'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.' [‎225] (258/1024)

Chap. VII. of Monfieur Tavern i e r. 22 5
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three months the Governor of the Province takes a view of all the Souldiers ,
in his Province, and caufes them to be exercis’d in his own prefence. They are ]
order’d to (hoot at a ‘mark, and they that hit it, are fure to have fome reward (
from the Governor. When the King fends lor any part of his Infantry, they pre- t
fently knew who is to lead ’em* and they are lufty, and well clad, never put- !
ting on their bell Cloathes but when they muher, or march into the Field. They
pay to the King little or nothing ; for ofall their Cartel great and fmall^they pay
but one in the hundred to him, and one Abajfi, or 18 Sous of our Money.
The EjhekcAgaft, or chief of the Ke/M>/fo\r, who are the King’s Guards, and
carry a Musket with a very wide bore. They were but lately indicated by the
Athmat-doukt, when he intended to deftroy the Uivan-bcgui. This Officer has
abouf 2000 men under him, of which he difpofes every night a certain number,
round about the Palace. When the King fits in Council, he Hands there with a
Battoon in his hand,and throws himfelf to the ground when the King beckons to
him to come and receive any command from his mouth. The Topigi-Bajhiisthe
Mader of the Ordnance, and chief of the Sea-affairs, but he has little to do in
either employment. For, as for the Cannon, there are only fome two or three 1
pittiful Guns in fome of the Frontier-towns: And for Ships, there are none in
Perfia but what come from Europe or the Indies to Or mm or Balfara, The Per*
[tans themfelves have no other Ships than fome few large Barks in the Perfian-
Gulph, and in fome parts of the Cajpian-Sea, where they keep a Fleet againft the
Vsbeckffartars, the Kalmoutys, and other people.
As for the Karis or Governors of Provinces, they are generally chofen out of
the body of Corfchis and Goulams who are handlom perfons, and generally much
more Valiant than the natural Perfuns. For the natural complexion of the Fcr-
frm is not good, as may be feen by the Gaures^ the original Inhabitants of the
Countcey, who are for themoft parttann’d, and ill-fhap’d. So that there is hardly
a Perfian, from the King to the meaneft of his Subjects, who is not a Georgian^ or
fprung from the loins of Georgians-* For they fetch a great number of Slaves
out of Georgia y by the frequent Marriages of which women, the Georgian Valour
and Beauty are become Natives oiPerfia.
The Kanr or Governors of Provinces are as fo many petty Kings, fear’d and r^-
fpedfed by all the people. And when they are fettl’d, they are never depos’d, but
upon repeated complaints of their exceffive Tyranny. There are fome of thefe
Governments that yield the Kan feven or eight thoufand Tomans 10,000 Persian dinars, or a gold coin of that value. . But they are
bound to prefent the King every year at Nourons, or New-year-tide.
Under the Kans there are alfo Governors of leffer quality, who are alfo im
mediately preferred by the King, and cannot be depos’d by any perfon but him-
felf. If they abufe their Authority, the complaints brought again!! him are firft
earn’d to the Kan , which, if they concern the Government of the Kingdom,
theiG/iis bound to inform the King thereof. But if the complaints are not
confiderable, then the Kan may do Tuftice himfelf, and make the Sultans know
their duty.
There is yet a third fort of Governors, call’d Afephs, who are the King’s Lieu
tenants in places where he had Kans in former times s or where he ought to have
them ftill, but only to fave charges. For in the Provinces where Govern,
they and their Officers, almoft equalling in name and number the Officers of the
King’s Houfhold, devour all the profits of the Province, but what the Kan is ob
lig’d annually to pay.
By what l have wrote as well concerning the King’s Houfhold, the Governors
°fhis Provinces, and the Officers of his Army, it may be eafily concluded that
the King of Perfias Court is the moft magnificent and glorious of all the Courts
tfAfia i and befides, that it is the moft Polite and Civil of all the Orient.