Chap XXII. of Monfieur Tavernier. 231 



CHAP. XXIL 



A continuation of the Road from Ifpahan to Ormus, from Schiras to 



Bander-Aballi. 



THE fixthof March, by eight of the Clock in the morning, I departed from 

 Schiras ; and after fix hours travel through the plain that continues fertil for 

 a league together beyond the City, I came to an Inn càW'dBadaadgi. The water is 

 bad, being as it were luke-warm. Here cold weather begins to ceafe. The next 

 day I let out by break of day, and came to a large and well-built Inn, only it flood, 

 remote from any Town. It is call'd Moti&afferi, and is the only place in Perfia 

 where I met with black Saligots, or Water-nuts, as big and as good as ours in 

 Dauphine. The Countrey breeds nothing but Goats and Sheep : and about two 

 leagues off runs a River along by the Mountain to the Weft. 



The iSth I departed by day-break, and travell'd eleven hours through a ftone- 

 Countrey, cover'd with bitter Almond and Turpentine-Trees. I lodg'd in a fair 

 Inn, call'd Paira, neer to a River that comes from the Welt, and makes the Coun- 

 trey fertil. There is fome Wood in the Valleys, and fome Villages appear on the 

 other fide of the River toward the South. 



The 19th I let out by four of the Clock in the morning, and travell'd along a 

 Valley, wherein were many Villages receiving the benefit of the River laft men- 

 tion'd. About eight in the morning I ftopt at an inn built in an OMsgonal form, a 

 good league from the River, with lèverai VillagesTëtwëen. The name of the 

 Inn is Kaffer. 



The zo't'H I let out two hours after midnight, and travell'd till ten in the morn- 

 ing through a dry Valley. By the way I met feveral Shepherds and Herdfmen, 

 who were forfaking the hot Countreys, and driving toward Schiras for cool- 

 nefs. 



They that travel upon their own Horfes, and would fee one of the richeft parts 

 of Perfia, and fome Antiquities, letting out from Kaffir, inftead of following the 

 Caravan- road, take the righT-hind way by the fide of the River, that runs a league 

 and a half from the fame Inn. When you have paft the River, the way is very 

 ftreight, and lies for two leagues together through a fteep Rock, the Mountain up- 

 on the right, and the River upon the left, where there is not room in fome places 7 

 for two Horfes to ride a-breft. All along this way, toward the top of the Moun- ' 

 tain, are little paths that lead to Caverns, fome of which are fo large, that they 

 will contain two or three thoufand men. Having paft this way, you come into a 

 Plain call'd Dadivan, four or five leagues in circuit ; the greateft part of which J___ 

 is planted with Orange-trees, Citrons, and Granats^' Some of theft- Orange-trees 

 two men can hardly fathom, being as high as our Walnut-trees j and this is one of 

 the raoft delicious fituations in all Perfia. I have travell'd through it feveral 

 times, and fbmetimes only to divertifè my felf. The reft of the Plain is fow'd 

 with Rice and Wheat. You fet up your Tents under thefe Trees, and then the 

 Countrey people bring Provifion of feveral forts, efpecially Partridges, Hares, and 

 wild Goats. The River that croffes the Plain is full of Carps, Barbels, Pikes, and 

 Crey-Fifh. I remember one time a Countrey-man carri'd me down to the water, 

 and before my face took up a Fifh with his hand. He was fo nimble at it, that 

 having caught one which he did not think big enough, he threw it back again, and 

 took up another. Now in regard that Travellers generally ftay about ten or 

 twelve days in that place, the Tumblers that live there-abouts, fail not to come 

 and give you a Vifit, to fhew ye fome of their tricks, and to talt your Schiras 

 Wine. The Englijh and Hollanders ufually fpend the end of the Summer in this 

 Plain, for the benefit of the River, and the Trees : which become fo large and 

 fair, by means of the River, which the Countrey-men bring in by Canals, and fhut 

 it up in Ponds, among the Trees, to water their Grounds ; which is all the good 

 this River does in Perfia : for all the reft of its courfe is through cragged Rocks, 

 and fait Marfh.es. 



H h The 



