Page:The Six Voyages of John Baptista Tavernier.djvu/146
before, we only took three or four handfuls of excellent Dates, to shew that we did not slight his kindness.
Between Anna and Mached-raba is the Guide to take special care so to order his Stages, as to come every morning to the Wells by break of day, for fear of meeting the Arabs, that come to fetch Water there by that time the Sun is up, who are apt enough to be injurious to Travellers.
At Mached-raba I saw one of the most beautiful Virgins that ever I beheld in my life. For I had given a Piaster to an Arab to get me some Bread, and going to see whether it were bak'd, I found the Virgin putting it into the Oven, who being alone, made me a sign to retire. There I also saw a Colt of that wonderful shape, that the Basha of Damas had offer'd three thousand Crowns for it.
Coming to Taïba, we did not go into the Town, but lay without under the Walls. Only our Arab went in and brought us chopt Straw for our Camels. The Governour of the Town came along with him, and demanded twenty Piasters of every one, for certain Duties which he pretended payable to him. We knew there were but four due, and refus'd to pay any more; but the Arab having a mind to put a trick upon the Spaniard, gave me a wink, intimating to me that I should not trouble my self: Thereupon the Governour incens'd goes back to the Town, and by and by returns with an Iron Chain and had certainly carry'd the Spaniard fetter'd to the Fort, had he not laid down the twenty Piasters. For my part, I was discharg'd for my four Piasters, according to custom.
Drawing near to Aleppo, the first Houses that we came at bordering upon the Desert, were the Houses of the Arabs and Bedouïns; the second of which being the Habitation of a Friend of our Guide's, I deliver'd my Horse to the Guide, to whom I had sold it before at his own earnest request; for I was resolv'd to go a-foot to Aleppo: and therefore that I might save the Custom of a parcel of Turquoises that I had about me, I put them in the Pouches which I carry'd behind my Horse, and threw the Pouches into a little Chest, as if they had been things of no consequence; and desir'd the Man of the House to keep them a day or two. The Arab told me, that were it all Gold it should be safe; and indeed when I sent for them within a day or two after, I found nothing missing.
When I came to Aleppo, the English Consul ask'd me what news from Ispahan: I made answer, that he must of necessity know better than I, in regard the English President there had sent away an Express to him while I was there; and that he went away with two Capuchins and an Arabian Guide. Thereupon the Consul mistrusting some mischief was befal'n them, requested the Basha to lend him some of his Soldiers; who readily granted him eight Men, part Arabians, part Bedouïns. These the Consul order'd to disperse themselves upon several Roads in the Wilderness, to see if they could meet with any tidings upon the Way. In a short time two of them return'd with two little Pouches, in one of which was the Packet of Letters. They reported also, that in a by-place between Taïba and Mached-raba they saw the Bodies of four dead Men lying upon the Sand. One of them which was in black Clothes, being hack'd and mangled in a most miserable manner; but the Bodies of the other three were entire, though run through in several places. Some time after the persons themselves that did the fact told both at Diarbequir and Damas, how it came to pass. For certain Merchants of Damas going to Diarbequir, perceiv'd four Men early in the morning at certain Wells where they were to stop; whereupon they sent two of their Company before to know who they were. But the Austin-Frier having a little parcel of Diamonds about him, and believing them to be Thieves, inconsiderately let fly his Gun and kill'd one of them immediately upon the place: the Merchants seeing one of their companions dead, fell all at once upon the other three, cut the Austin-Frier to pieces, and slew the rest; and so without rifling them pursu'd their Journey.
From Aleppo I went to Alexandretta, and there embarqu'd in a Vessel of Marseilles, with a favourable Wind, 'till we came to make the Coast of Candy, where we were becalm'd for two days. One morning by break of day we discover'd a Pickaroon, whereupon seeing we could not avoid being fetch'd up by him, we made ready. He made two or three shot at us, which did us no other harm but only touch'd the Beak-head of the Ship. Our Gunner made a shot at him, which brought down his Top-gallant; a second went through and through the great Cabin,and