Chap. III. of Monfïeur Tavernier. 105 



From Cochakan to Carakgn , a bad Inn where you enter among the Mountains, 

 that being full of Torrents reach as far as Betlis. 



ïïomCarakgn to Betlis, a City belonging to a Bey or Prince of the Country, the 

 moft potent and moft confiderable of all the reft-, for he neither acknowledges the 

 Grand Signor nor the Per fan : whereas all the other Beys are Tributary either to the 

 one or the other. And it is the Intereft of thole two Potentates to correfpond with 

 him j for it's an eafie thing for him to flop up the palfage from zsfleppo to Tan- 

 ris , or from T auris to Alepvo ; the Streights of the Mountains being lb narrow, 

 that ten Men may defend them againft a thoufand. Coming near Betlis you muft 

 travel a whole day among high fteep Mountains, that reach two Miles beyond, with 

 Torrents on each fide the way being cut out of the Rock on each fide , where there 

 is but juft room for a Camel to pals. The City ftands between two high Mountains, 

 equally diftant one from the other, and about trie height of Montmartre. It is built 

 like a Sugar-loaf, the afcent being fo fteep on every fide, that there is no getting 

 to the top, but by wheeling and winding about the Mountain. The top of all is a Plat- 

 form, where ftands a Caftle well built, at the Gate whereof is a Draw-Bridge. Then 

 you pafs through two great Courts , and then into a third , oppofite to the Beyh 

 Apartment. It is very troublefom to get up to the top of the Caftle, and a Man 

 muft be very wellHors'd that does it. There is no other perfon but the Bey and his 

 Elquire , who is permitted to ride up on Horfe-back. There is one Inn within the 

 City, and another as it were without , in which the Merchants rather choofe to 

 lye than in the other , by realbn that it is ready to be overflown when the Torrents 

 lwell , that run through every Street. The Bey , befide the ftrength of his Pafles, 

 is able to bring above five and twenty thoufand Horfe into the Field % and a very 

 confiderable Body of Foot , compos'd of the Shepherds of the Country, who are to 

 be ready at a Call. I went to wait upon the Bey himfelf , and made him a Prefent 

 of two pieces of Satin , the one ftreakt with Silver , and the other with Gold : two 

 white Bonnets, fuch as the Turks wear, very fine, and adorn'd with Silver at the top ° y 

 together with a fute of HandkerchifTs , ftreak'd with Red and Silver. While I 

 ftaid with the Bey, who fent for Coffee for me according to the cuftom , a Courier 

 came to him from the Bajha of Aleflo, todefire him that he would deliver up into 

 his hands a French Chirurgeon that was his Slave, having been tak'n in Candia; 

 complaining withal , that he had run away from him with the value of three thou- 

 fand Crowns. The Bey, who underftood what belong'd to a Sanctuary, and was 

 refolv'd to protect the French-man , fchool'd the Meflènger fo feverely , that he 

 threaten'd to put him to death if he did not get him gone prefently ; charging him 

 to tell his- Matter withal , that he would complain to the Grand Signor of his info- 

 lence -, and that if he were ftrangl'd , he might thank himfelf. And indeed it 

 behov'd the Great Ti/r^ to keep fair correfpondence With him-, in regard that if the 

 Per [tans fhould at any time befiege Van , the Grand Signer muft march through the 

 Befs Country to relieve it -, who has Forces enow to oppofe him if he fliould be his 

 Enemy. 



But to travel through the Country of the Curds is very pleafant : for if on the 

 one fide the ways are bad, and difficult to be travePd , in other places you have a 

 profpeft of feveral forts of Trees, as Oaks and Walnuts, and not a Tree which is 

 not embrae'd with a wild Vine. Below the Mountains, in the Level , grows the bett 

 Wheat and Barley in all the Country. 



^ torn Betlis y where you pay five Piajlers for every Horfe-load , to Taduan, where 

 you pay two. 



Taduan is a great Town within a Cannon-fhot of the Lake of Van, in fuch a part, 

 where Nature has made a Hav'n, fhelter'd from all the Winds*, being clos'd on all 

 fides with high Mountains, the entry into which though it feem narrow , is very 

 free. It is able to contain twenty or thirty great Barks •, and when it is fair Wea- 

 ther , and that the Wind ferves , the Merchants generally Ship off their Goods 

 from thence to Van : from whence it is but four and twenty hours fail , and a very 



food palfage whereas by Land from Taduan to Van it is eight days journey on 

 lorfe-back. Returning back , you may alfo take Water at Van for Tadkan. 

 From Taduan to Karmonftie. ** 

 From Karmoujlie' to Kellat. 



From Kellat to Algiaottx, a fmall City, where you pay one P latter for every Load, 



O From' 



