'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.' [‎124] (145/448)

c Balfam. Vloches*
fhall endure juft fix thoufand years, Jlefh in computation ftanding for a thoufand, albeit
he Ihould enter the lifts to vanquifh either party. But to return.
in or near this place is a precious liquor or Mummy growing, Mnmnaly-koobos they
call it, which none prefumes to take,it being carefully preferved for the King's foleufe,
In June onely it diftils from the top of thofe ftupendious Mountains, every year about
five ounces. A moift redolent gum it is,foveraign againft poyfon •, and (if we may be
lieve them ) a Catholicon for all forts of wounds whatfoever; So as when other Princes
fend Shaw-Ahhas Gold, Pearl, or like coftly prefents, he returns them a little of this
Balfame as a fuitable requital. After Alexander had prey'd and facrificed in Snfa ( be
trayed by Ahulites a time-ferving Satrapa) he led his wanton Army towards Perfepolis:
his neareft paflage was over thefe Hills of Jaarown (in thofe days by Authors called PiU
Perfidis and Sufaida) where to his amazement he was fo well beaten by Arioharzanes a
valiant Perfiaa and his little Army, that (contrary to the accuftomed pace of the
Worlds Monarch) he was conftrained to retreat, and find another way to avoid the
llorm of ftones and arrows which that noble Perfian freely fent him.
The eleventh of February we left Larr, Codgea-Ohdruzy the Governour having furnifli-
ed us with Mules, emblemes of fobriety : Our Harbinger ( or Mammandore as called in
Perfa) was an old Coaelbajh who would be fure (hopeful of foirie reward) at every place
where we made our Manz,eel to provide us good quarters, and fuch meat as the places
could affordby vertue neverthelefs or force rather of his authority domineering over
the wretched Rufticks more than pleafed us; for he would profer them a little money
for what he liked, which if they refufed, then nolens volens liQ would have it, and AlU
, Soldado paid them with big words and hafiinadoes : So as we faw that in miferable flavery
thefe Peafants live, contented to fubmit to the arbitrary will of the Souldier. Thefirft
night we pitched our Tents not far fromZ^rr, but were flopped next day by aftmmo-
derate flood of rain; which though it was very welcome, yet made the earth fo flippery
as our Camels glib hoofs could not foot it. The rain falls feldom here *, but when it
comes, they both feel and hear it: Sometimes it raifes fuch a deluge as fweeps Men and
Houfes away 5 for (as we were told) fix Years before (in this very place ) a Caravan of
two thoufand Camels in part periled by the fury of it. The fourteenth day we rode
to JDe~achow (or Techoo) which fignifies a Town under a Hillwhere we faw many pretty
Tombs, few without a Grave-ftone and an memorial. The Alcoran commands
that none be buried in Cities) for fear the Dead infed the Living. This Jm fepiMri
was according to the Ancients, quo cavebatur, Vt nemo fepalturam haberet in eodem loco
quern dim Jepulchrdfrm occupaffet^SiLl 1. That no grave fliould be made in the place where
any other had formerly been buried. And by the Law of the twelve Tables Burials were
prohibited and not permitted to be within any City i but rather in Cemeteries without
the City, or nigh the publick high-ways*, that by viewing the Sepulchres of the Dead
(according to the cuftom of the Romans and ^Egyptians who had them in their Banquet*
ting-Houfes) they might the better contemplate their mortality. A mile from this Town
we viewed about threefcore long Pavilions*, which were black without,but within they
had female Beauties *. The Perfians call them ZJloches\ the Arabs Kabilai ; the Turq 1 flans
and Armenians Taipha *, the Tartars Hoards', the Ancients Nomades from the Numidians \
concerning whom the Poet fays truly. That
Nulla domus, plauftris habitant, raigrare per Am Their Carts their Houfes are, their fole delight
Mos, atque errantes circumvedare Penates. To wander with their Houfe-Gods day and night.
Suffer me to wander a little with fuch novel company. Seeing that Vertue the Trophy
of a refined ambition is purchafed by embracing the wholfom notions of an humble Soul,
of a well-tempered Spirit, that heavenly radiance refpeds no other objed with delight
fave vertue, from which pure ftream flows Moderation, to whofe excellency (next to
Spiritual facrifice ) we may fafely devote our befb endeavours. Howbeit, fo apt to every
immodefl ad is Man's corrupt difpofition, that to enjoy fenfuality he conceits vertue
(though never fo gorgeoufly array'd ) foul and deformed ^ till moderation force him to
a ftrid account, and difcover how much he erred in preferring intemperance before the
tranfcending qualities of a vertuous life: from whence, when we contemplate the con
tented life and poverty of thefe Vloches, needs muft we condemn our felvesof loathfotn
riot. For, how free from unfeafonable care, pale Envy, affrighting Tumult, and nafty
Surfeit do thefe enjoy themfelves? Happy Conquerors! how mutually do they accord,
how joyfully fatiate Nature in what is requirable? Hear Lucm in its^commendation:
B4 e
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