The Persian Travels Book II, 



the other. It is one of the beft countries in the poffeflîon of the Grand Signor , 

 being ftor'd with large Meadows and excellent Pafturage , where are bred infinite 

 numbers of Beafts, efpeciaUy Mares and Bufalo's. The Female Bufalo's go twelve 

 Months , and yield fo much milk , that there are fome which will give two and 

 twenty Pints. And there isfo large » quantity of Butter made, that in fome Vil- 

 lages upon the Tigris, we fawfometimes five and twenty, fometimes twenty Barks 

 lad'n with Butter , which the people fell all along the Gulf of Perfia , as well upon 

 Arabia, as Perfia fide. 



Half the way between Bagdat and Balfara , we perceiv'd lèverai Pavilions fet 

 up in the Meadows along by the fide of the River. Upon enquiry we heard that 

 the Tefterdar was come from Confiantinople to gather the Grand Signer's duty's. For 

 from Bagdat to Gorno , for all the Bufalo's as well Male as Female , there is to be paid 

 a Piafier and a quarter for every head once a year j which is worth yearly to the 

 Grand Signor a hundred and fourfcore thouland Piafier s . Every Mare alfo pays two 

 Piafier s , every Sheep ten Sow, which if the Country people were not very cunning, 

 would be worth fifty thoufand Piafier s more than it is. 



After this we came to Gorno, a Fortrefs upon the point where the two Rivers meet , 

 befides two other fmall Caftles upon each fide , fo that there is no paffing without 

 leave. Upon the Fort of Gorno which was well furnifh'd with Cannon , wefaw the 

 Prince of Balfara's Son , who was Governour of the Fort. And here it is that the 

 Account of the Cuftoms is taken. But though they are very exatt in fearchingthe 

 Barks , they are very civil , for they fearch no body. However left any Goods 

 fhould be hid between the Planks of the Ships , over which they generally throw Fa- 

 gots and Canes, the Cuftomers bring a great Piercer , with which they bore the fides 

 of the Bark quite through for the difcovery of conceal'd Goods. The Goods are 

 Regifter'd at Gorno , but the Cuftoms are always paid at Balfara , according to 

 the accompt giv'n from the Fort. 



The fame day entring into the Channel that is cut out of Euphrates to Balfara , 

 we met the chief of the Holland Factory taking his pleafure in a Boat cover'd with 

 Scarlet , who took me with him to Balfara. 



Balfara (lands upon the fide of Arabia deferta , two Leagues from the Ruines of 

 a City , which was formerly ' call'd Teredon , and anciently flood in the Qefert , to 

 which the Water was formerly conveigh'd out of Euphrates in a Brick Channel ftill 

 to be feen. 



By the Ruines it appears to have been a great City, from whence the Arabians 

 fetch away the Bricks and fell them at Balfara. The City of 'Balfara is half a 

 League from Euphrates, which the ^Arabians in their Language call Shetel-areb , 

 or the River of Arabia. The Inhabitants of the City have made a Channel to it 

 about half a League long, which bears Veffels of 150 Tun-, at the end where- 

 of ftands a Fort, fo that no Veffel can get into the Fort without leave. The Sea is 

 above fifteen Leagues off, but the Tide comes up to the Channel , and fills the River 

 other fifteen Leagues upward beyond Gorno. The Country is fo low , that were 

 it not for a Dam that runs along the Sea-fhoar , it would often be in danger of being 

 drown'd. The Dam is above a League in length, and built all of Free-ftone fo ftrong, 

 that the fury of the waves can do them no injury,though it lie open to a Boyftrous Sea. 



It is not above a hundred years fince Balfara belong'd to the Arabians of the Defert, 

 and had no commerce with the Nations of Europe. For thofe people were contented- 

 to eat their own Dates, having fo great a quantity, that they only live upon them. 

 'Tis the fame thing all along the Gulf on each fide *, for from Balfara to the River 

 Indus for above fix hundred Leagues together, and all along the Coaftof Arabia to 

 Mafcaté , the poor fort of people know not what it is to eat Rice, but live upon 

 Dates andSalt-fifh dry'd in the wind. The Cows eat no Grafs, and though they 

 go abroad in the fields, they find little or nothing among the bufhes which is 

 proper for them to eat. But every Morning before* they drive them to the 

 Field , and when they return home , they give them heads of fifh and Date-nuts 

 boil'd together. 



The Turks having had War with the Arabians took Balfara; and yet becaufe 

 the Arabians always hover'd about the Town , and made booty of all they could lay 

 their hands on , they were fore'd to come to an agreement with them , that the Arabs 

 ' fhould quietly enjoy all the Defert 'till within a League of the City, and that the 



Turk? 



