Philosophical Transactions/Volume 12/Number 137/The Six Voyages of John Baptista Tavernier
Although there have been formerly some Observations recited out of this Book; yet being a Work so full of Natural, as well as other History; it doth therefore justly merit the following Account.
The whole Work is divided into Two Parts. The first, into Five Books: whereof the three former describe the Roads from Paris to Ispaham, the Capital City of Persia. The two latter are an History of Persia.
Of the Roads, he gives an account of no less than 21 considerable ones; with the several conveniencies and inconveniencies, times and stations, and ways of Travelling in them all. Particularly of Caravansera's and Government of the Caravans.
As he passeth, he sets down whatever he saw observable of the Ground, Waters, or Air of the Countrey. As for Example, a Plain of 12 hours Riding all pure Salt, p.31. Another Salt Plain of 2 Leagues broad, and 10 long, p.39. Ararat and other Mountains hid in the Clouds for three months together. Mountains of Salt, p. 143. Description of the Persian Gulph, Lake of Antioch, Black Sea, Tigris, Euphrates. That Water is scarce throughout Persia. That there is no River in it able to carry a Boat, except Aras. Seldom rains about Ispaham, but in April. About Lar, sometimes not of 3 years together. The Air of Bandor and Gomron most unwholsom by the West-Southwest Winds after March.
He notes the extent and divisions of the Empire of Persia. Describes the Countries, Cities, and People of Georgia; where the best Souldiers, and the Women the fairest in all Asia. Mengrelia Comania, Circassia. The Gaurs, Kalmouchs, Lesser Tartars, Christians of St. John. Of Cyprus, Santorini, Chio, Ormus, Malta, Cyclades, Milo, Paros. Of the principal Cities about the Black-Sea: Of Ispahan, Outfa, the capital City of Mesopotamia; Smyrna; Aleppo, the capital City of Syria; Syracuse, Messina, Nineveh, Balsara, Bagdat, Corinth, Athens, Ephesus, Antioch, Sardis Philadelphia, and many others.
Of these he observeth sometimes the original and number of Inhabitants. Usually their Buildings, as the great Piazza in Ispaham, the Mosque at Tauris, Churches, Colleges, Inns, Private Houses, Ruines of the Temple of Diana, Funeral Monuments, Bridge of Zulpha, Halicacaræ a great Town, the Houses whereof built all Underground. Chamber, Bedstead, Table, and Cupboard, all hew'd out of the Rock, &c. Some people dwelling only in Hollow Rocks. Others only in Tents and Wagons. Hezardgerib, the fairest Garden in all Asia, &c.
Their Habits. Games. Hawks taught to fly at the Wild Boar, Ass and Goat. Of their Race-Footmen. Most exact Shooting. Customes, Languages, Writing, and Seals.
Their Feasts, and Diet. How Potargo made. Acorn-Bread the only food of the Poor people near Sherazoul. People of Circassi make drink of Millet, and choose their Bread of that rather than Wheaten. Lesser Tartars drink no Water by their good will, but only Milk; refuse no Diet but Swines-flesh; never eat Salt, yet live long. How they feed their Cattel, &c.
Of their Diseases, Physicians, and Cures, some account. Gangrene in the Throat and Mouth a disease common about Erivan. Worms bred in the Limbs of a wonderful length. How the people of Comania and Circassia treat the sick, and cure the Head-ach, &c.
Commodities, Trades, and Coins. Tauris the Mart for Turky, Muscovy the Indies, and Persia. The Trade of Candy, and the chief Isles of the Archipelago, and of Smyrna, &c. They are excellent Damaskers. Have curious Manufactures of Gold, Silver and Silk, the best whereof from Cachan. Tells from whence Corins, Sallet-Oyl, Silks, the best Glue, the finest Wool, the Shagrin skin, fine blue Goat-Leather skins, Valanede for dying of Leather, &c. Nothing sold by Measure, but all by Weight. They have no Gold Coyn currant, but only Silver and Copper, whereof the Author gives several Figures; and tells at what rates the exchange of Mony is made, &c.
The Government of the Empire, Justice, and manner of Executions. The Exchequer. Officers of the Custome-Houses. Division of Time. Genealogies of the Persian Kings. How their Children bred. Their Revenues. Ecclesiastical Government and Revenues. Marriages, Christenings, and Burials, &c.
Of Animals; as of the breeding, nature, and sorts of Camels, Bufalo's, Arabian Horses. Jackauls, a kind of Foxes, Pigeons as big as Hens. Hawks, how bred. A Lake 6 Leagues off Tauris full of red Ducks. Locusts. Grand fishery for Sturgeon near Queli, &c.
Of Plants; as a particular sort of Quince Peppin. Some Orange trees as tall as Wallnut, and thicker than 2 men can fathom. How they order their Vines, and keep their Wines. Blue Lillies. Best Gauls near Tauris. Best Water-Melons at Cauverstan, &c.
Of their Pearls: the Island Bahren the great fishery and Market for them. A transparent Pearl. Large piece of Crystal containing a good quantity of water in the centre. The Stone called Amianthus in Cyprus. Great transparent Stones found near Tauris, wherewith they adorn their Houses and in which sometimes Animals, as in Amber. With a great number of particulars more, reducible to the Classes above specified.
The Second Part consists of 3 Books, whereto is premised a discourse of Coyns currant over all Asia, being Gold, Silver, Copper, several sorts of Shells & Almonds: of all which he gives the descriptions, value, & figures.
The first Book contains the descriptions of 11 or 12 great Roads from Ispahan and Gehenabat (where the Great Mogul resides,) and to divers other considerable places in the Indies.
The 2d Book is the History of the Empire & Court of the G. Mogul.
The third Book, an Account of the Religion of the Mahometan Indians. Of the Faquirs, and their Penances. Of the Idolatrous Indians, and their Pagods, Pilgrimages, Burning the Women with their deceased Husbands; and divers other Customes.
In these Books there are many things observable, both Natural, Moral and Civil, like to those above-mention'd out of the first Part: As of their Custome-Houses and Customes, Exchange, Weights, Measures, &c. Descriptions of Gehanabad, Amadabat, Baroche, and the Mountebanks there; Cambaya, Bengala, Bantam, Goa, and the famous Hospital there; Cape of good Hope, who cut out the right Testicles of all their Males. Of Boutan, the wonderful reverence the people have for their King. Of the Bramins and Camocks. The people of Saba, who never live above 40 years. The Bannians, who never kill any thing. Kingdom of Eipra, where the people have oftentimes great Wens under their Throats, especially the Women. Of Asem, Siam, and Golconda, Macassar & their Poysons. Borneo, govern'd not by Kings, but Queens.
He tells from whence Musk, Bezoar, with other medicinal Stones of Animals; the best Ivory. How they whiten Silk; whence the best painted Calico's, and how whiten'd. Whence Cinamon, the best Cardamoms, Pepper, Indigo, Opium, Gum-Lak, Wormseed, Cassia fistularis, Ambergreese, Coral, Agats, Borax, Salt Armoniack, Salt Peter. &c. and the cheats used about them, &c.
He informs us how Lions are tam'd; how Elephants taken, &c. Of the hooded Serpent of Melinde; of Siam with 2 heads, &c.
How long since, and by whom Coffee brought into use. Nutmeg-Tree never planted. An Emetick Root, which the Augans use. Tari, the sweet juyce of a Tree. A purging Sorrel at St. Helius. At Navapoura, a pure white Rice having the smell of Musk. The Cinamon-Tree describ'd, &c
Of the Diamond Mine; whereof there are 4 describ'd. The places, ground, manner of working, &c. The Weights, Money, and Rules to prize the Stones, used at the Mines.
Of Pearls, how bred; as also how, and where fished for, &c.
To these Two Parts are added, his Relation of the inner part or the Grand Seignor's Seraglio; never before expos'd to publick view.
To which is subjoyn'd (by another Hand) a short description of all the Kingdoms which encompass the Euxine and Caspian Seas; delivered by the Author after above 20 years Travel. Together with a Preface containing several remarkable Observations of the abovesaid Countries.
IMPRIMATUR,
London; Printed for John Martyn, Printer to the R. Society, 1678.