'A New Account of East-India and Persia, in Eight Letters. Being Nine Years Travels, Begun 1672. And Finished 1681. Containing Observations made of the Moral, Natural, and Artificial Estate of Those Countries: Namely, of their Government, Religion, Laws, Customs. Of the Soil, Climates, Seasons, Health, Diseases. Of the Animals, Vegetables, Minerals, Jewels. Of their Housing, Cloathing, Manufactures, Trades, Commodities. And of the Coins, Weights, and Measures, Used in the Principal Places of Trade in Those Parts.' [‎263] (310/506)

Travels into PERSIA. 265
Chappel, beautified with good Painting , Sculpture, and Rich Or- Chap. V.
naments.
Having undergone the Pompous Fatigues of Saluting, and being
thereby taught the Formalities of Compliments, more than truly
acquainted with the Current of Affairs here ; I found it true, That
an exalted Pitch of State is more tirefome than a meaner Condition,
it being only a more confpicuous Confinement j for not to move
abroad without a Retinue, is to have a Supervifor to every Motion,
and a Man is lefs free either to obferve or act: Wherefore being
tutored before-hand what, a Difrepute it was to the Nation whofe
Title we bore, to appear to its Difgrace, I refolved to avoid that In
decency, and change my European Cloaths for a Perfian Veft and
Turbat, that I might walk about undifcovered , without any Re-
fled ion to the Publick Minifterof my Country, and give my Eyes
that Satisfaction my Ears were not capable of receiving ; by which
Expedient my View was lefs tranfient, and I had time to dwell lon
ger on any Objedt.
The firft whereof that attraded my Stay, was to examine the
Druggifls, whom I found to be all Jews, who are very numerous,
and live apart, though their Shops are in common with the Natives
in the Buzzars, mixed among a Crowd of other Tradefmen; who
fell by Retail, and pafs without any Brand, having their Synagogues
open every Sabbath day. Thefe are the greateft Brokers, and as
cunning, it not exceeding the Banyans, who alfo are in every Cor
ner, lurking to make a Prize.
The Fruiterers placefhemfelves at the Entry, and in the wide open Fruiterers.
Places under the Chief Cupuloes of Buzzars, vending, befides
Fruit, Sherbets of Pomgranats, Prunellaes, Limes and Oranges,
with Ice and Snow to cool them. Ice diflblved in their Liquors, is
as prevalent here as at Sir as, fo that the Poor, have they but a Penny
in the World, the one half will go for Bread, and dried Grapes, or
Butter-milk, and the other for Snow and Tobacco.
Befides thefe common Buzzars, there are others fet apart f9r choice Silk Buzzars,
Commodities, as Silks and Velvets, Sarhaff, that is, Gold and Silver
Cloth, Embroidery, Perfian Carpets, both Woollen and Silk, inter
mixed with Gold and Silver very coftly, which are the peculiar Ma
nufacture of the Country: In thefe we meet with Merchants of all
Nations and Languages, brought hither for the fake of TraiBck,
who furnifli this City with all Foreign Wares, and in exchange car
ry the Product of this Land into the utmoft Parts of the World.
On which account it is, the Armenians being skill'dinall the In- tUe Armm*
tricacies and Subtilties of Trade at home, and travelling with thefe ans fubtle
into the remoteft Kingdoms, become by their own Induftry, and by DeaIets •
being Fadors of their own Kindreds Honefty, the Wealthieft Men,
being expert at Bargains wherever they come, evading thereby
Brokeridge; and fludying all the Arts of Thrift, will Travel for
Fifty Shillings, where we cannot for Fifty Thomands; fetting out
with a ftock of Hard Eggs and a Metarrah of Wine, which will laft
them from Spahaun to the Port; riding on a mean Beaft, which they
fell or fhipofF for Advance, their only Expence being Horfe-meat ;
travelling with no Attendance, their Matrafs ferving at once for
' Horfe-