'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.' [‎201] (222/448)

The Highpea^ Damoan.
zoi
w e could difcover thence the Cajpian Sea, albeit eightfcore miles diftant,and not fo mif-
takenly as Jkxandeir, who upon the profped judged it to be fome out-breaking of Pa-
y Meotis. Above it is compofed of fulphur, which caufes it to fparkle each night like
^£tna *, a pleafant objed to the eye, but fo offenfive to the fmell that it requires a nofegay
of Garlick in the afcending. Hence moft parts of Terfia and Chaldaa has their Brim-
ftone. The re^fon why we rode up, was out of curiofity to fee the Baths fo generally
reforted to; tlie Springs in this Bath are fome hot fome cold, yet riling out of the
fame Mountain: Three of them are more private than the reft, being compaifed with
Walls of ftone; the other two are open ^ the firft be for thofe of Quality, the other
more common; And hither in Angufi difeafed People flock apace in very great multitudes,
who receive notable cures from thofe Waters, which by their great Vertue and medi
cinal heatdefervedly draw thither that concourfe of People, not from feveral parts of
ferfm onely,but more remote Gountreys. The Earth is by Philofophers called JElementum.
fimdijfirntimy cold and moift •, albeit in fome places by reafon of Minerals it be ficcijfu
mm and of a combuftible quality. For, Napka and others of a bituminous fubftance
ar e without doubt the efficient caufe of hot Springs (fuch as thefe here be) and alfo of
fubterranean fires, as Experience teaches. Thefe hot Baths queftionlefs receive their
vertue from the Mineral veins through which they pafs: but what fort of Minerals the
Water has either its heat or tindure from> (whether from Sulphur, Vitriol, Steel, or
the like ? ) our fhort ftay would not difcover *, and I could learn little of the People/or
they were ignorant. The Earth (faith Arifiotle lib. de Mundo) hath within it not onely
Fountains of Water, but alfo of Spirit and of Fire, fome of which flow like Water:
whence it comes, that the Water it ejeds is fometimes fcalding hot, and at other times
lukewarm and temperate. But the caufes and effeds of this I leave to fuch as delight
to fearch into Nature's Curiofities.
How are m tofi by Fortune ? when we keeep
At Sea-y we fee the wonder? of the Deep,
And tremble at the danger, where we dive
ZJnder the hideous waves. When we arrive
On Land) we thinks us happy : But e > re long
We mufl to work^ again, and climb the firong
And craggie Mountains reaching up to 'Heaven:
Bach down-cafi look^ is death, each way uneven
Daunts our thickzpanting hearts , left if we mif
One flepj we headlong fall the precipice.
The top (like fierce Vefuvius) Sulphur Jpits
The mid-way wholefom Baths, which cure all fits
Of Agues, Aches, Palfie, and the Stone
All Epileptic^ fumes , as if alone
Nature had chofe this place, to plant in thefe
The An of Galen and Hippocrates.
Now whether this Mountain derive its Name from the adjacent Town called Damoan,
or the Town from it, others may better determine than my felf: But from the etymon
of the word in the original Language or Dialed of thefe parts, it lignifies a Second
Plantation. Whence it is that the Jews who in great numbers inhabit hereabouts ( ha
ving as they report been feated there ever fince that memorable tranlplantation from
Canaan by Salmanaffer A. 3/.'3220. mentioned 2 Reg. 17.6.) Ipare not to averr (but
from a Gabala or received Tradition from their Anceftors,) that upon this Mountain
of Damoan NoaWs Ark refted. About the place where the Ark relted hath been no
fmallcontefl among Waiters: fo as to my apprehenfion that high place has been fo
clouded or deprelfed through variety of conjedures, that it will be a labour of fome
difficulty to difcover it. Ben-Jonas places it near the River Tigris, where it Iprings not
far from the Gordian Mountains: Inter Armenios & G ordiaos in monte Lubaro c onfedit Area
Noha, fays Epiphanius. And in regard there is a Mountain called Ariarathis in the lefler
Armenia, fome would fix it in that Region : Neverthelefs the moft received opinion
is, That the Ark after that univerfal Deluge refted in Armenia the greater v for in Gen.
8.4. we read that the Ark ftay ? d upon the Mountains of Ararat ; which word fonie in
terpret Armenia: and running currant with moft,probably gave occafion to the Poet Ara-
tiu in his fourth Book to fay, Armenia, celfis inflabat montibus Area. Bocatim and Haythori
the Armenian are no lefs pofitive J that In toto Orbe Terr arum 'mn eft mons altior quam Arath,
Dd cupU
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