'A voyage from England to India, in the year 1754, and an historical narrative of the operations of the squadron and army in India, under the command of Vice-Admiral Watson and Colonel Clive, in the years 1755, 1756, 1757 ... Also a journey from Persia to England by an unusual route. With an appendix, containing an account of the diseases prevalent in Admiral Watson's squadron, etc.' [‎350] (401/562)

Monday
July 24.
[ 35° 1
rifing ground in the mldft of an extenfivc plain, and that the high Courdijlan
mountains lie to the fouth and eaft of it, and the Armenian or Turcomanian
to the north, whofe heads are always covered with fnow, and even now in
July lupply the city with ice; it will not appear at all improbable, that in
a very levere winter, fuch as was that in 175^ the inhabitants oi this city
Ihould fo feverely feel the efFcfts of it. Befides, fuel muft have been ex
tremely fcarce, efpecially among the poorer fort, as nothing or this kind is
produced but upon the mountains, and thele lie at iuch a diilance, that the
price of it muft thereby be greatly enhanced.
. This city has a good appearance •, it is pleafantly fituated, the Tygris run
ning- but at a fmall diftance from it. The bridge of ten arches is faid to
have been built by the order of Alexander the Great. In the environs are
many pleafant Villas with gardens, and rivulets running by them. There
are alio vineyards, of whole fruits the Chriftians make wine and fpirits.
There is at this time a good deal of arable land round the place, but
not a thoufandth part of what there might be, the foil being naturally
very rich.
This day, early in the morning, the Bajha with his retinue fet off from
Diarbekir. We could not immediately follow him, being obliged to wait
for proviiions for the Ago, and his fervants, for our beads and horles, and
feveral necelfaries for ourfelves •, fo that it was pad two in the afternoon
before we began to march. In the mean time we wrote a lettei to the
hofpitable fathers, thanking them in the moft grateful terms for the re
peated a6ts of friendihip they had conferred upon us, anc^ defiring the ia-
vour of their names, that we might not be ignorant of the perlons to
whom we were fo much obliged. We loon had the fitisraflion to receive
an anfwer in French, of which the following is a tranflation.
" Gentlemen, Diariekir, 24th, July, 175^*
1 have received the honour of your letter, in which you thank ua
for the good offices which we have done you. W e efteem them very
trifling for perfons of your diftinguiflied merit. We fhould have been
happy had it been in our power to have rendered you fervices of more
confequence •, but we hope you will take the will tor the deed. In re-
fpefl to our names, we are called, Father Jofeph Marie of Camhray, Fa
ther lues of Douay, Father Peter Francis of Tourain, Father Oener ot Mau-
heuge, and Brother Alexander of Orleans. We are at preient five here,
but two of us muft loon go into Perfia, and we do not know on whom
the lot may fall.—We wilh you an happy journey, and are with all
pofllble refpeft,
41 Gentlemen,
" Your mofl; humble,
" and obedient fervants,
" Father Joseph Marie, ^
" of Camhray, Capuchin^ &c.