'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.' [‎37] (458/594)

S o l y m a n III. Perfia.
fpeed for the Furniture of Perfons neceflary for the So-
lemnity.
Which before I declare at large, I am induced to think
it will not be amifs to make a defcription of the place
where it was performed. And this I fliall borrow from an
other Treatife of my own, wherein I have given a full ac-
compt of the Capital City of and what is in it moft
worthy obfervation.
Toward die North, very near the Walls of the Palace, over
againft one of the Gates that lead to the principal Entry, is an
ancient Apartment, built in a perfect Square, everf fide con
taining four and twenty foot. It was erected long ago by King
Talmas: From this Bulding to the Gate appears a very large
Alley, lhadcd with lofty Maples ^ all along the fides of which
from the Entrance to that Apartment are placed at the diftance
of ten or twelve Paces one from another, certain ftone Mangers
of a convenient height, and plaftered over with Lime and
Chalk, to tye the Horles that are made choice of out of the
Royal Stables to the number ufually of twelve or fifteen, or
fomecimes more upon high Feftival days, or when any Em-
bafladours or other Foreiners of great quality are admitted to
have their firft Andience of the King. At what time they are
conducted through this Alley through the midll of thelc Horfes
gorgeoufly harneffed. For all their Caparifons are enriched with
precious ftones as thick as they can lie ; the Chains, the Shooes,
the Hammers, the Buckets, the Curry-combs, in a word,
whatever is ufed in a Stable is all. of pure maffie Gold, as we
have already declared in its proper place. On the right and left
Hand of the Apartment, were to be feen certain Beds of Flowers
and Trees planted here and there at random according to the
ferfian manner, where Nature only feems to be the Garderies.
Before and toward the South the Garden extends it lelf in Breadth
and Length, divided as it were into Beds and Ipacious Plots,
parted one from another with tall Trees, and planted with fo
many forts of Flowers, that Tome continue blowing during all
the three warmer Seafons of the Year. This Apartment is
built for the mofl part of Carpenters Work ; nor is the Floor
of it level with the Superficies of the Alley, but raifed about
three foot above it. The Covering is Flat, fufteined with
turned Pillars, overlaid with Gold to aconfiderable thicknefs,
feme fix or feven and twenty foot high. The ground-work
of the Ceeling is of carved work in pieces anfwering one ano
ther, and forming Partitions, where the Gold glifters no lefs
than