Page:Adventures of Baron Wenceslas Wratislaw of Mitrowitz (1862).djvu/61

 Vienna at his own most earnest desire; he declared that he had a brother in captivity among the Turks, whom he wished to ransom and bring by sea back to Christendom, and thus save his soul. While we were at the pasha’s this Italian left the boat in which he was and went to the janissaries, who had been assigned us as a guard, whose tents were pitched on a hill near the Danube. There he drank and made acquaintance with them, and gave them to understand that he wanted to become a Turk, by taking his hat from his head, treading it under foot, cutting it to pieces, and finally throwing it into the Danube; he also tore his collar to pieces. As soon as he had done this the janissaries brought him a turban or round Turkish cap, placed it upon his head, and conducted him into the town. This Italian had started most devoutly upon the journey, and often used to sigh and bewail his brother’s ruin, till tears streamed from his eyes; then, however, the cunning villain forgot his own soul and became a Mahometan, though, previously to our beginning our voyage down the Danube, he had confessed and received the most holy sacrament of the altar.

The same day the pasha sent a very handsome boat for the ambassador to visit him in, which he did, taking with him only five persons. He carried with him a beautifully ornamented gun, and a large white English dog, a present from his Highness the Archduke Ernest, both which he gave the pasha.

Meanwhile, whilst the ambassador stayed transacting business with the pasha, we visited and bathed in the warm baths, which were not far from our boats. These are certainly remarkably pleasant, so warm that one