Page:Busbecq, Travels into Turkey (1744).pdf/174

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that their Bow being turn'd in their Flight, their unwary Enemy is shot through.

'Tis time now, you'll say, that I return to my Lodging, lest my Keeper should be angry with me. Well, then; what time is left me from beholding these Exercises, I bestow entirely on my Books, or in Conferences with my Friends the Citizens of Pera, originally Genoese, or others; yet not without the leave of my Chiauxes. These Fellows are not always in the same Humour; they have their lucid Intervals, in which they are more tractable than at other times. When 'tis fair Weather with them, the Ragustæans, the Florentines, the Venetians, and sometimes the Greeks, with other Nations, come to visit me, on one Account or another; sometimes, also, I converse with Men of more remote Countries, that come hither, whose Conversation much delights me.

A few Months ago, there came hither a Merchant from Dantzick, who had the sole vending of Amber. He wondred to what Use the Turks could put so great a Quantity of it, as they bought; or, whither they sent it: At last he was told, that they sent it into Persia, where that kind of Juice, or Bitumen, is highly esteemed; for they adorn Parlors, Studies, and Temples with it. He bestowed upon me, a wooden Vessel full of that Liquor, they call Juppenbier. It was most excellent Stuff: But I laughed heartily at my Guests, both Greeks and Italians, who, not being accustomed to this Liquor, could not tell what to call it. At length, because I told them 'twas good to preserve Health, they thought it was some medicinal Drug, and called it a Syrup; but they sipp'd and syrupp'd it about so long, that, at one Dinner, they emptied my Barrel.