We Embraced With Great Affection,
And Went Together To The Church.
After finishing my devotions, I went to
the palace, as the _Pregadi_ were then assembled, it being on a
Thursday.
I was admitted into the council, to which I gave an account of the
success of my embassy; after which, as our serene Doge was indisposed, I
paid my respects to him in his apartment, and gave him a short history of
my travels, and particularly concerning those things on which I had been
commissioned. From thence I went to my own house, where I gave thanks to
God for his infinite mercy, in having permitted me to return in health
and safety, after so many dangers. To conclude: Although I might have
composed this narrative of my travels in a more eloquent style, I have
preferred truth in few words, to falsehood dressed up in ornamented
language. I have been very brief in relation to Germany, as that country
is in our neighbourhood, and is therefore well known to many, on which
account it would have been both superfluous and tiresome to have given a
minute description of what every one knows.
[1] This almost certainty a corruption of Troki - E.
[2] Though this place must assuredly be a town in Germany, between
Frankfort on the Oder and Nurenburgh, its name is so disguised as to
be quite unintelligible. - E.
SECTION X.
_Recapitulation of some circumstances respecting Persia._
The empire of Uzun-Hassan is very extensive, and is bounded by Turkey and
Caramania, belonging to the Sultan, and which latter country extends to
Aleppo. Uzun-Hassan took the kingdom of Persia from _Causa_[1], whom he
put to death. The city of Ecbatana, or Tauris, is the usual residence of
Uzun-Hassan; Persepolis, or _Shiras_[2], which is twenty-four days
journey from thence, being the last city of his empire, bordering on the
Zagathais, who are the sons of Buzech, sultan of the Tartars, and with
whom he is continually at war. On the other side is the country of Media,
which is under subjection to _Sivansa_, who pays a kind of yearly tribute
to Uzun-Hassan. It is said that he has likewise some provinces on the
other side of the Euphrates, in the neighbourhood of the Turks[3]. The
whole country, all the way to Ispahan, six days journey from Persepolis,
is exceedingly arid, having very few trees and little water, yet it is
fertile in grain and other provisions. The king seemed to me about
seventy years of age, of large stature, with a pleasant countenance, and
very lean. His eldest son, named Ogurlu Mohamed, was much spoken of when
I was in Persia, as he had rebelled against his father. He had other
three sons; Khalil Mirza, the elder of these was about thirty-five years
old, and had the government of Shiras. Jacub beg, another son of Uzun-
Hassan, was about fifteen, and I have forgotten the name of a third
son.[4] By one of his wives he had a son named _Masubech_, or Maksud beg,
whom he kept in prison, because he was detected in corresponding with his
rebellious brother _Ogurlu_, and whom he afterwards put to death.
According to the best accounts which I received from different persons,
the forces of Uzun-Hassan may amount to about 50,000 cavalry, a
considerable part of whom are not of much value.
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