In their voyage to East India and homeward againe, and from
thence bring all such spices as are occupied in Persia and the regions
thereabout: for of pepper, they bring very small quantitie, and that at a
very deare price.
The Turkes oftentimes bring pepper from Mecha in Arabia, which they sell as
good cheape as that which is brought from Ormus. Silkes are brought from no
place, but are wrought all in their owne countrey. Ormus is within two
miles of the maine land of Persia, and the Portingals fetch their fresh
water there, for the which they pay tribute to the Shaugh or king of
Persia.
[Sidenote: Their money.] Within Persia they haue neither gold nor siluer
mines, yet haue they coined money both of gold and siluer, and also other
small moneys of copper. There is brought into Persia an incredible summe of
Dutch dollars, which for the most part are there imploied in raw silke.
[Sidenote: Their bookes and learning.] They haue few bookes and lesse
learning, and are for the most part very brutish in al kind of good
sciences, sauing in some kind of silke works, and in such things as
pertaine to the furniture of horses, in the which they are passing good.
[Sidenote: Such was the law of the Macedonians for treason.] Their lawes
are as in their religion, wicked and detestable. And if any man offend the
prince, he punisheth it extremely, not onely in the person that offendeth,
but also in his children, and in as many as are of his kin. Theft and
murther are often punished, yet none otherwise then pleaseth him that is
ruler in the place where the offence is committed, and as the partie
offending is able to make friends, or with money to redeeme his offence.
[Sidenote: Dissention for religion.] There is oftentimes great mutinie
among the people in great Townes which of Mortus Ali his sonnes was
greatest: insomuch that sometimes in the towne two or three thousand people
are together by the eares for the same, as I haue seene in the towne of
Shamaky and Ardouil, and also in the great City of Tiueris, where I haue
seene a man comming from fighting, in a brauerie bringing in his hand foure
or fiue mens heads, carying them by the haire of the head: for although
they shaue their heads most commonly twise a weeke, yet leaue they a tuft
of haire vpon their heads about 2. foote long. I haue enquired why they
leaue the tuft of haire vpon their heads. They answered that thereby they
may easiler be carried vp into heauen when they are dead.
[Sidenote: Their priests and preaching. Their Lent.] For their religion
they haue certairie priests who are apparelled like vnto other men.
