Part IL Travels into the "Lev A i^T 87 
fécond lay is commonly about half a foot thick alfo; but being dry is hardly 
half fo thick ; when it is dry, they lay on a third lay like the tbrmer, lo chat 
all being dry, it may be about afoot thick. All this is held up by a range of 
broad burnt Bricks or Tiles which is laid all round the Terrais, five or fix high, 
and level with the Earth ; in fome places they make a little (helving, that the 
rain- Water may run off into wooden Spouçs which jet out for conveying it a- 
way. In this manner I faw two Terralfes made, which had in furface each 
about a fathom and a half fquare ; when they laid on the fécond lay, two 
men wrought at each about an hours time, ftirringthe Earth with fhovels, and 
incorporating it with the Straw, whilft another man coutinually poured water 
upon it ; the laft lay requires the lame labour and pains. 
At Schiras, Lar, and in other hot Countries, they have upon the tops of 
their Houles an invention for catching the frefh Air : It is a Wall one or tv/o An invention 
fathom high, and about the lame breadth, to which at the intervals of about 
three foot, other Walls about three foot broad and as high as the great Wall, 
joynin right Angles ; there are lèverai of fuch on each fide of the great Wall, 
and all together fupport a Roof that covers them : The etfedt ot this is, that 
from whatfoever corner the Wind blows, it is ftraitned betwixt three Walls, 
and the Roof over head, and foeafily defcends into the houfe below, by a hole 
that is made for it. 
CHAP. VI. 
A Sequel of theObfervationsof\fçû\m. 
Of ARTS, 
LE T us go on in fpeaking of Arts and TradeSjfince we are infenfibly enga- Anifts of Pur- 
ged in it. The Artifts in Verfia, and all over the Levant, ufe their Feet fi^- 
in working as much as their hands ; for their Feet lervethem fora Loom, hold 
faft, and feveral other Inftruments. Every Company of crafts men pays the An impofirion 
King a certain Summ of Money, which is railed upon ail the Artifts of the upon the com- 
feveral Trades, every one of them being alTelTed according to his incomes. They l^-^"'" ^'^ 
have no Loom for turning, (as we have,) but put that which they have a mind y'^^^'"""- 
to turn upon a Pivot or Spindle, and wrap about it a thong of Leather, leaving 
two ends : A Boy holds the two ends of this ftrap, and pulls towards him, The way of 
Ibmetimes the one and fbmetimes the other, and in thatfalhion makes the t^iniingwood. 
piece to turn, whilft the other labours, whereas with us a fmgle Perfon does 
all. Nor are the Wimbles of Carpenters and Joyners fb convenient as with us The ufe of the 
neither : They have a long Iron as thick as two of our Wimbles, but (quare, winjbie. 
and flat at the end like a flice or Sfatula^ yet drawing intoa point, with a lide 
and edge which way foever they turn it : This Iron is in a wooden handle, a- 
bout a foot long, and above an inch thick, with a weight of lead on the top ; 
with that they have a ftick, with a ftrap of Leather, hke a bow, but very flack ; 
they turn the ftrap of this bow once about the handle of tlie Wimble, and 
then leaning the left hand upon the head of the handle, and pulling to and 
fro the bow with the right hand, they turn the Wimble. 
They have a moft excellent Varnifh for Painters ; it is made of Sandarack Varnifli, 
and linefeed Oyl, which they mingle together, andreduce all into the eonfi- 
ftenceofan Unguent ; vv'hen they would make ule of it, they dillblve it wiih 
the Oyl of Nûphta, but for want of the Oyl of Napka, one may ufe the S^i- 
rk of Wine many times redlified. 
They have a Glew that holds as well as firong white Glew, and the Shoe- Scheyifchoutf 
makers and other Artifans make ule ofno other : It is a root they call Scben]- initead of 
cbmti which they grindlike corn betwixt Stones ; when it is ground it looks like 
Saw diift 
