j2 The Persian Travels Book II. 



abundance of Vaults and Caverns uninhabited -, nor could a man well conjecture 

 whether they were the ancient Habitations of the people , or whether any houfes 

 had been built upon them in former times-, for moft of the houfes in Turkic are like 

 Cellars, or elfe but one Story high. Half a League from Tigris ftands a little Hill 

 encompas'd with Houfes , on the top whereof is built a Mofque'e. The people of 

 the Country fay 'twas the place where Jonas was bury'd -, and for that place they 

 have fo great a veneration , that no Chriftians are fufter'd to enter into it , but pri- 

 vately, and for Money. By that means I got in with two Capuchin Fryars , 

 but we were forc'd to put off our Shooes firft. In the middle of the Mofyuée flood 

 a Sepulchre , cover'd with a Perfian Carpet of Silk and Silver , and at the four cor- 

 ners , great Copper Candlefticks with Wax Tapers , befides feveral Lamps and 

 Oftridge-Shells that hung down from the Roof. We law a great number of Mbores 

 without , and within fat two DervPs reading the Alccran. 



About a Musket-Shot from Mmffd toward the North-Eaft , ftands a great Ruin'd 

 Monaftery, enclos'd with high Walls, the greateft part whereof is ftill to be 

 feen. 



We ftay'd ten days at Moufful , and having provided all things ready for the reft 

 of our Journey , we fet forward for JJpahan. 



CHAP. V. 



A Continuation of the %paâ from Nineveh to Ifpahan : Together 

 Tbïth the Story of an Amhaffador , call'd Dominico de Santis. 



HAving pafs'd the Tigris , we ftay'd three quarters of an hours Journey 

 from Nineveh for fome Merchants that were to go along with the Cara- 

 van. The way which we took was not the ufual Road to Terfia -, but 

 it was away wherein there were lefs Duties to be paid ; and befides, it 

 was a (hort cut , the Caravan making but fifty-eight days Journey between Aleppo 

 and Ifpahan. From the very banks of the River to the place where we Lodg'dthat 

 Evening , we faw nothing but continu'd Ruines , which makes me believe, it was the 

 place where the ancient Nineveh flood. 



We ftay'd two days near the Mofi]t*ee , where according to the tradition of the 

 Turks, Jonas wasbury'd, and made choice of aCnrd, or AJJyrian for ouxCara- 

 van-Tapi , though the people are generally Thieves , and mull be carefully look'd 

 after. But it was a piece of Policy, becaufe we were to crofs the ancient tAffyria, 

 now call'd Curdiflan •, the Language of which Country is a particular Speech. 



In the two firft days Journey we crofs'd two fmall Rivers that fall from the Moun- 

 tains , and empty themfelves into Tigris. Our firft Journey was through a plain 

 Country all along by the fide of a little River -, and the fécond Evening we lodg'd 

 by the fide of a great River that falls from the Mountains toward the North , and 

 running to the South, difcharges it felf into Tigris. It is call'd Bohrus , being a very 

 rapid Stream, full of Fi{h , but more efpecially excellent Trouts. The Caravan was 

 two days palling that River , by reafon there were no Boats. For the people are 

 forc'd to tye long Perches four or five together one upon another , which the Natives 

 call a Kilet. They make it four-fquare , and put underneath it about a hundred 

 Goat-Skins full of wind , to the end the Kilet may not touch the water. Befides 

 the Merchant muft be careful to fpread good flore of thick Felts over the Kilet , of 

 whkh he muft be provided to keep off the Water, leaft the Bales that fink the Kilet 

 fhould take wet. At the four corners are four Perches that ferve for Oars , though 

 they avail but little againft the force of the Tide \ fo that you muft be forc'd to hale 

 the Kilet four or five hundred Paces a' this fide up the River, ajid then row down 

 the Stream to the place where you intend to Land the Goods. When the Goods are 

 Landed , the men are forc'd again to draw the Kilet by main ftrength out of the 

 water, to take away the Goat-Skins which are then to be lad n upon the Mules appoin- 

 ted to carry them. As for the Horfes , Mules, and Afies , as well thofe that carri'd 



the 



