Page:Busbecq, Travels into Turkey (1744).pdf/86

 thus taken my leave, I began my Journey in the Month of June, and the Heat thereof was so excessive, that it cast me into a Fever. 'Tis true, it was a remiss and gentle one, yet it came every Day; to which was added an Hoarseness, and Defluction of Rheum from the Head, and it held me till I came to Constantinople.

Persian Embassador left Amasia the self-same Day that I did, and we went both out of the City the same way; for, (as I told you before) there is but one Passage into, or out of, that Town, it is so shut in by the circumjacent and unpassable Hills: But the Way quickly doth divide into two, one to the East, which the Persians took; and another to the West. which was our Road. In the open Fields about the Town, we saw the Turkish Camp pitch'd, with abundance of Tents. I shall not entertain you with the Stages of my Return, they being the same with those of my Journey thither, only we made a little more Speed, and sometimes rode two Day's Journey in one. In fine, we came to Constantinople, June the 2d. You must needs think I had a troublesome Journey of it, having such a Companion with me, as a Quotidian Ague, all the way; so that, when I came thither, I was almost nothing but Skin and Bone: Yet, lean as I was, when I came to rest, and by the advice of of Quaquelben, my Physician, used warm Baths, I quickly recovered. One thing I observed in the method of my Cure, that, when I came out of the warm Bath, he would sprinkle me over with cold Water, which, though it were troublesome to me at the present, yet I found that it did me much good.

I staid at Constantinople, there was a certain Person, that came from the Turkish Camp in Asia, who told me a Story, which I shall acquaint you with, because it shows that the Asiaticks are