'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.' [‎341] (318/594)

through the Black-Sea ^ and th Colehis. 541
all the Conveniencies of a Palace even to the very Baches and
Stoves, His Family confided of about Five Hundred Menj
without reckoning the Women and And it is the
Cuftom of the Grandees of this Kingdom to folace them*
felves in this manner in the Country in the Spring Time;
There they divertize themfelves in Hunting, Fifliing, Walk
ing and employ themfelves in feveral other Exercifes, both a
Foot and on Horfe-back- There they fuck in the freQi Air, and
enjoy that Coolnefs which they fo much delight in. This is
the Refrediment and Recreation of their Lives; fo that if they
have no bufmefs in the City which requites their Prefence
there, they continue thus taking their pleafure all the Summer
long,' in the moft delicious parts of the Neigbouring Moun^
taines. This they call lelac : or a Country Excurfion.
The 6. The Prince's Treafurer gave me a Dinner.and the
Kinos Lieutenant of the Fortrefs was at it. He is a Native
of Dar-EJtaan. Which is a Mountainous Country to the
NortbEaft of the Cafpian Sea, and bordering upon Mu/coVte.
So that 1 took great delight to hear him repeat feveral parti*
culars of the Cuftomes and Manners of his Country. The
King of ferfta is acknowledg'd there as Soveraign Lord ; but
he is not abiolute Mafter of it: nor are the People that inha
bit it always fubjedl to his Commands. And the Court
winks at their Difobediences ; it being a difficult thing to re
duce em by reafon of the Roughnefs and Height of the
Mountaines. They are a Savage fort of People, and the
moft barbarous of all the Eaft : and I take em to be fome
Remainders of the Mians. The fame Evening that Gen-
tlemin lent me a Prefent of FruitjWine, and Mutton.
The 7.The Treafurer fenc memucK fuch another Preleat 5 as
the Governor had fent me the day before: and I repay d em in
fmall Returnes for the Favors I had receiv'd from Both. They
had been very civil to me at Eriyan not fo much as ottering
to take thofe fees, which men are obligd to pay in Terfta to
the Officers of Governors, for all the Money receiv d out ot
their Treafuries 5 for that their Mafter had forbid em to de»
rrand any thing of me. And therefore they did me thole
Kindnefles to oblige me to be the more free of my own ac
cord; well knowing I was not fo ignorant of the Cuitomes ot
the Country, but that I knew that it was not any motion ot
Generofity, that made em fo courteous to Strangers.
In the Afternoon I went i;o the Camp, to take leave ot the
Governor; who fhew'd me a thoufand Civilities; and at my