2oo The P ERSiAN Travels Book V. 



all forts of Silk Stuffs to the very Palace ; and the King of Terfia went him- 

 felf to meet him, as far as where the Stuffs were begun to be laid. Though 

 Sha Abbas was very young, yet he was refolv'd to (hew, that he look'd upon 

 himfelf as a potent King in the peaceable poflèffion of his own Dominions, and 

 that he went to meet a dethron'd Prince, that came to defire his Aid. For fo (bon 

 as he perceiv'd the King of the Tartars, he made a fhew of fpurring on his 

 Horfe ; and being come up to his Horfes head, he put his foot out of the Stir- 

 tfup, as if he intended to have alighted, but did not. The Tartarian Prince, as 

 old as he was, prefently leap't to the ground from his Saddle to falute the 

 Terfian King i who return'd him fome flight Compliments about his having 

 alighted ; at which time the AthemaàouUt and other Lords remounting him, the 

 two Kings rode together upon the Silks, the King of Perjia giving the left hand 

 to the Tartar. The King of Ter fia very generoufly lent him a confiderable 

 aifiitance of ijooo Horfe, and 8000 Foot, and lixty thoufand Tomans in Mo- 

 ney. The Tartar in Exchange gave him one of his Provinces bordering upon 

 Terfi 1, which yeilded him a very good Revenue, in regard the Inhabitants were 

 all Shepherds, or Turcomans, that breed an infinite number of Cattel, where- 

 in the wealth of that Province confifts. 



While he reign'd, he had a prêtent made him from the Governour of Schiras, 

 of a wild Afs, whofe Skin was as red as Scarlet, having a Horn growing out 

 of his forehead about a foot long. 



Sha Abbas reign'd about twenty-four years, and dy'd at Tehran, of an in- 

 flammation in his throat, which came by exceilive drinking. His body by his 

 own order was burfd at Kour. So foon as he was dead, the Lords that were 

 about him, fènt advice of his death to the Prince that now reigns, by the To- 

 pigi-Bafloa, who is General of the Mufqueteers, and Mirz,a Bayad the Cheif of 

 the Aftrologers. So foon as they came to the door of the Haram, they de- 

 fir'd to fpeak with the Mother and the Son 3 who believ'd them come upon 

 fome difmal defign. But they prefently çonfirm'd them to the contrary. For as 

 foon as the Prince came forth of the Haram, they fell at his feet, and laluted 

 him King, declaring the death of his Father. Whereuppn the Prince imme- 

 diately tore his Garment according to the cuftom. And indeed they have ano- 

 ther cuftom, that as foon as the new prince comes after much entreaty out 

 of the Haram, he throws himfelf to the ground, at the door of the Haram^ 

 and then rifing and fitting upon his heels, one of the Lords that are fènt, girds 

 the Scimiter about his wafte, faying thefe words, May it pleafc y cur Map fiy to 

 'remember your Slave } that had the Honour to gird you with this Scimiter. Which 

 done, he goes and fets the Trumpets a founding, and the Drums beating, where- 

 upon all the people in the morning come running to the Gate of the Palace, 

 crying out, Fat/ha Salamalt\, I falute thee Emperor. Which is all the Cere- 

 mony us'd when any King of Terfia afcends the Throne. For I never law any 

 Crown let upon the head either of Sha Abbas or Sha Sefi. Only in Terfia they 

 gird on the Scimiter, as in Turky they put on the Bonnet of the Sophis, which 

 is very richly ftt with Jewels, but has not the leaft refemblance of a Crown. 

 The (ame Ceremony of girding on the Scimiter, is us'd to the Mogul, the Kings 

 oîVifapottr and Golconda ; and they al(b put the Bonnet upon their heads, which is 

 fet with the richeft Jewels in the pofTeiïion of thofe great Monarchs. 



Sha-Scfi the fécond, fome time after his coming to the Throne, fell dange- 

 roufly fick, not having ever en joy 'd a perfect health before. Now it is the cuftom 

 irt thofe Countries, that upon fuch an occafion all the Lords of the Court, and 

 Governors of Provinces, give a fum of money, according to their willingnefs and 

 liberality. This fum is ulually in Gold, which they put into a Bafon very richly 

 fot with pretious Stones, and bear it three times over the Kings head, pro- 

 nouncing theiè words, Tat/ha Bajliena Olfon,, This money is facrific'd for the health 

 of the Kings head. If the King recover all that money is giv'n to the poor, to 

 which the King and his Haram add very liberally. But if the King dies, the 

 money is put into the Treafury,. and the poor have nothing. The twentieth of 

 Aiiguft 1667, was the critical day of his diftemper, and every one thought he 

 Would have dy'd. Upon which all the Grandees of the Court feeing him in that 

 Condition, went xvx\\e MoÇqnec calPd Babaron , which is wi thout the City, to 

 Bo/H5A*> * pray 



