DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.6553#0216
APPENDIX.
137
the cavalry; but in this, as in other instances, the best supply
would be procured from the people, by securing to them the
peaceable enjoyment of their possessions, and by paying a fair
remunerating price.
Opposite to the stables at Cairo was the establishment for the
Pacha's carriages. I heard that he had procured through Mr.
Galloway a tolerable coach and harness ; but the carriages, which
I saw, were worse than common hackney-coaches ; and the horses,
harness, and particularly the coachmanship, were bad beyond all
description : the whole, indeed, was conducted in such an awkward
manner, and was attended with so much difficulty and embarrass-
ment, that it was no longer a matter of surprise that carriages
appeared to the Turks most extraordinary inventions. Those,
although belonging to the Pacha, were never cleaned, excepting
that the linings were occasionally brushed out. I forget the
colours of all of them, but the one most constantly used was a
dark blue chariot, with a red hammer-cloth; the varnish had
long since disappeared, and the paint scarcely remained. The
harness was of a common sort, like that used for breaks, it had
breast-collars, and did not appear to have been either cleaned or
repaired ; there were no bearing reins, and the cruppers were
seldom put on ; the reins of the leaders were only passed through
the head-terrets of the wheel-horses ; and their traces were
fastened to a large swing-bar at the end of the pole; the horses
were driven with bridoons, or with bits without curbs. There
were several sets of horses, white, bay, and chestnut, apparently
very old, underbred, and out of condition. Their thick manes
and tails were never combed, and, when they were fastened to the
carriage (for " put together" they never were), the pole-pieces
were put on first, and then the traces.
The coachman, (and the best performer was a black), was
dressed in a white Nizam suit, with a red tarbouse and slippers,
and drove with a pig-whip, lie leant forward on his box, with
his legs stretched out on each side of the foot-board, and, having
taken the off-side reins in his right, and the other reins in his
left hand, he ascertained their purchase by two or three violent
pulls, that brought the horses' heads alternately round in opposite
directions; and then setting to work with his whip, started his
straggling team through foot-passengers, camels, asses, &c. in a
most surprising manner. On his return, however, the horses
had got quite steady, and by taking a long circuit (if nothing
137
the cavalry; but in this, as in other instances, the best supply
would be procured from the people, by securing to them the
peaceable enjoyment of their possessions, and by paying a fair
remunerating price.
Opposite to the stables at Cairo was the establishment for the
Pacha's carriages. I heard that he had procured through Mr.
Galloway a tolerable coach and harness ; but the carriages, which
I saw, were worse than common hackney-coaches ; and the horses,
harness, and particularly the coachmanship, were bad beyond all
description : the whole, indeed, was conducted in such an awkward
manner, and was attended with so much difficulty and embarrass-
ment, that it was no longer a matter of surprise that carriages
appeared to the Turks most extraordinary inventions. Those,
although belonging to the Pacha, were never cleaned, excepting
that the linings were occasionally brushed out. I forget the
colours of all of them, but the one most constantly used was a
dark blue chariot, with a red hammer-cloth; the varnish had
long since disappeared, and the paint scarcely remained. The
harness was of a common sort, like that used for breaks, it had
breast-collars, and did not appear to have been either cleaned or
repaired ; there were no bearing reins, and the cruppers were
seldom put on ; the reins of the leaders were only passed through
the head-terrets of the wheel-horses ; and their traces were
fastened to a large swing-bar at the end of the pole; the horses
were driven with bridoons, or with bits without curbs. There
were several sets of horses, white, bay, and chestnut, apparently
very old, underbred, and out of condition. Their thick manes
and tails were never combed, and, when they were fastened to the
carriage (for " put together" they never were), the pole-pieces
were put on first, and then the traces.
The coachman, (and the best performer was a black), was
dressed in a white Nizam suit, with a red tarbouse and slippers,
and drove with a pig-whip, lie leant forward on his box, with
his legs stretched out on each side of the foot-board, and, having
taken the off-side reins in his right, and the other reins in his
left hand, he ascertained their purchase by two or three violent
pulls, that brought the horses' heads alternately round in opposite
directions; and then setting to work with his whip, started his
straggling team through foot-passengers, camels, asses, &c. in a
most surprising manner. On his return, however, the horses
had got quite steady, and by taking a long circuit (if nothing