'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.' [‎267] (290/448)

T he Saracens fubj eB T artary. z (
overcame them by Magick, which he alfo knew how to pradife. They dare not difobey
their Prophet but return again to Eljheyr, where that fiege was renew'd under the con-
duft of Siet hen-Abi-Fake^ who had fuch lack through OWs skill that was taken
and forced to feel his tortures. At JLlcadifia ( a frontier Town ) in that angry mood he
flew five and twenty thoufand Perfians', and at Galda, Spa-ham and TVz^at feveral times
made Tez^dgird the Perfian General fly who had no heat left him when he beheld how
fortunately Omar fubjeded Cufifian-, Pare-, Carman, and Iraachj, and In Maqmroon, Ja~
roon, <jS£dgany Deacow-, Larr, Shyraz., and Moyoon-y had made all Men there fubmit and
fwear themfelves Muffulmen.
I ez.dgird dies, Hormifda heads his party and labours to repel the Saracens^ but in vain-,
an uncontrolable decree haftening Perfia's bondage: For fifteen thoufand Men with
himfelf he lacrificed as a farewel to the Liberty of his Countrey. Omar fix months after
this Battel was flain treacheroufly by a Varlet, and in the Jlcaha in Mecca near to Ehn~
hocar his predecefTor, buried. Ozjnan ( in defpight of Ally) fucceeded him. Omar fat
twelve years*, this Man ten, and four months in the Poiitificacy. By his Field-
Marflial, to whofe condud he committed a great body of Horfe, he fubjeded divers
parts of North Africkj viz.. Numidia, Mauritania, as far as Tunis or Carthage. Mavi
Sultan of JDamafco in the CW*j^'s behalf alfo over-run and in loooGalley-
foifts transferred fuch a fwarm of Saracens into Cyprus, that upon their entry they feem'd
enough to cover it: There they fackt Conflantia (or Ceraunia a City built by Cyrus.) Thence
they fell upon the Rhodes, where they perpetrated much favage cruelty, and amongft
other Ipoils demolilhed that CololFus which was built hy Chares of Lyndus (Scholar to
Lyfippus) in twelve years •, and in regard 'tis faid the Sun fhines daily in that Ifland, was
to the Sun dedicated. This huge Image was of gilded brafs, and eighty cubits high*,
the thumb as big as a large Man^ the legs ftood on either fide the River ^ fo wide, that
there-under might pafs a large Veflel under fail: In the one hand it held a javelin which
it pointed to the Eaft •, on its breaft was a Mirrour wherein thofe that dwelt within the
Ifle might defcry fhips failing at a diftance. This Wonder of the World which coft 300
Talents, Mavi fold to Emiffa a Jew for two hundred pounds flerling, who demolifhed
it, and with the brafs thereof loaded away nine hundred and thirty Camels. In that Ifle
he alfo defaced an hundred other Coloffufes^ and moft barbaroufly of collly Monuments
70000. Heraclim the Roman Emperour died An. Dom. 640. after thirty Years reign,
and in his place Her act. Conftantinm fucceeded; who in the feventh month of his Empire
was poyfoned by Martina his ftep-dame, the better to advance Heraclionas her Son: but
unexpededly were forthwith both of them exiled by the People, their nofes and tongues
cut out, and Conftans faluted Emperour in his place.
Ofman having by this time finifhed his Paraphrale upon the Alcoran, digefled it into
feven fmall Trads, which he fubdivided into an hundred and fourteen Chapters. It lb
happened that by accident he loft a Ring of gold which Mahomet as a Legacy bequeathed
him, but was to defcend unto the fucceeding Chaliphs: The vertue of it was fuppofed
great, and probably not unlike that magick Ring mentioned by Philoflram Vita Apollmii,
faid to be effeded by a conftellation of Planets: fo as no means was unattempted to reco
ver it. Which taking no good effed, he conceals the lofs, and counterfeits another like
it of filver, embowelling a Motto to this purpofe, O Pertinaces, 0 Posnit^ntes / from which
• pattern moft Mahometans to this day wear Rings of fdver.
Now forafmuch as Mahomet's perfwafion is with ,a naked Sword to embrace the Alco
ran, in the fecond and third Azoara promifmg the greateft fhare in Paradife to fuch as
ftall deftroy moft Unbelievers •, Ofman having done his Church-work > deviles with him
felf from that Dodrine how to enlarge his Empire, but yet under a pretext of charity to
teach other Nations their way how to attain Paradife. India in thofe dayes was rich and
well peopled: To any would undertake the Conqueft he promifes (befides other advantages)
his Bleffing^which is as a thoufand benedidions. Abdal-ben-Emyr, a Man both valiant and fu-
perftitious, accepts the task, and with 30000 Horfe haftes thitherwards-, but by new In-
ttrudions from Ofman who had confidered how long a bufinefs 'twould be to fubdue fb re
mote a Countrey,direds his courfe firft towards Tartary. Aria he enters and eafily fubju-
gatesy after that Corafan,Maurenahar,Gafnehen then with little opposition took the Cities
of Niz^abHr,Thalecan and Tochariflan ; yea, all Dilemon to Balh^ as far as Jehun and Ardoc
would give leave. Rivers beyond Oxus, A wonderful progrefs in War and enlargement
of Empire theie wow Mahometan-Popes made, no lefs to the terrour and amazement of the
World than the fpreading of the Alcoran, Satan about that time ( as 'tis thought) being
iet loofe. Ozjnan the Caliph by thefe acquifitions of Conqueft made himfelf the moft puif
fant and redoubted Prince then living, Neverthelefs, how vidorious foever he was abroad,' ^
Mm 2 ^