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'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.' [‎297] (320/448)

The record is made up of 1 volume (399 pages). It was created in 1677. It was written in English. The original is part of the British Library: Printed Collections.

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Countreys in things indifferent and meerly ceremonial, ferving onely to Cement affedion.
And albeit to one another they are flrid enough to that mode or euftom of being coverl
ed^ neverthelefs, at Alhamjf after Sir Dodmore Cotton had his Audience, at which Shz-
Ahbas was prefent with the Ambafladour, the King his Mafter's health being by Sir Robert
Sherley remembred, the Ambalfadour Handing up uncovered, the King (frolick at
that time, or rather in civility) took off his Tulipant. Another time, as I heedlefiy eroded
the Court where the King was fitting in an open Tent hearing Petitions, 1, according to the
pmcppaan mode, made my duerefpefts, by uncovering my head and bowing reverently to
wards the King, who obferved it, and was fo well pieafed therewith that he raifed his Tar-
bant a little from his brows, both to honour me the more and to exprefs his fatisfadion^
efpecially, as 1 was afterwards told, for that I appeared in my own Countrey Habit: other-
wife it had been a prefumption puniihable-, but as it proved, a grace that procured
me the more refped, efpecially with the better fort, where-ever 1 paifed. The King indeed
took great delight and efteem'd it an addition of luftre to his Court to behold exotiques in
their own Countrey Habit: fo that the greater the variety appeared, he would fay the more
was his Court and Countrey honoured at home > and in eftimation abroad: infomucJi,as up
on any affront done a Stranger, if in his own Habit, he fhould be fure of reparation •, but in
cafe he went in the Habit of the Country where he travelled, undillingui/hable when the
injury was offer'd, it would be otherwife upon addrefs for vindication: the emphafis it
feems wanting that inclined it. Such was then the rule of Court and populous places:
albeit in travel Forreigners have their liberty to pleafe themfelves as to their Garb, and
without caufeof exception to any.
The Afiaticks wear no bands •, their Jljoha or out-fide Veil is ufually of Callico ftitcht with
filk, or quilted with Cotten: but the better fort have Veftes polymita Garments of party-co
loured filks fome being fatten, fome gold and filver Chamlets, and fome of Bodkin and
rich cloth of gold figured •, for variety belt pleafes them: no colour difpleafes but tylack,
which is not worn, becaufe they hold it difmal and unlucky. Their fleeves are ftrait and
long (varying from the Turk, who have them wide and fhort^ ) their clofe coat ufually
reaches to their calves, and bears round. Their waites are girt with fine towels of filk and
gold about eight yards long; thofe and the Shafhes diftinguifh the quality of thofe that
wear them: Dukes and other of the Noble fort have them woven with gold j Merchants
and Coofel-bajhes with filver; of fdk and wool thofe of inferiour rank.
Nexttheir skin they wear fmocks or demi-fhirts of cotten, in colour refembling Scotch
plad: their breeches like the Irijh trooze have hofe and ftockings fowed together i the
Itocking falls not always into their fliooes, but from the ancle down gives to the eye two
inches of the leg naked. Their fhooes are of leather well fow'd, but without latchets, and
of what colour you can fancy, fharp at the toe and turning upwards, the heels high and fmall
fhod with iron or nails ingrailed. This alfo 1 noted,they do not wed themfelves to thefe iron
hemi-cycles for thrift or eafe*(they feldom journey far, orgo fwiftly, exercife and fpare diet
never agreeing)but to tread in a venerable path of antiquity. A cullom alfo derived from
their Fore-fathers,eitherfymbolizing withwhole Arms was a crefcent Diana, his
Motto Crefco: elfe borrowed from the Cygales of the Athenians or from the Romans who
woreCrefcents(orHalf-moons)upon their Ihooes as anEnfign of honour,or rather as Ifidorus
obferveSjA^w centenarii numeri fignificajfe '■> quia initio Patricii centumfiter ant. By Martial and
Pancirollm termed Lmati calcei; Lmata nufqmm pellis: and by Statlm in his BofcagesjPr/»?i^',
patritia clatifit vefiigia Lma,&c. In old times alfo ufed by the J eves, as may be gathered from
the 68 Pfal. 30.Verf. That tread under feet pieces of filver, i. e. garniih their IhoOes with illver
plates, according to the vulgar Tranflation. Over all,the Perfians (efpecially fuch as travel)
throw fhort Calzoons or coats of cloth ( without fleeves ) furred with fable, foxes, mufli-
whormaws, fquirrels, or fheep-skins which is a furr highly prized , in hottell; feafons en
dure to wear Ihort wide ftockings of Englijh cloth heel'd with leather, and ferve fome-
times for boots: howbeit, they want not fuch.
Gloves are of no efteem amongft them,nor Rings of gold i for filver Rings are moft worn:
not that gold is lefs valuable (for in other utenfils they have it,)but becaufe Mahomet accord
ing to Tradition had one of filver which was left Ozjnan for a Legacy, and charmed with fin-
gular properties: None have their Rings of iron, except thofe of bafer fort •, a metal fome
account a fymbol of flavery. They paint their nails and hands with Alcanna or Chaa-powder
into a red or tawny colour, which befides the ornament it gives cools the liver, and in War
makes them (they fay) valiant. Their nails are difcoloured with white and vermilion-, but
whyfo, I cannot tell,unlefs it be in imitation of Cj'mf- who as an augmentation of honour
commanded his great Officers to tindure their nails and faces with vermilion;, ferving both"
to diftinguiffi them from the vulgar, and (as did our warlike Britam) in fight to appear the
more terrible. Qji fr*
zm

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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.

Publication Details: London : printed by R. Everingham, for R. Scot, T. Basset, J. Wright, and R. Chiswell, 1677.

Edition: In this fourth impression are added (by the author now living) as well many additions throughout the whole work, as also several sculptures, never before printed.

Notes: Numerous engraved illustrations, including maps, views of cities and animals, printed within the text. Engraved plate entitled "Rvines of Persæpolis" is signed "W. Hollar fecit 1663". Misprinted page number: 711 instead of 117. Bibliography note: Includes bibliographical references and index.

Physical Description: [6], 399, [21] p., [4] leaves of plates (1 folded) : ill., maps ; 32 cm. (fol.)

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1 volume (399 pages)
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Dimensions: 320mm x 210mm

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English in Latin script
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'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.' [‎297] (320/448), British Library: Printed Collections, 215.e.12., in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100023696100.0x000079> [accessed 28 March 2024]

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