Page:The Six Voyages of John Baptista Tavernier.djvu/145
Bagdat; the Spaniard, and I, and our Arabian, who was afoot, walk'd about Pistol Shot before our Horses. From thence to Anna we met with nothing remarkable, but only that we saw a Lyon and a Lyoness in the Act of Generation: Whereupon our Guide believing we had been afraid, told us, that he had met them oft'n, but that he never found them do any harm.
The Spaniard according to the humour of his Nation, was very reserv'd, and contenting himself with an Onion, or some such small matter at meals, never made much of his guide; whereas I was mightily in his favour, in regard there was never a day pass'd wherein he did not receive of me some good business or other. We were not above a Musquet Shot from Anna when we met with a comely old man, who came up to me, and taking my Horse by the Bridle; Friend, said he, come and wash thy feet and eat Bread at my House. Thou art a Stranger, and since I have met thee upon the Road, never refuse me the favour which I desire of thee. The Invitation of the old man was so like the custom of the people in ancient times, of which we read so many Examples in Scripture, that we could not choose but go along with him to his House, where he Feasted us in the best manner he could, giving us over and above Barly for our Horses; and for us he kill'd a Lamb and some Hens. He was an Inhabitant of Anna, and liv'd by the River, which we were oblig'd to cross to wait upon the Governour for our Passports, for which we paid two Piasters apiece. We staid at a House near the Gate of the City to buy Provisions for our selves and our Horses; where the woman of the House having a lovely sprightly Child of nine years of age, I was so taken with her humour, that I gave her two Handkerchiefs of Painted Calicut, which the Child shewing her Mother, all we could do could not make her take any Money for the Provisions we had agreed for.
Five hundred paces from the Gate of the City, we met a young man of a good Family, for he was attended by two Servants, and rode upon an Ass, the hinder-part of which was Painted red. He accosted me in particular, and after some Compliments that pass'd, Is it possible, said he, that I should meet a Stranger, and have nothing to present him withall? He would fain have carry'd us to a House in the Country whether he was going; but seeing we were resolv'd to keep our way, he would needs give me his Pipe, notwithstanding all the excuses I could make, and though I told him that I never took any Tobacco; so that I was constrain'd to accept of it.
About three Leagues from Anna, we were going to eat among the Ruines of certain Houses, and had thought to have lain there 'till midnight, when we perciv'd two Arabians sent by the Emir, to tell us that he had some Letters which he would put into our own hands to the Basha of Aleppo, to which purpose he had order to bring us back. There was no refusing, so that at our coming into the City the next day we saw the Emir going to the Mosquée, mounted upon a stately Horse, and attended by a great number of people afoot, with every one a great Poniard stuck in their Girdles. As soon as we saw him we alighted, and standing up by the Houses, we saluted him as he pass'd by. Seeing our Guide, and threatning to rip up his Belly; Ye Dog, said he, I will give ye your reward, and teach ye to carry Strangers away before I see them. Carry them, said he, to the Governours House 'till I return from the Mosquée. Returning from the Mosquée, and being seated in a spacious Hall, he sent for us and our Guide, whom he threatn'd again for carrying us out of the Town without giving him notice. But the Governour pleaded his excuse, and appeas'd the Emir. After that he sent for Coffee for us, and then caus'd us to open the Budget that we carry'd behind our Horses, to see whether there were any thing that pleas'd him or no. In my Budget were two pieces of Calicut exquisitely painted, for two Coverlets of a Bed; two pieces of Handkerchief of Calicut; two Persian Standishes beautify'd with Japan Varnish; two Damascene Blades, one inlaid with Gold, the other with Silver. All which he lik'd, and made me give him. In the Spaniards Budget he found nothing but a few old Clothes: But afterwards being known to have had some Diamonds about him, the French Consul at Aleppo sentenc'd him to pay me half the charges of what I gave the Emir.
The Prince satisfi'd with what he had tak'n, gave order that we should be furnish'd with all necessary Provisions for our selves and our Horses: but being providedbefore,