VisitCHN

Sir John Chardin

Travels in Persia 1673-1677

Book Two

I. Of Persia in General

Persia is the greatest Empire in the World, if you consider it according to the Geographical Description given by the Persians; because they represent it to the full Extent of its ancient Boundaries, which are four great Seas: the Black Sea, the Red Sea, the Caspian Sea, and the Gulph of Persica; with Six Rivers almost as famous as those Seas, viz. The Euphrates, the Araxes, the Tigris, the Phase, the Oxis, and the Indus.

II. Of the Climate, and of the Air

The Kingdom of my Father is so great, that there is no enduring the Cold on one side of it, nor the Heat on the other.

III. Of the Soil

. . . the most Mountainous Country in the Universe.

IV. Of the Trees, Plants, and Druggs

The King turn’d, and looking on them all with Indignation, Cursed be the Drug, said he, that cannot be discerned from the Dung of Horses.

V. Of the Fruits of Persia

I have been at some Entertainments in Ispahan, where they have had above fifty sorts of Fruit at Table, some of which grow three or four hundred Leagues off.

VI. Concerning the Flowers of Persia

. . . whole Forests, of Orange-Trees, single and double Jessamins, all the flowers that we have in Europe, and several that we have not.

VII. Of Metals and Minerals: to which is annex’d a Discourse of Jewels

They call this imaginary Stone Icheb Chirac, the Flambeau of the Night, because of the Property and Quality it has of enlightning all things round it; Cha Mohore, Royal Stone, and Cha Devacran, King of the Jewels. They attribute to it Supernatural Virtues . . .

VIII. Of Animals Tame and Wild

Among the creeping Insects, there is a long square Worm, which they call Hazar-pag, or a thousand Feet, because its whole Body is full of Feet, therefore it crawls very fast: It is longer and smaller than a Caterpillar, and its Bite is dangerous, and even Mortal, when they get into one’s Ears.

IX. Of the Tame and Wild Birds, and of Hunting

. . . Lions, Leopards, Tigers and Panthers . . .

X. Of the Fish

But there is not, I believe, in all the World, a Place so full of Fish as the Persian Gulph . . .

XI. Of the Temper, Manners, and Customs of the Persians

As to the Natural Parts, the Persians have them as beautiful as their Bodies; their Fancy is lively, quick and fruitful; their Memory easy and copious; they have a ready disposition to Sciences, and to the Liberal and Mechanick Arts, and to War also; they love Glory, or rather Vanity, which is only the Shadow of it; they are of a tractable and complying Temper, of an easy and plodding Wit; they are courtly, civil, complisant, and well-bred; they have naturally an eager bent to Voluptuousness, Luxury, Extravagancy, and Profuseness; for which Reason, they are ignorant both of Frugality and Trade. In a Word, they are born with as good natural Parts as any other People, but few abuse them so much as they do.

XII. Concerning the Exercises and Games of the Persians

I admire at the Credulity of many Travellers . . .

XIII. Of the Cloaths, and Household-goods

The Cloaths of the Eastern People are no wise subject to Mode . . . I have seen some Cloaths that Tamerlain wore, which they keep in the Treasury at Ispahan; they are cut just in the same Manner as those that are made at this time of Day, without the least difference.

XIV. Of the Luxury of the Persians

. . . and in this manner the People of Quality in Persia go.

XV. Concerning the Food of the Persians

We are Wolves and Voracious Beasts, when compar’d with them.

XVI. Of the strong and small Liquors

. . . for Wine is forbidden . . .

XVII. Of mechanick Arts and Trades

The Master, with his little Apprentice, brings his whole Shop with him, consisting in a Sack of Coal, a pair of Bellows, a little Solder, some Sal Armoniack, and some bits of Pewter in his Pocket. When he is come, he sets up his Shop wherever you please, in the corner of the Yard, or of the Garden, or Kitchin . . .

XVIII. Of Manufactures

. . . especially in Silk, it being a plentiful and common Commodity . . .

XIX. Of the Commerce or Trade; and also of the Weights, the Measures, and Coin

‘Tis very curious to see them make Bargains: After they have Argued and Discoursed a while before the Seller, and commonly at his own House, they agree with their Fingers about the Price: They take hold of one another’s right Hand under a Cloak or Handkerchief, and entertain one another in that manner; the strait Finger stands for Ten, the bent Finger for Five; the Finger end for One; the whole Hand for a Hundred; and the Fist for a Thousand.

Finis

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Last Updated on March 24, 2001 by Lisa and Sylvia.