Chap.XV. of Monfîeur Tavernier. 177 



CHAP. XV. 



Vf the Author s reception at the Court ef Perfia in his fixth and 

 kfi Voyage 9 and lohat he did there during his flay at Ifpahan. 



I Arriv'd at îjpahan thtjioth of December , 1664. So foon as the Naz.nr 

 was inforra'd of my arrival , he lent the Kelonter or chief of the Armenians 

 with feven or eight more to congratulate my arrival , and to afTure me of all 

 the kind Offices he could do me. The next day he lent the lame Armenians 

 with four Horfes -, and to tell me that the King had a defire to lee what I had brought -, 

 for which purpole the Kelonter had order to furnifh me with men. Thereupon I 

 took Horfc , accompany'd by all the Franks that were at Zulpha. When I came to 

 Court , I was brought into the place where all the great Ambafladors had audience, 

 where I found attending the Naz.ar > and Father Raphael fuperior of the order of 

 the Capuchins , ready to deliver me my Box of Jewels which I had left with him in 

 the Côvent for more fecurity. After I had expos'd my Goods upon a fair Table 

 cover'd with a Carpet of Gold and Silver, and that the Naz.ar had difpos'd every 

 thing in order with his own hand, the King enter'd , attended only by three Eunuchs 

 for his Guard , and two old men , whole office it was to pull off his Shooes when he 

 goes into any Room Ipread with Gold and Silk Carpets , and to put them on again 

 when he goes forth. The King had nothing on but a fingle pair of Drawers of 

 Taffata, chequer'd red and white,which came half way the Leg, his feet being bare 5 

 a Ihort CafTock that came but half way his body , with a large Cloak of Cloth of 

 Gpld with hanging-fleeves down to the Ground, furr'd with Sable Martin. The 

 firft thing I Ihew'd was a large Candleftick of Chryftal of the Rock , the richeft 

 piece of that nature that ever was feen. The next was a fuit of Tapeftry hangings 

 held up by feveral men, as I had appointed. The Naz.ar then caus'd me to advance 

 and do my obeyfance to the King , who prefently knowing my Face again -, Oh , 

 faid he to the Naz.ar * This is the Fringui Aga who fold me jo many Rarities about 

 fix years ago , when Mahomet Beg was Athemadoulet. After that the Nazar fhew'd 

 him all my Rarities as they lay in order. Among the reft I befought His Majefty 

 by Frier Raphaël , to accept of a great Steel Mirror , which when he look'd in , 

 he wonder'd to fee his Facefo big. But when Frier Raphael had told him the nature 

 of it , he caus'd it to be held to one of his Eunuchs , which had a monftrous Hawk 

 Nofe, the fight whereof held him in laughter and divertifement for above a quarter 

 of an hour. After that the King retii'd , leaving me alone with the Nazar and 

 Friar Raphel. As for my Jewels I put them up my lelf , and had a place aflign'd 

 me to Lock them up and keep the Key , but for my large pieces of Goldfmiths 

 work , the Nazar committed them to the truft of one of the principal Officers of 

 the Houle. 1 



The next day early in the morning the Nazar fent for me and Father Raphael, 

 and made his Secretary write down the price of everything, according to his de- 

 mands. He had alfo his own Artifts to prize them -, but that I did not value , in 

 regard I knew the price much better then they. After he had Ihew'd the Jewels,; 

 price and all to the King , we were feveral times before we could agree \ but at 

 length he told me , that the King would give me Twenty-five in the Hundred pro6t 

 for ail the Stones -, leaving me the Pearls , which he thought I might put off at a 

 better price in the Indies -, which was an offer I could not refute , and therefore 

 I fign'd the Agreement according to the Nazar s defire : Which when his Majefty 

 had feen , he bid the Nazar tell me I (hould be his Jeweller in Ordinary, and that 

 for my fake all the Franks fhould be the better us'cl within his Territories , and 

 that Ï fhould have any favour of him that I defir'd. I befought his Majefty to 

 give me his Patent with his Seal affix'd , whereby I might be priviledg'd to Trade 

 in his Dominions, without paying Cuftom for fuch and fuch Merchandize, and in 

 in fuch manner as I fhould think fitting. I alio befought him gracioufly to grant 

 his Protection to a Nephew of mine , whom I had left at Tauris to learn the Lan- 

 guage, that he might be ferviceable to his Majefty when I was dead and gone. 

 \ Z There- 



