Chap.XXIII. 0/Monfieur Tavernier. 2 55 



Thefe Bridges arc both built over a River that comes from toward Herman, 

 and is fwell'd by other ftreams that fall from the Mountains with a great 

 noife, and difcharges it felf into the Perfian Gulph, neer to Bander- Co ago-, 

 but becomes brackifh by pafling through Mountains that are nothing but Salt. 



From the great Bridg to Gttitchi is one of the moft pleafant Countries in all 

 Perfia, being a continued Grove. Guitchi is a place accommodated with two Inns, 

 one a very fair one, and convenient j the other very ill feated, by reafon of the 

 duft that continually annoys it, ftanding upon a fandy ground. It ftands neer ten 

 or twelve Arabian Tents ; ib that as foon as you come to the Inn, the Arabian 

 Women prefently bring Milk and Butter, and other refrefhments. g 



A league and a half from Guitchi you meet with two Roads, one upon the left- 

 hand that feems more beaten, the other upon the right. There a man may 

 eafily be deceiv'd that has no guides. For the left-hand way is a dangerous paf- 

 fa*e, and a kind of a continu'd Labyrinth among Rocks and Precipices. The 

 right-hand way, which is the belt, is all upon the land to Bander- A bajfi, and is 

 ufually a days journey. You meet with two Inns by the way, the latt of which 

 is calPd Bend-AU, built by the Sea-fide. 



From Ben-AU to Bander-Abajfi, is but a little more then two leagues through 

 a Countrey abounding in Palm-trees. 



CHAP. XXIII. 

 Of the 1 '(land of Ormus, and of Bander- Abafli. 



ORmtu is an Ifland in 92. d. 42. m. of Longitude, and in 2^. d. 30. m. of Lati- 

 tude. Itliesatthemouth.of the Perfian Gulph, two good Leagues from 

 the firm Land. There is neither tree nor herb that grows in it : for it is all over 

 cover'd with Salt, which is very good and as white as fnow. And as for the 

 black' mining Sand-duft of Ormus, it is very much us'd for itandifhes. 



Before the Portuguefes came to Ormm, there was a City where the Kings of 

 Ormus, who were alfo Kings of Larr, refided. When the Portugals took it.there 

 were in it two young Princes, Sons of the deceased King, whom they carri'd into 

 Spain. Where, in regard they were handfomely proportioned, though fomewhat 

 fwarthy, the King entertain'd them very kindly, and gave them an honourable al- 

 lowance'. One day that he had fhew'd them the BpsurinL and all the chief pieces 

 of Architecture in' Madrid, the King ask'd them what they thought of living in 

 Spain. To whom they anfwerM,that they had iccn nothing but what was worthy 

 admiration, but then fetching a deep figh, and perceiving the King defirous to 

 know the meaning of it, they gave him to underftand that it was for grief that 

 they mult never more Hr under their own Tree. For near to the City of Ormus 

 was a Banmans tree, being the only tree that grew in the Ifland. 



The Portugals being matters of the Ifland from an ill-built City, rear'd it to that 

 hight of Magnificence which that Nation admires } fo that the very barrs of their 

 doors and windows were all guilt. The Fortrefs was a noble thing, and in good 

 repair: and they had alio a ftately Church dedicated to the Virgin, where they 

 were alio wont to walk. For other place of promenading they had none. Since 

 the Perfians took it, the Caftle indeed minds in good repair, with a Garnfon m 

 it : but the City is gone to ruine j for the Dutch carried moft of the ftones away 

 to build Battavia. 



Between the Ifland of Ormus, and the Continent the Sea is not very deep ; for 

 the great (hips that fail in and out of the G«//,pafs by the other fide of the Ifland 

 As for the Fortrefs which ftands upon a poynt of the Ifland, it is almoft encompats d" 

 with the Sea,£nd lyes right over againft Perfia. . . 



BandeSAbajJi, (6 calPd becaufe the great Sba-Abbas the firft brought it into re- 

 putation, is at prefent a City reafonably well built , and ftor'd with large warc- 

 iioufes, over which are the lodgings of the Merchants. While the Portugmfes kept 

 Ormus though they Iiv'd in the City, all the trade was at Bandar- Abaffi, as being 

 the mo'ft fecure Landing-place upon all the Coaft. About 1 j years ago it was an 

 op'n town, but becaufe it was an eafie thing then to get into the Town, and rob 



the 



