'Some years travels into divers parts of Africa, and Asia the great. Describing more particularly the empires of Persia and Industan: interwoven with such remarkable occurrences as hapned in those parts during these later times. As also, many other rich and famous kingdoms in the oriental India, with the isles adjacent. Severally relating their religion, language, customs and habit: as also proper observations concerning them.' [‎155] (176/448)

(jeorgians and
expreffing their joy, we were conduded to another Houfe of the King's, which was at
the South-eaft end of the City, through which a broad fluce of Water had its courfe into
the Zinderout, which made our lodging the more delightful
The fourth day after our being in Spahamy Mr. Burt the EngUJh Agentj and a very
accomplHhed Merchant feafted our Ambalfador^ expreiTing a very noble entertain
ment and hearty welcome i where, according to the mode of Perfia, there was ftore of
odoriferous Flowers and fweet Water *, agreeable to the old cuftom mentioned by Plu
tarch in the life of Artaxerxes, where the King entertaining Antalcidas the Lacedemo
nian, circled his brows with a Garland of Flowers wet with molt fweet and precious
ovls' which perfumed the place. At night a large Tanck of Water was furrounded with
lighted Tapers, artificially uniting two contrary ElementsSquibs alfo and other' Fire
works, for the more honour of the Feaft •, fuch as made the admire. Next day
Hodve -nazjir the Armenian Prince was vifited by the Ambafladour at his Houfe in JeL
phea: A Chriflian he profeifes himfelf; but (I muft be bold to fay) his HOUfe Was fur-
niftied with fuch beaftly Pidures, fuch ugly poitures as indeed are not fit to be remem-
bred : For God calleth not unto uncleannefs, but to Holinefs. Yet forafmuch as he
profe 'lTed himfelf a Chrifiian, that golden faying mSedulm lib. 2. is fit to be writ upon
his Wall, Dem fernyer adeft. As alfo that which the Prophet Jeremiah declares ch. 44.
ver. 4. in the odium of that infandnm peccatHm, It is abominable-, for the Lord hateth it. Yea,
Seneca a Heathen hath this excellent faying, Si fcirem homines ignoraturos & deos ignofcitw
res, non yeccarem tamen propter peccati vilitatem: If I knew that Men could not lee, nor
the' gods punifh, yet would I forbear finning for the loathfomenefs of Sin. Plato hath
the like, That he would do nothing in fecret whereof he fhouid be aihamed in publick.
Ne ( faith Cicero) Jiquidem deos omnes celare pojfumm: No, albeit it were poflible to conceal
our fins from the gods. Pity then it is thefe Chrifiians living amongft Infidels are fo paft
tone, being a powerful reftraint to keep^Men from fin*, without which they abandon
themfelves to all manner of debauchery. For, faith Pythagoratj Nihil turpe committor
neque coram aliisy nec tecum', maxim omnium njerere teipfum i Do no fordid ad that either
others or thy felf may eft know; and principally let thy own confcience be regarded.
But to return: Amongft other our cates, I took moft notice of a rolled Pig ^ iii regard
it was the firft we faw in Perfia) and is meat eqna\\y offkntive to Jew and Mahometan.
The flagons and bowls in his Houfe were all of gold: Vials of fweet Water for perfume,
and slaffes of Shyraz. Wine were emptied for our better entertainment.
Thefe Georgians and Armenians are by fome called Jelphelyns, from a Suburb adjoyning
this City *, but rather in memory of their Metropolis which bears that name near Ararat,
called Ariamnes by Tortelim. The Georgians are the ancient Inhabitants of that Coun-
trey, and have a little intermixture with other Nations. The foil is molt part moun
tainous, much refembling Helvetia where the Switters live. From the tops ot fome Hills
they can difcover (at leaft as they fuppofe) the Buxine and Cafpian Seas. They derive
their name either from St. their Patron, or from the Gordiaan Hills on which
they inhabited albeit the derive them from the word yww'* for that they are
Husbandmen, but called Jberia formerly. And indeed the goodnefs of God is herein
to be acknowledged, inasmuch as thefe Georgians with their Neighbours tbe Carcafr
and other Armenians continue their Ghrijiian profeflion, albeit they are liifficiently
threatned in that refped by T%rk, Tartar and Per [van who environ them, and tell them
that all Natolia and thofe other Countreys that lie betwixt the Euxine and Mediterranean,
albeit they were once altogether inhabited by Chrifiians, are now oVeripread with thofe
that embrace the Alcoran. They were interdided Communion with the Orthodox by
Diofcoms Patriarch of Confiantinople *, neverthelefs under Sapores, added to the Army
triumphant, 20000. Martyrs. At Albanopolis Saint Bartholomew was buried, laith So-
vhronim Some call them Jberi, and fuppofe that from them defcends the Spaniard. Con.
Porphyrins ( if rightly informed) deduces thefe Georgians from David and Bathjheba ; but
that pedegree I fuppofe will be but badly proved. By profeffion they are now for the
£reateft part Neftorians and Jacobites', and more inclinable to Arms than Trading, as
their Ne^hbours the Armenians he But for comelinefs of Body, height of Spirit, and
faithfulnefs in truft are of that repute, efpedally with the that many of them
are implov'd in places of Command,efpecially againft their turbulent adverlary theTW,
And as of old, the ^mtian Sonidans had their Mamahcks, fo at this day the Perfian
King has the greateft number of his Coofelbajhes from thence., it being fdklom heard that
any of them is falfe, or having ferved the P ever turned to the Notwltl ;
ftanding which the Perfian King in our times, upon fome dillafte given by
cW«,made War againft that Nation: For (as one obferves) though Glory and Dominion
X 2 ^