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 Tavernier Bernier, and other great men: adorned with many copper plates. The first volume.

CHAP. V.

Of some particulars under the Reign of Sha-Abbas the second.

SHa-Abbas the second, Son of Sha-Sefi, was no less cruel then his Father; and would be no less punctually obey'd.

He had two Sisters, which he marri'd to two of the richest Lords of his King∣dom, though of a very mean extraction. Some time after, the King under∣standing that they were both with-Child, order'd Physick to be given them to de∣stroy the fruit of their Wombs. About three months after, he was told that they were big again; then he suffer'd 'em to be brought to bed; but commanded that they should not give the Children any nourishment, but let 'em starve to death.

The same Sha-Abbas caus'd the tongue of one that fill'd him Tobacco to be cut out for a word spok'n idly. For the King calling for Tobacco, one of the Pages ran hastily for it to him that had it in charge, and bid him dispatch; who answer'd him briskly, Gebennemé sabreijté, that is, to Hell, have a little pa∣tience. The King being inform'd of it, commanded his tongue to be cut out. The poor man desir'd him that was the Executioner, to cut it as deep as he could in his throat, and to leave it very short; by which means he spoke some words muffling,

The people cry'd out against the Nazar, who being a person of low ex∣traction, and advanc'd to that high dignity in a short time, grew so proud that he contemn'd all the Lords of the Court. There was no dealing with him

about any business, unless he were first presented; and he paid no body with∣out making some advantage of it. Every body had reason to complain; yet no person knew how to come at the King to make their complaints. At length they bethought themselves of making their application to two black Eunuchs, who had the Kings ear in the night. One was call'd Aga-Saron, who was the Meter or Master of the Wardrobe; and the other Aga-Kafour, or high Treasurer. These two Eunuchs seeing the King in a good humour one night, let fall certain words concerning the Nazar, and his management of affairs and thence slid into a discourse of his injustice, that caus'd the people to cry ••ut against him, and speak evil of his Government. Now it happen'd one morning that the King intending to go a hunting, the Grand Master, who had always a large train attending him, coming to the Kings Tent, the Meter deny'd him entrance. About the same time the King came forth, and seeing the Nazar, commanded his Officers to take off the Bonnet from the dead of that Dog that took Gifts from his people; and that he should sit three days bareheaded in the heat of the Sun, and as many nights in the Air. Afterwards he caus'd him to be chain'd about the neck and arms, and condemn'd him to perpetual imprisonment, with a Mamou∣dy a day for his maintenance; but he dy'd for grief within eight days after he was put in prison.

Jafer-Kan, being a generous Lord, and one that kept a magnificent train, was Governour of Asterabat. At first he was very mild, but at last he began to exact such sums from the people, that his oppressions were very heavy; nor were these violences of his conceal'd from the Kings ear, who being one day drinking with some of his Lords, and seeing the Master of his Musick in the Room, who was a merry droll, and had always some pleasant news or other to tell the King; his Majesty was pleas'd to ask him, what the people said of Jafer-Kan; adding withall, that he had made him Governour of several Pro∣vinces, and had never heard any complaint of him before, but that now he was accus'd of strangely tyrannizing over the people. The Musick Master being a meer flatterer, and knowing that Jafer-Kan was extreamly belov'd by the King, confidently averr'd, that the Governour was falsly accus'd, and that he had always known him apter to give then to receive. There was at the same time in the Room, an Agis call'd Manouchar-Kan, lately return'd from a Pilgrimage to Mecca; him the King also ask'd, what was his opinion of Jafer-Kan, and his Government, being a person that had been long aquainted with him; to whom the Agis, thinking to please the King, return'd the same answer, that the Mu∣sick Master had giv'n. Whereupon the King, who had been well inform'd of the Kans behaviour, turning toward the Lords that were present, what think you, said be, of these two Flatterers, that absolutely know the contrary to what they speak? And at the same time commanded two of the Musick Masters teeth to be pull'd out of his mouth, and to be driv'n into the head of the Agis; which had like to have cost him his life, being a very old man. As for Jafer-Kan, he was disgrac'd for a time, but being a Person endow'd with noble qualities, valiant, generous and pleasing in conversation, he was recall'd to Court, and knew so well how to make his tale good, that his Majesty gave him the Government of Shemeloubostan, of which Semeran is the Capital City. Shemeloubostan signifies a Country manur'd to bear fruit. Nor is there any Province in Persia that so abounds in Pastures and Castles, that daily fall to ruine.

Jafer-Kan being restor'd to favour, the King sent for several Lords of the Court to come and drink with them. He also commanded five French Artifi∣cers which he had in his service to wait upon him, a Goldsmith nam'd Sain, two Watchmakers Lagis and Varin, and two Musket-makers Marais and Ber∣nard. After they had heated themselves a little with Wine, the King drew a Ruby out from off his finger, which I sold him for a hundred Tomans, and a Dia∣mond Jewel worth thirteen or fourteen hundred Tomans, which he gave to Jafer-Kan, with whom he was whispering at the same time. Now though the Nazar were at a distance, yet without doubt somewhat of the discourse was heard; insomuch that the Wine emboldning him, he told the King aloud, that if he would let him have but four thousand Horse, he would cut all that Rab∣ble to pieces. The King bid him hold his tongue and go to sleep; testifying

his displeasure at his discourse. For the Nazar conjectur'd that the King was talking to Jafer-Kan about the incursions which the Ʋsbeck Tartars often made from Meshed side. As for the Franks three of the five were gone home to sleep, Sain, Lagis, and Bernard: Maras and Varin stay'd behind in the Room. But Marais being of a humor that when he was drunk he could not hold his tongue, and having heard what the Nazar said, he likewise▪ took upon him to tell the King, that if the King wanted a General, there was none fitter to make a General then Jafer-Kan, and presently began a long repetition of his praises. The King commanded him to hold his tongue, which he did for a while, but then falling again into his former impertinencies, the King commanded him to be dragg'd out of the Room by the feet, and that they should rip up his belly. Thereupon Marais was seiz'd upon by the Meter, who having a great kind∣ness for the Franks, and knowing that the King had a singular love for Ma∣rais, delay'd the execution of the Kings command, pulling his Cloathes off very slowly; and finding that the King did not rise to go into his Haram, which is the sign of no pardon to be given, he caus'd him to be dragg'd as near the person of the King as he could, thereby to try whether the King would have compassion on him or no; while certain Lords took the boldness to implore the Kings mercy in his behalf. At last when the King saw him dragg'd along, he commanded the Officers to let him go, and withall order'd him to put on his Cloaths again, and resume his place.

The King of Persia's eldest Son comes very raw to the Throne; and his first divertisement is to make short journeys into the Provinces, thereby by little and little to gain the knowledg of such things as concern him. Above all things he never fails to visit the principal Church of the Armenians at Zulpha. That which makes him so curious, is his desire to see the Armenian women, who are very handsom; being also further incited thereto by the Sultanesses, who are glad of any recreation. And then he has a Courouk through all Zulpha, at what time all the men must retire to Ispahan, or to their Friends at a distance. Sha-Abbas the second went several times in that manner to Zulpha; and one day among the rest, upon the report of the beauty of the Wife of the Ke∣lonter Gorgia Safras, Son of Kelonter Gorgia Nazar, the King having seen her, lik'd her very well, and desir'd her to go along with the Sultanesses, who carry'd her into the Haram, where she continu'd fifteen days, and then return'd home with a fair Neck-Lace of Pearls, which the King gave her when she went away.

To say the truth of Sha-Abbas the second, he was a man too much given to drink, and too much govern'd by his passion, otherwise he was a lover of justice, and very magnificent and generous to Strangers.