'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.' [‎244] (279/594)

The Tray els of Sir John Cliardin Perfia,
ferve their Dominion, while as Hiftories aflure us, all the moft
Eminent Captains that ever invaded fubdu'd it under
their Subjedion in their feveral turns. It was the Theatre of
the laft Wars between the Turks and ferfians ; while the Tm ly
fought to have had it all entire 5 though at length they were
content to (hare it with the Perfian yet not fo but that they
have had the greateft part.
The 6th, 1 continu'd my Journey, half dead as I was with
Cold and a Dyfentery. But the hopes I was in to meet at E-
rivan with all neceffary Aecommo Jations for my Cure, made
me haften thither, notwithftanding all the Pains that I felt. So
that we Travell'd Four Leagues and arriv'd at a confide-
rable Village feated at the Foot of a Mountain upon the River
Zengui. We lodg'd at a fair Monaftery built be
tween the Village and the Mountain. This Monaftery is an
Ancient Foundation between Eight and Nine Hunderd Years
ftanding. The Cloifter is built after the Fafhion of the Coun
try, encompafs'd with High and Thick Walls of Free Stone.
Near to the Monaftery are to be feen the R nines of Towers,
Caftles, and Ramparts in fo great a Number, that it renders
very probable what the People of the Country report, that
'Bichni has been one of the ftrong Places of I lodg'd
in the Convent, where the Monks receiv'd me with great Ci
vility, and put me into the faireft Apartiment they had, only
I could by no means prevaile with 'em to let me have a Fowl
to make a little Broth, becaule it was their time of Lent. So
that my Guide was fore'd to ufe his Authority, even to the
holding up his Cane to procure me a few Eggs. Toward the
Evening I had a defire to Drink fome Coffee, which my Guide
brought me boyl'd with a little Sugar; and of that I Drank
Four fmall Glafles as hot as I could , which done, I lay'd me
down well cover'd before a good Fire. To which feeble Re
medy it pleas'd GOD to give fo great a Blefling, that I flept
without Interruption all that Night, and the next Morning
found my felf wholly cur'd of this Diftemper.
The 7th, I fet forward by break of Day, after I had made
a fmall Prefent to the Monaftery. All that day we travelfd
over Plains all cover'd with Snow as the day before. And
indeed it is not only troublefome but very dangerous to travel
through thofe deep Snows. The Mifchief is "that the Beams
of the Sun which lye all the day long upon it, moleft the
Eyes and Face with fuch a fcorching Heat, as verv much
weak ns the Sight, whatever Remedy a Man can apply j by
+ wearing