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. XVI. Of the division of Time among the Persians.

THE Persians divide the natural day into four parts. The first is from Sun∣rising to Noon; the Second from Noon to Sun-set: The third from Sun-set till Midnight; and the fourth from Midnight till Sun-rise. At Midnight, Morning, and Sunset, they make a most horrible din in every great City, of Kettle-Drums, Haut-boys, Latten-Basons, and other Instruments: upon which there are certain men hir'd to play for a quarter of an hour together, in some place where they may be heard all over the City. They have also great Cornets, about seven foot long, with deep mouths, which may be heard above half a league. But these Cornets are never us'd but in Cities where the Kans or Governours reside. These Instruments are also always employ'd at their great Solemnities; as also when the King creates any new Officer or Governour. These Instruments have also a pri∣viledg to play at all Houses where they understand there is a Male-child born. The meaner sort dare not refuse 'em; but the Nobility value not their priviledg of a straw.

The Persians in the computation of time make use of Lunar-months. The first Mouharrem, the second Cepher, the third Rebia-el-Avel, the fourth Akner, the fifth Gemadil-Avel, the sixth Gemadil-Akner, the seventh Regeb, the eighth Shaabon, the ninth Ramezan, the tenth Shaval, the eleventh Zikadé, the twelfth Zil∣hagge. And every Month begins from the first appearance of the Crescent.

In their Astronomical Accounts, and the Calculations of the Longitude and La∣titude of the Planets, for the composing their Almanacks, they make use of Solar-months, thus call'd: Azar 31 days. Onzon 30 days. Ajar 31. Harizon 30. Te∣mouzé 31. Ab 31. Eiloul 30. Techrion-el-Avel 31. Techrion-el-ilani 30. Ranon-el-Avel 31. Kanon-Elsani 31. Shaabat 28 or 29, answering to our February. The first month Azar begins upon our eleventh of March: so that it answer'd to our month of March before the Gregorian Reformation. Therefore they call this month Mah-Roami, or the Roman months. They also make use of the Egyptian months, which are thus call'd: Terverdin, Erdi-be-hoct, Kourdad, Tir, Mordad, Sheriver,

Mohré, Abon, Azer, Dei, Bahmen, Espendarmouzé,. The first month, Ferverdin; begins with the Vernal Equinox, every month not containing above 30 days, ad∣ding the five which remain to the end of the year, which they call Kramsi Mouste∣relzé.

The day of the Vernal Equinox is the first day of the year, which they call Neo∣zonze, and is one of their Principal Festivals. For that day all the Grandees ap∣pear at Court, and present the King according to their quality. If they can meet with nothing that is rare, they present him in Ducatts of Gold, and there are some that present him to the number of ten Thousand. They also give God thanks for preserving them to see the new year, and for preserving the fruits of the Earth from bad seasons, for the Corn is by that time well come up. Upon this first day of the year, if a Persian has not money to buy him a new habit, he will go and mort∣gage his own body to have one. So proud and luxurious are the Persians from the highest to the lowest.