Narrative of Travels in Europe, Asia, and Africa, in the Seventeenth Century, Vol. IIEvliya Çelebi
History
Narrative of Travels in Europe, Asia, and Africa, in the Seventeenth Century, Vol. II
Evliya Çelebi
Caucasus, South -- Description and travel; Istanbul (Turkey) -- Description and travel; Turkey -- History
The Páshás of Pássín, Akhiska and Kaighí interfered, saying, that it
was against constitutional law, that he being only a Páshá of one
tail, should kill one of two. He replied, “By God! if it is righteous,
according to religious duties, I’ll cut off his head, even if he be a
Páshá of seven tails; in consideration, however, of your intercession,
I won’t kill him, but relate the business to the Emperor; call quickly
for the Diván Efendí (Secretary).” While the dispatch was being drawn
up, orders were given to put seventy of the principal officers of the
troops of Trebisonde into prison, and they were accordingly shut up in
the castle, for not having urged the Páshá to hasten to the deliverance
of Gonia. The Diván Efendí made out the account of the conquest of
Gonia, and the accusation against the Páshá of Trebisonde; it was
signed and sealed by the three Begler-Begs, by the Judges of Gonia
and Trebisonde, and was ready to be sent off, when the inhabitants
of Trebisonde threw themselves at the feet of Sídí Ahmed Páshá,
supplicating not to be accused to the Porte. Sídí Páshá persisting in
his resolution, showed all the obstinacy of a Circassian. The principal
men of Trebisonde however, solicited the Páshás to intercede with the
Commander-in-chief Sídí Ahmed; and it was ultimately arranged, after
three days negotiation, that the Páshá and principal men of Trebisonde
should give forty-three purses of money, three sable pelisses, twelve
beautiful boys, twelve girls with eyes like Narcissuses, and of sweet
language, a silken tent richly embroidered with gold, a sword set with
jewels, a mare, seven quivers, vases of silver, the work of goldsmiths
of Trebisonde, bridles, hatchets, candlesticks of silver, three strings
of camels, three of mules, and a hundred and twenty horses. By these
gifts they obtained the favour of not being named in the report to
the Emperor; to whom only were mentioned the Begler Begs, Alaï and
Sanjak Begs, who had hastened to the deliverance of Gonia, and this
report was sent by Gurji Beg Zadeh to Constantinople. Another Kapijí
Báshí was despatched with the same news to the governor of Erzerúm,
but at the moment he was setting out, clouds of dust announced the
arrival of fresh troops on the banks of the Jorúgh; these were the
troops of Erzerúm sent to the succour of Gonia, under the command of
Hassan Atlí Aghá. The Zaims, Timariots and Jebellis of Erzerúm with
half the garrison, and the guards of the Páshá, forty banners of Segbán
and Sáríja (irregular levies of the Páshá), led by their colonels
(Bolúk Báshí). They were followed by a squadron of Delí, by another
of Gonullí (Volunteers), six squadrons of Tatar horsemen, a squadron
of six hundred Moteferrika, a squadron of two hundred Cháshnegírs
(carvers), a squadron of two hundred Serraj (saddle-men), squadron
of two hundred Kílarjí (men of the cellar), and lastly a squadron of
two hundred Ichaga (indoor servants), led by the Key-keeper (Miftáh
ghúlám agassí).
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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