ChapJV. of Monfîeur Ta ver nier. 23 



lying along upon the Ground. There are alfo in the Molquee certain Tombs of 

 the ancient Kings of the Medcs , the Remains whereof (hew that the Work was 

 very Excellent. 



Upon the Road from Tawris to Jfpahan, about half a League from the utmoft 

 Gardens, between lèverai knaps of the Mountain which you leave upon the 

 right hand , upon the top of the'higheft of all, where there never was any Water, 

 and where it is impofliblc to bring any, appears a Bridge fifty Paces longi the 

 Arches whereof are very fair ones, but it falls to decay. It was a Mollah that built 

 it, out of what defign no perlbn knew: nor can you come to Tamis upon that fide, 

 but you mud fee that Bridge, becaufe there is no other way, there being nothing 

 but Water and Precipices on either hand. Afterwards he confeis'd that he built 

 it out of meer Vanity, knowing that Sha-Abas, the firft of that Name was to come 

 to Tauris. The King indeed came fome time after, and feeing an unprofitable 

 ^Bridge upon the top of a Mountain, he demanded who built it, and what was his 

 defign. To whom the Mollah return'd this Anfwer, Sir, laid he, I built that 

 Bridge , that when your Majefty came to Tauris, you might inform your felf from 

 the mouth of him that built it. By which it appeared , that the Mollah had no other 

 ambition than to oblige the King to fpeak to him. 



A League from Tauris to the Weft, in the middle of a Field Hands a great Brick 

 Tower, call'd Kar.hazjm. ït is about fifty Paces in Diameter, and though it be half 

 ruin'd, yet it is very high. It feems to have been the Dungeon of fome Caftle^ 

 there being very high Walls roundabout it-, which though they be but of Earth, 

 neverthelefs appear to be very ancient. It is not certainly known who built this 

 Tower , but the Arabian Letters upon the Gate afford us fome reafon to conclude 

 that it was a Mahometan Structure. In the year 1651 there happen'd a terrible 

 Earthquake in Tauris and the parrs thereabout , by which many Houles were over- 

 turn'd , and this Tower then cleaving from the top to the bottom , a good part of 

 it fell down , and fill'd up the hollow within-fide. 



Befides the little River that runs by Tauris, there is another bigger to be crofs'd, 

 about half a League from the City, over which there is a very fair Stone-Bridge. 

 Near to it ftands a Scpulcher, cover'd with a little Duomo , where the Perftans fay 

 that the Sifter of Imm-Riz.a lyes interr'd \ and they have it in great veneration. The 

 River that runs under the Bridge comes from the Mountains of the North , and falls 

 into the Lake Roptmi, thirteen or fourteen Leagues from Tauris. They call it Aggi- 

 fon , or Bitter-water • for the Water is very bad , and without any Fifh. The Lake 

 which is fifteen Leagues in compafs , has the fame quality, the Water being blackifh : 

 the Fifh that happen into it out of other Rivers that fall into it , prefently become 

 blind', and in a fhort while are found dead by the Shoar. This Lake takes its name 

 from a Province and a little City, which are both call'd Rourni, being not above eleven 

 Leagues from Tauris. 



In the middle of the Lake , upon the way that leads to a little City call'd Toko- 

 riarn, there is a little Hill that rifes infenfibly, the afcent whereof is very fmooth, 

 and out of it there rife many little Springs. The farther they run from the Head, 

 the wider grow the Streams : and the Earth which they water is of two diftinft 

 qualities : the firft Earth that is dig'd ferves to make Lime : the next to that is a 

 hollow fpungy Stone , that is good for nothing : but under that again is a white 

 tranfparent Stone, which you may fee through as through Glafs , which being fmooth 

 and polifh'd ferves to adorn the Houfes. This Stone is only a congelation of the 

 Waters of thefe Streams ; for fometimes you fhall meet with creeping Animals con- 

 geaFd within. The Governour of the Province lent one piece to Sha-Abas , as a 

 great Prefent, wherein there was a Lizard congeal'd of a Foot long. He that pre- 

 fented it to the Governour had twenty Tomans , or three hundred Crowns ; after- 

 wards I offer'd a thoufand for the fame Piece. In fome parts of the Province of 

 Ma&andran , where the Euxin Sea ftretches fartheft into the Per fan Territories, thefe 

 congeal'd Stones are to be found , but not fo frequently as near the Lake Roimi ■ and 

 you fhall many times find pieces of Wood and Worms congeal'd in the Stones. 

 I brought away a Camels-loading of thefe Stones, and left them at Marfeilles- til! 

 I could find what ufe to put them to. 



CHAP, 



