Ch ap.XVII. of Monfieur Tav e r n i e r. 241 



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Mohre, Abon, Az.er } Dei y Bahmcn, Efpcndarmottz.e\, The firft month, Fcrvcrdw, 

 begins with the Vernal Equinox, every month not containing above 30 days, ad- 

 ding the five which remain to the end of the year, which they call Kratafi Mwftc- 



The day of the Vernal Equinox is the firft day of the year,which they call Neo- 

 %jow~e, and is one of their Principal Feftivals. For that day all the Grandees ap- 

 pear at Court, and prefent the King according to their quality. If they can 

 meet with nothing that is rare, they prefent him in Ducatts of Gold,and there ape 

 fome that prefent him to the number often Thoufand. They alfo give God thanks 

 for preferving them to lee the new year, and for preferving the fruits of the Earth 

 from bad feafons,for the Corn is by that time well come up.Upon this firft day of 

 the year, if a Pofan has not money to buy him a new habit,he will go and mort- 

 gage his own body to have one. So proud and luxurious are the Perfians from the 

 higheft to the loweft. 



CHAP. XVII. 



Of iheFeafts and or din vy Diet of 'the Pcrfians. 



THe Perftans are nothing eager after delicacies or dainties; both the nobler 

 and the meaner fort being very temperate in dyet. In regard that wood is 

 fo fcarce and dear about Ifpaban, they never eat boy I'd meat above once a day : 

 and as for their Dinner which they call Shate, it confifts of bread, chcefe-curds, 

 milk, burnt wine, melons and other fruits in feafon, to which the rich add wet 

 and dry fweet-meats : At night their ufual food is film and roft meat. They buy 

 their Proviiion from hand to mouth, efpecially the Mahumetans, which is a double 

 charge. But for the Armenians, they live thriftily, and buy at once a good quan- 

 tity of provifions to laft for fo long time. 



Muttons, Kidds, Pullets and Pidgeons, are the ufual dyet of the Pcrfians j for 

 as for Beef they very rarely eat it. The King and the great Lords will eat a piece 

 of a Hare fometimes when they have been a hunting : but when they have kilPd 

 a wild Boar, they fend it always to fome Chriftian, in expectation to be presented 

 for the honour done him. They have no diverfity of Victuals or made Dimes in 

 Perfi.!, their dyet being more proper to fatisfie hunger, then ro pfeafe a nice palate. 

 Mutton and Lamb would be very good in Pcrfea, it they knew how to roaft it our 

 way. But the PerfUvs roaft. only at an oven, which is a hole made in the ground 

 two foot and a half broad, and five or fix foot deep. They burn nothing but 

 bufhes, and a kind of Turf mixM with the dung of Cartel, and dry'd in die Sun. 

 There arc feveral roafting Cooks at Ifpaban, that roaft a whole Sheep at a time, 

 where he that comes to buy may have as much cut ont as he pleafes. Other 

 Cooks (hops are only for boyl'd meat or rice : their fruits which they pickle up in 

 Vinegar being the only fawce which they have. 



As for their Bread it is very white, for they have wheat enough to furnifh the 

 whole Kingdom. They bake every day, making up their Dow in the form of a 

 thin Cake, itrowM over with Scfamum. They bake thefe Cakes in their Ovens in 

 the ground, covering the batch over with little round flint ftones, that are quick- 

 ly hot and retain the heat. At Ifpahan they make a great fire in an earthen pot, 

 and when it is hot they fpread the Dow againft the fides of the pot. The Ar- 

 menians make a fort of bread as thin as Paper, which they bake upon a thin Iron 

 plate which is as thin as paper. Their Plate and Dimes are of red Copper tinn'd 

 within fide. For they are forbid to make ufe of Silver by the Law of Mahomet, 

 Nor does the King ufe any other then Gold Plate, of which he has great ftore. 

 They have alfo a fort of Porcellane made at Kerman. To eat their broths they 

 make ufe of wood'n fpoons : for as for their rice, which is thick, they take it up 

 in their fingers,and wipe their hands upon their handkerchiefs. 



The firft thing fet upon the Table is the Pipe, the Tobacco, and the drfh of 



Coffee ; 



