Social Life in the Reign of Queen Anne, Taken from Original SourcesAshton, John
History
Social Life in the Reign of Queen Anne, Taken from Original Sources
Ashton, John
Great Britain -- History -- Anne, 1702-1714; Great Britain -- Social life and customs -- 18th century
'To all Gentlemen and others, that are lovers of Rarieties. Are to be
seen divers sorts of Outlandish Beasts lately brought over, which,
altho by Nature feirce and Savage, are here to be seen very gentle and
tame, giving great Satisfaction to all the beholders. As first A
Leopard, a beast of excellent beauty, presented to an English Merchant
in Turkey by the king of the Arabs, as a particular mark of favour for
eminent Services performed, who for the Maintenance of it in its
voyage from Aleppo, gave One hundred and ninety of the best and
fattest fowls. Likewise two Dromedaries Male and Female, the Male
being the largest that ever was in England, being seven foot high, and
ten foot in length; his common burden is twelve hundredweight, with
which he travels 40 miles a day; there is also to be seen a Civet Cat
giveing a pleasant smell throughout the Room. Likewise a Wolf and
other wild beasts are there to be seen at any time of the day (all
being alive).'
A dromedary seems to have been considered a great curiosity, and the
following advertisement gives a wonderful description of it. 'By Her
Majesties Authority. Betwixt the _Queen's Head_ and _Crooked Billet_
near _Fleet Bridge_. This is to give notice to all Gentlemen, Ladies,
and others, that there is here to be seen, two strange wonderful and
remarkable monstrous Creatures, an old She _Dromodary_, being seven
foot high and ten foot long, lately arriv'd from _Tartary_, and her
young One, being the greatest Rarity and Novelty that ever was seen in
the three Kingdoms before. These Creatures is much admired above all
other _Creatures_ in their way of bringing forth their young, for they
go fourteen Months with young; these Creatures resemble several sorts
of Creatures, and yet but one at the last; they are headed like a
Horse, ey'd like an Ox, nos'd like a Deer, cloven Lipt like a Hare,
also neck'd like a Swan, and Tail'd like a Mule, and cloven footed
like a Cow, also the young Creature shewing several Actions by the
word of Command. Note also that Natural Dromodarys (as these be) are
the swiftest Creatures upon Earth: These Creatures are to be seen at
any hour of the day from eight in the Morning till nine at night.
Vivat Regina.'
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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