Page:The Six Voyages of John Baptista Tavernier.djvu/53
lying along upon the Ground. There are also in the Mosquee certain Tombs of the ancient Kings of the Medes, the Remains whereof shew that the Work was very Excellent.
Upon the Road from Tauris to Ispahan, about half a League from the utmost Gardens, between several knaps of the Mountain which you leave upon the right hand, upon the top of the highest of all, where there never was any Water, and where it is impossible to bring any, appears a Bridge fifty Paces long, the Arches whereof are very fair ones, but it falls to decay. It was a Mollah that built it, out of what design no person knew: nor can you come to Tauris upon that side, but you must see that Bridge, because there is no other way, there being nothing but Water and Precipices on either hand. Afterwards he confess'd that he built it out of meer Vanity, knowing that Sha-Abas, the first of that Name was to come to Tauris. The King indeed came some time after, and seeing an unprofitable Bridge upon the top of a Mountain, he demanded who built it, and what was his design. To whom the Mollah return'd this Answer, Sir, said he, I built that Bridge, that when your Majesty came to Tauris, you might inform your self from the mouth of him that built it. By which it appear'd, that the Mollah had no other ambition than to oblige the King to speak to him.
A League from Tauris is to the West, in the middle of a Field stands a great Brick Tower, call'd Kanhazun. It is about fifty Paces in Diameter, and though it be half ruin'd, yet it is very high. It seems to have been the Dungeon of some Castle, there being very high Walls round about it; which though they be but of Earth, nevertheless appear to be very ancient. It is not certainly known who built this Tower, but the Arabian Letters upon the Gate afford us some reason to conclude that it was a Mahometan Structure. In the year 1651 there happen'd a terrible Earthquake in Tauris and the parts thereabout, by which many Houses were overturn'd, and this Tower then cleaving from the top to the bottom, a good part of it fell down, and fill'd up the hollow within-side.
Besides the little River that runs by Tauris, there is another bigger to be cross'd, about half a League from the City, over which there is a very fair Stone-Bridge. Near to it stands a Sepulcher, cover'd with a little Duomo, where the Persians say that the Sister of Iman-Riza lyes interr'd; and they have it in great veneration. The River that runs under the Bridge comes from the Mountains of the North, and falls into the Lake Roumi, thirteen or fourteen Leagues from Tauris. They call it Aggisou, or Bitter-water; for the Water is very bad, and without any Fish. The Lake which is fifteen Leagues in compass, has the same quality, the Water being blackish: the Fish that happen into it out of other Rivers that fall into it, presently become blind, and in a short while are found dead by the Shoar. This Lake takes its name from a Province and a little City, which are both call'd Roumi, being not above eleven Leagues from Tauris.
In the middle of the Lake, upon the way that leads to a little City call'd Tokoriam, there is a little Hill that rises insensibly, the ascent whereof is very smooth, and out of it there rise many little Springs. The farther they run from the Head, the wider grow the Streams: and the Earth which they water is of two distinct qualities: the first Earth that is dig'd serves to make Lime: the next to that is a hollow spungy Stone, that is good for nothing: but under that again is a white transparent Stone, which you may see through as through Glass, which being smooth and polish'd serves to adorn the Houses. This Stone is only a congelation of the Waters of these Streams for sometimes you shall meet with creeping Animals congeal'd within. The Governour of the Province sent one piece to Sha-Abas, as a great Present, wherein there was a Lizard congeal'd of a Foot long. He that presented it to the Governour had twenty Tomans, or three hundred Crowns; afterwards I offer'd a thousand for the same Piece. In some parts of the Province of Mazandran, where the Euxin Sea stretches farthest into the Persian Territories, these congeal'd Stones are to be found, but not so frequently as near the Lake Roumi; and you shall many times find pieces of Wood and Worms congeal'd in the Stones. I brought away a Camels-loading of these Stones, and left them at Marseilles; till I could find what use to put them to.
CHAP.