_ 200 _ it had already left this port, and they made the price of hire at their whim. We arrived at a river, which in Persian is called Abarqu, and this in our language signifies narrow water, on the 18th of the month, this being at most three-or four-days’ journey from Bandar. This is because these camel-drivers are the biggest dogs and the worst people I have ever seen. For this reason the merchants conceded to them all that they wanted. There was no way to conclude an agreement with them that they should travel, and every day there were disputes, and they untied the loads, and committed incredibly evil deeds, and refused to honour the agreement they had made at Bandar, which was for 56 xains per load as far as Kashan each one load is worth two vintners, and those from Turkey are worn dcuble. Seeing this slow progress and the evil nature of these people, and the haste with which it was important for me to travel, I lost patience and became desperate, and many times I was determined to turn back; and I would indeed have done so if it had not been for the service I wished to do for the Governor, which was to reach Portugal with his messages before his ship and his arrival.
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