Page:The Six Voyages of John Baptista Tavernier.djvu/139

From Cochakan to Carakan, a bad Inn; where you enter among the Mountains, that being full of Torrents reach as far as Betlis.

From Carakan to Betlis, a City belonging to a Bey or Prince of the Country, the most potent and most considerable of all the rest; for he neither acknowledges the Grand Signor nor the Persian: whereas all the other Beys are Tributary either to the one or the other. And it is the Interest of those two Potentates to correspond with him; for it's an easie thing for him to stop up the passage from Aleppo to Tauris, or from Tauris to Aleppo; the Streights of the Mountains being so narrow, that ten Men may defend them against a thousand. Coming near Betlis you must travel a whole day among high steep Mountains, that reach two Miles beyond, with Torrents on each side; the way being cut out of the Rock on each side, where there is but just room for a Camel to pass. The City stands between two high Mountains, equally distant one from the other, and about the height of Montmartre. It is built like a Sugar-loaf, the ascent being so steep on every side, that there is no getting to the top, but by wheeling and winding about the Mountain. The top of all is a Platform, where stands a Castle well built, at the Gate whereof is a Draw-Bridge. Then you pass through two great Courts, and then into a third, opposite to the Bey's Apartment. It is very troublesom to get up to the top of the Castle, and a Man must be very well Hors'd that does it. There is no other person but the Bey and his Esquire, who is permitted to ride up on Horse-back. There is one Inn within the City, and another as it were without, in which the Merchants rather choose to lye than in the other, by reason that it is ready to be overflown when the Torrents swell, that run through every Street. The Bey, beside the strength of his Passes, is able to bring above five and twenty thousand Horse into the Field; and a very considerable Body of Foot, compos'd of the Shepherds of the Country, who are to be ready at a Call. I went to wait upon the Bey himself, and made him a Present of two pieces of Satin, the one streakt with Silver, and the other with Gold: two white Bonnets, such as the Turks wear, very fine, and adorn'd with Silver at the top; together with a sute of Handkerchiffs, streak'd with Red and Silver. While I staid with the Bey, who sent for Coffee for me according to the custom, a Courier came to him from the Basha of Aleppo, to desire him that he would deliver up into his hands a French Chirurgeon that was his Slave, having been tak'n in Candia; complaining withal, that he had run away from him with the value of three thousand Crowns. The Bey, who understood what belong'd to a Sanctuary, and was resolv'd to protect the French-man, school'd the Messenger so severely, that he threaten'd to put him to death if he did not get him gone presently; charging him to tell his Master withal, that he would complain to the Grand Signor of his insolence; and that if he were strangl'd, he might thank himself. And indeed it behov'd the Great Turk to keep fair correspondence with him; in regard that if the Persians should at any time besiege Van, the Grand Signor must march through the Bey's Country to relieve it; who has Forces enow to oppose him if he should be his Enemy.

But to travel through the Country of the Curds is very pleasant: for if on the one side the ways are bad, and difficult to be travel'd, in other places you have a prospect of several sorts of Trees, as Oaks and Walnuts, and not a Tree which is not embrac'd with a wild Vine. Below the Mountains, in the Level, grows the best Wheat and Barley in all the Country.

From Betlis, where you pay five Piasters for every Horse-load, to Taduan, where you pay two.

Taduan is a great Town within a Cannon-shot of the Lake of Van, in such a part, where Nature has made a Hav'n, shelter'd from all the Winds; being clos'd on all sides with high Mountains, the entry into which though it seem narrow, is very free. It is able to contain twenty or thirty great Barks; and when it is fair Weather, and that the Wind serves, the Merchants generally Ship off their Goods from thence to Van: from whence it is but four and twenty hours sail, and a very good passage; whereas by Land from Taduan to Van it is eight days journey on Horse-back. Returning back, you may also take Water at Van for Taduan.

From Taduan to Karmoushé.

From Karmoushé to Kellat.

From Kellat to Algiaoux, a small City, where you pay one Piaster for every Load.

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