'Part IL Travels into the Levant 
that if a man had onely looked upon them, he would be puc to death without 
remiflion ; wherefore whsn he takes them with him into the Countrey, 
there are Eunuchs who have power of lite and death, and with good blows 
of a Cudgel, order all to keep out of the way, by which they are to 
pafs, from the Palace till they be out of the Town ; and then they Qy 
there is Courouk on that way, ( that's to fay, ) that it is not lawfuU to pals Couroul'. 
it ; nay, they alfo pitch tents at the ends of all the Streets that lead into 
the way, to the end that no profpeft may be allowed even to the fharpeft 
lighted, though otherwife theie Ladies be well enough covered in Kagia-vehs 
upon Camels. When the King comes with them to Giolfa, all the men 
muft leave their houles, and flie into the Countrey, none daring to flay at 
home whilft the Haram is paffing, but the women ; and when he is in a 
tent in the Fields, if the fancy take him to fend for then], they fail 
not to give notice thaù there is a Cvurouk, and then all forfaking their tents, 
run away as far as they can. 
■ The Courouh are troublefome at Ifpahan ; and yet the prefent King made 
a great many whilft I was there ; he hath made no lefs than forty in 
three Months time ; and neverthelefs every man was obliged to leave 
his houfe, whatfoever weather it was, cold or hot, and flie to the bills, if 
he had no friend living at fome diftance to whom he might betake him- 
lelf. In former times the Courouk was onely for thole places where the 
King paft with his Haram, now they make it for fome Leagues round the 
quarter, comprehending within it even the ad joyning Villages The Kings 
of Per/ia exercife alfo this tyranny, that they make now and then Courouks Coumik^oÇ 
of Filh, poultry and other provifions, which they like, and when there is Provifions. 
fuch a Courouk of any thing, no body dares to lell any unlefs it be for 
the King's ufe ; in my time there was a Courouk of Fifh and Poultry , du- 
ring which it was impclfible to have any for love or money, and that 
lafted fome weeks. 
How great foever the Power of the Ferfian Xings may be, yet fome- 
times they moderate it, and fubmit to realbn. They fhew great familiarity to Familiarity or 
Strangers, and even to their own Subjedls, eating and drinking with them tlie Kings of ' 
pretty freely, which this Prince often does, as I faw whilft I was at L'fahan ; l^erfja. 
and after my departure he fent lèverai times for the French, and made 
them fo drunk that they fell afleep upon the place, which he fufFered with 
fb much goodnels, that feeing one of them one time lying in an incommo- 
dious pofture, he railed him, calling him by his name, that he might lay 
him more at his eale. Not but that familiaripy is many times dangerous ; 
fbr it is with him as with the Lion in the Fable, with whom it is not good 
to be too familiar ; many Examples happen which teach the Terfians, what 
is made a proverb of with us, that it is not good to play with ones Ma- 
fter ; the French there have been witnelfes of it, and had their fhare of 
the fear. For upon a time when they were making merry with this j. p . 
Prince, the Naz^er who was almofl drunk, fpeaking to him about the a Debauch^ 
Army that was to be fent againft the Tartars, and telling the King, that 
if his Majefty plealed, he would go and command that Army, and do 
wonders with four thouland men ; a Fretuh Harquebuler being drunk^ 
boldly told the King that the beft man he could fend, was a Georgian 
of the Moorilh Law who was prelent and drank with them, for that he 
was a brave General : The King was lb incenled at the freedom of that 
impertinent Counleller, that he commanded his belly to be ript up, 
which was about to be put into execution , and they u^ere already 
dragging him out by the heels , when the King refleding perhaps, 
that the man was not in a condition to be taken notice of, com- 
manded him to be let alone, and lèt in his place again. Perhaps alfo 
he confidered that he was a Franck : For they are very cautious at the xi^ey put 
Court of Perjia in putting of a Franck to death \ fince the time that one Fraficl<% t<> 
day when the Ambalfadours of the Duke of Holfiem were there, a cleatii in 
Gerwan Watch-maker that wrought for the King, being put to death, who ^^''A'- 
O 2 having 
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