'Collections of travels through Turky into Persia, and the East Indies. Giving an account of the present state of those countries, as also a full relation of the five years wars, between Aureng-Zebe and his brothers in their father's life time, about the succession. And a voyage made by the Great Mogul (Aureng-Zebe) with his Army from Dehli to Lahor, from Lahor to Bember, and from thence to the Kingdom of Kachemire, by the Mogols, call'd, the Paradise of the Indies. Together with a relation of the Kingdom of Japan and Tunkin, and of their particular manners and trade. To which is added a new description of the Grand Seignior's Seraglio, and also of all the Kingdoms that encompass the Euxine and Caspian Seas, being the travels of Monsieur TavernierBernier, and other great men.' [‎84] (121/1024)

The Persian
Travels
Book II.
they have any thing about ’em which ought to pay, they carry the perfonstothe
Cuftom-Houie, v/here they write down the quanuty of the Goods, and let them
go. All the Merchandize upon the Kilet is carry’d thither alfo, which the Mer
chant fetches away again in two or three days, paying the Cuftom: All which is
done in very great order, without any noife or difturbance in the lead.
Though Bagdat ufually bear the name of Babylon, yet it is at a great diftance
from the ancient Babylon, whereof in due place. But now for Bagdat, as it Hands
at this day.
Bagdat is a City feated upon the River of Tigris, on the Coaft of Perfia, and fe.
parated from Mefofotama by the fame River. It lyes in 33 Deg. 1 5 Min. of Ele
vation. The Chronicles of the ^Arabians report that it was built by one of their
Califs nam’d Jlmanfour , in the year of the Hegyra of Mahomet 145, and of
Chriftianity 762, or thereabouts. They call it Var-al-fani, that is, the Hotfe of
Peace. Some lay it deriv’d its name from a Hermitage that flood in a Meadow
where the City now (lands, whence it was call’d Bagdat, or, a Garden bequeath'd.
About forty years ago digging up the Foundations of an Inn, the Work-men found
a Body entire, habited like a Bifhop, with a Cenfor and Incenfe by him. And in
the fame place feveral Cells of Religious Houfes (hew’d themfelves: which makes
it very probable, that where Bagdat is built there was anciently a great Monaftery,
with feveral Houfes where the Chriftians inhabited. The City is about fifteen hun
dred Paces long, and fev’n or eight hundred broad, and cannot polTibly be above
three Miles in circuit. The Walls are of Brick, and terrafs’d in iome places, with
large Towers like Baftions. Upon all thefe Towers there are mounted about fixty
pieces of Cannon, the biggeft whereof carries not above a five or fix Pound Ball
The Moats are wide, and about five or fix Fathom deep. There are not above four
Gates 3 three upon the Land-fide, and one upon the River, which you muft crofs, over
a Bridge of thirty-three Boats, difiant one from the other about the bredthef one
Boat. The Caftle is in the City, near to one of the Gates call’d El-Maazan, upon
the North fide. It is partly built upon the River, cncompafs’d only with a fingle Wall,
terrafs’d in fome places; and adorn’d with little Towers, upon which are planted
about a hundred and fifty Cannon, but without Carriages. The Moat is narrow,
and not above two or three Fathom deep, neither is there any Draw-Bridge before
the Gate. The Garrifon confifts of three hundred Janifaries, commanded by an
Aga. The City is govern’d by a Bajha, who is generally a Vizier. His Houfe
is upon the fide of the River, making a fair (hew 3 and he has always ready at com
mand fix orfeven hundred Horfe. There is alfo an tAga that commands three or
four hundred Spahi’s. They havebefides another fort of Cavalry which is call’d Gin-
guliler, that is to fay, Men of Courage, commanded by two Agas *, and ufually there
*are about three thoufand in the City and the Towns adjoyning. The Keys of the
Gates of the City and the Bridge-Gate are in the cuflody of another Aga, who
has under him two hundred There arealfo fix hundred Foot men, who
have their particular Aga , and about fixty Cannoneers, who were at that time
commanded by an expert Artift that went by the name of Signor Michael,who pafs’d
for a Turk, though he were born in Candy. He put himfelf into the Grand Signors
fervice, when he went to bohego. Bagelat, in the year 1638. Though the TV^had the
good fortune to carry the City in a fmall time *, not fo much by virtue of the Breach
which Signor Michael had made in the Wall, as the Sedition and Revolt that happen’d
at the fame inflant, the Story whereof was thus in fhort.
The Kan that fuflain’d the brunt of the Siege at firft, was originally an Armenian,
and his name was Sefi-couli-Kan. He had commanded the City a long time, and had
defended it twice from the Army of the Turks, who were not able to take it before.
But the King of Terfia having lent one of his Favourites to command in his room,
who had enter’d upon his Command before the Cannon had made the Breach, theold
Kan finding himfelf difplac’d by the Commifiion of the new Governour, rather
chofetodye, than furvive the Affront which was put upon him. To which purpofe
he fent for his Servants, the Officersof the Army, his Wife and Son, and taking
three Cups of Poy fon in his Hand, he commanded his Wife,if ever fhe lov’d him,now
to (hew the marks of her afFe&ion by generoufiy dying with him. He gave the
fame exhortation to his Son *, and fo ail three together drank up the Poyfon, which
procur’d their ipeedy death.TheSouldiers, who had a great love for their Governour,
having