna, to begin my Journey 

 from Tauris , give me leave to relate the ftory of four French-men , the various acci- 

 dents whereof will much enlight'n the Reader into the Cuftoms and Manners , as 

 well of the Turks as Perfians. 



While I ftay'd the departure of the Caravan, which could not be ready in five or 

 fix Weeks, as alfo upon the advice of a rich Jew and a Merchant of Jewels at Conftan- 

 tinople, who had feveral Pearls to fell , as well for their beauty as their bignefs, the 

 beft Commodity a man can carry to the Indies , I fent to Cenftanmioplc a perfon that I 



carry'd 



