Chapter IV: Front Matter (4)

From _India_ they bring hither many delicate spices, _Cinnamon_, _Spikenard_, _Long Pepper_, _Turbith_, _Cardamoms_, _Nutmegs_, _Mace_, and _China Roots_, which the _Arabians_ make more use of than of _Guaiacum_, and delicate _China_ cups and dishes, _Indico_: and in very great quantity they bring that noble root called _Rhubarb_. And moreover, they sell several sorts of precious stones, _viz._ _Garnets_, _Rubies_, _Balasios_, _Saphires_, _Diamonds_, and the best sincerest _Musk_ in little cods. These precious stones are hid by the Merchants in the great caravans that come from _India_, and they bring them secretly, because they dare not pay custom for them, that the _Bashaws_, _Sangiacks_ and others, may not rob them of them on the high-ways, for they use to do so if they find any. I will cease to discourse any longer of these and other drugs, and several merchandises, which the Merchants convey thither from foreign places daily, and from thence to other places again, because it is none of my business to deal in them. With the spices are sometimes by the Merchants brought from the _Indies_ delicate canes, which are very long, solid, or full within, flexible and bright without, of a yellowish colour; they are almost every-where alike thick, only a little tapering; but few joints, far distant from one another, and are hardly seen in them. There are two sorts of them, great and small ones; the great and stronger ones are used by old and lame people instead of crutches to walk with, but the lesser (which are very like the former) are made into arrows and darts, for which they are very fit, the _Turks_ wind them about with silk of many sorts of colours, which they are very proud of when they make their entries. You find also in the shops another sort of canes to be sold, which are small and hollow within, and smooth without, a brownish red colour, wherewith _Turks_, _Moors_, and the _Eastern_ people write, for to write with goose quills is not in use with them; wherefore these may be esteemed to be the true _Syringas_ or _Fistularis_ of _Dioscor._ Besides these there is another bigger sort of canes, almost of the same colour, but full of joints; the Pilgrims that go to see their _Mahomet_ bring these with them from _Meccha_, and the people of that country carry them along with them on horseback instead of short pikes, chiefly the _Arabians_, for they are long, strong, and light, and yet solid or full within; with these they come running on upon their enemies, or else they (lifting it up above the middle in one of their hands) fling it at them, with such force, that they penetrate deeper with their sharp iron (wherewith they are tipt before and behind) then their arrows. _Theophrastus_ maketh peculiar mention of them in his fourth book and, the _11th_ chapter, and _Pliny_ in his sixteenth book and the _36th_ chapter.

We see very few of these in our country, for the Christians are forbidden under great penalties to carry any of them (the same it is with any other arms that they make use of in their wars) out of the country, if any doth and is found out, he exposes himself to infinite troubles and dangers, as did happen to one in my time, who after a scimiter was found about him, was very highly accused, and fined seventy ducats to be paid in two days time, and if he had not paid it, they would certainly have circumcised him, and made him a _Turk_.

Besides these above-mentioned _Champs_, there are a great many more without and within the city, where also all sorts of merchandizes are sold, _viz._ _Quibir_ the great, _Sougier_ the little, _Gidith_ the new, _Atich_ old, _&c._ And besides all these they have a great exchange called _Batzar_ by the inhabitants, which is in the middle of the town, and is bigger then _Friberg_ in _Bavaria_, in it there is many alleys, and each of them divided for several wares and handycraft trades; first the grocers and mercers, then those that sell tapestry and other soft woollen cloaths, and also _Turkish Machyer_, _Camlet_, _Taffety_, and other silks and cottons delicately wrought. There are also good _Cardavon_, delicate furrs of _Martins_, and chiefly _Wild Cats_, whereof abundance run about in these countries.

There are also jewellers that sell all manner of jewels, precious stones, pearls, _&c._ All sorts of handy-craft tradesmen, as shoe-makers, taylors, sadlers, needle and pin-makers, painters, goldsmiths, brasiers, locksmiths, _&c._ that have their shops in the _Batzars_ where they work, but their work is chiefly that of the goldsmiths, painters and locksmiths, is so silly, that it is by no means to be compared with ours. There are also turners, fletchers that make arrows and darts, and bow makers, that have besides their shops small butts, that any body that goes by may exercise himself, or try his bow before he buyeth it. These bows are sometimes plain work, and some inlaid with ivory, buflers horns, _&c._ which maketh them of a different price. The archers wear a ring upon their right thumbs as our merchants wear their seals wherewith they draw the string on when they are going to shoot, these are made of wood, horn, or silver, and some are set with precious stones. Besides these you find in great _Batzars_ some barbar-surgeons, which, (when they have no body to trim) use to go about the streets with their instruments and a flask of leather to look out for Work; if they find any that will be trimmed they do not come back to their shops, but go to work in the streets, or in the next _Champ_ if any be near, and there begin to lather him, and shave all the hair off his head; save only one long lock which he leaves to hang down his back. There are also places where they sell slaves of both sexes, old and young, which are sold dearer or cheaper, according to their strength or handsomeness, _&c._ But in all these countries I saw neither wheel-wright nor cart-wright, because neither waggons nor carts are in use with them: Neither could I find (for all it is so great a city) a gunsmith that understood how to mend the least fault in a gun-lock. Because there is a great trade daily driven in these _Batzars_, you shall find there at all times of the day a great number of people of several nations walking up and down, which makes a crowd as if it were a fair. Amongst them you will often see drunken _Turks_ which use to push people that do not give them the way immediately, chiefly if they be Christians; but the Christians are not afraid of them for all that, but prepare themselves (when they perceive some of them to approach among the people) and stand upon their guard to be even with them, and when the _Turks_ come and push them, they make them rebound again to one side, or to one of the shop-boards. Sometimes also the _Turks_ will lean themselves backwards against the shops, and when they see a Christian go by they let him fall over their legs, and so laugh at them, but then the Christians again when they perceive this, they kick up the other leg of the _Turk_ whereon he rests and so make him fall down himself. For it is usual with the _Turks_ to try the Christians what metal they are made of, whether they have courage or no, wherefore they oftentimes before they are aware of them, assault the Christians with rough words, and if they find them to be afraid they laugh at them to boot, but if they resist them, they give over immediately, as soon as they find them in earnest (just like some dogs that sooner bark than bite) and esteem them afterwards the more for it, and call them brave people that are fit for the war.

You find also in this crowd several that are in orders, called _Sacquatz_, (which commonly are pilgrims that have been at _Meccha_) that go about with skins full of water, and for charity give to any, nay, even to the Christians that desire it: (because the _Mahometans_ are forbid to drink Wine in their _Koran_.) Wherefore you see many in their peculiar habits (moved thereunto by devotion) that go all day long among the people to exercise a work of love and charity to those that are thirsty. They have in one hand a fine gilded cup whereinto they pour the water out of their skins, wherein they have commonly laid chalcedonicks, jaspirs, _&c._ Sometimes also delicate tasted fruit, to keep the water fresh, and to recreate the people. When they give you to drink out of it they reach you also a looking-glass with this admonition, That you shall look your self in it, and remember that you are mortal and must die. For this service they desire nothing of you, but if you give them any thing they take it and thank you, and spirt into your face and beard to shew their thankfulness some fragrant water which they have in glasses, in a great pouch tip’d with many brass clasps. The _Turks_ and _Arabians_ also esteem it to be a great charity and love, if they let their marble troughs or great pots that stand every where about their doors be filled up with fresh water every day, that travellers or any that are dry may quench thirst as they pass by; in it hang little kettles to drink out of: If one goes to it, others that see him go also, and drink rather for company’s sake than to quench their thirst: So you find often a whole multitude about a pot. If you have a mind to eat something or to drink other liquors, there is commonly an open shop near it, where you sit down upon the ground or carpets and drink together. Among the rest they have a very good drink, by them called _Chaube_ (Coffee) that is almost as black as ink, and very good in illness, chiefly that of the stomach; of this they drink in the morning early in open places before every body, without any fear or regard out of _China_ cups, as hot as they can, they put it often to their lips but drink but little at a time, and let it go round as they sit. In this same water they take a fruit called _Bunru_, which in it’s bigness, shape, and colour, is almost like unto a bay-berry, with two thin shells surrounded, which, as they informed me, are brought from the _Indies_; but as these in themselves are, and have within them, two yellowish grains in two distinct cells, and besides, being they agree in their virtue, figure, looks, and name, with the _Buncho_ of _Avicenna_, and _Bancha_ of _Rasis ad Almans._ exactly; therefore I take them to be the same, until I am better informed by the learned. This liquor is very common among them, wherefore there are a great many of them that sell it, and others that sell the berries, every where in their _Batzars_: They esteem it as highly as we do in our Country wormwood wine, or that that is prepared with several herbs and drugs: Yet they love wine better if their law would allow them to drink it, as we have seen in the reign of the Emperor _Selymus_, when he gave them leave to drink it, that they met together daily in drinking-houses, and drunk to one another, not only two or three glasses of strong wine not mixed with water but four or five of such as came from _Venice_ to them so quickly one after another with such eagerness, as I have often seen it that they would not allow themselves to eat a morcel or two between it; and so as you may easily guess, they become to be sordid presently, and so hoggish, that they excel all other nations in it. But after _Selymus_ was dead, and his son _Amurah_ succeeded him in his right, he immediately forbad them to drink wine in the very beginning of his reign, and looked after it with such severity, that any body that did but smell of wine was imprisoned immediately, put out of his place, and a great fine put upon him according to his capacity, or for want of it, punished severely with many blows under his soals. During this prohibition it happened, that when the _Bashaw_ of _Aleppo_ had a mind to go abroad and met in the court-yard one of his men that was drunk, and perceived it by his staggering, he drew his scymeter and cut off his head, and so left him dead upon the place. But yet notwithstanding all this severity, and be it never so peremptorily forbid, they do not only not mind such prohibition, chiefly the Renegadoes, being very much used to it, but long and linger the sooner after it with that eagerness, that in the summer time they use to carry in privately, just like the ants, great quantities of wine, and lay up good stores that they may meet at night and drink together until they have their bellies full, and so rest after it all night that they might not smell of wine the next day. In that time when they were prohibited to drink wine, we Christians fared very well and bought our wine very cheap, until afterwards they had leave to drink it again: Their wines are generally red, very good and pleasant, they keep it in skins; they are brought to _Aleppo_ from several places, but chiefly from a famous town called _Nisis_, which lieth two days journey distant from it upon the borders of _Armenia_: The use of skins is still very great with them as it was in former ages, as we may see by the similitude of Christ, when in St. _Matthew_ Chap. ix. verse. 17. he says, _No man put new wine into_, &c. Seeing that the Christians have leave to drink wine, therefore they sell and buy most of it, they also plant it, and have whole villages in their possessions, with abundance of vineyards. But the _Turks_ not being allowed to drink wine by their laws do not keep or cultivate many vineyards, and if they do they press the grapes after several ways, for some they make into _Cibebs_, chiefly these people that live in and about _Damascus_, where indeed the best groweth; others boyl the juice of the grapes up to the consistence of honey, which they call _Pachmatz_, chiefly those that live at _Andeb_, a town between _Bir_ and _Nisib_. They have two sorts of this rob, one very thick, and the other somewhat thinner, the former is the best, wherefore they put it up into little barrels to send into other countries, the latter they use themselves, mix it sometimes with water and give it to drink (instead of a julep) to their servants, sometimes they put it into little cups, to dip their bread in it, as if it were honey, and so eat it. Besides these they have other sweet drinks which they prepare out of red berries called _Jujubes_, or of _Cibebs_, which, when boiled in water with a little honey, the inhabitants call _Hassap_, and others call’d still by the old name of _Berberis_, of which they bring great quantities down from mount _Libanus_. Among other liquors they have a special one called _Tscherbeth_, which boiled of honey tasteth like unto our mead; they have another made of barley or wheat, by the ancients called _Zychus_ and _Curmi_: These two last make the _Turks_ so merry and elevated, that, as our clowns do when they drink beer, they sing and play on their hautboys, cornets, and kettle-drums, which their musicians make use of every morning when the guards are relieved: All these liquors are sold in their great _Batzars_, where they have baskets full of ice and snow all the summer long, whereof they put so much into the drink that it maketh their teeth chatter and quake again. Thus much I thought convenient to mention of their liquors or drinks.

Concerning their food: Their bread is nourishing and good, and so white, chiefly at _Aleppo_, that none is like it in all _Turky_: They have several sorts of it, of several shapes and mixtures, whereof some are done with yolks of eggs; some mix’d with several sorts of seeds, as of Sesanum, _Romish_ Coriander, and wild Garden Saffron, which is also strewed upon it. Meat is cheap with them and very good, by reason of the precious herbs that grow thereabouts, chiefly upon mount _Tauri_, which extendeth itself very far eastwards, from whence they have abundance of cattel, as rams, weathers, and sheep with broad and fat tails, whereof one weigheth several pounds. They have also great store of goats, which they drive daily in great numbers through that city to sell their milk, which every one that hath a mind to it drinks warm in the open streets; among them there are some that are not very big, but have ears two foot long, so that they hang down to the ground, and hinder them from feeding; when one of them is cut off, which is commonly done, they turn themselves always upon that side that the other ear may not hinder them from feeding. They have no want of beefs and buffles, for they are very common there, and the butchers kill the beasts in the fields without town, where they have their slaughter-houses; thereabouts are a great many dogs that live of the offels, and have their young ones in holes and cliffs, where they bring them up, and these become so ravenous and wild, that they run about in the night after their prey, as I am inform’d, like wolves in our country; and this may very well be, for the _Turks_ do not only not kill any dogs, but rather carry them home when they are young, and there feed them till they are grown up, and able to shift for themselves; and they believe that they do a deed of charity that is very acceptable to God Almighty; like unto the divines in the _Indies_, call’d _Banians_, which serve the birds in the same manner as these do dogs and cats. These wolves are more like to our dogs, both in shape and bigness; and so says _Pliny_, that the wolves in _Egypt_ are less and lazier than these towards the north. Being there are no inns in _Turkey_, where, as with us, travellers may lodge and have their diet, therefore there is a great many cake-shops kept in the _Batzars_, where all manner of victuals are cleanly dressed, _viz._ butchers meat, fouls, and all sorts of sauces, and broths, and soups, where every body buys what he hath a mind to, according to the capacity of his purse. Among the rest nothing is so common as rice, which they boil up to such a stifness that it crumbleth. A great many other sorts you shall see in copper basons upon their shop-boards, prepared after the same way; amongst the rest peculiarly a very common one, call’d _Bnuhourt_, made of barley and wheat, which were first broke in a mill, and perhaps dry’d, and so boil’d with or without milk, into a thick pap. _Dioscorides_, in the eighty third chapter of his second book, maketh mention of this by the name of _Crimnon_; and also _Avicen._ and _Rhasis ad Almans. in Synonymis_, calleth it _Sanguick_ and _Savick_. The _Turks_ provide themselves with good store of this, chiefly in war-time, by water and by land, that when they want provision, they may make use of it instead of bread. Besides these, they have more dishes amongst them; I remember one call’d _Trachan_, when it is dress’d it is so tough, that you may draw it out like glue; this they make up into little pieces, which being dry’d, will keep a good while, and is very good and pleasant food after it is boil’d; wherefore they lay up great stores of this in their strong fortifications as we do of corn, that in case of necessity they may eat instead of biskets, or other food. That such sorts of foods, by the Latinists call’d _Puls_, have been very well known to the ancients, and that in case of necessity they use to make a shift with it, _Pliny_ testifieth in his eighteenth book, and the eighth chapter.

They have also all manner of poultry in great plenty, _viz._ pullen, snipes, partridges with red bills, woodcocks, _&c._ but very few fishes, because they have only a small rivulet, which is full of turtles, so that at _Aleppo_ they are very scarce; neither do they esteem them much, because most of them drink water instead of wine, which is prohibited by their law, wherefore there are but few brought thither from foreign places, as _Antiochia_, and the great river _Euphrates_, _&c._ distant from thence two or three miles. Besides this they have little by-dishes, as keal, colliflowers, carrots, turneps, french-beans, besides trees and codded fruits, and many more; but yet they are not so well skill’d in the dressing of them, as we are in our country.

_Lastly_, They put also up with their Cheese, Cibebs, Almonds, dry’d Cicers, Pistacho’s, and crack’d Hasel-nuts, which, altho’ they are carry’d thither from our country, are better tasted and pleasanter than ours. They have many sorts of preserves, very well done with sugar and honey, very artificially, chiefly those they carry about to sell upon plates very well garnish’d, made up and set out with several colours and shapes, very beautiful to behold. For the rest they live very sparingly, and bring the year round with small and little expences, for they do not make so great feasts, nor have so many dishes, nor bestow so great cost as we do in our country.

In these eastern countries they eat upon the plain ground, and when it is dinner-time they spread a round piece of leather, and lay about it tapestry; and sometimes cushions, whereupon they sit cross-leg’d before they begin to eat, they say grace first, then they eat and drink hastily, and every one taketh what he has a mind to, and do not talk much. The rich have fine cotton-linnen about their necks, hanging downwards, or else hanging at their silk girdles, which they use instead of napkins; their wives or women do not eat with them, but keep themselves in their peculiar apartments. After they have done, they rise altogether with a jerk, swinging themselves about, which our countrymen cannot easily imitate, till after they have been there a long while, for the limbs are numbed in sitting cross-legg’d, so that one hath a great deal to do to bring them to themselves again. At last they take up the leathern table with bread and all, which serveth them also instead of a table-cloth and bread-basket, they draw it together with a string like a purse, and hang it up in the next corner.

CHAP. IX.

_A short and plain relation of plants, which I gather’d during my stay at ~Aleppo~, in and round about it, not without great danger and trouble, which I glued upon paper very carefully._

Being I undertook this long journey, chiefly on purpose to see myself those fine outlandish plants, whereof authors so often make mention, growing in their native soil, and to gain a more clear and perfect knowledge of them. I was very glad to have an opportunity to stay longer than I intended, that I might the ofner go out with my friends and comrades into the fields, among the _Turks_ and _Moors_, not without great pain and danger of being knock’d on the head, to fetch in more and greater variety of plants; wherein my comrade _Hans Ulrich Krafft_, who came into these parts along with me, very often hath faithfully and honestly assisted me. But having heretofore made mention of the garden herbs and fruits, I will only in this place write of them which grow abroad without the gardens, and that with all possible shortness; and begin with the Poplar-tree, as the commonest of all, which the inhabitants still call by the ancient _Arabian_ name _Haur_; they grow very high in these countries, and abundance of them grow about the rivulet near _Aleppo_, which make very shady walks underneath in the heat of the summer. There is also a peculiar sort of Willow-trees, call’d _Safcaf_, _&c._ these are not all alike in bigness and height, and in their stems and twigs they are not very unlike unto Birch-trees, which are long, thin, weak, and of a pale yellow colour; they have soft ash-coulour’d leaves, or rather like unto the leaves of the Poplar-tree, and on their twigs here and there are shoots of a span long, like unto those of the _Cypriotish_ wild Fig-trees, which put forth in the spring tender and woolly flowers, like unto the blossoms of the Poplar-tree, only they are of a more drying quality, of a pale colour, and a fragrant smell. The inhabitants pull of these, because they bear no fruit, great quantities, and distill a very precious and sweet water out of them, very comfortable and corroborating to the heart. The _Arabians_ call these trees _Zacneb_ and _Zacnabum_; _Rhasis_ in his 353d and _Avicen._ in his 749th chapter; and after the same manner maketh _Serapio_ mention of them in his 261st chapter, by the common name of _Zucumbeth_; and _Theophrastus_ in his fourth book, and eleventh chapter, where he treats of _Elæagnus_ which this is very like unto, and may be taken for the same, although they differ in bigness, which often and easily happens according to the soil and place where they grow. Hereabouts are other small trees, which I rather take to be thorny shrubs; they are very like in leaves unto the others, and are call’d by the _Moors_, _Scisesun_. They love to grow in moist places and in hedges; from the root shoot several stems, cloathed with a smooth brown-colour’d bark; they bear at the top pretty long and strong twigs, which here and there are beset with a few prickles, whereon grow small flowers, white without and yellow within, whereof three and three sprout out between the leaves. I did not see any of their fruit, but yet I do believe that they are like unto the Olives of the _Bohemian_ Olive-tree, to which this plant is very like, which is very naturally delineated in the herbal of the learned _Matthiolus_. These trees cast forth such an odour in the spring, that any body that goes by must needs be sensible of it presently; wherefore the _Turks_ and _Moors_ cut many of their branches, and stick them up in their shops.

On the banks of the above-mention’d rivulet, chiefly about the stone bridge, as you travel to _Tripoli_, grow many _Agnus Castus_’s, of the lesser sort, and on the other side in the fields, many _Pistacho_ nut-trees.

Within and without the city grow also many sorts of trees, _viz._ that which _Avicen._ calleth _Azederack_, but _Rhasis_, _Astergio_; white Mulberry-trees, Date-trees, and Cypresses, by the natives call’d _Sacub_, which hereabouts grow very big and high, Turpentine-trees, _&c._

About the fences and hedges you will find wild Pomegranat-trees, with fine double flowers, wild Almond-trees, the fruit whereof the _Moors_ carry about in great plenty to sell to the poor; and near it in old decay’d brick-walls and stony places, you shall see Caper-bushes: among the rest there groweth a very strange bush, by the inhabitants call’d _Morgsani_, which is very green and thick, hath a long woody coat, whereout sprout several stalks, with round leaves, like unto Caper-leaves, only with this difference, that four of them stand together all opposite to one another like unto our beans; between them there appear small flowers, red within and white without, whereout grow long pods, like unto those of the _Sesamum_. This plant hath a very unpleasant scent, wherefore the inhabitants use it frequently to destroy worms; but what the ancients formerly call’d it, I know not, but really am of this opinion, it must be according to the description the _Ardifrigi_ of _Avicen._ and _Aadiccan_ of _Rhasis_; he that pleaseth may read more thereof in the quoted places. In these places are also found the thorny _Acacia_, by the inhabitants call’d _Shack_, and by the _Arabians_, _Shamuth_, which are very small and low, chiefly those that stand in the fields, which give as much trouble to the plowmen as the ferns and rest-harrow do here; the twigs are of an ashen colour, crooked, full of prickles, like unto those of the Rose-bush, and have very small feather’d leaves, like unto _Tragacantha_, which are almost divided like unto our female fern, the flowers of them I have not seen, but the cods that grow out of them are without brownish, in their shape thicker and rounder than our beans, spongy within, and containing two or three reddish seeds.

I have, besides these, seen in shops pods of a chestnut-brown colour, sold under the name of _Cardem_, which have two or three little distinct cells or baggs, in each whereof is a reddish seed, in the figure of our male Balsam; these are brought from _Egypt_, and by some thought to be the true _Acacia Diosc._ whether it be so or no I cannot well tell, because I never saw the plant. Very near it, in untill’d places, groweth _Galega_; _Sisynrichium Theophrasti_, which is very curiously delineated in the book of _Rempert. Dodon. de herbis & floribus coron._

There is also found another fine plant, by the inhabitants call’d _Tharasalis_, which hath seven or eight waved leaves, which stand about a round stalk, almost as it is to be seen in _Sisynrichium_, only they are a great deal broader, and not so long, when the stalk thereof, which is not above a cubit long, is grown, through and above them; it gets at top a white flower, not very unlike unto the low blue Flower de Luce which blow early in the spring; it has a roundish root, like unto that of _Narcissus_, and also has many long white fibres. Not far from thence, when you get upon the hill, there groweth in the rough places others, _viz._ _Bistorta_, still by the inhabitants call’d _Zuph_, a fine sort of _Verbacum_; _Scorzonera_ with purple flowers, Saffron with small little leaves, and a delicate yellow flower; also _Arisarum_, _Homaid._ and _Arum_, call’d by them _Carsaami_, whereof there are four sorts, among the rest a strange one, with long ears, wherefore they call it in their language _Ouidae_.

There also are about the rivers some _Anemones_ of several sorts and colours, very beautiful, as red, purple colour, yellow, _&c._ all which they call with a common name _Sakaick_, and give an additional name according to the colour of it, _viz._ _Schakaick achmar_, _Sakaik assar_, _Aserack_, &c. that is to say, red-yellow, of a violet colour, _&c._ which would be too long and tedious to describe all here; chiefly if I should at length relate the common ones, as, wild Rue, _Asphodelus albus_; _Rheseda Plin._ _Flos solis foliis minoribus serpilli_, wild Onions, and other innumerable more. As you come down by another way back again, nearer to the corn-fields, you find other fine herbs, as the wild new _Harmala_, a delicate sort of _Astragalus foliis hedysari minoris_, and by it another which is very like unto _Astragalus_ of _Dioscor._ so that I really believe it to be the same. There appear a great many of them upon the height; it is a low herb, with a long brownish root, as big and long as the root of horse-raddish, which puts out at the sides some strong fibres, which are almost blacker and harder to cut than the root itself; some of them go downwards, and others the greater part upwards, and bended like unto horns. These contain, together with their sweetness, also a driness; they shoot out at the top into several branches of the same colour, yet not above the length of a finger, which incline towards the earth, whereout grow nine or ten small leaves, like Lentil-leaves, not very unlike to those of _Orobus_, and distributed after the same manner. Between them sprout out purple-brown flowers, after them come long and thick and full bladders, whereof some are as big as those of the _Colutea_.

All these and several other herbs have I preserved and glued to some paper, with great and peculiar care, so that they are to be seen in their natural colours so exact, as if they were green.

About the river up a hill, I found a tender and fragrant herb with long and white roots, of a pretty acrimonious taste, it’s leaves were like unto our Coriander, only somewhat rounder, and not so much cut, but only a little about the edges; I found no stalks nor flowers, for it was early in the year, and about Easter, which is the time of their first springing, these they call’d _Zarneb Melchi_, and the inhabitants dig so many of these roots, that they send yearly several chests full into _Persia_, where they use them, as I am inform’d, very frequently in pains of their backs, and all other accidental pains: As far as I can see, when I look upon the leaves, I reckon it to be the third sort of _Daucus_ of _Diosc._ A little lower, as you come to the plow’d fields, I found also the second kind of _Chondrilla_ of _Diosc._ with round roots of a smooth and dark yellowish colour, perhaps at the top half an inch thick, and five or eight long, whereon at the end where it is thinnest, hangs another round root of the bigness of a Chest-nut, which are so full of milk, that they are ready to crack; at top, where it is divided into three parts, sprout out many long and small grass leaves together, which lie flat upon the ground; between them come out yellow flowers like unto those of _auricula muris_, each whereof hath it’s peculiar stalk.

Not far from it, yet in rougher and stonier ground, groweth another _Chondrilla_, which is like unto that former in all parts, only the leaves thereof are broader, and more woolly, and of an ash colour, very like unto the _Holostium_ of _Montpellier_. As you go to the Grand Signior’s garden, about a small mile from the town, at the road, I found a good many plants, _viz._ _Draba Dioscorid._ call’d _Orobanche Halinu_, _Spina solstitialis_, a kind of _Carduus Mariæ_; wild Cucumbers, by them call’d _Adiural hamar_; _Xyphium_, _Peplium_, _Heliotropium tri coccum Caroli Clusii_, and also his _Paronychia Hispanica_, and his third _Lichnis_, with pale and red purple-colour’d flowers; _Coris Matth._ with yellow flowers; two delicate sorts of _Geraniums_; and upon old walls I found a little _Rauckel_ with pale-colour’d flowers, _Umbilicus Veneres_, and a great many more. I cannot leave unmention’d those that grow round about in the fields, and chiefly amongst them a _Medica_, with dissected trifoliated leaves; and many more, whereof some have long and streight, and others many bended pods, in a cluster together. I also found one with many white and hoary heads, which look’d almost like unto _Lagopodium_, and another little one with green-colour’d pods pressed together, so long and so broad as those of _Senna_, which were a great ornament to the whole plant. And also thereabouts are found many sorts of corn-flowers, quite different from ours; _Papaver erratic_, in their language call’d _Schuck_, of which they make a conserve with sugar, and use it in coughs; _Papaver corniculatum_ with stately purple flowers. I found also there _Eryngium_, with blewish tops and starr’d heads; two sorts of _Henbane_, whereof one that groweth in the fields hath red and purple-coulour’d flowers, the others which I found in the town upon the old walls had white ones, by the Latins call’d _Apollinaris_. Much thereabouts in the corn grew the less _Melampyrum_, by them call’d _Paponesck_, which at the top beareth thick, yellow flowers, very like unto the _Melampyrum Tragi_; _Item_ the second kind of wild Cumin, with yellow flowers, and long bended pods; _Poterion Matth._ by the inhabitants call’d _Megasac_, which they stick up in their chambers, to keep them from being bewitch’d. A delicate sort of _Horminum_, with small woolly and dissected leaves, a Garden-cypress with gold-colour’d flowers; _Scabiosa_, _Anchusa_, and a _Salvia_, which hath many roundish leaves, and about their square stalks grow purple-coloured bells, wherein is it’s black seed, like unto that of _Melissa Molucca_, whereof I have made mention above. In the corn also groweth _Leontopetalon_, in their language _Aslab_, with it’s brown-colour’d round root and large leaves, which are roundish and very near divided like unto those of our _Pæonia_; the stalk hath at the top, which is about a foot high, and hollow, more twiggs, whereof the point of each of them beareth several small purple and yellow flowers, which make roundish bladders, that contain one, two, and sometimes three seeds, the children use to play their tricks with them as they do with the flowers of _Papaver erraticum_ in our country. The great roots they bruise, and rub with it spots in cloaths, which, as they say, they draw out immediately.

By these in the corn groweth also the true _Chrysogonum_ of _Diosc._ which is as high as the former, and also in flowers, stalks, and roundish root, which is redder within, very like it, only the stalk is slenderer, and hath more and longer by-shots, or _germina_, at the end whereof you see stately yellow flowers, so that it is thicker, and more spriggy than the other; it’s pennated leaves, whereof there are commonly four that come from the root with long foot-stalks almost as slender as a thread, lie close to the ground, as you may easily imagine, and have every one their ribs, two and two leaves growing together on each side, one after another, so that four of them stand together in a cross; they are darkish green, and at the out-side, where they are broader, very like unto Oaken leaves. Now, as these and others, that grow in these countries, are as yet very little known, so may also the following, that groweth in plow’d fields, be reckon’d among the unknown, which is very like unto the _Lycopsis_ of _Diosc._ for which, in my opinion, it ought to be taken.

This plant hath a red coat, and a straight stalk about two foot high, from whence round about below spread themselves many strong and rough leaves in a circle, as if it were from one center; not unlike the wild Bugloss, they decrease a little by degrees, as they grow higher and higher; out of each of them, close to the stalk, sprout out many twigs, with their peculiar small leaves, as you see in _Echium_; between them shoot out very tender purple-coulour’d flowers, which are whole within, and divided into six small or longish leaves, almost like unto these of the _Caryophillus montanus_. In the beginning of February I have seen several sorts of Hyacinths, and the _Oriental_ one in the greatest quantity, which they call _Zumbel_ in their language. In April I saw another very delicate one, known to them by the name _Ayur_, with long and very small leaves of our _Philangium_; it groweth pretty high, and beareth at the top four stalky flowers; the leaves thereof are very like in shape and colour unto the three leaves that stand up in our Flower de Luce; the root is very like to that of a Tulip, wherof I have also seen a great number in these grounds of all sorts of colours. I have also found some Daisies like unto our own, and also another sort of them with nine or ten white Saffron-flowers, which sprout sooner in the spring in the corn, not so bare as ours, but between the leaves. The leaves are pretty thick, but narrower, longer, and narrower pointed than the before-mention’d; they also spread more about upon the ground, and come from a white coat with a brown-red skin, surrounded and divided in the middle, it is call’d _Kusan_ in their tongue, but by some others it is still call’d _Surugen_.

These and a great many more strange herbs have I found, but because they were unknown to me, I forbear to mention any more of them. But yet I cannot but describe to you one more, for the taking of which I and my two comrades fell into great danger, as we often did, both of _Turks_ and _Moors_, which needs not all to be related here; this is call’d by the inhabitants _Rhasut_ and also _Rumigi_; it hath a strong yet unpleasant savour, and about four stalks of a whitish colour, and so tender towards the root, and so small as a pack-thread, whereon at each side grow seven or eight tender ash-colour’d leaves one against the other, distributed like unto those of _Osmond-royal_, only they have round ears towards the stalk, like unto the small Sage, and between the lowermost, which are a little more distant, flowers like unto our _Aristolochia_, yet a great deal bigger, of a more brownish colour, and hanging on longer stalks. The root striketh very deep, and is very like unto our _Pellitory_, of a drying quality, and somewhat hot, as the bitter taste intimates. When I was busy about this tender plant, and strove to get it out whole, which took me up the more time, because I had no proper tools by me, a _Turk_ well arm’d came galloping upon us, to see what we were doing; but when we perceived him to be fuddled, and that he earnestly set upon us, to make booty of us, each of us gave him something, according to his desire, seeing that he would not leave us without, that so we might get rid of him; then he rode very well pleased out of our sight, and we took no farther care of him. But before I could get the root quite out, he came back again with full speed upon us, so I bid my comrades to run to the next Olive-trees, and I would follow them presently; but when I saw him come pretty near me, and found I could not get the plant whole, I pull’d it up as well as I could, and so ran to my companions. But when I came to the Olive-trees, I found they were run several Olive-trees farther, which stand row by row, and found myself quite alone and destitute, and that I must defend myself behind the tree; so he came down upon me with his scymeter drawn, and fetch’d one blow after the other at me, which I still declined, running from one side of the tree to the other, so that they went into the tree and mangled it mightily. In the mean time defending myself thus unarm’d against him, I took a resolution, that if he should take hold of his bow and arrow to shoot at me, which he could not do, except he left his scymeter, to run in upon him, and struggle with him; but this fight during very long, and perhaps his anger did not give him leave to think of it, I found out another way; knowing them to be very covetous, to make myself free again with a piece of money, and to give him a small silver piece, which in their language they call _Saict_, worth about three pence or a groat, so pull’d it out, and shew’d it him, still standing behind the tree; as soon as he saw it, he gave over, and beckon’d to me to give it him so I stepp’d to him, and when I reach’d it to him, he took it. But my table-book fell out of my pocket when I pull’d out the money, upon the ground, wherein I had recorded many things, which when he saw he would have it also, but I refusing it, he grew mad, and began to renew the same game again; then I repented that I did not dismount him when I gave him the money; yet I consider’d that if I should have done him a mischief, as he deserved, yet although I had never so good a cause, I was sure I must be cast, and perhaps to come to a greater mischief and hurt; so I gave it him, and after he had received it he was pacify’d and rode away.

But to come to my former purpose again: I found about the river the other _Tragium Diosc._ in the plough’d ground, and afterwards also in abundance upon the hill, but generally in moist places, near to the spring that runs down the hill; it’s root is whitish, pretty long and slender, from thence spread themselves some woody stalks, not above a little finger long, whereon grew towards the top many leaves together, which were long, and had of each side of their ribs small leaves, one opposite to the other, which were divided, just like the _Trichomanes_, only somewhat longer, about the bigness of those of _Asplenium_, and are, as they, delicately green within, but without, and against the ground, of an ash-colour, and woolly, chiefly the small ones, that are just sprouting out between the others. Out of these first-mention’d stems come first naked long stalks, upon which grow at the top violet-brown flowers close together, as if it was an ear of corn; the inhabitants call it _Secudes_, and so did the ancient _Arabians_, chiefly _Avicenna_ in the 679th chap. where he also attributeth this Virtue, that it is very proper in the bloody-flux.

In their gardens the _Turks_ love to raise all sorts of flowers, wherein they take great delight, and use to put them on their turbant, so I could see the fine plants that blow one after another daily, without trouble. In _December_, I saw our violets with dark-brown and white flowers, whereof they gave me in that season several nose-gays. Then came the Tulips, Hyacinths, Narcisses, which they still name by the old name _Nergis_. Before all other I saw a rare kind with a double yellow flower, call’d _Modaph_, and a strange _Convolvulus hederæ foliis_, with great purple flowers, whereout grew seed-vessels, as you see in the new _Harmala_, with three distinct _Capsula_’s, wherein is kept it’s black seed, to which they attribute the virtue of evacuating tough slime. This is found sometimes in gardens, and by the inhabitants call’d _Hasnisca_, and the _Persians_ _Acafra_, and _Serapio_ chap. 273. _Habalnil_; the _Latins_, _Granum Indicum_, and _Carthamus Indicus_, and he that hath a mind to know more of it, let him look into the author himself, in the above-mention’d place, in the 306th chap. of _Avicenna_ and the 208th of _Rhasis_. I also found in their gardens, Balm, Basil, and a fine sort of Amaranthus, which for his colour’s sake may be call’d _Symphonia Plinii_, and therefore call’d parrots feather.

I cannot forbear, before I conclude, to mention some which I found here and there in the _Batzars_, and among them a strange sort of Lillies, which as I am told grow in sunny, moory, mossy, and moist places; whereon groweth a long stalk of the same colour and thickness of ours, only a great deal broader, but broadest of all at top, where it is about three fingers broad, so that it is like unto a Spatula that is painted at one end; on this stalk grow at each side several tender leaves, which are pretty long, but very small and pointed, and at the top thereof some white flowers like unto ours. When I was thinking of this at several times, what they were call’d by the ancients, it came into my mind, that I had read of them in _Theophrastus_, _lib. 4. cap. 9._ and I really believe it to be the same. But whereas _Theophrastus_ writes in the quoted place, that they do not touch the ground, I can say nothing to it, for I never saw any of them growing. They have also some small roots to sell, call’d _Mamirani tchini_, good for eyes, as they say; they are yellowish like _Curcuma_, but a good deal longer, and thinner, and knotted, and very like unto our _Poligonatum_, and may be esteem’d the true _Mamican_, whereof _Rhasis_ maketh mention in several places. There is also among others brought a great quantity of the juice of _Scammony_, that is still very soft, it cometh in leathern bags from out of the country, and so it is sold to our Merchants in their _Fondiques_; but those that buy it must have a great care, because it is often adulterated, that they be not cheated. There is also a good deal of the juice, by the Apothecaries call’d Opium, and by the inhabitants Ofium, which the _Turks_, _Moors_, and _Persians_ and other nations take inwardly not only in war, at the time when they go to fight their enemies, to make them couragious and valiant, but also in time of peace, to drive away melancholly and care, or at least to ease it. Their religious people make also use of it, but above all the rest the _Deruis_, and take so much of it, that it maketh them presently drowsy, and without consideration, that when, after their barbarous and silly way, they cut, slash, or burn themselves, they may feel less smart or pain. If any one hath so begun to make use of it, (they take about the quantity of a large pea at a time) they cannot well leave it off again, except they have a mind to throw themselves into a sickness or other inconveniencies; for, as they confess themselves, that if they omit taking of it, they find themselves very ill in their bodies. Opium is commonly taken from the white Poppy-heads, in their language call’d _Caschasch_, wherein they cut, when they are young and tender, a spiral or winding-circle round about it from top to bottom, one under another; out of those runs some milk, which they let be there until it groweth thick, then they gather it and make it into balls, like unto our perfum’d soap-balls. Being that the _Turks_ use this Opium so commonly, it happens sometimes that they take so much of it, that it is very dangerous; wherefore they have an antidote, as I was inform’d, that is the root Aslab, whereof I have made mention before, which they give to bring them to rights again.

I found also in the great _Batzars_ a sort of _Alga_ sold in their shops, which was dark-red, and therefore very useful for Dyers; it had stalks of the thickness of a finger, and was surrounded with several thin scales, or rather leaves, and round; wherefore it may be taken to be a _Saderva Serab._ and herb _Alargivan_ of _Andreas Bellunensis_, whereof he maketh mention in his Index, where he interpreteth the _Arabian_ words. For a kind of this may also be taken, because it affords a delicate purple colour, that _Alga_ that is found in the seas near _Candia_, and is describ’d by _Theophrastus_ in his fourth book and seventh chap. Lastly, among the rest, I did also enquire after the _Amomum_, and thought, because they were near unto the confines of _Armenia_, that therefore they might easily have it by the Caravans, which come daily from those parts; yet I was forc’d to run a great while after it, till at length I got a little stalk thereof in one shop; they call it by the name of _Hamama_. But of the other, so call’d by _Dioscor._ which is like unto it, and therefore may easily be taken for the right one, they had a great deal. These two small shrubs, altho’ they are very like to one another, yet for all that they may be distinguish’d by their stalks and different colours. Wherefore _Dioscor._ bids us, if we will not be imposed upon, to pick out the bigger and smoother, with it’s noble seed, and to leave the small. This stalk which I found about the length of a finger, is almost of the colour of the bark of the Cinnamon-tree, and also in it’s acrimony and good odour, altho’ it was old, still very strong. At the top had been several woody stalks, close to one another, whereon I believe had been the flowers and Seeds. But the twigs of the other sort, which are crack’d and bended, are of a brown colour, which at the top divide themselves into other less ones like a tree, whereon grow several stalks with little heads, like unto the _Masaron_, or _Marum Syriacum_ from _Crete_, wherein is no great strength nor odour.

Thus much I thought convenient to mention of strange plants, chiefly of those the ancients make mention of, and so I conclude the first part of my _TRAVELS_.

_End of the first Part._

Dr _Leonhart Rauwolff_’s

TRAVELS

INTO THE

Eastern Countries.