Hispahan

Etymology and other names

Modern
	Hispahan
	Haspaam
	Haspahamum
	Aspahamum
	Hecatompylon
	Hecatompolis
	Aspa?

Sources from old books

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

Of HISPAHAN, and the Trade thereof.

HISPAHAN in times past was called Hecatompolis, or the Citie of 100 gates, which name it may well still retaine, seeing that the walles thereof containes a reasonable dayes journey on horsebacke, it is now become the greatest Citie in all the Persian Dominions, and so much the more populous and magnificent, as being the common residence of the Persian Sophies; it is strong by scituation, defended by a high wall, deepe ditches, and a good Castle; on the west side stand two stately Palaces or Seraglios, for the King and his Women, farre exceeding in state and magnificence all others the proud buildings of this Citie. The walles are of red marble, and pargetted with divers colours, and all the Palace is paved with checkerd and fretted worke, and on the same is spread curious Carpets both of silke and gold; the windows are of Alablaster, of white and other spotted marble; the posts and wickets of massie Ivorie checkerd with glistering blacke Ebony, so curiously wrought in winding knots, as may easilier stay than satisfie the eyes of the wondring beholder; to which is added a pleasant Garden, wherein is seene a thousand fountaines, brookes and lesser rivolets; and also what may els be wanting, to make it fit for so great a Monarch.

The Inhabitants of this Citie do all their affaires one horsbacke, both publique and private, going from place to place, they conferre one with another on horsbacke; and so doe the Merchants buy and sell and negociate; the difference here betweene the Gentlemen and the slave being, that the slave never rideth, nor the gentleman never goeth on foote.

It is not questionable but that this Citie, the splendor of all Persia, the continuall residence of the Kings, and inhabited by so many eminent persons, as alwayes attend this Monarch, but that it is of great trade and concourse of Merchants, and furnished not onely with all the native commodities of Persia, but also of those of Arabia, Turkie, India and China, hither brought in great abundance to be exchanged for the native commodities of this place: and though it want the commodiousnesse of the Sea, yet by Caravans it is supplyed with all those things that are conducible either to beautie, necessitie, or ornament. The Caspian Sea affoords it the commodities of Turky, Russia, and Moscovia and Iasques with Ormus; his two Sea-ports in India affoords it the commodities of India and Arabia; all other commodities from either the Turke or Mogur is supplyed by Caravans Dromedaries and Camells: which hath cost by late observations in portage and cariage of commodities thus:

The cariage of 100 maunds of wares from Sciras to Hispahan costeth 70 sehids, and from Spahan to Casan 60 sehids, from Hispahan to Ormus by Scyras 120 sehids, and from Hispahan to Tauris 40 sehids.

The common commodities of Hispahan I have already nominated, and though all commodities in generall are subject to rise and fall in price amongst Merchants, yet the maund of cotton is here commonly at 12 sehids, the maund of Rice 7 Beste, the maund of Dragant 2 Beste, of Enapp 2 Beste, of Non 3 Beste, of Laghem 4 Beste, of Anil 40 mamhodies, and the Cattee of sugar is worth 400 Tomans, which is () pound English.

Their coines currant in Hispahan, and generally throughout all the Kingdome of the Sophie are of severall sorts, partly of brasse, partly of silver and partly of gold. The principall whereof is the Toman, which formerly hath beene accounted to be worth 6 li. starling, since 4 li. and by reason of the late warres imbased, and worth now onely 3 li. 6 s8. 8 d. at Sea side starling, and by some accounted 3 li. 12. sh. 6 d.

This Toman is worth 200 Saheds or Shahees, 14½ or 15 ℞. 8/8 span. or 10 asures, which have beene accounted 4 li. star. a piece, a Mamothy of silver, is 2½ Bestees of copper.

The Riall of 〈◊〉 span. is here accounted for 13 Shahees, and 1 cosbeg or 5¼ lorins.

The lion dollor currant in these parts is 10 Shahees, every Shahee is 4 d. starling, or 50 deniers here in account.

A Rupias, which is the coine of the Mogull is abashees, 4¼ which is 2 sh. 3 d. starling.

A Mamothy is 9 cosbegges or 32 dores, or 100 deniers.

A Bestee of copper is 4 cosbegges, or 20 deniers.

An Abaisce silver is 2 Mamothies, or 20 shahees, or 200 deniers.

A Chickeene of gold, sheriffe or solton is 18½ shahees, yet in some places of Persia they passe for 20 shahees, and in some for 24 sha.

An asure of gold is 20 shahees, and 10 asures is a Tomano 3-6-8 d. st.

A Larin is 5½ shahees, and in some places onely 5 about 10 d. or 10½d. starling, here 25 cosbeggs.

A Fonan is 9 Cupans. A mitigall is 3•…½ or 34 shahees.

A sadee is 40 flosses. A shahee is 10 cosbeggs.

A mitigall is 33½, and in some places 34 shahees.

A Tanger is 12 pulls, which is shahees.

They here keepe their accounts in sundry species and denominations, some in Sheriffes, some in Spanish Rialls, and some in tomans, and some in Shahees: The common account is thus distinguished.

The Abashee is	200 deniers, or 20 shahees.
The Mamothy is	100 deniers, or 10 shahees.
The Sadon	50 deniers, or 5 shahees:
The Uiste is	20 deniers, or 2 shahees.
The Cosbegge is	5 deniers.

And those that keep their account in shahees, onely they reckon them to hundred thousands, and hundred thousands, as the proper knowne coine of the Countrey; and this manner hath seemed the best to our English there resident, which they account 60 shahees for 20 sh. starling.

The weights of Persia are subsistent of 3 sorts, of the Dramme, the Mitigall, and the Mand or Mandshaw:

The dramme is the least, 100 whereof makes 66⅔ mitigals.

The mitigall is the next, 100 whereof makes 150⅓ drams.

The mand or mandeshaw is the greatest, and makes 1200 mitigals, or else 1800 drams; which hath made by the observation of some Factors that have resided there 14 li. 9 ounc. haberdepois.

The summe or cargo of silke is accounted here 36 Mandshaw, which accounted as above, makes English 524 li. haberdepois, and is great pounds of 24 ounc. incirca 350 li. But the east India company find it to be 300 great silke pounds and no more by often triall: But it is to be noted that these mandshaws is found to differ in many Provinces and Cities in Persia, and the bordering Countries, and doth differ in many commodities; but the mandeshaw common of Persia is 1200 drams for silke.

The mandeshaw of Tauris is but 600 drams.

The mandeshaw of Syrrat is 5 maunds of tauris above-named.

The maund of hispahan is accounted one and halfe mand of Sira•…, besides which they have these weights in some places;

1 Dubba is counted 5 maunds.

1 Sherway is counted 50 maunds.

1 Rellaij is counted 7 maunds.

1 Maund is counted by observation pounds English.

In Tauris also before named, a City in times past of great trad•…, in this Countrey they have 2 Mands, the one of silke which hath made by a Florentines observation 5⅝ li. Florence, and another for all other commodities; the 100 whereof hath made there by the said observation 264. li. Florence.

The measures of length used in Persia is of 2 sorts, and both of them called a Covedo; A long and A short:

The long accounted to be 37½	inches English measure, agreeable to the pico of Turkey.
The short accounted to be 27

Thus is what I find observable in the particular trade of Persia, I will now view it as it stands in the generall parts thereof.

1693. A geographical dictionary representing the present and ancient names by Edmund Bohun.

Haspaam, Haspahamum, Aspahamum, or Hispaham, the Royal City of the Kingdom of Persia, in the Province of Hierach; where the Sophy or King of Persia, resides. Very great, rich, populous, and daily growing greater. The King has here a most magnificent Palace: there belong to it three very large Suburbs. Some think the ancient Name was Hecatompylon; others, Aspa. The Kings of Persia have resided here near an hundred years: and that is it that hath given it this great increase. It stands upon the River Zenderoud, or Zenderu; which ariseth from the Mountain of Dimavend, and divides this City into two parts; and about five Miles beneath, is swallowed up by the Sands. It lies seventy German Miles from Casbin to the South; eighty from Ormus to the North, and a little more from Bagdat to the East. Seated in a Plain, surrounded on all sides, at the distance of about three or four Leagues, with an high Mountain, like an Amphitheatre. Long. 86. 40. Lat. 32. 26. The Province of Hierach, in which it stands, was the ancient Parthia. This City with the Suburbs, is about eight German Miles in compass; and has twelve Gates: whereof there are but nine constantly open; it has about eighteen thousand Houses, and five hundred thousand Inhabitants. The Walls and Bastions are of Brick; but ill built, ill kept, and out of repair; so that they are of no use, to secure the City. Upon the River there is a lovely Stone Bridge. This City was taken and destroyed twice by Tamerlane; and about 1450, suf¦fered much from one of its own Princes. The Mosques, the Bazar, (or Market Place,) the Baths, great Mens Houses and Gardens, are the great Ornaments of it. Some of the great Houses with their Gardens, take up twenty Acres of Ground: these Gardens they adorn with Fountains, Flowers, fine Walks, and delicate Rows of Trees, both for Shades and Fruits. So that the far greatest part of this vast City is taken up by Gardens; and not peopled like ours. I have taken this short Account out of Olearius, (who in 1637, was in this City;) and Thevenot, who travelled this Kingdom since.