We Are Almost Tempted To Suspect The Author Of Romancing.

- E.]

[Footnote 56: Supposing that the place in the text may possibly mean _Shiras_, the author makes a wonderful skip in three days from the Euphrates to at least 230 miles distance - E.]

[Footnote 57: What is named _Castoreum_ in the text was probably musk, yet Russia castor might in those days have come along with rhubarb through Persia. - E.]

I accordingly remained with him for fifteen days in a city named _Squilaz_, whence we went in the first place to a city named _Saint Bragant_[58], which is larger than Babylon of Egypt and is subject to a Mahometan prince, who is said to be able to take the field when occasion requires with 60,000 horsemen. This I say only from the information of others, as we could not safely pass farther in that direction, by reason of the great wars carried on by the Sophy against those Mahometans who follow the sect of _Omar_, who are abhorred by the Persians as heretics and misbelievers, while they are of the sect of Ali which they consider as the most perfect and true religion. At this place my Persian friend, as a proof of his unfeigned friendship, offered to give me in marriage his niece named _Samis_, which in their language signifies the Sun, which name she well deserved for her singular beauty. As we could not travel any farther by reason of the wars, we returned to the city of Eri, where he entertained me most honourably in his house, and showing me his niece desired that she might immediately become my wife. Being otherwise minded, yet not willing that I should appear to despise so friendly an offer, I thanked him for his goodness, yet begged the match might be delayed to a more convenient time. Departing soon afterwards from Eri, we came in eight days journey to _Ormuz_, where we took shipping for India.

[Footnote 58: Of Squilaz and Saint Bragant it is impossible to make any thing, even by conjecture - E.]

SECTION VII.

_Observations of the Author on various parts of India._

We arrived in India at a certain port named _Cheo_[59], past which flows the great river Indus, not far from the city of _Cambay_. It is situated[60] three miles within the land, so that brigantines and foists can have no access to it except when the tide rises higher than ordinary, when it sometimes overflows the land for the space of four miles. At this place the tides increase differently from what they do with us, as they increase with the wane of the moon, whereas with us while the moon waxes towards full. This city is walled after our manner, and abounds in all kinds of necessaries, especially wheat and all manner of wholesome and pleasant fruits. It has also abundance of _gosampine_ or _bombassine_ (cotton) and some kinds of spices of which I do not know the names. Merchants bring here such quantities of cotton and silk, that sometimes forty or fifty vessels are loaded with these commodities for other countries.

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