\j2 The Persian Travels Book IV % 



they dip the CrOis in the Water three times , and every time they drop the Holy oT) 

 upon it. After that they uic the ordinary form of Baptifm , which being done 

 the Arch-bifhop or the Minifter plunges the Infant in the River or Pond three times * 

 faying the ufual words , / Baptife , &c. and the lame anointings as before : though 

 it feemsa wonder to me that the extremity of the weather does not kill the Child 

 The King of Terjia is many times prel'ent at this ceremony when it is perform'd at 

 Ijpahan, riding on Horfe-back to the fide of the River with all his Nobility. The 

 Ceremony being over he-goes to Zulpha to the Kelonterh Houfe, where there is an 

 entertainment prepared for him. Neither is there any place in the World where a 

 King may be entcrtain'd with lels charge than in Perfia. For if any private perfbn 

 invite the King , and that His Majefty pleales to do him that Honour , 'tis but for the 

 inviter to go to the chief of the Officers, and to carry him twenty Tomans, or three 

 hundred Crowns, and to tell him withall , that the King has promis'd to accept of a 

 fmall Collation with his Slave. For then the Governour is oblig'd to lend to the 

 Houfe of him that treats the King all things neceffary for the entertainment. Elie 

 it were impofiible to be done , in regard the King cats in nothing but in Gold Plate. 

 At the end of theFeaft the King is always preicnted with ibme European Rarity ' 

 not Iefs worth than four or five thouiand Crowns. Or if the perfon have no Rarity 

 to prcfent , it fufiiccs to offer in a Baibn the value in Venetian Ducats of Gold , with 

 all the fubmiMion imaginable. Bcfides all this, fomePrefcnts muft be giv'n to ibme 

 of the Lords and principal Eunuchs of his train;, and others fent to the Queen Mo- 

 ther, if living , and to the Snltanefs , his Wives and Sifters. Thus though the enter- 

 tainment may be made with little trouble , yet otherwife it proves fbmewhat expen- 

 five ; though the Armenians of Zulpha are well enough able to bear the charge. I 

 was twice at this Ceremony upon Chrifimas day in Ijpahan. The firft time I law Sh*. 

 Sefi , and the fecond time Sha-Abas the f econd , who drank both fo hard , that in 

 their Drink they committed thole crimes that very much ftain'd their memories- 

 For Sba-Sefi returning home ftab'd his Wife, the Mother of Sha-Abas. Sha-Abas ano- 

 ther time returning home in drink , would needs drink on , and force three wo- 

 men to drink with him •, who finding he would not give over , ftole out of his Com- 

 pany. The King perceiving them gone without taking leave , in a mad humour lent 

 his Eunuchs for them , and caus'd them to be thrown into the Fire , where the 

 poor women were burnt •, for there is no refilling nor examining the Kings com- 

 mand. 



CHAP. XII. 



Of the Marriages of the Armenians. 



TH E Armenians Marry their Children before either party have feen each 

 other, nay before the Fathers or Brothers know any thing of it- And 

 they whom they intend to Marry muft agree to what their Fathers or 

 Parents command them. When the Mothers have agreed among them- 

 felvesj they tell their Husbands, who approve what they have done. Upon this 

 Approbation , the Mother of the Boy , with two old Women and a Prieft coftlte to 

 the Houfe where the Mother of the Daughter lives, and prefent her a Ring from 

 him whom they intend to betroth. The Boy appears afterwards , and the Prieft 

 reads fomething out of the Gofpel as a bleffing upon both parties } after which they 

 give him a fum of Money according to the quality of the Father of the Girl. That 

 done, they prefent the company with drink , and this is call'd a betrothing or affi- 

 ancing. Sometimes they agree a Marriage when the Children are not above two or 

 three years old ^ fometimes two women that are friends being both with Child at one 

 time together , will make a match between the two Children before they are born, if 

 the one be a Boy and the other a Girl. So foon as they are born the Contract is made ; 

 and when once the Boy has giv'n the Ring , though it be twenty years after before 

 they are Marry 'd , he is bound every year upon Eafter.day to lend his Miftris a 

 new Habit with all the trimming belonging to it according to her quality. Three 



days 



