carfe, May the Scorpion of Katfchan pinch thee by the hand. These creatures are very black, of the length of a man's finger, and not unlike a crab-fifh; but are fomewhat fhorter and walk fafter, with their tails always fticking up. Their bite feldom proves mortal. The remedy ufed againft it is only a piece of copper money placed upon the wound, which being taken off in 24 hours time, they then apply a plafter of honey and vinegar. They have also a spider, whose body is fpotted, and about two inches round. This infect feeds on an herb like our wormwood, except its having fomewhat larger leaves, and a ftronger fcent. It does not emit its poifon by ftinging or biting; but by letting it fall like a drop of water, it occafions an infupportable pain in the part where it faftens, and foon after the patient falls into a profound fleep from which he is fcarcely to be awakened without applying one of the fame fpiders, crushed upon the wound. But if none of thefe are to be found, they lay the patient upon his back, and pouring as much milk down his throat as they poffibly can, place him upon a bier faftened with cords to a beam, then turning the bier till the cords are twisted, they fuddenly whirl it back, which occafions a violent agitation that forces the ftomach to difcharge itself of the milk, which appears of a greenish colour, as does alfo a matter which with exceffive pain iffues from the penis. But thofe who are cured in this manner commonly feel fome remains of the pain as long as they live, at the return of the fame feafon of the F 3 year year. But though this animal is fo fatal, the sheep are greedy after it and feed upon it without danger. They left Katfchan on the 26th of July at night, and proceeding fix leagues, pitched their tents in a garden near a pleasant rivulet. The next night they proceeded through barren grounds, and early the next morning took up their lodgings in a very convenient caravanfera in the little city of Natens, where they observed two high peaked mountains, upon one of which ftood a large tower faid to be built by Shah Abbas, in memory of one of his falcons who there killed an eagle. Mr. Mandeflo having the curiofity to take a view of it, found it built of brick of an octogonal form, and eight paces diameter at the bottom; but growing narrower as it approached to the top, where it had many windows on all fides to let in the light. It is furprizing how they should be able to convey the materials to the top of fo high a mountain, which coft Mr. Mandello three hours hard labour to ascend, and as many to come down. CHAP. CHA P. IX. *** The Ambafadors enter Ifpahan, and are entertained out of the King's Kitchen. A Quarrel between the Ambaffador's Servants and thofe of the Ambafador from the Great Mogul. Their firft Audience of the Sophi, with the Manner in which they were entertained. They are invited by fome Auguftine Monks to the Festival of St. Auguftine. Are entertained by the Governor of Armenia, and afterwards by the English. A Difcription of the Marriage of an Armenian, with the Manner of their receiving the Eucharift, and the Baptifm of an Infant. A Swifs bravely fuffers Death rather than forfake the reformed Religion. A curious Account of a hunting Match to which the Ambassadors were invited by the Sophi, and which lafted feveral Days. The Manner in which the Sophi's Women Travel. The Ambassadors are entertained by the Lord Chancellor, after which they receive a Prefent from the Sophi, of whom they take their Leave in order to return to Germany. HAVING continued their travels for fe veral days without meeting with any thing extraordinary, they on the 3d of August were met at about a quarter of a league from Ipaban by one of the chief officers of the court, at the head of 300 horsemen, and foon after by two two confiderable Armenian Lords, who accompanied the Ambaffadors to their lodgings, while the ftreets and even the tops of the houses were crowded with people, though the duft raised by their horfes was fo thick that it was impoffible to difcern them at a distance. They were lodged in the quarter affigned to the chief Armenians, and were no fooner alighted, then provifions were brought them from the Sophi's kitchen. The table-cloth laid on the floor in the Ambaffador's room was of fine filk, upon which were fet 30 filver dishes full of liquid and dry preferves, and many kinds of fruit, as melons, citrons, quinces, pears, and some others not commonly known in Europe. Then the cloth. being taken away, and another put in its room, the fecond courte was brought in, confifting of 50 filver dishes with rice of all colours, boiled and roafted mutton, tame-fowl, fith, eggs, pies and fallads. But fcarce had they begun to indulge the joy they had conceived on their arrival at the Perfian court, than it was interrupted by a quarrel which arofe between a fervant belonging to their Mehemander, and a domestic of an Indian Ambaffador sent thither by the Great Mogul, who with a retinue of 300 perfons lodged at a small distance from them. One of his domefti.s standing by while the Germans were unloading their baggage, the Mchemander's fervant, whole name was Wellichan, told him in jeft, that it would show more good nature, for him to come and help them, than to ftand thus unemployed. To this, returning an infolent anfwer, the Per fan ftruck him with his cane; when the Indian, incensed at the affront, ran to some of his comrades, who were lying under the fhade of a tree, and told them his tale, on which inftantly rifing, and throwing ftones, Wellichan was wounded in the head; but the Ambaffador's domeftics and foldiers, foon charging the Indians, killed one of them, and purfued the reft to their quarters. At this the Indians were fo exafperated, that a few days after, when the Germans were removing fome of their baggage, in order to fend it to another lodging they had provided in the city, fome of the Indians fet upon a footman belonging to their steward, killed him, cut off his head, and tied his body to a horfe's tail. This no fooner came to the knowledge of the Ambaffadors, than they or dered their domeftics, who lay scattered up and down in the fuburbs, to repair to their lodgings; but before they could obey this order, the Indians poffeffed themselves of all the avenues leading thither, fo that the men were forced to fight their way through them, in which attempt feveral were mortally wounded, though they all at laft got to the Ambaffadors house, which being at the corner of a narrow street, they there galled the Indians with their firelocks. The latter, however, retreating behind a wall, made holes in it, through which they discharged their arrows: thefe did execution among the Ambaffadors fervants, who unwarily expofed themselves. One of the gunners was thus killed while he was levelling a piece of cannon against them. Upon which Murray, |