Page:The Six Voyages of John Baptista Tavernier.djvu/69

The twenty-third we travel'd not above five hours because it was the time of the Turks Beiram, or Easter, which our Caravan, consisting of Turks, would needs solemnize. That day we travel'd through an indifferent good Country, and well till'd, where we discover'd several fair Villages; and we lodg'd upon a rising Ground, from whence we had a very fair and far distant Prospect.

The twenty-fourth we travel'd six hours, and came to lodge in a Meadow where the Water was bad. Near to that place, we discover'd a Plain that extends it self eight or ten Leagues in length, though it be not above one or two in bredth: it seem'd like a Lake; and indeed it is only a salt Water congeal'd, and thickn'd into Salt, which you can hardly dissolve but in fair Water. This Lake furnishes almost all Natolia with Salt; where you may buy a Wagon-load drawn by two Bufalo's for 45 Sous. It is call'd Douslag, or The Place for Salt; and the Basha of Coushahar, about two days journey from it, gets by it 24000 Crowns a Year. Sultan Amurath caus'd a Dike to be cut quite thorough it when his Army march'd to the Siege of Bagdat, which he took from the Persian.

The twenty-fifth we travel'd nine or ten hours, and met not with one Village, the Country being all desert. We lodg'd upon a rising Ground, near a good Fountain call'd Cara-dache-cesmé, or, The Fountain of the Black Stone.

The twenty-sixth we pass'd through a great Village call'd Tshekenagar, in a pleasant situation, but very ill built; and after we had travel'd eight hours, we came to lodge in a delightful Meadow, near another Village call'd Romcouché.

The twenty-seventh we travel'd nine hours through Countries full of Licorice, and having pass'd a great Town call'd Beserguenlou, we lodg'd in a Meadow.

The twenty-eighth we cross'd a great River, call'd Jechil-irma, over a long well built stone Bridge. At the end of the Bridge call'd Kessré-kupri stands a great Village, wherein the greatest part of the Houses are built under Ground, like Foxes Holes. We put on farther, and after seven hours travel, we lodg'd below another great Village call'd Mouchiour, where there are abundance of Greeks, which they constrain ever and anon to turn Turks. The Country being inhabited by Christians, and fit for the Plantation of Vines, there is Wine good store, and very good, but it has the scent of the Wines of Anjou. The Village is well situated but ill built, most of the Houses being under Ground, in so much that one of the Company riding carelesly, had like to have faln into a House.

The twenty-ninth we rode for seven hours through a pleasant Country, where we saw several Villages; near to one of which the Caravan lodg'd in a Meadow, close by a Fountain.

The thirtieth we rode through a flat Country, well manur'd, and stop'd near a River wherein there was but very little Water: it is call'd Cara-sou, or, The Black River. For two or three days together, at every two Leagues distance we observ'd little Hillocks of Earth artificially rear'd, which they told us were rais'd during the Wars of the Greeks to build Forts upon, for Watch-Towers.

The thirty-first we travel'd a very uneven Country, but abounding in Wheat, and after we had travel'd nine hours, we lodg'd in a Meadow near a River, which we cross'd next Morning before day, over a stone Bridge.

The thirty-second, after we had travel'd eight hours, we lodg'd by a River, where we saw a great number of Turcomans: They are a People that live in Tents like the Arabians, and they were then leaving that Country to go to another, having their luggage in Wagons drawn by Bufalo's.

The thirty-second we met again with Mountains and Woods, which we had not seen in 18 days before, which had constrain'd us to carry Wood upon our Camels to dress our Provision: We were very sparing of it, and sometimes made use of dry'd Cows dung or Camels dung, when we came near the Waters where they were wont to drink. We travel'd eight hours that day, and lodg'd in a Meadow where the Grass was very high; yet where there had been Houses formerly standing.

The thirty-fourth we forded a deep and rapid River call'd Jangou, from the Name of the Town next to it. A little above the place where we forded it, we saw a ruin'd Bridge, which had been built over it.

The thirty-fifth we travel'd eight hours through a fair Valley well manur'd, and upon the left hand we left a Castle rais'd upon a Rock. The Caravan lay that night upon a rising Ground near a Village.

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