74 



The Persian Travels Book II, 



feveral Fenns ànd hot Waters , that part the two Empires. Entring thug into 

 Perfia, we met with a high Mountain cover'd with fair Oaks, which bear the Gall- 

 Nuts , fo high , that the Caravan was fome hours ere it could get to the top. As 

 we afcenc ed , but efpecially when we were up, we heard feveral Muskets go off. 

 At firft we thought the people had been hunting the wild Boars or Stags , of which 

 the Mountains are full : but the report of the Guns being too loud and too thick 

 for Hunters , we Mood upon our guard :, 'and I believe we fhould have mended 

 bur paces , had we known what was intended us. Befides , I remember'd that the 

 Country-people would not fell any thing but for Powder and Bullet , which the 

 Caravan-Bafoi advis'd me not to let them have , for fear they (hould make ufe of it 

 againft our felves. From the Mountain we defcended into a fertil Plain , watcr'd 

 with feveral Rivers-, and night approaching, we fet up our Tents , not fearing any 

 thing, becaufe we were in the Dominions of the King of Perfia, where there is 

 fo much fecurity in travelling. After that we lent our Servants to the Tents of 

 the Country-men , but they brought us nothing but Bread made of Acorns , than 

 which the poor people thereabouts eat no other. This Acorn is about the bignefs of 

 our Nuts -, and once I met with a Branch that had thirty Acorns , and twenty-three 

 Gail-Nuts , all at one time growing upon it. 



The Province which we travePd through then , compos'd the greateft part of 

 the ancient Ajfyria. But now to come to the Story of Dominico de Santis the Ve- 

 netian. He had Letters of Credence from the Pope , the Emperour , the King of 

 Poland, and the Republick of Venice, to the King of Perfia; and he went in the 

 Caravan through the Grand Signer's Territories , never difcovering himfelf who 

 he was-, but coming into Perflate took upon him without fear the Title of Ambafla- 

 dor from the Commonwealth of Venice. 



From the Plain where we lodg'd , it is two days journey to a good big Town , to 

 which belongs a Fortrefs , where the Governour of the Province has a Lieutenant, 

 with about two thoufand Horfe under his Command. The Fortrefs is upon the 

 right hand toward the South , after three hours riding upon the High-way. To 

 this Lieutenant, the Caravan-Bajhi was according to duty bound to give notice of 

 the Arrival of the Caravan . and an account of the Perfons and their Merchandize. 

 This Venetian was a perfon ill fitted for the quality of an AmbafTador , being a 

 perfon of no Parts*, which made me wonder that fuch great Princes, and fo wife 

 a Commonwealth (hould fend fuch a perfon upon a Concern of that importance. 

 For the Grand Signor then afTailing Candy , he was fent to excite the King of Perfia 

 to engage him in a War againft the Turkey thereby to keep off the Storm that 

 threaten'd Chriftendom. Thereupon I told the AmbafTador , that it was necelTary 

 for him to give the Commander of the Fort firft notice of his coming, to the end 

 he might give advice thereof to Solyman-Kan Governour of the Province, whofe 

 duty it was to advertife the King. Thereupon he requefted me to fend my Inter- 

 preter , which I did. Upon whofe intelligence the Lieutenant of the Fort came 

 to Compliment the Ambaffador on the behalf of the chief Commander, and to 

 conduct him to the Caftle. 



Thereupon the AmbafTador , my felf , and my Interpreter , together with fome 

 Armenian Merchants went with him , travelling for three hours over the Mountains. 

 By that time we came half the way , as we pafs'd through a Wood , we heard 

 as it were fome perfon give a Whiftle:, at which when the Lieutenant perceiv'd us 

 to be fomewhat ftartl'd , he carry'd us to the place from whence the Whiftle came, 

 where we law a Serpent about as big as a Man's Thigh, and about twelve Foot 

 long , whole head was fqueez'd between two Trees , that put him to pain. From 

 that Mountain we defcended into a pleafant Plain , where the Commander of the 

 Fortrefs ftaid for us under his Tent. He had let it up by the fide of a River , under 

 the (hade of feveral great Walnut-trees. So foon as he law us , he rofe from his 

 great Silk Tapeftry Coverlet, and faluted us in a moft civil manner, telling us, that 

 afluredly Sha-Abas , his Matter, would be very glad to hear that the Monarchs of 

 Chriftendom had fent him an Ambaflador , and that he would write to Solyman-Kan, 

 whofe duty it was to advertife the Emperour. Thereupon he wrote and difpatch'd 

 away a MefTenger > giving him order to tell the Deroga, or Judge of the Town, 

 through which we were to pafs , that he (hould make Provision for us and our 

 Horfes 'till we came to the GoverhoBr. After he had ask*d us feveral Queftions 



concerning 



7 

 I 



