employed in filling wine round to all the company. After fome time these were removed, and the like tables covered with fine painted callico, placed in their ftead, to serve the meat upon. About an hour after, the meat being taken away, fome other conferves were ferved up, and thefe tables being foon removed, great pieces of linen, which were to answer the purpofe of table-cloths, were spread upon the floor, on the tapestry. At fupper the carver came in with a great wooden dish full of pieces of a thin-baked paste, three feet in length, and as many in breadth, one of which he gave to each of the company inftead of a napkin. The meat was then brought in large pewter dishes, which being fet in the middle of the hall, the carver kneeling down, cut it to pieces, and divided it into little dishes, one of which was ferved to every perfon in the company, each of whom had a pot ftanding by him, to spit in, and to hold bones, parings, and cores of fruit.

As the Governor's palace was feated upon the afcent of a hill, they had the view of a vaft number of lamps, which in obedience to the Khan's orders were put up in all the houses in the city, and the Khan being defirous of letting the Ambaffadors fee his dexterity in fhooting, fhewed them a lamp, which he ftruck out twice fucceffively with a mufquet fhot. In fhort, he at length conducted the Ambaffadors into a room that had a fire in it, where he again entertained them with conferves, wine, and brandy, of which laft a Perfian of VOL. XIV. quality

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quality took fo much, that he was the next day found dead in his bed. The company parted about midnight, and the Ambaffadors with their retinue were lodged among the Armenians.

On the 6th of January the Ambassadors, at the Khan's invitation, went to fee the ceremonies ufed by the Armenians at the confecration of the Holy Water, or the Baptism of the Crofs. This feaft is alfo celebrated by the Mofcovites, and fome other Chriftians. It was performed without the city, mafs being firft faid with much the fame ceremonies as are used by the Roman Catholicks in Europe, after which a fermon was preached by their Bishop, at the Armenian chapel, at which the Ambaffadors were present.

The Armenians having, by the Khan's order, brought fifteen horfes for the gentlemen of the retinue, they rode to the river fide, half a league from the city, while the people flocking thither from all parts, went in proceffion with pictures, croffes, and banners, under a guard of a ftrong party of foldiers, to protect them against the infults of the Mahometans. The Khan had caused a tent, very richly furnished, to be pitched oppofite the palace, where the ceremony was to be performed; and a collation was ordered to be got ready. On his left hand was the Mofcovite Envoy, with many other gentlemen; and on his right hand, the Ambaffadors and the chief of their retinue, who being feated, the Khan ordered the Armenians to begin their ceremonies, which they accordingly did,

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by reading at the river fide, while four men leaped in naked, and fwam about for fome time to open the waters which were a little frozen. A fpaniel happening to leap in after them, greatly delighted the Perfians, who, confidering a dog as an unclean creature, were glad to fee thefe ceremonies thus defiled. After the Bishop had continued reading for an hour, and the affembly had given over finging and playing on timbrels, he poured a little confecrated oil in the water; and after having dipped into it a crofs fet with precious ftones, gave it his benediction, by holding the Crozier over it. This was no fooner done, than the Armenians ran to the river fide, fome of them plunging into it, others drinking, and others fprinkling their faces, while fome of the Khan's domeftics ridiculed them, by dafling the water among the Priests and women, till he commanded them to forbear; though he at the fame time mitted his jefter, and fome others, to caper per about in mockery of the poor Armenians, who danced about their Bishop. The Khan's phyfician, who was an Arabian, had the impudence to afk the Ambaffadors, whether they believed Jefus Chrift to be the Son of God; to which he was answered, that they believed him to be the true God; but that it was very uncivil to fcoff at their religion, about which they should not difpute with him. The ceremony was concluded with a good collation, at which the Khan drank so plentifully, that finding himself unable to bear more, he mounted his horfe, and left the company without the least cereC 2 mony

mony, and all the reft of the Perfians followed his example. It is indeed cuftomary with the Perfians to go when they have enough, with-out making the leaft excufe; and this freedom is always obferved, both by their guests and those who invite them.

During their abode at Scamachie, which was three months, all which time they waited for orders from court, the Governor and Calenter did every thing in their power to divert them with hunting, and frequent vifits and prefents. On the 10th of January, the Calenter having invited the Ambaffadors, and all their retinue to a great feaft, conducted them through all the apartments of his palace, which, both in its buildings and furniture, much exceeded that of the Khan. The hall where they dined was arched, and adorned with a kind of stucco work, wrought into leaves and branches, and from this room there was a fine profpect over all the gardens; but what appeared most agreeable to our Author, was a fountain, which iffuing out of the gallery on one fide of the hall, caft its water very high, and falling into a lower bafon, was from thence conveyed to another fountain in the middle of the garden. The Khan, with feveral of his courtiers, and the Marshal of the Sophi's court, who had lately arrived from Ipahan, were also present at the feast, which lafted till night, when the Ambaffadors were conducted back to their lodgings with lighted torches.

On the 18th of January, the Steward, Seeretary, and Comptroller, were fent with the Ambassader's

Ambaffador's prefents to the Khan; these confifted of ten ells of scarlet, and five ells of blue fattin, a barrel of brandy, a cheft, containing two dozen of bottles of different forts of fpirits, and fome knives with amber hafts.

On the 5th of February, our Author by accident went into a great house near the bazar, which from its structure, and the nobleness of. its galleries, resembled a College. This edifice he found to be one of thofe public schools called Mandrefa, of which there are many in Perfia. While he was taking a view of the buildings, he faw fome walking, and others fitting with books in their hands, one of the. Maderis, who read public lectures, coming up, and obferving upon our Author's cane, the following words engraven in Arabic, In the name of the merciful God who fheweth mercy; a sentence. which the Perfians generally put at the beginning of their writings; he defired to have it, promifing to give him a better the next day; but our Author refufing to give it him, he cut out the word Alla or God, and putting it into a clean piece of paper, told him that the name of God ought not to be put upon a walking. flick.

The next day intending to return to the fame college, our Author caufed a very handfome celeftial globe to be brought along with him; but by mistake, he happened to go into another, where he was very civilly received by the Profeffors, Regents, and Students, who much admired the globe, and were furprized to find that Aftronomy and the Mathematics