'Some years travels into divers parts of Africa, and Asia the great. Describing more particularly the empires of Persia and Industan: interwoven with such remarkable occurrences as hapned in those parts during these later times. As also, many other rich and famous kingdoms in the oriental India, with the isles adjacent. Severally relating their religion, language, customs and habit: as also proper observations concerning them.' [‎174] (195/448)

JJharaff
And Lilian lib. 5. Animalmm reports, That Alexander marching hence into India law a
Serpent 70 cubits long, none fuch now in this Countrey ^ but that there are Serpents of
like prodigious bignefs, Petrm Crinitm relates, That one of 50 cubits length was nou-
riflit by Ottavm-C^ar at Rome. Strdo exceeds thefe, Dracones centum cubit or um mag.
nitudinls in Ethiopia funt: In Ethiopia are Serpents a hundred cubits long *, Sed an vo-
lantes vel reptantes, qmritur.
Next night we got into JJharaff, a City upon the Mare Cajpmm, The Emperour of
Perfia was here at this time, expeding the Ambafladour ^ unwilling to remove till he
came; and (as we thought) reiting there fo long both that we might fee the extent of
his Empire, and likewife have a profped of the better parts of Perfia. The Sultan of
the Town attended with fifty Coofelbajhaes, met the Ambafladour three miles from the
Court*, and having civilly brought us into Aftaraff, ufhered us to our lodging: I may
fay Us, for the Ceremony was very much below the Quality of fo eminent a Perfon a?
an AmbalTadour,
ASH AR AFF (or Ahajhuraff^nd yet I dare not fay fo named from Ahafnerm) is di-
ftant about two miles from the Cajpian Sea: feated in a low ground, many laltMariflies
circumvolving her, and but meanly watered:, no other but a fmall Spring (Maxera in
Ptolemy) ftreaming from the T aurtftan Mountains drills in two branches through it, the
broader of which is not five yards over •, yet in former times a River of good breadth.
But no wonder we croffed over fo few that we could call Rivers, feeing the People cut
them into many fmall fluces, and divert the ftream to ferve their occafions *, fo that oft
times the true Channel is not to be difcerned. This pradice is no new thing, no lefs
ancient than Cyrm the Great •, who to retaliate the lofs of his Men which were drowned
in palfing the River Gyndes (a branch of Euphrates in AJfyria, J divided it into above
three hundred little Streams, fo as the main Channel became loft. This was principally
in revenge for the lofs of his white Palfrey, a Beafl: which was of the Nijkan breed,
the beft Media ( nay the World ) brought forth, as Sen. de ira lib. 3. c. 2 3. Howbeit, the
ground here is reafonable fat, but incultivated ^ the greater part of her Inhabitants
ploughing in Campo Martio, I judge two thoufand Families live in this Town •, and no
doubt increafe daily, the King having but of late alFeded this place. His Palace is
pretty large, and but newly finilhed^ albeit Farrahaut the Hyrcan Metropolis but
five miles Weft thence is the place where the Seat Royal in that Countrey has been-kept
for fome Generations. Abajfebaut alfo not above two mil^ thence furpaifes for a cu
rious Summer^houfe, excelling all his other for profped. Painting, Hummum, Water
works, and a Foreft which is ftored with game of feveral forts: fo as it attrads the
King, who where ever he ftays long makes Cities of fmall Villages.
The Buvj^ar here is but ordinary •, and the Machits not to be admired. The Palace is
large ; and looks into very pleafant Gardens •, albeit the Building it felf be not very
regular, but rather confufedly divides it felf into four Mohols or Banqueting-houfes,
which be gorgeoufly painted. Were thefe united, they might better delight the eye,
and caufe the Archited to be commended : But more of it at the Ambaifadour's Audi
ence. Abajfebam fignifies Abbas his Garden: and though I find a Town mentioned in
Ptolomy called Abafena in his time, I may not conclude it to be this, feeing he places
that in Media.
The Pole Artick is here elevated eight and thirty degrees feventeen minutes it is due
North from Spaham, as we obferved in our ftar-light travel, (for in the Summer feafon
the days are raging hot and not to be travelled in,) Arftwrns was ever right before us.
From the Gulph as we travelled from Ormns to this place are a thoufand Englijh miles:
from Spaham three hundred and fifty or thereabout, as we reckoned.
Before I give you a brief furvey of Hyrcania, let me prefent a fhort narration of our
The Am- Ambalfadour's Audience and Entertainment. After four days repofe, the King alligned
baffadour hi m his day of audience. It was the five and twentieth of May, our Sabbath, and the
has Ah- fag-endof their Ramadan or Lent; advantageous to the though I will not
dience. fay it Ipared him the charge of an entertainment. Sir Dodmore Cotton our Ambaffadour
had Sir Robert Sherley in his company, with my felf and feven or eight other En^lijh
Gentlemen his- followers: Good reafon it was fome Sultan or other fhould convoy and
fliew him the way, (the Court being a quarter of a mile diftant from our Houfe; ) but
what ill office was done at Court, I am not able to divine i for a fmall Cavalcade it was,
yet fo it happened that notice was given by a Courrier from Mahomet Ally-beg the Favou
rite : So as to the Court his Lordftup got, very few of the Town having notice of his
time of Audience; as appeared by thofe few that came out either to fee him pafs, or
to view the manner of his reception', which without doubt was the produd of the Fa
vourites
174.