Chap. IL of Monfieur Tavernier, 



3 



CHAP. IL 



Of tk <ï(odd from Conftantinople to Ifpahan , tyhich the Author 

 kept in Us firft Travels into Perfia. 



~W T is feldom that any Caravans go from Conftantinople into Perfia ; but from 

 ■ Surfit they go every two Months: Bttrfa is the Capital City of Bithynia, not 

 S above three clays journey from Conftantinople, or a little more, Thefe two Roads 

 ML meet at Cnabangi , where you may be from Bmfa. in two Days : and fo I will 

 only lpeak of the Roads from Conftantinople to Ifpahan. This Journey is to be under- 

 taken either with the Caravan of Camels , or elfe ten or twelve Men in a Company, 

 well mounted and well arm'd. 



From Conftantinople , you crois over to Scutari - upon the Coaft of Afia. 



Setting out from Scutari , the firft days journey is very pleafant , over Fields gayly 

 painted with Flowers in their leafon. At firft for forae time together , on both fides 

 the way* you lee nothing but fair Sepulchers with their Pyramids, and you itfay 

 eafily difcern the Womens Monuments from the Mens. For there is a Turbant upon 

 the Pyramid of the Mens Sepulcher, but the Pyramids of the Womens Monuments are 

 trimm'd with the Head-Attire which is worn by the Women of the Country. That 

 Evening you muft lye at Candi , a Village of Birhynia , the next Day at Gebifa, 

 anciently Lybiffa , famous for the Tomb of Hannibal. In that place there are two 

 good Inns, and two fair Fountains. 



The third Day you come to Jfnich , which is thought to be the ancient Nicea • one 

 part of the City is built upon the defcent of a Hill , the other part upon a Plain that 

 reaches to the Sea , and makes the Golf of Jfnich. The Haven confifts of two Moles 

 made of Free-ftone, and three great Endofures encompafs'd with Walls , which ferve 

 inftead of fo many Arfcnals , wherein there are Store-houfes full of large Timber, 

 for building Houfes and Galleys. The Country round about being an excellent place 

 for Hunting , and the Soil bearing rare Fruits , and rich in Wine , caus'd Sultan 

 Amman to build a Seraglio in the higheft part of the Town, from whence there is 

 a prolpect at the. lame time both over the Sea and the Country. The Jews inhabit 

 the greateft part of the Town, dealing chiefly in Timber and Corn. When the Wind 

 lerves, you may go from Conftantinople to Jfnivh in leven or eight Hours , there being 

 no danger in the paflage. 



The fourth Day you flay at Chabangi, a final 1 Town built upon the fide of a Lake, 

 call'd Chaban-Gigul, where there are two Inns. From the beginning of the Lake 

 for two Leagues together you travel partly over Mountains , partly by the Lake- 

 fide, where in lome places the Horfe will be up to the Belly. This Lake is not above 

 ten Leagues in compafs", but it yields great ftore of large Filh, infomuch that I 

 have bought a Pike two Foot and a half long for three Sous. Many Empereurs have 

 had a defign to make a Cutt out of this Lake into the Sea , for the more eafie trans- 

 porting to Conftantinople the Timber which grows upon the Mountains near the Lake. 

 And if the Grand Vifier ,. who by a Miracle dy'd in his Bed, and left his Son fuc- 

 ceffbr to his Employment, had liv'd fome few Years longer , he had no queftion added 

 this to the reft of thofe famous Works that eterniz'd his Memory. 



Departing from Chabandi, you come to lye at Night upon the Bank of a River call'd 

 Zacarat, which runs Northward and falls into the Black^Sea. It is a River plentiful 

 inFifh, and you crofs over it with a wooden Bridge. There is neither Town , nor 

 Inn in that place ; but a League from the River is a great Town call'd Ada, the chiefeft 

 part of the Inhabitants whereof are Armenians. Thither we fent for excellent good 

 Wine , and other necefTary refrefhments. 



From that River to Cancoly, where you lye the next Night, and have your choice 

 of four Inns ^ you travel all the day in the Merfhes , over wooden Bridges and 

 Caufeys. 



Tmkebaf tr is the next place , a fmall Village with two Inns. From thence to Car- 

 giteflar, a great Town, with one Inn', built upon a River, where there is great 

 ftore of Fifh taken , which the Inhabitants call Bonrma-balonky , that is to fay, the 



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