<5o The Persian Travels Book I. 



There are two forts of Camels-, the one which is proper for hot Countries, 

 the other for cold Countries. 



The Camels in hot Countries , fuch as go from Qrmns to Ijpahan , cannot travel 

 if the Ground be dirty and flippery -, for their Bellies burft , while their hinder 

 Quarters rive from their Bodies. Thefe are fmall Camels , that carry not above 

 five or fix hundred Pound weight -, but they are kept for little, and endure Thirft 

 a long time. They do not tye them Head to Tavl , as they do the great ones, but 

 let them go as they pleale themfelves, like a Herd of Cows. The Camel-driver 

 follows them finging , and fometimes playing upon his Pipe : the louder he fings 

 and pipes, the falter the Camels go^ nay they will ftandftill when he gives over his 

 Mufick. When the Camel-drivers come to a Heathy Ground , they will give them 

 leave to feed for half an hour, taking their Tabacco the while:, and then finging 

 them together again , they fet forward. The Camels bred in the Deferts are hand- 

 fom , but very tender , fo that they muft be gently us'd , and never be put upon 

 long Journies. However , they eat and drink lefs than others , and endure thirft 

 more patiently. 



The Camels of cold Countries , fuch as thofe that travel from Taur'u to Conftan- 

 flantinoplc, are large Camels, that carry great Burthens , and will pull themfelves out 

 of the dirt : But in fat Grounds and flippery Ways the Drivers are fain to fpread 

 Carpets, fometimes an hundred one behind another-, otherwife their hinder Quarters 

 . are alio apt to rive from their Buttocks : but if the Road be flippery for too great 

 a diftance together, there is no way but to tarry 'till it be dry'd up and fair. Thefe 

 Camels ufually carry a thoufand Pound weight : but if the Merchant has any hank 

 upon the Camel-driver , he will lay upon every Camel fifteen hundred weight, 

 thereby making two of three Burthens. This the Merchants do , when they come 

 near the Cuftom-Houfes, efpecially that of Erz.erom , which is the moft fevere. The 

 Merchant does this for his own Profit: So that when the Cuftomet miftrufting, 

 demands how fo many Camels come to travel empty, he makes anfwer, that they were 

 Camels that carry'd Provifion : But the Cuftomer moft commonly winks at that good 

 Husbandry of the Merchant, for fear of lofing his Cuftom, and obliging the Mer- 

 chant to take another Road. 



There is as much knavery among the Camel-drivers , as among our Horfe-Courfers. 

 For I remember , that being once at Cajbin, a Perfian Merchant , thinking he had 

 bought eight good Camels, was deceived in four which he thought the beft: He 

 verily believing they had been fat and in good cafe , but they were only blown up. 

 For thofe Cheats have a trick to cut a Hole near the Tail , of which the Purchaler 

 takes no notice , and which they know neatly how to low up again : In this Hole 

 they will blow till they have puft up a lean Gimel , that he (hall appear as fat and 

 plump as the foundeft that ever fed: whereby they often deceive the quickeft 

 fights , efpecia-lly when the Hair is all off, and that the bare Skin is all rub'd over 



with Tar. 



— I — — — •- 



CHAP. XIL 



Of the Coyns and Money of Perfia. 



I 



"i073 "JtC 



N the firft place , you muft take notice that there are ho Pieces of Gold coyn'd 

 in Perfia , but only fome few, to be thrown among the People when a new 

 King afcends the Throne : which Pieces are neither currant among the Mer- 

 chants, nor of a certain Price. When the Solemnity is over, they who get 

 the Pieces, are not fo curious to keep them , but carry them to the Changer, who 

 gives them the value in currant Money. Thefe Pieces of Gold may be worth five 

 * À Frank is * Franks, about the finenefs of j4lmaw~Ducats. Once I receiv'd ten thoufand of 

 worth 2 s« them of one Merchant , at a prefix'd rate ; for their value is uncertain. 

 Sterling. j n f$£ fécond place obferve , That the Silver in Perfia is good , whether it be 



inBarrs, or in Plate, or in Money, and it is taken for itsgoodnefs. For when a 



Merchant 



