'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.' [‎162] (183/448)

It hath feveral good Buildings; but the moft obfervable are the My dm, Mefqms, Ham-
mums and ?aUces- r as be the Gardens, Monuments and J elf hey z Suburb adjoyning.
Spaham is moft pleafant in its fcituation, elegant as to Building, populous for Inha
bitants rich in Trade, and noble by being the ufual refidence of the Court emi
nent for all forts of Exercife, fufficiently watered by theSmdery, fruitful in its foil ;, and
for air fo pure and quick, that I very well remember we found it much warmer in more
Northern Cities which had greater latitude. And feeing Qimtm faith of Perflate-
eio non alia in ma Jfia jaluhrior hahetur I may in praife of this place add. Than the air
%f spahawn no part of Perfta is more healthy. Howbeit,the Town is of no great ftrength,
yet has a mud-wall about it; and towards the outfide of the City, alarge Caftle unflan-
ker'd but moated about', and feveral Houfes within,which guard the Treafure,Arms and
Ice there ftored. . ' , . t • . , t u •
Let me lead you into the Mydav, into which e're I can bring you, we pafs over a
well-built arched Bridge of hewn ftone, which is towards the. South-weft end of the
City fupported by five and thirty pillars, through which the Smdery (or Zindarom) from
the Mountains ftrearns gently, fpreading in rainy Seafons here weUiigh fo broad as
the Thames, but very ihallow : 'For in Summer her channel is contraded, and fo fhallow
that Children ufually wade or pafs through it,for that the Citizens for the better water-
ing of their Gardens by fluces drain and divide it into many Rivolets, infomuch as the
courfe of the River is fpoiled, and (which is ftrange ) loft in fome Valleys not many
leagues diftant thence; where'tis drunk up without ever emptying it felf (like other
ftreams) into any Sea or Ocean: efpecially by the pipes which feed the two great and
famous Gardens belonging to the King, called Na^ar-jarib and Cher-baugh, which for
beauty contend with all other in Jffia.
The Mydan is without doubt as fpacious,as pleafant and aromatick a Market as any k
the llniverfe : It is a thoufand paces from North to South, and from Eaft to Weft above
two hundred', refembling our Exchange, or the Place-Royal m Paris, but fix times lar
ger : the Building is of Sun-dried brick •, and an uninterrupted Building ^ the inlide
full of Shops, each Shop filled with wares of fundry forts ^ arched above (in Cupolo's)
Tarras-wife framed at top, and with blew plaifter pargetted. And being the noblelt
part,is placed as it were in the heart of this City: The King's Palace,or Choma Potfhaugh,
conjoyns it upon the Weft fide, pofleffing a large fpace of ground backwards, but juts
not to the Street further than the other buildings, which are uniform to the Street, fo
as to paifengers it gives not any bravery) her greateft gallantry being in the outward
trim: for it is pargetted and painted with blew and gold, imbroidered with pofies of
Arahick^, which after the grotefco manner makes it fhew very pleafant. Within, the
rooms (according to the common form there) are arched, enlightened by trellizes: the
rooms imboffed above and painted with red, white, blew and gold *, the fides painted
with fports and landskip ; the ground or floor fpread with carpets of filk and gold,
without other furniture*, tarrafled above, garniflied with a Pharoe over-topping
many Mofoms, and the Garden or Wildernefs behind the Houfe made fragrant with
Flowers, filled with airy Citizens priviledged from hurt or affrights, and for which
they return their thankful notes in a more melodious confort and variety than if they
were in the exadeft Vollyere in the Univerfe. Within the Hippodrome many of the Ca
valry ufe to ride, (according to the ancient cuftom, as Xenophon in the life of Cyrus in-
ftances;) do Perftans at this day, daily repairing to the Court-gate, mounted,
with lances in their hands, Shamlheers or Swords and Quivers by their fide *, where af
ter they have praunced a while they depart,unlefs the King prepare to go abroad i for
then they give their due attendance.
The North Ifle of the Mydanhzxh eight or nine arched rooms, ufually hung with Lamps
and Latten Candlefticks, which being lighted (as 'tis ufual, efpecially L at the Feftival of
Lights which they call Cerajrhan) give a curious fplendor. Thither the Potfiaugh and
others frequently refort for paftime, as tumbling, fleight of hand, dancing girls and
painted Catamites •, that nefandum peccatum being there tolerated. At the furtheft end
North is the Mint •, where we faw one day Silver coyn'd, Gold the fecond, and next
day Brafs. Not far thence are Cooks fhops, where Men ufe to feed the helpful belly,
after the bufie eye and painful feet have fufficiently laboured.
The outfide of this noble Burfe has this form, fb well as my memory would ferve;
for I muft acknowledge I forgot to take the draught during my being upon the place,
in which I am blame-worthy.
Afore