A camels load of wood costs a ducat. Flesh is dearer than
with us, and seven hens cost a ducat; but other articles of provisions
are cheaper. The Persians are a civil and humane people; and though
Mahometans, they do not hate the Christians. The women are very modestly
dressed, and ride on horseback with even more grace than the men; and,
judging from the good appearance of the men, the women are probably
handsome.
[1] Uzun-Hassan in the Turkish language signifies Hassan the long, which
prince was likewise named Hassan-beg, or Lord Hassan, and Ozun-Azembeg,
or the long lord Azem or Hassan. By different European writers his
name has been corrupted into Unsun Cassan, Uxun-Cassan, and Usum-
Chasan. He was a Turkman emir of the Ak-koyunla dynasty, or white
sheep tribe, whose ancestor, the governor of a province under the
descendants of Timor, had rendered himself independent in the north
and west of Persia. - E.
[2] This prince, whose real name was probably Abu Said, was the emir of
the Kara-koyunla dynasty, or black sheep tribe of the Turkmans, who
had risen to independence after the death of Timor, and who had long
contended with the prince of the white sheep tribe for ascendancy.
These two tribes derived their distinctive appellations of the black
and white weathers, from some peculiarity in their ensigns or dress,
equivalent to the distinguishing uniforms and banners of our European
armies. - E.
[3] Called Tebriz in modern times. - E.
[4] In the original this name is corrupted to Gurlumamech; but we learn
from the Modern Universal History, that his real name was that
expressed in the text of our translation. - E.
[5] The ruins supposed to be those of Persepolis are situated near Istakar,
about forty miles north from the modern city of Shiraz, in the
province of Fars or Persia proper; but the names in the original are
often so corrupted as to defy even conjecture. Sylas is probably meant
for Shiras. - E.
[6] Named Chali in the original; but it is to be noted that the _ch_ of
the Italian is pronounced as _k_ in English. - E.
[7] It is difficult to determine whether Contarini here means Maksud-beg
or Masih-beg, as Uzun-Hassan had two sons of these names; Maksad was
the elder, and may have been the person named in the text Masu. Bec or
Beg signifies Lord or Prince. - E.
[8] The person mentioned before by Contarini as a messenger from Venice,
and whom he met with at Kaffa, was named on that occasion Paulus
Omnibamus, totally dissimilar from the name in this part of the text.
- E.
