Page:The Six Voyages of John Baptista Tavernier.djvu/98

Mountains, which had been impassable, but for the Liberality of Ali-Couli-Kan, Governour of Schiras. He made Ways where there were none before, and joyn'd Mountains together by Bridges, in Countries which otherwise had been inaccessible. In the midst of the Mountains is a wide gap or discontinuance, from whence a Plain extends it self of about twenty Leagues in circuit. It is inhabited by Jews only, who are Silk-Weavers. In these Mountains you meet with Tents, where the Chaldeans sojourn, that come for cool Air and Pasturage in the Summer.

Coming to Schiras, I took Horse there for Ispahan, where I arriv'd in nine days. The Country over which you travel, between these two Cities, is part Plains, part Mountains; part wild, and part manur'd. Three days journey from Schiras you pass the Mountain of Mayen, a little City where there is nothing worthy observation. Two days journey from thence you enter upon the Plains of the Province of Cuscuzar, where the King of Persia keeps his Race-Horses. The next day I arriv'd at Yesdecas, where the best Bread in Persia is made. This is a little City upon a Rock, wherein there is a very fair Inn: at the foot whereof runs a little River that glides into the Valley, wherein grows that excellent Corn which is utter'd in Bread from that City.

In three days I went from Yesdecas to Ispahan. This was the first Road from Aleppo to Ispahan.

I departed from Paris in my third Voyage to the Indies upon the sixth of December 1643, and went to Ligorn, where I found the Dutch Fleet ready to set Sail for the Levant. The Vessel wherein I embark'd seeming rather a Man-of-War than a Merchant-Man. We pass'd through the Channel of Messina, and lay there at an Anchor four days before the City. From thence passing by the Morea, we enter'd into the Archipelago, where the Fleet parted, according as every Ship was bound. Our Ship sayl'd directly for the Port of Alexandretta, but though the Wind were favourable, we were stop'd for some time by a Pirate that met with us off the Eastern Point of Candy. We endeavour'd to have got clear of him; but the Pirate gaining upon us, we made ready. Thereupon the Pirate gave us three Broad-sides, that went over the Ship without doing us any harm: which we answer'd by as many from our Ship, the first whereof brought his Fore-mast by the Board; and the third Shot went through the Fore-castle and kill'd him some Men, as far as we could discern. At that very instant one of our Mariners cry'd out from the Top-mast-head, A Sail from the South. Thereupon the Pirate left us, and made Sail after her: and we, glad of such an escape, pursu'd our Voyage to Alexandretta, where we happily arriv'd; from whence I took Horse for Aleppo, as I have already describ'd.

The sixth of March I departed from Aleppo in the company of two Capuchin Friars, Father Raphael and Father Yves, and a Venetian whose name was Dominica de Sanctis.

From Aleppo to Bir, where you cross the Euphrates, it is four days journey for the Horse-Caravan. The Country is well wooded, and well manur'd.

The seventh of March the great Rains that fell hinder'd us from getting to the usual Stage, so that we could not gain Telbechar, another Town, where there is no Inn: which constrain'd us to stop a League on this side, and to go to a Cave that was able to contain three hundred Horse. This is a Cave where the Bedouins or Feeders of Cattel thereabouts oft retire, who live after the manner of the Arabs, either in Rocks or in poor Hutts. The Cave has been hollow'd from time to time, there being several Niches in it like little Chambers. Our Caravan-Bashi fearingsome