84 Traîjels into the Lev AiiT. Part IL' 
C H A P. V. 
A Continuation of the Obfervations of Ifpahao, 
and particularly of the manner of ordinary 
Bmldings. 
Materials for A L L the Houfes of Iffahan arc built of Bricks baked in the Sun, dawbed 
Mafons. jt\_ over with Clay mingled with Straw, and then white caft over with a 
very fine and white Plaifter, which they get out of the neighbouring hills, 
from a ftone that being burnt, is cruftied and broken with a great rowler 
The charges drawn by aHorfe. The charges of building a houfe they commonly divide 
Houfe'^'"^^ into three equal parts, one for Brick, another for Plaifter, and the third for 
^* Doors, Windows, and other timber necelTary for a houfe. However fbme- 
thing may be faved in the Brick, for out of the very place where the houfe is 
to be built ; Earth may be had for making all the Bricks that are neceffary, 
and furnifliing Straw to be mingled with the Earth for the making of them, 
the reft will not amount to above an AbaJJi and a half the thoufand, but the 
truth is, it will coft three times as much in employing them. 
In the reft of Verjîa the Houfes are onely built of that fort of Brick, made 
of Earth wrought with cut Straw and well incorporated,which is afterwards 
dried in the Sun, and then employed, but the leaft Rain wafhes them away 
and dilTolves all. They make alio tiles which they burn in a Kiln, yet they 
feldom ule them, but for their Floors and Stair-cafes ; ibme, but few, pave 
The Roofs of their Terraffes with them. Neverthelels it were much more profitable to 
Houfes. p^yg thQm with Bricks, for being onely of Earth, they rauft be repaired oncei 
a year, becaufe of the Rain and Snow, which Ipoil them all ; nay and as 
often as Snow falls, they muft of neceflity throw it off afToon as they can, 
elfe it would rot and by its weight bear down the houfes ; but feeing for all 
their diligence, they muft needs with the Snow throw a good deal of Earth 
alfb from the Terrafîès, which are loofened by it, it would be much fafer to 
pave them, becaufe then the Snow might be more eafily thrown off, and no- 
thing fpoilt ; but it muft be alfb confefled, that the Terrafîès cannot always 
be paved, becaufe of the uneavennefs of the Rooms underneath, fome being 
higher, and fome lower, nay and fbme of them having Domes ; which make 
the Terraffes very irregular ,and all crooked and convex in feveral places. 
Much water There is fb much Water at Ifpaban^ that one may have a Well dug for 
at ijfahan. three or four AbaJJis commonly ; and when it is dug they put down in the 
bottom one or two Pipes of baked or burnt Clay about three or four foot 
high, and of the fame Diameter as the Well is, to keep the ground on the 
fides from falling in and choaking it up. 
The Walls that go round the Terrafles are all pierced through checker 
ways, with fquare holes about four or five inches fquare, not onely to eafe the 
Walls which are onely of Earth, but alfb to let in the Air on all fides. 
The Terfians ufè no Cranes in building of their Houfes, but they raife high 
banks of Earth, on which they drag along, what the Crane would lift ; Ma- 
ny times they need neither of the two, for all that *hey employ is light 
nough. They make their houfes commonly front the North, to receive the 
frefh Air, and they who can, make them f^parated and open on all the four 
fides. They make their little Vaults very quickly, and in building of them 
I -j^jifons Timber as with us; all thefè Vaults are of brick, fbmetimes baked in the 
fall tor their ^un, and fometimes in the Oven or Kiln, according as they'll be at the char- 
vnaterials, as if ges of it. It it is pretty pleafant to fee a Mafon at work there, for he callsfor 
• hey were what he wants as if he were finging, and the Labourers who are always at- 
hngmg. ten five to the tone, ferve him moft pundually. ' In 
