Sciras

Sources from old books

1638. The merchants mappe of commerce wherein by Lewes Roberts.

Of SCIRAS, and the Trade thereof.

SCIRAS in times past Persepolis, built by Perseus, who gave the name of Persians to the Inhabitants, was for a long time the seate Royall of this Empire, for which cause Alexander (as is before mentioned) at the request of his Curtizan Lais, commanded it to be set on fire, but afterward repenting him of so great an over-sight, he reedified the same; it is scituated on the bankes of the famous River Bindamir, which courseth through the Kingdome of Persia and Lar, and so emptieth it selfe into the Persian gulfe, and standeth just in the roade way which leads from Hispahan to Ormus; it sheweth yet many eminent signes and monuments of its former glory, as two very great Gates twelve miles distant asunder, shewing what the circuit was in the time of the Monarchie; also the ruins of a goodly Palace and Castle, built by Cyrus, having a threefold wall, beautified with many spires and turrets; the first twenty-foure foot high, the second forty-eight foot high, the last ninetie foot high, all of free stone, and formed in a square with twelve gates of brasse on each angle, with pales of brasse set before them curiously wrought, testifying the magnificence of the founder. It is now accounted one of the most famous Cities of the East, both for traffique of Merchandize and for excellent armour and furniture for warre, which the Inhabitants here with wonderfull cunning and art doe make of iron and steele, and the juyce of certaine hearbs, of much more notable temper and beautie, than are those which are made with us in Europe.

The coynes here in use being proper to the whole Kingdome and the weights and measures not found differing from the same used in Ormus, the prime port of this whole Kingdome, I shall not need here further to insist thereupon, and therefore from hence accompanying the Caravan, I in the next place survay the said famous port of Ormus.