Chap.V. of Monfieur T a vernier. 151 



well, which appears by the number of Arrows brought back, he is admitted a Mafter 

 by the approbation of the Kingfe Foot-men-, who are fuperior to all the reft. The 

 Rons or Governours of Provinces run their own Chaterr with the fame Ceremonies, 

 and in the fame manner. 



The Fortrcis of IJpahan is nothing at all confiderable. It joyns to the Wall upon 

 the South fide of the City, and is twice as long as broad j but without any defence in 

 the world , unlefs it be of fome pitiful Towers made of Earth. Here it is that the 

 King keeps all the Rarities which he has purchas'd , or that has been prefented to 

 him. F° r ^ t0 ms mam Treafure , I believe it confifls chiefly in Gold-Plate. Within 

 the Fortrefs there is a large Field , fow'd every year with Rice and Corn -, hard by 

 which ftands the Houfe of the Capuchin-Friars. 



Iflwhan in general , unlefs it be the Meydan and fome few archM Streets where the 

 Merchants live , is more like a great Village than a City *, the Houies (landing at a 

 dhlance one from the other, with every one a Garden , but ill look'd after, not 

 having any thing in it perchance but only one pitiful Tree : true it is that they begin 

 to build better of late days, but it is without the City. As for the Women, 'tis 

 not a pin matter whether they live out of the City or within , in regard they never 

 ftir out of doors, and as feldom go a-foot. 



The Mcydan or great Tiaz.z.4 of IJpahan was the contrivance of the great Sha- 

 Jbaf , who had never done it , if a great Prince of the ancient Race of the Kings 

 of *Perfia had not refus'd him the old Meydan , with feveral Priviledges , and the 

 Houfe that flood by it. Thereupon he defign'd this new Tiazza, to draw off the 

 Merchants, and to fpoil the old Market-place, by their departure from that quarter of 

 the City which is lefs inhabited at this day. It is not far from this old Meydan , that 

 the Anflin-Friars on the one fide , and the Carmelites on the other have their Habi- 

 tations. There are alio two fides of that Meydan entire , under the Portico's , where 

 fit only fuch people -as fell Herbs, Fruit, and Victuals •, the other two fides are almoft 

 fain to decay *, but when it was all (landing , it was as hancffom as the new one : and 

 it is to be wonder'd , that the Prince, who built it, did not choofe the place where 

 Sha-Abas has built his, as being near the Water, and confequently far more conve- 

 nient. 



The great Meydan then is a place about feven hundred Paces long , and between 

 two and three hundred broad. It has Buildings upon all the four fides"', it lyes 

 in length dire£lly North and South*, the Fronts are every one Portico'd , and Ter- 

 rals'd at the top-, and on the City-fide are little Chambers nine or ten Foot high, 

 which fall very much to decay, being only built of Brick bak'd in the Sun. They 

 are inhabited , the greateft part of them , by the mod infamous Curtifans of the 

 City. At fome Paces diflance from the Portico's , is a Channel which is pav'd with 

 done , and runs round about the Piazza ; Sha-Abas caus'd feveral Trees to be 

 planted by the fide of it, but both the Channel and the Trees being altogether 

 neglefted , are fain to decay •, befides , that the fmcll of the Water in the Summer 

 time is very noyfom. 



In the midfl of the Piazza ftands a kind of a May-Pole, or Maft of a Ship, where 

 the people excrcifc (hooting at Birds. When the King comes to (hoot , they fet 

 a Cup of Gold upon the top of the Maft , which he is to ftrike down with an Arrow. 

 To which purpofe he muft ride full fpecd , nor is he permitted to fhoot 'till after 

 he has part the May-Pole , turning himfelf upon the crupper of his Horfe : a remain 

 of the ancient cuftom of the Parthivu, that kilPd their Enemies flying. 



The Cup belongs to him that ftrikes it down*, and I have feen Sha-Sefi,G rand father 

 of the preient King , in five Courfes ftrike down three Cups. 



From this Maft or May-Pole down to the great Mofyiiec , they fell nothing but 

 Wood and Charcoal : from the fame Pole to the Sun-Dial upon the North-fide,are none 

 but fuch as fell old Iron-Tools, old Harnefs for Horfcs, old Coverlets, and other old 

 Brokery-warc , as in our Long-Lane. 



From the Pole to another Mbfquee, to the South, juft againft the Sun-Dial , is the 

 place for all the Poulterers. The reft of the Piazza toward the Palace, is always kept 

 clean, without any Shops, becaufc the King comes often abroad in the Evening to fee 

 Lions , Bears , Bulls , Rams , Cocks, and all other fort of Creatures fight which arc 

 brought thither. 



The people of JJpahan , as in many other Cities , are divided into two parts , the 



