Seer aenmerkelyke reys-beschryving na Constantinopolen, en Egypten, gedaan in het jaar 1605, en vervolgen...

CONSTANTINOPLE and EGYPT.

1605.

is sold for the first and second time.

The city of Buda described.

and sold to a Turk, who, however, having little interest in my transaction, left me to a Hussar. The Hussars, to mention something about them in passing, are horsemen who wear an eagle wing on their back for adornment and use very light and fast horses; however, their weapons are only broad sabers, with which they can cause great damage among a fleeing enemy. This Hussar, who had bought me for the sake of profit, took me with him to the Hungarian capital, Buda. This excellent city is situated on a hill; it stretches out for a great length, has a strong castle above it, and below, along the mountain range, the suburb is built, which is also elongated, just as the castle and the city are. This suburb is separated from the city of Pest by the Danube, laying directly across from Buda.

The city of Pest.

Pest lies on marshy ground and can for that reason not be besieged well. The Jewish quarter is attached to Pest by a pontoon bridge. The blockhouse, situated on a high rock on the Danube, has nine warm baths next to it, all built in a costly manner; for they are covered with lead from above, and from within, the floors and tables are of marble. In the middle of these baths stand round stone benches, having their steps, upon which one can sit as high or as low as one wants. The spring of these baths is so hot that one can cook eggs in it as if in boiling hot water; however, this heat is tempered with cold water, which is led from a small stream through little gutters into the warm baths. By order of my Hussar, I also had to use these warm baths, so that he could sell me more dearly once I was somewhat brightened up. He therefore had all my hair shaved off smooth, except for a lock the width of a shilling, and [forced me] to put on a Turkish garment.

In this guise, my Hussar brought me into the