The world surveyed, or The famous voyages & travailes of Vincent le Blanc, or White, of Marseilles ... containing a more exact description of several parts of the world, then hath hitherto been done by any other authour : the whole work enriched with many authentick histories / originally written in French ; and faithfully rendred into English by F.B., Gent.

CHAP. XI. Of Persia, her confines, and provinces: Of Babylon, and the Lake of Pitch.

LEaving Ormus we resolved to travel through all Persia,* 1.1 before we begun our East-Indian voyage, as we first had designed. 'Twas occasioned by a Merchant I have already spoken of: having travelled to and fro, through very many towns and countries of Persia; I could not so exactly remark the dayes journies, nor the distances, order, or proceed of the voy∣age, by reason of my youth; I will content my self to discover a view of the country, as faithfully, and exactly as my memory will serve. And first I will affirm, that Persia, called Azemia, Azimir, and Farsi, is a vast Empire extending from the confines of Turky to∣wards Armenia betwixt the River Tigris, and the Persick or Elcatiff Sea. The Caspien, or the Bachu, the Indian,* 1.2 and the river Chesel an∣ciently Jaxartes. Westward 'tis bounded by the Turkish Empire, Eastward it lyes upon the kingdome of Samarcant, the Empire of the Grand Mogul, and Cambaye, Northward upon the Caspian Sea, Southward upon the great Indian Sea, towards the desert Carma∣nia, and Guzarate. This Empire containes many great Provinces, or rather kingdomes; and a great number of fair, and flourishing Towns and Cities, having ever continued famous since the first settlement under the Grand Cyrus two thousand two hundred years since, untill it was possessed by the Grecians and Parthians; and since she returned unto the natural Persians, about the year of Grace two hundred, they kept it many ages, untill about foure hundred years since, the Sarasins and Mahometans obtained it, and have kept it ever since, by many changes, and diverse races of Kings, and Lords, Arabians Sarasins, Parthians, Turks, and na∣tural Persians, and by the last settlement of the Sophyes not many yeares since.

The chiefest Provinces are Sequel pech, formerly Susiania,* 1.3 Chir∣mania, or Carmania, Struan, or Media, Corozan, Zagathay, or Hir∣cania,

and the Bactriane, Jex, or Parthia, Guzerat, or Gedrosia. then Arac, Podel, Iselbas, Sigestan, Sablestan, Chabul, Candahar, and others.

* 1.4The chiefest rivers are the Euphrates or Aforat, the Tigris, Araxes, or Arasse, Oxus, and others.

Euphrates hath upon her banks many fair towns, as Babylon, where inhabit a great number of Christians, as likewise at Mazestan, Ast∣mosia, Artasara, Tunisse perbent, and elsewhere, who freely ex∣ercise their religion being tributary to the Prince. North∣ward are the famous town of Giett, six days journy from Solstania, Saban, Comer, Cozan, Egex, Jelli, Sengan, Maluchia, Scio, Mesen, Ere.

* 1.5Then towards the Persick gulph stands Guerdi upon the river Bindinimar, or Bindamach, and going up the river, you discover Marous, Viegan, Maain, Sana; in Media, are Tauris, Rip, Sidan, Estrana, Barbariben; Bacchat, Madranelli, Samachi, and others; then the Royal townes of Soltania, Espahan, Casbin, Siras, with∣out reckoning many other towns upon the river Benmir,* 1.6 called by the Russes Bragadet, where they trade much in cloth of gold, sil∣ver, and silk. Thither they repair from all parts of the world for that trade, as from the Indies, Aethiopia, Arabia, Aegypt, Turkie, Tar∣tary, and other countries which yields a great profit to the Sophy of Persia.

* 1.7We ran through most of these towns, making but short stayes, but better profit of our small commodities. Babylon, or Bagdet, so famous, and formerly the eye and marvail of all the Eastern towns, scituate upon the great Euphrates, Erat, and Aforat, which was fif∣ty miles about; there is nothing remaining at this day of that anci∣ent town but the ruines, since a total destruction given her by the Sarazens about 900. years since, and instead of her, upon the other side of the Euphrates, some four leagues distant, upon the cur∣rent of the Tigris and Euphrates, is built the town of Bagded,* 1.8 or at this day the new Babylon, whither the remains of the ancient were transported into a town formerly named Seleucia by the Ca∣liff Almanzor, or Elmantzur; It lyes Northward upon Armenia, Westward upon the desert Arabia, upon the happy Southward, and Eastward upon Persia, the Tigris washes her walls; upon the other side is a pleasant village, with a bridge of boats rising and fal∣ling, with the flow, and ebbe; in this Burrough is the Fair kept, and here inhabit most of the Merchants, who trade freely; The town is large, and full of Merchants, well rounded both with walls, & gardens and Arable land. There was a strong Castle well provi∣ded with Artillery; where a Bassa then Lieutenant General for the Turk lived, but since the Persian regained it of the Turk, having ever been subject to the Persian, untill it was reduced by Soliman the magnicent, who caused himself to be crown'd King by the Califf, (living there at this present day) but without any power, retaining the name onely, and some rights to receive, and crown the Empe∣rours

of Assyria; There goes from this town monethly, Caravane••, to all parts of the world: In lieu of floats, they transport their commodities down the river upon goat skins blown, then they load the skins upon Camels, for service again at need: They say that the tower of Babel so much spoken of, stood in a plain, some two leagues off that she was three thousand paces about, and that her foundation is onely at this day seen upon a hill cove∣red with her ruines: a Merchant that had seen the place related unto me, that the Tower was built with a clay or earth, so strong∣ly cimented, that endeavouring to take up a piece, he could not; and that there was a bed or course of that earth first laid, then another of reeds platted like a matte, not at all decayed, but strong, beyond imagination. He told me he had passed over the lake of pitch, proceeding from a great precipice,* 1.9 which they trade withall into diverse places; and that the great town of Nineve, and the walls of Babylon were built with this Bitumen, they burn of it in Holland instead of Turf, for it casts a great light: this lake or river of pitch is between Babylon, and another town cal∣led Nane; whence springs this pitch distilling out of a rock in seve∣ral clefts, and so plentifully, especially at the full of the Moon, that it is both strange and terrible; from thence those springs disgorge themselves into this lake of their own composing, Marriners thereabouts make use of it to calk their ships. The inhabitants believe it to be Hels mouth. 'Tis the Bitumen, or soft sulphurous mould so much spoken of by the ancients: which they made use of, and do to this very day, instead of chalk. I remember I have seen the like in Albema, a Region in the Indies, which the Inhabitants and neighbours thereunto burn in Torches, which yields so black, thick, and ill-sented a smoak, that the very birds flying over, are giddyed therewith, and fall down dead. In Cuba, an Isle in the West-Indies, is such pitch, towards the Cape Magdalen, in the country of Aute, and Province of Apalihen, which Bituminous li∣quor flows upon the water with such a stink, that often ships lost in their road, by means of the sent, retrive their way.

Euphrates and Tigris incorporate near Babylon, and both run into the Persick sea near Balsora,* 1.10 a town of great trade, fifteen miles distant from the main sea.

The Town of Bagded or Babylon, is divided into four quarters,* 1.11 Precincts, or Wards, and in time of war or troubles the four States or Councels, withdraw themselves into their respective limits; and call their Councels, and he that hath best advised, makes it out to the Councel, that his advice is most necessary and useful, injoyes royal liberty of freedom, without paying taxe, as∣sessement, or imposition, what lands soever he be possessed of. He is much esteemed and respected by the Prince, being ever af∣ter freely admitted unto the general Councel, which is held an∣nually for the kingdomes good and welfare. This is also an obser∣vation

as in many townes in Persia, which inclines the people very much to the study of Astronomy, divination, and all sorts or kinds of Philosophy that may make them wise, and prudent, and understanding; they are much given to vertues, chastity only ex∣cepted; being a large and lascivious people, the women in these countries are the fairest, and the sweetest in the whole world, which verifies the Proverb, a Persian woman, and horse.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Persia, and her bounds.
• * 1.2

  Cymits of Persia.
• * 1.3

  The Pro∣vinces of Persia.
• * 1.4

  Rivers
• * 1.5

  Towns of Persia.
• * 1.6

  Benmir.
• * 1.7

  Babylon.
• * 1.8

  Bagded.
• * 1.9

  Pitch or Bitume.
• * 1.10

  Balsora.
• * 1.11

  Bagded.