Book Title: Indian Antiquary Vol 59
Author(s): Richard Carnac Temple, Charles E A W Oldham, S Krishnaswami Aiyangar, Devadatta Ramkrishna Bhandarka
Publisher: Swati Publications
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MAY, 1930)
THE SCATTERGOODS AND THE EAST INDIA COMPANY
Diary of 16 February 1707/8. Meercossagone. This place is called Mehrcoasoon, Meergosooon, Emer-Cascoon, and Mier-chag-koen by Dalla Valle (II, 316), Fryer (II, 221), Hodges (I, 208) and Le Bruyn (II. 8) respectively. See Sir Wm. Crooke's remarks on its probable identity (Fryer II. 221, n. 1). No such place is marked on the modern maps: it evidently lay on the plain between Naqsh-i-Rustam and Takht-i-Jamshid.
Carve work ... Rustam ... Presopolis. Here Scattergood is describing the sculotures and tombs of Naqsh-i-Rustam. See Della Valle (III, 316), Struys (p. 335), Fryer (II, 225 and n. 2) and Le Bruyn, II, 9-44). The last named has numerous illustrations of the objects described.
Soattergood's concluding remark is characteristic. He would have considered it waste of time to enlarge on a subject already treated by previous travellers.
Diary of 17 February 1707/8. Zorgone. Zarghûn. See Della Valle (III, 321), Struys, p. 336, Fryer (II, 218 and n. 3), Hedgas (I, 208) Le Bruyn (II, 8) says that " Zargoen " is "pleasantly situated among mountains, and is full of gardens, which abound with melons, grapes and all sorts of fruits." of the "large bridge” mentioned by Scattergood, Le Bruyn remarks (loc. cit.) that it was “a very lofty stone bridge with five arches, three of which are very large, and the other two but small; and the river I have lately mentioned runs with much rapidity under them. This river is resorted to by various species of ducks, and it must be crossed before one can arrive at Persepolis, which lies at no greater distance from it than two leagues.”
Gee. Chi, boiled butter.
Shirass. Shiraz. It is astonishing that although Scattergood spent three clear days at Shiraz, he has no remarks on the place. He may bave thought that, as in the case of “Presopolis" it had already been "described very well " by others. See Fryer, II, 211. 217, and Le Bruyn, II, 45-52, who has a long account and several illustrations of the city.
Diary of 21 February 1707/8. Bobbahodge. Baba Haji. See Tavernier (Persian Travels, p. 251), who calls the place Badaadge; Fryer (II, 208 and n. 3). Le Bruyn stayed at the “Caravanserai of Babbahad-jie, five leagues from Zjie-ras" in August 1704 (II, 64), and again in November 1706 (II, 137), when he calls the place “ Babasjie." Toman. Tamán, a money of account, reckoned at £3 68. 8d. in Fryer's time (II, 139).
Diary of 22 February 1707/8. Musaferree. Muzaffari. See Fryer, II, 208, n. 2. At "Mosse-ferrie," Le Bruyn, who arrived there at nine at night in August 1705," went a fishing with flambeaux and caught some carp and cray fish ” (II, 64). On his second visit in November 1706, he found" 80 much company" at "Moesa-farie" that "there was not room to lodge above half of them tho' the Caravanserai is very large and commodious" (II, 137).
Gogsaw. This place, called Cossir by Hedges (I, 207) and Chaser by Thévenot (Pt. II. 128), seems to be identical with the Caifer of Fryer, the Khafri of Wilson's map (Fryer, II, 206, n. 4), and the Kafer of Rennoll's Map of Western Asia (1831). Khafr lies about 9 miles WNW. from Asmângird.
Piraw. Påin-Rah, about 161 miles WNW. from Asmângird. Fryer calls the place « Firaw, the Foot of the Way," but Thévenot (Pt. II, 127) has Paira, and Le Bruyn Paeyra and Payra (II, 64, 137). Fryer correctly interpreta the name: Pers. pd'in, "bottom,' and ráh, 'road.'