[Pramāṇa](https://indike.org/pramana/) › [Indian literature](https://indike.org/pramana/in) › [Dark Ages](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages) › [Travellers (1500–1858)](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel) › [Storia do Mogor](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.manucci) › [Storia do Mogor (Irvine)](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.manucci~en-irvine) › 40 # Storia do Mogor 40: CHAPTER XVI · OF OUR DEPARTURE FROM ISFAHAN AND ARRIVAL AT THE PORT OF BANDARABASSI (BANDAR 'ABBAS) Storia do Mogor (Irvine) 40 - **Language:** English ### CHAPTER XVI · OF OUR DEPARTURE FROM ISFAHAN AND ARRIVAL AT THE PORT OF BANDARABASSI (BANDAR 'ABBAS) ### [40.1](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.manucci~en-irvine.40.1) WE were now to continue our journey, wherefore we begged the help of Mestre Jonh (Henry Young), who gave to the ambassador the assistance he required. We wished to leave Isfahan in company of the said Mestre Jonh (Henry Young), but we could not conclude our business in time. He left several days before we did, and we left at the end of September of one thousand six hundred and fifty-two (1652). During our journey to the town of Xiras (Shiraz) we obtained good supplies of food, but the road is somewhat difficult, owing to the mountain ranges which must be crossed, where horses are fatigued not a little in trying to keep their feet. But I must allow there is also some fine open country, notwithstanding there are some very difficult swamps. The mountains are like all those in Persia — that is to say, generally bare of trees, though not wanting in fodder for sheep and goats, which in some places produce the stone called b'azar (bezoar). Of these stones I will speak when I come to write of the kingdom of Gulkhandah (III. 59), where there is an abundance of them. The sheep of Persia are very prolific; they bring forth young twice a year, by the help of a grain called chicharos on which they are fed at a certain time of the year ; and their wool is of the sort already described (I. g). ### [40.2](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.manucci~en-irvine.40.2) Finally, at the end of fifteen days' travel, we arrived at the town of Xjras (Shiraz), where we stayed for thirty days, the ambassador having fallen ill. He received many visits from a barefooted Carmelite friar, a missionary to the Armenians who dwell here. The air of this town is very fresh ; there are many gardens with good fruit, and the country round produces a quantity of grapes ; consequently they make a great deal of wine, which is exported to all parts of India. Although the law of the Mahomedans forbids the drinking of wine, still the King of Persia permits the English to make it \[34\] ; but they only produce enough for the company, and not to sell to others. In this region there is no deficiency of food produced, of oranges, of lemons, nor, above all, of roses, which they distil, and the rose-water is forwarded in boxes to all parts. ### [40.3](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.manucci~en-irvine.40.3) One of the wonderful things round Shiraz is a famous building standing at a distance approximately of two leagues, where dwelt, as they declare, the great Darius, King of Persia, who was defeated in battle by Alexander the Great. There is also a mountain in which is a cave where drips a liquid called by the Persians mumihay (mumiyai). This liquid belongs to the king exclusively, and thus the cave is closed by doors and guarded by vigilant sentinels. It is the business of these men to collect the liquid (which drips in minute quantities) and then forward it to the king. When he wishes to make a gift to anyone, he gives them a little of this liquid. This is on account of the admirable results it produces — that is, for all bruises, fractures of bones, and sores. ### [40.4](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.manucci~en-irvine.40.4) If what they say is true, though I have not made the experiment, should the leg of a cock or other animal be broken and you take of the above liquid ten to fifteen drops and give it to the animal to drink, at the same time anointing the wounded place with it, then, if it is a true story, in twenty-four hours the bones will unite. I possessed a little, given me by one of the king's eunuchs. He had effected wonderful cures with it. The principal case was the recovery of a stonemason who fell from a great height and lay with his bones broken, blood pouring from his mouth, nostrils, and ears, the man having entirely lost his senses and being without hope of life. In two days he was perfectly well. There is also a pond (paitsd) where on the top of the water floats a ready-made gum which is sold by the natives as the royal liquid, thus cheating a few simpletons. It is not devoid of virtues, but they are nothing like so great as those of the royal liquid. When the ambassador began to recover his health, we quitted Shiraz, and in nine days we were at the fort of Lar, which they say was formerly much larger, with a great enclosed space. But in the Middle Ages it was quite small, inhabited by many Hindus, who bought there the goods brought by traders from Isfahan and other places, and then exported them to many countries, principally from the ports of Congo and Bandar 'Abbas. ### [40.5](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.manucci~en-irvine.40.5) During our journey from Shiraz as far as Lar, we were in excellent health, but were in some concern lest we should not find water for drinking; for on the roads the water which is used is that collected during the rainy season in great cisterns. The earth being salt, the water which flows over it acquires the same property, and therefore is not potable. For this reason they preserve water in cisterns, in which there are all kinds of filth, and it is only out of absolute necessity that one feels inclined to drink. In spite of this defect of water the country was sufficiently humid, and many places had their gardens of oranges \[35\], of palm-trees, and date-trees, bearing dates. In Lar we obtained sufficient food-supplies, but water only of the quality already described. There was water below ground in channels, as is the custom over almost the whole of Persia. The fort of Lar is placed upon a small hill standing in the midst of four other hills of the same size. Thus the fort in time of war is in want of protection from good walls and dependent edifices, for any enemy who occupied the aforesaid hills could easily attack the fort. ### [40.6](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.manucci~en-irvine.40.6) After a day's rest we left Lar and journeyed through open and agreeable country, coming to different 'sarays' (sardes), where we obtained grapes and melons for our consumption. We moved between hills of salt ; we crossed several streams, whose crystal clearness invited us to drink, but their waters were so salt that no one could even pass them over his tongue. Among the rest is a stream called Ryo Salgado (the river of salt), over which was a great bridge of more than thirty arches. In nine days, after sufferings enough, we arrived at Gomoram (Gombroon), of which the other name is Bandarabassi (Bandar 'Abbasi), meaning 'Harbour of Shah 'Abbas'; for, being a port on the sea, it is called 'Bander' (bandar), and having been established by the Great Shah 'Abbas, they have added 'abassi,' and have come to call it Bandarabassi. This harbour was made by Shah 'Abbas, after having recovered from the hands of the Portuguese, with the aid of the English, the famous island and fort of Orumus (Hormuz). --- Source: [https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.manucci~en-irvine.40](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.manucci~en-irvine.40) · Pramāṇa