Chap. VI. of Monfieur Tavernier. 157 



There are alio three other Bridges upon the River, one above the Bridge of 

 Z*lfa y and two below. The firft but meanly built, but vdry commodious for the 

 Armenians, wh cn they travel Weftward,, who would elie be fore'd to go a great 

 way about , through the whole City of Jjpahan. 



The firft of the other two Bridges below the Bridge of Znlfa , was built by Sha* 

 Abas the fecond , Father of the prefent King. It is almoft equal to it in Structure \ 

 but it has one particular beauty , which is a hexagonal place in the middle of the 

 Bridge , which cauies the Water to fall in that part with a pleafing noiic. For that 

 being the decpeft part of the River , Sha-Abas refolv'd to build a Bridge there -, 

 partly for the Gaurs fake, to the end, they might not come through the walk of 

 Tcharbag , and that going from Jfpahan they might have a fhorter cut home. The 

 Habitation of the Gaurs is only a large Village , the firft Houfes whereof are but a 

 little way from the River, though the walk that goes from Jfpahan to the Kings Bridge 

 is both longer and broader than that of Tcharbag, planted on both fides with a row of 

 Trees, but no Channel in the middle. 



Before each of the Avenues to the Bridge ftands a Houfe that belongs to the 

 King for his divertiiement. That upon the left fide of the River toward Jfpahan, 

 was by the great Sha-Abas giv'n to the Capuchins. For as loon as they came to Jfpa- 

 han , upon their Examination , the King was extreamly tak'n with their behaviour. 

 He ask'd them how they liv'd , and whether they took any money ? To which the 

 Crfkcbins making anfwer , that they never handled any money but contented them* 

 fclves with Alms 5 the King believing his Subjects , would give them very little , 

 bellowed tjiat Houfe and Garden upon them. ' But they ftay'd not long there, be- 

 eaufe it was too big lor them to repair , and too far from the City, i'o that the Roman- 

 Catholick* in the Winter could not get to their Chappel. Now they have built them- 

 felves a very handlbm Houfe not far from the King's Palace , at the Coft of Father 

 Jofcfh, one of their own order. 



There is another old Bridge a quarter of a League below the Gaurs Bridge , 

 which is upon the Road from Jfpahan to Schtras. 



But to return to the long-walk of Tcharbag, which continues above eight hun- 

 dred paces beyond the Bridge of Znlfa to the Garden of Hezardgerib. The Rivu- 

 let that pafles that other part of the walk , comes from the fame River which they 

 have cut three or four Leagues above Jfpahan. When you have walk'd about four 

 hundred paces, you meet with a fall of Waters that tumbles into a Pool, from 

 whence, there are twelve fteps to afcend to the end of the Alley. The walk is 

 fronted by the great Houfe which ftands before the Garden of Hczardgerib , or 

 the thmf and Acres. The Houfe confifts but only of one great Hall over the Gate, 

 andfour fmall Chambers at the four corners of it. 



Hezardgerib is the faireft Garden in Afm, though it would be accounted no^ 

 thing in Eur of c. However as it lies upon the defcent of a Hill , it confifts of fixteen 

 Teraffes , iuftain'd by a Wall fixteen or feventeen foot high. There is but little 

 Water in any of the Wells •, but that which has moft is in the fourth Tcrrafs. That 

 is a great Octagonal Pool about a hundred and twenty foot in Diameter, round 

 about which are ieveral Pipes that throw up the Water about three foot high, and 

 there are three fteps down to the Water. A Channel pav'd with Stone runs through 

 the principal Alley , which goes no farther than the building. This Channel is as 

 wide as that of the Channel of Tcharbag , whence it is fupply'd as being right oppo- 

 fite to it. In the tenth Terrafi you meet with another Fountain of the fame bignefs 

 and form with that in the fourth •, and in the laft which terminates the Grand Alley 

 and the length of the Garden , there is another Channel which crofTes all the Alleys , 

 which, like the great one compote the length of the Alley. Befides this, there 

 are op'n Rooms to take the frefh Air , fame falls and murmurs of Water , but fot 

 borders and clofe Alleys, and Arbours, you muft expert no fuch thing , either in 

 Hex.ard'rerib , nor in any other part of Perfia. 



Having walk'd in the great walk of Tcharbag , you meet upon the right hand 

 with a'Street between two Walls of the Gardens that belong to the King , which 

 Street leads you to Znlfa , not above two or three Mufquet Shots diftance 

 off. - 



Znlfa a Colony of Armenians which Sha-Abas brought from Znlfa a City of 

 Armenia, is fc> much encreas'd for fome years fince , that it may now paft tor a 



Urge 



