'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.' [‎191] (212/448)

Hyrcania.
Otnoal, La
none where there is no breach of Peace,') they obferve well-nigh fevenfeveral Sabbaths
facceffively each after others the Barmyam having Thnrfday for their Sabbath - Fri-
day the Perjtam 1 Saturday the Jews ; Sunday the Armenims ; Munday the Temans •
Tucfday the Gowers and Curds or Fire -adorers, who are the ancient fo that if
any of the Scythians beyond Bochar were there, they would compleat the Week in that
variety, each obfervmg a morality of the day:
tor, Sqofitaex ammo corf ore cwafmt. But in this,what is belt worthy our obfervation
is,That in the diftnbution of Days, the feventh Day (upon which God relted in contem-
plation or ms fix days labour)hath delervedly the preeminence over all the reft of the
Week-days, in which, the ftrufturc of the Univerfe was created; for the excellencv of
that Day we may perceive by this, is morally acknowledged by molt Nations, whether
Civil or Barbarous. To proceed. *
The Town is built in a large level, but withal a very pleafant and fruitful foil; happv
in her prefent profpenty and former greatnefs •, her vifible ruins making good the re
port that once it was this Countrey's Metropolis: nor are her Buildings of the meaner
fort, or the Caftle unworthy notice, feeing it gives place to none I faw in all that Pro
vince for beauty or ftrength being fortified by a deep Moat or Trench it has that is
fall of water and compafles the Caitle, fo as the onely entrance is by a Bridge which
they draw and let down at pleafure ; ferving as a place of good defence to fecure them-
felves againft the rodomontado's of the neighbouring Tamfiamznd other Montaineers*
and few Houfes but have their Gardens. Yet of beft note is the Cathedral or fewma Ma-
chit,m which(as we were told)are intombed four hundred forty four Princes andProphets*
whofe Sepulchres though they be not fo magnificent as that which with xooo Talents
jHexdndcv railed for his Friend Ephejiiow near this place, yet fuch they are as raife ve
neration amongft the People, if not admiration with pafiengers •, efpecially that of
Jgowmadeenjto which they chiefly offer the myfteries of their Religion. When I entred, I
found about a fcore of ancient grave Arabians or Zophilars Tittingcrofs-legg'd in a circle
near the Prince's dormitory, with each an Arabic^ Book laid before, out of which both
modeftly and mufically they performed their Exercifes. This as I fuppofed was the JPa~
remalia vel [acra funefla in honorem mortuorum. After the Eaftern mode they wagg'd their
Bodies, bowing their heads and battologizing the names Allongh whoddaw and Mohumet
very often: wherein they were fo ferioufly compofed, that albeit I entred unexpededly
amongft them and in my Countrey habit ( which gave moft fafety in travel, and elfe-
where was fufficiently admired,) neverthelefs they continued their Service without di-
fturbance or deviation •, yet was no fooner ended but they arofe, very civilly bad me
welcome, andlhewed me withal what antiquities the place afforded, and as they thought
might be acceptable to a Stranger.
Thence paifing to the River fide (over which upon a Bridge of ftone we rode the
night before ) to refrefh my felf under fome Poplars *, for, as fays a Poet of another like
place, this had
'Beds of grafi, and Walks in Jhady Woods,
And Meadows ever green with Cryfial floods.
feven or eight more beautiful than bafhful Damozels (like fo many Nymphs) fprangout
of the Water, as I fuppofe to admire my habit: But I no lefs admiring their confi
dence, quickly left them*, having this in thought, Quod non vetat Lex, hoc vet at fieri pu-
dor: For the truth is I took them for Amorofa's and violators of the bounds of Mode-
fty *, until from better fatisfadtion I was made to believe it was fimplicity and the op-^
portunity they took to fee a Stranger : for when the Sun- mounts to his Meridian the
Men commonly go to fleep, and the Women then have the benefit of the River where
they ufe to fwim, and probably cool their heat, in both kinds 'tis to be feared too much
there abounding. The habit of thefe Water-Nymphs was a fine Shuddero or Lawn
embroidered at the neck, wrift and skirt with a border of feveral coloured filks and
threads of gold •, but in publick they go veiled according to the common mode with a
long fheet which from top to toe covers them.
From Omoal we travelled to Larry-John or Joon as Ibme pronounce it; being proba
bly that 1 find mentioned in Ptolomy. This place is from Omoal thirty miles: And
here the Kingdom of Hyrcania is terminated by Mount Haurm \ a Mountain reputed the
greateft through all the World, both for length and height: For in one continued
ledge of hills it makes way from the lelfer Afia unto the furtheft part of Eaft-India, not
lefs than 3000 miles. And for proof of its greatnefs, I vouch Ariftotk who affirms
that