160 The Persian Travels Book IV. 



ftrangers, and never ftirring out of their houfes. There are ferae Armenians fp ca k 

 Julian and French , as having learnt it in Europe. 



There are in Z alpha fifteen or fixtccn Churches and Chappels of the Armenians, 

 among which you are to count two Nunneries for Women. There are in JJpahan 

 Auftin-Fmvs , Carmelites , and Capuchins , and in Zdpha Jej'uits. The Jefaits that 

 came laft have but a little Houfe, but to make them amends they have a large Garden. 

 Though the number of the Religious Teachers is far greater then the number of 

 Hearers : for in all Ifpahan and Z alpha, take the Frank* that come out of Europe, or 

 born in Perfia , as well Men as Women, there are not fix hundred perfons that profefs 

 the Catholick Religion. As for the Armenians, they are fo obftinately fix'd to their 

 own Religion, that they will hear of no other •, and nothing but Money has fome- 

 timescaus'd them to feign the embracing of another. Friar Ambrofe a Capuchin ftaid 

 a while at Zulpha , to whom feveral of the principal Armenians came to School to 

 learn French , in hopes of eftablifhing a Trade With, France. But the Armenian 

 Archbifhop and Bifhops fearing left the Children fhoulcl be infected with fome other 

 Religion, excommunicated all Fathers that lent their Children to School. And finding 

 that they little regarded the Excommunication, they Chut up the Church doors , and 

 ftir'd up the People againft the Religious Franks -, fo that Father Ambrofe was fore'd 

 to leave Perfia, and retire to Sarat. 



Moreover there are in JJpahan both Jews and Indian Idolaters. Nor arc the J eves 

 fo miferable and beggarly, as they feem to be : they intrude, according to cuftom, into 

 all Bufmefs •, fo that if any has a mind to buy or fell any rich Jewel , he need do no 

 more but (peak to them. In the Reign of Sha-Abas, the Athtmadoidct perfecutcd them 

 fo gricvoufly, that either by force or by cunning he caus'd them to turn Mahometans-, 

 but the King understanding that only power and fear had conftrain'd them to turn, 

 fuffer'd them to relume their own Religion , and to live in quiet. 



There are about ten or twelve thoufand Banians in Ifpaban y who are known by their 

 yellow Complexions , or rather by a yellow Mark made with Saffron upon the top of 

 their Foreheads. Their Turbants are lefs than ufual, and their Shooes are almoft like 

 ours, embroider'd with Flowers a-top. They are all Bankers, and very knowing in 

 Money. The greateft part of the Money of the principal Money'd men of JJpahan 

 is in their hands for improvement fake. So that if you want a considerable Sum, you 

 may have it the next day upon good Security, and paying fevere a Intereft,which thofe 

 Banians will Iqueez up lometimes to 18 per Cent. But if it be not very privately 

 exacted and paid, the Law of Mahomet , which forbids the taking of Intcreft , lays 

 hold upon the whole Sum, and confiscates it every Penny. 



CHAP. VII. 



Of the Religion of the Perfians; of the great Fe aft o/Hocen and 

 HuiTein, and the Camel-Feaft. 



TH E difference among the Mahometans , doth not confift in the different 

 Explanations which they put upon the Alcoran-, but in the feveral Opi- 

 nions which they hold concerning the firft Succeflors of Mahomet, from 

 which have aris'n two particular Sefts entirely oppofitc *, the Se& of the 

 Sannts, and the Sect of the Schiais. 



The firft, who are of the Tarkiflj belief, maintain that AbouJbaker fucceeded im- 

 mediately to Mahomet, as his Vicar or Vicegerent } to him Omar; to Omar Ofman; 

 to Ofman Mortnz.-Ali , Nephew and Son-in-law to Mahomet by Marriage of his 

 Daughter. That Ofman was Secretary to Mahomet , a perfon of Courage , as well 

 as the other three : and that they were all valiant Souldiers , and great Captains, 

 who extended their Conquefts more by force of Arms than by Reafon. And thence it 

 comes that the Sannis will not allow of Difputes , but propagate and maintain their 

 Religion altogether by force. 



The Schiais, who are of the Perfian belief, deteft Aboa-baker, Omar, and Ofman , as 

 Ufurpers to the Succeflion of Mahomet, which only belong'd to Haly, his Nephew 



and 



