"سرد لإقامة في كردستان وفي موقع نينوى القديمة؛ مع مذكرات رحلة إلى بغداد عبر نهر دجلة ووصف زيارة إلى شيراز وبرسبوليس." [‎٣‎٩‎٣] (٤٥٠/٤٢٨)

APP. VI.]
TURKISH TCIIOPEE.
and headed by a party of dancing boys, in their dresses.
In the centre of the ring, two men entirely naked, but
covered with flakes of cotton, and having immense white
cotton beards, exhibited some ridiculous tricks, riding upon
long canes, and charging each other with red spears. The
music gradually quickened, and changed its measure, and
the dancers got yet more animated, till at last they went
round the circle with great rapidity, making the ground ring
under their feet. Ibrahim Aga, the Musselleera, told me
an anecdote of this dance, which in Turkish is called
Tchopee. Hassan Pasha, a former Pasha of Bagdad, hav
ing been offended by the rebellious conduct of the Khezail
Arabs, vowed to dance a Tchopee in the centre of their
capital. He accordingly entered their country with fire and
sword ; and having taken their principal town, and put to
death almost every inhabitant he could find, himself, at the
head of his troops, performed his vow, and danced the
Tchopee.
After the Turkish dance, two sword-players advanced to
treat us with an exhibition of sword and shield. They
began by some slow movements, accompanied by the band,
and saluted first us, and then the company, and each other,
with their shields. Swords were afterwards given them, and
they cut and parried with their shields with some dexterity,
but no science or regular system. Single-stick was after
wards introduced, which was played exactly in the same
manner with the shield.
At last the Musselleem, by way of closing the whole, said
he would bring us two men who should astonish us. He
accordingly called up two Turks, and giving them two
shields, ordered them to behave bravely. They accordingly
set to with a good will, and hammered each other for some
time most desperately, till they were parted by order of the
Musselleem. This finished the entertainment.
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