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Chap.XII. of Monteur Tavernier. 23^ 



up in a Velvet or Sattin-Cafo embroider 'd , and hangs behind down to the 

 waft. 



Handfome Women are very plentiful in Perfia, as well the tawny as the white. 

 For the Merchants that bring both from all parts, choofe the handiomeft they 

 can pick out. The white Women are brought from Mufiovia, Poland, Cirafiia t 

 Mengreha, Georgia, and the Frontiers of Tartar The black from the coalt of 

 Melinda, and the Red- Sea. 



The Perfian Women are feen by none but their own Husbands. They are very 

 idle in their Houfes, not fo much as looking after any thing of Houfewifery. In- 

 deed every thing is at the Husband's difpolal, fo that the Women are rather Slaves 

 then Wives. They fpend their time in taking Tobacco, after feveral fafhions. 

 When they go to the Baths, (he's the Woman that wears the beft Clothes, and 

 brings the beft Collation. They that have Slaves, caine 'em to rub their arms, 

 their legs, and their thighs, till they fall afleep ; having no other divertifement'in 

 their voluptuous Prifon. The higher a man is in dignity, the more he glories h 

 having a great number of Vv'ivcs and Slaves -, and his abfolute power keeps them 

 in order either willingly, or by conftraint. 



There are two forts of Eunuchs for the guard of the Sultanefles and the Wives 

 of the Nobility : Some are white, but they never come neer the Women, but are 

 order'd to guard the ftrft doors of the Haram. The others are black, frightful 

 to look upon, and flat-nos'd ; who attend only upon the Women. If there be a 

 neceffity for a Woman of Quality to go abroad, the Eunuchs go before and be- 

 hind with Battoons in their hands, to make the Corrouk^, and drive all the people 

 out of the way. When the King goes into the Countrey, if any one be afleep in 

 the high-way, and be perceiv'd before he wakens, he is immediately cut to pieces 

 as he lies. In the time of S ha- Abbas the Second, one of the Fellows that help'd 

 to let up the Womens Tents, being weary, fell afleep in one of them upon the 

 ground. When the Women came, they, (èeing a man afleep, fèt up a fhrieking > 

 upon which, the Eunuchs coming in, wrapt up the Fellow in the Carpet as he lay, 

 and carrying him into the Fields } buried him alive, Carpet and all. 



CHAP. XV. 

 Of the D/feafes of Perfia, and the m inner of airing them. 



THE Perfan Children are feldom fick of the fmall-Pox, but in lieu of that, 

 they are very fubject to Scald-pates, till ten or twelve years old. Which, it 

 may be, proceeds from their fhaving fo young, and to often : for they fhave at 

 five or fix months old, and two or three times a week. 



. As to the Pox, the Perfians would be more troubl'd with it, but that the dry Air 

 of the Countrey is an enemy to it : befides, they never lye twice with the fame 

 Woman, without going to the Bath to fweat out the venom of that dillemper, 

 As for the Gout, or Gravel, the Perfians know not what it means : But the Ar- 

 menians are troubl'd with the latter, efpecially thofe that in their youth accuftom'd 

 themfelves to drink more Wine then Water. 



To thofe that are troubl'd with the Cholick, they ufuaîly prefcribe the eating of 

 Horfe-flefh ; and I have feen many cur'd by that means. 



Generally the Perfians, efpecially the rich, or thofè that have wherewithal to 

 live handfomely, are much lefs fubject to Sicknefs then the people of Europe. 

 Some take the reafon to be^ becaufè of their China-àùnk, which they drink every 

 Spring, boyling an ounce in three pints of water, and fo continuing the Dofè for 

 ten or twelve days one after the other : all which time they keep a very moderate 

 diet, and eat no fruit for a month together. This drink caules the Patient to fweat $ 

 and the fweat being wip'd off, dyes the Linnen : nay the very walls of the Cham- 

 ber of a yellow colour. As for any method of Phyfick,. they have none in Per fia, 



For 



