would offer to deny it. They that come to _Constantinople_ from _Egypt_,
(as many do continually) affirm it for certain, that Chicken are not
hatched, as with us, by a Hen sitting abrood upon them, but there are
some appointed Officers, that, in Spring-time, gather all the Eggs of the
Neighbourhood and put them in a certain kind of Oven, which they make
of Dung and Trash heaped up together, and by the heat of the Sun and
the hot putrid Vapours, the Chicken in due time, are animated and break
their Shells; and then the Owners come to claim the Chickens, which the
Overseers of the Work deliver out to them, not by Tale, for that would be
too tedious, but by Admeasurement. I mention this the rather, because I
read of such a Passage in _Vopiscus_, where the Emperor _Adrian_, being
angry with the _Egyptians_, inveighs against them with this Sarcasm; _I
wish them_, says he, _no greater Curse, than that they may always feed on
their own Chicken, which, how they are hatch’d, I am asham’d to tell._
So that, without Question, this was an old Custom among the _Egyptians_;
and, therefore, _Adrian_ upbraided them with their Food, which he looked
upon as obscene, being begotten by Dung and Dirt. You may think, perhaps,
that I am mistaken; but I leave the Matter with you, and shall now hasten
to acquaint you with the rest of my Diversions.
Be pleased then to know, that I have also a breed of brave Horses; some
from _Syria_, others from _Cilicia_, _Arabia_, _Cappadocia_, together
with divers Camels, Sumpture-horses, and all Utensils fit for a Journey.
For I would have the _Turks_ believe, that I have now executed all my
Master’s Commands, and wait only for my Dismission to return home, which
I press with great Importunity, knowing that, by reason of the present
Discord among them, and the War between the two Brothers, I may obtain
the better Conditions of Peace from them.
As I take Pleasure in my Horses on other Accounts, so especially when in
an Evening I behold them brought, one by one, out of their Stables, and
placed in the Yard, that so they may enjoy the Night-Air in Summer-time,
and rest more sweetly. They march out so stately, shaking their Manes on
their high Necks, as if they were proud to be seen; and they have Fetters
on their Forefeet, and one of their hinder Feet is tied with a Cord to a
Stake.
There is no Creature so gentle as a _Turkish_ Horse; nor more respectful
to his Master, or the Groom that dresses him. The reason is, because
they treat their Horses with great Lenity. I my self saw when I was in
_Pontus_, passing through a part of _Bithynia_, called _Axilos_, towards
_Cappadocia_, how indulgent the Country-men were to young Colts, and how
kindly they used them soon after they were foled; they would stroke them,
bring them into their Parlours, and almost to their Tables, and use them
even like Children. They hung something about their Necks, like a Jewel,
even a Garter which was full of Amulets against Poison, which they are
most afraid of; and the Grooms, that are to dress them, are as indulgent
as their Masters; they frequently sleek them down with their Hands, and
never use any Cudgel to bang their Sides, but in case of great Necessity.
This makes their Horses great Lovers of Mankind; and they are so far from
kicking, wincing, or growing untractable by this gentle usage, that you
shall hardly find a masterless Horse among them.
But, alas! our Christian Grooms treat Horses at quite another rate; they
never think them rightly curried, till they thunder at them with their
Voice, and let their Club or Horse-whip, dwell, as it were, on their
Sides. This makes some Horses even to tremble when their Keepers come
into the Stable, so that they hate and fear them too: But the _Turks_
love to have their Horses very gentle, that, at a word of Command, they
may fall down on their Knees, and in this Posture receive their Riders.
They will take up a Staff or Club upon the Road, which their Rider hath
let fall, with their Teeth, and hold it up to him again; and when they
are perfect in this Lesson, then, for their Credit, they have Rings of
Silver hung on their Nostrils, as a Badge of Honour and good Discipline.
I saw some Horses, when their Master was fallen from the Saddle, that
would stand Stock-still, without wagging a Foot, till he got up again.
Another time, I saw a Groom standing at a distance, in the midst of a
whole Ring of Horses about him, and, at a word of Command, they would
either go round, or stand still. Once I saw some Horses, when their
Master was at Dinner with me in an upper Room, prick up their Ears to
hear his Voice; and when they did so, they neighed for Joy.
And yet this is usual and common to all _Turkish_ Horses, that they run
forward with a stiff and stretch’d-out Neck, so that they cannot easily
be stopp’d or hinder’d in their Course, but by fetching a large compass
about. This in my Judgment, is the fault of the Bridles they wear, which
all over _Turky_ are of one Make, and not contrived harsher or tenderer,
according to the Tenderness of the Horse’s Mouth. I must also acquaint
you, that the _Turks_ do not Shoe their Horses as we _Christians_ do; our
Shoes are very open in the middle, but theirs are broad-web’d Shoes, that
so their Feet may be less endangered in Travelling. Their Horses do also
live longer than Ours.
I have seen a Horse of theirs as lusty at 20 Years old, as ours are at
eight; yea, they say, in the Stables of the Emperor, there are Horses
of 50 Years old; and which, for some great Merit, are exempt from
Labour, and feed daily at the _Grand Seignior_’s Charge. The _Turks_, in
Summer-nights, when the Weather is very hot, do not keep their Horses in
their Stables, as we do; but cover their Backs with Horse-cloths, and
so bring them forth into the open Air (as I told you before); and for
Litter, they have only dry’d Horse-dung, which they save all the Year
long, and spread under them for their Bedding: As for Straw, they make
no use of it at all, either for Litter or Feed. Their usual Food is a
little Hay, and a small quantity of Barley; with this Meat they grow not
fat, for their Masters love lean Horses as being fitter for Race, and
Burden, than foul-bodies ones. The cover them with Horse-cloths, both in
the Winter and Summer, only they are thinner in One than in the Other.
This contributes much to the smoothness of their Hair, and is also a good
relief to their chilly Horses, which cannot endure the Cold.
In those Steeds, as I lately told you, I take a great deal of Delight;
when, about Sun-set, they are brought out of their Stables, and placed in
a row in the Yard; where I call each Horse by his usual Name, as _Arabs_,
_Caramanian_, &c. whereupon they fall a Neighing and give a Glance of
their Eyes and stare at me. Sometimes I go down among them, and give
to each of them a piece of Melon-rind out of my Hand, which makes them
know me so well. Thus you see, what Shifts I am put to, to drive away my
Melancholly.
I have also six She-Camels, which I keep by me, ready to carry my
Baggage, as I pretend to the _Turks_; but my true Design is, to bring
them to my Master the Emperor; if peradventure he, or other Christian
Princes, may have a Fancy to breed out of them because of their great use.
There are two things which the _Turks_ make mighty Advantage of, and
those are _Rice_ among the Fruits of the Earth, and _Camels_ among the
Beasts of the Field; both of them very convenient in their several Kinds,
for long Expeditions. As for _Rice_, it is not easily spoil’d; it affords
very wholsome Nourishment, and a little of it will serve a great many
People. And for _Camels_, they’ll carry huge Burdens; they will endure
Hunger and Thirst to admiration; and also they require little Attendance.
One Keeper will look after six or eight of them, and no Creature in the
World is more obsequious to his Owner than the _Camel_; and for currying
of them, they do it not with a Curry-Comb as we do, but with Brushes,
as we do our wearing Apparel; they rather kneel than lie down, on the
naked Ground; and in this Posture they offer themselves to be loaded; if
you lay too much on their Backs they’ll grumble a little, and refuse to
rise; for their Backs will be easily broken under over-great Burdens,
especially in Ways that are slippery and dirty. I was mightily pleased
to see them stand all round in a Ring, and with their joined Heads, take
Water or other Food, out of the same Bason or other Vessel, with such
agreement among them. When Fodder is scarce, they live upon tops of
Brambles or Thorns; and, when their Chops are bloodied in gathering them,
they eat them down most sweetly.
The _Scythians_ send a great many _Camels_ to _Constantinople_; but the
most part come from _China_ and _Assyria_: From those Countries, there
are whole Droves of them; and they are so cheap, that a _Mare_ of a good
Breed is worth an 100 _Camels_; wherein, perhaps, they respect more the
Scarcity of _Mares_ than the Cheapness of _Camels_; for good _Mares_
are so scarce in that Country, that he that gets but one, of that sort,
thinks himself a very _Crœsus_ for Wealth. They try whether they are good
or no, if they can run down a steep Hill, and not trip or stumble. When
the _Grand Seignior_ goes upon a Military Expedition into the Field, he
carries above 40,000 of these _Camels_ with him, and as many _Mules_ for
Burden; and these he loads with all sorts of Victuals, especially with
_Rice_. They also carry Tents, Arms, and other Utensils of War, upon
them; especially when he marches into _Persia_.
For, you must know, that the Countries over which the _Sophi_, or, as the
_Turks_ call him, _Chisilbas_ of _Persia_ reigns, are not so fruitful of
Provisions, as our _European_ Countries are. The Reason is, because the
Custom of the Inhabitants is, upon the Approach of an Enemy, to destroy
all before them, that so Fire and Famine may send him farther off; so
that if the Invader bring not great Store of Provision with him, he will
be in danger of Starving; and if he once do approach his Enemy, yet he
doth not presently open his Store of Provision, but reserves it for his
Retreat; which, he knows, must be through those Places already wasted
by such a Multitude of Men and Beasts, that, like Locusts, have before
pillaged all the Country. Then, indeed, the _Grand Seignior_’s Stores are
opened, and some small Allowance given out daily to the _Janizaries_,
and other Dependents of that Prince, enough to keep them alive, and
that’s all. As for others, it goes hard with them, unless they have made
some Provision for themselves before-hand; and some of their Soldiers,
especially the Horse, are so fore-sighted that, in Prospect of such
Difficulties, they carry a led Horse along with them, with Viands and
other things to support them, if need be. Upon this Horse they usually
carry some Blankets, that they may spread abroad, as Tents, to defend
them from Sun and Rain; also some other Cloaths to wear, and withal two
or three Wicker Baskets, full of the best Flower they can get, with
a small Pot for Butter, some Spice and Salt; with these, in case of
Necessity, they kill their Hunger. They take out a few Spoonfuls of their
Meal or Flower, and pour Water upon it; then they add a little Butter,
and so seasoning it with Spice and Salt, they set it on the Fire, and
when it boils, it swells so that it will fill a large Platter.
They eat of this twice or thrice a Day, as their Store holds out, but
without eating Bread with it, unless they have brought some Biskets along
with them: And with this thin Diet, for want of better, they can live a
Month or two, till they come to richer Quarters. There are some of them
who carry dried Beef, grounded to Powder, in a kind of Snap-sack; that’s
a more nutritive and choice Viand amongst them: And sometimes they eat
Horse-Flesh, for in a vast Army a great many Horses must needs die, and
if any of them be more fleshy than others, they make a great Feast for
hungry Stomachs. And those who have thus lost their Horses, (for you must
know that too) when the _Grand Seignior_ or _Vizier_ removes his Camp,
stand in a row before him in the Way he is to march, with their Saddles
on their Heads, signifying hereby the Loss of their Horses, and by that
mute Sign begging Relief towards buying a new one; and their Prince
gratifies them, at his Pleasure.
Thus the _Turks_ surmount huge Difficulties in War, with a great
deal of Patience, Sobriety and Parsimony, reserving themselves for
more favourable Circumstances. But our _Christian_ Soldiers carry it
otherwise; they scorn homely Fare in their Camps; they must have dainty
bits, forsooth, such as Thrushes, Black-birds, and banquetting Stuff. If
they have not these they are ready to mutiny, as if they were famished;
and if they have them, they are undone: Their own Intemperance kills
them, if their Enemy spare their Lives.
When I compare the Difference between their Soldiers and ours, I stand
amazed to think what will be the Event; for certainly their Soldiers
must needs conquer, and ours must needs be vanquished; both cannot stand
prosperously together: For on their side, there is a mighty, strong and
wealthy Empire, great Armies, Experience in War, a veteran Soldiery, a
long Series of Victories, Patience in Toil, Concord, Order, Discipline,
Frugality and Vigilance. On our side, there is public Want, private
Luxury, Strength weakened, Minds Discouraged, an unaccustomedness to
Labour or Arms, Soldiers refractory, Commanders covetous, a Contempt of
Discipline, Licentiousness, Rashness, Drunkenness, Gluttony; and, what
is worst of all, they used to conquer, we to be conquered. Can any Man
doubt, in this case, what the Event will be? ’Tis only the _Persian_
stands between us and Ruin. The _Turks_ would fain be upon us, but
he keeps him back; his War with him affords us only a Respite, not a
Deliverance: When he once makes Peace with him, he will bring all the
Power of the East upon us, and how ready we are to receive him, I am
afraid to speak. But to return from whence I digressed.
I told you before, that the _Turks_ use to carry their Arms and Tents
on Horse-Back to the War; but they are such as chiefly belong to the
_Janizaries_, for the _Turks_ are very careful to have their Army
healthy, and fenced against the Weather; let him defend himself as well
as he can against the Enemy, that’s to his own Peril; but the Public
takes care for his Health. Hence it is, that the _Turkish_ Army is better
cloathed than armed. They are afraid of Cold, as of their greatest
Enemy; and therefore, even in Summer-time, they are treble-clothed, and
their inmost Garment (call it a Waistcoat, or whatever you will,) is
made of coarse Thread, which keeps them very warm. And, to defend them
also against the Cold and Showers, Tents are carried about for them at
the Public Charge; and every _Janizary_ is allowed as much Space in the
Tent as the Dimensions of his Body are; so that one Tent can hold twenty
five or thirty _Janizaries_; and that thick Cloath, I speak of, is also
supplied out of the public Store. When it is distributed among them,
they take this Course, to prevent Quarrels; the Soldiers are ranged in
the Night in Files, in a Place appointed for that purpose, and so many
Cloaths are brought out of the Store as there are Soldiers, and every one
takes his Dole in the Dark; so that, if it be better or worse, he has no
cause to complain. And, for the same Reason, their Pay is weighed out,
not told, to them, lest any one should say, he was forced to receive
light or clipt Money; nor do they stay till the very Pay-day, but receive
it the Day before. The Arms that are carried are chiefly for the use of
the Horse, called _Spahi’s_; for the _Janizaries_ do usually fight on
Foot with Musquets, at a Distance, and therefore, when an Enemy is near,
and a Battle expected, the Armour is produced; but usually such as is
of an old Make, and are part of the Spoils obtained from former Fights
and Victories: These are distributed among the Horse; their other Armour
is but a light Buckler. You may easily think, how odly such Armour will
fit on a Man which is given out so hastily. One’s Breast-plate is too
narrow; another Man’s Helmet is too loose; another Coat of Mail is too
heavy for him to bear. Every Piece hath some Fault or other; and yet they
must not complain: They count it Cowardly so to do; for they resolve
to fight, be their Arms what they will, so great Confidence have they
in their Victories, and in the frequent Use of their Arms. Hence it is
also, that they put their old Foot on Horse-service, which they were not
used to before; for an experienced Soldier (they say) will do valiantly,
either on Horse or Foot-service. In my Judgment, the _Old Romans_ were
of the same Mind, and especially _Julius Cæsar_, who was wont to say,
_That his Soldiers would fight well, even though they were perfumed_;
for when he horsed the ten Legions, upon a Conference he was to have
with _Ariovistus_, what was his Intent, think we? but that they should
fight on Horse-back, if there had been need, though they were used to
Foot-service before; and we know amongst the _Romans_, their Foot-service
was quite another thing from Horse-service. But if you say, _Cæsar_’s
Design was only to horse his Men for Carriage, but to make use of their
Service on Foot, certainly he had run a great Hazard thereby, if when
_Ariovistus_’s choice Horse were within a Stone’s Call of the _Romans_,
and might have fallen upon them, the Legion was then to dismount their
Horses, to be disposed of, and ranged into a _Foot-Tertia_, or Brigade,
in an instant: With us, this would seem very absurd. However it be,
this is certain, that experienced Soldiers will manage a Fight after
a different Order than we do; so the _Romans_ did of old, and so the
_Turks_ do at this Day, with too good Success. So much for that Subject.
I return, further to acquaint you, how indulgent the _Turks_ are to all
irrational Animals. ’Tis true, a Dog is counted an obscene and nasty
Creature by them, and therefore they will not harbour him in their
Houses; but they nourish a Cat as a chaster and modester Creature,
in their Judgments. This Custom they received from _Mahomet_, their
Law-giver, who was so much in love with a Cat, that, when one of them
fell asleep upon his Sleeve, as he was reading at a Table, and the time
of his Devotion drew near, he caused his Sleeve to be cut off, that he
might not awake the Cat by his going to the Mosque.
However, though the _Turks_ have so ill an opinion of Dogs, that they
wander up and down the City of _Constantinople_, and have no certain
Masters, so that they are Keepers of Streets and Lanes, rather than of
any certain House, and they live upon the Offal which is cast out of
their Houses; yet, if they see any Bitch great with young, in their
Neighbourhood, they give it Bones, and some Relicks of their Table: This
they count an office of Pity amongst them. When, on this Account, I
blamed them for performing such Offices to a _Brute_, which they would
hardly do to a _Man_, though a reasonable Creature, like themselves, and
to be sure, not to a _Christian_; their Answer was, that God had given
Reason to Man, as a Fence against all Perils, and yet he did abuse it,
so that if any Inconvenience or Trouble happened to him, it was his
own Fault, and therefore he deserved less Pity: But God had bestowed
no Boon on Brutes, but some natural Notions and Appetites, which of
Necessity they must obey; and therefore they were to be relieved by
Man’s Help and Commiseration; and for this Reason they take it very
ill, if any brute Creature be put to Torment at his Death, or that Men
should take any Pleasure in tormenting them. This had like to cost a
_Venetian_ Goldsmith, that lived here, very dear, of late. The Story is
worth telling. This Goldsmith did delight in the art of Fowling, and
among other Birds, he once took one about the bigness of a Cuckow, and
almost of the same Colour; he had no great Beak, but his Jaws were so
wide and large, that, when they stretch’d asunder, they did gape most
prodigiously, so that a Man’s Fist might be thrust into them. The Man
wondering at this strange kind of Bird, caus’d him to be fastened to the
upper Lintel of his Gate, with his Wings spread abroad, and his Jaws so
extended with a Stick, that he gaped hideously. The _Turks_ came often by
his Door, stood still, and looked upon it; but when they saw the Bird did
move, and was alive, then taking Pity on it, _Out!_ they cried, _What an
abominable thing is this, that an harmless Bird should be so tormented?_
Whereupon, out they call the Man of the House, and drag him presently, by
Head and Shoulders, to their criminal Judge, where Sentence was likely to
be pronounced upon him, to be soundly bastinadoed; but the _Bailo_ of
_Venice_ (so they call their Ambassadors or Residents there) hearing of
the Matter, sent presently one of his Servants to demand the Man, and the
_Turkish Cadi_ was so merciful as to let him go; but many of the _Turks_
grumbled at his Freedom. Thus the poor Goldsmith scaped a Scouring: I
laughed heartily at the Story, for he told it me himself, as coming
often to my House, and in what a terrible Fright he was in for the time;
and, to oblige me the more, he brought me the Bird to look upon. ’Tis
of the same Form, as I lately described; it flies about in the Night,
and (as they say) will suck Milch-Kine, so that I am apt to believe ’tis
the Goat-Sucker of the Ancients. Such Commiseration do the _Turks_ use
towards all sorts of brute Animals, especially those of the winged Kind.
Over against my Lodgings there is a tall _Plane-tree_, whose spreading
Boughs make a delightsome Shade; under that Tree, sometimes Fowlers sit
with abundance of such Birds to sell in Cages. You shall have the _Turks_
buy several of these Birds for a small Matter; and when they have bought
them, they’ll let them fly out of their Hands. The Bird presently flies
up to the Tree; there she picks her Feathers, and cleanseth them from the
Filth contracted in the Cage, and then she spreads abroad her Wings, and
chirps. The _Turks_ that bought them, say, don’t you hear how glad this
Bird is, and how he gives me Thanks for his Liberty?
If this be so, you’ll say, What! are the _Turks_ such _Pythagoreans_,
that they count all Brutes sacred, and will eat none of their Flesh? I
lay not so; but, on the contrary, they’ll eat any Flesh set before them,
either boil’d or roasted; only they count Mutton the properest Meat,
because Sheep are made for the Shambles, as they say; yet they would
not have Men to make a Sport at killing of them, as if they rejoyced in
their Torment. Some of them will by no means be persuaded to kill small
Birds which sing in their Fields and Woods; nay, they think it some
Injury done them, to restrain their Liberty by caging them up. But all
_Turks_ are not of that Mind; some of them keep _Nightingales_ in their
Houses, for the Melodiousness of their Tunes, and in Spring-time they let
them out to hire, to sing. I knew some, that carried _Linnets_ about, so
well instructed, that if a Man shew’d them a piece of Money out of his
Chamber, though it were at a great distance from them, yet they would fly
up to fetch it; and if the Man would not let it go, they would sit upon
his Hand, and so accompany him from one Room to another, still pulling at
the Money; and when they had got it, as if they remembred their Errand on
which they were sent, when their Master whistled to them in the High-way,
down they would fly to him again; and, as a Reward for the Money in
their Bills, he would give them a little Hemp-seed. But I shall proceed
no further in such Stories as these, lest you should think me a second
_Pliny_, or an _Ælian_, and that I were designing to write an History of
Animals.