j6 



The Persian Travels Book IL 



the greateft part of the neighbouring Provinces. Which is the reafon that fome 

 of the Perfian Statef-men hold it very inconvenient for the King of Per fia to keep 

 Bagdat, as well by reafon of the vaftnefs of the Charge , as alfo for that it draws 

 from Amadan that which fhould fupply other Provinces. On the other fide, it is 

 eafie for the Grand Signer to hold it, by reafon of the neighbourhood of Mefopo- 

 tamia, ^4fiyria , and the Arabs, Enemies to the Per fans : by which means Provi- 

 fions are very cheap, which the people would not know where to put off, if the 

 King of Per fia were Lord of Bagdat. 



We ftaid at Amadan about ten days, by reafon of the Rains', during which time 

 the Caravans cannot travel. While we tarry'd there, we were vifited by feveral 

 Babylonian Chriftians, who were glad to fee that we had efcap'd the Clutches of the 

 Bajha of Bagdat , who had giv'n order to the Bajha of Karkou , and the Bey of 

 Sharajfon that commands the Frontiers of Turkic , to feize us , and carry us back to 

 Bagdat. For which we might have thank'd the Ambafïador, and a malicious Rabbi, 

 that came along with us in the Caravan from Aleppo -, who finding the Feaft of the 

 Tabernacles to be at hand , and that we had a great way to IJpahan, left us atNi- 

 niveh , to keep the Feftival with the Jew of Babylon. Where that he might infi- 

 nuate himfelf into the Bajha's favour , he inform'd him that there was a Fringmz. 

 in the Caravan , whom he look'd upon as a Spy, and that he was an Envoy into Perfia 

 from the Commonwealth of Venice ; for he carry'd no Merchandize , but had three 

 Chefts full of rich Habits , and feveral other things which he took for Prefens to 

 the Perfian King. For out of vanity or folly, the Venetian had feveral times open'd 

 his Cheft and expos'd his Gallantry to view. And yet he was fo clutch-fifted and 

 niggardly in every thing , that when there was any occafion to reward the Kan's 

 Servant, or any of the Country-men that brought us the Dainties of the place, it 

 came all out of my Pocket. So that I left him to my Interpreter and the two Ca- 

 puchins -, and with three Servants and a Guide , after I had ftaid at Amadan three 

 days , I took Horfe for Ijpahan. 



When I came there , the Naz.ar or Mafter of the King's Houfhold hearing I 

 had left an Ambaflador behind me with the Caravan , enquir'd of me what manner 

 of Perfon he was, but I pretended I had had little converfe with him , unwilling 

 to difcover his mean Spirit. I The Evening before his Arrival the Naz.ar lent to 

 give the Frhguiz. notice in the King's Name , that they fhould be ready to go 

 meet the Ambaflador the next day ; which we did , and brought him into the City 

 and through tAlfs Gate, that joyns to the King's Palace. Now 'tis the cuftom 

 for all AmbafTadors to falute that Gate , by reafon of a white Marble Stone made 

 like an AfTes back , and which ferves for a Step : being , as they report , brought 

 anciently out of Arabia , where Ali liv'd. So foon as you have ftrid over that Stone 

 without touching it, which were a great crime , you enter into a kind of a Gallery, 

 where there are Rooms on each fide, which ferves for a Sanctuary for Criminals, 

 which the King himfelf cannot fetch out of that place. That day that the new King 

 receives his Enfigns of Royalty, he goes to ftride over that Stone -, and if by negli- 

 gence he fhould chance to touch it , there are four Guards at the Gate , that would 

 make a (hew of thrufting him back again. 



But now the Mafter of the Ceremonies being ready to conduct the Ambaflador 

 to the Apartment alotted him, as an Ambaflador that came from three great Mo- 

 narchy, and a potent Commonwealth , he defir'd to lodge at theHoufe of one Pietro 

 Pentalet, defcended from Venetian Parents', whereupon the Mafter of the Ceremonies 

 conducted him thither , and caus'd his Dinner to be brought him. While we were 

 eating , I counted thirteen Languages fpoken at the Table \ Latin , French , High- 

 Dutch , Engliflj , LeW'Dutch , Italian , Portuguez, , Perfian , Turkish , Arabic , Indian, 

 Syriac, and Malay 'e, which is the Language of the Learned, that is fpoken from the 

 River Indus to China and Japan , and in all the Hands of the Eaft , like Latin in 

 Europe ; not reck'ning the little Morefio or Gibbrifh of the Country. So that it is 

 a difficult thing to obferve what is talk'd in one Company, where the Difcourfe 

 begins in one Language , is purfu'd in another , and finifh'd in a third : and for the 

 Turks and Armenians , they never fpeak above three or four Languages at moft. 



Now to fhew you the Civility of the Perfians ; the Mafter of the Ceremonies came 

 to the Ambaflador and told him , that if he did not like the Cookery of the Perfians y 

 he had Order from the Atemadoulet } who is as the Grand Vizier in Turkk, to offer him 



Money 



