[Footnote 156:  Tabaskili, or Tobas Kileke, in Cohestan, is probably the place here meant, in which case the route appears to have passed from Farra by the south of the inland sea or lake of Darrah, but which is not noticed by our travellers.  Our conjectural amendments of the names of places on the route are placed within brackets.—­E.]

The 30th of August we advanced nine p. into the desert, and lay on the ground, having to send our beasts three miles out of the way for water, which was very salt.  The 31st, after travelling ten p. we came to water which was not at all brackish.  The 1st September we went five p. and had to send two miles for water.  The 2d we went nine p. to a small castle, where we procured a small quantity of provisions.  The 3d, five p. and lay in the fields, having to send far for water.  The 4th, ten p. to Seagan.  The 5th, four p.  The 6th, ten p. to a castle called Irabad, [Hirabad,] where we paid half an abacee for each camel.  The 7th, six p.  The 8th, eight p. to Ardecan, where we rested till the 10th, when we went four p. to Sellef.  The 11th, three p. to a small castle named Agea Gaurume.  The 12th, nine p. to a spring in the fields.  The 13th, three p. to Beavas.  The 14th, four p. to Goolabad, whence Richard Steel rode on to Ispahan, without waiting for the caravan.  The 15th we came to Morea Shahabad, five p.  The 16th, to Coopa, five p.  The 17th, to Dea Sabs, five p.  The 18th, four p. and lay in the fields.  And on the 19th, after three p. we came to Ispahan.

Richard Steel reached this city on the 15th, at noon, and found Sir Robert Shirley already provided with his dispatches from the king of Persia as ambassador to the king of Spain.  Sir Robert, attended by his lady, a bare-footed friar as his chaplain, together with fifty-five Portuguese prisoners, and his own followers, were preparing in all haste to go to Ormus, and to embark thence for Lisbon.  The purpose is, that seeing the Portuguese not able to stand, the Spaniards may be brought in.[157] Six friars remain as hostages for his safe return to Ispahan, as otherwise the king has vowed to cut them all in pieces, which he is likely enough to do, having put his own son to death, and committed a thousand other severities.

[Footnote 157:  The meaning of this passage is quite obscure in the Pilgrims, and the editor does not presume upon clearing the obscurity.—­E.]

On his arrival at Ispahan, Richard Steel delivered his letters to Sir Robert,[158] who durst hardly read them, except now and then, as by stealth, fearing lest the Portuguese should know of them.  He afterwards said it was now too late to engage in the business of our nation, and seemed much dissatisfied with the company, and with the merchants and mariners who brought him out.  But at length he said he was a true-hearted Englishman, and promised to effect our desires.