'Some years travels into divers parts of Africa, and Asia the great. Describing more particularly the empires of Persia and Industan: interwoven with such remarkable occurrences as hapned in those parts during these later times. As also, many other rich and famous kingdoms in the oriental India, with the isles adjacent. Severally relating their religion, language, customs and habit: as also proper observations concerning them.' [‎292] (315/448)

Sha-Abbas his
Artea after that by themfelves, importing a noble Countrey ^ from whence many illuftri.
ous Perfons aflumed their fore-names, as Arta-xerxes^ Arta banm, Arta-phrenes, ^rt~
ajpes, &c. But the Tartars in their over-running this and a greater part oi A/ianzmcd
it Chorforitior rather Ccr-ptca, for the Perfiam called them Sac# as Strabo lib. n. and 5^
linns note. The Arabians Anno Dom. 598. (fuch time as Mahomet fubjcded it) new named
it Saracania, Az,amia by the Turks-) for that it was part of the Ajfyrian Empire, by the
fame reafon the Scythians called them Aramcti by neighbouring the Syrians: but in envy to
Siet Gmet the late Reformer of the Alcoran call'd Etnitaria and Agamia : fince when thev
have added thofe of Sophiani, Jefel-bajfi, hjmaelita-, Shec-Ayderii, Curafam#, and other
.names unworthy the notice > fave that Time herein feems to difportand pleafe itfelf
with this kind of variety.
The Empire is terminated on Eaft Weft North and South, with /W^, Arabia, Mefo-
potamia , the Cajpian and Per fan Seas. From Candahor to Babylon Eaft and Weft • it
Itretches four hundred and forty farfangs, of Englift a thoufand three hundred and twen
ty miles, in leventy days ufually travelledand from Gmlphal or Jelphy near Van in Geor
gia to Cape Gwader'in twenty five degrees the furtheft part of Gedrofia or Macron upon
Indus, North and South are four hundred ninety and fix farfangs, which are a thouland
four hundred eighty and eight Englift miles, in eighty days commonly journeyed: from
whence we may compute, the circuit according to our miles is not lefs than four thoufand.
The North and Eaft part of the Countrey is fruitful in Grafs, Corn, and Fruit *, for
there they have plenty of beneficial fhowers and a temperate feafon: the South and Weft
(except where Rivolets are) appear to be fandy, mountainous and fterile: for the vehe
ment heat fcorches the Earth and makes it barren-, and from whence, the foil yields no
exhalations the Mother of Clouds, and confequently wants Rain to moiften the Earth *
but inftead thereof God vouchfafes them frequent breezes. All confidered, no part of
Afta yields a more healthy Air: onely, as the Empire is large fo the temperature of pla
ces differs in heat and cold according to the variety of latitudes.
. Concerning the publique Revenue of this Kingdom, as there is not any thing amongit
civil affairs more fubjed to errour than a true and intrinfique valuation concerning the
wealth, power, policy, and force of an Eftate^, fo in this conjedurel muft upon un
certainty. The Kings publick revenue of old was 145 60 Euboic Talents, which by tribute
coming from feveral Provinces in different forts of Coin, was here made one, but firft
melted and kept in Earthen Pots, and minted as there was occafion. But how fmall fo-
. ever it feem now to others, the p^«neverthelefs makes many forts of Harvefts* filling
every year his Coffers with above three hundred and fifty feven thoufand Tomans 10,000 Persian dinars, or a gold coin of that value. ' (a To
man is five Marks Sterling,) in our Money about 1 190000 Pound Sterling; a Revenue
themoreto be admired, fincehe extrafts it principally from raw Silk, Cuftoms and Cot
ton ; albeit he thinks not any way dilhonourable that brings in Money.
^unfradet Amor] So thought and thence derived that cnftome ot fending into
the Market his daily Prefents of Fruits and Flowers: a kind of thrift ordinarily pradi-
b y fe greateft Potentates in Jfm, and of which he not only boafted (not as ^/<-
Umdid of his polt-foot) but feeraed to complain of the nicety of other Princes in that
particular. Nor is he without example; for we read in , Chron. i 7 . King
withltandmg his enlarged Empire and conquefts, thought parfimony a Revenue: and
thence negleded not the mcreafe of his Exchequer, at home appointing Officers to
overfee his Labourers that ti'led the Ground, his Vineyards, Olives, Fields,^Sheep,
Camels, AflTes, and the like; which was a good Example to his Subjedls, and not held
c 0 , r the P rofit ofthe Earth is for all, and the King himfelfis fervedby
i Solomon, Ecdlef j. p. They alfo had their Merchants. And no doubt,
f f5? S u 0 • Wereenquired after ' none would exce ed in fru-
aiur albeit haying a wcraw he could command what he pleafed, never-
£offtme m rn 0 a r r dellShted fl I l hiS ^ Letter Con f effin S his admiration upon
And hi ^ r e a PieCe - 0 j n 6 '?' if he but commended,they knew the iignification;
ttoush ^ve l S nT 1V f d t Prel f nti if rich andheavy,then it was commendable work
ed h- : for he ^alues more by weight than workmanlhip. Ninety waU-
wa^or^orlfpi^p^nnp^ 1 h' C< K lr I5 an ^ a la ® es a bov e forty thouland; few of which, one
Goldfmirhl rH 0 f f^ourtlhip; for though they pradife nothing lefi than
had nor been i ^ a ? €r .^ etu P on an / ma §i nar y report,defiring to'fee whether fame
ledgment of thfrr rhzlw ? ei {" c ?.™ mendation ' the y ^are not but return him as ariacknow-
ConMeri ^ ^ ^ 0f metal getting that turpe Remind benefiviis.
reception of Amb^fTaH great J reai )j re which is commonly taken out for oftentation at the
rec ption of Ambaffadors or Travellers of note, is the lefs to be admired. But his Genius
travels