the Remembrance of the former Mis-hap of the Marriage-Feast. This
Story informs us, that our Pistols and Carbines, which are used on
Horseback, are a great Terror to the _Turks_, as I hear they are to the
_Persians_ also; for once, there was a Fellow that persuaded _Rustan_,
when he accompanied his Prince in a War against _Persia_, to arm two
hundred Horse of his Domesticks with Pistols: For those, said he, will
be terrible to our Enemy, and will also do great execution upon them.
_Rustan_ hearkned to his Counsel, and furnished out a Party, as advised;
but, before they had marched half way, their Carbines or Pistols were
ever now and then out of Order; one thing or other was broke or lost,
and scarce any Body could mend them: Hereupon this Party was useless.
The _Turks_ were also against this Armature, because it was slovenly
(the _Turks_, you must know, are much for cleanliness in War); for
the Troopers Hands were black and sooty, their Cloaths full of Spots,
and their Case-boxes that hung by their Sides made them ridiculous
to their Fellow-Soldiers, who therefore jeered them, with the Title
_Medicamentarii_, or _Mountebank Soldiers_; hereupon they apply
themselves to _Rustan_, complaining of this broken, useless Armour, which
could do no Service against an Enemy, and entreating to have their usual
Weapons again, their Bows and Arrows; which, are readily granted them.
The mention I made a while ago of things acted in the Confines of
_Hungary_, gives me occasion to tell you, what the _Turks_ think of
Duels, which amongst _Christians_ is accounted a singular Proof of
personal Valour. There was one _Arslambeg_, a _Sanziack_, that lived in
the Frontiers of _Hungary_, who was very much famed for a robust Person;
he was very expert at the Bow; no Man brandished his Sword with more
Strength, or was more terrible to his Enemy. Not far from him there dwelt
one _Uliber_, a _Sanziack_ also, who was emulous of the same Praise;
and this Emulation (heighten’d, perhaps, by other Motives) at length
occasioned Hatred and many bloody Combats between them. It happened thus,
_Uliber_ was sent for to _Constantinople_; upon what occasion I know not.
When he came thither, and the _Bashaws_ had asked many Questions of him,
in the _Divan_, concerning other Matters, at last they demanded how he
and _Arslambeg_ (_Arsla_ signifies a Lion in _Turkey_) came to fall out?
Hereupon he makes a long Narration of the Grudges between them, with
their Causes and Progress; and to put a fairer Gloss on his own Cause,
he added, that once _Arslambeg_ had laid an Ambush, and wounded him
treacherously: And that, said he, he needed not have done, if he would
have shewed himself worthy the Name he bears; for I have often challenged
him to fight Hand to Hand, and never shun’d to meet him in the Field. The
_Bashaws_, much offended, thus replied, _How durst thou challenge thy
Fellow-Soldier to a Duel? What, was there never a ~Christian~ to fight
with? Do not both of you eat your Emperor’s Bread? And yet, forsooth, you
must go about to take away one another’s Lives! What Precedent had you
for this? Don’t you know, that whoever of the two had died, the Emperor
had lost a Subject?_ Whereupon, by their Command, he was haled to Prison,
where he lay pining many Months, and was, at last, with Difficulty,
released; yet with the loss of his Reputation.
Among us _Christians_, many who have never come in sight of a public
Enemy, draw their Swords upon one another, and think it a brave and
honourable Thing. What shall a Man do in such a Case, when Vice usurps
the seat of Virtue, and that which deserves Punishment, is counted noble
and glorious? But to return, I know you are inquisitive, and therefore
give me leave to acquaint you with the public Entrance, which the King of
_Cholchos_ made into this City. His Kingdom is by the River _Phasis_, in
a Creek or Bay of the _Euxine_ Sea, not far from Mount _Caucasus_. His
Name is _Dadianus_, a Man of a tall Stature and grateful Countenance, but
of a rough-hew’n Disposition, as some say. He came with a great Train,
but in a very Thread-bare, and old-fashion’d Garb. The _Italians_, at
this Day, call the _Colchians Mingrelians_: They are some of that People,
inhabiting between the _Caspian Gates_, (called by the _Turks_, _Demit
capi_, i. e. _Iron Gates_,) and the _Potic_ and _Hyrcanian_-Seas: They
are at this Day called _Georgians_; whether from that sort of Christian
Religion, which they profess, or whether that be their ancient Name
(which seems most probable,) is not fully determined. The _Albanians_
and _Iberians_ are reckoned a Part of them. The Cause of his coming is
uncertain: Some say, he was sent for by the _Turk_; for, when he makes
Wars upon the _Persian_, if the _Colchians_ and the People of that Tract
join with him, they may give him notable Assistance. But the vulgar and
more credible Opinion was, that he came to desire the Assistance of some
Gallies against his Neighbour, the _Iberian_, who had slain his Father;
which if he could obtain, then he would become Tributary to the _Sultan_.
For, you must know, that there is an old and inveterate Hatred between
the _Colchians_ and the _Iberians_. Once there were some Overtures of
Accommodation between them, and a Conference was had thereupon, between
great Numbers of both Nations. At this Meeting, they began, first,
to try who should be the greatest Drinkers; in which Contest, the
_Colchians_, fell fast asleep. The treacherous _Iberians_ made use of
this Opportunity, and hurried away honest _Dadianus_ as yet snoring, into
a Chariot, and shut him up Prisoner in a high Tower, as if he had been
lawful Prize taken in War. To revenge this Injury, and to recover their
King, the _Colchians_ levied an Army of 30,000 Men, who were commanded by
the Wife of the captive King, a Woman of great Spirit, and not unskill’d
in Horsemanship, or handling of Arms. The Commanders, in this Army,
wore huge and unwieldy Coats of Mail, and were also armed with Swords
and Spears pointed with Iron. They had also amongst them, a party of
Musketeers, a strange sight in that Country. As for the common Soldiers,
they had no Arms, but Arrows, or Stakes burnt at one end, or great wooden
Clubs. Thus they rode on Horseback, without Saddle or other Furnture.
This rude and discomposed Multitude, drew near to the Place where their
King was in Custody, but were soon terrified with the Discharge of a few
Guns from the Castle, and ran back a full Mile; but then taking Heart,
on they came again, but were repulsed with the like Noise as before.
_Dadianus_, perceiving help so near, cut his Bedcloaths into a kind of
Ropes, and so let himself down by Night, through his Window, and fled to
his own People. This Stratagem of their King, and the successful Issue of
it, is highly praised by that People, even to this very day.
The Country of _Colchis_ abounds with all sorts of Fruits, growing almost
naturally, except Bread-Corn, Wheat and Barley; and these Grains would
grow there also, if due Tillage were used about them: But the People are
very idle, they only sow Millet at randum, which yields such an Encrease,
that one Crop serves them for two Years; their chief Subsistence is
thereon, neither desire they any other Corn. Their Vines grow at the
foot of high Trees, and mounting up to their Boughs, yield them much
Wine, and pretty good. These Vines last for many Years. Their Bees, like
themselves, live in the Woods, and supply them with Wax and Honey; all
the Pains they take, is, to find them out. The same Woods yield them
plenty of Venison; as for Pheasants and Partridges, they abound all over
the Country. A great proof of the Fertility of their Land, are their
Melons, which, besides their extraordinary Sweetness, do oft grow three
Foot long.
As for coin’d Silver, they have little or none, and of Gold less; few
of them know what it is: So that they may seem a very happy People, who
are without so great a Temptation to Mischief. And yet I think few of us
do envy them this Happiness, because none can grow rich among them; yet
they have that value for Silver, that when they receive any in Traffick
with Foreigners, as some of them must needs do, they transfer it all to
he use of their Temples, for making Crucifixes, Chalices and such like
Ornaments, which sometimes their King, on pretence of Public Necessity,
doth seize upon, and amass it all to his own use.
Their only way of Commerce among themselves is by exchange of Wares. If
one have overmuch of a Commodity, he brings it to Market, and receives
what he wants in Exchange; so that there is no need of Money, their
Commerce is by bartering of Commodities.
They pay also their Tribute to their King in the Products of the Earth;
they supply him with all Necessaries largely, both for Meat, Drink, and
Apparel, for maintaining of his Houshold, and is reward the Deserving.
And, indeed, he hath an unexhausted Revenue, not only from Tenths, and
settled Customs, but from those Gifts which are daily bellowed upon him;
and yet he is as liberal in bellowing them, as he is ready to receive
them.
His Palace is, as a public Granary, stored with all manner of Provisions,
which are disposed to all that need, out of his royal Bounty; especially
if that Year’s Harvest hath disappointed the Husbandman. The Custom is,
that if any Merchant come with his Ship thither, he makes a Present to
the King, either small or great, nothing is refused, and the King bestows
a Banquet on them ashore. The manner is thus.
There is a large Building, on both sides of which are the King’s Stables,
where a long Table is plac’d for the King; he himself fits at the upper
end, and, at a moderate Distance, fit the rest. The Table is well
furnished, especially with Venison, and with Wine enough; the largest
Drinkers are the welcomest Guests. The Queen, with her female Attendants,
hath a Table in the same Room, but apart by themselves; and then they
junket freely without much regard to Modesty; they carry themselves like
Anticks, fleering, nodding, tipping the Wink, like so many _Medea’s_, if
there were _Jasons_ ready for them.
After Dinner, the King, with his Guests, goes a Hunting; and, in Woods,
under the Shadow of large Trees, the common People divert themselves,
and keep Holy-day in Drinking, Dancing and Singing. They hang their
Fiddles on long Poles or Boards, and then striking them with a Stick,
make Musick, and sing to it the Praise of their Mistresses, or of their
valiant Men. Among their Heroes (unless I am misinformed) they often
mention one _Rowland_; how he came into that Country I know not, unless
he passed thither with _Godfrey_ of _Bullogne_. They tell many prodigious
Stories of this _Rowland_, as ridiculous and improbable as any Romance
among us.
Whilst they are thus given to Idleness and Luxury, Dissoluteness must
needs follow; and, to speak Truth, Chastity is a Virtue rarely found
among them. The Husband will offer his own Wife or his Sister, to the
Pleasure of a Stranger; and, if they can but thus please their Wives,
they care for little else. Neither are their Daughters kept under any
stricter Discipline. ’Tis hard to find a Damsel unvitiated among them;
nay, some have born Children at ten Years old; and, if you scruple to
believe it, because of the smallness of their Bodies, at your Request
they will produce you an Infant, not much bigger than a large Frog.
Whereas, otherwise, they are a tall and comely bodied People. But they
are so void of all Civility and courteous Behaviour, that they think they
pay you a great Compliment, if among other Barbarities, when they meet
you, they make a certain Sound from their Throats like Belching.
In one thing they shew a great Dexterity of Wit, and that is in Stealing.
He that pilfers most neatly, is counted a brave Fellow; but he that does
it bungingly, is esteemed a Dunce and a Blockhead, not worthy to live;
and even his own Father or his Son, will sell or exchange him for a small
Matter to Merchant-strangers, to be carried away they care not whither.
An _Italian_ Merchant who had been in these Parts, told me, that a
certain Priest of theirs, stole his Knife as he was in their Temple. He
perceived the Theft, but dissembling it, gave him the Sheath also, that
he might put up his stol’n Ware.
When they go into their Temples, they have some esteem for the Images of
the Virgin _Mary_, of _Peter_ and _Paul_, and other Saints; but their
greatest Veneration is for the Image of St. _George_ on Horseback.
They fall down prostrate before it, kissing every part of it; even his
Horse’s Shoes. They say, he was a valiant Man, a great Warrior, that in a
single Combat did openly fight Hand to Hand with the _Devil_, and either
conquer’d, or, at least, foil’d him.
I’ll acquaint you with one Passage more, which you cannot but stand
amazed at. ’Tis this.
The Princes of the East are always presented with Gifts at any Audience.
_Dadianus_, in compliance with this Custom, brought _Solyman_ a Cup
or Dish of Carbuncle, so bright and shining, that in a dark Night a
Man might travel by the Light of it, as well as at Noon-day. I cannot
believe it, you’ll say: Nor do I: Neither can I be angry with you
for suspending your Belief; but, whatever you and I do, let me tell
you, there are enough that do believe it. The more judicious think
it to be a small Goblet of _Carbuncle_, or _Granate_, which was lost
in Shipwrack, when a certain Prince of _Persia_ was flying from his
Father to _Constantinople_, and driven, by a Tempest, to the _Colchian_
Shore, where it was taken up. He brought also 20 white _Hawks_, called
_Falcons_, there being Plenty of them in that Country of _Colchis_.
This is all I can inform you of, concerning the _Colchians_ and their
Manners; let me now proceed to answer your Demands concerning my self,
and my own way of Living. I seldom go abroad, unless I receive Letters
from my Master to be delivered at the Court; or, unless I am commanded
to expostulate with the _Bashaws_ concerning the Rapines and Cruelties
of the _Turkish_ Garrisons, which is ordinarily twice or thrice a Year.
Perhaps, if I would desire leave to ride about the City with my Keeper,
it would not be denied me: But I have no mind to be so much beholding to
them; for I would have them think that the strictness of my Confinement
or Imprisonment is not valued at all by me; and, to speak Truth, what
Comfort can I have to ride up and down among a parcel of _Turks_, who
will either slight, or else jeer and reproach me? No, I like the Country
and the Champaign better than the City; especially that City which is so
full of Ruins, and which retains nothing of its ancient Glory, besides
its Situation. ’Tis true, it was once a Rival to _Rome_ it self; but
now, alas! it is shamefully inslaved; who can without Pity behold it?
Who so hard-hearted, as not to be affected with the mutability of human
Affairs? And who knows how near we are to the same Fate? I keep my self
within my own Doors, conversing with my old Friends, I mean, my Books, in
which is all my Delight. ’Tis true, for my Health’s Sake, I have made a
Bowling-Green, where, before Dinner, I use to play; and, after Dinner, I
practise the _Turkish_ Bow.
The _Turks_ are wondrous expert at shooting with the Bow; they accustom
themselves to that Exercise from 7 or 8, to 18 or 20 Years of Age, and
hereby their Arms grow stronger, and their Skill so great, that they
will hit the smallest Mark with their Arrows. Their Bows are not much
stronger, but for their shortness much handier than ours; they are not
made of plain Wood, but of a String and Ox’s Horn, fastened with much
Glew and Flax. These sort of Bows, though never so strong, the _Turks_,
who are used to the Sport, can easily draw even to their very Ear; and
yet one that is not accustom’d thereto, though never so strong a Man,
cannot draw to that height, so as to strike a piece of Money, set upright
between the Bow and the String, in the Angle where it is put into the
Notch.
They aim their Arrows so sure, that in a Fight they will hit a Man’s
very Eye, or any other Part they design to strike. In the place where
they exercise, you may see them direct by their stroke so artificially,
that 5 or 6 of their Arrows will stick round about the White in the
Butt, (which is usually less than a Dollar) and yet not hurt or touch
it. They stand not above 30 Foot from the Butt: In the Thumb of their
Right Hand, they use Rings of Bone, on which the String lies, when
they draw it; and with the Thumb of their Left Hand, they draw the
Arrow by a knot bearing outwards; far otherwise than they do with us.
Their Butt is made of a Bank of sandy, gravelly Earth, raised about
four Foot high from the Ground, and strongly surrounded with Boards.
But the _Bashaws_, and those that have great Families, train up their
Servants in this Exercise, at their own Houses, where the more skilful
teach the unexperienced. Some of these in their solemn _Bayram_, (for
they also have their _Easter_) assemble themselves together in a great
Plain about _Pera_, where sitting over-against one another cross-legg’d,
as Taylors do with us, (for that is the manner of their sitting) they
begin with Prayer (so the _Turks_ begin all their Enterprizes) and then
they strive, who shall shoot an Arrow farthest. The whole Contest is
managed with a great deal of Decency and Silence, though the number of
Spectators be very great. Their Bows are very short for this Exercise,
and the shorter the better, so that they are hardly bendable, but by
well-practised Persons: Their Arrows also are of a peculiar kind. He
that conquers hath a Linnen-Handkerchief, such as we use to wipe off our
Sweat, wrought with embroidered Needle-work, for his Reward; but his
greatest Encouragement, is the Commendation and Renown he gets. ’Tis
almost incredible how far they will shoot an Arrow; they mark the place,
with a Stone, where the farthest Arrow, for that Year, was lodg’d. There
are many such Stones in the Field, placed there Time out of Mind, which
are farther than they are able to shoot now a-days, they say. These
were the Marks of their Ancestor’s Archery, whose Skill and Strength in
Shooting, they acknowledge, they cannot reach to. In divers Streets and
Cross-ways of the City of _Constantinople_, there are also such Sports,
wherein not only Children and young Men, but even the graver sort do
exercise themselves. There is one that takes care of the Butt, who
waters it every Day, otherwise it would be so dry, that an Arrow (the
_Turkish_ Arrows being always blunt) would not stick therein. And he that
thus oversees the Mark is very diligent to draw out and to cleanse the
Arrows, and throw them back to the Archers, and he hath a Stipend from
them sufficient to maintain him. The Front of the Butt is like a little
Door, whence, perhaps, came the _Greek_ Proverb; that, when a Man miss’d
the Mark, he is said to shoot _extra januam_, besides the Door; for, I
suppose, the _Greeks_ used this way of Butting, and that the _Turks_
borrowed it from them. I grant the use of the Bow is very ancient among
the _Turks_; but that hinders not, but, when they conquered the _Grecian_
Cities, they might still retain their way of butting and bounding their
Arrows. For no Nation scruples to transfer the profitable Inventions of
other Nations to themselves, as I might instance in _Great Ordnance_, and
in _Muskets_, and other things, which, though not our Inventions, yet the
_Turks_ borrow their use of from us.
’Tis true, they could never yet be brought to the Printing of Books, nor
to the setting up public Clocks. The Reasons are, that their Scripture
(_i. e._) _Alchoran_, would no longer be called Scripture, or Writing,
if it were Printed, (that’s their Fancy); and for Clocks, they suppose,
that the Authority of their _Emraim_, and of their ancient Rites would be
diminished, if they should permit the Use of them. In other Cases, they
ascribe much to the ancient Institutions of other Nations, even almost to
the prejudice of their own Religion. I speak of their Commonalty.
All Men know how averse they are from the approving of _Christian_ Rites
and Ceremonies; and, yet, let me tell you, that, whereas the _Greek_
Priests do use, at Spring-time, a certain way of Consecration to open
the Sea for Sailors (before which time, they will hardly commit their
Vessels to the Waters) the _Turks_ also observe the same Ceremony: For,
when their Vessels are ready to sail, they repair to the _Grecians_,
and ask them, whether they have consecrated the Sea? If they say _No_,
they desist; if _Yea_, then they set sail and away. ’Twas also a Custom
of the _Greeks_ not to open the Pits, in the Isle of _Lemnos_, for the
digging out of the Earth, called, _Agosphragod_, before the Feast of
the Transfiguration of our Lord, _viz._ _August_ 6. The _Turks_ also
observe the same Custom; and, whereas the _Grecian_ Priests did anciently
celebrate the Liturgy at that time, the _Turks_ will have them do so
still; and they themselves stand at a distance, as Spectators only:
And, if you ask them, why they do this? Their Answer is, that there are
useful Customs practised of old, the Causes whereof are not known. The
Ancients, they say, saw and knew more than we; and, therefore, we will
not violate their Customs, lest we do it to our loss. This Opinion hath
so far prevailed against many of them, that I know some, who in private
will baptize their Children, alledging, there is some good in that Rite,
and that it was not instituted, at first, without just Cause.
Having acquainted you thus far with the _Turkish_ Exercises, let me add
one more. They have a Custom derived from the _Parthians_, that they
counterfeit flying away on Horseback, and presently turn back and kill
their unwary Pursuers. The way they learn to do it, is this: They erect a
high Pole, almost in plain Ground, with a brass Globe on the top of it;
about this they spur their Horses, and having got a little beyond, the
Horse still galloping, they presently turn about, and flying along, shoot
an Arrow into that Globe. The frequent Use hereof makes them expect,
that their Bow being turn’d in their Flight, their unwary Enemy is shot
through.
’Tis time now, you’ll say, that I return to my Lodging, lest my Keeper
should be angry with me. Well, then; what time is left me from beholding
these Exercises, I bestow entirely on my Books, or in Conferences with
my Friends the Citizens of _Pera_, originally _Genoese_, or others; yet
not without the leave of my _Chiauxes_. These Fellows are not always
in the same Humour; they have their lucid Intervals, in which they are
more tractable than at other times. When ’tis fair Weather with them,
the _Ragustæans_, the _Florentines_, the _Venetians_, and sometimes
the _Greeks_, with other Nations, come to visit me, on one Account or
another; sometimes, also, I converse with Men of more remote Countries,
that come hither, whose Conversation much delights me.
A few Months ago, there came hither a Merchant from _Dantzick_, who had
the sole vending of Amber. He wondred to what Use the _Turks_ could
put so great a Quantity of it, as they bought; or, whither they sent
it: At last he was told, that they sent it into _Persia_, where that
kind of Juice, or Bitumen, is highly esteemed; for they adorn Parlors,
Studies, and Temples with it. He bestowed upon me, a wooden Vessel full
of that Liquor, they call _Juppenbier_. It was most excellent Stuff:
But I laughed heartily at my Guests, both _Greeks_ and _Italians_, who,
not being accustomed to this Liquor, could not tell what to call it. At
length, because I told them ’twas good to preserve Health, they thought
it was some medicinal Drug, and called it a _Syrup_; but they sipp’d and
syrupp’d it about so long, that, at one Dinner, they emptied my Barrel.
This Liberty my _Chiauxes_ (who now and then are changed) do sometimes
give me. They are not only willing I should go abroad, but often invite
me so to do: But I, as I told you before, always refuse them, that so
they may not think they can do me either good or hurt; and the Pretence I
make use of is this, that I have tarried so long at Home, that now I am
grown to the Walls of the House, so that if I go forth, it would fall. I
will not, therefore, stir abroad, say I, till I go for good and all into
my own Country.
As for my Family, I am glad that they go abroad sometimes, for thereby
they learn to bear the long Absence from their own Country, the better.
But yet when they make use of this Liberty, the drunken _Turks_ often
meet and quarrel with them in the Streets, especially, if no _Janizaries_
be with them; and, though there be, yet sometimes Blows happen on both
sides: And, therefore, it is troublesome to me, to excuse my Domesticks,
when they are clamour’d against; yet, I confess, the surliness and
vigilance of my _Chiauxes_, in keeping fast my Doors, do in a great
Measure ease me of that troublesome Office. Let me give you a late
Instance of this kind.