'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.' [‎158] (187/594)

-g <TbeTrawls of Sir John Ghardin Perfia,
Gonie is a large Caftle, four-fquare, built of hard and rough
Stones of* an extraordinary bullc 2 feaced upon the Sea-fide up*
on a Sandy Foundation. It has neither Trenches nor Fortifi
cations i but only four Waifs and two Gates, one that opens
Eaftward upon the Sea, and another to the North : Nor did I
lee any more then only two great Guns for its defence. With
in there are about Thirty pitiful, low, Imall, inconvenient
Houfes, built only of Boards : And without, clofe by it, ftands
a Village con filling of as many more Habitations. Almoft all
the Inhabitants Marriners: which is the reafon that the Coun
try is call'd Laru i Lai. in the Turkifh Language properly fig-
nifylng a Seaman .* and Figuratively, a Clownilli, Boarifli, Sa
vage Fellow: Thefe La%i are all
There is a Cuftom-Houfe at Gw«?,which has the Reputation
of being very Rude and Imperious j yet was not quite fo cruel
as they made me believe it was: and yet as ic is fevere enough
to the People of the Country, fo is it really a place that cuts
the very Throats of the Europeans. They have no regard to
the Quality of the Ferlbns, nor the Paflports of the Sig-
nior, nor for any Recommendations from the 'Tis in
vain therefore to exped any Relief from thence They who
Command in thofe extream parts of the Empire believing thetn-
felves at a diftance remote enough from the reach of the Grand
Sign tor.
So foon as the Felouke came to be Moor'd to the Key, my
Servant leap d afhoar with a mod: extravagant Tranfport of
Joy: he caft up his Eyes to Heav'n, kifs'd the Earth 5 he be-
iftow'd a Thoufand Curfes upon Mingrdia , but to the Country
of the Turh^she wifli'd all the Happinefs imaginable. Pre-
fently after, leaving me, he went into the Caftle, at a time
that I had more need of him then ever. And indeed I had
a great Jealoufie that he was gone to difcover as much as he
thought he knew concerning me. For when the Officer of the
Cuftom-Houfe and the Deputy-Governor came to take No
tice what was unladed out of the Felouke, and to demand the
Cuftoms, they prefently gave me to underftand, that they knew
I was an European, told me the Misfortunes which had befall'n
me in Mingrelia, and the Defign which I had to go to
Which furpriz'd me extreafnly, perceiving fo well that I was
betray'd. Neverthelefs I was not at all troubl'd at it; for
GOD through his Mercy ftill infpir'd me with Refblution.
Befides, I was fiire of one thing, that my Servant did not
know particularly who I was. I had entertain'd him into my
, ■ t lervice