'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.' [‎399] (446/506)

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2"^ Prefent State qf P E R. S I A, 399
whole Interludes is mixed the Cuftom, as ancient as Nebuchadnezzar, Chap.XIV»
of certain Wife Men repeating Verfes in their Praife, or reading Mo-
numents of Antiquity, which continues till Visuals are brought in,
and the Cloath fpread on the Carpets, every one keeping their places 5
firft, Water being brought in great Silver Bafons and Ewers to
Wafn, the Courfes are ufhered in with loud Mufick, and the Table
being filled, the Servitors are placed fo as to furnilh every one with
Plates of the feveral Varieties, which they place before each,
and give them long Wheaten Cakes, both for Napkins, Trencher,
and Bread, and fometimes thin Pancakes mad^e of Rice; though
Boiled Rice ferves ufually for Bread, which they mix with their
Soops and Pottage.
The ufual Drink is Sherhtty made of Water, Juice of Lemmons,
and Ambergreece, which they drink out of long thin Wooden
Spoons, wherewith they lade it out of their Bowls.
The mod admired Dainty, wherewith they fluff themfelves, is
Tallow^ whereof they will fill themfelves up to the Throat and re
ceive no hurt, it being lo well prepared for the Stomach. After
they have Eaten well, and the Cloath is removed, they Walh again..
And then moil of them will freely take off their Bowls of Wine,
( which is brought to each by thdr feveral Servants ) moft of Silver,
fome of Gold, which we call a Tofs, and is^made like a Wooden
Diili, purpofely fo fhap'd tor convenient Carriage, at the bottom of
their Coofdans placing their Gurgulets upon it, which Coofdan is a
Cafe made neatly of Rattans or Canes, covered with a Coverlet
of Scarlet, Bordered with Silk for Shew as well as to keep the
Duft off •
When they have tired themfelvcs with Feafting ( which is not
fuddenly ) as they depart, they return Thanks, by Taviting every
one in courfe to an Entertainment of the like nature, where they
ftrive to outdo each other. Thus extravagantly Luxurious and im-
moderately Profufe are they in their great Feails, {lately Dining-
Rooms, magnificent Gardens, and Water-Courfes; exceeding the
Roman Voluptuoulhefs, of whofe Prodigality Seneca.
turf is lilido( fcilicet) poteus verier e
Luxuria viclrix, orlis mmenfas opes,
Jantpridem avans mantlus ut perdat, rapit.
A (Stive in Luftful Fires, they heapup ftores,
To wade in Riot, and to ipend on Whores. •
Seize all the World by Ayaritious Hands,
Get to confame on Prodigal Commands. -
In their Weddings, Childbearings, Circumcifions and Purifying Ban-
auets thev make great Revellings, Fireworks and Rejoycings Night
and Day for a Month together, that it is troublefome living in great
Citiesbv reafonof their Nodurnal Perambulations .when they Shoot,
^ I l preat Acclamations, with hideous thundnng Ket-
s.r's howietoto
times, they are wholly taken up .n Expences at thefe Times, .and
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