Pierre Belon. Les observations & Mamelukes, Turks etc

Salvete Omnes,
short entry on this particular XVI century travel - Pierre Belon. Les observations de plusieurs singularitez & choses mémmorables, trouvées en Grèce, Asie, Judée, Égypte, Arabie, aux autres pays étrange.(AD 1588 edition at the French national Library Gallica and English introduction & synopsis with images). English translation (2012) here - but to be purchased not free.

Already an illustrious scientist Pierre Belon, a Frenchman in his country service and protege of the Montmorency family, was sent along with the grand French embassy under Gabriel de Luetz, Baron et Seigneur d'Aramon et de Vallabregues   to the High Porte & the sultan Suleiman (even went to see the campaign against the Saffavids) - here Gabriel d'Aramon portrayed with the Turkish arrows, presumably. Jean Chesneau, who was the secretary to the ambassador, wrote Le Voyage de Monsieur d'Aramon dans le Levant  that we may take a look at  but  at some other time.
 
The scientist voyaged within the Ottoman Empire and upon return in 1549 monsieur Belon may have started composing the aforementioned work for publication, first printing in AD 1553, many later editions. He, being a Roman Catholic, was murdered by some protestant/s in Paris (Bois) in 1564, as France was inherently dangerous place due to the wars  between the Catholics and the protestants.

There are many woodcuts in this work, and two are interesting more than others as they show:
a Circassian  lord on an Arabian horse.


and an Egyptian couple, the faris (knight) with his lance and next to him his wife mounted on a mule, modestly riding side-saddle.


 Arabian nomad? from the Syrian desert, with the bow and arrows.
 

very interesting images worth studying

Valete

Fred Burnaby is buying a horse

Salvete Omnes,
today, the very first posting in the glorious month of June,
 
we will turn to the writings of Fred or Frederic Burnaby, a giant (6 feet 4  inchs) among horsemen and a celebrated Victorian hero, who died valiantly fighting during hand-to-hand fighting against the Mahdist jihadists at the battle of Abu Klea, during the Sudan Campaign of 1885AD. He is still celebrated as one of the historic long-riders.
 
Colonel Burnaby, cavalryman, adventurer,  prolific writer (eg 'A Ride to Khiva') and a British intelligence officer aka spy,  wrote about his experience of horse buying from a horse dealer in the Ottoman Empire.
The excerpt comes from his travel recollections titled 'On Horseback Through Asia Minor' in the winter of 1876-7, when the new war threatened to engulf the Russian and Ottoman Empires (and id erupt in the Spring of 1877). He, at that time he held a rank of captain, was in Pera aka Πέρα and determined to buy horses for himself, his English servant Radford and his Ottoman servant Osman and some pack horses.
 upon arrival he looked for a horse, and tired this one:

then he hired an Ottoman native, one named Osman:

finally, they went out to buy the remaining horses in the envirions of Pera

Last in this post we should take note about his weaponry, Fred says:
For shooting purposes I determined to taje a little single Express rifle, made by Henry, and a No. 12 smooth-bore [shotgun].
Against the wishes of his friends they left on Friday by sort of parading through the streets and then going to the port and taking a steamer to Scutari aka Scutàrion, Σκουτάριον, on the Anatolian side of the Imperial Capital metropolitan area. The adventure begun.
Valete

Moryson's bits and pieces on travel in XVII century part I

Salve,

 English gentleman Fynes Moryson (died AD 1630) wrote the following opus magnum:

''An itinerary vvritten by Fynes Moryson gent. first in the Latine tongue, and then translated by him into English: containing his ten yeeres travell throvgh the tvvelve domjnions of Germany, Bohmerland, Sweitzerland, Netherland, Denmarke, Poland, Jtaly, Turky, France, England, Scotland, and Ireland. Divided into III parts'' (1908 edition), 

 

In the chapter of book III - Of the fit meanes to travell, and to hire Coaches and Horses. - he  wrote about traveling in Europe during the 

early 1600s (1605-17), talking about peculiarities of each region, horses, lodging, costs, dangers and, 

many other interesting aspects

I will start with Poland :), eventually add German Countries, Italy, Turkey, France, and England, Scotland and Ireland.:

 ''
  Poland for the most part (or almost all) is a plaine Countrie, fit for the passing of coches, which may be hired in Cities, and are like to those of Germany.  From Dantzke[Gdańsk] to Crakaw[Cracow, Kraków] (being ten dales journey) a coach may be hired for some 44 German guldens. My selfe paid there for my part six guldens, leaving the Coach after foure dales journey, because the horses were tired. And for my diet two of those dayes upon our guides reckoning, my part came to two guldens, but I am sure he deceived us. In one Citie by the way, five of us paid 2 dollers for one supper, but my selfe after passing alone, commonly dined in villages for 2 or 3 grosh, and supped for 4 or 6 grosh. They use to carry a bed in the Coach, and to sit upon it in the day time, for otherwise no beds are to be found, but onely in great Cities, which are very rare. And they who will have wine, must also carry it with them, for it is not to be had but onlie in great Cities. Our Horses (as I said) being tired, we left our Coach, and by the Kings letter or warrant granted to one of our company, we tooke up horses, and that for small prices, namely, one or two Grosh for a Polish or Dutch mile [ Polish mile was about 7,18 kilometers in XVII century].

  But the Polonians for the most part ride on horsebacke, and the most convenient and frugall course for passengers, is to buy horses and sell them in Italy after their journey, neither shall they want horsemen to beare them company from City to City : but he that is a horse-man, cannot carrie his bed, & so must have patience to rest upon a bench, til he shall find beds upon the confines of Germany. In the meane time his long horsmans coat (which the Polonians & Hungarians generally use) may (with straw) make his lodging more convenient, especially if it be lined with Woolves skinnes, or like furres, for the Winter time. Neither shall he neede to feare any cold, since the Polonians use hot stoves (as the Germans have), and do also lodge all the family therein at night upon straw and benches. Horsemeate will cost some two or three grosh at noone, and some foure or five grosh at night.

''

*
original spelling of early 1600s English
Paintings by Józef Brandt and Jan Brueghel