Page:The Six Voyages of John Baptista Tavernier.djvu/129

put my choicest Goods in a Chest directed for the Hollaad Commander at Ormus, by which means I got the Custom free.

The Persian Gulf is the most dangerous Gulf I know, by reason of the shallowness and sharp Promontories that point out into the Sea; and therefore the best way is to take a Pilot at Ormus or Bander-Congo, and the most proper Pilots are the Fisher-men, who are only skill'd in that Sea and no farther. The Soyl about the Persian Gulf is dry Sand and without Water, so that it is impossible to Travel by Land from Ormus to Balsara. The Merchants would be glad to find a way through the Coast of Arabia, to get to Mascaté, whence there might a cut be made to Sindi, Din, or Surat, which are the three chief Ports of India. During the difference between the King of Persia and the Hollanders, the Emir of Vodana an Arabian Prince, offer'd to shew them an easie Road from Mascaté to Balsara. But the Hollanders fearing to break with the King of Persia, where they vended above fifteen or sixteen hundred thousand pounds of their Pepper, and paid therewith for all their Silk, did not think it worth their while to quit Ormus to settle themselves at Mascaté.

Had it been yielded to, the way had been from Balsara to Elcatif a Sea-Town in Arabia the Happy, where there is a Fishery for Pearls that belongs to the Emir of Elcatif. From Elcatif to Mascalat, another City of Arabia, and the residence of another Emir. From Mascalat to Vodana, a good handsom City seated upon the meeting of two little Rivers that carry Barques to the Sea, and run together by the single name of Moyesur. The Soyl about Vodana produces no Corn, and very little Rice; but it abounds in Fruits, especially Prunes and Quinces, which are not so sour as ours, and are eaten by the Natives as Pears. There are extraordinary good Melons and great Store of Grapes, of which the Jews, who inhabit the best part of the City, are permitted to make Wine. From Vodana to the Gulf, the County of each side is full of Palm-Trees, the Dates being the Food of the common people, who have not Money to buy either Corn or Rice. From Vodana to Mascatè it is but fifteen Leagues, though by the Maps, which are Erroneous, the way is describ'd to be much longer.

Being at Ormus, the Emir of Vodana shew'd me a Pearl transparent and perfectly round, that weigh'd seventeen Abas, or fourteen Carats and seven Eights; for in all the Pearl Fisheries of the East they use no other weights but Abas, which make seven Eights of a Carat. I offer'd him 300000 Piasters, or 60000 Roupies for the same Pearl, but the Emir refus'd to take it, telling me that he had been offer'd more Money for it by several Princes of Asia, who had sent to him to buy it, but that he was resolv'd never to part with it.

I departed out of Paris in the year 1657, and Embark'd at Marseilles for Ligorn.

We set Sail from Ligorn seven Vessels together, two bound for Venice, one for Constantinople, one for Aleppo, and three for Smyrna, in one of which being a Dutch Vessel I Embark'd. But before I leave Smyrna, to begin my Journey from Tauris, give me leave to relate the story of four French-men, the various accidents whereof will much enlight'n the Reader into the Customs and Manners, as well of the Turks as Persians.

While I stay'd the departure of the Caravan, which could not be ready in five or six Weeks, as also upon the advice of a rich Jew and a Merchant of Jewels at Constantinople, who had several Pearls to sell, as well for their beauty as their bigness, the best Commodity a man can carry to the Indies, I sent to Constantinople a person that Icarry'd