three per cent. ad valorem on that estimate.  On their way into Persia, merchants are used with much favour, lest they should make complaints to the king, who will have merchants kindly treated; but on their return into India, they are treated with extreme rigour, being searched to the very skin for money, as it is death to transport any gold or silver coin from Persia, except that of the reigning king.  They likewise look narrowly for horses and slaves, neither of which are allowed to be taken out of the country.

We remained here two days waiting for certain Armenians, with whom we travelled the rest of the journey, leaving our former companions.  The 9th of August we went only one parasang to a river.  The 10th we travelled seven p. and lodged in the open fields.  The 11th, four p. to a small village, where we had plenty of provisions.  The 12th, four p. where we had to dig for water.  The 13th, eight p. and the 14th five p. to a village named Draw, [Durra,] where we remained a day, as it is the custom of those who travel with camels to rest once in four or five days.  The 16th, we advanced three p.  The 17th, four p.  The 18th, five p. to Zaide-basha, [Sarbishe,] where abundance of carpets are to be had.  The 19th we came to a village named Mude, [Moti,] where also are carpets.  The 20th, five p. to Birchen, [Berdjan,] where are manufactured great quantities of fine felts, and carpets of camels hair, which are sold at the rates of from two to five abacees the maund. At this place we rested a day.  The 22d, we went to Dea-zaide, [Descaden,] where all the inhabitants pretend to be very religious, and sell their carpets, of which they have great abundance, at a cheap rate.  The 23d, three p.  The 24th, five p. to Choore, [Cors or Corra,] an old ruined town.  The 25th, three p.  The 26th, seven p. when we had brackish stinking water.  The 27th we came to Dehuge, [Teuke,] where is a considerable stream of hot water, which becomes cool and pleasant after standing some time in any vessel.  The 28th we went seven p. to Dea-curma.

The 29th we went five p. to Tobaz,[156] where we had to pay half an abacee for each camel.  At this plce all caravans take four or five days rest, the better to enable them to pass the adjoining salt desert, which extends four long days journey, and in which many miscarry.  We found here a small caravan of an hundred camels, which set off the next day after our arrival.  Here, and in the former village, there is great store of dates; and 3000 maunds of the finest silk in Persia are made here yearly, and is carried to Yades, [Yezd,] a fair city, where likewise they make much raw silk, and where it is manufactured into taffaties, satins, and damasks.  The king does not allow the exportation of raw silk, especially into Turkey; but the Portuguese used to carry it to Portugal. Yades, [Yezd,] is about twelve days journey from Ispahan, and is twelve p. out of the way from the Indian route to the capital.