I took great pleasure in speaking with the Chiauses, especially those who were older men. They were usually well educated by experience, spoke several languages, and had seen many parts of the world. Because of this, they were good company and able to give clear accounts of many places, people, and customs.
These men were often employed as messengers or attendants to important officials, and their duties required them to travel constantly. Through long years of journeying, they became knowledgeable not only about roads and towns, but also about the habits and beliefs of different nations. For a traveler like myself, such companions were both pleasant and useful Avoiding Offense While Traveling.
Osman Chiam A Faithful Companion
Among those who traveled with us was Osman Chiam, a man of about fifty years of age. He spoke Turkish, Slavonian, and Italian with ease. He was strong in body, honest in character, faithful in service, and very neat and clean in his appearance.
Osman told me that he had traveled through the greatest part of Turkey during his life. As he grew older, he chose to settle in Buda, where he served as a Chiaus to the Vizier. Of all the places he had visited, he said that Buda pleased him more than any other city in the Turkish lands. He found it comfortable, orderly, and well suited to his age and profession.
When we reached Buda, he took a very polite and friendly farewell of me. He walked with me out through the city gates and wished me a happy and safe return to my own country. With many kind words and blessings, he parted from me in a way that showed true goodwill and respect.
Kind Treatment from the Turks
Throughout my entire journey, I was treated fairly and with much civility. Whenever I entered a room where Turks were sitting, they would greet me kindly. Often they would touch my hand as a sign of respect and invite me to sit down with them.
They regularly offered me coffee, and sometimes tobacco. At mealtimes, they invited me to eat freely and encouraged me to take my fill. Their behavior was generally polite and welcoming, and I found little reason to complain of my treatment among them.
Occasional Insults and Unkind Words
However, this kindness was not shown by everyone. In some places, boys and people of the lower sort would call after me with insulting names. They sometimes shouted words meaning “bearded infidel” or simply called me a Christian or an unbeliever. These insults were unpleasant, but they came mostly from the ignorant and ill-mannered, not from serious or respectable people Day Tours Ephesus.
At Larissa, a Jewish merchant whom I had employed to buy a few small items for me behaved very rudely. When I told him that his prices were too high, he answered me with harsh and offensive words. This behavior displeased several people who were present, and they showed clear anger at his conduct.
Indeed, had the Grand Signior himself not been present in the town at that time, those men would likely have corrected the merchant’s manners in a severe way. This incident showed me that public order and authority often restrained people from acting on their anger.
A Final Reflection
In general, I found the Turks to be civil, respectful, and hospitable, especially toward strangers who behaved with courtesy. Though I occasionally met with insults and bad language, these moments were few compared to the many instances of kindness I received during my travels.
