Page:The Six Voyages of John Baptista Tavernier.djvu/130

carry'd along with me, one that was well vers'd in that sort of Commodity. There was a Norman Gentleman nam'd de Reville then at Smyrna, who would needs accompany my Factor, so that they went both together in a Vessel that carry'd the French Ambassador and his Lady to Constantinople. This Gentleman had two or three thousand Ducats in his Purse, wanting neither wit nor courage, besides a good presence; but perhaps he was more hasty in his proceedings than the reserv'dness of that Country requir'd. He had left the Service of the Muscovites, thinking to find an employment in the Service of the Venetians at Candy; but failing in his expectations, he resolv'd to travel into Persia. While he was at Constantinople, the Jews, who lay hold upon all opportunities of gain, soon found out my Factor; and besides the Pearls which he desir'd to see, they shew'd him several other rich Stones to try whether they could draw him in; for he had refus'd the Pearls because they held them at too high a Rate. The Norman Gentleman fell into their acquaintance; and picking out the richest, told him, that being resolv'd for the Indies, he had a mind to lay out four thousand Ducats in Pearls. He added also, that he would pay him half in Money, half in Goods, and at the same time shew'd the Jew two thousand Ducats, which the Jew had already devour'd with his eyes. Some four days after, the Jew brought the Gentleman four fair Pearles with some Emraulds; and you may be sure they easily agreed upon the price, in regard the Gentleman had a design to put a trick upon the Jew. Thereupon he shews his Ducats a second time, which the Jew, who thought he had a Cully, presently told out as his own. After that the Jew desiring to see the Goods, which made up the other part of the payment, the Gentleman without any more ado told him, that all the Merchandize which he had to pay him, was a good strong Quartan Ague which had held him a long time, and indeed such a one, that he could not possibly meet with a better, but that he would not over-rate it, in regard he ask'd but two thousand Ducats for it. The Jew who was rich and in great credit at Court, was so incens'd at his raillery, that he had like to have made a wicked stir about it. For as he had heard him say, that the Gentleman was going into the Indies and Persia, he might have easily caus'd him to have been apprehended for a Spy. But in regard the Jews can do nothing in point of Trade without the assistance of the French Merchants, he adviz'd with some of them, who perswaded him that it was an Act of folly, which it better became him to excuse, and desir'd him to take his Goods again, and put up the business; which with much ado they perswaded him to condescend to. The Gentleman fearing least the Jews underhand should do him a private mischief, stole away with what speed he could, and return'd to Smyrna.

De Reville being thus return'd to Smyrna, put himself into an Almadier, which is a small Vessel of War, that generally touches at Chio and Rhodes, being bound for Cyprus, from whence there is always some convenience or other to get to Alexandretta. From thence he went to Aleppo; and while he stay'd there he met with two French men, the one whose name was Neret, the other Hautin, who was an Accomptant. They had four wooden Chests full of false Stones ready set, by which they flatter'd themselves to be great gainers in Persia. They went from Marseilles to Seyde, from Seyde to Damas, hearing that there was an opportunity to Travel to Bagdat with the Topigi-Bashi. This Topigi-Bashi or chief of the Engineers, was he that assisted Amurath in the taking of Bagdat, in recompence whereof the Grand Signor gave him a Timar, or Lordship in Damas worth four thousand Crowns a year. Now it was his custom every year to visit Bagdat, and to stay there during the Season, that there was any probability of the King of Persia's besieging it; which Season not lasting above three or four Months, when that was over, he return'd to Damas. He usually had about thirty Horse with him, with which he never made it above eighteen or twenty days, taking the shortest cut directly through the Desert, where the Arabs are commanded to bring him Victuals upon the Road. And he is willing at any time when he has this opportunity, to conduct the Franks that desire it that way, in regard they are never ungrateful to him for it. These two Franks therefore having desir'd that they might be taken into his Company, the Topigi-Bashi readily consented; provided they could stay 'till he went, which would not be 'till two or three Months; with which answer they were well satisfi'd. But the two Franks had not stay'd at Damas above seven or eight days but they fell acquainted with a Spahi, a Renegade of Marseilles, who proffer'd to carry themthrough