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
regard of the Wrongs they received from some of their Neighbours. From
thence we came to _Mohatz_, noted for the Overthrow and Death of _Lewis_
King of _Hungary_; not far from that Town, I saw a River whose Water was
deep, and its Banks very steep; here that unhappy Prince leapt in with
his Horse, and was drown’d, being for his Fall as much to be lamented,
as for his Imprudence, in venturing with a small and newly rais’d
Army of his Country-Men, to cope with the more numerous, veteran, and
well-disciplin’d Forces of _Solyman_.
From _Mohatz_, we travelled on to _Tulna_, and from thence to _Felduar_.
There I passed over the _Danube_, into an Island, pretty large, called
_Cophis_, inhabited by _Rascians_; and so repassing the _Danube_, I
arrived at _Buda_ twelve Days after I left _Belgrade_, _August_ the 4th,
having lost many of my Horses by the way, who were choaked with eating
new Barley, and drinking over-cold Water. Besides, I narrowly escaped
Robbers, which these Countries are much infested with, especially by
those they call _Heydukes_, some of which were afterwards taken, and
put to death at _Buda_, where they confessed to the _Bashaw_ thereof,
that they lay in wait for me and my Train, under a broken Bridge we
were to pass, that so they might assault us unawares. The Truth is, a
few may very easily circumvent and destroy a great many Passengers on
such Bridges; for the Bridges are ill-built, and the Planks are set so
wide, and gaping one from another, that you can scarce go over them safe
on Horseback, without danger of falling, if you are never so careful;
and if some meet you before, others will fall on your Rear, and others
start out from the Reeds and Sedges below, where they hide themselves,
and so accost you in the Flank, and you can hardly manage your Horse for
Self-defence, by reason of the badness of the Bridge: No doubt you may
be treated as the _Romans_ were in the _Caudine Streights_; be either
taken, or killed, at Pleasure. I know not what it was that deterred them
from assaulting us; whether it were our Numbers, or the Sight of the
_Hungarians_ with us; or because we were in a long Train, and all were
not on the Bridge at once; or whatever else it was that withheld them,
by God’s Blessing, we got safe to _Buda_. The _Bashaw_ of the Town was
not then at home; he was gone to _Pest_, on the other side of the River,
where they had a Council of War, after the manner of the _Hungarians_,
they call them _Rachi_. Many _Sanziacks_ were already come thither, but
more were expected; for which Cause, when I desired Audience, ’twas put
off for three Days, that the _Janizaries_ and military Persons might make
a greater Show. Then I was sent for over, and conveyed to his Tent, where
he made Complaints to me of the Injuries that some _Hungarians_ had done
him. It is usual, in those frontier Garrisons, both for _Hungarians_ and
_Turks_, mutually to complain of one another; yea, sometimes they, that
are most in Fault, begin to complain first.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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