Metropolitan cities.
The country possessed by the King of Persia is bordered on the east by the Indies, which are between the rivers Ganges and Ondo (Indus); on the west by the river Tigris, which divides Persia from Mesopotamia, now called Diarbech, and running towards the frontiers of Babilonia enters the Euphrates,[701] then flowing together in one bed through Bolsora,[702] into the Persian Gulf, towards the south; on the north by the Caspian Sea, called also the sea of Baccu,[703] and by Tartary of the great Cattai. In this country there are the following regions possessed by this king, namely, Sunan,[704] the ancient kingdom of the Medes, Aras, near Greater Armenia, Carassan, Chiessen,[705] Cheri,[706] Diargomet, and Gilari,[707] which is now in a disturbed state, owing to an insurrection of the people. There are fifty-two cities in this realm: the chief are Tauris, metropolis of the whole kingdom, Carbin, Curassam, Naesimen,[708] Samachi,[709] and others I will not name, but must mention that there is not one in the whole kingdom which is walled, but all are open; the buildings are wretched, and the houses all of mud and cut straw, mixed together; neither are there mosques nor anything else to adorn these cities, although their sites are generally beautiful. The roads are disagreeable, from the great quantity of dust and mud by turns, rendering them difficult for travelling.
Abundance of corn.
Agriculture or irrigation of the fields in Persia.
There is a very great abundance of corn, and generally the plains are beautiful; in the country they are accustomed to conduct the water to irrigate the fields, one week in one place, and the other in another, and thus they give sufficient water to the grain and vines. In spite of the scarcity of rain, in the ascents and other places, where water cannot be brought, they grow grass. There is also a great quantity of live stock, and particularly of sheep, of such a size, that I had seen some in Tauris, whose tails weighed ten bisti, or rather ten battuarii, which in our weights make nine pounds. With all this the supply has to be immense, as no people in the world eat more than the Persians, it being the custom for both old and young to eat four times a day, the excellence of the water helping the digestion.
Women and their habits.
In the cities and towns they do not use many ornaments; everyone sleeps on the ground, and those who are of some position use a mattress on the carpet, others a simple mat. The women are mostly ugly, though of fine features and noble dispositions, their customs not being so refined as those of the Turkish ladies. They wear robes of silk, veils on their heads, and show their faces openly. They have pearls and other jewels on their heads, and on this account pearls are in great demand in these regions, as it is not very long since they came into use.
Love and reverence of the people of Persia for the king.
Superstition of the Persian people.
Factions at Tauris.