'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.' [‎219] (252/1024)

T A V ER NI ER.
refolv’d to force ’em to turn Mahumetant,. hut Ali-Couli-Kan 7 being a Georgian,
repenting that he had rais’d the Kings indignation to fo high a pitch, and not be
lieving if would be any advantage to him for the Armenians to turn Mahumetans,
contented himfelf only with frighting them, which was enough to bring the
ntatis upon their knees, and to make them come and beg the intercetrion of his
authority. Which favour, as he order’d if, coft the Armenians ten thoufand To
mans to the King, and four or five thoufand Tomans 10,000 Persian dinars, or a gold coin of that value. to his Favourite.
The 23. of September i^ 77 > the King made a Cavalcade, then which there could
be nothing imagin’d more magnificent. All the richeft Furniture was brought out
of the Exchequer into the Meydan. The golded buckets to water the Horfes. The
golden Fat out of which they take the water, together with buckles, hamefs
and nails of gold, to which the Horfes are ty’d. After the King had play’d at
Mall, as I have already dekrib’d, and had alfo (hot at the Goblet upon the top of
the Mad in the middle of the Meydan, he went and fate in the Vivan, which is
over the Gate call’d Ali Capi, where he had the paftime to fee Lyons, Bulls,
Bears, Tygers and Rams fight. But that which was mod admirable, was to fee a
man (land upright upon the Saddle while the hoife ran full fpeed, which he did
three times the whole length of the Meydan. The firft time, ’tis true, he fell but
the two laft times he flood firm.
One day the fame Ali-Coult-Kan vt&nte& two handfom Youths to the King,
which had both delicate voices. The King hearing them ling, was very much
troubl’d that he could not make life otthem in his Haram, which Alli-CouU'Kan
obferving, fent for a Fre^Chirurgeon, and promis’d him a great reward if he
could cut the youths and fave their live?. The Chirurgeon for lucre of a large
recompence, cut them both and cur’d ’em very well. Which done, Ali-Couli-
Kan, prefented the two youths to the King, who ryas furpriz’d to fee them, but
was well pleas’d that he had got two fuch new attendants in his Haram. But fee
the reward ot fuch a wicked action. Ali-Couli-Kan dy d foon after. The Chi
rurgeon never was pay’d: and being advis’d to prefent a Petition to the King by
the Meter, the Meter ask’d him whether he would turn Mahometan : which when
the Chirurgeon deny’d to do, the Meter bid him be gone like a Rafcal, telling
him withall that he did not think the Religion of the Chriftians had permitted
fuch a£ts oi villany.The two youths were born at Cafhan,zn<\ had both Fathers and
Mothers, and were promis’d in Marriage. When their Parents heard of it, they
came to Ifpahanj to weep over their Children. Which the King obferving, to
appeafe their forrow, gave them a Penfion during life.
2
1 9
/
CHAP. IX.
Of the Government o/Perfia.
T H E Government of Perfta is purely Defpotick or Tyrannical. For the King
has the fble power oflife and death over all his Subjedfs, independent from
his Council, and without any Trials or Law-proceedings. He can put to what
death he pleafes the chief Lords of the Kingdom, no man daring to difpute the
reafbn, nor is there any Soveraign in the world more abfolute then the King 01
Perfia? ' , ■ 1
The King deceafmg and leaving Male Iffhe behind him, the Eldeft afeends the
Throne, while his Brothers are kept in the Haram,*t\6. their eyes are put out: and if
there be the - leaft fufpicion of any contrivance againft the King, they are forth
with put to death without any farther examination. And not only they, but the
Children alfo of the Kings Brothers and Sifters. I remember when I firft travell d in
to Perfia, they werernot fb rigorous, but were contented to move a red hot iron
to and fro before their eyes. But Sba-Sefi perceiving his command had been neg
ligently executed, and that the poor unhappy Princes had feme fight left them
Dd he B