'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.' [‎300] (323/448)

500 Terjianomens
Nor is this a new cultome, for P//^rcHn the life of jirtaxerxes mentions the like
faying, That the Per pans were fo jealous, that to fpeak to or touch any of the King's Wo!
men was ho kfs than death; nay, to approach near their Coaches when they travelled:
and inftances fome particulars, as in the Story of Darius when he begged Che fair jijh^
fia for his Concubine, whofe perfedions had Captivated the King alfo. And in that
Story of Themftocles the exiled Athenian he relates how that the Perfians jealous of their
Wives and Concubines, keep them ftridly mewed up at home*, but abroad carry them
in clofe Cajuaes, which were fo covered that no Paifenger could fee them: nor were they
drawn with Horfes, but travelled hanging upon Camels. In one of thefe, Thcmiflocles
dilguifed in a Womans habit was fecretly conveyed out of Grxcia to the Court of Artax-
erxes, where he found more fafety and better welcome than amonft his ungrateful
Countrey-men. In one of thefe the laft Darius was conveyed into Mergiana by Btffm
that had fhackled him with golden Fetters, JhJI . lib. 11. Agreeable to this, we oft-times
had a prolped of the travelling Seraglio'sj and could well perceive that their Guards
were pale lean-faced Eunuchs, fo jealous of their charge, that as we travelled 'twas the
hazard of our lives if we neglected to haften out of the way fo foon as we faw them-
or elfe by throwing our felves upon the ground to cover us with fome veil or other, that
the Eunuchs might be fatisfied we durft not, at leaft, were not willing to view them. In
one of thefe, for eafe and warmth I my felf was forced to travel upon a Camel above three
hundred miles, being fo infeqbled by a Flux as I was not able to ride on Horfe-back, and
to keep company with the Carravan was neceffitated to this kind of accommodation. Ho w-
beit, that the cuftome was otherwife, appears by that fumptuous entertainment
fcrfrmade a thoufand of his Lords, (then coopt up in Babylon) where the King and his Prin
ces, his Wives and Concubines drank Wine in thofe golden Veflels Nehuchadne^ar
brought thither from the Houfe of God which was at Jerufalem, Dan^, 3. andlikewifeat
that magnifick Feaft which Ahafuerus made for an hundred and eighty dayes to the Nobles
and Princes of his Empire, Heft. 1. 11. where it is faid, The King fitting on his Throne
at Shu ft an the Palace, commanded the Eunuchs to bring Qoeen Faftti with the Crown
royal to fhew the People and the Princes her beauty; which was excellent. Plutarch alfo
in the life of Artaxerxes notes how that Statira the Queen ufually fate with the King at
Meat in publick, and was placed near the King in an open Chariot when he took the air
abroad •, the beholding of which (fays the Author) gave great content unto the people.
ButtheAmorofa's, or thofe of the order of Lais> like thofe AmbubaU of old amongft
the Syriansy be more fociable, have moft freedome, and in this Region are not worit
efteemedof: No queftipn but (to free themfelves from jealous Husbands) many there
would be of that order: thofe therefore that are fuch are not admitted without fuit and
giving Money ^ after which toleration none dare abufe them; being company for the
belt or greateft : in which refped they go no lefs richly habilimented than what is re
corded by Hehodorus in his Ethiopian Hiftory upon Theagines his ulhering Arfaca the
Perfian Lady, Indnebatur (faith he) v eft em Perficam, ornabaturq, aureis torquihm & mo-
mhbm, diftintiisgemmisy See. Their Hair curling, difhevels about their Shoulders, fome-
times plaited in a Caul of Gold : round about their Face and Chin ufually they hang a
Rope of Pearl: their Cheeks are of a delicate vermilion dye. Art (oftnef than Nature)
caufes it. Their Eye-lids are coloured cole-black with a fine Pencil dipped in that miner
1 i j which Xenophon faith the Medes ufed to paint their Faces with: which was
the old way of painting •, and from the Vulgar Trandation of the Bible, where 'tis faid
Jez.ebel depnxtt Oculos fuos ftibio, 2 King. 9. v. 30. may beprefumed that fhe wasfo
painted: With which Antimony the Grecian Dames in old time coloured their Eye-brows,
their Poets call it; now alfo ufed in T whey. They have alfo artificial Incifi-
ons of various fhapes and forms, as have the Enamorado's likewife. Their Nofes are
let with Jewels of Gold imbellifhed with rich Stones ^ and their Ears alfo have Rings of
equal luftre In a word, to Ihew they are Servants to Dame Flora, they beautifie their
Arms, Hands, Legs, and Feet with painted Flowers and Birds and in a naked garb
rorce every Lmb about them to dance after each other, elaborately making their Bells
t u er ? ir turnirl g s - short neverthelefs of the Indian Curtezans call'd Boga-
warsjwho at ten years of age when their Bodies are tender and flexible, will in their Dances
nrw oW u e - S Vl t0 J admir ^ ble Poftures : for ftanding upon one Leg they will raife the
other above their Heads, and leifurelylay their Heels upon their Heads, aUthe while
Xrni U r POn 1 a Merchant relate he faw done at Golconda and
iWo?hl eS 1? /i - T ^ ir ^ ( not unlike themfelves) is loofe and gaudie, reach-
slffsor r^S r e§ K V u , nder wI L c L h wear Drawers of Cloth of Gold, Satten, tiflued
or coftl y Embroidery. This kind of Creature is of no Religion, fave that of the
laft