This print is from 'The Military Costume of Turkey. Illustrated by A Series of Engravings. From Drawings made on the Spot. Dedicated by Permission to His Excellency the Minister of the Ottoman Porte to his Britannic Majesty.'
London, Published by Thomas M'Lean, Haymarket, (1818). Folio. One of 29 fine handcoloured aquatint plates . Very light offsetting from plates. The original accompanying text of this print is as follows:
'The Spahis, who constitute the principal part of the mounted force of the empire, are chiefly raised in the Asiatic provinces: they are excellent horsemen, and are variously equipped, but in general, the lance is their principal weapon, in the use of which they are very expert: they are divided into sixteen legions, and in the early ages of the Ottoman empire, prior to the institution of the Janizaries, they were considered as its principal strength. The Turkish horses are mostly of Arabian extraction, and are fed with barley and cut straw; they are smaller, and not so strong (particularly in the Asiatic provinces) as the breed of colder countries, but very beautiful, and full of fire and spirit.'
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