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

REYS-BESCHRYVINGE na Travelogue to

1605.

other goods, as well as the tents and other baggage of Husan Bassa, were brought there on ships.

The city of Belgrado described.

This city of Belgrado, situated in a pleasant and uncommonly beautiful countryside, is reasonably large and still shows here and there several remnants of costly buildings. But since the Turks have allowed their wall to fall into complete disrepair after the last conquest, this city looks more like an open village than a city. It is built, like most other Hungarian cities, on the plain, and runs along the mountain range toward the heights.

Great punishment inflicted on the slaves.

This was the first place where I had to endure the trials of my miserable slavery: for, not knowing, or at least not having paid attention to the fact that the Turks had no bells to call the people to worship, I began to laugh after a crier had called the people to service with a loud voice. However, our guides, believing that I was mocking it, brought it to the attention of my Husan Bassa immediately. Being very angry, he ordered that I be punished at once, according to their custom. Thus I was thrown down onto the floor, my shoes pulled off, and laid on my back. (It often happens also that the slaves must lie on their faces.) Thereafter, a thick stick was brought out, of a length of about three ells An ell is approximately 45 inches or 1.15 meters., in which were several holes through which the ropes with which they bind the feet of the slave are pulled. My feet were bound to this stick, and two Turks, standing at the ends of the stick, held my feet up in order to be able to hit the soles well, upon which a third, armed in his hand with a thick and tough hazel stick, struck so terribly upon the soles of my feet that I thought I would lose my life under this pain.

Great cruelty of the Turks.

In truth, it is an unspeakable pain, and of such effect that one can tame the cruellest...