'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.' [‎221] (254/1024)

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Chap. X. of Monfieur Taverni er.
2 2L
CHAP. X.
rjl of the three Orders or States e/'Perfia, which com
prehends the Kings Houfiold, the Kans or Governours of Pro- '
•vinces,and the Souldiery.
T HE Primier Minifter of the Kingdom is call’d Atbemadoulet^ or the fupport
of Riches. His office is the {anyi with the Grand Vizir s in furkie, and may
be compar’d to the ancient Mayors oi the Palace in France. In regard all the af
fairs of the Kingdom pafs through his hands, he ought to be rather a'Gownman
then a Souldier : and herein he only differs^om the Grand Vizier, who is always
to be at the head of the Army, and for ev^ry flight fault or diftafte is fubjedt to
be ftrangl’d by the Grand Signior. Whereas in Perfta^fhcrc the Government is
milder, the Prime Minillers generally dye in their beds, or if they are Depos’d,
they are only exil’d to feme frontier City, where they live as private
men. /> ' . , , ^ r *
Wheh the King is young, the Prime Minifier has a hard game to play, tor then
the Favourite Eunuchs and the Sultanefles difannul and cancel in the night what
ever orders he makes in the day time.
The Nazar or Seer has the charge of all the Kings goods, of his breeds of hor-
fes, of his moveables, of his Cloaths and Plate t much like the grand Mailer of
the Kings Houfe in France. t ^ n ^ f r .
The Mehter, who is always a white Eunuch, is the firft Gentleman ot the Kings
Chamber, and follows the King with a kind of bag hanging by his fide full of
handkerchiefs. And as he is always at the Kings elbow, if he haVe the Kings
ear, it is eafie for him to befriend or do unkindneffes, as his inclination leads him.
During the minority of the King, fome of thefe Mebters have b?en known to go
vern the Kingdom.
The Mir-AkJ)or-Ba(hi, or Grand Efquire, has the Charge of the Kings btables,
which as well as the Gate of Aii-Capn, are a place of Refuge, and whoever faves
himfelf therein, let it be for Murther or Debt is fafe. All the Horfes in the Kings
Stable are mark’d with a hot iron upon the left hip, and thofe that belong to pri
vate perfons upon the right. Thofe that the King gives to them that ferve in his
Annies, have the Kings mark, and are not to be fold, but they may be chaffer d
away. If any of thofe Horfes happens to dye in a Horfe-mans hands, he muff
flea off the Kings mark, and carry it to the under Offi cers of the General of the
Cavalry, to have a nother, othe'rwife he would be forc’d to buy another at his
own expences. Thofe people by laying the skin in the water, know, though by
what art I cannot tefl, whither the Horfe dy d of age or ficknefs, or whither he
were malitioufly kill’d. For in times of Peace there are fom Horfe* men that will
kill their Horfes, to fave the Charges of keeping any more than themfelves: then
at the next Mufter they bring the skin of their Horfe, with the mark on, to the Of
ficers, and get another, unlefs they be found out. Nor are their Horfes only
mark’d, but their Scimitars, Mufquets, Bows and Quivers, all which they muft
fhew to the Commiffioners every Mufter.
Sha-Abbaf, the fecohd being at Casbin in the year I 2 general view
of his Cavalry, which Med for ten or twelve days. For the K ing lifting in the
Portal of one of his Gardens, with his Officers handing about him, every day
caus’d fo many troopers to ride by him; which were all ftout a dive men and well
mounted. Every Souldier gallop’d fingly by him and coming juft under the
King, he (hot an Arrow againli a Butt of Turf that was thrown up upon his left
I was then at Casbin, and I remember oneSouldiei, who quite contrary to what
the other Horfe-men did, walk’d his Horfe along by the King, and neverdhot, but
ot>ly lay’d his hand upon his breft, and then upon his forehead) which is the
hand, and when the Mulkr was over, the King advanc’d the Pay of every Horfe-
man, who according to Iffie fentence of the Judges had (hot neareft the
mark. /
Dda
Cere-