‘The travels of Sig. Pietro della Valle, a noble Roman, into East-India and Arabia Deserta. In which, the several countries, together with the customs, manners, traffique, and rites both religious and civil, of those Oriental princes and nations, are faithfully described: In familiar letters to his friend Signior Mario Schipano. Whereunto is added a relation of Sir Thomas Roe’s voyage into the East-Indies’ [‎263] (284/508)

9
Into the EAST-INDIES.
luml;
Noonrefted near a water, which rifing out of the ground, runs
under a thicket of Canes, where we ftayed all day. The next
day letting forth, and refting at our accuftomed hours, we pa{-
led over many dry Lakes, which {eem'd to have had water in
them at Tome time of the year.
June the nine and twentieth , Two or three hours before
Noon, we reftedbyawater nearthe mines of an ancient great
Fabrick, perfeftly fquare with thirteen Pillafters, or ronud
Columns on each fide without, and other compartiments of
Arches 5 within which were many Chambers, with a Court of
do great bignefs, and uncoverd. The Arabians call this Fabrick
Cafr Chaider, I could not conjedure whether it had been a Pal-
lace or Temple, orCaftle^ but I incline to believe it a Palace
rather then any thing elfe. In this place we had within half a
dayes journey on the Right Hand Mefched-Bhujfein, which figni-
fies the place of the Martyrdom of Hhujfein^nd where Hhujfan the
Son of and Fatima, Mnhhammed's Daughter, was flain, and
buried by his Emulators 5 which place, in the Country calld
Kierbeld) being inhabited and adorn'd with the faid Sepulchre,
which the Moors vifit as Holy, ("a very fumptuous Fabrick after
their mode^ was now in the Hands of the gt%ilbafci^ into which
it fell with the other Territories of Baghdad^ which is but a little
diftant from thence. Here we ftay'd to pay a Gabel to Najtr-
ben-Mabhanna, Lord of thefe Defarts,or rather, to Sceich Ahiuleb
his Son 5 for Sceich Nrfj/f being now old,and devoted to a Spiritual
Life, (as he that had been in pilgrimage at Mek*) hadrefign'd the
Government to his Son 5 and both of them were now remaining
in Tents about a League from the place, where we refted to
wards the North-Eaft.
ytne the thirtieth, In the Morning the mo Capigts that were y I
in our company, went (eparately to carry their Letters and Pre*
fenfs from the Serdar to the Sceich 3 namely , Ibrahim Jga to
theprefent, *ni Mahkmnd Agato the preceding Serdar who,
as they faid, was poyfon'd either by others, or by himfelf fot
fear of worfe, becaufe he had not been diligent enough in the
war of Baghdad 5 yet this hisCapzgz, having been fent tofeveral
other places, could not come hither (boner to ths Accich, After
dinner, in the abfencejof the Caprgi, the Sceich s Men came to
demand a Gabel 5 and after I had pay d them as much as they
requir'd, to wit 3 twelve Piaftres, for onely two Cheits, and
two or three more Piaftres offree-gift > neverthelefs they opeo
all my Trunks, breaking feme for hafte, turning all things topfie-
turvy, and taking away for the Sceich and themfelves fame
things ofvalue which they lik'd, a rich Perfian Turbant ot bilk
and-Gold, a piece of tine checkered Silk to make Caffocks with-
all, "after the Pcrfian Mode 5 many difties of rare Porceilane,
beautifi'd with Gold and colours 5 an Harquebufe belonging to
my Servant 3 much curious Paper of Japan and India j bmdeSt
many other toyes which I rememb .r not, telling me ^at toy