'Collections of travels through Turky into Persia, and the East Indies. Giving an account of the present state of those countries, as also a full relation of the five years wars, between Aureng-Zebe and his brothers in their father's life time, about the succession. And a voyage made by the Great Mogul (Aureng-Zebe) with his Army from Dehli to Lahor, from Lahor to Bember, and from thence to the Kingdom of Kachemire, by the Mogols, call'd, the Paradise of the Indies. Together with a relation of the Kingdom of Japan and Tunkin, and of their particular manners and trade. To which is added a new description of the Grand Seignior's Seraglio, and also of all the Kingdoms that encompass the Euxine and Caspian Seas, being the travels of Monsieur TavernierBernier, and other great men.' [‎71] (108/1024)

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Chap. IV. tf/Monfieur Tavernier.
Capuchins, where I faw an Armenian Bifhop, with his Miter, and a wooden Crofter*
accompany’d with feverai Priefts and a good Congregation. When .service Was
done, after fome few Complinients' between us, he led us down under the Church
into a Chapel, where he (hdw’d us the Sepulcher of St. Janies Bifhop of Nifibis.
In the Church yard is a Stone about a Foot thick, and fix high *, upon which were
laid feverai Candles of Waxand Tallow, which the Poor offer in their Neceffities*
but efpeckliy in their SicknefTes. They believe that Stone to have been the Pecieftal
for the Statue of fome Saint, which the Turks have defac’d: fo that they give the
fame Honour to the Pedeftal, as they would have gtVn to the Statue. There arc
alio fome Roman Chara&ers to be feen, but half worn out, and (paces brok’n off
in fome parts: fo that I could not learn, in Honour of whom that htatue wa^ erected.
Half a League from Ntibin runs a River, which you crofs over a Stone-Bridge. Iri
the way to the River are (everal pieces of Wall, with an Arch, which made me Con
jecture, that formerly the City extended as far as the River.
Twice Musket-fhot from the River you meet with a Stone half buried, upoit
which are written certain Latin Words; whereby it appears that it was the Tomb-
ftoneof the Genera! of an Army that was a French-man: but I could not read his
Name, which time had defac’d. The fame Bifhop inform’d us, that formerly the
CMcors having befieg’d City, there came fuch a prodigious company of ftrange
Flyes, and did (b torment both Men and Hories, that they were forc’d to ftrange
the Siege. You muft pay the fame Toll at Nisbin as in other places, that is, two
Fiaflers and a half for every Mule or Horfcs Load. We lay there three days toge
ther, to furnilh our felves with Provifions ’till we came to Moujful, which is five days
journey from Nisbin ; the Country between being altogether defert and uninha-
* bited. There is no Water to be found but in two places, and that hot very good
neither *, near to which you (hall (ce fome few Herdfmen grazing their CatteL
The firft of April we departed from Nisbin *, and after We had travel’d eleven
hours, we lay near to a River, whither certain Shepherds brought us Hens to
fell.
The fecond we travel’d ten hours, and lay at a paltry Town, where we met with
nothing to eat. V * f
The third we travel’d thirteen hours, and lodg’d by a pitiful Fountain, the Water
whereof was hardly good enough for our Hories.
The fourth we travd’d ten hours, and came to lodge by the Bank of a little River*
near to which appear’d the Ruines of a Bridge and a Caftle.
The fifth we travel’d eleven hours, to reach Mwjfttl, which is not fat from the
ancient Niniveh. < 1
Aioufful is a City that makes a great (hew without, the Walls being of Free-ftone;
but within it i$ almoft all, ruin’d having only two blind Market-places, with a
little Caftle upon the Tigris, where the Bafha lives. In a word, there is nothing
worth a Man’s fight in Moujfal, the place being only confiderable for the great
concourfe of Merchants*, efpecially the Arabians anti Curds, whieh are the Inha
bitants of the ancient ^JJyria, now call’d Curdifian, where there grows great plenty
of Galls, and for which there is a great Trade. There are in it four forts of
Chriftians, Greeks, Armenians, Neflorians, and AFaronites. The Capuchins had a
pretty Dwelling upon the Tigris •, but the Bajha laying a Fine upon them, becaufe
they went about a little to enlarge it, they were for’d to quit it. The City is go
vern’d by a Bajha, that has Under him, \>att Janizaries, part Spah?s, about three
thoufand Men.
There are only two feurvy Inns in Moujful, which being full when we came, I
caus’d my Tent to be fet up at the Meydan, or great Market-pLce.
Now to fay fomething in general of the difference of the two Rivers^ Tigris an^.
Euphrates, in reference to their Courfe arid Waters: I obferv’d that the Water of
/ Euphrates appear’d fomewhat red *, and that the Stream was not fo fwiftas that of
Tigris, which feem’d to be whitifti, like the Loire. As for its Courfe, Euphrates
runs a far longer way than Tigris. But now let us crofs the Tigris, over a Bridge
of Boats, to view the fad Ruines of a City that has made fuch a noife in the World }
though there be nowfcarceany appearance of it's ancient fplendour*
Niniveh was built upon the left Shoar of the Tigris, upon jdjfyria-hde, being now
only a heap of Rubbidi extending almoft a League along the River. There are
I * * * ' 'abundance
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