Chap. VII. of Monfieur Tavernier. 161 



and Son in Law. They hold that this fucceflion confifts in elev'n High Priefts defen- 

 dants from Haly , who makes the twelfth in this order, i. Haly, Son of About deb. 

 % Hocen, eldeft Son of Hali. 3. Hujfein, his fecond Son, who fuffer'd death in 

 defence of his Father's Succeflion. The place where the Sunnis gave him battel 

 and flew him, is call'd Kerbela near to Babylon , and is a holy place in high venera- 

 tion among the Per fans. 4 Jman-z.in-el-Abedin. 5. ■ Mahomet-el-Baker. 6. lafer- 

 el-Scadekj, who introdue'd the Law into Per fa, that if any Chriftian, Jew, or Idolater 

 turn'd Mahometan, he fhould be declar'd general Heir to his Family to the exclufion of 

 Brothers and Sifters, and that he might allow what he plcas'd to his Father and Mother. 

 Whence arofe two mifchiefs , that lbme Armenians , Chriftians , and Jews turn'd 

 jtfahnmctans , to get the Eftate of the Family, and others turn'd Mahometans to keep 

 their poiTeflions. 7. Moujfa-Katz,cm. 8. Hali-cl-Rcz.z,a, whofe Tomb at Mefied is as 

 highly venerated among the l Terfans,ns Mahomet's among the Turks. 9. Mahammet-el- 

 Jo'nad. 10. Hali-el-Hadi. II. Hoccn-cl-Askfri. iz.A4ouhcninict-cl-MouhadiShaheb-z.a- 

 t»att. The Per fans hold the fame belief as to the laft Iman, as we do of Enoch and 

 gluts , which is the reafon that feveral people leave them in their Wills Houies ready 

 furnifh'd , Stables full of ftately Hories 6 and other neceflaries for them to make 

 ufe of when they return to Earth again. They attribute to this Iman the Sirname 

 of Zaheb-z.aman , or Lord of Time. 



Thefe two Setts of Sunnis and Schias over-run the three principal Kingdoms of 

 India, viz.. the Great Mogul's, the King of Golcond^s, and the King of VifayouSs. 

 The flrft and laft being Sunnis , that is to fay , both the Kings and Lords of the 

 Court ; for their Subjects are mod of them Idolaters. Some Schiau there are in the 

 Courts of both Kings j in regard the Officers of the Army are for the moft part 

 Per fans , though in outward fhew they may follow the Religion of the Prince. 

 But the King of Golconda Koutotib-Sba is a zealous Schiau. 



I come now to the Grand Feftival of the Per fans , which is the famous Feaft of 

 Hoccn and Hujfcin. 



Eight days before the Feftival begins , fomc of the more zealous fort black all their 

 Bodies and their Faces , and go naked in the Streets with only a covering about their 

 fecret parts. They carry two Flints , one in each hand , which they knock one 

 againft another, wrything their Bodies, and making a thoufand antick Faces ", and 

 all the while crying out , Hujfcin , Hocen ; Hocen , Hujfein ; which they aft: and 

 fpeak with fo much Labour, 'till they foam again at the mouth. In the Evening , 

 the devout people admit them into their Houfes , and feed them very well. During 

 thole days , as ibon as the Sun is fet , you fhall fee at the corners where feveral Streets 

 meet, Pulpits fet up for certain Preachers, who prepare the people that flock to 

 hear them to the devotion of the Feaft. Now in regard all Ages and Sexes go, 

 there is no time in all the year fo favourable for the Women to meet their Gal- 

 lants. 



In the year 1667. the third of Jidy , 1 faw the Feftival by the favour of the Nagar? 

 who appointed me a place juft againft the De'la where the King fate. This Dela 

 is a Room built with a jetting upon that fide of the Meidan next the Palace Gate, 

 one (lory high. Several Pillars fuftain the flat bottom or floor of the De'la, en- 

 rich'd with a Grotefco work of Gold and Azure , in the mid'ft whereof there was a 

 Fountain that was fill'd with Water by fche contrivance of a Pipe. The Stage or 

 De'la was op'n upon three fides , the longeft fide jetting out upon the Piaz,z.a. Upon 

 the Wall of the oppofitc fide , which was clofe , were to be fecn feveral Englijh and 

 Hollanders, both men and women piftur'd with Bottles and GlafTes in their hands, as 

 if they were drinking to one another. Sha-Abas the fecond caus'd this Painting to 

 be drawn by a Hollander. 



About fev'n a Clock in the Morning Sha-Sephi the fecond , who fince has chang'd 

 his name to Sha-Soliman the fecond , came and fcated himfelf upon his Throne fet.up 

 in the mid'ft of the "De'la, all his Nobility (landing about him. So foon as he was 

 fate down , the Great Provofl appear'd at the end of the Piaz.z,a mounted upon a 

 fair Horfe, attended by certain young Lords , who caus'd the people, confifting of 

 the Companies of the two quarters of the City, which are twelve in all, to ad- 

 vance to the places which were defign'd them. For formerly the Companies would 

 ftrivefor the way, and therefore the King to prevent diforder, order'd there 

 iliould be a Prevoft , or Mafter of the Ceremonies to place them without disturbance. 



