Some Heroes of Travel: or, Chapters from the History of Geographical Discovery and EnterpriseAdams, W. H. Davenport (William Henry Davenport)
History
Some Heroes of Travel: or, Chapters from the History of Geographical Discovery and Enterprise
Adams, W. H. Davenport (William Henry Davenport)
Discoveries in geography; Explorers
“The Emperor’s hawks, as well as those of the nobles, have a little label
attached to the leg to mark them, whereon are written the names of the
owner and the keeper of the bird. So that the hawk, when caught, is at
once identified, and handed over to its owner. But if not, the bird is
carried to a certain noble, styled the _Bulargachi_, that is, ‘the Keeper
of Lost Property.’ And I tell you that anything found without a proper
owner, whether horse, sword, or hawk, or what not, is taken immediately
to that official, and he holds it in charge. Should the finder neglect
to carry his trover to the Bulargachi, the latter punishes him.
Likewise, the loser of any article goes to him, and should it be in his
hands, he immediately gives it up to its owner. Moreover, the said noble
always pitches on the highest point of the camp, with his banner
displayed, in order that those who have lost or found should have no
difficulty in making their way to him. Thus, nothing can be lost without
being quickly found and restored. . . .
“The Emperor, on his journey, is borne upon four elephants in a fine
pavilion made of timber, lined inside with plates of beaten gold, and
outside with lion’s skins. He always travels in this fashion on his
hunting expeditions, because he is troubled with gout. He invariably
keeps beside him a dozen of his choicest gerfalcons, and is attended by
several of his nobles, who ride on horseback by his side. And sometimes,
as they go along, and the Emperor from his chamber is discoursing with
his nobles, one of the latter will exclaim, ‘Sire, look out for cranes!’
Then the Emperor has the top of his chamber instantly thrown open, and,
having marked the cranes, he casts one of his gerfalcons, whichever he
pleases; and often the quarry is struck in his sight, so that he has the
most exquisite sport and diversion, as he sits in his chamber or lies on
his bed; and all the nobles in attendance share the enjoyment with him!
So it is not without reason I tell you that I do not believe there ever
existed in the world, or will exist, a man with such sport and enjoyment
as he has, or with such rare opportunities.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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