Chap.VI. o/Monlieur Tavernier. 155 



i • CHAP. VI. 



Of Zulpha , a little City > feparateJ from Ifpahan by the ^yer 

 Senderou. 



Vlpha , which others call Julpha and Giolpha , is diftant from Ifpahan to- 

 ward the South half an hours walk, the River Senderou running almoft at 

 an equal diftance between the two Cities. The way that leads from one 

 City to another is a Walk fome fifteen hundred Paces long , and feventy 

 broad, almoft equally divided by the River. It begins from a Pavilion or Tabernacle 

 forty foot fquare , which joyns to the hinder part of the King's Houfe, with a 

 double Story i to which feveral Windows give light, clos'd with wooden Lattices 

 very artificially wrought. None but tlie King and his Houfhold pafs that way into 

 the Walk. For they that go from Jjpahan to Zulpha , find the way into the Walk 

 through a Gate which is clofc adjoyning to the Tabernacle. This Walk is call'd 

 the Street of Tcharbag , or the Street of four gardens. 



A Channel runs all along the Walk from the Tabernacle, where a little Rivulet 

 falls into it , and fills it as far as the great Bridge. The two fides of the Channel 

 which are pav'd with Stone, and are two or three Foot broad, make one way, which 

 Paflcngcrs may, and many times do take , for the ufual way both for Hoi fe and Foot, 

 lyes upon each fide of the Walk , behind the Trees, which are planted in a {freight 

 line to the very Walls of the King's Gardens, which clofe the Alley on each fide. 

 It is a kind of a Caufey of Frcc.ftone, ibmewhat rais'd, and four or five Foot broad. 

 There is but one row of Trees on each fide , ftraight and high , call'd Tchinards, 

 with one tuft at the top. The fpace between the Channel and the Trees is not 

 pavM , but lyes common , and is lometimes fow'd. About two hundred Paces from 

 the Tabernacle or Banqueting-houfc, the River falls into a great Pool, about thirty 

 or thirty-five Foot in diameter-, and in that place, as alio in others Ibmewhat beyond 

 it, where there are alio other Pools, the Walk is crofsM by a Caufey pav'd and rais'd, 

 ten or twelve Foot broad, as the reft are. Upon the left hand of the firft Pool ftands 

 another Tabernacle or Banqueting-houfc , much alike in ftrufture and bignefs to the 

 former-, in which place, in a low arch'd Room with a Fountain of Water in the 

 middle , you may go and drink Coffee. From that Houfe to the Bridge the Walk 

 defcends, and the Water makes fome tails. 



All the Gardens on each fide of the Walk , both on this fide and beyond the Bridge, 

 belong to the King. But you muft not imagin that thefe Gardens , or that of 

 Htz.ard>erib) which is the faireft of all Perfia , are fo curioufiy fet out , nor fo well 

 kept as ours in Europe. For they have no fuch lovely Borders , nor fuch clofe Walks 

 of Honey fucklcs and Jafmin as are to be feen in the Gardens of Europe. They 

 fuffer the Grals to grow in many places -, contented only with a good many great 

 Fruit-trees, tufted a-top, and planted in a line , which is all the grace of the Gardens 

 of Perfia. f 



In each fide of the Walls between which the Walk runs , at a true diftance ot 

 fpace, are gates neatly contriv'd, and over each a little Room. Almoft in the middle 

 of the Walk between the great Banqueting-houfe and the Bridge , upon the left 

 hand , (lands a Houfe of the Dervi\ to whom the King has giv'n one of his Gardens 

 to build upon.. There they keep the Rclicks of Haly> or fome other Prophet \ for 

 you (hall fee them (landing under a certain Arch, before which the Perfuwt make 

 a mod profound Reverence. Thefe Dervts come every Afternoon about three or 

 four a Clock into the Bazars of Ifpalian , every two, an old one and a young one, 

 choofing his quarter. They go from Shop to Shop, inftrufling the People upon iome 

 Point or other of the Law: the young Dervts anfwering the old ones at certain 

 times. Their Habit is only two Sheep-skins or Goat-skins , the one hanging heiore, 

 the other behind , with a great leathern Girdle, four or five fingers broad , garnijh'd 

 with feveral great Plates of Latten. They throw another Sheep-skin crols their 

 Shoulders, which they tyc before,under their Chins. Upon their Heads they only wear 

 a little Lamb-skin in form of a Bonnet , letting the ket hang down to their Necks, 



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