DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.634#0353
3 2 8 the Prejent State os P E R S I A.
Letter V. sions of the Saracens it has been declining, unless where it has healed
utf^v^aw' its sdf towards those Parts bordering on India ; by which means it
has not lost much of its Modern Greatness, though the Turks within
this Century have forced the Low Countries of Babylon and Mefopo-
tamia, which the Persians were as willing to resign as they to take,
they being a continual Charge to defend, and no Advantage to the
Persians, but rather an unnecessary Trouble: On which Reslections
there is nothing forbids, but that with the Judicious Boterus we may
state its Limits between thtCaspian Sea, the Persian Gulph, theLikc
Stoke, with the Rivers Qxits and Tigris, and the Bay and Kingdom
of Camhaia ; which Tra& contains in it srom Easi to Weft more
than Twenty Degrees, and srom North to South above Eighteen,
whereby the Days are prolonged or shortned three Hours.
Under this Account is to be reckoned the greater part os Georgia,
with the Issands in either Seas.
It.isdistinguissied into Provinces; the exscT: Number whereof, as
divided at present, ( they as often changing Names as Governors),
I have not been certainly informed.
t ranee (h'-istus Curtius erred something when he said, Regio non alia in
of the Aii'. tota Asiii faluhrtor hahetur, temperatttm Ccctum ; bine perpetuum jugutit
opactim etumhrostim, quod /EJlas lisvat; illinc Mare adjmStum quod ma-
duo tepore terras sovet. There is not a Region in ail AJia edeemed
healthier, the Air being temperate ; on this hand the Heaven is
Ihadcd and the Vales defended by the Tops of Mountains, which
qualifies the Kcat; on the other, surrounded with Seas and Rivers,
which by a friendly Warmth cherisli the Land; for that Places near
the Tropicks make somc Exceptions, where in the Summer they en-
dure great Heat, not only from the nearness of the Sun (because
we often observe strange disferences to happen in the same Climate ),
but from the Sands, and Sulphurous Exhalations steaming from the
Mountains, which are impregnated herewith; whenas Rcason per-
'suades, the Time must be hotter than in other Seasons of the Year:
As also in the Midland Country the Cause holds good sor its intense
Coldncss in Winter, and almost through every Quarter at Nights j
the Penury of Vapours where the Earth is Rocky and Mountainous,
the Rivers are scarce and (mall, the Snows lye undissolved, nor are
there any Woods of that Bignels to hinder the freedom of the Blasts
descending pure upon the Vales: On which account immoderate
Driness invades the Mediterranean Parts, the Air is Serene and Vo-
latile, which as it is highly scrviceable to the Respiration of all Li-
ving Creatures, so it mightily contributes to their Preservation as
well as Generation: Moreover, from this Rarity of the Air, follows
an undeniable Argument of its Frigidity, and thence a farther con-
comitant, of its Siccity; from all which results a Dry Constitutioii;
lor h %K£PTng ^yi/jx^ iayx^iTOj *pAw^^pa; "to rni-run; Skcitas hu-
mores sacit qmlitate sictions ; Driness of the Air makes the Hu-
mours drier, which the Inland of Tersia enjoys from a Concatena-
tion of Caiises both of Heat and Cold.
High Moim- T'ie whole Region is very fruitful of Barren Mountains, inclosing
tains. the Valleys, being Excrescencies of the Mountain Taurus; nor can I
disbelieve in many places, but that the Plains do more than enough
abound
Letter V. sions of the Saracens it has been declining, unless where it has healed
utf^v^aw' its sdf towards those Parts bordering on India ; by which means it
has not lost much of its Modern Greatness, though the Turks within
this Century have forced the Low Countries of Babylon and Mefopo-
tamia, which the Persians were as willing to resign as they to take,
they being a continual Charge to defend, and no Advantage to the
Persians, but rather an unnecessary Trouble: On which Reslections
there is nothing forbids, but that with the Judicious Boterus we may
state its Limits between thtCaspian Sea, the Persian Gulph, theLikc
Stoke, with the Rivers Qxits and Tigris, and the Bay and Kingdom
of Camhaia ; which Tra& contains in it srom Easi to Weft more
than Twenty Degrees, and srom North to South above Eighteen,
whereby the Days are prolonged or shortned three Hours.
Under this Account is to be reckoned the greater part os Georgia,
with the Issands in either Seas.
It.isdistinguissied into Provinces; the exscT: Number whereof, as
divided at present, ( they as often changing Names as Governors),
I have not been certainly informed.
t ranee (h'-istus Curtius erred something when he said, Regio non alia in
of the Aii'. tota Asiii faluhrtor hahetur, temperatttm Ccctum ; bine perpetuum jugutit
opactim etumhrostim, quod /EJlas lisvat; illinc Mare adjmStum quod ma-
duo tepore terras sovet. There is not a Region in ail AJia edeemed
healthier, the Air being temperate ; on this hand the Heaven is
Ihadcd and the Vales defended by the Tops of Mountains, which
qualifies the Kcat; on the other, surrounded with Seas and Rivers,
which by a friendly Warmth cherisli the Land; for that Places near
the Tropicks make somc Exceptions, where in the Summer they en-
dure great Heat, not only from the nearness of the Sun (because
we often observe strange disferences to happen in the same Climate ),
but from the Sands, and Sulphurous Exhalations steaming from the
Mountains, which are impregnated herewith; whenas Rcason per-
'suades, the Time must be hotter than in other Seasons of the Year:
As also in the Midland Country the Cause holds good sor its intense
Coldncss in Winter, and almost through every Quarter at Nights j
the Penury of Vapours where the Earth is Rocky and Mountainous,
the Rivers are scarce and (mall, the Snows lye undissolved, nor are
there any Woods of that Bignels to hinder the freedom of the Blasts
descending pure upon the Vales: On which account immoderate
Driness invades the Mediterranean Parts, the Air is Serene and Vo-
latile, which as it is highly scrviceable to the Respiration of all Li-
ving Creatures, so it mightily contributes to their Preservation as
well as Generation: Moreover, from this Rarity of the Air, follows
an undeniable Argument of its Frigidity, and thence a farther con-
comitant, of its Siccity; from all which results a Dry Constitutioii;
lor h %K£PTng ^yi/jx^ iayx^iTOj *pAw^^pa; "to rni-run; Skcitas hu-
mores sacit qmlitate sictions ; Driness of the Air makes the Hu-
mours drier, which the Inland of Tersia enjoys from a Concatena-
tion of Caiises both of Heat and Cold.
High Moim- T'ie whole Region is very fruitful of Barren Mountains, inclosing
tains. the Valleys, being Excrescencies of the Mountain Taurus; nor can I
disbelieve in many places, but that the Plains do more than enough
abound