CHAPTER XI.

Anatolia — Burdur — Sabarta — Akridur — Akshahar — Kara Hisar — Ladhik — Fortress of Tawas

— Milas — Kunia, the grave of Mawlana Rumi — Laranda — Aksara — Nikda — Sivas — Amasia

—Sunusa — Kumash — Arzanjan — Arzerrum — Birki, remarkable piece of meteoric stone seen here —

Tira — Ayasaluk — Yazmir — Magnesia — Bergama — Burma — Yaznik — Bustuni — Bull — Barlu

Kastamunia.

Fro SI this place 1 proceeded to the district of “ Anatolia, § which contains

some handsome cities. In all the Turkoman towns there is a Brotherhood

of ‘^youths, one of whom is termed (my brother, i.e. the word brother

A joined with the pronoun of the first person singular my). No people

are more courteous to strangers, more readily supply them with food

.vAJlU .III"'

* See Annales Muslemici, tom. iii. p. 329, tom. iv. p. 109.

•j- See D’Herbelot, under the article Roum.

J Of this prince De Guignes gives us no account whatever.

$ According to the Marasid El Itlaa olb ^ ^

® well-known and hand-

some district of Room, situated on the sea-shore ; it is strong, contains many villages and inhabi-

tants, and is near the gulf of Constantinople. See also Annales Muslemici, tom. iv. p. 220-1.

ROOM.

and other necessaries, or are more opposed to oppressors than they are. The

person who is styled the Brother is one, about whom persons of the

same occupation, or even foreign youths, who happen to be destitute, collect

and constitute their president. He then builds a cell, and in this he

puts a horse, a saddle, and whatever other implements may be wanting.

He then attends daily upon his companions, and assists them with whatever

they may happen to want. In the evening they come to him and bring all

they have got, which is sold to purchase food, fruit, &c. for the use of the

cell. Should a stranger happen to arrive in their country, they get him

among them, and with this provision they entertain him ; nor does he leave

them till he finally leaves their country. If, however, no traveller arrive,

then they assemble to eat up their provisions, which they do with drinking,

singing, and dancing. On the morrow, they return to their occupations,

and in the evening return again to their president. They are therefore

styled “ the Youths,'" their president “ the Brother"

In this city I went to the college of its Sheikh, ®Shahab Oddin El

Hamawi ; and, on the second day, one of this society came to me. He

was addressed by the Sheikh in Turkish. The Sheikh told me that this

man came to invite us to a feast. I was much astonished, and said to the

Sheikh, This is a poor man, how can he afford to feast us, who are many.

The Sheikh was surprised at my reply, and said: This is one of the

Brotherhood, a society consisting of two hundred silk merchants, who have

a cell of their own. I consented, therefore, and went to the cell, and

witnessed the astonishing attention, kindness, and liberality which they

shewed their guests. May God reward them ! The Sultan of Anatolia was

•^Khazir Beg Ibn Yunus the Turkoman. I was presented to him. He

was then sick. He behaved very liberally towards us, gave us provisions,

and sent money for our travelling expenses.

I next proceeded to the town of ^ Burdur, which is small, and surrounded

by trees and gardens. I first went to the house of the ^ Khatib (the preacher),

and there met the society of the Brotherhood, who invited us to their feast.

* No mention of this prince occurs in De Guignes.

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The Khatib refused to go : they therefore gave us a feast in a garden

without the town, I was truly astonished at their wish to shew us every

respect and attention, although we were ignorant of their language, and

they of ours.

From this place I went to the town of ' Sabarta, which is handsomely

built, and has good streets. I next went to the city of ^Akridur, which is

large, and abounding with trees and water. A lake of sweet water adjoins

it, over which vessels pass, in the space of two days, to the town of^ Aksha-

har, and to other places. I here put up at the lecturer’s, ™E1 Fazil Moslih

Oddin, who treated me very respectfully. The Sultan of this place was

"Abu Is-hak Beg, one of the greatest princes of these parts. He gave us

protection in his district throughout the month of Ramadan. During my

residence I was introduced to him ; after this he sent me a horse and some

money. He is a condescending and excellent prince.

I then went to the city of "Kara Hisar.* It is small, and surrounded by

water on every side. The Sultan is ^ Mohammed Chelebi. He is the

brother of Abu Is-hak, King of Akridur. I was introduced to him, and he

treated me with great respect, and gave me some provisions. After this I

proceeded to the city of ^ Ladhik, which is a large and fine city, abound-

ing with water and gardens. As soon as I had entered it, a number of

persons who were in the streets got up and seized upon the bridles of our

horses ; after which others came and contested the point with them. We

were much alarmed at this ; but a person coming up who could speak

Arabic, said they were contending only as to who should entertain us, as

they were of the society of Youths. Upon this I felt safe. They then

cast lots, and we proceeded to the cell of the party on whom the lot fell,

and on the day following, to that of the other. Both the parties shewed

us the greatest respect. The Sultan "Yataj Beg, who is one of the greatest

princes of these parts, hearing of us, sent for us and treated us with great

respect.

. ™ Jl ^ al. ^ '

* According to the Marasid El Itlaa, a large farm on the north of Aleppo : . ^

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I then proceeded to the fortress of * * * §Tawas, then to the city of * Milas,

which is large and beautiful. Its Sultan is “Urkhan Beg, ^Ibn El Man-

tasha. When I was introduced to him he treated me with great respect :

he is a very excellent prince.* I proceeded from this place to the city of

^Kunia,t which is large and handsome, and abounds with water and gar-

dens. This district belongs to the Sultan "" Badr Oddin Ibn Karman ; over

which, however, the King of Irak has occasionally had the rule, on account

of its proximity to some of his states which are in these parts. I put up at

the cell of its Kazi, who is known by the name of ^ Ibn Kalam Shah.- He

is a member of the society of Youths. His cell is most beautiful ; and he

has a great number of disciples, who trace the authorities for their judicial

decisions as high as Ali Ibn Abi Talib. They are clothed as the Sufis

are with the khirka,j: and close trowsers.

In this place is the tomb of the holy Sheikh ^ JalM Oddin, better known

by the title of “Mawlana§ (our Mawla). He is very highly esteemed. It

is said, that he was at first a mere lecturing doctor who had a large number

of pupils : but upon a certain day a stranger came into his lecture-room

with a basket of sweetmeats, which he had for sale, upon his head; the

Sheikh said to him, bring your basket here. The man took a piece of

sweetmeat and gave it to the Sheikh, who ate it. He then went out, no

one else having tasted the sweetmeat ; the Sheikh became agitated and went

out after him, giving up his reading, and leaving his pupils in a state of

expectation. At length, however, they set out in quest of him, but failed

to discover the place of his retreat. Some years after, he returned with

his mind deranged, and speaking nothing but Persian verses. These

* According to De Guignes, this Ottoman prince reigned from 1326 to 1369 (tom. i. p. 271),

and consequently he must have been living when our traveller was in these parts,

f Iconium.

% A coarse ragged garment worn by the religious beggars of the east.

§ See an interesting article on this writer in fourth Tabaka Dawlatsbah, art.

j and in the by Jam!,, not far from the end.

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his pupils, as they followed him, noted down and published under the title

of the * * * § Mathnavi, a book highly esteemed in these parts.

I next proceeded to the city of ‘'Laranda,* the Sultan of which is'^El

Malik Badr Oddin Ibn Karman, who makes this place his capital. I met

him, and was entertained with the greatest kindness as his guest.

I then proceeded to ® Aksara, which is one of the finest districts of Room,

and subject to the king of Irak. I next went to the city of -^Nikda, then to

^Kisaria (Caesarea), both of which are subject to the king of Irak. I next

proceeded to the city of ^ Sivas, which is also subject to the king of Irak. It is a

large place, and now the rendezvous of the greater part of the king’s army.

I next went to the city of ' Amasia,! then to-^ Simusa, then to^Kumash,

then to ^Arzanjan, then to Arzerrum; all of which are subject to the king of

Irak. In '“Arzerrum I saw the brother ” Tuman, one of the Society of Youths,

whose age exceeded one hundred and thirty years. He was still in posses-

sion of all his faculties, and could walk wherever he wished. After receiv-

ing his blessing I proceeded to the city of " BirkI, the king of which was

Mohammed Ibn ^Aidin ; I was, in company with the lecturer of this

place ^Mohyi Oddin, one of the most celebrated and reputable men of

his age, introduced to the presence.

The king one day said to me, have you ever seen a stone that came down

from heaven ?j: I answered, No. He continued, such a stone has fallen in

the environs of our city. He then called some men and ordered them to

bring the stone, which they did. It was a black, solid, exceedingly hard,

and shining, substance. If weighed it would probably exceed a talent. §

He then ordered some stone-cutters to come in, when four came forward.

He commanded them to strike upon it. They all struck together upon it

. \j^\ al. ® i ^

^ 9 9 ^ ? 9 ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ xo.

. al. al. ^ al.

. al. ^ al. ^

* See D’Herbelot, under the article Mathnaoui. ,

f See D’Herbelot, under Amasia.

t For some very interesting accounts of other phenomena of this sort, see the second edition

of M. De Sacy’s Chrestomathie Arabe, tom. iii. pp. 437-441.

§ According to some 112, to others 120 pounds weight.

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accordingly with an iron hammer four successive strokes, which, however,

made not the least impression upon it. I was much astonished at this.

The king then ordered the stone to be taken to its place. He sent fruit

and food to us during the time we remained there ; and, when I had bidden

him farewell, he sent me a thousand dirhems with one hundred mithkals

of gold, as also clothing, two horses, and a slave. He also sent for my

companions some dirhems and clothing separately.

I then proceeded to the city of ®Tlra, which belongs also to this prince.

It is large, and abounds with gardens and water. From this place I went to

the city of ‘Ayasuluk, the Emir of which is the Sultan “Mohammed Ibn

Aidin, son of the Sultan of “Birki; then to the city of “Yazmir, which

belongs to the Sultan of Birki ; its Emir is "'Omar Beg, one of the Sul-

tan’s sons, and a most excellent prince. I then proceeded to the city of

^Magnesia, the Sultan of which is called "Saru Khan. I then went to the

city of “Bergama (Pergamos), of which the philosopher Plato is said to

have been an inhabitant. His house is still seen here. The Sultan of this

place is styled ^Bakhshl Khan. I next went to the city of ‘'Ball Kasra,

which is large and beautiful. Its governor is called ‘^Damur Khan. I then

went to the city of ® Burusa,* •* which is a large place, and governed by

•^Ikhtiyar Oddin Urkhan Beg, son of ^Othman Juk. This is one of the

greatest, richest, and most extensive in rule, and commanding the greatest

army of all the Turkoman kings. His practice is, constantly to be visiting

his fortresses and districts, and to be inquiring into their circumstances. It is

said that he never remained a month in any one place. His father had con-

a\.j^ “ . ^ ‘ *

* Mr. Kosegarten has here which he writes Burssa. Our copies add iUJic,

•* ^ -if-

a great city: and again ^ ^ jS,\ JjAj ^lo

Lj jJ Jbuj uSijj &C. This I notice to shew,

that the copies diflPer considerably in some instances, and to warn the reader, that, where my

translation differs from Mr. Kosegarten’s, he must not immediately conclude that either of us is

wrong.

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quered the city of Burusa, and had besieged that of ^Yaznlk,* nearly

twenty years, but did not take it ; after this his son besieged it for twelve

years and took it. In this place I met him; he received me very

respectfully, and provided me with a considerable number of dirhems.

I next went to Yaznlk. It has a large lake eight miles in length ; the

city is also surrounded with water and trees. I then left this place,

and after some days arrived at the city of *Bustuni;'f' after this at the

city of Bull, the king of which is '"Shah Beg. I then went to the city

of ^Burlu, which belongs to the governor of “Kastamunia. I then went

to Kastamunia, which is a very large and beautiful city, abounding with

every delicacy, which may be purchased at a very low rate. I saw an aged

Sheikh among its inhabitants, whose age, as I was told, amounted to that

of one hundred and si xty-two years. Its Sultan was "Suleiman Badshaw,

a splendid, but aged man ; he is a respectable and respected person. I was

introduced to him, and received very honourably.