'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.' [‎121] (142/448)

Larr.
izi
before Mahowet, and yet a Mujfdman. But leaving that tradition^ more certain'tis that
this place affords variety of Fruits, as Dates from the finger-like ftiape, the^o-
wans called themv) a Tree diftinguiffied into Male and Female^ fo that unlefs the Female
have yearly a flowred bough of the Male ingraffed or placed near, fhe pines away,and
beeomes lean and fruitlefs. Here alfo were Oranges, Lemons, Melons, Pomgranates and
pomcitrons moft excellent i and of Flowers, Jeflamins, Rofes, Tulips, July-flowers, &c.
Here alfo at eafie rates we bought Goats, Hens, Rice, Barley, Rack and Aqua^iu. How-
beit the Mmhittcfs or Gnats peftered us extreamly : but of more vexation was the Wa
ter we drank and in thefe torrid places thirft after, nay, were neceffitated to drefs our
meat withal, and is the belt the People have to drink out of the large Tancks they keep
it in: they call it Oh-haroon, which in the language of Perfia fignifies rain-water but
with far more reafon I may call it Aqua-mortis, death feeming to bubble in it. A bale
qualified Water, whether in regard their Tancks here are ill made or naftily kept, where
by the Water corrupts, or whether the rain of it felf is infalubrious, or other hidden
caufe in nature there be, I cannot tellbut this 1 can, that it is unfavory, fo ill to the
guft as worfe Water for tafte, and efpecially for property c^ fcarce be relifhed. As
little of it came in my belly as could be borrowed from extremity of thirll: and with
good reafon *, for as experience teaches, it caufes catarrhs, breeds fore-eyesi ulcerates
the guts, and ( which is more terrible than the reft) engenders Imall long worms in the
legs ', a fort of nafty vermine not more loathfom to look upon than dangerous to the itch
ing dileafe in them that breed them, by no potion, no unguent to be remedied: Nor is
there any other way known to deftroy them, faveby rowling them about a pin, which
if in fcrewing the worm chance to break, it gives them very doleful mufick ^ for it makes
the leg apt to gangren, and but by lancing hardly curable. The water doubtlefs being
the natural caufe of that malady, feems to me to bring its venome from the Region
where it is generated v either for that the Springs are vitiate, or that the rain-water is
corrupt: For albeit clouds are feldom feenthere,yet fometimes they are,but undigefted
and unagitated by the wind j nor do they at all times diftill their rain moderately in drops
as is ufual in colder climates^ but in violent eruptions, dangerous both in the fall, and
no lefs noxious in the drinking. Now the reafon (as I apprehend ) that they have but
few clouds is becaufe the Countrey is defert and famjy, and wants Rivers and other
moift places to occafion exhalations, which beget rain. Howbeit> at our being here
it rained a great fhower, which made our Company the more acceptable. And we
could obferve that the foil (not only here, but in moft of this Province as we travelled)
is either ftony or a Height fort of mould, yielding little grafs or grain of any fort, or
fruit, fave what was forced in gardens; unlefs it be Dates, which here are exceeding
good and plentiful: But in Valleys and where Springs meliorate the earth, it produces
Rice, Barley and like grain*, as alfo fruits in great variety.
The Inhabitants are a mixture of Jem and Mahometans : Moft of thofe I law were blear-
ey'd^otten-tooth'd^nd mangie-legg'd-, the violent heat and unwholfome waters doubtlefs
caufing it. The habit of the greater part of them is only a wreath of Callico tied about
their heads, their mid parts circled with a Zone of vari-coloured plad, with fandals up
on their feet, elfewhere naked. Some neverthelefs (though but few) have Shafhesof iilk
and gold tulipanted about their heads, and robe themfelves in Cabbays of fatten, their
fingers being adorned with rings of fdver fet with Turqueifes (that being the ftone they
moft afted in Verfm) in which they have engraven their Name,or fome feleded Polie out
of the Talmud or Alcoran. The Mahometans delight much in Archery, and on their thumb
commonly wear a ring of horn, which makes the Arrow go off both ftrongly and eafily:
their fwords afford them no fmall delight, the blades being exceeding good, and the hilts
no lefs valuable ^ for with the better fort ufiially they are of Gold. Here are fome ne
verthelefs that are proficients in Philofophy and the Mathematicks, the principal delight
they take being in Afirology ; For 'tis granted that Major eft utilitas in Afironomia qmm in
alicjua[cientia. Naniy ft contingat in ea error, eft tolerahilior & minus meet, qmm in cete
ris jcientiis: Greater is the profit in Aftronomy that in any other fcience: For, if any
error happen herein, it is moft tolerable and lefs hurtful than in all the other fciences: Ifa-
goge Alcahitiu But in the Mechanick and other curious Arts, it gives place to few in
Verfia. In this City fhould be a River, and that not a fmall one if our Geographick Maps
were true; But therein they err •, for here could I fee no River, nor any in near an hun
dred miles travel further Northward y for both by enquiring of fome Perftans and our
^ own further travel, I could neither hear nor fee any nearer than T^, a River fa
mous in feparating Sufiana from Carmania, and from Larr Weftward about five fmall
dayes journey, or that other of Chur, over which we rode 'twixt Shyraz. and Perfepolis:
R
fome