DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.9697#0308
244
covel's diary.
Turkish clieflicks} or summer houses. The best sort of
people fled to other places, as the Turkes likewise them-
selves did from Adrianople to their houses here, for that
same is a story that they are not afraid of the plague,
because their fortunes are wrote in their forehead ; for all
fled, but such as were poor, or had offices about Court, and
could not get away. There dyed that year about 100
persons out of the Vizier's own house ; and really, those
that are forc't to stay by it value it no more then we do an
ague. But this is the same amongst Jewes, Greeks, Arme-
nians, and every body else.
Mr. North2staid in Adrianople all the time, and come to
us every day; I went to him severall times, and as I live I
valued no more to meet a dead corps then a dead calf.
Yet I have met above 20 in a morning, going from our
tents to Mr. North's house ; and there is more danger in
passing by the clothes of the living then in touching the
body of the dead. All slaves and poor people, so soon as
they are dead, are wrapt in some pittiful covering (perhaps
nothing but an old mat), and so laid upon a Hamdl's or
porter's back, and caryed away to his grave, without any
more adoe. Infinites of Turkes came out of the Town and
lived in Tents, as well as we ; yet many Turkes came or
sent out their women to their countrey houses there. I
chanc't to see a couple of very lovely women severall times,
which came and lived in a fine house just by me, and being
under the government of onely one poor silly old man,
they would get out into a great garden there hard by, and
romp and play the rogue like little sprites; but more of
that between ourselves.
This whole town live by selling of wine, and every day
1 Cheflick is Turkish for a country house or farm.
2 Afterwards Sir Dudley North, and Ambassador to the Porte.
( Vide Introduction.)
covel's diary.
Turkish clieflicks} or summer houses. The best sort of
people fled to other places, as the Turkes likewise them-
selves did from Adrianople to their houses here, for that
same is a story that they are not afraid of the plague,
because their fortunes are wrote in their forehead ; for all
fled, but such as were poor, or had offices about Court, and
could not get away. There dyed that year about 100
persons out of the Vizier's own house ; and really, those
that are forc't to stay by it value it no more then we do an
ague. But this is the same amongst Jewes, Greeks, Arme-
nians, and every body else.
Mr. North2staid in Adrianople all the time, and come to
us every day; I went to him severall times, and as I live I
valued no more to meet a dead corps then a dead calf.
Yet I have met above 20 in a morning, going from our
tents to Mr. North's house ; and there is more danger in
passing by the clothes of the living then in touching the
body of the dead. All slaves and poor people, so soon as
they are dead, are wrapt in some pittiful covering (perhaps
nothing but an old mat), and so laid upon a Hamdl's or
porter's back, and caryed away to his grave, without any
more adoe. Infinites of Turkes came out of the Town and
lived in Tents, as well as we ; yet many Turkes came or
sent out their women to their countrey houses there. I
chanc't to see a couple of very lovely women severall times,
which came and lived in a fine house just by me, and being
under the government of onely one poor silly old man,
they would get out into a great garden there hard by, and
romp and play the rogue like little sprites; but more of
that between ourselves.
This whole town live by selling of wine, and every day
1 Cheflick is Turkish for a country house or farm.
2 Afterwards Sir Dudley North, and Ambassador to the Porte.
( Vide Introduction.)