A new account of East-India and Persia, in eight letters being nine years travels begun 1672 and finished 1681 : containing observations made of the moral, natural and artifical estate of those countries ... / by John Fryer ... ; illustrated with maps, figures and useful tables.

CHAP. XII.

Of the present Inhabitants; of the Jews being interspersed ever since the Captivity of Babylon; the Custom of exoculating their Princes; Nobility among the Persians; the Esteem they have of the Emperor's Person being Divine; his Name and Succession: Of the English overthrowing the Portugals at Ormus; the Procession of the Court; its Grandeur, and Reception of Ambassadors: Of the Suffees; of their Ca∣valry, Infantry, Seamen, and Navy.

THE Inhabitants of this City,* 1.1 as well as of all Persia (the Ancient Stock being, as it were, extinct) spring from the Overflow of the Northern Scythians, by whom the Native Persians were either totally expell'd, or so suppress'd, as to remain of no Ac∣count among them: These notwithstanding, by the Benefit of the Climate, have chang'd so much of their innate Roughness, as they have acquired the more coruscant Beauty inherent in the Temper of the Air; for they are of a delicate Composure of Body, Tall and Strait, especially the Women, who though not generally so proper, yet excel in Softness of Texture, and Comeliness of Form: Their Outside is no false Indication of their Natural Ingenuity, which ex∣ceeds all the Eastern People both for Facetiousness of Wit, Civil Be∣haviour, and Gallantry in Appearance, as much as they do the Bar∣barous Africans.

They cohabit generally with their Relations together in one House, or at least as near one the other as it is possible.

Jews are among them of the same Antiquity as the Exportation from Jerusalem to Babylon,* 1.2 who live in the same Cities, though in distinct Streets, and with less Mark of Reproach here than elsewhere: But how far their Liberties extend, I pretend not to tell; only they congregate their Sabbaths, New Moons, and Feast days, in full Synagogues, without any Disturbance.

Here are store of Banyans, dwelling in their great Inns, but de∣generate from the strict Indian Banyans, indulging themselves in most sorts of Flesh, and all kind of Wines.

In this City of Spahaun, besides the Romish Monks, Us, the Bel∣gian Representative, and the Polish Ambassador, are no Christians suffered to live; the rest repair to Jelfa among the Armenians, unless accidentally some Strangers tarry a Night or two in a Caravan Ser Raw, which are the Receptacles of all Foreigners.

These being of a lower Orb,* 1.3 creep safely on the Ground, while those exalted to an higher Sphere, like Fortune its self, are set on slip∣pery Places, and are deprived of their Eye-sight. Long since that Barbarity has been exploded here, which as soon as the Witnesses of Virility appeared, to testify their being Men not of an Hours Birth, or of a Minutes rather, were delivered to bloody Villains, crueller

than Beasts,* 1.4 (whose unrelenting Mercy spar'd not the Royal Infants Cries) to make away inhumanly, or at least suddenly dispatch them. Such is the fatal necessity of Tyrants, that least can credit those that are most allied to them; which addition to their Crimes they think is somewhat extenuated by exoculating them only at this Court; whereby they are render'd uncapable of the Throne, (being to be presented to the Supreme Government, like the Levites in the Old Law, without Blemish, being whole in every Member): But cer∣tainly those are bound up in hard Circumstances, who to avoid Disputes of Succession to the Crown, unmercifully butcher Tender Innocents, hurrying them to Execution as soon as they have escaped Imprisonment from their Mothers Womb: On this Basis the Old Monarchy of the Persians was founded, as if no other Cement could so firmly knit, as Blood.

And at this Instant their Jealousy is so fervent, that they keep their Sons like Captives, till the Father's Death enlarges the Eldest; when the Younger Brothers, Uncles, and Nephews on both sides, on the Appearance of the Rising Sun, see their last: As if the Blood-Royal were prophan'd, unless they fled to the Hot Iron, as the only means to expiate for its Affinity; which being drawn over the most sensible Parts (their Eyes), strikes from the Rays of their Kinsman's Diadem such a Sparkling Lustre, as for ever after makes them irre∣coverably blind; to seek Recovery whereof, or any for them, is a Treason unpardonable. So abhorrent are they of a Partner or a Ri∣val in Empire, that they endure not any to emulate or outdo them by an overforward Strain of Loyalty, whereby they might seem obliged to their Subjects, or that they should outshine them by a Popular Af∣fection, however meritorious their Deeds have been; whereby they teach their Children perfect Obedience, before they permit them to think of Command.

But whether by this way it is best; to be conversant with Toothless Old Women, Ignorant and Effeminate Eunuchs, a Tutor more ver∣sed in Books than the Affairs of the World, and all these bound in the highest Allegiance to their Liege, is a fitter Topick for the Machiavilians of our Age, than for me to handle. Although Plu∣tarch has delivered this as a Maxim to Posterity, Th••e who are ge∣nerously and Princely instructed, let them be compared with these, and the difference will presently discover its self which is the more eligible Education: But for the Good of the Chief Ministers of State, it is more profitable, I confess, to keep their Princes Judgments al∣ways in Minority, provided they can thereby make them more plia∣ble to their Ends and Designs.

Contrary to the Principles of the rest of the East,* 1.5 Nobility is re∣garded and maintained among the Persians, confiding rather in their Homebred Honesty; than entertaining Mercenary Foreigners in their Armies, to whose Fidelity and Conduct most other Countries commit their greatest Strength, while these rely on their own Sub∣jects: For though they claim Nobility of Race, yet they are not of the same Stock with the Royal Line, and therefore (content to move beneath) aspire not to the Top of Empire; nor can they stretch out their Hands to the Diadem, without apparent Usurpa∣tion,

which those of an Equal Order would oppose, as having as good a Title thereto as the bold Violator himself; which they who are of a more sublime Spirit would never brook, much less bear such an Indignity, or pay Homage and Respect to One they must have in Scorn and Contempt. On this Account it is they have ample Lord∣ships assigned them, which they possess by Inheritance and Lawful Right, with the same Tenor as our Barons, who are before others in Wealth and Honour, but are something restrained in their Power, lest they should take up Arms against their King.

The Emperor often rewards these with great Offices and high Employments, where he finds Desert meet with the Grandeur of their Birth; gracing them with his Commands the rather, because (to their Eternal Renown be it spoken) they seldom desert their Sovereign, or prove unfaithful to the Throne: So innate a Sted∣diness being ingrafted in their Souls, to conform themselves to their Master's Wills, that they are always found obsequious; which if it be not altogether to be attributed to their Virtue, must admit of the Dread the Anger of their Emperor impresses (being like the Roaring of a Lion), which frights the trembling Herds among the Woods; for their Lives are immediately at his Dispose, which keeps them in Awe.

They esteem their Emperors not only as Lords Paramount,* 1.6 but reverence them as Sons of the Prophets, whose Dominion therefore is grounded more on Hierarchy than bare Monarchy. For as of old the Persians adored the Sun as a Deity, and celebrated his rising with Morning Hymns, and were daily employed in Sacred An∣thems to its Praise; so now from Idolaters becoming Infidels, they still espouse the Divine Right as well as Lineage of their Sovereigns: From which fond Belief, the Potentest General at the Head of a Puissant Army, or the Provincial Cauns, though surrounded with Legions of Soldiers, upon the Arrival of a single Chuper (that is, a Post with Royal Order), attended with no other Warrant than being one of the King's Creatures, and he pronouncing Death from the Emperor, they lay down their Heads without any Tumult, with an entire Resignation to their Master's Pleasure.

And what is yet more ungrateful to men of their Jealousy,* 1.7 (it being so base and dishonest, that no Reparation can be made among the Moors for an Indignity of that kind) if he commands them on the great Festival (begun by Ahasuerus, and continued to this Day by the Persian Monarchs, an Hundred and Fourscore Days every Year) to bring their own proper Wives to Court, to remain there all that time prostitute to his Lust; this so hated a thing they are so far from refusing, that they obey him in every thing, no less than an Immortal God.

From which piece of Service, no Man that is known to have an Handsome Woman to his Wife, is exempted; for after his Pimps and Panders have had the Scent, he is not long from the Hunt with a full Cry: To that end, in whatsoever Quarter of the City the Puss squats, he sets up his Crook, or Interdict, that no Man pre∣sume to stay within doors, till he be passed whither he intends; but in the mean while, the Females are permitted, nay, commanded to

stay at home, and so he comes and finds the Form, and then is sure not to miss of his Game. But to close up this; so devoted are they to him, that as the Ancient Hebrews swore by their King's Health; the Egyptians, by the Life of Pharaoh; the Romans, by Caesar's Honour; they have no more obliging Test, than Seir Pedeshaw, By the Em∣peror's Head.

On these Terms it is,* 1.8 that the Affairs at home, and of the Mi∣litia abroad, are so negligently treated, by the Emperor's being tho∣roughly assured of his Peoples Integrity and Allegiance; all the strong Castles and Places through the whole Realm hereupon being demo∣lished, or lying in Ruins; unless some few near the Confines of Turky, and Candahar, taken from the Indians; slighting them only as Nests for Thieves and Robbers, well knowing when it comes to the Push, the Mountains will prove the better Security: Nor is the Army at present in a much forwarder Posture for Fight, it being vilely defective in its Musters; but the worst provided of all are the Fleets in either Seas.

When at the same time the Treasury never more abounded in Cash,* 1.9 holding thereby the Sinews of War in his own hands; for which reason he sleeps, while the Burthen of the Kingdom is re∣jected, and the Weight thereof lies on the Chancellor's Shoulders. He has not for these Eleven Months past stirred out of his Pa∣lace, nor on any occasion shewed himself in publick; which hath created matter of doubt to the Populacy, whether he be well, or seized with any Distemper: But those that are better informed (for even the Actions of Princes cannot escape being canvass'd, however absolute they are) suspect him to be wallowing in his Libidinous Course of Life.

He lives like a Tyrant in his Den;* 1.10 for his Domesticks and his Whores, with whom he commits Bestialities (which are innume∣rable) often feel his Cruelty by unheard of Tortures; as witness the dilacerated Bodies found after the Removal of his Tents on any Pro∣gress; in confirmation whereof are many living Examples about this City, of those that have been his Menial Servants, conversant about his necessary Affairs, who slipping in any one Point, are daily to be seen escaping with their Lives, but not without the loss of some Member, sacrific'd to the Rage of an unreasonable Master. He is a Winebibber and a Drunkard; they reporting, That he is able, after his full Dose has already made him reel, to drink a large Flask, more than a Gallon, of Siras Wine, before he can be said to finish this Ex∣ploit by a silent consenting to have had enough: Nor can Sleep heal him, for as soon as he hath outworn his Dose, he with most greedy haste returns to his Vomit before he comes to himself; or if by chance he happen to be sober, the Brute gets up, and he is lost among the Women: To crown all, he is cursedly Covetous, beneath the Majesty of so great a Monarch, repining even at ordinary Ex∣pences: Whose Name, for fear it should perish, we come next to mention.

The Emperor's Name is Shaw Schelymon,* 1.11 or King Solomon, the Son of Shaw Abas; not of him that was truly stiled the Great; but however, he may be called, The Good, being a Lover of Christians;

by the Father's side, of the Sophian Extract; by the Mother's, of the House of Georgia, which Illustrious Dame still lives the Relict of her Worthy Husband; so that he is sprung from Kings of long Con∣tinuance: Which to understand the more clearly, we are to unfold the Succession from Sardanapalus his Reign, the last from Nimrod: After his killing himself, the Empire was divided into the Monarchy of the Assyrians, Chaldeans, and Medes.

Begun by Arbaces in the Year of the World, 3146. and ended by Cyrus, who restored the Ancient Honour to the Persian Sway; to whom succeeded Cambyses. After him, the Impostor Smerdis ob∣tained the Kingdom by the Craft of the Magi, until the Noble Otanes discovered him not to be the true and lawful Brother of Cam∣byses. When by the general Suffrage it was agreed, That he of Seven Competitors should be Emperor, whose Horse should Neigh first after they came to the Place appointed for the Choice; which Lot fell upon Darius Hydaspes, through the Cunning of his Groom, who caused his Masters Horse to Leap a Mare the Day before in the same Place. From him Xerxes and Artaxerxes Longimanus were elevated to the Supreme Dignity; from whom Darius the Mede, van∣quished by Alexander, was the Fifth in order; at whose Decease the Power was distracted among the Captains of the Conqueror; till Artabaces reunited it to Parthia first of all; then Artaxerxes, by Caracalla and Macrinus their Treacheries, cutting off Artabanus the last Parthian King, again Enthroned the Persians; who alternately reigned the space of Eight and twenty Kings, and then obscured by the Confluence of the Saracens; who continued till the Year of our Redemption, 1030; in which they implored Tangrolope and the Turk to accept the Royal Seat; from whose Promotion Cussanus was the Third, who was expelled in the Year 1202 by the Great Cham. Haalam was the first constituted King of the Tartarian Race: From him Abuzaid was the Ninth, who dying, they strove among them∣selves for the Kingdom; when Gemsus delivered himself and his Countrey from the Slavery it groaned under; whose Progeny at last Tamberlane,* 1.12 or Timurlan, extirpated. Timurlan's Dynasty being soon spent, Cussanes the Armenian presently put an end to that Stock, in the Year 1471; who gave his Daughter in Marriage to Adir Sophi, or rather Suffee, which signifies White; in Arabic, Suffet; wherefore Spahaun is corruptly so called, it being in the Persian Language Suf∣fahaun, or the City of the Whites; which since the Irruption of Tamerlane, the Scythians affect as well here as in India, (Mogul, as we have said, signifying no more in Indostan); which I purposely insert, having promised before to give the reason why this City should be called Suffahaun, as the Persians now do call it, and not Spahaun, or Ispahaun, as Strangers pronounce it.

Craving leave for this Digression;* 1.13 Adir Suffee, the Son of Guin Suffee, receiving Cussane's Daughter as his Wife, was enabled to re∣vive the lost Caliphship, a long while continued in his Family (tho obscurely), deriving it from Musa Cerasa, one of Hali's Twelve Successors; from which time till then it lay buried, as well by their own Divisions, as the Malice of the Turks, who disown that Extract of the Caliphship with the same Inveteracy to each others Claims,

as among us Papists and Protestants we dispute about the Lawful Suc∣cessor of our Saviour; for Haly took the Daughter of the false Prophet Mahomet to Wife, and thence took upon him and bore away the Suc∣cession of the Caliphs amongst the Persians; Repudiating Abubequer, or Abubezar, Omor and Osman, in right of Mahomet's Brother, with all the Turkish Followers; and thus the Suffean proclaim Mortis Haly the next of Kin, being Son-in-law to Mahomet, and in that Right Lawfully inducted into the Caliphship; and though hereby in pro∣cess of time the Caliphship and Empire were united, Adir Suffee maintaining his Claim and his Sons, at last got honourably enough into the Throne; yet here arose matter of perpetual Animosity, ne∣ver to be extinguished, while the Omerans, whence spring the Otto∣man Family and Sect, still Oppose, Contradict, and Persecute the Suffean Sect.

Insomuch that the last Imaum, or the last of the Twelve false Apostles, from Haly, by Name Mahomet Mehdi Saheb Elzamon, i. e. The Lord of Times, being taken by the Snares of the Omerans they would have slain him; when (say the Persians) God rendred him Invisible, and retains him out of harms way, and Alive, till Beggage come; which with us is rendred Antichrist; then the Lord of Times shall appear and shall reduce all those that are led away by Magical Inchantments, into the right way; declaring moreover, Christ Hazare Taissa at that time shall be restored to the Living, and be received by Mahomet Mehdi into his Service; that by his Prayers and Meritorious Intercession, he, with all the Faithful Mahometans, may be partakers of eternal Glory at the Day of Judgment. Not under∣standing in the mean time, that at the name of Jesus every knee shall bow, both of things above and things below; and that there is no other name given in earth or heaven whereby we can be saved.

And while the Turks and Persians contend at this rate, it is alone the pretence of an everlasting War, while the Persians Espouse the Suffee, being uncertain where to place the Caliphship after the As∣sassination of Mahomet Mehdi, and the Inter-regnum thence ensuing, better than on this Adir Suffee, who though he was slain by Cussanes his Successors, was afterwards revenged by Ismael his Son, who was first saluted King of Persia, as well as acknowledged Caliph by right of Consanguinity; obtaining the first by right of Conquest Two hundred Years and more, after the Caliphship was covered in the Embers of Oblivion raked up, and in the Persian Annals is set down;

Shaw Ismael Mossy; whom follows Shaw Tomage; after him Shaw Mahmud Condubad; then Shaw Abas the Great:

Who when he had enlarged his Dominions from the Persian Gulf to the Caspian Sea;* 1.14 and lastly, when he was about to wage War with the Sea it self, in the Year 1610, or thereabouts, having not one Port in the Bay of Persia before the Arrival of an English Ship, sent out by the Company of Merchants Trading then to this Place,

Commanded by Captain Joseph Wedal, when England was at Wars with Portugal, and Imaum Cooly Caun, the famous Warrier-General of the Emperor of Persia's Forces, was then set down against Ormus, and all the Harbours the Portugals had in Possession on this side the Gulf; which Ship of our Nation coming in, the Captain was im∣plored to Assist the Persians against his and the Emperor's Enemies, which the General asking, the Sea Captain consented to.

First Stipulating,* 1.15 That the Persian Soldiers should not meddle with the Spoils before the English Mariners were satisfied; (which were such of all sorts of Jewels, Gold and Silver, that they refused to carry off any more).

Secondly, That Bunder Abassee, now Gombroon, should Yearly divide Half the Customs between the English and Persians, and that whatever English Ship should enter the Port should be free from any manner of Tribute.

Thirdly, That it should be Lawful for them to Transport Twenty Horses, of which Number Two might be Mares, Yearly.

Provided First, That the English should keep Two Men of War constantly to defend the Gulf. And,

Secondly, That they should deliver the Portugals Forts into the Persians hands; in doing which the English should always be esteem∣ed the Emperor's Friends. And,

Lastly, Should have the First Seat in the Council, and their Agents be looked on with equal Grace to their Prime Nobility.

The Articles being Ratified on either side, the Enterprise is under∣taken; though of it self it was too great an Action for one Ship to perform, or even a well-appointed Navy, had they been upon their Guard (or any Commander to Promise without the Consent of the King his Master) wherefore the English betake themselves to Stra∣tagem, and gaining leave to Careen their Ship under their Guns, whilst the Portugals dreamt nothing less, they poured in Men (the Persians being hid under Deck) at unawares, that they were put into a Consternation before they could think of their Defence; whereby they became Masters presently of the Castle, strengthned both by Sea and Land, by this unexpected Attempt Vanquished, which otherwise was Invincible; being possessed whereof by this Rape, the rest of the Island soon fell prostrate to the Lust of the Sur∣prisers; and the English having got their Booty, left the Christians (Oh Impiety)! to be spoiled by the Infidels.

Which thing,* 1.16 as it gained us Esteem among the Persians, was the utter Ruin of the Lusitanian Greatness, it ever since declining, and is almost at its fatal Catastrophe; for immediately upon this, their Fleet before Muschat is Defeated, and they were driven out of all their strong Places in the Gulf, so that the Loss was greater than if they had lost Mosambique, from whence they have their Gold; because all the Trade of the World centred here, all Merchandize both going and coming paid them Tribute; that the Wealth of this place thus entred was incredible; yet to see the just Vengeance

(where private Avarice and Pelf is preferred before Virtue and Ho∣nesty, and a due Respect to the only Supreme Deity) overtakes those Wretches who were the cause of their Overthrow. How it fell out with the Persians, who seemed to have the juster Cause, I cannot tell; but some of Those People now alive, who were the Un∣doers of These, are as Miserable, and it may be more, than those they made so; the Captain's Children having been known to go anights to the Brew-house for Grains for their Subsistence, and the rest of them who are still surviving are the unhappy scorn of all that know them; whereas they thought by this deed to have purchased a lasting Fame, and lived to have enjoyed their Ill-got Goods; which how it did thrive at home, those from whose Information I take this, have been, in part, Eye-witnesses; but here I am sure, at this time both Persians, Arabs, and Turks, fare the better for it, while they have divided among themselves what was entirely the Portugals; the Persians in the mean while doing what they please with us, so that at this present, all things considered, they allow us little more than a Name; but even here the truth must be confessed, it is be∣cause we have no Ships to guard the Gulf; which if done, and the Persians could be made to stand to their first Terms, in my Opinion must turn to a good account, and be a thing of greater concern than can be well managed by less than a Royal Company; though as things now stand they have free recourse to Tigris and Euphrates, this Sea being open, which was always kept shut by the Portugals, to their no small profit.

This Emperor,* 1.17 Shaw Abas, in whose time this was Atchiev'd, was Cotemporary with our King James I. who had been happy in a Son, if the Fates had not envied so great a Man his Father's Favour; but for his Virtue he reaped Hatred; for there were not wanting fawning Parasytes, who abused the Emperor's Ears by spreading abroad, and casting out words, as if his Son Mirza Suffee courted the Popular Air; whereupon he withdrew his Countenance, and deprived him of the common Light, by that barbarous Custom of the hot Iron drawn over his Eye-balls; but seeing that could not sufficiently break his Spirit, he having gone thus far, could not rest till he had per∣fected his Mortality by Poyson: Thus what Virtue had raised to full growth, Jealousy soon cut off, although he could leave no bet∣ter Effigies of his Manners, Virtue, Constancy, Piety, and towardly Disposition, than his Son Suffee; to whom our Countryman Dreyden has ventured to give Immortality in his Tragedy called, The Sophy; which

Suffee after his Grandfather's death enjoyed the Throne; who when he gave place to Death; permitted

Shaw Abas the Good, who was the Father of

Shaw Scholymon, the present Emperor:

Who is a Man of a good Presence,* 1.18 and of no mean Capacity, unless by indulging his Body he thickens his Understanding, as well as he has made his Body Gross; he is Tall and very Fleshy, so that when he stirs or laughs, all the Muscles of the Scapula, as well as Ribs,

move together. In the beginning of his Reign, like another Nero, he gave good Specimens of his Inclinations, not unworthy the He∣roes that were his Ancestors; but when he began to hearken to Flat∣terers, and give himself over to Idleness, he left off to Govern, and listed himself in the service of Cruelty, Drunkenness, Gluttony, Lasciviousness, and abominable Extortion, where he perpetrated things not only uncomely to be seen, but even offensive to the Ears; wherefore at his libidinous Feasts, to enquire what he transacts, or how he behaves himself, is fitter for an Aretin than a modest Author.

But when he is enthroned and encompassed with the flower of his Courtiers,* 1.19 and gives Audience to Foreign Ministers; the manner is thus:

An Ambassador is Introduced his Presence by the Master of the Ceremonies, who instructs him and tells him his Duty; the Emperor is Seated on a Throne alone, boulstred up by Embroidered Cushions; his Counsellors are placed behind him, with Caps on, proper to the Kings and Magi of Persia, the Emperor being distinguished only by one White Plume of Feathers from theirs; when the Ambassa∣dor enters his Presence, he makes three profound Obeysances, after which he is permitted to deliver his Message, and then produces his Presents to the Emperor, having gratified the Chief Officers before his Admission.

Those Men of Note that are Governors, or Cauns, stand now at∣tending with Guns hung over their Shoulders, performing the Ser∣vice of our Gentlemen Pensioners: If the Emperor is pleased to Honour the Person entring, or is pleased with the Message, he or∣ders him to sit at his Feet, and a Table to be richly spread: About the King stand Vessels of Gold beset with Gems, and the Carpets, are of high Value, one of which, not a Yard Square, I saw worth Fourscore Thomands; and all his Plates he Eats out of, are Gold inlaid, or beset with Jewels, as well as the Cups he Drinks out of; as Lipsius Notes the Custom of Old; Capacibus gemmis inter se propinarent: So Lucan, Gemmaeque capaces excipere Merum; and Cicero confirms it in ver. 4. Non pauca pocula ex auro, quoe ut mos est, Regibus & maxime in Syria gemmis erant distincta clarissimis.

Whatever Cup the Ambassador is drunk to out of by the Empe∣ror, whether of Gold Enammelled, or beset with Jewels, it is fil∣led with the same Liquor, and the Cup is his Fee of Right, which, first Pledging the Emperor, he receives and carries away with him: The Civility of the Court being passed, he is Clothed with his Reti∣nue in an honourable Habit; and if the Petition be granted, he wears the Pharmond open in his Turbat, to be seen by all as he is re∣conducted from the Palace to his Lodging.

When the King pleases to Mount on Horseback, he is guarded by a mighty Band of Horsemen that follow him; before him pass a Legion of Footmen, all with Guns, and Shotters, or Pages, about his Horse in great Crouds; these all wear Feathers; the first in a kind of Hat or Steeple-Crowned Cap, the other in their Turbats, which are covered with them, but the Gunmen have only one Plume

bolt upright; the others are of any Colour, and sometimes many Colours.

When the Emperor marches out with his Women,* 1.20 and all the Se∣raglio, it is forbidden the Day before by a Publick Cryer, for any Man on pain of Death to invade his Walks; nor is it lawful for any one to stay within doors, though sick or decrepit with Age, till the Female Procession is passed by; which observes this Order; The King, like a Dunghil Cock, struts at the Head of the Amazonian Army; him, his Mother follows, and the Royal Consorts, which are reckoned as Wives; all the rest, Concubines or Slaves, accord∣ing to the Grace they have merited; carrying Hawks on their Fists, get a straddle on Horseback, bearing Consort to the Musick Gereed, i. e. Tilt and Turnament, play with the Ball as Men do. For this Effeminate Shew, Virgil's Description for Dido may serve:

Oceanum interea surgens Aurora reliquit, It portis jubare exorto castrata juventus, Retia rura plagae, lato venabula ferro Regem quem Thalamis cunctantem ad limina prima Charbaug Astroque insignis & auro, Stat sonipes ac fraena ferox spumantia mandit. Tandem progreditur magna stipante Caterva; Illi Londina estque chlamys circumdata limbo His pharetra ex humeris crines noduntur in unum.

The early Morn had left the Sea, And flaming Day bore Company; When the Gelt Youth afore the doors, Stood pimping to the King and 's Whores; With Nets and Toils for Countrey Sport, At the Charbaug expect the Court; Where in as ample manner wait The fiery Courser, full of State; Bedeck'd with Gold he chews the Bit, And paws and foams as he were hit. At length comes forth with a great Train, The mighty Monarch through a Lane: A Scarlet Cloak, edg'd with a Welt, Was thrown him o're, and hid his Belt. But the Women that went with him, Were clad with Silk, and may be Linen. Yet all their Hair was ti'd in Braids, And Bow and Arrow by their sides.

If he chuse a Nocturnal Perambulation, he makes them put on the Dress of the several Nations they belong to; Europeans in Hat and Feather; Turks, Indians, and Arabians, in their own Habit; and having Tapers in their hands they go two and two abreast; and be∣tween every third File an Eunuch with a large Flambeaux marches, bot•••• 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Spy and Guard.

The Soldiers that are to guard the Outskirts, are relieved by a Band of Eunuchs, who line the Way for their Passage, and spare none that are led out of Curiosity to behold this Sight; but upon disco∣very, never examining who they are, discharge their Pieces, as if they had found a Wild Beast; for which they receive great Com∣mendation from the King, and are rewarded with great Gifts, get∣ting thereby into the Chief Places of Trust in the Family.

The most ready for this Mischief are the Black Eunuchs,* 1.21 the White being generally more sparing of Life, and less inclined to such unnatural Barbarities; wherefore he has Regiments of both, the one to serve his Pleasure, the other his Black Purpose.

Thus is the Life of this Prince taken up, rarely permitting him∣self to be seen either by Strangers or his own Subjects; according to that Ancient Axiom of the Empire, Majestati major è longinquo re∣verentia; as if they feared that of Livy, Continuus aspectus minus verendos magnos homines facit; Lest an often appearing to the Vulgar should make them contemptible and common.

But that which he least cares for,* 1.22 is to go forth armed at the Head of his Army, against his Enemies, chusing rather to be Terrible at Home under the Persian Banner, (which when displayed, is, A Bloody Sword with a double Point, in a White Field, and is always carried next the Emperor's Person) than become Formidable abroad to his Foes: Let others reap those hazardous Praises of Grinning Honour, he has no Stomach nor no Mind to Feats of Arms, whilst

Colorogosse, the Generalissimo, leads the Host. Corgee Bashee, Adjutant-General, is next him, Commander of Twelve thousand Horse. Min Bashee is a Colonel of a Thousand Horse. Eus Bashee, Captain of an Hundred Horse.

Below this Office none of Noble Extract will accept, chusing ra∣ther to ride Volunteers till they gain Preferment, being listed Goloomy Shaws, the King's Slaves, which is a Title they of the highest Dignity pride themselves in.

Under these, those who compose the Main Body of the Cavalry, are the Cusle Bashees, or with us, the Chevaliers; who are not left quite without hopes of rising by a just Desert, for the Prize lies open to them as well as others; and they are often advanced on that score to great Authority, both to animate them to atchieve, and their Superiors to prevent their being put over their heads; for, Ʋbi ho∣nos non est, ibi cupiditas gloria•• esse non potest: Where Honour is not the Recompence, there can hardly be a desire of Glory. Where∣fore of these are made Sub-centurions, Commanders of Fifty, and so downwards to Ten Horses.

These,* 1.23 agreeable to the Old Scythian Custom, smite their Enemies with Arrows at a distance, and Hand to Fist fight with Sword and Spear, (though they are long since skill'd in Weapons of another nature, as Guns and Pistols.) Their Bows are shorter than ours, not made of Wood, but glutinated Horn; which being not so long, makes them more serviceable on Horseback; but being made of Horn, they

are less fit for Rainy Weather: They draw their Bows with the Thumb armed with an Horn Ring, not after the same manner as our Archers do. The full number of their Cavalry may be Sixty thousand Horsemen compleat, many whereof are double-hors'd; out of so great a Strength, Six thousand Horsemen are upon constant Duty every day.

More than these,* 1.24 as a Guard du Corps to the King's Majesty, when he is to take the Air abroad (within doors they are Footmen, abroad Horsemen) a select Band wait on his Person, of the same Race with the King, challenging Kindred with Adir Suffee, but of a lower Stock than to conspire against the Empire, and are therefore bound in a common Tye of Consanguinity to preserve a firm Faith for the Head of their Tribe, as well as the Common Father of the Coun∣trey: And since their Pretence reaches no higher than a Superstitious Affinity, or Adoption rather, the Throne is so far out of danger by them, that they are the Chief Pillars that support it; they being allowed to brag both of their being of the Blood of their Emperor and their Prophet, which obliges them to a double Obedience both of Children and Subjects.

The countenancing of this Sect,* 1.25 is not to be ascribed to this plau∣sible Argument, more than to put a Check to the growing Perverse∣ness of the Siads, boasting their Original from Mahomet himself, and to be more immediately sprung from his House and Lineage: These are so bold as to infringe the Royal Prerogatives, and to let the Em∣peror know, That whenever he girts his Sword about him, he ought to draw it only in their Defence, and at their Commands; not de∣spotically to rule according to his own Dictates, but patiently sub∣mit to their Instructions: This Order is uneasy under Monarchy, nor are they for any Government where they are not uppermost. A Doctrine unpleasant to the Absoluteness of the Persian Emperors; and had not the Sword of the one the prevalency of the others Preach∣ing, it were no ways to be redressed; for as the one keeps them in Awe, so the Reverence paid the other on account of their Religion, makes them presume to inveigh, and often raise Factions against their Princes.

Wherefore the Foresight of their August Ancestry is commenda∣ble, in providing another Church-Militant Tribe to suppress and re∣claim the Insolencies of the Siads; for out of respect to their own Laws, which are still unalterable, as well as to withhold their Hands from violating what the People repute as Sacred, they rather sought by one Nail to drive out another, than openly to denounce War against them: Wherefore when they find themselves perplexed with the same Dilemma, they seek not to abrogate any former Decree of their Emperors by a direct Contradiction, but study to impugn it some other ways: As for Example; In Shaw Abas the Great's time, on the days of their Feasts and Jubilees, Gladiators were approved and licensed; but feeling afterwards the Evils that attended that Liberty, which was chiefly used in their Hossy Gossy, any private Grudge being then openly revenged; it never was forbid, but it passed into an Edict by the following King, That it should be lawful to kill any found with Naked Swords in that Solemnity. And on these substan∣tial

grounds this new Order enjoys not only the Name of Suffees, but the Emperor himself will be their Captain, and suffers none else to head them, and thence takes on him the specious Name and Title of Grand Suffee; and to perpetuate their Memory, has given it in∣delibly to Spahaun, for this reason joined with the former, to be cal∣led Suffahaun.

To distinguish these from the others,* 1.26 who cloathe themselves in Green Attire, and forbid it to any else, they wear an high Red Vel∣vet Cap, plaited at top like a Cap of Maintenance; whence on a Wooden Crest they fix a little Brass Ball, tied on with three wreathen Chains, which they bring down strait to the fore-part of the Bonnet, whose lower Brim is bound about with a White Sash, and some∣times a Plume of one Feather is set up with the Crest, much after the same Fashion the Noble Senators wear in the King's Presence: Besides which they have a Surcoat of Scarlet Cloth, as it were in defiance to the Grass green of the Siads; so much monopolized by them, that in Turky, if any other wear it, he pays dearly for his Folly: The Grand Signior's Standard is also of that Colour, being called Mahomet's Banner: In opposition to whom, the Grand Suffee erects a double-pointed Bloody Sword in a White Field, and brings it out in honour of Mortis Ally.

To his adopted Kindred (now Regulars under him,* 1.27 their Chief) are many Privileges granted, and by them to be held inviolable.

They are allowed a peculiar Missa, or Service, in a Chappel apart in the Alacoppe, or place where the Grand Council sit, where they attend the King, or one in his stead, every Friday Night, at the Sa∣crament of Holway, (or Wafer made up in Sweetmeats,) in Imita∣tion of the Shew-bread.

When any one has run into Debt, or committed any Capital Crime, as Murther, Adultery, Theft, or the like; if the one to defraud his C••editor, and the other to avoid the hands of Justice, make their Escape to the Alacoppe, the first Gate of the Palace-Royal, or to the King's Stables, and implore their Protection, and they engage for their Refuge, it is a Piacular Offence to force them thence; nor will they resign them to the Emperor, though he command them to be taken from their Sanctuary.

Nor are they so wholly devoted to compassionate others Afflicti∣ons, as to defend their own Rights; for whosoever's Face the Em∣peror commands them to cover, they are dead in Law; nor will they scruple being Executioners, no more than the Roman Lictors, who bore the Rods and Axes; the latter of which are their proper Weapons of War, as well as a fit Badge of their Office.

Their prescribed Number cannot enlarge its self to all of their Sect; wherefore they are interspersed among the common People, some following Trades and Husbandry, and others other Employ∣ments; retaining always their Habit, which none of the Vulgar dare affront or strike, however provoked; but taking off their Suf∣fean Cap first, and kissing it, laying it down reverently, they will not then be afraid to cuff them, or drub them to purpose; being careful in the mean while to offer no Indignity to the Order, while they revenge themselves on the Persons.

Besides these, there is another Mark of Honour wholly in the King's Power,* 1.28 and never bestowed but on those of the Prime No∣bility, and those who have endeared him by some famous Perfor∣mance, for which they are signalized by wearing a small Kettle∣drum at the Bow of their Saddles in their Cities; which at first was invented for the training of Hawks, and to call them to the Lure, and is worn in the Fields by all Sportsmen for that end; but he who is rewarded with it from the King, is a Man of Supreme Dignity; and therefore,

—Titulo dignatus equestri Virtutem titulis titulos virtutibus ornans.

—A Knight of high Degree Adorns his Title by his Chivalry.

And thus having muster'd the Horse,* 1.29 let us dismount and take an Account of the Foot, who are not so formidable for Multitudes as Valour; the Infantry are all Gun-men, and are better in Garison, and under Covert, than in open Field, fighting Hand to Fist; chiefly because having been brought up under that Discipline, they are un∣acquainted with any other way of Engagement. But the Georgian Veterans (who are in the same nature among the Persians, as the Janizaries among the Turks) will stand it out either for Victory or Death; both Persians and Georgians, are thus disposed of in their Ranks:

• The First Order is Cool, Their Sa∣lary 9 Thomands per An. At the King's Charge for Cloaths and Diet.
• The Second Order is Corge, Their Sa∣lary 6, without Charges.
• The Third, Jeserve, Their Sa∣lary 5, all Charges defray'd.

Which are the King's own Regiments, walking with Feathers in their high Hats, armed with Muskets and Axes.

• The Fourth, Topangee, Their Sa∣lary 5 Thomands, without Charges defray'd.
• The Fifth, Taterdars, Their Sa∣lary 4 Thomands, without Charges defray'd.

Armed only with Poleaxes and Muskets.

Of whose certain Number, Rumour and common Fame must be be∣lieved, where no other Notice can be had.

There are in readiness 40000 Georgians: Besides 80000 Statio∣naries to and again in Garisons.

All these receive their Pay out of the King's Treasury, or from Set Rents.

To these may be added the Provincial Cohorts, as Subsidiary Forces, which are reserved for the last Push, to succour the declining

Army in great Necessity: These differ both in the manner of their Function and Pay: Otherwise, whatever the other foregoing Orders perform to the Emperor, these are bound to pay to their respective Cauns, receiving their Pensions from the alotted Lands of several Colonies, not from the common Bank.

The lowest Degree of all these are the Watchmen on the Roads,* 1.30 maintained at the Charge of the Shawbunder, to clear the Ways of Robbers, and to demand Custom; for which, if any are set upon, in the King's Highway, whatever Loss is sustained, the Countrey is at no Charge, neither does the Merchant or Traveller suffer the Da∣mage; but whatever is entred at the Custom-house, the Shawbunder becomes obliged to see safe through the Kingdom, and makes full Sa∣tisfaction for any Miscarriage of this nature. The Men that serve under this Warfare are armed with Halberts, Bills, and Falchions, and are hired by the Day as need requires.

Now follow the Sons of Nereus,* 1.31 or the Seamen; these in the Persian Gulph are either Fishermen, or such as brush the Ocean to get a Penny by Freight: What are in the Caspian Sea, I cannot be positive in my Relation, but I never heard them boast of more hardy ones: In the Persian Bay, they have at Ormus, Bunder-Abassee, La∣rack, and Kismash, some few Gallies laid up, but unprovided either of Men or Tackle; and if at any time they are launched, they fill them out of the Provincial Auxiliaries under the Caun of Bunder. Thus have we run through this kind of Warlike Men from Top to Bottom.

Notes

• * 1.1

  The present Persians Scy∣thians.
• * 1.2

  Jews here ever since the Cap∣tivity.
• * 1.3

  On the Death of their Em∣peror, the new one causes his Brothers and near Relations Eyes to be put out.
• * 1.4

  Chap. XII.
• * 1.5

  Nobles by Birth among the Persians.
• * 1.6

  The Govern∣ment Hierar∣chical.
• * 1.7

  They refuse the Emperor nothing he commands.
• * 1.8

  Whereon is grounded the Emperor's Se∣curity.
• * 1.9

  His Wealth.
• * 1.10

  His Course of Life.
• * 1.11

  His Name and Genealo∣gy.
• * 1.12

  The Suffees in∣troduc'd, from whom Spa∣haun is called Suffahaun.
• * 1.13

  Oppositions made by the Turkish Sect.
• * 1.14

  The English Sack Ormu•• by surprise.
• * 1.15

  Articles of Agreement between the English and Persians.
• * 1.16

  Vengeance persues the Enterprisers.
• * 1.17

  Shaw Abass Kills his Son Mirza.
• * 1.18

  The present Emperor given up to Debauchery.
• * 1.19

  The way of receiving Ambassadors.
• * 1.20

  The Processi∣on of the Se∣raglio, or H••∣ram.
• * 1.21

  The Cruelty of the Black Eunuchs.
• * 1.22

  The Cavalry.
• * 1.23

  Their Arms, and manner of fighting.
• * 1.24

  The Suffees, a War like Or∣der of Church Militants.
• * 1.25

  Erected to check the Siads.
• * 1.26

  Their Habit, and the Persi∣an Standard Red and White.
• * 1.27

  Their Privi∣leges.
• * 1.28

  Other Knights.
• * 1.29

  The Infantry.
• * 1.30

  The Watch∣men.
• * 1.31

  The Navy.