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
When I came to the House where a Room was hired for me, the Door was
shut, so that I could no more enter into that, than I could go out of my
own; when I knock’d, no body answered. Hereupon the _Janizaries_ again
told me, that, if I commanded them, they would either break open the
Doors, or get in at Window and open them. I told them, they should not
break open any thing; but if they would go up to the Windows, they might:
they presently did so, and opened the Door. When I went up Stairs, I
found the House full of _Jews_, a whole _Synagogue_ of them. They looked
upon it as a Miracle, that I should enter, when the Doors were shut;
but being informed of the Truth, an old grave Matron, in comely Habit,
address’d herself, and complained to me, in _Spanish_, of the Violence
I had offered to the House; I told her, she had done me wrong, in not
keeping her Word, and that I was not a Man to be thus deluded; she seem’d
dissatisfied, and the Time would not admit of further Discourse. In
short, I was allowed one Window, which on the back side looked out into
the Street, and from thence, with a great deal of Pleasure, I saw all the
grand Procession.
The _Gulupagi_ and _Ulufagi_ marched two by two; the _Selchers_ one
by one, and _Spahi’s_ (which are the Names of the _Grand Seignior_’s
Horse-Guards) distinguished by their Ranks and Troops; they were about
6000, besides a vast number of the Domesticks of the Prime _Vizier_,
and of other _Bashaws_. The _Turkish_ Horsemen make a gallant Show; the
best Breed of Horses is from _Cappadocia_ and _Syria_, and the adjacent
Countries; he is set out with Silver Trappings, studded with Gold and
Jewels. His Rider is clad with a Coat or Vest made of Silk Velvet, or
other fine Cloth of Scarlet, Purple or dark blue Colour, intermixed with
Gold and Silver. He hath two Cases hanging by his sides, one holds his
Bow, the other his Arrows, both of neat _Babylonian_ Workmanship; and
so is his Buckler which he bears on his Left Arm, and is Proof against
Arrows, Clubs, or Swords. In his Right Hand, unless he desire to have it
free, he carries a light Spear, for the most part painted with Green.
His Scimiter is studded with Jewels, and made of steel, and it hangs
down from his Saddle. What need so much Armour, say you? I’ll tell you.
They use them all; and that dextrously too. You’ll reply, how can he use
that Spear and the Bow too? What! will he take up his Spear when he hath
broken, or thrown away, his Bow? Not so neither; for he keeps his Spear,
as long as he can: But, when he hath occasion to use his Bow, the Spear,
being light and easily manag’d, he puts between his Saddle and his Thigh;
so that the Point of it sticks out backward; and thus he presses it down
with his Knee, as long as he pleases. But, if he fights only with the
Spear, then he puts up his Bow into his Case, or else with his left Hand
places it behind his Shield. It is not however my present Design to
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account