Page:Adventures of Baron Wenceslas Wratislaw of Mitrowitz (1862).djvu/53

 therefore set out from Comorn, our cortège on land consisting of about 300 foot-soldiers, under a captain, without firearms, and only with sidearms, and about fifty hussars on horseback; on the Danube we had fifteen boats, each carrying three guns and twenty-five Hungarian soldiers with long muskets, javelins, and their pennons. Thus we voyaged some hours down the Danube, till we espied the Turkish boats, which were ten in number.

The Turkish boats were exactly similar to ours in all respects, except in carrying only one gun each. On land about one hundred very fine-looking and well-appointed Turkish horsemen rode towards us, and, on perceiving us, set spurs to their horses and galloped to the very brink of the Danube. Herr von Kregwitz then ordered the boats to cast anchor. We disembarked on the bank and welcomed and were welcomed by our Turkish friends, and ere long partook of dinner together in the boats. It was certainly matter of wonder, to a person who had never beheld anything of the kind before, to see the beautiful horses, the lances with streaming pennons, the sabres inlaid with silver, gold, and precious stones, the magnificent cloths of blue and red, the gilded saddles and caparisons of the Turks; and I think they must have equipped themselves in this manner on purpose. While the principal Turks were dining with the ambassador the hussars of both parties walked on the plain and conversed together in a friendly manner, their horses and lances being held by jermeks or grooms. Here a quarrel arose between a Turkish hussar and one of ours. They wanted to break a lance on the spot, which, however, was strictly forbidden by their officers,