Travels into Turkey: Containing the most accurate account of the Turks, and neighbouring nations, their manners, customs, religion, superstition, policy, riches, coins, &c.Busbecq, Ogier Ghislain de
History
Travels into Turkey: Containing the most accurate account of the Turks, and neighbouring nations, their manners, customs, religion, superstition, policy, riches, coins, &c.
Busbecq, Ogier Ghislain de
Turkey -- Description and travel -- Early works to 1800
At a small Distance from _Jagodna_, we met with a little River which
the Neighbouring Inhabitants called _Nissus_, and we kept it on our
right Hand almost all the Way till we came to _Nissa_; yea, and beyond
the Town, upon the Bank thereof (were there were some Remains of an old
_Roman_ Way) we saw a small Marble Pillar, yet standing, wherein there
were some _Latin_ Letters inscribed; but they were so defaced, that they
could not be read: As for the Town of _Nissa_, for that Country, it is a
decent one, and full of Inhabitants.
’Tis Time now to acquaint you with the Entertainment we met with at our
Inns, for I believe you long to know. When I came to _Nissa_, I lodged
in a public Inn; the _Turks_ call them _Caravarsarai_, of which there
are a great many in that Country; the Form of them is thus, it is a
large Edifice, that has more of Length than Breadth; in the midst of it,
there is a kind of Yard for the placing of Carriages, Camels, Mules and
Waggons. This Yard is compassed about with a Wall about three Foot high,
which joins, and is, as it were, built in the outward Wall that incloses
the whole Building; the Top of this inner Wall is plain and level, and
is about four Foot broad. Here the _Turks_ lodge, here they sup, and
here is all the Kitchen which they have (for in the ambient Wall before
spoken of, there are ever and anon some Hearths built) and here are no
Partitions between Camels, Horses, with other Cattel, and Men, but the
Space of that inner Wall; and yet at the Foot of that Wall, they so tye
their Horses, that their Heads and Necks are above it, or at least may
lean over it; and thus, when their Masters are warming themselves at the
Fire, or else are at Supper, they stand near them as Servants us’d to do;
and sometimes they will take a Piece of Bread or Apple, or whatsoever
else is offered them, out of their Masters Hand. Upon the same Wall, the
_Turks_ make their Beds, after this Manner, first of all they spread a
broad Piece of Tapestry, which is fitted as a Saddle-cloth by Day, for
their Horses; upon that they put their Cloaks, their Saddles serve for a
Pillow, and with the long Vests they wear at Day, they cover themselves
at Night. And thus they take their rest, never provoking Sleep by any
other Allurement. There is nothing done in secret, there all is open,
and every Body may see what another does, unless the Darkness of the
Night hinder him. For my Part, I greatly abhored this Sort of Lodging,
because the Eyes of all the _Turks_ were continually upon us, staring and
wondering at our Carriage, according to the Customs of our Country. And
therefore, I always endeavoured to lodge at the mean House of some poor
Christian! but alas! their Cottages were so small, that many Times I had
not room enough in them for placing my Bed; so that sometimes I slept in
my Tent, sometimes in my Coach, and sometimes again I turned into the
_Turkish_ Hospitals; which, to give them their due, are very convenient,
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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