THE PILGRIMAGE TO MECCA ad. 



c. 1580 



fewe more or lesse, according to the times. Moreover 

 every three yeeres they renue the Captaine of the 

 Carovan, called in the Arabian tongue Amarilla Haggi, 

 that is, the Captaine of the Pilgrimes, to whom the Grand 

 Signior giveth every voiage eighteene purses, conteyning 

 each of them sixe hundred twentie and five ducates of 

 golde, and these be for the behoofe of the Carovan, and 

 also to doe almes unto the needfull pilgrimes. This Cap- 

 taine, besides other servingmen which follow him, hath 

 also foure Chausi to serve him. Likewise he hath with 

 him for the securitie of the Carovan foure hundred 

 souldiers, to wit, two hundred Spachi or horsemen 

 mounted on Dromedaries, and two hundred Janizaries 

 riding upon Camels. The Chausi and the Spachi are 

 at the charge of the Captaine, but the Janizaries 

 not so, for their provision is made them from Cairo. 

 The Spachi weare caps or bonnets like to the caps of 

 Sergeants, but the Janizaries after another sort, with a 

 lappe falling downe behinde like a French-hoode, and 

 having before a great piece of wrought silver on their 

 heads. The charge of these is to cause the Carovan to 

 march in good array when neede requireth ; these are not 

 at the commaundement of any but of the Captaine of 

 the Carovan. Moreover the Captaine hath for his guide 

 eight pilots, the office of whom is alwayes stable and firme 

 from heire to heire, and these goe before guiding the 

 Carovan, and shewing the way, as being well experienced 

 in the place, and in the night they governe them as the 

 mariners, by the starre. These also use to sende before Pieces of dry 

 foure or five men carrying pieces of dry wood which give 

 light, because they should not goe out of the way, and if 

 at any time through their ill hap they wander astray out 

 of the way, they are cast downe and beaten with so many 

 bastonadoes upon the soles of their feete, as serve them 

 for a perpetuall remembrance. The Captaine of the 

 Carovan hath his Lieutenant accompanied continually 

 with fifteene Spachi, and he hath the charge to set the 

 Carovan in order, and to cause them to depart on their 



341 



wood in stead 

 of torches. 



