Chap.X. of Monfieur Tavernier. 45 



C H A P. X. 



Of the Caravanlera's 5 and Government of the Caravans, 



TH E Caravtnferas are the Eaftern Inns , far different from ours j for 

 they are neither fo convenient, nor fo handfom. They are built lquare > 

 much like Cloyfters, being ufually but one Story high-, for it is rare 

 to fee one of two Stories. A wide Gate brings ye into the Court ; and 

 in the midft of the Building , in the front , and upon the right and left hand , there 

 is a Hall for Perfbns of the beft Quality to keep together. On each fide of the 

 Hall are Lodgings for every man by himielf. Thcfe Lodgings are rais'd all along 

 the Court two or three Steps high , juft behind which are the Stables , where many 

 times it is as good lying as in the Chamber. Some will rather lye there in the 

 Winter, becaule they are warm, and are roof'd as well as the Chambers. Right 

 againft the Head of every Horfe there is a Nich with a Window into the Lodging- 

 Chamber , out of which every man may lee how his Horfe is look'd after. Thele 

 Niches are ufually lb large , that three men may lye in them •, and there it is that 

 the Servants ufually drefs their Vi&uals. 



There are two lorts of Inns. For lbme are endow'd *, where you may be re- 

 ceiv'd for Charities lake , others , where you muft pay for what you call for. There 

 are none of the ftrft , but between Buda and Conftantinople. Nor is it lawful for 

 any others to build fuch , but only the Mother and Sifters of the Grand Siancr , or 

 fuch Viz.krs y and Bajha's as have been three times in Battel againft the Chriftians. 

 In thefe Inns, which are built out of Legacies, there is a very good allowance of 

 Diet to Travellers , and at your departure you have nothing to do but to thank 

 the Benefactor. But from Conftantinoph to Perfia, there are none of thole endow'd 

 Inns; only fuch where you have nothing but bare Walls. It is for you to provide 

 Utcnfils for your Kitchin , and a Bed to lye on : as for Provifion , the people bring 

 Lambs, Pullets, Butter, and Fruits in their feafons : or clfe you may buy it, provided 

 before-hand by the Mafter of the Houfe. There you alio meet with Barley and 

 Straw for the Horfes, unlefs it be in lbme few places that I have been at upon the 

 &oad. In the Country you pay nothing for your Chambers-, but in the Cities y6\i 

 pay fomething , though it be but a l'mall matter. Ufually the Caravans never go 

 into the Towns , which are not able to contain fo many People and Horfes. When 

 you come to your Quarters every one looks after his own Chamber , for there is no 

 regard to Poor or Rich : fometimes out of Breeding, or out of Intereft, an ordinary 

 Tradefman will give way to a great Merchant \ but no man is permitted to leave 

 the Chamber which he has once made choice of. In the night the Inn-keeper fhuts 

 up his Gates, being anfwcrable for all things thatfhall be loft :, for which reafon he 

 keeps a Guard about the Inn. 



As for the Per/tan Carxvanjera's , they are more commodious, and better built 

 than thofe of Turkie , and at more reaionable diftances , throughout almoft all the 

 Country. By which defcription of Inns it is cafie to obferve, that though thele . 

 Caravan/era's are not fo commodious for the Rich as our European Inns , yet they 

 are more convenient for the Poor, to whom they never rcfufe to give admittance : 

 no perfon being oblig'd to eat or drink more than he plcafes ^ but every one being 

 allow'd to fpend according to hi« Stock , without grumbling. 



You may travel in Tnrkie or Perfia, either with the Caravan, or clfe in company, 

 ten or twelve together , or elfe alone with a Guide. The fafeft way is to go with 

 the Caravan , though you arc longer upon the Road , by reafon of the flownefs of 

 their march , efpecially when the Caravans conlift of Camels.. 



The Caravans arc as it were great Convoys, which confift of a good number of 

 Merchants , that meet at certain times and places , to put themlelves into a con- 

 dition to defend thcmfelves from Thieves , that are very rife in Troops in ieveral 

 defert places upon the Road. Thele Merchants choofe among themlelves a Caravan- 

 Bajhi , who orders them how they (hall march , afllgns the places of lodging at 

 night, and who with the chief of the Caravan^ a kind of Judge of the differences that 



foil 



