'The travels of Sir John Chardin into Persia and the East Indies, through the Black Sea, and the country of Colchis. Containing the author's voyage from Paris to Ispahan. To which is added, the coronation of the present King of Persia, Solyman the III.' [‎122] (151/594)

TheTra-veh of Sir John Chardin Perfia,
ready faid, and confifts of Goods and Commodities of feveraf
forts; of which they ate oblig'd to fend a good fliare to the
Prince, the Princefs, to the Vizier, and the Principal Gentle
men of the Country. Father Zampi therefore promis'd to
bring her the accuftom'd Prefent the next day, and that I my
Iclf Ihould bring her one likewile > and fo latisfi d, God be
thanked, fire went away.
The 19th in the Morning (he fent to invite me to Dinner,
whither I went with Father Zampi and another She
was then at a Houfe about two Miles from ours. For flie
did not live with the Prince, who could not endure her, but
hated her to death, in regard he had been fore'd to marry hen
I found her in a Drefs fomewhat richer then the day before ;
fhe was likewife painted; and had us'd all her Skill to fet her
felf out to the beft Advantage. Her Habit was of Cloth of
Gold, the Attire of her Head Glifter'd with Precious Stones:
but for her Vail it was altogether Curious and Gay, and of a
particular Fafliion. She fate upon a Carpet, having on each
lide Nine or Ten Women that belong'd to her Chamber 5 for
her Maids of Honour Were, as they faid, retir'd for fafety to a
Fortrefs by reafon of the Wars. The Hall was full of
jhames half Naked, which compos'd her Court. Before I was
admitted, I was ask'd for the Prefent I had brought. Which
was carry'd by a Lacquey, who gave it to fome of her Ser
vants; confiding of Paftes of Gen Ribbands, Paper, Needles,
Twizers, Knives and Scillars, all Neat and Curious. The
whole coft about Forty Shillings *, but worth above a Five
Pounds in Mingrelia. The Princefs wasextreamly pleas'd ; and
when {he had feen 'cm, fent for me into her Prefence. Where
the Slave that fpake Turhjfh order'd me to fit down upon a
Bench that was clofe by. Prelently the firft thing fhe faid to
me was, That fhe would marry me to one of her Friends, and
that flie would not have me to leave the Country, for that (he
would give me Houfes, Lands, Slaves and Tenants. After
that flie fell into the fame Difcourfe as the Day before ; but
it lafted not long, becaufe the People gave her Notice that
Dinner was ready.
The Houle where flie liv'd was in the midil of five or fix
others, every one a hunderd Paces diftant from it, without
any Fence either of Hedge Or Wall. Before it flood a large
Eflrade or Afcent of about eighteen Inches high, cover'd
with a kind of a Duomo. 1 his they fpread with Carpets j
where alio fate ths Princefsj and her Women about four Paces
from