Chap.V. of Monfieur Tavernier. 25 



Out of this Court you pafs into another which is lei's , and pav'd with broad 

 Stones, with a Rivulet running through the middle. The Entry into it is through 

 a Door* fortifi'd with Iron Chains like the former, and is made at a corner of the 

 great Court upon the left hand. It brings you prelently under a Portico , where, 

 there are fair Balconies rais'd after the fafhion of the Country. Thofe Balconies 

 are full of lèverai People -, either Pilgrims , or perfons whofe Crimes conftrain them 

 thither for San&uary. In that place you mull leave your Stick and your Sword, 

 before you go any farther } and give fomething befides to a Montlah, who is always 

 attending there with Books. 



In that fécond Court through which the Rivulet glides , on the one fide are Baths, 

 on the other Granaries for Rice and Corn -, and upon the left hand , at the end of 

 the fame Court , there is a little Door which brings you to a place where the Royal 

 Alms are diftributed to the Poor, Morning and Evening:, being juft againft the 

 King's Kitchin. This Gate is cover'd with Plates of Silver ; and in the Kitchin 

 there are about thirty Ovens contriv'd in the Wall , with as many great Caldrons 

 to drefs Pilaw and other Food, as well for the Poor as for the Officers of the Mofquee. 

 While thefe Alms are diftributing, the Mafter-Cook, who commands all the reft, 

 fets upon a Chair cover'd with Plates of Silver, and fees that every thing be done in 

 order. He lees to the meafuring out the Rice every day for the Kettles, and 

 caufes the Visuals to be divided in his own fight: For there is an excellent Oeco- 

 noray in the King's Houfe. 



At the end of the Portico beyond the firft Court there are two Gates, one beyond 

 another, both cover'd with Plates of Silver ; between thofe two Gates on the 

 right hand appears a little Mofquee , where are the Tombs of feveral Perfian Princes 

 of the Blood Royal. You rauft have a great care not to tread upon the Threfholds 

 of the Gates - , for it is a Crime not to be expiated without a fevere Punirtiment, 

 From hence through a little He , you come into the Body of the Church, richly 

 hung with Tapeftry, and fet about with high Desks , where lye a great many Books, 

 wherein the Moulkhs , or Doctors of the Law re'ad continually , having Stipends 

 to Officiate in the Mofquee. At the end of the Body of the Mofquee , is a little 

 O&agonal Monument, like the Choir of a Church, in the midft whereof ftands the 

 Monument of Sha-Sefi. It is only of Wood, but curioufly carv'd and inlaid. It 

 exceeds not the height of a Man of an ordinary ftature , and feems like a great Cheft, 

 having four Apples of Gold let up at each corner. It is cover'd with a Crimfon 

 Satin purfl'd with Gold -, and all the other Tombs that are by it , are cover'd with 

 Silks as rich. As well in the Choir as in the Body of the Church , there are abun- 

 dance of Lamps, fome of Gold, fome of Silver*, but the biggeft of all is of Silver, 

 gilded and vermilion'd, and neatly engrav'd. There are alio fix great Branches of a 

 curious fort of Wood, cover'd with Silver , with great Wax Candles in them ; which 

 are never lighted but at their great Feftivals. 



From the Duomo where ftands the Tomb of Sha-Sefi , you go under a little Vault, 

 which enclofes another Monument of another King of Per fia , whofe Name I could 

 not learn. It looks like another great Cheft, curioufly wrought, and cover'd 

 with Satin. The Roof of the Mofquee is adorn'd within with a Painting of Gold 

 and Azure, a la Morcfque ; on the outfide, with a fair Varnifh of feveral Colours, 

 like the ftately Mofquee at Tauris. 



In the adjacent Parts round about Aràe'ùil are feveral Monuments worth a Man's 

 fight, being very ancienf, and fome which are ruin'd , fhew by what remains the 

 care which they took to enrich them with curious Workmanfhip. A quarter of 

 a League from the City ftands a Mofquee , in which are the Tombs of the Father 

 and Mother of Sha-Sefi. It is a fair Structure , with Gardens and Courts \ in one 

 of which there is a very clear Fountain where they keep Fiffi. 



Ardeiiil is not only famous, as I have faid already, for the Royal Sepùlchers 

 which are in it , and for the Pilgrimages which have been made to it from all parts 

 of Per fia ; but the numerous Caravans of Silk , which fometimes confift of eight or 

 nine hundred Camels , add very much to its Grandeur. For being near to Çuilan 

 and Sbamaqui, from whence thofe vaft quantities of Silk come - , and for that the 

 Road from both thofe places , to Conftaminople and Smyrna , lyes through this City, 

 there is a continual confluence of Merchants, and all forts of Merchandizes are here 

 to be had as well ss at Taurk. 



P Fro'ref 



