The Persian Travels Book II. 



they have any thing about 'em which ought to pay, they carry the perfons to the 

 Cuftom-Houfe , where they write down the quantity of the Goods , and let them 

 go. All the Merchandize upon the Kilet is carry'd thither alfo , which the Mer- 

 chant fetches away again in two or three days , paying the Cuftom : All which is 

 done in very great order, without any nolle or difturbance in the leaft. 



Though Bagdat ufually bear the name of Babylon , yet it is at a great diftance 

 from the ancient Babylon , whereof in due place. But now for Bagdat , as it ftands 

 at this day. 



Bagdat is a City feated upon the River of Tigris, on the Coaft of Perfia , and fe- 

 parated from Mefopotamia by the fame River. It lyes in 3 3 Deg. 1 5 Min. of Ele- 

 vation. The Chronicles of the Arabians report that it was built by one of their 

 Calijfs nam'd çyilmanfour , in the year of the Hegyra of Mahomet 145, and of 

 Chriftianity 762 , or thereabouts. They call it Dar-al-fani , that is , the HottJ'e of 

 Peace. Some fay it deriv'd its name from a Hermitage that flood in a Meadow 

 where the City now ftands , whence it was call'd Bagdat , or , a Garden bequeath' d. 

 About forty years ago digging up the Foundations of an Inn , the Work-men found 

 a Body entire , habited like a Bifhop , with a Cenfor and Incenfe by him. And in 

 the fame place lèverai Cells of Religious Houfes fhew'd themfelves : which makes 

 it very probable, that where Bagdat is built there was anciently a great Monaftery, 

 with feveral Houfes where the Chriflians inhabited. The City is about fifteen 

 hundred Paces long , and fev'n or eight hundred broad , and cannot poflibly be above 

 three Miles in circuit. The Walls are of Brick , and terrafs'd in fome places, with 

 large Towers like Baftions. Upon all thefe Towers there are mounted about fixty 

 pieces of Cannon, the biggeft whereof carries not above a five or fix Pound Ball. 

 The Moats are wide , and about five or fix Fathom deep. There are not above four 

 Gates -, three upon the Land-fide, and one upon the River, which you muft crofs, over 

 a Bridge of thirty-three Boats, datant one from the other about the bredth of one 

 Boat. The Caftle is in the City, near to one of the Gates call'd EU-Maazan , upon 

 the North fide. It is partly built upon the River, encompafs'd only with a fingle Wall, 

 terrafs'd in fome places and adorn'd with little Towers , upon which are planted 

 about a hundred and fifty Cannon , but without Carriages. The Moat is narrow, 

 and not above two or three Fathom deep , neither is there any Draw-Bridge before 

 the Gate. The Garrifon confifts of three hundred Janizaries , commanded by an 

 Aga. The City is governed by a Bajha , who is generally a Vizier. His Houfe 

 is upon the fide of the River, making a fair fhew, and he has alway ready at com- 

 mand fix or fev'n hundred Horfe. There is alfo an Aga that commands three or 

 four hundred Spahi's. They have befides another fort of Cavalry which is call'd Gin- 

 guliler, that is to fay, Men of Courage, commanded by two Aga's ; and ufually there 

 are about three thoufand in the City and the Towns adjoyning. The Keys of the 

 Gates of the City and the Bridge-Gate are in the cuftody of another Aga , who 

 has under him two hundred Janizaries. There are alfo fix hundred Foot-men, 

 who have their particular Aga, and about fixty Cannoneers, who were at that time 

 commanded by an expert Artift that went by the name of Signor Michael, who pafs'd 

 for a Turk^, though he were born in Candy. He put himfelf into the Grand Signer's 

 fervice, when he went to befiege Bagdat, in the year 1638. Though the T aH^had the 

 good fortune to carry the City in a fmall time-, not fo much by virtue of the Breach 

 which Signor Michael had made in the Wall , as the Sedition and Revolt that hap- 

 pen'd at the fame inftant, the Story whereof was thus in fhort. 



The Kan that fuftain'd the brunt of the Siege at firft , was originally an Armenian, 

 and his name was Sefi-couli-Kan. He had commanded the City a long time , and had 

 defended it twice from the Army of the Turk) , who were not able to take it before. 

 But the King of Perfia having fent one of his Favourites to command in his room, 

 who had enter'd upon his Command before the Cannon had made the Breach, the old 

 Kan finding himfelf difplac'd by the Commiflion of the new Governour , rather 

 chofe to dye, than furvive the Affront which was put upon him. To which purpofe 

 he fent for his Servants , the Officers of the Army, his Wife and Son , and taking 

 three Cups of Poyfon in his Hand, he commanded his Wife,if ever fhe lov'd him, now 

 to fhew the marks of her affe&ion by generoufly dying with him. He gave the 

 fame exhortation to his Son -, and fo all three together drank up the Poyfon, which 

 procur'd their fpeedy dcath.The Souldiers,who had a great love for their Governour, 



having 



