48 The Persian Travels Book I. 



deep Snows , wherein you (hall find them almoft buried the next mor- 

 ning. 



When the Caravan comes near the place where it intends to flop , every Mer- 

 chant rides before to take up a convenient place for himfelf and his Goods, for 

 which he covets a rifing Ground , that if it fhould happen to rain , the Water may 

 run from the Bales. They alio in that cafe lay Stones under the Bales , and a Cloth 

 over them -, and the Servants make a Ditch about the Tent for the Water to run 

 into. But if it be fair weather , there is no care tak'n to let up the Tent : or 

 if it be, 'tis folded up after Supper } to the end the Owners may have the more 

 liberty to look about them , and may be in a better condition to look after the 

 Thieves. But if there be any likelihood of foul weather , the Tent is let ftand till 

 the firft Cry of the Sbaotix. The Horfes are ty'd before the Tent with Cords fafteri'd 

 to a Nail , and their hinder Legs are ty'd with other Cords , to the end they may 

 not ftir out of their places. If it be not feafonable for thera to eat Grafs, you 

 muft buy Barley and Straw of the Country-men that come to ferve the Caravan 

 there being no Oats , neither in Turkie nor Verfia. 



In dreffing your Victuals , you muft follow the cuftom of the Country which is, 

 to make a Hole in the Ground , and then kindling a Fire in it, to let the Pot 

 over it. 



But the greateft inconvenience which Travellers fuffer with the Caravans , is 

 this , that when they come to Waters, which are only Wells, or Cifterns, or Springs, 

 where only two or three can lade up Water at a time. For after the Caravan is 

 Jodg'd, the Merchants fhall be forc'd to ftay for Water two or three hours together -, 

 for they that belong to the Beafts of Carriage, will not fuffer any perfon to take 

 any Water, till the Camels, Horfes, Affes, and Mules are all ferv'd. Nor is there 

 any contending with tliele Camel-drivers and Muleters ^ for as they are a rude fort 

 of people , a Man runs the hazard of his Life by contefting alone : of which one 

 Example may fuffice for all. 



Setting out one day from Bander-Abajfi , for Ifpahan j with a Merchant of Babylon, 

 as we came to the Inn where we lay thefirft night, which was call'd Gnetchy , the 

 Merchant commanded one of his Slaves who was a Cafer of Mozambique , to fetch 

 him fome frefh Water, at thcCiftern, to drink: The Cafer went thither, and 

 return'd without any Water, telling his Mafter, that the Camel-drivers and Mu- 

 leters threaten'd to beat him, and would not let him come near the Ciftern. The 

 Merchant either ill advis'd , or not knowing the cuftom , bid him go back , and 

 kick thofe that refus'd him. Whereupon the Cafer returning, and finding the 

 fame refiftance as before, began to give ill language to the Camel-drivers, fo that 

 one of them happen'd to ftrike him. Upon that the Cafer drawing his Sword, 

 ran him into the Belly, fo that he fell down dead : Thereupon the whole Rabble 

 fell upon him , bound him , and carry'd him back to Bandcr-Abajft for the Governour 

 to put him to death. The Mafter of the Cafer, accompany'd by feverai Merchants, 

 went to the Governour and reprefented to him the inlblence of thofe people , and 

 how the bufinefs had happen'd. Upon which the Governour took the poor fellow out of 

 their hands, and caus'd him to be kept fafe^ after that, he caus'd ten or a dozen 

 of thofe Muleters to be feiz'd , and order'd them to be foundly baftinado'd , for 

 hind'ring a Merchant's Servant from fetching Water for his Mafter. He alfo put 

 others in Prifon -, who had not been releas'd fo foon , but at the requeft of thofe 

 Merchants whofe Goods they carry'd , and who ftood in need of their fervice. 

 The Governour fpun out the bufinefs , on purpofe that the reft might be gone : but 

 as foon as they were all departed except the two Brothers of the party (lain , he told 

 them , he could not do them Juftice, becaufe their Brother belong'd to Schiras ; fo 

 that all that he could do, was to fend the Criminal thither. The Mafter of the Cafer 

 being rich , and loving the Slave , made haft to Schiraf , to tell his Story firft to the 

 Kan. And I remember, two days journey on this fide Schiras , we met in the High- 

 way abundance of poor people , the kindred of the party (lain , who were flaying 

 for the Cafer , to carry him before the Kan , and to demand Juftice. Two or 

 three Leagues alfo from Schiras I met the Father and Mother, together with the 

 Wife and Children of the deceas'd , who feeing me pafs along , fell at my Feet and 

 recounted to me their Grievances. I told them by my Kalmachi , that their beft 

 and fureft way was to take a piece of Money of the Caferh Mafter , and fo to put up 



