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The Persian Travels Book L 



CHAP. V. 



A Continuation of the Conftantinopolitan %oaà from Tauris to 

 Ifpahan , through Ardevil and Casbin. 



F Rom Tauris to Ijpahan the Caravan makes it generally twenty-foiir days 

 journey. 

 The firft day you crois over dry Mountains , and four Leagues from 

 Tauris you meet with one of the faireft Inns in Perfia. This Inn Sha-Sefi 

 caus'd to be built it is very convenient, and large enough to lodge a hundred 

 perfons with their Horfes. Over all Ter fia, efpecially from Taurit to Ifpahan, 

 and from thence to Ormm , you meet every day with Inns at an equal diftance. 



The next day youdefcend a Mountain, in very rugged and narrow way. At 

 the foot of this Mountain there are two ways for the Merchants to choofe that will 

 go to Ijpahan. They that will go the ordinary road and the direft way through 

 Kom and Kachan , leave a Lake upon the left hand that parts the two Roads - 7 and 

 they that will go through Ardevil and Cajhin , two other good Cities , leave the Lake 

 upon the right hand , and coaft along by the fide of the Mountain. From Tauris 

 to Ardevil it is not above a dozen Leagues -, and having pafs'd the Lake, the Country 

 is very good : Which is the Road I intend to defer ibe firft. 



Ardevil being at fo fmall a diftance from Tauris, lyes almoft in the lame Degrees 

 and Minutes of Longitude and Latitude. This City is famous , as well for being 

 the firft Market of Silks that come from Guilan , from which it is not far off-, as alfo 

 for the Sepulcher of Sha-Sefi , the firft of that Name , King of Perfia. The avenues 

 to it are very-pleafant, being as it were Alleys of great Trees, which are call'd 

 Tchinar, planted in a ftreight line , at a due diftance. It is of a moderate bignefs, 

 and feated in a lovely opening of the Mountains. The next to the City, which is 

 call'd Sevalan, is the higheft in all Media. The Houfes of Ardevil are built of 

 Earth , as are moft of the Houfes in the Cities of Perfia : but the Streets are very 

 uneven , dirty , and narrow. There is but one which is handfom , at the end 

 whereof is built the Armenian Church. A little River runs through the middle of 

 the City , which defcending from the neighbouring Mountains runs from Eaft to 

 Weft. It is by Induftry brought into many Cutts to water the Gardens , and in 

 many places there are very fair Trees planted, which are very delightful to the Sight. 

 The Meydan or Market-place is a very great one \ more long than round -, where ftands 

 a very fine Inn, upon one fide , which the Kan caus'd to be built. There are fever al 

 others in feveral parts of the City, which have the Profpect over feveral lovely Gar- 

 dens, efpecially that which belongs to the King-, to which you go through a long 

 and {lately Walk of four rows of Trees , at the end whereof ftands a large Gate 

 that gives you entrance. Though the Country about Ardevil be proper to bear 

 Vines , yet there are none thereabouts •, nor is there any Wine made till about four 

 or five Leagues from the City. The Armenians that dwell in the City are very well 

 ftor'd with if, though there be no place in all Perfia, where there is fo much 

 Caution to be us'd , either as to the Importing it, or the Drinking it; both which 

 muft be done very privately : Which proceeds from the Mahometan Superftition -, 

 the Perfians having fo peculiar a Veneration for that place , that they believe it a 

 Sin to fuffer Wine to be publickly drank therein. 



The People come in Pilgrimage from all parts of Perfia to the Sepucher of Sha- 

 Sefi % which together with the vaft Trade of Silk, makes Ardevil one of the moft 

 considerable Cities of all Perfia. There are feveral other Buildings added to the 

 Mofquee wherein he lyes interr'd; the Entry whereof faces the Meydan, to which 

 it is joyn'd upon the South-fide with a large Portal. The Gate is chain'd with 

 Chains faften'd a-crofs with great Rings -, which if any Criminal Offender can but 

 touch, and enter into the firft Court , he is fafe } for no perfon can apprehend him. 

 This is a large Court, yet more in length than breadth , without the Wall whereof 

 that looks upon the Market-place, feveral Shops are built for Merchants and Tradei- 

 men. 



Out 



