Page:Busbecq, Travels into Turkey (1744).pdf/162

 apply themselves to Rustan, complaining of this broken, useless Armour, which could do no Service against an Enemy, and entreating to have their usual Weapons again, their Bows and Arrows; which, are readily granted them. mention I made a while ago of things acted in the Confines of Hungary, gives me occasion to tell you, what the Turks think of Duels, which amongst Christians is accounted a singular Proof of personal Valour. There was one Arslambeg, a Sanziack, that lived in the Frontiers of Hungary, who was very much famed for a robust Person; he was very expert at the Bow; no Man brandished his Sword with more Strength, or was more terrible to his Enemy. Not far from him there dwelt one Uliber, a Sanziack also, who was emulous of the same Praise; and this Emulation (heighten'd, perhaps, by other Motives) at length occasioned Hatred and many bloody Combats between them. It happened thus, Uliber was sent for to Constantinople; upon what occasion I know not. When he came thither, and the Bashaws had asked many Questions of him, in the Divan, concerning other Matters, at last they demanded how he and Arslambeg (Arsla signifies a Lion in Turkey) came to fall out? Hereupon he makes a long Narration of the Grudges between them, with their Causes and Progress; and to put a fairer Gloss on his own Cause, he added, that once Arslambeg had laid an Ambush, and wounded him treacherously: And that, said he, he needed not have done, if he would have shewed himself worthy the Name he bears; for I have often challenged him to fight Hand to Hand, and never shun'd to meet him in the Field. The Bashaws, much offended, thus replied, ''How durst thou challenge thy Fellow-Soldier to a Duel? What, was there never a Christian to''