'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.' [‎190] (211/448)

ipo Seres.Chaeoporo,
Derhent {wKitix by tranfpofition of lyllables is Ben-dar, i.e. the Port Town) is fcitu.
ate in that part of Armenia the great which is now called Ziuria and Myral, but
nia of old •, and in fome Writers known by other Names, as Morcofaznd Demyr cap^
Iron-pates. From Samachy removed a hundred and twenty miles, and from Bildith a
hundred and eighty. The North Pole is there raifed One and forty degrees and fifteen
minutes: A place of that account as for many years has been a bone of divifion betwixt
the Turkjind Perfian •, for by being a frontier Town and claimed by two mighty Princes
to which party Ibever it inclines, 'tis upon every chance of War in danger to become
a prey unto the Conqueror. This Verhent being indeed the Key that gives entrance into
Mozendram, Gheylan, Shervan and other confiderable Provinces-, infomuch as it has
made that part the ftage of War •, and by the various fucceffes it endured, born nofmall
ftare in eithers misfortunes- More efpecially in the Year of our Lord 1568. Heg. 948.
at fuch time as JEmyr-hajni>e~rnirx.a with finoak and flame unkennell'd Ofman Bajfa with
his Varlets: The Ferfian Prince making the Inhabitants then feel the temper of his
Sword, and the Houfes the fire of his Revenge, to this day fhewing fad figns of his
difpleafure.
'Twixt this City and Derhent is that noted Emporium fome call Arajh ( and not impro
perly,feeing it is watered by a ftream flowing from the fwift River Araxity) but accord
ing to others fm^andby other fome Seres: from which and from that abundance of raw
Silk which is here vended, the Countrey thereabout is by fome miftaken for the Serica
regio •, albeit the truth is, Silk is extraordinarily plentiful here, and upon Camels in large
quantities carried to Caftan^ where the Manufadures of Carpetting and feveral forts of
Silk-ftufFs are in perfedion, not a little to the Town's advantage. At this place alfo
there is ftore of Cotten-wooll and Galls, which Merchants value: but of Piftachoes,
Pomgranads, Grapes, Melons, Orenges, and like fruit which Travellers efteem of^
here is abundance. From hence to Bachn ( upon the Cafpian fhore ) are about eighteen
Enalifh miles v a fmall Town, yet of fuch note with Geographers as they call the Sea ad-
joyning it Mare de Bachn-, that which by moft is named Caspian: near Bachn is (as I have
heard) a Spring whereout the Inhabitants have a kind of oyl of a dark colour, which
ferves for Lamps and other houlhold ufes, and without any favour that is offenfive.
Thence to Bildith is fourteen more *, the Countrey for the moft part level and fruitful^
by being thorowly watered both by Araxis and Cyrm. Returning to Ferrahaut,
We travelled along the Sea fide and came the rirft night to Chacoporo, which is about
twelve Englijh miles Weft from Ferrahaut: the way we rode was clofe by the ftiore.
This Town lies open to the Sea, which beats oft fo outragioufly againft her banks that
the Inhabitants are oft put to charge in maintaining them. Here we crofled over afrefli
Water that was about a ftones caft over ^ one month in the Year 'tis fait (as the Inha
bitants told us, but not the reafon of it:) This is that fait ft ream I lately mentioned in
the march Marcus Antonm made from Phraata. Next night we rode to Barfrnjhdea,
a large Town pretty well built, and no lefs well peopled: but the Sea doth not fo much
advantage them as the Land, by reafon of that plenty of Silk-Worms they nourifli:
and indeed the place appeared to us the pleafanter by reafon of that plenty of Wood
and Water it had, which was as good as plentiful. Here they would drink no Wine,
the Law prohibits it; but the ground of that Law we could not learn, though we did
fuppofe it was from that ridiculous Tradition of the mifcarriage of Arott and Marot
the two debaucht Angels. From Chacoporo to this place was twelve long miles: The Inha
bitants we could perceive delighted much in Archery; an exercifethefeCountreyshave
even from the infancy of time been not a little famous for *, and which gave the belt
of the Latine Poets the occafion to celebrate their Neighbours of Jthyra in the fecond
of his Georgicks.
Ithyreos taxi curvantur in Arcus. The TeVP into Ithyrian Bows is fore'd to how,—
The next Town of note we came to was Omoal, which fome take for others
for that Zddracarta, where Alexander refreihed his Army in the purfuit he made af
ter Bejfusthat infamous Batlrian though others there be think it the remains of that Na-
barcay where the Oracle of Dreams was famoufed. Howbeit, built it is under the
North fide of the imperious Mountain T aurm: and of fuch grandeur, that no lefs than
three thoufand Families there inhabit: They were then a mixture of feveral Nations,
Armenians^ Scythiansy Perfians, Jem, Curds, Bannyans, Indians and Mufcovians, whO albeit
they make a Babel of feveral Languages, yet live harmonioufly •, and whicb is no lefs
remarkable being tolerated their own forms (for in matter of Confcience they queftion
none
%