Narrative of Travels in Europe, Asia, and Africa, in the Seventeenth Century, Vol. IIEvliya Çelebi
History
Narrative of Travels in Europe, Asia, and Africa, in the Seventeenth Century, Vol. II
Evliya Çelebi
Caucasus, South -- Description and travel; Istanbul (Turkey) -- Description and travel; Turkey -- History
On the market-place, is the Source of Paradise, Jennet-bunár; and
outside of the gate of Erzenján is the Camel fountain; on the fountain
of Mustafa Páshá on the edge of the ditch, outside the gate of Tabríz
is this inscription from the Korán saying:—“there are flowing
fountains in it (Paradise).” There are seventy Se-bílkháneh, or places
where water is distributed.
_Of the Baths, Kháns, Market-places and Markets._
The most elegant bath is that of Ja’afer Efendí, there are seventy
kháns, some of them for Caravans (Caravanseraï); some for merchants
(Kháns, _par excellence_); some for unmarried workmen (barracks); of
the latter there are ten, where foreign workmen find accommodation. The
Bezestán has eight hundred shops, four gates and a stone cupola. The
markets of the saddlers, goldsmiths, button-makers and tailors are very
elegant. The mint is near the gate of Erzenján.
_Of the Inhabitants, Climate, Products, &c._
The inhabitants are all Turkomans and Armenian kurds, of lively
complexion, middle size, stout, strong in youth, and vigorous in old
age. From ten to twenty-five years of age they are extremely fine, but
after that they quickly become hairy men, good natured and brave. The
principal men dress in sable furs, the Ulemás in ferrájís of cloth and
caftáns of Bogassin; the workmen wear abbas, and sometimes a caftán of
Bogassin. During three months the air is mild and pleasant; the water
is sweet and extremely wholesome for the women; whoever drinks of the
spring called the Source of Paradise in the summer, understands in its
full sense, the verse of the Korán, “Water vivifies all things.” Seeds
ripen here in sixty days, and bring forth fruit from eighty to one
hundred fold; there are seven sorts of corn, one of which is as white
as camel’s teeth. The workmanship of the tailors and goldsmiths is
very skilful. They make two kinds of pies here, one of chicken and the
other of a sort of vegetable called Cheresh; white and excellent pastry
(Chorek), white bread called Koláj, and meat roasted on stoves, &c.
Their beverages are Sherbet of Ribbes, and excellent Búza.
The walks are the place of the Jeríd; at the mills in the meadow;
the place of Gumishlí Kunbed (the silver vault), and the Convent of
Abd-ur-rahman Ghází.
_Genealogies of Erzerúm._
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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