The Persian Travels 



Book IV. 



As he was about his duty, a Horfe-man entred the Piazza „ arm'd with a Bow , a 

 Quiver, and a Scimitar, follow'd by feven Men that carry'd every one a Pike upright in 

 their hands , with every one a Man's Head at the top. Thole were the Heads of cer- 

 tain VjheckcTartars, the neighbouring and mortal Enemies of the Perfians , which 

 thofe men had cut off from the fhoulders of their conquer'd Foes. The King caus'dfive 

 Tomans a piece to be giv'n to them that carry'd the Heads , and ten Tomans to their 

 Leader. After them enter'd three hundred Turks, which were fled from the Borders 

 of 7V£?<?,from whence the Country-people were tak'n by force,and fent to the Warrs 

 of Candy. They complain'd, that whereas they were wont to be fent to their Winter- 

 Quarters about the middle of October, the Turk, kept them to the lame hard fervice 

 in Winter as in Summer. All thefe were order'd to advance into the middle of the 

 Piazza , where they made their obeyfance to him three times , and then humbly 

 befought him that they might dwell in his Kingdom,with their Wives, their Children, 

 and their Cattel. The King order'd Money to be diftributed among them, and that 

 they fhould have Lands affign'd them to manure. Then the Provofl caus'd the Com- 

 panies to advance, every Company having the 1 hill of a Wagon carry'd before him } 

 upon every of which Thills was a Bier three or four Foot high , the Wood of the Thill 

 being painted with a Çrotefco of Gold andSilver,and the Bier cover'd with Sattin.When 

 the firft Company had order to march, three Horfes were led before, richly harnefs'd i 

 when they were come about a hundred Paces forward into the Piazza , in view of 

 the King , they that led the Horfes cauâ'd them to gallop, and then all the Company 

 fell a running and dancing about with the Bier. Befides that, every one flung up his 

 fhort Caûock , his Girdle , and Bonnet, put their fingers in their mouths, towhiftle 

 as loud as they could. While the naked people, with their Flint-ftones in their hands, 

 ran knocking their Stones together , crying out , Hnjfein Hocen, Hocen Hnjfein , 'till 

 they foam at the mouth again -, not omitting to wryth their Bodies, and to make all the 

 icurvy Faces as before defcrib'd. The three Companies lucceeding one another 

 in the fame Formalities , by and by came two Companies more with a little Bier 

 upon their Thills, and in each Bier a little Child that lay as if dead. They that accom- 

 pany'd thefe two Biers wept and figh'd moft fadly. Thefe two Infants reprefented 

 the Children of Hujjein , who when the Prophet was flain, were tak'n by Terid, Caliyh 

 of Bagdat, and put to death. 



Upon this occafion you {hall fee a great number of Curtifans that come to the 

 Ceremony fall a weeping , who thereby believe their Sins are forgiv'n. 



When all the people were come into the Piazza , notwithftanding all the care and 

 good order that was tak'n , there were lèverai that went to Sharps , accounting it a 

 great honour to fight fmartly in the King's prefence -, and farther believing,that if any 

 one be kill'd upon that occafion, he fhall be Sainted as indeed every one gives fome- 

 thing toward his Interrment. The Grand Provofl feeing the Quarrel grow hot, and 

 fearing more mifchief, fent for five Elephants, which ceas'd the Combat, by drawing 

 the Eyes of the Spectators upon them. The Elephants march'd one before another, 

 according to their Pay that was allow'd them , and their skill in War. Not that the 

 King of Perfla makes any ule of them in the Field, but only for State, keeps fuch 

 as the Indian Princes prelent him withal. Thofe five ELephants were cover'd with 

 Houles of Cloth of Gold , with a Fringe of the fame round about. And i5pon the 

 firft , which was the higheft and the biggeft , fate two Men , the one upon the neck, 

 who guides the Elephant - , the other upon the crupper, carrying the King's Arm's 

 in a Standard fix'd to a Half-Pike. Upon the other four fate only one Man a-piece, ! 

 who were the Governours. When they came before the place w T here the King fate, 

 they were all rank'd five a-breft , at what time the biggeft, which was in the middle, 

 ftretch'd out his two fore-legs forward, and his two -hinder-iegs backward, 'till 

 his belly almoft touch'd the ground-, after which manner the Elephant makes' his 

 obeyfance. The other four did the fame. Then laying their Trunks upon the ground, 

 and raifing them again over their heads three times more , they were made to ftand 

 with their heads where their tayls flood ^ and their Houfes were turn'd up„ to 

 the end the King might fee in what condition they were , and whether well took*d 

 after or no : which being done, they were led away again. 



Upon one fide of the Room where the King ftood , a little Scaffold was fet up, 

 cover'd with Tap'ftry, fome five Foot lower than the Kings. In the middle of the 

 Scaffold ftood a great Elbow-Chair cover'd with black Velvet, where fare a Moidab 



with ! 



