Caravanne in the east, signifies a company or assembly of travellers and pilgrims, and more particularly of merchants, who, for their greater security, and in order to assist each other, march in a body through the deserts, and other dangerous places, which are infested with Arabs or robbers.

There is a chief, or aga, who commands the caravan, and is attended by a certain number of janizaries, or other militia, according to the countries from whence the caravans set out; which number of soldiers must be sufficient to defend them and conduct them with safety to the places for which they are designed, and on a day appointed. The caravan encamps every evening near such wells or brooks, as their guides are acquainted with; and there is a strict discipline observed upon this occasion, as in armies in time of war. Their beasts of burden are partly horses, but most commonly camels, who are capable of undergoing a very great fatigue.