Chap.XX. of Monfieur Tavernier. 24- 



the reafon of Faith, and which way he faid his Prayers, and that according to his 

 merits they ufe him well or ill. As for the torment of Souls before the Refur- 

 rectioo, that only conflits in a grief for not having arriv'd to thofe perfections 

 and Sciences to which they might have attain'd, and confequently for not having 

 attain'd to that perfection which God requir'd of them. Others hold that the 

 Souls of the unfortunate are tormented with Dreams and Vifions ; but that the 

 Souls of the happy always enjoy the fight ofpleafing objects; till the Saheb-el- 

 &aman> or Mafter of time mail come to confirm the Law of Mahomet, who fhall 

 kill Dedgar, who is like our Antichrifi, with his own hand; at which time all 

 then alive fhall dye in an inftant, and then fhall happen the general Rchirrection, 

 which they call Moavedet-hechre. That the iiune Bodies and Souls fhall unite to 

 appear at the day of Judgment before the Throne of the great Judge of the 

 world ; and that to go thither they rauft pafs over a bridge call'd Polferat, fhar- 

 per then the edge of a razor, which neverthelefs the Mulfulmen mall pals over 

 without any danger with the fwiftnefs of a bird. But that misbelievers fhall fall 

 as foon as ever they fet their feet upon it, and fhall fall into a torrent of fire a- 

 mong a thouiand Devils arm'd with Cramp Irons, Pincers, and tenter-hooks. So 

 that it is a kind of a Proverb among the Perfans, if a man cannot obtain of ano- 

 ther the Jultice of his bargain, or to yield to right, Well } fays he, before thou 

 paffejt Polferat, thuu foalt refiore it me double, for I will take hold of thy Coat, and 

 hinder thee from getting over till thou haft given me fatisjaclion ; But the craftier 

 fort laugh at this, and make anfwer with a fmile, Well 5 well, ves will venture 

 fiumbling as we pafs over Polferat. The Porter of Paradife whom they call Ru- 

 fuen fhall open them the gate. There they fhall fit upon the banks of the great 

 Kaujfcr, which is a fountain where their Prophet fhall give them of the water to 

 drink out of a Ladle, and that afterwards they fhall have a great number of women 

 created on purpofe for them, with all forts of molt delicious food. And for fear 

 of fouling this place of recreation and holint fs with the excrements of eating and 

 drinking, they fay, that thofe things fhall always evacuate in a perfum'd fweat, and 

 that they themfelves fhall always remain in that condition. Others more refin'dj, 

 and not believing material enjoyments, affirm that Beatitude conflits in the perfect: 

 knowledge of the Sciences ; and for- the fences they mall have their fatisfaction 

 according to their quality. 



CHAP. XX. 



The Author departs from Ifpahan to Ormus, and describes the Road to 



Schiras. 



iSet forth out of Ifpahan the 24, of Feb. 166$. in the afternoon, and ftai'd a 

 League from the City, in a field whither fome of my friends would needs ac- 

 company me. About ten a clock at night, I fet forward again, and travell'd «ti!I 

 break of day ; and then I came to a place where the Radars kept guard half a 

 league from a great Town call'd Ifpjhaneck^, which you are to croîs. About ten loïîWMrX 

 a clock in the forenoon I came to Jfahi.ir, where there is a very good Inn. But 

 the Land between this and Ifpahan is all very barren and without wood. 



The z6th, three hours after midnight, I fet forward through a dry Plain, which 

 begins to grow more fruitful, about a League from Com/he^ a great City, where jl^mUz-H-l 

 I arriv'd by eleven a Clock in the morning. In it are feveral Inns, and indifferent 

 handfome ones., confidering that they are built only of Earth. This City is com- 

 pos'd of a row of Villages that extend about half a League in length. About 

 three quarters of a League on this fide the City hands a neat Mofyuee with a pond 

 full of tifh. But the Moullahs will not permit you to catch any, faying that they 

 belong to the Prophet to whom the Mofquee is dedicated. However becaufe it is 

 a fhady place in the Summer, Travellers rather choofe to lye by this pond,then to 

 fliut themfelves up in the City. 



G g 2> The' 



