The six voyages of John Baptista Tavernier, Baron of Aubonne through Turky, into Persia and the East-Indies, for the space of forty years : giving an account of the present state of those countries, viz. of the religion, government, customs, and commerce of every country, and the figures, weight, and value of the money currant all over Asia : to which is added A new description of the Seraglio / made English by J.P. ; added likewise, A voyage into the Indies, &c. by an English traveller, never before printed ; publish'd by Dr. Daniel Cox

CHAP. XI. Of the second Order, containing all those that belong to the Ecclesiasti∣cal Law, and their Courts of Justice; and, in general, of all the Gown-men; such as are chiefly the Officers of the Chamber of Ac∣counts.

THE second of the three Estates of Persia comprehends the Gown-men, such as are the Doctors of the Law, the Officers of Justice, and those of the Chamber of Accounts.

As the Athemat-doulet is the Prime Minister in Temporals, the Sedre is the Prime Minister in Spirituals, and the High-Priest of the Law. However, he does not pretend to take place before the Athemat-doulet either in Council, or in the publick Ceremonies. There is this difference between the Sedre and the Mufti in Turkey, that in Persia Ecclesiastical Dignities are no bar from Civil Employments; so that the Sedre is many times made Athemat-doulet.

The Dignity of Sedre is not limited to one single person, but may be divided between two, in regard there are two sorts of Legacies, the one from the King's of Persia, the other from particular persons. Therefore for the more careful Superintendency over these two sorts of Legacies, there are sometimes two Se∣dres appointed. The one is call'd Sedre-Kras, particular or peculiar Sedre, who manages all the Revenues of the Royal Foundations, and distributes them to the Mullaks and Students according to their merit. The other is call'd Sedre-el-man∣koufat, who has the management of private Foundations. In the year 1667 the King created two Sedres, and marri'd them to two of his Sisters.

The Sedre has two men under him, whose Authority is almost equal to theirs. The one is call'd Speik-el-selom, and the other Cadi: and these are they that decide all controversies in Religion, judge of Divorces, make Contracts and publick Acts. These two Dignities are in the King's nomination: and in all the principal Cities of the Kingdom there are two of these Ecclesiastical Judges for all matters that concern the Law.

To every Mosquee there belongs a Pichnamaz, who is always first there before Prayers begin; and he teaches the people to Pray by learning of him, having their eyes always fix'd upon him to that end. This Picknamaz is the same with him whom the Turks call Iman. The Moullah's are the Doctors of the Law, as are the Hodgia's in Turkey, and they are well paid out of the Legacies giv'n to the Mosquees, for reading every Friday, and interpreting the Alcoran to the people. He that reads, sits in one Chair; and he that interprets, in another, somewhat lower upon the left-hand of the Reader. They are also bound to teach the Sci∣ences to all those that require it: and, as a mark of Sanctity, they wear a great white Turbant, with a single Chamlet-habit of the same colour. Their gate is grave, and their discourse very serious; yet all this is but pure hypocrisy. When they light into any considerable company of people, they presently rise, and ex∣hort 'em to go to Prayers. At the same time they wash their heads, their hands, and their feet, and spread a felt upon the ground, or if they are poor, a single mat. Upon this, at one end, the Maulla kneels, at the other lies a flat Stone about the bigness of the paulm of a man's hand, which was brought from Mecca. Which Stones the Moullah's always carry about 'em; for being commanded while they are at their devotions often to kiss the ground, they rather choose to kiss a Stone brought from so holy a place, than the prophane Earth. They have a kind of a Mariners compass, which directs them punctually where Mecca stands, to the end they may know which way to turn when they say their Prayers. The Prayer which the Moulla's make, seems to be accompani'd with a great deal of zeal, and they take great notice all the while whether the company be atten∣tive or no. Some Persians are so superstitious, that a Vizir of Schiras suffer'd his leg to rot off, because he would not let a Christian Chirurgeon touch him, for fear of being defil'd.

There belongs also to every Mosquee a Monteveli, who looks after the repairs of the Building, and the Provision of what belongs to the Mosquee; together with a Mouazen, who cries morning and evening from the top of a Tower, That there is but one God, and that Mahomet is his Prophet.

Colledges, the Persians call Medrese; where there are a great number of Scholars bred up at little charge, out of the Legacies left to the Foundations. They al∣low them a Chamber without any Furniture, they being to provide a Coverlet and a Mattress for themselves. They have no certain Masters, but sometimes they go for their instructions to one, sometimes to another, seldom to the Princi∣pal of the Colledg, who is call'd Monderes, and is generally the greatest Block∣head of them all. But there are several other persons in every good City that are forward to teach the Sciences to purchase honour to themselves. For which reason they are very liberal, to get a great company of Fol∣lowers together, who are as so many Trumpets to publish the wisdom of their Akroom or Doctor. But when their Liberality ceases, the Trumpets want breath at the same time.

Now, as to their manner of studying, the Student first reads two or three lines, and then the Doctor Expounds. Then another reads two or three lines more, and so one after another; every one rising up out of respect after he has done reading, and standing upright till the Doctor bids him sit down again. One of these Doctors shall teach all manner of Sciences in one day; for he is not learned that cannot talk of all. And certainly had the Persians those advantages of Books, and that method of study which we have in Europe, they would prove to be men of great understanding: for with those little helps they have, they will give a good account of their own Theology, of Logick, Physick, and the Mathematicks, wherein they strive to reach the bottom of things as deep as they can. Their Books are for the most part the works of an ancient Persian Author, whose name was Kodgia Nesir in the City of Thouss, in the Province of Korassan. Tis very probable he was well skill'd in the Greek and Arabick, having translated into Per∣sian several Books out of those two Languages. They have some pieces of Ari∣stotle which are accounted the best in the West: The Almagistes of Ptolemy, which they call Magesti; some tractates of Euclide, some fragments of Archimedes: the Opticks of Ebne, Heister, and other excellent Books. Some have affirm'd that they have been skill'd in the doctrin of Sines and Tangents for above this 800 years: and indeed they are very curious at this day in Mathematical Instruments. They have also a great inclination to Poetry, the chiefest grace whereof they be∣lieve to consist in design of accidents, and high comparisons, observing Rhime as we do. As for Physick, they have Galen, whom they call Galenous; Averroes, whom they call Aboualt, or great Father; and Hermes Trismegistus, whom they call Or∣mous. The most considerable of their Historians is Ronze el Sapha, who wrote a Chronology from the Creation of the World to his time; wherein there are abundance of fables, but little truth. He says that the World was inhabited by Devils for an infinite number of years before the Creation of Adam, and that God for their enormities depriv'd them of their power upon earth, and gave it to man to manage. Their Books, though deer, are very common, and every Trades-man buys 'em, being very ambitious to learn the Sciences themselves, and to encou∣rage their children to do so too. They send them betimes to the School, which they call Meklebe, of which there are several in every Quarter. They make a hideous noise in their Schools, repeating their Lessons altogether aloud, while the Master corrects every Boy that does not keep along with the Cry. As for the children of persons of Quality, they have Tutors at home, never stirring out of doors till they are 18 years of age, unless it be to go a hunting or a shoot∣ing now and them. Hence it comes to pass, that the Children are discreet, civil and modest; so that you shall never hear an ill word come out of their mouths.

In the Chamber of Accounts are many Officers, whom I look upon as Gown∣men. All the Books and Registers pass through their hands, particularly such Pa∣pers as concern'd the King's Revenue. All which are register'd in the Chamber of Accounts at Ispahan, which is call'd Defter-Krone. As to the Fee-Lands call'd Moulkerbar, which belong to particular persons, they owe to the King a certain

annual Rent, which the Governors of Provinces exact with a severe extorti∣on.

The Mestempti and the Memalek are they that value the Rent of all Lands in Demesh, which is one of the principal charges of the Defter-Kroon. They also take cognisance of all the King's Farms, Quit-Rents, Provisions and Ex∣pences of Receivers and Collectors. There is also a Mestempti to value Lega∣cies.

The Nazer controuls the Mestempti and the Memalek, and his hand is requir'd to all Papers of dispatch.

The Deroga or Provost of the Dester-Kroon is to prosecute and punish all that are guilty of false Receipts, or of Exaction.

Into this Office are deliver'd all the Grants and Assignations of the wages of the King's Officers. Every man comes and receives his own, or sends for it to those places upon which this Money is assign'd.

In every Village or Borough there is a Reis, or chief of the place, to whom the Officers apply themselves for their Money: for should they terrify the Countrey-man, he would run quite away, and pay nothing. The greatest cheat in this Chamber of Accounts, is, that in regard the Officers keep the Roll of the Officers wages, they will give them divers Bills to receive little parcels at several places distant from one another, till the Sum be made up; to which trouble rather than the Kings servant will be put, he will give a good gratuity to the Officer to pay him all together. But because the Officers are not able to satisfy all that come, there are certain Thahsilders or hoarders up of Rent, who buy for ready Money as cheap as they can, such Bills as private men come to receive at the Chamber; and when they have got a good number together, they go and receive them altogether at the Chamber, and make great advantage. By this misgovernment of the Dester-Kroon, several persons are very much opprest. For he that has but 30 Tomans a year, shall be forc'd to give a good share out of it to have the rest in ready Mo∣ney; which has been often the ruine of the Persian Army, through the abuses and defalcations put upon the poor Souldiers. During the Reign of Sha-Abbas the 1; and toward the beginning of the Reign of Sha-Sefi his Son, the Exche∣quer was better regulated; but when the Persians came to be at Peace with their Neighbours, the King and his Lords have minded nothing less than the payment of the Souldiery.

The greatest part of the Lands in Persia belong to the King, and are only farm'd by private persons. The rest of the Lands are measur'd, and every Land pays so much a measure. The King also has a vast income by the Merchandizes that pay Custom and Toll. The Port of Bander-Abassi alone brings him one year with another, when least, besides accidents, neer upon 20000 Tomans.