Page:The Six Voyages of John Baptista Tavernier.djvu/97
Master and not shew him the Watch entire. It wat at their House that I then lay and therefore not knowing what to do with it, they desir'd me to shew my skill: Thereupon I put on a new string. But the Ambassador when he understood to whom he was beholding, though it were but a trifle, profer'd me all the service and kindness imaginable. Thereupon the Carmelites and Augustin Fryars desir'd me to request of the Ambassador in their behalf, that he would obtain the Great Turks protection for them, in case he took Balsara, that their Houses and Churches might be preserv'd; which I did, and obtain'd by his means full protection from the Grand Visier. But they had no need of it, for the Turks did not make any attempt upon Balsara, hearing that the Persians were advancing; besides that the rainy season was at hand, which will not permit an Army to keep the Field: So that had Bagdat held out eight days longer, the Grand Signor would have been constrain'd to have rais'd the Siege.
Having spoken of the Arabian Horses, I must needs say, that there are some that are valu'd at a very high rate. The Mogul's Ambassador gave for some three, four, and six thousand Crowns, and for another he offer'd eight thousand Crowns, but the Horse would not be sold under ten, and so he left it. When he was got home into the Indies, and had presented the Mogul those Horses which he had carry'd along with him, being very lovely Creatures; he told his Master how he had offer'd eight thousand Crowns for a Horse more beautiful than any of them; but because the Owner would not let him go under ten, he left him. The King incens'd that his Ambassador had stood for so small a Sum, when it was for one of the greatest Monarchs in the World, upbraided the poorness of his Spirit, and banish'd him for ever from his presence, into a Province far distant from the Court. Thereupon the King wrote to the English to buy him the Horse, who accordingly did so, and brought him to Surat, where the Governour re-paid them their Money. But the Horse dy'd at Brampour.
Nor must I forget, that while I was at Balsara, twice there flew by such a prodigious number of Locusts, that a-far-off they appear'd like a Cloud, and darkn'd the Air. They pass by Balsara four or five times in the year, the Wind carrying them into the Desert, where they alight, and most certainly dye. Should they not be thus wind-driv'n, there could nothing live upon the Earth in some parts of Chaldea. They swarm all along the Persian Gulf, and when the Vessels come to Ormus at the time of the year, there are little Shops where people sell Locusts fry'd in Butter to those that love that sort of Diet. Once I had the curiosity to open the Belly of a Locust six Inches long, and found therein seventeen little ones that stirr'd; whence it is easie to guess how those Insects come to be so numerous, especially in hot Countries.
There are several Barks that go from Ormus to furnish both sides of the Persian Gulf, where the people eat neither Bread nor Rice. I agreed with the Master of one of these Barks, and made my agreement that the Bark should not be above half laden, for generally they lade them too deep, and in foul weather they are forc'd to throw half the Freight over-board, to save the rest.
From Balsara to the mouth of the River Euphrates, it is reck'nd to be twenty Leagues of Fresh-water. We staid seven whole days for a Wind, which proving favourable, we came to Brander-ric, in forty-eight hours. This is the place where you must land, if you intend for Persia, unless you are bound for Ormus. Brander-ric consists only of five or six little Fishers Hutts; which Hutts are only Hurdles set one against another, and cover'd over, where they and their Families live. To the same place come Asses lad'n with Dates, which I was forc'd to hire for want of Horses.
We were six days upon the Road from thence to Cazerom. This is a Mountainous Country, where there is Wood enough; but you must lodge in the Fields, for there are no Inns upon the Road. The way is pleasant in some places, along the Banks of several Rivulets, and through verdant Groves stor'd with great quantities of Turtles. We kill'd a good many, which we eat, part with Pilaw, instead of Henns; some we rosted; making Sticks to serve for Spits.
Cazerom is a little City ill built, where there is but one Inn, and that none of the most inviting to Strangers neither.
From Cazerom to Schiras it is five days journey. The Road lyes over very craggyMountains,