Narrative of Travels in Europe, Asia, and Africa, in the Seventeenth Century, Vol. II — John Shaqi
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
Above the station of Súleimán vegetation ceases and the mountain is
barren. Kulleí Jehán, the tower of the world, is on the topmost peak of
the monk’s mountain (Olympus) whence beneath your feet the clouds may
be seen passing over the town. It is a journey of two days from Brússa
to the top; being so very high it is entirely barren; the mountains
of Cútahía are seen from the south side; the mountains of Sogúd from
the East, and from the west side the mountains of Galipolis, beyond
the White Sea. The summits of the Seven Towers and of the Minárehs
of Sultán Ahmed, may be discerned from hence when the sun shines on
Constantinople. From its height, it is so much exposed to the wind,
that if men did not cling to, or shelter themselves behind, the rocks,
the wind would blow them away like cotton. On the highest spot is a
burying place, the four sides composed of immense stones; it is the
tomb of Sa’dán the son of Landha, who is said to have taken refuge here
from fear of Hamzah. Near it is a deep dark cave which leads to seventy
or eighty small cells, where Monks resided in the time of the Byzantine
Empire; on some of them are inscriptions in Greek and Latin, two
thousand years old. People who come to the top also write their names
in this place. We again mounted our horses and came after ten hours
ride, ascending and descending, to the Victor’s height, Ghází Yailá,
from whence, after another ride of ten hours, we arrived at Brússa.
_Language, Dress, and Manufactures of the Inhabitants of Brússa._
There are many thousand rich merchants and learned divines who dress
in sable pelisses. Being in Asia, the language is related to the
Turkish, hence they say Ahmed Chepú instead of Ahmed Chelebí; Memet
Chepú instead of Mohammed Chelebí; Assmíl instead of Ismaíl; Jafár
instead of Ja’fer, besides some words and expressions entirely unknown;
young men of the town however speak with great purity. Their principal
occupation is the cultivation of silk, the manufacture of velvets and
other stuffs of Brússa called Sereng and Chátma, it is also famed for
the manufacture of cushions for sofas.
_The Climate of Brússa._
The longest day is fifteen hours: the inhabitants are fresh-coloured
on account of the healthy air, but as Mount Olympus intercepts the
southerly winds, the air is dull and heavy when they blow. The
youth are numerous and have been celebrated in many a town-revolt
(Shehrengíz). The women are exquisite beauties, with well-arranged
teeth, and well-arranged words; their hair curled and dressed in
tresses is celebrated in the poetical expression Kessúí merghúleh.
The men attain a very old age; in short the pleasant advantages which
this town affords are not to be met with elsewhere. The people are of
a graceful stature, silver bodies, cautious, and so eloquent that when
they speak they never fail to produce the greatest effect on their
hearers.
_The Eatables, Beverages and Fruits of Brússa._
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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