Chap.X. of Monfieur Tavernier. 



45 



C H A P. X. 



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



T^HE Car avancer à s are the Eaftern Inns, far different from ours*, for 

 they are neither fo convenient, nor fo hanclfom. They are built fquare, 

 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 Perfons of the beft Quality to keep together. On each fide of the 

 Hall are Lodgings for every man by himfelf. Thefe 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, becaufe 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 fee how his Horfe is look'd after. Thefe 

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

 the Servants ufually drefs their Victuals. 



There are two forts of Inns. For fome are endow'd", where you may be re- 

 ceived for Charities fake % others , where you muft pay for what you call for. There 

 are none of the firft , but between Buda and Confiantinople. Nor is it lawful for 

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

 fuch Viziers, and Bajha 7 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 Benefa&or. But from Confiantinople to Per fia , there are none of thofe endow'd 

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

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

 Lambs, Pullets, Butter , and Fruits in their feafons : or elfe 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 fome few places that I have been at upon the 

 Road. In the Country you pay nothing for your Chambers *, but in the Cities you 

 pay fomething , though it be but a fmall 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 anfwerable for all things that (hall be loft -, for which reafon he 

 keeps a Guard about the Inn. 



As for the Perfian Caravan/era's, they are more commodious, and better built 

 than thofe of T nrhie , and at more reafonable diftances , throughout almoft all the 

 Country. By which defcription of Inns it is eafie to obferve , that though thefe 

 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 refufe to give admittance : 

 no perfon being oblig'd to eat or drink more than he pleafes *, but every one being 

 allow'd to fpend according to his Stock , without grumbling. 



You may travel inTurkie or Perfia, either with the Caravan, or elfe in company, 

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

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

 their march , efpecially when the Caravans confift of Camels,* 



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

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

 dition to defend themfelves from Thieves , that are very rife in Troops in feveral 

 defert places upon the Road. Thefe Merchants choofe among themfelves a Caravan-' 

 Bajln , who orders them how they fhall march , alfigns the places of lodging at 

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



