'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.' [‎232] (265/1024)

252
The Persian Travels Book V.
CHAP. XIII.
Of the Juflice and Policy of the Perfians
He Juftice of the Terfians is very exa& and very fpeedy. Suits are determin’d
upon the place without any need of Advocates or Pro&ors. Not but that
the Officers of Juflice are eafie to be corrupted^ but in their un juft exa&ions, which
they carry as fecretly as poffibly they can, they are fooner fatisfi’d then the lurks :
and if their injuftice be difeover’d, upon complaint to the King they are pumlht
without mercy. . . . r
The Kans do Juftice in their Provinces, as reprefentmg the Kings perlon. Be-
fides that, the King has a Vivan Begui in every City, and the places under him
a T)trooa i who is like the Lieutenant Criminal in France. He has under him an
A at as > who is a kind of Captain of the watch 5 who goes about the ftreetsin the
ni&ht to hinder diforders, and carries all people to Prifon that he finds abroad at
b alfo a Kdonter, that is, thechiefeftoi greateft, whofeems to tefemble the Tri
bune of the People among the Romans, or the Provoft of Merchants in ftmet.
The Kelmer is only refponiible to the King, who places one in every City, and it
k his bufinefsto defend the People from the injuftice and oppreffions of the Go-
vernours. f- :
Murther is feverely punifh’d, nor will money fave the Criminal. When the
Murtherer is takn, they carry him before the Divan Begui, who makes quick
work. For he delivers him to the Parents or kindred of the perfon (lain, who
carry him to the place of execution, and without any compaffion torture him to
death. ,
I remember the Kan of Schiras had a Favourite, who falling in love with a
young Perfian Gentleman, would needs endeavour to have the ufe of his body.
One day meeting upon the Road together, and lying at night under the fame Tent*
the Favourite about midnight came to his bed fide, and after many follicitations
would have forc’d him. But being violently refifted, the Favourite for madnefs
to fee him difappointed, and liable to be difeover’d, fiabb’d the young Gentle
man to the heart, and fled to the Mountains.' The Murther being divulg’d, the
Mother, Widow and Sifter of the young man repair’d to the Kan for Juftice, who
willing to fave his Minion, offer’d them money : but they fcorning his proffer,
threaten’d to complain to the King. The Kan being thereupon cooftraind to pur-
fue his Favourite, at length took him and fent him to Ifpahan, telling them that
he would not judge of the Affair^ but refer it to the King. The Mother, Widow
and Sifter immediately follow’d the Murtherer to Jfpaban ? and demanded Juftice
of the King with that eagernefs, that though the King had an inclination to have
(par’d the Kan’* Favourite for his Mafters fake, he was forc’d to abandon him, and
to bid them pay themfelves with his blood. Immediately he wascairi’dto the
where the Widow firft ftabb’d him to the heart with a Dagger, then the
Mother took her turn, and after the Sifter iand then holding a Cup to receive his
blood, drank every one a cup full to quench the thirft of their revenge.
Nor are they fb exaft in the punifhmentof Murther only s for they punifhdu'
orders in houfes of Debauchery with a proportionable ftri&nds, of which 1 will
give the Reader two examples. A young Hollander, coming to Ifpahan, prefently
put himfelfinto a Perfianhzbit-, and going in the evening to a houfeofgoodtel'
lowfhip, met with certain Perfians, with whom he happen’d to quarrel, and being
well beaten for his pains, thought it not convenient to ftay any longer where he
had bin fb ill entertain’d. Thereupon the Dutch Interpreter went and complain d
to the Atbemadoulet, who inform’d the King. The King immediately fent for the
people that had beaten the Hollander, and ask’d them why they abus’d a ftranget.
To v/hich the others made anfwer that they faw no ftranger, but only a man da
unfeafonable hours, ff they cannot give a good accompt of themfelves. There
after tbt Perfian garb. Whereupon the King told the Interpreter, that if the
man had worn his own Country habit, his Subje&s durft not have abus’d him, but
One
- as the cafe flood, he had no reafon to punifh ’em.