Part 16

Some of these Merchants that came with the same ships, came directly to our camp, and among the rest a Jeweller, who brought with him several precious stones, _viz._ Diamonds, Chalcedonies, which make incomparable hafts to daggers, Rubies, Topazes, Saphires, _&c._ the two first whereof he had procured in _Camboya_, and most of the rest in the island of _Zeylan_, whereof he shew’d us several very fine ones. The Merchants bring these along with them in great caravans, and keep them very close and private, that they may not be found out, at the custom-houses and be taken away from them which the Bashaws do constantly endeavour with all their might and power. For the _Turks_ do not love that precious stones should cost them money, for they are extraordinarily covetous, wherefore you find but a few among them, but if they can have them without cost, after the aforesaid manner they love them dearly, and keep them in great esteem. In the room of them other stones are sent into the _Indies_ again, Corals, Emeralds (which are bought best in _Egypt_) Saffron, Chermes-berries, and several sorts of fruit, as Cibebs, Dates, (which are so pliable and soft that you may pack them together in great lumps as they do Tamarinds) Figs, Almonds, and many others which I cannot now remember, and also several sorts of silks and _Turkish_ handkerchiefs: But above all, fine horses, whereof they send abundance into the _Indies_ by the way of _Persia_, but more by the way of _Ormutz_, wherefore the King of _Portugal_ received yearly a good sum of money for custom, _viz._ forty ducats for each, which the Merchants pay very freely, because that those that import horses (as I am informed) pay but half duty for their other goods at the custom-houses, and sell them besides with good profit. Some of these horses are also sent (because of their beauty and goodness) into _Syria_, _Natolia_, and to us into _Europe_, where they are sold or presented to Princes, and other great persons of quality. They feed their horses in these countries chiefly with barly and straw, so as it is broke by their threshing waggons, which they hang about their heads in sacks, as they do also about asses, rather than give it them in mangers as we do. For want of straw they sometimes litter them with a fine loose earth, which they afterwards throw by in heaps to make it clean again to serve another time. When, among other Merchants, Christians arrive from our countries at _Ormutz_, which happen’d very seldom, all those of them that have been any ways afflicted by the _Turks_, _Arabians_, or _Jews_, must appear before some certain officers of the King of _Portugal_, appointed for that purpose, and make their complaints to them, of what hath happen’d to them, or what damage they have received; and in case they should omit any thing, they are themselves severely punish’d. If then it appeareth, that one of them hath been cheated of his money, immediately some Merchants of the same nation although innocent, and knowing nothing of it, are flung into prison, where they must remain until they have made satisfaction to the utmost farthing, and are besides severely punish’d, for an example to others that they may take warning. But if a Christian should be murdered, and they come to know of it, then three or four of them, more or less, according to the manner of fact, must suffer and lose their lives for every Christians. From thence it cometh, when Merchants of many nations are going into a ship, in order to go to the _Indies_, by the way of _Ormutz_, where they must land upon penalty of confiscation of all their goods, that when first they put off, they look strangely upon one another, and take great notice of, or mind one another much, and say very little or nothing, not making themselves known, fearing that something may be had against them; and this endureth so long, until they are gone half the way, then they begin to be acquainted. Farther I understood, that the King of _Portugal_’s governor in the _Indies_ hath already, (to make himself strong and the more able for a war) made several of the chiefest and powerfullest _Indians_ knights or noblemen, to the number of 5000; and hath sent many Jesuits to reform these countries, to propagate their religion and to institute there the _Spanish_ inquisition. The _Indians_ are lank in body, brown in their colour, well shaped, and of a very good understanding; wherefore persons of quality, and Merchants love to buy them, and chuse them for their servants, being in their business very faithful, diligent and careful, as I have known many of them. These and many more nations, as _Turks_, _Moors_, _Armenians_, _Curters_, _Medians_, &c. which every one of them have their peculiar language, are at _Bagdat_ in great numbers, but chiefly the _Persians_; so when I was there, there arrived a caravan of three hundred, with camels and horses, _&c._ with an intention to go to _Mecca_, to give _Mahomet_ a visit, which they think, after _Hali_ and _Omar_, who were his companions and did live in that city, to be a very great man. These _Persians_ have a peculiar language, so much differing, that neither _Turks_ nor _Arabians_, nor other _Oriental_ nations can understand them, and so they are forced to make them understand their meaning by signs or an interpreter, as well as I and other strangers. They also have their peculiar characters. They sit well on horse-back, and have on long and white drawers, which serve them also for boots, and are very well furnish’d with scymeters, bows and darts: Instead of spurs, they have, as it is the fashion in those parts, pointed irons, which are about an inch and a half long, and are sowed to the hind part of their shoes. They are also call’d _Red Turks_, which I believe is, because they have behind on their turbants, red marks, as cotton ribbands, _&c._ with red brims, whereby they are sooner discerned from other nations. They may also be distinguish’d by their grey woollen coats, which have commonly three pleats behind, and come hardly down to their knees. They are a strong and valiant people, of a noble countenance and mind, very civil, and in their dealings upright. They are very wary in their undertakings, which you may see by this, that before they conclude a bargain, they take up more time to consider than others do two or three, which I have several times observed. Among other merchandizes they have delicate tapestry of several colours of cotton-work, in which they are great artists, and well skill’d, but as for others, as gold and silver working, _&c._ they understand little, and a great deal less of gilding, wherefore they take any thing that is glossy for gold. They love the Christians that are artists and ingenious in these sorts of works, and shew them all civilities. But as for the _Turks_, because great and bloody wars arise often between them, they hate them very much, and call them Heretics; 1. Because they will not esteem nor receive _Hali_ and _Omar_, which they denominate _Caliphi_, as the greatest and highest Prophets or Legates of God, that have, after _Mahomet_, given more certain and better laws. Wherefore they esteem them a great deal higher; nay, worship them like Gods. 2. Because that they as circumcised men, esteem their women to be unclean, and reckon them to be members that are not to be saved, and therefore exclude them out of their churches, so that they may not appear there publickly, which by the _Persians_, according to their laws and ordinances, after they have spoke some words after them, are received as bless’d ones, and admitted to come to their churches. From whence arise between these two nations great quarrels and differences sometimes, but yet they do not fall upon one another, nor make incursions in time of peace, so violently on the frontiers, as they do in _Hungary_; probably that one may (because negotiation goeth farther into _Persia_, and bringeth in great custom to the Grand Signior) trade the safer into these parts. It is cheap and very good travelling through these countries into the _Indies_, and the customs and duties are very easy.

Farther I understood from others, that here and there in _Persia_ live several Christians, and that most of them are of the perswasion of _Prester-John_, whom they call _Amma_; and which way they are brought to it, I am thus informed, that formerly about twelve years agone, it did happen that the King of _Persia_ made a league with _Prester-John_ against the _Turks_, which came then very hard upon him, and gave him his hands so full, that he was forced to seek for help by strangers. Now when _Prester-John_ thought it very inconvenient for him to make a league with a King that was not of his religion, he sent him a message again, that he could make no league with him, except the chiefest of the articles were, that he and his subjects would receive his religion, then he would not only do him all friendship that in him lay, but also assist him with all his might and power, which at length was agreed upon. Whereupon he did send one of his patriarchs and some of his priests, which in process of time had this effect, that now even at this day, there are above twenty towns in _Persia_ where the most of the inhabitants are addicted to the religion of _Prester-John_. They have also as I was told, several books of the holy scripture, and chiefly among the rest, some of the epistles of St _Thomas_, which they call _Ærtisch_. And besides that, their patriarch hath brought it to that pass, that they are no more so zealous in their superstitions; and are of opinion that circumcision is not necessary, and that so much the rather, because their enemies the _Turks_ and _Jews_ have it. And for the same reason they do not abhor the forbidden beasts, but eat pork, _&c._ nor refuse to drink wine, and that as before said, because their adversaries are forbid it by their law. So that the Christian faith doth in _Persia_ encrease daily more and more, and they begin to be christened with fire, according to their fashion, and in the name of God the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, whom they notwithstanding, according to their opinion, rather believe to be a creature, than the Third Person of the Trinity, and that he doth only proceed from the Father and not from the Son. But that those that are Christians may be discerned, they wear a blue cross on the inside of their left leg a little above the knee. They also administer the sacrament of the holy supper or communion, and give it as well to the young as to the old ones in both kinds; but before they go to it, they must have their feet washed, wherefore there are little rivulets led through the churches, where they sit down, and some of the chiefest of the town come to them and wash their feet, and when that is done, they give unto one another a kiss of love; then they read the words of Christ’s institution, and so go to receive it; they do not come to confession before: And they endure no images in their churches, but instead of them, they make use of harps, pipes and other instruments, wherewith they make music, but chiefly at the King’s court, at _Smarcand_ (where his best Musicians are) which town, as they say, was built by _Sem_ the son of _Noah_, and called after his name. What else is to be said concerning the points of their religion, shall be hereafter mentioned in the chapter of the _Abissines_.

Farther I was informed at my return, that after the decease of _Gamach_ the King of _Persia_; that had three sons and one daughter (who was soon married to one of the chiefest of the council at court) whereof the eldest called _Alschi_ was beheaded, because he did endeavour to take away his father’s crown, the other two are still in being; the youngest of them _Balthasar_ liveth in _Parsid_ a peculiar province and town in _Persia_, which lieth on the borders of the _Indies_; and the middlemost, called _Ismael_, was lately, after his father’s decease, elected King, almost at the same time when the now reigning _Turkish_ Emperor _Amurathes_ came to the crown. This is still young, and of a tall and slim body, but very manly, and full of courage, and well skill’d in all warlike exercises, so that he dare before any of his courtiers ride wild and unbroken horse, by them called _Æcaik_, which are not easily mastered. They are brought to him a great way off out of the eastern parts; they are as I am informed, of an ashen colour, only some have white legs; in these and other exercises he hath shown his manliness from his infancy. But when he did encrease in age and in strength, the anger and displeasure he bore against the _Turks_ did increase also, and to that degree, that he resolved, during his father’s life, to be revenged of them for the wrong they had done to his ancestors. Wherefore a little while agone, he brought together a great many men in the frontier places to surprize the town of _Bagdet_ unawares, being one of the chiefest that formerly had belonged to his ancestors, together with the whole country, wherein the new Kings of _Persia_ when they first come to the government are used to be crowned. When he was thus prepared for the onsent, and nothing was wanting, some traitors ran away from his troops and acquainted the Bashaw of _Bagdet_ with his design, so the Bashaw was forced to arm himself with all speed as well as he could, that he might be able to oppose him in his designs. But when the King’s son would have put his intention into execution, the Bashaw fell upon him unawares with such a number and strength, that he could not only attempt nothing, but was beaten, and he himself taken prisoner. Besides this, the Grand _Turk_ would have had him to be beheaded, if his father had not with great earnestness taken his part, and given him for his ransom the town _Orbs_ in _Mesopotamia_. After this, the old King had enough to do to keep his son in safe custody, that he might not begin new alarms and wars against the _Turks_.

Before I began my voyage in _March_, in the year 74; certain news came to _Aleppo_ that 25000 _Turks_ were killed on the confines of _Persia_ and _Arabia_; but in what place this battle was fought, and which way it was done I could not learn (for if they suffer any damage, they always keep it very close and secret) nor any ways here: Wherefore the _Turks_ at that time were a great deal harder towards the Christians, so that many suffered for their misfortunes sake: But if they had obtained the victory, as well as not, they would not have been so silent, but would have spread it abroad, and have related it to others that did not ask them, with high and big words. So great an opinion have the _Turks_ of themselves, that they really believe there is no other nation that can conquer the world so as they, although they are not be compared with the _Persians_, neither for strength, manliness, nor shape; so therefore they could effect but very little against others, if it were not for their great number, wherewith they over power them. And to speak only of the inhabitants of this town, there are so many sick and lame people in it, that you would admire to see so many lame and limping ones in the streets; yet the King of _Persia_ cannot hold out the war at length, nor keep a war at a great distance, for his revenue is not so great as to make sufficient provision for his officers and soldiers, _&c._ to pay them as well in time of peace as of war: For his subjects are freed from all taxes and impositions, according to their ancient privileges and customs. They never arm themselves for a defence, but when they are called together by their King, to defend and protect their country, house or land, wife and children, against the assault of an enemy.

When I was thus enquiring from one or other, and endeavouring to inform myself and learn whether it were more commodious for us two to go by water to _Ormutz_, or by land through _Persia_ into the _Indies_, and we thought of nothing else but to begin our voyage daily to go farther; I was call’d on a sudden by a letter to come away for _Aleppo_ immediately, which troubled me very much, and that the more when I considered, that I was past the wilderness and come into the fruitful eastern countries, which would have been very well worth seeing. So after I had considered a while, I agreed with my comrade that he should go on with the voyage in hand, and that I, because besides the letter, I had others no smaller hindrances, would go back again. So I fitted him out for his voyage with all necessaries, so that two days after, he went with other merchants into the ship for _Balsara_. Not long after, I had a very mournful message, or account, that the ship, wherein he went from _Balsara_ to _Ormutz_, was perished in a great storm near the Island _Baccharis_ in the _Persian_ sea, where they find good store of oriental pearls, and that he and several other merchants, and rich merchants sons from _Aleppo_ were drowned. At the same time I might have returned back again with a great caravan to _Aleppo_ but because they took the straightest way through great and sandy desarts, which lasted for fifty days journey or thereabouts, where we had but two places to pay custom in, where we could buy provision, as water and other necessaries, I resolved within myself to go by more fruitful places, and famous towns (although I went about) where I might see and learn something more; so I did stay in the great _Camp_ longer until I met with some companions. In the mean time, while I stayed there, I made my self acquainted with an eminent Merchant, that lived in _Aleppo_, and had been several times in the _Indies_; who told me, that the Jesuits had begun to set up a very severe inquisition in the _Indies_; chiefly in _Goa_, where they observed diligently those that did not take off their hats to the images (which were set up in several streets of the town) that they might put them into prison, which he did very much dislike, believing it to be very great idolatry.