'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.' [‎124] (163/1024)

124
The P er sian Travels
Book II[.
tWo parts
with it. A thief is acquitted, paying (even-fold what he has dole
whereof go to the Party robb’d, one part to the Judges, and four parts Vd! 5
King. If the Thiel has not wherewithal to make reftitution, beds fold : if/
Product do not yet equal the Sum, if he have a Wife and Children, they /
the Wife, and if that will not do, then they fell the Children: But if the Pan
robb’d be fo merciful, as to forgive the Thief his Qiare, then neither the King no!
the Judges can demand any thing for their (hare. If any man commit a Murder/-/
condemn him to die,and deliver him up into the hands of theKindred of the Party’fl/
to do Execution as they pleafe themfelves. However, it is in their power to pa r !
don him, if he be able to give fixty Cows or more to the next a-kin to the Party
kill’d. In matter of Debt, a Creditor has Power to feize upon all the Eftate of the
Debtor * and if that will not fatisfie, he may fell his Wife and Children
The Chrillians of Georgia are very ignorant, efpecially in Matters of Religion
They learn that little they know, in the Monafteries, as alfo to write and reads and
generally the Women and Maids are more knowing than the Men* not only j> e .
saufe there are more Religious Houfes for Women than for Men, but alfo becaufe
the Boys are bred up to labour, or fent to the Wars. For if a Virgin grows up, and
happens to be handfom, fome one or other prefently endeavors to deal her, on pur.
pofe to fell her into Verfia, or the Territories of the great Mogul So
that to prevent their being doln, their Fathers and Mothers put them very young
into Nunneries, where they apply themfelves to dudy i wherein, if they attain to
any proficiency, they ufually day as long as they live : After that, they proofs,
and when they come to a certain Age, they are permitted to Baptize, and to apply
the holy Oyls, as well as any Bifhop or Arch-Bifhop can do.
The Georgians are very great Drinkers and Nature has fitted them a Countrey
that produces good dore of Wine. They love the drongeft Drinks bed j for which
reafon, at their Feads both men and Women drink more Aqua vit<e than WineJhe
women never eat in publick with their Husbands * but when the man has invited his
Friends, the next day the Woman invites her She-companions. And it is obfer-
vable that at the Womens Fedivals there is more Wine and Aquaviu drank than at
the mens. The Gued is no fooner enter’d into the Dining-room, but he is prefent-
ed with 2 or 3 Difhes of Sweet-meats, and a Glafsofhalfa pint of Aquaviu to excite
his Appetite. They are great Feeders upon Onions and Herbs, which they eat
raw out of the Garden. The Georgians are alfo great Travellers, and very much addi
cted to Trade \ they are very dext’rousin (hooting with Bow and Arrows, and are
accounted the bedSouldiers in all ^/zz.They compofe a great part of theKingofPc^’s
Cavalry, who keeps them in his Court at peculiar pay, and relies very much upon their
fidelity and courage. There are feveral alfo in the Service of the Great Mogul,
The Men are very well complexton’d and very well fhap’d and for the Women,
they are accounted the faired and mod beautiful of all Afia » and therefore cut of
this Country it is that the King of Perfta choofes all his Wives, being not permitted
to marry a Stranger. Te/fo, where the Women have more liberty than in any
part of Afia, is the Capital City of Georgia, well iituatedi large and well built,
where there likewife is a great Trade in Silk.
: .
——
CHAP-