Page:The Six Voyages of John Baptista Tavernier.djvu/157

The Bey of Metelin has two Gallies.

The Bey Cavale, a small Bay, twelve Miles on this side the Dardanells, upon the Coast of Europe, has one.

The Bey of Nestrepont, seven.

The Bey of Napoli in Romania, five.

The Bey of Coron, one.

The Bey of Modon, one.

The Bey of Famagosta, six.

The Bey of Alexandria in Egypt, five.

The Bey of Canée, two Gallies.

The Bey of Candia, one.

The Bey of Castel-Tourneze or Navarin, two Gallies.

All these Gallies make up the number of Fourscore.

The light Gallies carry not above 196 men; the four men that are wanting of two hundred, being the Bey's profit.

Every Captain is allow'd thirteen thousand Piasters for his Provision; and every Christmas he gives to every Slave a pair of Breeches, and a Cassock of course Cloth, with a scantie kind of a Cloak.

Every Slave has every day a pound and a half of good Bread, and nothing else. But upon Friday, which is the Mahumetans Sunday, they have hot Pease, or Beans, or Lentils boyl'd in Butter. They receive also sometimes the Alms of the Greeks, when they lie in any Port. But at Constantinople they fare somewhat better; for twice a week, as well the Turks, as the Greeks and others, come to the Bains, and bestow their Charity of Rice and other good Victuals. The Bains is the name of the place where the Sea-men are kept when they are not at Sea.

Sometimes when they are to go to Sea, they will counterfeit themselves sick or lame; but they are so narrowly observ'd, that it serves them to no other purpose than to procure to themselves the more Blows.

Georgia, which others call Gurgïe, or Gurgistan, extends Eastward to the Caspian Sea; and upon the West is bounded by Mountains that part it from Mengrelia. Formerly it was a Kingdom, all the Inhabitants whereof were Christians, of the Armenian, and of the Greek Church; but of late the Mahometans have got footing among them. And the King of Persia having fill'd them full of Divisions, has made two Kingdoms of it, which he calls Provinces; over which he has plac'd two Governors. They are generally Princes of the Countrey, who must turn Mahometans before they can be admitted to that Dignity. When they are advanc'd, they take upon them the title of Kings; and while they have any Issue, the King of Persia cannot dispossess their Children.

The most Potent of these two Kings, is he that resides at Teflis, who in the Language of the Country is call'd the King of Cartelé. The present King is the last that has continu'd a Christian, with his four Sons; the Eldest of which, the King of Persia having entic'd to Court, partly by Promises, and partly by Presents, has won to Mahumetism. Immediately thereupon, he caus'd him to be declar'd King of the other Province.

These two Kings have each of them a Guard of Mahumetan-Horsemen under their own pay, and at present I believe there are in both Kingdoms near upon 12000 Mahumetan Families.

The King of Teflis coyns Mony in the King of Persia's Name; and the Silver which he coyns, is in Spanish Reals, French Crowns, and such other Money, which the Armenians bring out of Europe for their Goods. As to the Justice of the Countrey, neither the King himself, nor the Mahometans have any thing to dowith