Page:The Six Voyages of John Baptista Tavernier.djvu/131

through the Road of Mesopotamia, so that they should be at Ispahan before the Topigi-Bashi set out from Damas. Thereupon they privately departed out of Damas without acquainting the Topigi-Bashi, who understanding they were gone after the courtesie he had offer'd them, was so enrag'd at their uncivillity, that he sent two of his Arabian Servants directly through the Wilderness to the Basha of Bagdat, to give him advice of two Franks that were to pass that way, who were most certainly Spies, describing them withall from head to foot.

In the mean while the two Franks being arriv'd at Ourfa, the Spahi, as he had contriv'd his own design at Damas, goes to the Basha of Ourfa, and informs him that he had conducted thither two Franks, who could be no other than Spies. Thereupon the Basha seiz'd upon them and all their Goods, among the rest he laid his paws upon seven hundred Piasters, of which the Spahi no doubt had his share. And this may serve for instruction to Travellers to have a care how and with whom they Travel in Turkie.

While the two French men were in hold at Ourfa by one sort of Treachery, the Norman Gentleman and his Companion arriv'd at Bagdat. But they had no sooner set their feet upon the shore, when the Basha verily believing them to be the persons, of whom the Topigi-Bashi had giv'n him notice, caus'd them to be brought before him, and seiz'd upon their Goods and Letters, of which they had several for the Consul of Aleppo, and other rich Merchants for Persia. The Basha sent for the Capuchins to read those Letters, but not believing them, he sent for a Sicilian Physitian which he had in his Service, and his Treasurer who had been a Slave tak'n in Candy. But neither Physitian, Treasurer, nor Capuchins would interpret any thing in prejudice of the French men; yet all that could not preserve them from being shut up in a Stable full of dung, and from being threaten'd to be Shot out of a Cannon's mouth if they would not confess the truth. Thereupon the Capuchins and the Cadi beg'd him to suspend his Sentence 'till the Arrival of the chief of the Cannoniers, to which he readily consented.

When the Topigi-Bashi came, the Basha commanded the Prisoners to be brought before him. But when the Topigi-Bashi deny'd them to be the persons, the Basha grew into such a rage, that he no less reproach'd the Topigi-Bashi for Treachery, than he had accus'd the others. Which so incens'd the Topigi-Bashi on the other side, that he never left 'till he had obtain'd the release of the two French men; yet not so, but that the Basha would have his due; so that Reville was forc'd to leave some of his Ducats behind which the Jew should have had.

But now to return to Smyrna where I expected the Caravan for some time in order to my Journey into Persia. Every thing being provided, we set forward in the Road for Tauris, which I have at large describ'd, nor was there any thing worthy observation all the way. I will only take notice, that when we departed from Tocat, in regard the heat was so extream, we left the common Road toward the North, and took the way through the Mountains, where there is always a fresh Breeze and store of shady Lanes. In many of which high Mountains we met with Snow, and abundance of excellent Sorrel; and upon the tops of some of those Mountains, we met with several sorts of shells, as it had been upon the Sea shore, which is very extraordinary. From Erzerom we went to Cars; from Cars we came to Erivan. The Kan was not there then, being retir'd during the heat into the Mountains, a days Journey from the City. His Lieutenant telling me that I could not well pass farther without paying my duty to the Kan; I follow'd his advice, and found him in his Tent in a fair Dale, where there was a great quantity of Snow: and where when it began to melt, appear'd several beautiful Flowers, so that Summer and Winter seem'd to lodge both in the same place. The Kan entertain'd both me and all my Company most nobly for ten days. I drove also a small Trade with him. For I durst not shew him the rarities I had, being design'd for the King. For as in India, so in Persia, neither will the King look upon any thing which his Subjects have seen before, nor will the Subject buy any thing which the King has seen, it being an affront to present any thing to the King which he had formerly view'd, and the Subject buys nothing rare but what he intends to present.

Being past Erivan you may leave your Caravan when you please, by reason of the security of the Roads in Persia. And indeed I intended to have visited the Kan of Gengéa, but finding the Road so full of Rocks and Precipices, where a man wasconti-