The humble tent and murmuring breeze,
That whistles through its fluttering walls,
My unaspiring fancy please,
Better than towers and splendid halls.
MAISUNA.
“The best thing we can now do for a while,” said Seirami, “until this
storm shall blow over, will be to go and live with Kazim in his cottage
on the Ilamish. Perhaps, before the winter sets in, and the valleys and
plains are filled with snow, you may succeed in collecting some of your
scattered troops, and strike a decisive blow against Karaman.”
“Be it as you say,” replied Suleiman, “we shall turn goat-herds for a
while, and wait for the return of those smiles of which fortune has
been so sparing of late.”
“My hut, is in truth, a small one,” observed Kazim; “but Mangeli will
be delighted to give you up her chamber.”
“That she shall not do, my good friend,” rejoined Suleiman; “if
your hut be not large enough to hold us all, we shall soon build an
addition to it. It is not the first time that Seirami and I have turned
architects, and if occasion should require it, we are ready to do so
again. In the meanwhile, methinks that is the tomb of a saint, which I
see beyond those pastures in the distance. We shall not fail to find a
well somewhere near it, which will be refreshing both to ourselves and
to our horses.”
Cantering over the green turf, the travellers reached a hillock,
planted with stately palm-trees, the silver larch, the mulberry, and
some willows. In the middle of the shady circle, formed of the trees,
was a marble tomb of a saint, surmounted by a small temple, with a
portico, that ran all round the edifice. Seats for pilgrims were
placed in the portico, and disposed among the willows; the former
affording shelter from the rain or storm; the latter a cool retreat
from the beams of the noontide sun, to those who wished to enjoy
the fragrant zephyrs, which sported through the surrounding grove.
The grateful breath of the heathy blossoms and wild flowers, growing
in the neighbouring hills and vallies, imparted to the breezes that
swept over them a delicious odour, while the pure stream that flowed
from the fountain, at the foot of the tomb, charmed the senses with a
soft murmur--the music of solitude, awakening in the memory images of
departed friends, and filling the soul with a tender melancholy much
more congenial to its nature, than any happiness it can enjoy amongst
crowds.
The horses rushed gladly to the stream, that sparkled like silver in
the light, and drank, until they were sated, of its refreshing waters.
Suleiman and his companions plunged into a small lake, where the
pilgrims were accustomed to bathe, and in a few moments lost all sense
of the fatigue which they had recently endured. New strength and health
appeared to brace their manly limbs, as they rose from the transparent
wave. Then, permitting their animals to browse at will, they ate a few
dates, and mulberries, which they gathered in the sacred grove, and
throwing themselves on the grass, they slept until the shadows of the
trees lengthened far over the valley.
And here, perhaps, they might have continued to slumber until morning,
had not the tinkling of many sheep and camel bells, the neighing of
horses, the voices of shepherds, the loud laughter of children, mingled
with the incessant barking of dogs, disturbed them from their repose.
Suleiman, who, though a sound sleeper, was capable of being startled
by the slightest noise, rose instantly on his feet, and hastening to
the brow of the hillock, beheld, at a distance, an immense moving mass,
evidently directing its course towards the tomb of the saint. Calling
his companions to witness this spectacle, which Kazim, though he had
often heard of it, had never seen before, they observed the crowd with
intense interest, as the procession gradually developed the various
objects of which it was composed.
In front, were seen groups of men, dressed in gay attire, armed with
bows and spears, attended by minor groups of boys and girls, all
mounted on spirited horses; the young folk occasionally riding races
with each other over the plains, and shouting in bursts of merriment
that rent the air. Here two juvenile troopers were seen fencing with
each other, as they rode at full gallop; here a fox or a hare was
started, and chased by dogs and horsemen; while others were capering
about, as if to show off the mettle of their favourite steeds, which
sometimes stood upon the hinder legs as straight as an arrow, the
rider, nevertheless, holding his place as if he were a part of the
steed itself.
Behind these groups, which formed only the van-guards of the horde,
came their matrons, decked out in holiday finery, seated on beautiful
coursers, worthy of the best blood of Arabia. A few of these women bore
in one arm infants still at the breast, while in the other they held
the bridles of the foremost camels in each train, which moved in single
columns, laden with tents, household goods, merchandize, and packages
of every description, covered with rich Turkey or Persia carpets, that
reached the ground. The camels were ornamented with red ribbons, and
added not a little to the gaiety of the scene. Then followed large
flocks of sheep, and herds of mares, tended by shepherds who were armed
with long staffs and crooks, clothed in the Calmuc costume. The march
seemed to be made the most of by every body, with a view to display
the riches of each family, as well in the usual articles of dress and
ornament, as in the agility and vigour of the young men, and the beauty
of the maidens.
Suleiman, mounting his horse, rode forward to meet the procession, and
to congratulate the foremost of the horde upon their arrival at the
tomb of the saint. When he came back, with a few of the chieftains to
the well, it would have seemed as if he had been one of their tribe
himself, so perfectly cordial were their greetings with each other.
With Seirami and Kazim they were all speedily upon equally friendly
terms. The multitude, after having refreshed themselves and their
different animals, in the running stream, set about erecting their
tents. A frame-work of willow laths, formed in separate parts, and
rising to nearly the height of a man, was, in the first instance fixed
upright in the ground, the compartments being tied together by woollen
bands, and disposed round the circumference of a circle, leaving an
aperture for a wooden door-frame, which stood by itself, containing two
small folding doors. From this foundation sprung a number of poles,
raised in a slanting direction, towards a common centre, where they
were prevented from meeting by a wooden hoop, in which they were all
inserted. The poles were also bound firmly together by woollen girths,
and the whole skeleton of a hut, thus composed, was closely covered
over with large pieces of felt. Over the circular aperture, formed
by the central hoop at the top, was suspended a sheet of the same
material, one end of which was always raised on the side least exposed
to the wind, as well for the purpose of affording an outlet to the
smoke, as for admitting sufficient light into the domicile below. The
door-way being protected from the external cold by another piece of
felt, which was hung over it, and lifted by those who passed in or out,
and the whole of the covering of the hut being made fast by woollen
thongs, the residence was in a very short time complete in every
respect. The air was soon after filled with columns of smoke, ascending
from the fires, on which pans well stored with mutton were placed. In
some of the tents, cakes simply made, without any leaven, were laid
on stones heated by embers, and baked with great rapidity; while, in
others, tea and coffee were seen in an active course of preparation.
Suleiman and his companions were invited by the chieftains to live with
them as long as they pleased--a hospitable proposal, which he accepted
as frankly as it was made. He found the interior of the principal
huts roomy, and well furnished, especially that of the prince of the
horde, an intelligent looking, elderly person, dressed in a short
Calmuc coat of blue cloth, white trowsers, a mottled silk waistcoat,
and a thick velvet cap trimmed with sable, decorated by a red tassel
and a gold loop. Seated on the same cushion with the prince was his
consort, a young and agreeable woman, whose blue frock dress, over
a silk petticoat, ornamented with gold flowers, high square Calmuc
cap of Persian gold muslin, (trimmed also with sable and tassels),
gold ear-rings with pendants of large pearls, and red morrocco boots,
betrayed her desire to appear before the strangers in a garb not
altogether unworthy of her station. On a chest, near her, was an
open trinket-box, a beautiful rosary, made of smooth black kernels,
with coral and round onyx-stones interposed between them at regular
intervals, and also a guitar elegantly inlaid with a variety of
precious stones.
The tent was abundantly furnished with rich carpets, for the
accommodation of visitors. Images of gods were suspended here and
there, together with those celebrated astrological circles, which
afford a protection against evil. Chests, covered with Persian cloth,
containing the riches of the family, were piled in one part of the tent
one above another; in the centre was the hearth, where a clear fire
of ambrosial wood was burning; and near the door stood a few cans,
ornamented with polished brass hoops, filled with mares’ milk.
The guests no sooner entered the tent, than they were followed by
numerous attendants, bearing on silver dishes roast game, mutton
stewed in every form, with and without rice, and cakes hot from the
fire. After this plentiful and well-cooked meal, an exquisite wine was
brought, in small bags, which was poured out into gold cups by the
attendants, and placed before the prince and his guests. The princess
only drank mares’ milk.
After the banquet was over, the tent was crowded with a number of young
men and girls, the handsomest the horde could furnish, who, dressed
out in their graceful costume, danced before the prince, the princess,
and their guests, to the sound of the pipe, guitar, dulcimer, and
tambourine. Sometimes the dance was rapid and lively, indicating great
joy: sometimes it assumed the solemnity of a religious ceremony, when
hymns were sung by the whole party in chorus. They then performed a
dramatic entertainment--a favourite amusement of the princess--in which
the chieftains of other hordes were satirised and ridiculed, in a vein
of drollery that shook the tent with laughter, echoed by the crowds,
who, not being able to gain admission, were gathered outside, listening
to the actors within.
The guests upon taking leave, when these sports were over, were
prevailed upon to enter several of the other huts in succession. In
some, parties were engaged playing at chess; in some, at dice or cards;
while story-tellers were occupied in others, amusing the family, and
their more intimate friends, with tales of genii, and spirits of the
land and deep, warlike adventures, and all sorts of narratives of the
wild and wondrous world of enchantment.
Seirami, from all he had hitherto observed of the hordes, by whom he
and his companions were so hospitably received, imagined that their
habits were entirely pastoral, and that, with the exception of a few
men, armed for their protection, while moving about from place to
place, there were scarcely any warriors amongst them.
But in one of the tents which he last visited, he found a group of
finely formed, active, and robust youths, girt with sabres, their bows
and quivers suspended round the walls of the hut, listening to some
martial songs, which appeared to agitate them to a violent degree. In
those songs, the vicissitudes of a battle were boldly depicted; and
as the hero in whose fate they felt an interest was borne onward, or
repelled, on the tide of war, they half drew their sabres from their
sides, burning with a desire to share in the fortunes of the field.
With these young warriors Seirami remained for some time, and being
called upon in his turn to contribute to the general amusement, he
gave them an animated description of the contest with Mirtas, in which
Suleiman had been recently defeated--suppressing, of course, every
incident that might warrant the charge of treachery, made by that
prince against his chieftain. When to this narrative, which, told in
the fluent and graceful style of one of the most accomplished masters
of language in his day, easily captivated the passions of those to
whom it was addressed, he added the history of Suleiman’s escape from
the garden, and of the heroic constancy and courage he had shown in
rescuing his friends from the cruel and ignominious death to which they
had been doomed, the warriors rose by unanimous impulse, and touching
their sabres together, swore that they would follow Suleiman, if he
would lead them to attack the town of Karaman, and destroy the monster,
whose deeds promised that he would rule it with a mace of iron.
Suleiman, upon being made acquainted with the offers of these men,
accepted them for his allies, with the consent of their prince; but
said that, as their numbers were not sufficient for an assault upon
such a town as Karaman, he must wait until he could collect a larger
force for the purpose. In the mean time they would be eminently
useful to him as emissaries, to collect those of his scattered army,
who had not been captured, and he had no doubt that with such brave
auxiliaries he would soon be enabled to avenge the insult he had
sustained from Mirtas.
The song, the dance, the laugh, the voice of the story-tellers, the
sound of drum and mandolin gradually ceased throughout the tents as the
night advanced. The signs of animation died away one after another; and
when Kazim looked out from the door of the hut, occupied by himself
and his companions, to gaze once more on the well-known star, which he
and Mangeli had often remarked shining over their own dear cottage, he
wondered at the profound repose into which the whole tribe was hushed,
together with their camels, horses, sheep, and other animals.
With the exception of the occasional bark of a dog, heard at the
confines of the encampment, all was as still as the blue heavens above;
the sweet murmur of the sacred fountain seeming only to soothe into a
deeper silence, the solemn tranquillity that reigned every where around.