i6o Travels into the L e v a n t. Part IL 
CriAR XL 
A (Continuation of the Defcription of Baflbra, El- 
Catif, and Lehhfa. Of the Tearl-Fi/hing^ and 
the Sabeans. 
THE ftate of this Bafha is very confiderabk, for befides the Town of Bajfora^ 
he has on the fide of Perfra all the Country of Gaban that borders upon 
it, Vurach three days Journy dilhnt from Bajfora being the laft Town of Perfia 
on that fide. He hath on the fide of Bafdad, Vgezair^ (that is to fay the lile,) 
which is two days Journy from BaJJora, and is waQied on the one fide by Euphra- 
tes, and on the other by the ; thefc two Rivers joyning together, at the 
point of that Ifle, two days Journy above Baffora ; and in that place there is a 
Cmt^ good Caftle called Corna^ which 'commands the paffage of Euphrates 3ind lygris- 
On the fide of Bagdad, that Ifle is waftied by an Artificial Canal, drawn betwixt 
Euphrates and the lygris. This Canal is five hours march above Bajfora, and 
eleven or twelve days Journy below Bagdad. The Ifland is very Fertile, and 
well peopled i having lèverai good Villages : the truth is, it does not wholly de- 
pend on the Bajha of Bajfora, for part of it (on the fide of this Canal) is under 
the Government of Bagdad: but feeing the Citadel (which is on the point of the 
Ifle, at the confluence of the two Rivers,) and all that is on that fide, belongs 
to the Bajha of Bajfora. He is in fome manner fecure from the furprifes of the 
Bajha of Bagdad, who cannot Attack Bajfora, till firft he hath made himfelf Ma- 
fler of Vgezire. Befides that, the Ba(ha of Bajfora holds in Arabia Fxlix, thé 
El-Catij Port El-Catif, and the Town of Lehhfa, which formerly belonged to a Bajhay 
Lehhfa- Tributary alfo to the Grand Seignior i but twelve years fince, he took the Port 
Cattf, and fince that, having a mind alfo to Lehhfa, he fent thither an Arab 
Scheik^ with many Arabs, at whofe approach the Bajha of Lehhfa fled, leaving 
them a free entry into that Town, which they plundered i but afterwards the 
Arab Schetk^ flighted the Bajha of Bajfora, faying that he had not taken that 
Town for him, but for himfelf, and recalled the Ba(ha oï Lehhfa, to whom 
he delivered back the Town, in confideration of a fum of mony which that Ba- 
jha paid him. 
In fine, laft year one thoufand fix hundred fixty and four, the Bafha of Baf- 
fora ^nàXu^iht Grand 5ig«ior engaged in a War with the Emperour, Cand think- 
ing that the War would be of long continuances) in the month of November, put 
The Bafha on Shipboard an Army which, (as I was aflured,) confifted not of above five or fix 
makes War. thoufand Men, with fome Cannon, though the News flew into all places, that 
they were feven or eight times fo many. This Army having Landed at Port 
Catif, and marched from thence to Lehhfa, which is but three days Journy di- 
ftant, they prefently made themfelves Maflers of it, without any refiftance i the 
Bajha of Lehhfa being (upon their approach) fled to Confiantinopley where he made 
his complaints to the Grand Signior, who prefently thereupon ordered the Bajhas 
of Aleppo, Orfa, Viarheck^, Mojul, Bagdad, and fome others to the number of 
eight, to joyn and reftore the Bajha of Lehhfa to his Government, and turn 
the Bajha of Bajfora out of all. This Bajha was not daunted for all that, but 
making a ftiew as if he intended to be upon his defence, and indeed, putting him- 
felf in a pofture to do fo, he fortified Lehhja fending thither a great deal of Ar- 
tillery, whilfl on the other Hand, he fent to the Port, to inform the Grand Signior, 
that he ought not to concern himfelf in his Conqueft, becaufe he was ready to 
pay him for his new acquintions, the fame Tribute that he formerly received. It is 
certain that if the Turk\\zà not made Peace with the Emperour fo foon, this Bajha 
Would have carried his Conquelis farther on, thinking of nothing Itfs than to have 
made himfelf Malier of Mafcat. Now, though this State of Lehhfa cotnprchend 
no 
