Chap.I V. of Monfîeur Tavernier. 



147 



where they ufually train up the Hawk , they lay meat upon the head , or in the 

 holes of the eyes , to the end the Bird may be fure to feize thole parts at his down- 

 come. Being accuftom'd to feed in this manner for fome days together, they fix the 

 Beaft upon a Plank with four Wheels, and caufe it to be drawn with long Cords by 

 certain men , that mend their pace ev'ry day, 'till at length it is drawn by a Horfe 

 at full fpeed , whereby the Bird is accuftom'd by degrees not to forfake her prey. 

 After the fame manner they counterfeit all other forts of Quarrys to enter their 

 Hawks , as well wild Boars, wild AfTes , as Hares and Foxes. Some there are that 

 will order a Crow with the fame induftry as you would make a Hawk. They have 

 have alio a certain Beaft which they call Owe, which has a lpotted skin like a Tiger, 

 but which is neverthelefs very gentle and tame -, this a Horfe-man will carry behind 

 him , and when he fees a wild Goat, he fets down the Once , which is fo nimble , that 

 in three leaps he will be upon the back of the wild Goat*, though the wild Goat be 

 a very fwift Creature. The Once immediately ftrangles him with his (harp teeth; 

 But if by accident the wild Goat get from him , the Once will ftand ftill in the lame 

 place abalh'd and troubl'd , lb that an Infant may take him and kill him , without 

 the leaft refiftance made in his own defence. 



The Kings of Per fia take great delight in Hunting , and in that fport it is that 

 they love to (hew themfelves magnificent : Infomuch-that Sha-Sefi defirous to treat all 

 the Ambaftadors then at his Court,which at that time were the Tartarian, Mufcovite, 

 and JWz'rf«,carry'd them along with him into the field, and having tak'n a great number 

 of Harts, Fallow-dear, Hinds, and wild Boars, he caus'd them all to be made ready to 

 be eat'n the fame day : And while he was feafting , an Architect had order to raife 

 a Pyramid of the heads of thofe Beafts in the middle of IJpahan, of which there are 

 fome remains to this day. When the Architect had rais'd it to a confiderable height, 

 he came very pleafantly to the King , and told him he wanted nothing but one 

 head of fome great Beaft to finifh the Work. The King , whether in his Wine, 

 or to (hew the Ambafladors how abfolute he was over his Subjects , turning briskly 

 toward the Architecl: \ Thou fay'fl well , laid he , nor do I know where to meet with 

 a Head more proper than thy own. Thereupon the milerable Architect was forc'd 

 to fubmit his own Head , the King's Command being prefently put in execution. 



CHAP. IV. 



Of the manner of Building in Perfia. 



IN regard there is little Wood or Stone in Perpa , all the Cities , except fome 

 Houles, are generally built of Earth -, but of an earthen , or rather a kind of 

 Potter's Clay, fo well wrought, that you may cut it like Turf, being wrought • 

 to a juft confiftency. The Walls are made with lays of Earth , according to 

 the proportion intended , and between eve*ry lay of Earth , three Foot high , two 

 or three rows of Bricks bak'd in the Sun. Thefe Bricks are made in a fquare Mold, 

 three fingers thick , and feven or eight inches broad : and for fear they fhould cleave 

 with drying in the Sun , they lay over them pounded Straw to keep them from 

 chopping in the heat. They never lay the fécond Lay 'till the firft be dry, nor is 

 the fécond Lay to be fo broad as the lowermoft. Thofe Buildings which are made 

 of Brick bak'd in the Sun are very handfom -, and after the Wall is rais'd, the Mafon 

 plaifters it over with a Morter made of Potter's Clay mingled with Strawy fo that r 

 the defects of the Building being cover'd, the Wall eippears very firm and clofe. 

 Then the Work-man planters the Morter over again with a Lime mixtwith Mufcovy- 

 Green , which he pounds with a certain Gum , to render the Lime more glutinous : 

 and then rubbing the W all over with a courfe Brufh , it becomes as it were damask'd 

 and filver'd, and looks like Marble. The poor are contented with only bare Walls, 

 or fome courfe daubing that cofts little. A The middle of the Houfe confifts of a large - 

 Portico, twenty or thirty Foot fquare -, and in the middle of the Portico a Fountain 

 full of Water. It is all open upon one fide and from the Tortico to the Pond or 



T 2 fountain! 



