ni The Persian Travel* Book III. 



before, we only took three or four handfuls of excellent Dates > to (hew that we 

 dtlhot flight his kindnefs. 



Between Anna and Mached-raba is the Guide to take fpecial care fo to order his 

 Stages , as to come every morning to the Wells by break of day , for fear of meeting 

 the Arabs , that come to fetch Water there by that time the Sun is up , who are 

 apt enough to be injurious to Travellers. 



At Mached-raba I faw one of the moft beautiful Virgins that ever I beheld in my 

 life. For I had given a Piafter to an Arab to get me fome Bread , and going to fee 

 whether it were bak'd , I found the Virgin putting it into the Oven , who being 

 alone, made me a fign to retire. There I alio faw a Colt of that wonderful Ihape, that 

 the Bafia of Damas had offer'd three thoufand Crowns for it, 



Coming to Ta'tba , we did not go into the Town, but lay without under the Walls. 

 Only our Arab went in and brought us chopt Straw for our Camels. The Governour 

 of the Town came along with him, and demauded twenty Piafiers of every one, for 

 certain Duties which he pretended payable to him. We knew there were but four 

 due, and refus'd to pay any more*, but the Arab having a mind to put a trick upon 

 the Spaniard, gave me a wink , intimating to me that I fhould not trouble my felf : 

 Thereupon the Governour incens'd goes back to the Town , and by and by returns 

 with an Iron Chain •, and had certainly carry'd the Spaniard fetter'd to the Fort , had 

 he not laid down the twenty Piafiers. For my part , I was difcharg'd for my four 

 Piafter s , according to cuftom. 



Drawing near to Aleppo , the firft Houfes that we came at bordering upon the 

 Defert , were the Houles of the Arabs and Bedouins • the fécond of which being the 

 Habitation of a Friend of our Guide's, I deliver'd my Horfe to the Guide, to whom I 

 had fold it before at his own earneft requeft -, for I was refolv'd to go a-foot to Aleppo : 

 and therefore that I might fave the Cuftom of a parcel of Turquoifès that I had 

 about me, I put them in the Pouches which I carry'd behind my Horfe, and threw 

 the Pouches into a little Cheft , as if they had been things of no confequence } and 

 defir'd the Man of the Houfe to keep them a day or two. The Arab told me , that 

 were it all Gold it Ihould be fafe \ and indeed when I fent for them within a day or 

 two after , I found nothing miffing. 



When I came to Aleppo , the Englijh Conful ask'd me what news from Ijpahan: 

 I made anfwer, that he muft of neceffity know better than I, in regard the Englijh 

 Prefident there had fent away an Exprefs to him while I was there \ and that he went 

 away with two Capuchins and an Arabian Guide. Thereupon the Conful mif- 

 trufting fome mifchief was befaî'n them, requefted the Bajha to lend him fome of his 

 Soldiers t, who readily granted him eight Men , part Arabians, part Bédouins. Thefe 

 the Conful order'd to difperfe themfelves upon feveral Roads in the Wildernefs , to- 

 fee if they could meet with any tidings upon the Way. In a fhort time two 

 of them return'd with two little Pouches, in one of which was the Packet of Letters. 

 They reported alio , that in a by-place between Tdiba and Mached-raba they faw 

 the Bodies of four dead Men lying upon the Sand. One of them which was in black 

 Clothes, being hack'd and mangled in a moft miferable manner*, but the Bodies of the 

 other three were entire , though run through in feveral places. Some time after the 

 perfons themfelves that did the faft told both at Diarbequir and Damas , how it came 

 to pafs. For certain Merchants of Damas going to Diarbeqmr, perceiv'd four Men 

 early in the morning at certain Wells where they were to ftop -, whereupon they 

 fent two of their Company before to know who they were. But the Auftin-Vner 

 having a little parcel of Diamonds about him , and believing them to be Thieves, 

 inconfiderately let fly his Gun and kilPd one of them immediately upon the place : 

 the Merchants feeing one of their companions dead , fell all at once upon the other 

 three, cut the Anftin-Fnen to pieces, and flew the reft -, and fo without rifling them 

 purfu'd their Journey. 



From Aleppo I went to Alexandretta , and there embarqu'd in a VelTel of Mar- 

 seilles , with a favourable Wind, 'till we came to make the Coaft oî Candy , where 

 we were becalm'd for two days. One morning by break of day we difcover'd a 

 Pickaroon , whereupon feeing we could not avoid being fetch'd up by him , we 

 made ready. He made two or three Ihot at us , which did us no other harm but 

 only touch'd the Beak-head of the Ship. Our Gunner made a (hot at him , which 

 brought down his Top-gallant ; a fécond went through and through the great Cabin, 



and 



* 



