'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.' [‎377] (360/594)

through the Black-Sea,, and t Colchis. 977
true,that there arc a great number in it which are ruin'd, but
notonethat isentirej nor doe there inhabit in it any Chriftiansi
The 7 th we traVell'd fix Leagues in a Country more lovely
then that already defcrib'd, where we came to a Village at the
end of every thoufand paces; and we could fee at a diftance
an infinite number of others,furrounded with Groves of Wil«
lows and Poplers: and environ'd which delightful Meadows.
We lay at Hibie, a very fair and fair and large Village ; and
feated near to a Town that is wall'd and well peopl'd,
which is call'd San-cata : which word being abbreviated figni=>
fies the CaHle of Hafan.
The %th. Our Horfes were fo tir'd that we could get no
farther then Ebher, which is no more then two leagues frorri
Htbie-, though we travell'd all the way over moft of thofe de
lightful and pleafant Plains already mention'd, diredting
our Courfe ftill to the South. Now that which makes thofe
places fo delightful is the great Number of Rivulets, with
which they are water'd, and the good Husbandry of the lnha«
bitants. For as I have already laid, the foyl of the 'Parthians
is dry and barren of it felf; neverthelefs wherever it can be
water'd, it produces whatever the Manurer pleafes to have it,
fair and good in its Kind,
Ebher is but a fmall City, counting only the buildings 5
for it contains not above two thoufand five hundred Houfes;
but to thofe Houfes belong fo many Gardens, and thofe fo
large, that it is good riding for a Horfcman to crofs it in half
an hour, A fmall River, that bears the name of the City,
runs through the middle of it, from one end to the other. It
is faid to be the fame City which the Ancients call'd Baron-
tha. The fituation of it is jolly and delightful, the Air very
wholfom, and the Soyl produces plenty of Fruit and other
Provifions. The buildings are tolerably handfom ; and the
Inns, the Taverns and other publick Structures very well,
confidering the Place. It contains three fpacious Mofquees 5
and in the middle of the City are to be leen the Ruins of
a Caftle built of Earth. It lies diftant from the 56
deg, 45.min.and from the fortunate Iflands, 48. deg. ^o. mku
Which Longitude,and all others that I obferve, are tak'n from
the new Terjian Tables. It is govern'd by a 'Darogut-,ot 1
and the Mirtjhecar'bajhi, or Chief has his Affigna-
tions of Money charg'd upon the Revenue of this City. Which
aflignation iscall'd Tahiti.Of the fignification of which
Word we fhall fpeak more at large in another Place.