'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.' [‎201] (234/1024)

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Chap. I. ofMonfieur T AVERN 1 E R.
201
pray for his health, and altogether gave near a thoufand Tomans 10,000 Persian dinars, or a gold coin of that value. to the poor.
1 he next day they commanded the Chrihian Armenian? to pray for the reco
very of the King. Whereupon as ( well the Ecclelklticks as the Laity went to
their prayers upon the fide of the River which is between Ifyahan and Zulpba.'
They alfofent their Kelonter^ with fifty Tomans 10,000 Persian dinars, or a gold coin of that value. in Gold, to bear over the Kings
head j though the Armenians pronounce not the fame words as the Perftani^ faying
only, Berai te Sadduk, deft it? d for Alms.
Thus the danger being over in a few days, they made it their bufinefs to re
cover him to a perfed habit of healths but in regard the King continu’d in
a languifhsng condition, and for that the Phyficians could not difeover the caufe
r of the diflemper, the King began to believe that it proceeded from the igno
rance of the Phyficians, for which reafon feme of them had receiv’d none of the
beft entertainment already. At length it came into the thoughts of fome others
of the Phyficians, who were afraid for themfelves, that in regard Perfu was thus
doubly afflided, with Famine and Sicknefs of the King, both at one time, it muft
of necefhty be the Aftrologers fault, that mifs’d the favourable hour when the
King 1 (hould have afeended the Throne. Thus being troubl’d at their difgrace,
pretending to have no lefs skill in future knowledg than the Aftrologers, who'
, had not chos’n a true time for the King to afeend the Throne, they concluded that
for the perfed recovery of his health, and thereftoring of plenty to the Nation, it
was neceffary to renew the Ceremony at a lucky hour, and to change his name.
This propofition pleas’d the King and his Council. The Phyfitians and Aftro-
Togers joining together, obferv’d the firft unlucky day, which would certainly
be follow’d by another that would prove fortunate.. Now there being among
the Gaures^ fome that pretend themfelves defeended from theRuftans, who were
ancient Kings ofPerfia and Parthia y that very morning one of thofe Games fetting
himfdfupon the Throne, with his back againft a wooden Figure which reprefent-
ed him to the life, all the Grandees of the Court came and did him homage as
their King, as he had order’d them to do. This action lafted till the favourable
( hour was come, which happen’d a little before Sun-fet. Then it was that an
Officer of the Court came behind and cut off the head of the wooden Figure, while
the Game immediately took his heels and fled. Presently upon that the King ap
pear’d in the Hall, upon whofe head when they had put the Bonnet of Sofhi y
and re girt him with the Scimitar, he afeended the Throne, and took the name
r of S oilman. He was forc’d to adf this Comedy to fatisfie the Law, which
contriv’d that he fhould change his Name, and take a new pofTeffion of his
Throne, by eje&ing a Ufurper that had wrongfully darn’d ft. For which reafon
I f he GWe was fet up as Pretender, as laying claim to the ancient Lineage of the-
Berftan Kings, and being of a different Religion. From that time the King reco-
vering, and the Famine decreafing, the Phyficians were in great repute, and
Aftrologers were caft out of favour, except two or three of the moft skil
ful.
Sha-Soilman before his coming to the Crown, had convers’d with none but
| and black Eunuchs i from whom he could not learn the art of Ruling.
At prefent he only divertizes himfdf with his Wives ingoing a hunting, veryjpate-
I y troubling himfelf with bufinefs but relying wholly upon his Minifters-of State.
he will not be feenfor ten or twelve days together all which time there are no
I Petitions to be preferr’d, nor Complaints to be made.
CHAP.
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