DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.9697#0134
DALLAM'S TRAVELS.
riche Clothe of gould and Cordivan buskins ; bute theire
Caps weare of violett velvett, the croune of them made
like a lether bottell, the brims devided into five picked
(peaked) corneres. Som of them had haukes in theire fistes.
The fourthe hundrethe weare all dwarffs, bige-bodied
men, but verrie low of stature. Everie Dwarfe did weare
a simmeterrie (scimitar) by his side, and they weare also
apareled in gowns of Clothe of gould.
I did moste of all wonder at those dumb men, for they
lett me understande by theire perfitt sins (signs) all thinges
that they had sene the presente dow by its motions.1
When I had stode almost one quarter of an houre
behouldinge this wonder full sighte, I harde the Grande
Sinyore speake unto the Coppagaw, who stood near unto
him. Than the Coppagaw cam unto me, and touke my
cloake from aboute me, and laye it Doune upon the
Carpites, and bid me go and playe on the organ ; but
I refused to do so, because the Grand Sinyor satt so neare
the place wheare I should playe that I could not com at
it, but I muste needes turne my backe Towardes him and
touche his Kne with my britchis, which no man, in paine
of deathe, myghte dow, savinge only the Coppagaw. So he
smyled, and lett me stande a litle. Than the Grand Sinyor
spoake againe, and the Coppagaw, with a merrie coun-
tenance, bid me go with a good curridge, and thruste me
on. When I cam verrie neare the Grand Sinyor, I bowed
1 Sir Paul Ricaut, in his book on Turkish policy, thus describes
the dumb :—" They are called Bizebani or mutes, which are taught
mute language made up of several signs, in which, by custom, they
can discourse and fully express themselves. Eight or nine are called
favourite mutes, who serve for buffoons to sport with, whom he some-
times kicks, sometimes throws in the cisterns of water, sometimes
makes fight together . . . the mute language is much in vogue at
Court, amongst others, as it is rude even to whisper in the Grand
Signior's presence . . . the dwarfs are called Giuge, and especially
valued if they are also eunuchs and deaf."
riche Clothe of gould and Cordivan buskins ; bute theire
Caps weare of violett velvett, the croune of them made
like a lether bottell, the brims devided into five picked
(peaked) corneres. Som of them had haukes in theire fistes.
The fourthe hundrethe weare all dwarffs, bige-bodied
men, but verrie low of stature. Everie Dwarfe did weare
a simmeterrie (scimitar) by his side, and they weare also
apareled in gowns of Clothe of gould.
I did moste of all wonder at those dumb men, for they
lett me understande by theire perfitt sins (signs) all thinges
that they had sene the presente dow by its motions.1
When I had stode almost one quarter of an houre
behouldinge this wonder full sighte, I harde the Grande
Sinyore speake unto the Coppagaw, who stood near unto
him. Than the Coppagaw cam unto me, and touke my
cloake from aboute me, and laye it Doune upon the
Carpites, and bid me go and playe on the organ ; but
I refused to do so, because the Grand Sinyor satt so neare
the place wheare I should playe that I could not com at
it, but I muste needes turne my backe Towardes him and
touche his Kne with my britchis, which no man, in paine
of deathe, myghte dow, savinge only the Coppagaw. So he
smyled, and lett me stande a litle. Than the Grand Sinyor
spoake againe, and the Coppagaw, with a merrie coun-
tenance, bid me go with a good curridge, and thruste me
on. When I cam verrie neare the Grand Sinyor, I bowed
1 Sir Paul Ricaut, in his book on Turkish policy, thus describes
the dumb :—" They are called Bizebani or mutes, which are taught
mute language made up of several signs, in which, by custom, they
can discourse and fully express themselves. Eight or nine are called
favourite mutes, who serve for buffoons to sport with, whom he some-
times kicks, sometimes throws in the cisterns of water, sometimes
makes fight together . . . the mute language is much in vogue at
Court, amongst others, as it is rude even to whisper in the Grand
Signior's presence . . . the dwarfs are called Giuge, and especially
valued if they are also eunuchs and deaf."