2 1 2 Tfo P e R si a n Travels Book V. 



CHAP. VI. 



Of the misfortune of Mdhomrt Beg in the r.iigne of Sha-Abbas th e 

 fecond, 



Mfthomet Beg was born at Tauns, the Son of a Taylor, who bred him a Scho- 

 lar. He had a quick apprehenfion, and was naturally enclin'd to vertue" 

 and being delirous to advance himlelf in the world, he had the good luck to cb' 

 tain the employment of Major- Bafln, or chief of the Ellaycrs and Refiners of Mo- 

 ney., who has a power to vifit fill places where money is coyn'd. After that *he 

 became acquainted with the \Aitk Verdi Beg, or Mr. Godfgifr, the Kings chief 

 Huntfman, by the title of Mert-Sbkar-Bafhi, who gladly prefented him to tlr 

 King, to whom the King was very thankful,lb fbon as he bad found the noblc(W 

 lities of the perfonhe had prefented.Thereupon fo fbon as Mahomet Ali-Bc^a^Z 

 Mafter of the Kings Houfe dy'd, the King befrow'd that Employment upon Maho- 

 met Beg, who not only gained the favour of his Majeftv, but the good will of all 

 the Lords of the Court. He had a great rWpm for 'them all, without medline 

 with any of their employments, and fuppreit his revengeful fpirir, not folding? 

 ieafbnable as yet to difclofe his paflions. 



Kalife Sultan at that time Athemadoulet hapning to dye, the King conferred 

 that place upon Mahomst Beg, who at firft behav'd himfclf in that employment to 

 thcfatisfacTionofall men. He apply'd himlelf particularly to the learchingout 

 of Mines ; for there had a report ran among the people for many years, that if 

 certain mountaines nine or ten miles from Ifpahan toward the Welt were well 

 digg'd into, their might be found ftore of Gold, Silver and Copper. To which 

 purpofe he made ufe of a Norman, whole name was La Chapellc de Han who 

 vanted at that time to have great skill in Chymiftrv, Mines and Minerals for which 

 reafon he was recommended by the Governor of Ifpahan to the Athemadoulct then 

 at Casbin with t lie King, who prelcntly lent him back again to the Governour to 

 ■furnifh him with all things necclfary for his Expences, and for the work which he 

 undertook in the Mountains. Thither went La Chapelts, and after fifteen days 

 toyl return'd to Ifpahan with, two or three hunder'd weight of carth,and fct up fur- 

 naces to draw out the metal. The Athemadoulct was fo wife as to give order to 

 the Governour of IJpahan&nA three or four more perlbns of Quality to overview 

 the Norman, to fee that he play'd no foul play. But though there was not fo 

 much as a half peny worth of filver in all the earth from the bottom to the top 

 though the PerfiansYftt&d him fo narrowly as they did, he made a fhift to muf- 

 fle in an Abaffi among the earth,as it was in the furnace without being perceiv'd 

 Neverthelefs the Athemadoulct, to whom it was carry'd, prefently found out the 

 cheat, though he took no notice of it, hoping to make better ufe of the Norman 

 in other things ; only he forbad him to dig any more in that place, in regard the 

 expence would exceed the profit. 



La Chapelle, who was very skilful at putting off his merchandize, and one who 

 knew to make the beft ufe of the leaft fmackering that he might perhaps have in 

 Mechanicks,and the power of Motion, had the cunning to amufe xhcJthemadoulet 

 for ten years together,being a pafiionate Lover of new Inventions ; and the better 

 to infmuate himfclf into theKings favour alTum'd to himlelf thelnventicn of feveral 

 Rarities which he ihew'd the Kisg, who thereupon allow'd him a very handibme 

 penfion. Thus encourag'd,he undertook to caft Canons, bring the water to the 

 top of the Kings houfe, and feveral other things, yet when all his defigns fail'd for 

 want ol Art and that he found he could do no more good in Pcrfia, refolding for 

 Jndia^ic ay d at Ormtu. & 



The Athemadoulct miffmg of Gold and Silver Mines, apply'd himfelfto the dif 

 covery of Copper Mines, wherein he was more fortunate 5 for in thofe Mines he 

 a fo found veins ofAzure, of which there is a great quantity confum'd in painting 

 the Grotcfco Fiourfies upon the Ceilings and Arches of their Houfes.He alfo found 

 out a Mine of Lead near Verde : and bring ftiU upon new difcoveries, he found out 



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