A Geographical Description of All the Countries in the Known World, Part 1 · Subpart 20 – Subpart 30
The City of Spahawn described.
Spahawn, The Metropolis of the Persian Monarchy, is seated in the Parthian territory, as the navel to that spacious body: It's nine English miles in compasse, containing seventy thousand houses, and of souls about two hundred thousand, composed (besides natives) of English, Dutch, Portuguize, Poles, Moscovites, Indians, Arabians, Armenians, Georgians, Turks, Jews, &c. drawn thither by the magnetick power of gain and novelty. The principal things observeable in it are, The Bridge well built of stone, supported by five and thirty Arches, through which the Syndery from the Acroceraunian Mountains gently floweth. The Midan, or great Market-place▪ which is the most spacious, pleasant and Aromatick Market in the VVorld: a thousand paces from North to South, the other way above two hundred, resembling our Exchange: the building is of Brick, well made, and framed in a most delightful manner; the inside is full of shops, each shop full of ware, arched above, a top framed Tarrase-wise: and cemented with excellent plaister, its placed in the heart of this triumphant City. The Kings Pallace joyns to the West side of it, possessing a large quantity of ground backward, though to the street side it hath no magnifick front; her best bravery being in the trim pargetting and painting with Azure and Gold, in Mosaick and Antick sort, interlaced with Poesies of Arabick: But within, the rooms are arched, enlightened with curious trellizes: the roof embossed with red, white, blew, and gold, the sides with sports, and painted Images: the ground spread with rich and curious Carpets of Silk and Gold. Tarrased above, garnished with a very high Tower, excellent for view; and breathing. The Wildernesse behinde is filled with all sorts of birds, priviledged from hurt, or affrights, who return their thanks in a sweet melodious consort. The North Isle of the Midan, contains eight or nine arched rooms, hung with Lamps and Candlesticks, which being lighted, gives a curious splendor.
Opposite to this Pallace is a fair Mosque, in form round, and within distinguished into Isles; the walls are lined fifteen foot high from the ground with white, and well polisht Marble, without pews or seats: In the midst is a stately Tank, or Pond, and at the Portal another eightsquare, filled with Christal streams of water, wherein all Musslemen wash their hands, armes, eyes, &c. as an operative work to purge sin, and confer devotion.
In the Midan the shops bee uniform, the Trades are no where severed; all the Mercers together, the Lapidaries together, &c. but most of them are of gums, drugs, and spices so sweet and delicate as can bee imagined.
The Hummums or Sudatories are many, and very beautiful, some square, but most round, made of white stone polished, and durable; the windows are large without, and narrower within, the glasse is thick, and dark: the top round, tyled with a counterfeit Turquoise, perfectly blew, fresh and lasting; they are divided into many rooms, some for delight, and others for sweating: the paving all pure black Marble: Men use them in the morning, women towards night. Tis their Catholicon against all diseases, colds, catarrhes, flegme, aches, &c.
The City is Oval, each house made pleasant by large Cypresse Gardens. The Seraglio for his women, is full of precious treasures, and more precious beauties, but not to bee seen. The Castle is very large, well walled, and deeply moated. The City hath so many pleasant Gardens, that at a distance you would take it for a Forrest, so sweet, you would call it a Paradise: I shall only describe one of them excelling all others.
Going from the Midan, you passe through an even delicate street two miles long, most part of the way walled on both sides, bedecked with Summer-houses, but more remarkable in that abundance of green, broad spreading Chenore Trees, yeelding shade, and incomparable order and beauty. The Garden is circled with a stately wall, three miles in compasse, entred by three gallant and curious gates. From North to South it is one thousand paces; from East to West seven hundred: from one end to the other easily seen by reason of a fair large Alley, running all along in parallel, distinguished into nine ascents, each surmounting other a foot, each distance smooth and even. In the Center is a spacious Tank, made into twelve equal sides, each side being five foot, set round with pipes of lead, which spout out water in variety of conceits and postures, which sort of pastime continues thence to the North gate, where is raised a house of pleasure, antickly garnished without, within divided into four or six Chambers: the lower is set out with Tanks of rich white Marble, and fumes out a cool Breese: the higher rooms are garnished with variety of Landskips, representing their sports of hunting, hawking, fishing, riding, shooting, wrestling, and other fancies: the seeling is inriched with beaten gold, imbost with Azure. From her Tarrasses is a dainty prospect of most part of the City. This Garden is replenished with trees of all sorts, for fruit, shade, and medicine: All so green, so sweet, so pleasant, as may well bee tearmed a Compendium of Sense-ravishing delights.
Within the City is a Column or Pillar, at the base twenty foot round, and sixty foot high, made of the heads of men and beasts: the occasion of this was Anno Christi 1500. when Tamas Shaw ruled Persia, being much troubled with Turks and Tartars, these Citizens refused not only to contribute to his Wars, but denyed him enterance, whereupon hee vowed revenge, entred the City by force, and without regarding age, or sex, slew three hundred thousand of them; and of their heads made this Pillar, as a Trophee of his victory, and their basenesse.
— En quo discordia Cives perduxit miseros. —
When our English Embassador came to the Emperor of Persia, he found him at Asharaff in Hircania, two miles from the Caspian Sea: when hee came to the Court with his retinue, they allighted, and were ushered into a little Court du Guard, that stood in the center of a spacious Court, the ground spread with Persian Carpets, about a pretty white Marble Tank, where they were feasted with Pelo, and Wine, the flagons, cups, dishes, plates, and covers being of pure beaten gold: Thence they were led through a spacious and fragrant Garden, curious to the eye, and delicate to the smell, to another Summer-house, rich in gold imbossements, and paintings; but far more excellent for the admirable prospect▪ for from thence they viewed the Caspian Sea on one side, and the Mountain Taurus on the other. The ground Chambers were large, four-square, archt, and richly guilded above, and on the sides, below, bespread with curious Carpets of Silk and Gold.
In the Center were Tanks of Christalline water (an Element of no mean account in those Torrid habitations) Round about the Tanks were placed Goblets, Flagons, Cisterns, and Standards of pure Massy-gold: some of them were filled with perfumes, others with Rosewater: with wine some, and others with choisest Flowers. From thence they were led into another large square upper Room, where the roof was formed into an Artificial Element, many golden Planets attracting the wandring eye to help their Motion: The ground was covered with far richer Carpets than the other: the Tank was larger: the matter, Jasper; and Porphiry: the silver purling-stream was forced up into another Region, yet seemed here to bubble wantonly as in her proper Center: about it was so much gold in vessels for use, and oftentation, that some Merchants with them, judged it worth twenty millions of pounds sterling: Another Tank there was incircled with a wall of Gold, and richest Gems: No other Flagons, Cups, nor other vessels were there but what were thick, and covered over with Diamonds, Rubies, Pearls, Emeralds, Turquises, Jacinths, &c. The seeling of this Chamber was garnished with Poetick fancies in gold, and choicest colours. The ground in this room was covered with such Carpets as befitted the Monarch of Persia: Above sixty of the greatest Nobles sat round about it, cross-legged with their bums to the ground, and their backs to the wall, like so many statues, their eyes fixed on a constant object; not daring to speak, sneese, Cough, spit, &c. in the Emperors presence. The Ganimed Boys in vests of Gold, and richly bespangled Turbanes, &c. with Flagons of most glorious mettal, profering wine to such as would tast it: The Emperor Abbas himself sat at the upper end; so much higher than the rest, as two or three silken shags could elevate him: his apparrel was plain, &c.
The City of Casbine Described.
Casbine is at this day for multitude of Buildings, and inhabitants, the chiefest City in Media, and next to Spahawn, the greatest City in the Persian Monarchy. Its compassed with a wall seven miles in compasse: seated in a fair even plain, having no hill of note within thirty miles compasse: the Champain yeilds grain, and grapes, but no wood. It hath a small stream to water it, which gives drink to the thirsty; and makes fruitfull the gardens, whereby they yeild abundance of fruits, and roots in variety; as Grapes, Orenges, Limes, Lemons, Pomecitrons, Musk melons, and Water-melons, Apples, Pistachoes, Filberts, Almonds, Walnuts, Plums, Cherries, Peaches, Apricocks, Figs, Pears, Goosberries, Dates, and excellent Pomgranats; &c. The Families in it are twenty thousand, and the Inhabitants about two hundred thousand: The Buzzars, or market places are large, and pleasant: The Midan is uniform, and beautifull: The Kings Palace nigh the market, low built, painted with blew, red, and yellow colours, commixt with Arabick letters and knots in gold, and azure: The windows are spacious, trellized, and neatly carved: Neer the Kings gate is a great Tank: The Hummums, or sweating places are many, resplendent in the azure pargetting, and tileing: The gardens are pleasant for view and smell.
The City of Tauris Described.
Tauris was the late Metropolis of Media, taking its name from the prodigious Mountain Taurus, under which it is built; the ancient name was Ecbatane, when shee was farre greater than now shee is: Strabo saith, that it was fifteen miles in compasse, the walls were strong and stately, seventy cubits high, and fifty broad, beautified with many lofty Turrets, and battlements, within were many great and excellent Palaces, especially that which was built by Daniel (the Mausoleum of the Median Kings) was most magnificent, which remained undemolished till the time of Josephus. That built by Darius was no lesse memorable, most whereof was built of Cedar, the roof studded, and plaited with burnished gold. At this day its about five miles compasse, well peopled, traded to from farre and neer; The houses are flat on the top, made of brick; the Buzzar large, and the gardens lovely.
The City of Derbent Described.
Derbent is a strong and famous Port Town upon the Caspian Sea, viewing from her lofty Turrets, the Armenian, and Hyrcanian Territories, as also Ararat, and the sea. Its circled with a strong, high, and defensible stone-wall, above three miles in compasse: The houses, Hummums, and Churches, are but meanly beautifull: the strong Castle Kastow is most observeable in it, pleasantly, and very advantagiously seated.
Hyspaan Described.
The City of Hyspaan in Persia, was formerly called Hecatompolis, by reason of its hundred gates; It's compassed with a strong wall, and is in circuit as much as a man may well ride on horseback in a day; its a very strong City, and is excellently watered with deep channels of running springs, conveyed into it from the Coronian Mountains, which are as a wall inaccessible about it. On the North side is a very strong Castle, which is compassed about with a wall of a thousand and seven hundred yards in compasse. On the West side of the City are two Seraglio's, one for the King, the other for his women: Palaces of great state, and Magnificence, the Walls whereof glister with pollished Marble, and pargetting of divers colours; and all the Palaces are paved with curious checkered work, and covered with curious Carpets wrought with Silk, and Gold; the windows are made of Marble, Porphery, and Alabaster; the Posts and doors of Massie Ivory, checkered with glistering black Ebonie, so curiously wrought in winding knots, as may easilier stay than satisfie the wondering eye of the spectator. Near the Palace is a stately Garden, spacious, and large, beautifully adorned with a thousand sundry kinds of Fruit-trees, plants, and flowers of all sorts to delight the beholders. There are in it a thousand Fountains, and a thousand Brooks, and as the Father of them all, a pretty River which with a mild stream, and delightful murmure, divides the Garden from the Kings Palace.
Casan described.
Casan is the chiefest City in Parthia; It is seated in a goodly plain, having no Mountains within a dayes journey of it: It wanteth neither Fountains, Springs, nor curious pleasant Gardens: It aboundeth with all necessaries for the life of man; It's greatly frequented with all sorts of Merchandize, especially out of India. The Citizens are very industrious, and curious in all manner of Sciences, especially in weaving girdles, and shashes; in making Velvets, Satins, Damasks, excellent Persian Carpets of a wonderful finenesse: Here you may buy all manner of Drugs, and Spices; as also Turkesses, Diamonds, Rubies, and Pearles; as also all sorts of Silk, raw and wrought: For there is more Silk brought into Casan in one year, than there comes broad cloth into London. This City is much to bee commended for Civil Government: For an idle person is not suffered to live amongst them; the child that is but six years old is set to labour: no ill rule, disorder or riot is suffered there. They have a Law amongst them, whereby every person is compelled to give his name to the Magistrate, withal declaring by what course hee liveth; and if any tell untruly, hee is either well beaten on the feet, or imployed in publick slavery.
Casan contains above four thousand families; the houses are fairly built; the streets bee large and comely: the Mosques and Hummums are curiously painted, and covered with blew Tiles, like Turquoises: The Buzzar is spacious, and uniform. The Gardens abound with fruit, and the fields with Corn: The Carravans-Raw is an admirable Fabrick, able to receive all the retinue of the greatest Potentate in Asia. It was built by Saw-Abbas for the entertainment of Travellers on free cost: The whole building is founded on Marble, six foot high, the rest of Brick; varnished and coloured with knots, and Phansies of Arabick characters in Azure, red, and white, laid in Oile: Its a perfect quadrangle, each side two hundred paces long: In the midst of this spacious Court is a large fouresquare Tank, or Pond, with Christaline water: This Royal Inne is seated in the midst of fragrant and spacious Gardens.
Armenia the greater described
Armenia Major lyeth on the farther side of Euphrates: is a very mountainous Country; hath part of Cappadocia, and Euphrates, on the West. Mesopotamia on the South: Colchis, Iberia, and Albania on the North. And the Caspian Sea, and Media on the East: One part of it is called Turcomania, the other Georgia. On the Mountain of Ararat, in this Countrey the Ark rested, and from hence the World was repeopled. The chiefest Rivers are Phasis and Lycus, which runne into the Pontick Sea: Cyrus, and Araxes into the Caspian; Euphrates, and Tygris which run into the Red, or Persian Sea.
Tygris, so called from its swiftnesse, passeth through the Lake Arethusa, yet neither mingling water, nor fishes, saith Solinus; afterward it diveth under Taurus, and riseth on the other side bringing much filth with it, and is again hidden, and again riseth, and at last carrieth Euphrates into the Sea.
Mr. Cartwright in his Preachers Travels, saith, that these present Armenians are a very industrious people in all kind of Labour: that their women are very skilful, and active in shooting, and managing any sort of weapon, like the Ancient Amazons; That their Families are great, the Father and all his posterity dwelling together under one roof, having their substance in common, and when the father dyeth, the eldest son governs, all submitting themselves under his regiment, after his death, not his son, but his brother succeeds, and when all the brethren are dead, then the eldest Son. In diet, and clothing they are all alike.
Media Described.
Media hath on the North the Caspian Sea: on the South Persia: on the West Armenia: and on the East Parthia. Ecbatane was once the Metropolis of it, twenty miles distant from the Caspian Straits: which are a narrow way made by hand through the Hills, scarce wide enough for a Cart to pass, eight miles in length, the rocks with their obscure frowns, hanging over them, and in the summer time multitudes of Serpents guarding them. The walls of Ecbatane were built of hewen stone, seventy cubits high, and fifty cubits broad, and sixteen miles in compasse. Herodotus saith, that after the Assyrians had raigned in Asia, five hundred and twenty years, the Medes rebelled, chose Deioces for their King, at whose command they builded him this royall City, and in it a Palace of Cedar wood; joyned with plates of silver, and gold, being a stately thing, the whole compasse of it was seven furlongs. Diodorus Siculus reports, that at one time, multitudes of Sparrows that devoured their seed, forced the inhabitants to leave this Countrey, and to seek their living in other places: as Mice caused them in some part of Italy: and Frogs that rained out of the Clouds, made the Attariotae: and Fleas chased away the Inhabitants of Myus: How great is that God, who of the smallest of his Creatures, can muster Armies to conquer them that swell in the conceit of their own greatnesse? as against Pharoah, &c. And how many Nations in Africa have the Grashoppers exiled from their native habitations? amongst the Medes none might bee King except hee was in stature and strength more eminent than others: They used to nourish Dogs with great care, to whom they cast men ready to dye, whilest yet breathing, to bee devoured of them. In this Country is the Lake of Van, three hundred miles long, and a hundred and fifty broad, of salt water the greatest next to Meotis. Gyllicus affirms that eight great Rivers run into it, without any apparent issue to the Sea.
Parthia described.
Parthia is seated at the roots of the mountains, having the Arians on the East; the Medes on the West: Caramania on the South: and Hyrcania on the North, surrounded with Desarts: they used not gold, or silver, but only to adorn their armour: they had many wives, of whom they were so jealous that they forbad them the sight of any other man: They performed all businesses, both publick and private on horseback; this being the distinction of free men from servants; they buried their dead in the bellies of birds, or dogs: they were exceeding superstitious in the service of their Gods: they were a stout, unquiet, and unfaithful people: their fight was more dangerous in their flight, than in their onset; whence Seneca saith Terga, conversi metuenda Parthi.
The Parthians flight doth most affright. Its now called Arach.
Hyrcania described.
Hyrcania (now Strava) hath on the West Media: on the East Margiana: on the South Parthia: and on the North the Caspian Sea: Its famous for store of woods, and Tygers: Strava the chief City abounds with trafick for Silk: Their Religion agrees with that of the Persians.
Arabia described.
Arabia is a very large Country lying between the Persian Gulph on the East, and the Arabian Gulph on the West: On the South is the Ocean; and on the North is Syria and Euphrates. Its usually divided into Petraea, Deserta, and Foelix: The name Faelix, or Happie is given to the Southern part, from the fertility of it. Petraea to a second part, of Petra the Seat Royal: Deserta, or the Desert from the nature of it, being a very barren soil.
Arabia the Desert is bounded on the East with Babylonia, and part of the Persian Gulph: on the North with Mesopotamia, neer to Euphrates: On the West with Syria, and Arabia Petraea: and on the South with the Mountains of Arabia Faelix, neer unto which, and Euphrates, it hath some Towns which are frequented by Merchants: In other parts it is unpeopled, only by some roving Arabians wandering in it, seeking pasture for their Cattel.
Arabia Petraea hath Syria on the West and North: Arabia the Desert on the East; and Arabia Foelix on the South: some call it Nabathaea: that part of it which is next to Syria is fruitful; the other barren, wanting both wood, and water, and frequented by wandring theevish Arabians: In this Country it was, that the Israelites wandred forty years up and down in their passage to Canaan. Here is Mount Sinai, a mile and an half from Horeb, and far higher: Sinai is ascended by steps cut out of the Rock, and from the top of it may bee seen both shores of the Red-Sea.
Arabia Foelix bounds upon the former, and hath the Sea on all other parts, against which it doth abut for the space of three thousand five hundred and four miles. Its now called Ayaman, or Giamen. Its probable to bee the Country where Saba stood, whose Queen came to visit Salomon, though the Abassines challenge her to themselves: It hath store of Rivers, Lakes, Towns, Cities, Cattel, and fruits of many sorts. The chief Cities are Medina, Mecca, Ziden, Zebit, Aden, &c. Here is store of gold, silver, and variety of precious stones: As also wild beasts of diverse kinds. The Inhabitants use circumcision at thirteen years old after the …xample of Ismael. Frankincense grows only in this Country, and not in every part, but in one part only, guarded, and almost unpassable by Rocks; the place is one hundred miles long, and about fifty in breadth; there are three hundred families appointed to attend this Wood, who are called Holy, and when they cut the trees, whence Incense sweats, which is in the Spring and Autum, they must abstain from Women, funerals, &c. when its gathered, they carry it on Camels by Sabota, where they pay the Tithe to a God called Sabis. They have in Arabia sheep with great tailes, some of which weigh forty pounds, some much more: they kill all the Mice they can, as supposing them enemies to their Gods: the women cover their faces, being contented rather to see but with one eye, than to prostitute their whole faces. They have also Balsom trees. The Arabick language is now the most common in all the Eastern Countries, especially amongst those that imbrace the Mahometan Religion.