'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.' [‎233] (266/1024)

Chap. X. of Mon fieur Ta v e r n i e r.
One day it happen'd that there was a great hubbub in one of thofe houfes of
debauchery, where the woman had proftituted her own Daughter. The KiW in
form’d of it, commanded the Mother to be thrown headlong from a Tower fand
that the Daughter (hould be torn a pieces by his doggs, which he keeps, a purpofe
for fuch chaftifements. r
Above all things there is an extraordinary care taken for the fecurity of the
High-ways. For which purpofe guards are fet at convenient diftances, who are
ready to purfue upon the leaft noife of a Robbery, and who examin people whence
they comeand whither they go. If they anfwer not as they fhould,or trip in theit
Anfwers, tjiey carry them before the next Governor. Thofe Radars are fo pofied
over all Perfia, that you need no more then fend to the places where they keep
ftation, to know what is become of any perfon that has committed a crime. For it
is impolfible to fcape, all the Pafles are fo well guarded. If any one endeavours
to travel through the Mountains or unfrequented roads, then the who ard
in all places, feize fuch perfons upon fufpition, for not taking the diredfc
road. ,
As thcCaravan was one day fetting out homTauris for Ifpahanji popr fellow took
an occafion to rob a Cloak-bag during the hurly-burly of packing up, and fled crofs
thefieldsnoc knowing his way : the Merchant miffing his goods, complain'd to the
Governour, who having fought for him in vain, fent order to the Guards of the
High-ways, to make a ftrid examination, and to fend the perfon to him fo Toon
as they had feiz’d him. In a ffiort time the Thief was conflrain’d to forfake his
Cloak-bag and tocome a thwart the fields for water. Who being examin'd by the
Radars why he came alone by fuch a by way, and not knowing what to anfwer
was earn’d to the Governour. He was foon convided and condemn’d to death*
for Thieves find no mercy in Verfia. Only they are varloufly put fo death. For
fometimes they are ty’d to a Camels tayl by the feet, and their bellies rip’t open.
Sometimes they are buried alive all but their heads, and ftarvM to death : in
which to? merit they will fometimes defire a PafTenger to cut off their heads i
though it be a kindnefs forbidden by the Eaw. But the moft cruel punifhmentof
all, is when they fet Thief a Horfe-back, with his extended Arms fatten’d to a
long flick behind: then larding him with lighted Candles, they fuffer the Candles
to bum imp his very bowels. Another and I met two in this mifery, who defil’d
us to batten their deaths, which we durft not da, only we gave them a Pipe of
Tobacco according to their defire.
As for thofe that tteal in Cities, they tye them by the heels to'the tayl of a Ca
mel, and rip up their bellies: and then as the Camel drags the poor creature along
the ftreets, while one goes before him crying, The King has pmiflfd him for fuch
a crime. If yet he be not dead, they hang him upon the next tree.
The Radars have little wages, which makes them ufe their Rhetorick to get
what honeiily they can out of the Travellers, to whom they tell long ftories of
their care for the fecurity of the highways.
If it happen that a Merchant be rob’d, the Governour of the Province is to,
make good to the Merchant whatever he has loft, according as he (hall make out
by his Oath or his Book. Nor dare the Governors deny fatisfa<ttion, fearing a
complaint at Ifpahan. I my felf was rob’d of two Bales of goods, between Lar
and Schiraf, to the value of 1400 Piafters, but upon complaint to the Governour
upon my own oath and (hewing him my Book, he pay’d me all my lofs In gold,
and gave me a prefent in wine betides.
The Potts or Shappars are thofe that carry the Kings difpatches to the Gover-
nours of Provinces. When they are fent any whither, the Kings Efquire finds
them a Horfe, and a man that runs to the end of the Stage, to bring him back
a g<dn. If thefe Curriers meet a Horfeman upon the road, they have power to dif-
mount him, if their own be not fo good, or be tyi’d; and the Horfeman ipuft ei
ther run after his Horfe, or fend feme body to the end of the Stage. Sometimes
^ e Coders abufing their power, within a quarter of an hour after they have
c d their Horfe, if they meet another better mounted, they will take
away his Horfe too. Nor dares the Horfeman refift, though he be never fo much
00 ttrong, for there is no pardon for them that lay fo much as a finger upon one
0 S kappjrs h at other times they will pretend to take away a mans Horfe
only