The Persian Travels Book V. 



CHAP. VI. 



Of the misfortune of Mahomet Beg in the raigne of Sha-Abbas the 

 fécond, 



MAhomet Beg was born at Tamis, the Son of a Taylor, who bred him a Scho- 

 lar. He had a quick apprehenlion, and was naturally enclin'd to verrue} 

 and being defirous to advance himfelf in the world, he had the good luck to ob- 

 tain the employment of Major-Bafti, or chief of the Effayers and Refiners of Mo- 

 ney 5 who has a power to vifit all places where money is coyn'd. After that, he ' 

 became acquainted with the AiU^VerdL Beg, or Mr. God/gift, the Kings chief 

 Huntfman, by the title of Mert-Sbskar-Bajhi, who gladly prefented him to the 

 King, to whom the King was very thankful,lb foon as he had found the nobleQua- 

 lities of the perfon he had prefenred.Thereupon fo foon as Mahomet Ali-Beg,gvani 

 Mafterof the Kings Houfe dy'd, the Kingbeftow'd that Employment upon Maho- ' 

 ■met Beg, who not only gain'd the favour of his Majefty, but the good will of all 

 the Lords of the Court. He had a great refpec]: for them all, without medling 

 with any of their employments, and fuppreft his revengeful fpirit, not finding it 

 feafonable as yet to dilclofe his pallions. 



Kalife Sultan at that time Atbcmadoulet hapning to dye , the King conferred 

 that place upon Mahomet Beg, who at firft behav'd himfelf in that employment to 

 the fatisfaftion of all men. He apply'd himfelf particularly to the fearching out 

 of Mines ; for there had a report ran among the people for many years, that if 

 certain mountaines nine or ten miles from Ifpaban toward the Weft were well 

 digg'd into, their might be found ftore of Gold, Silver and Copper. To which 

 purpofe he made ufe of a Norman \, whole name was LâM-b^el^Je^H^ who 

 vanted at that time to have great skill in Chymiftry, Mines and Minerals, for which 

 reafon he was recommended by the Governor oîlfpahan to the Atbemadoulet then 

 at Casbin with the King, who prefently fent him back again to the Governour to 

 furnifh him with all things neceflary for his Expences, and for the work which he 

 undertook in the Mountains. Thither went La Chapelle, and after fifteen days 

 toyl return'd to Ifpahan with two or three hunder'd weight of earth,and fet up fur- 

 naces to draw out the metal. The Atbemadoulet was fo wife as to give order to 

 the Governour of Ifpaban,znd three or four more perlons of Quality to overview 

 the Norman, to fee that he play'd no foul play. But though there was not fo 

 much as a half peny worth of filver in all the earth from the bottom to the top, 

 though the Perfians watch'd him fo narrowly as they did, he made a fhift to muf- 

 fle in an Abajfi among the earth,as it was in the furnace without being perceiv'd. 

 Neverthelefs the Atbemadoulet, to whom it was carry'd, prefently found out the 

 cheat, though he took no notice of it, hoping to make better ufe of the Norman 

 in other things ; only he forbad him to dig any more in that place, in regard the 

 expence would exceed the profit. 



La Chapelle, who was very skilful at putting off his merchandize, and one who 

 knew to make the beft ufe of the leaft ffnackering that he might perhaps have in 

 Mechanicks,and the power of Motion, had the cunning to amufe the Athemaâoulet 

 for ten years together,being a palfionate Lover of new Inventions ; and the better 

 to infinuate himfelf into theKings favour affum'd to himfelf thelnvention offeveral 

 Rarities which he fhew'd the Kirag, who thereupon allow'd him a very handfome 

 penfion. Thus encourag'd,he undertook to caft Canons, _bring the water, to the 

 top of the Kings houfe, and feveral other things, yet when all his defigns fail'd for 

 want of Art, and that he found he could do no more good in Perjia, refolving , for 

 Tndia } he dy'd at Or mm. 



The Atbemadoulet milling of Gold and Silver Mines, apply'd himfelf to the dis- 

 covery of Copper Mines, wherein he was more fortunate j for in thofe Mines he 

 alfo found veins of Azuxe^of which there is a great quantity confum'd in painting 

 the GrotcfiQ Jiounjkcs upon the Ceilings and Arches of their Houfes.He alfo found 

 out a Mine of Lead near Ter de : and being ftill upon new difcoveries, he found out 



