Page:The Six Voyages of John Baptista Tavernier.djvu/42

North, and falls into the Aras, that runs not above three Leagues off to the South. Though this City be fortified to the West by the River, yet it is never the stronger, by reason of the Hills on the other side which command it: and in regard it is built upon a Rock, the Moats of the Fort are not above three or four Foot deep. In some places the City is secur'd with a double Wall with several Towers; but the Walls being only of Earth, as are most of the Houses, the Rain does more mischief, than the Cannon would do. That part of Erivan to the North-West, is a kind of Suburb, but far better inhabited than the City: for there live all the Merchants and Artificers, together with the Christian Armenians, who have four Churches there, with a Monastery. And of late years they have built also a very fair Inn in the same Quarter. In the City there only lives the Kan, with the Military Officers and Souldiers; the Kan's Lodgings lying upon the River. The Governour is a Person of great Power, and has always sufficient Forces about him to guard the Frontiers. The Summer being very hot at Erivan, he lyes in Tents upon the Mountains during the Heat. When a Caravan arrives, he is forc'd to give the King advice thereof: and if any Ambassador come thither, he is bound to maintain him at his own Expence, and to cause him to be conducted to the Territories of the next Governour, who is oblig'd to do the same. So that Ambassadors are not bound to be at any Expences in the Territories of the King of Persia. Four Leagues from the City are high Mountains, where the Natives that inhabit the hot and Sun-burnt Countries toward Chaldea, come twenty thousand together, to seek out good Pasturage for their Cartel, and about the end of Autumn return again into their own Country. I cannot compare this Mountainous Tract, whether for its Valleys and Rivers, or for the nature of the Soil, to any Part that I have seen, better than to that portion of Switzerland, which is call'd the Country of Vaux: and there is a Tradition among the Natives, That certain People that inhabited between the Alpes and Mount Jura, and which compos'd a Squadron of Alexander's Army, having serv'd him in his Conquests, seated themselves in this part of Armenia, which they found so like their own Country. From Tocat to Tauris the Inhabitants are for the most part Christians. Which large Tract of Ground being that which the Ancients call'd the Province of Armenia, 'tis no wonder to meet with fifty Armenians for one Mahometan. There are many ancient Armenian Families in Erivan, which is their native Country; but they are ill us'd by the Governours, who being far distant from the Court, do what they please. This City not being far remote from the Province from whence the Silks come, is the place where all the Buyers and Sellers resort. But neither in Erivan, nor in any other part of Persia are the Merchants put to open their Bales at the Custom-Houses, as in Turkie. They only pay certain Duties toward securing the Highways, which Duties they call Raderies, and those that gather them Raders.

The Kans or Governours of Provinces in Persia are civil to Strangers, especially to those that they like, or that shew them any thing of Curiosity. The first time that I went into Persia, I took a young Watch-maker with me, and coming to Erivan, I carried him to the Kan who was then Governour. It was at a time when Watches were very rare in Persia; and the Kan, understanding what Trade the Young Man was of, told us he was the first Watch-maker that ever had been in Persia: Thereupon he brought the Young Man a Watch to mend, and that he might have the pleasure of seeing him work, he lodg'd us in a Chamber next his own, and made us drink with him every day, for he was a true Toper, and compell'd us to drink with him from four in the Afternoon 'till near Midnight, in a place which he had made on purpose, in his Garden, to take off his Glasses.

This was he, that having deliver'd Erivan to Sultan Amurat, went along with him to Constantinople, and became his Favourite for teaching him to Drink. Amurat left a Garrison of 22000 Men in the City; but Sha-Sefi the Persian King begirt it presently with a strong Army; and planting himself securely under one of the Hills that command the City, he batter'd it incessantly with eight Pieces of Cannon: the fourth day he made a Breach, and though he had the repute of a Coward, he was the first at the Assault, and took the City: and because they would not yield at his Summons, he put all the Garrison to the Sword. For which Amurat, was quit with Sha-Sefi afterwards, though not in so noble a way; for entring a Victor into Bagdat, he put all the Persians to the Sword, after he had given them his Word to the contrary, and promis'd to spare their Lives.

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