'Collections of travels through Turky into Persia, and the East Indies. Giving an account of the present state of those countries, as also a full relation of the five years wars, between Aureng-Zebe and his brothers in their father's life time, about the succession. And a voyage made by the Great Mogul (Aureng-Zebe) with his Army from Dehli to Lahor, from Lahor to Bember, and from thence to the Kingdom of Kachemire, by the Mogols, call'd, the Paradise of the Indies. Together with a relation of the Kingdom of Japan and Tunkin, and of their particular manners and trade. To which is added a new description of the Grand Seignior's Seraglio, and also of all the Kingdoms that encompass the Euxine and Caspian Seas, being the travels of Monsieur TavernierBernier, and other great men.' [‎97] (646/1024)

The Tuhlijher unto the Reader.
he men with a kind reception 3 had land allotted him, and his Company 5 which Re
gion is called Campus Cumanus unto this day. This Countrey was lb miierably wa
fted by the Tartars that in the Years 1253, and 1254, when Ruhriqm palled through
it, going unto and returning from his Ambaffage to Mangu Charts there was no fixed
habitation^ excepting a few Cottages in the Illand where Afiracan is now fitu-
aued.
Blit Bathy having deftroyed the Comanians^ ruinated their Cities, and efiablilhed his
own Dominion^ began to think of a fix’d aboade, which after long oblervation he
diOi v r , on the Eaff-fide, and immediately beneath the River A5a~
hn, a great Arm of the Volga^ and the firft it difmifles, which empties it (elf
into the Cajfian Sea ( having run a courfe of near 400 miles, and received feveral
other Branches from the forefaid River ) about 7 Leagues Eaft off the main River.
He had newly began this City at the return ol Rubriqm from his Embaffage unto Man
gu Chans in the year 1246, and called Serai ; which City was enlarged and beau
tified by all his Succeflors, unto the time of its deftru&ion by Tamerlane, which was '
almofl 150 years. Bathy was fucceeded by Barcah, who was the jfirft profeffed
Mahumetan Emperour ; he by Hocola, or Hob ay. Contemporary with Haytm the Ar-
mnmjfjho hath in his Hiftory largely difeourfed concerning him: I fhould here men
tion ail the other Emperours interceeding between Hocota and Tuchtamifcb ( who was
difpoflefTed by Tamerlane ) together with their Adis, but that I haften unto that which
rnoft immediately concerns our prefent Defign, and give forne account of this
City, which (aslfaid) was fir ft named Serai, which interpreted figniftes only a
Dwelling or Habitation 5 the beginning of it being a Palace* built for Bathy. You may
fee what our T raveller fays concering it, Page 1 12. Befides him 1 find two Authors
vyho make particular mention thereof; the firft is in the Hiftory of Arabfhiade, pub-
lifkd by Golius. ^ This Author reprelents it as one of the greateft and moft populous
Cities’ in the Univerfe, agrees with our Traveller in the fituation, only he calls
that Branch which runs out of the Volga and pafles to the South-Eaft, Senck. The
other is Michovius, who wrote his Hiftory of the Tartars in the year. 1515. He
afhrms, Thar in his time there remained the mines of 300 Temples befides the
Walls of the City, and feveral other Magmhcent Structures. The Tar ter s havefe-
vera! times attempted to re-edifie it, but divifions amongft themfclves, Wars with
tac Mufiovites, and attempts of the Cojfacks caufed them to retire unto places of
greater fecurity. But becaufe little mention is made of this great Revolution by any
European Writer The lowest of the four classes into which East India Company civil servants were divided. A Writer’s duties originally consisted mostly of copying documents and book-keeping. I fhall here prefent the Reader with an account thereof out of the
rooft Authentick Turfyjb, Arabian, and Perfian Writers. Eor Calcondilas is greatly mi-
paten, w ^° teems to have received by his confident way of writing, moft particular
formation, when as nothing can be more remote from the truth than what he af-
Mms,yiz, That Tamerlane after feveral attempts, and two or three Battles was forced
to retire, ^nd glad to fecure his Retreat by a Peace, he^ firft made with Tuckfha-
nufeo, which was by both afterwards kept inviolable; which is contrary to the Re-
p , 0 F ts much more Authentick Hiftorians. The (Origin, Progrefs, and Event of
tills ^ was after the enfuing manner.
Tamerlane being in cfTeft Prince, but in name only Courachan (the Greehy call it
f l ^ a£: i s 3 Viceroy or General over all thole Countries which are comprehend-
f etween the Oxus and Jaxartes, wherein Bochara, Samarkand, and teveral other
arnous Cities were contained, extended his Conquefts towards' Batch and Chorafan,
? nc . A nn *enrs;) which progrefs of his, filled Tbuetamifch Emperour of
w?. r we have beforementioned 3 with jealoufies of his growing Greatnefs;
| * *ci ciipQf] gathering a numerous Army, herefolved to invade him,ufing no forma-
V or to much as pretence, he thought to have furprized his Enemy ; but Tamer-
fi '-u ne Vlafter-pieccs was to gain early Intelligenc of whatfoever was de-
ortt'^nteffed bv^neighbouring Princes, having timely notice of his intention,
^ icnugaH his own Forces, together with confiderable aliiftance from his Confe-
marched dircTly towards his Enemy, and palling the Jaxartes, met him to
Iv'l^imahaftonilhmcnt, on the Borders oi his own Conn trey; for the Jaxartes cn-
tb- V n' 0 t ' lclr ^ cri V° r ies. After a moft obftinate bloody fight, Tamerlane gained
v Victor 7 ? yet neither abfolute, nor without great lols, but it was. fufficiem that he
> had