Chap.V. 



of Morifieur Tavernier. 



concerning the War between the Grand Signor and the Venetians , how many thou- 

 fand men he had as well by Sea as Land , and what number of Galleys and Ships ? 

 wherein we fatisfy'd him according to the beft of our knowledge. After he 

 had civilly treated us, he fent his Lieutenant back, with us again to the Caravan, 

 About ten a Clock the next night we diflodg'd ; and the Lieutenant and fix Souldiers 

 attended upon us , who told us he had order not to leave us , 'till he had brought us 

 to Solyman Kan. 



The next night we lodg'd between two Hills, among feveral Tents of Herds- 

 men. Here it was that the Commander had order'd that we fhould be treated by 

 the Deroga. A Derega , as I have faid , is the Judge of a Village : But this Zfe- 

 roga was chief of many Families , fome of which were of Mesopotamia , others of 

 Arabia. Thefe are allHerdfmen that never live in Houfes, but retire with their 

 Cattle to the holes in the Rocks, where partly Nature , partly Art, have contri- 

 buted to make them convenient Habitations. 



So foon as we were alighted , four ancient men came and led the Ambaffador 

 and my felf to the Deroga s Tent. It feem'd to confift of many Rooms , with a 

 Hall in the middle , fpread with fair Perfian Carpets. He caus'd us to fit down 

 upon Cufhions , and then prefented us with a Pipe of Tobacco , and Water to 

 wafh our Feet. After he had nobly treated us , and that we were upon taking 

 our leaves $ the Deroga was very much troubl'd that we had made a fmall Prefent 

 to his Son } telling us , that it was a crime for him to take any thing of the King's 

 .Guefts, efpecially from Strangers that had come lb long a Journey. 



The next day We lodg'd in a place where there was fuch a prodigious quantity 

 of Lillies that the Ground was almoft cover'd with them. There were none that 

 were white , being for the moft part of a fair Violet colour , with a ftreak of Red 

 in the middle of every leaf j they are like our Lilly's , but much bigger. And to 

 drink the infufion of the Roots of thefe Lilly's , efpecially thofe whofe Leaves arë 

 blackeft, for fifteen days together, is a moft Soveraign remedy againft the Pox, 

 Not long after came a Perfon of a goodly Afpeft , who feem'd to be an Arabian , 

 but he Ipoke the Perfian Language , whom Solyman Kan had fent to Compliment the 

 Ambaflàdor. He carry'd us to the Tent which the Governour had caus'd to be fet 

 up in a Garden near the Town , where he alio Lodg'd the Capuchins. The Ambafia- 

 dor alio fent to Compliment the Kan by my interpreter -, and when the hour was 

 come that we were to fet forward , he gave order to fix of the Captains of his Ca- 

 valry to accompany the Ambaffador. The Houfe where the Governour liv'd in, was 

 one of the moft beautiful mTtrfia. And as for the Governour himfelf, we found 

 him in a Gallery that Iook'd upon the Garden , the Floor being all fpread over with a 

 Tapeftry of Gold and Silk , with large Cufhions of Cloth of Gold all along the 

 Wall. After fome Queftions and difcourfe concerning the Affairs of Europe , they 

 ferv'd in Supper , which confuted of feveral Difhes \ but no Wine was to be had ; 

 our drink being Only Sherbet and the juice of Granates , with Sugar for thofe that 

 defir'd it. We were â long time at Supper , for 'tis the cuftom of Ter fia that when 

 one man rifes, another takes his place and falls too, in fo much that the Mafter of the 

 Feaft muft have the Patience to ftay 'till feveral have tak'n their turns , and when 

 every one has done , the Cloth is tak'n away without any more to do. Here the 

 Ambaffador committed an abfurditv^ for there are no Silver or Gold Spoons in 

 Perfia, but only long Wooden Ladles that reach a great way. Now the Ambaffa- 

 dor reaching his Ladle to a Purflane-Difh full of Pottage that was fcalding hot , 

 clap'd it presently into his mouth -, but finding it fo hot that he could not endure 

 it, after feveral fçurvy faces, he threw it out of his mouth again into his hand, 

 in the prefence of all the Company. 



After we had ftay'd five days at Sneirne , the Caravan-Baflii fignifi'd his defireto 

 purfue his Journey. Thereupon the Ambaffador took his leave of the Governour, 

 prefenting him with a Watch and a pair of Piftols; who in retaliation prefented the 

 Ambaffador with a ftately Horfe , and a Colt of two years old. The next day we 

 diflodg'd , and purfu'd our Road to Amadan , which is not above three days Journey 

 from Sneirne. ,, ... 



.^wW^tz isoneof the largeft and moft confiderable Cities of Perfia, feared at the 

 foot of a Mountain , where do arife an infinite company of Springs that water all 

 the Country. The Land about it abounds in Corn and Rice , wherewith it furnifhes 



K 2 the 



