morosity, seldom Laughing, which is accounted an argument of great
Vanity and Lightness. They perform the Exercises, which they use in
the way of Diversion, as Shooting and Hunting, with a great deal of
gravity, as if they designed them more for Health than for Pleasure;
and this too but seldom. The better and richer sort, who have nothing
to do, sitting all Day at Home, lolling upon a Sofa or rais'd Place
in their Rooms, and taking Tobacco, which their Slaves fill and
light for them: And if they retire in the Summer or Autumn, for a
Week or Fort-night to some convenient Fountain in a Wood with their
Women, it is chiefly to enjoy the Refreshments of the cool Air. In
the times of Triumph indeed for some great Success obtained against
the _Christians_, when the Shops are open for three Nights together,
and hung with Lights, as well as the Spires of the Moschs in curious
Figures, they are guilty of extravagant Mirth, running up and down the
Streets in Companies, and sometimes Singing and Dancing after their
rude way; but this fit being over, they soon return to their former
Melancholy. In the Coffee-Houses where they use to resort to Tipple,
there is usually one hired by the Owners to read either an idle Book of
Tales, which they admire as Wit, or filthy obscene Stories, with which
they seem wonderfully affected and pleased, few of them being able to
Read. These are the Schools, which they frequent for their Information,
tho' in times of War, when things went ill with them, their Discourses
would be of the ill Government; and the Grand Signior himself and his
chief Ministers could not escape their Censures, which manifestly
tending to Sedition, and to the heightning of their Discontents by
their mutual Complaints, and by this free venting of their Grievances
during the War at _Candia_, the Wise Vizir seeing the evil Consequences
that would follow, if such Meetings and Discourses were any longer
tolerated, Commanded, that all the publick Coffee-houses should be shut
up in _Constantinople_ and several other great Cities of the Empire,
where the Malcontents used to rendezvouz themselves, and find fault
upon every ill Success and Miscarriage with the administration of
Affairs.
The custom of the _Turks_ to salute the Emperor or the _Vizir Bassa_'s
with loud Acclamations and Wishes of Health and long Life, when they
appear first in their Houses or any publick Place, is derived from the
_Greeks_, who took it from the _Romans_. This was done by them in a
kind of Singing Tone; whence _Luitprandus_ Bishop of _Cremona_ tells
us, that in a certain Procession (προέλυσις) at which he was present,
they Sang to the Emperor _Nicephorus_ πολλὰ ἔτη that is, many Years,
(which _Codinus_, who lived just about the taking of _Constantinople_,
by the _Turks_, expresses τὸ ψάλλειν τὸ πολυχρόνιον or by τὸ
πολυχρονίζειν and the wish or salute by πολυχρόνισμα) and at Dinner
the _Greeks_ then present wish'd with a loud Voice to the Emperor and
_Bardas_, _Ut Deus annos multiplicet_, as he Translates the _Greek_.
The _Turkish_ Coin in it self is pitiful and inconsiderable, which I
ascribe not only to their want of Bullion, but to their little Skill in
matters relating to the Mint. Hence it comes to pass that Zecchines and
Hungars for Gold, and _Spanish_ Dollars and Zalotts for Silver stampt
in _Christendom_ pass current among them, most of the great Payments
being made in them, they not caring either through Ignorance or Sloth
to follow the Example of the _Indian_ or _Persian_ Emperors, who
usually melt down the _Christian_ Mony imported by the Merchants into
their several Countries, and give it a new Stamp. The most usual pieces
are the Sheriphi of Gold, somewhat less in value than a _Venetian_
Zecchine, and Aspers; ten of which are equal to six Pence _English_,
and some few three Asper Pieces. A Mangur is an ugly old Copper Piece,
eight of which make but one Asper, and is not I think a _Turkish_ Coin,
but rather _Greek_. They have no Arms upon their Coin, only Letters
embossed on both sides, containing the Emperor's Name, or some short
Sentence out of the _Alcoran_.
The _Turks_ look upon Earthquakes as Ominous, as the vulgar do upon
Eclipses, not understanding the Philosophy of them. During my stay
in _Constantinople_, which was above 2 Years, there hapned but one,
which was _October 26. 1669._ about six a Clock in the Morning a stark
Calm preceeding. It lasted very near a Minute, and we at _Pera_ and
_Galata_ were as sensible of it, as those who were on the other side
of the Water; but praised be God nothing fell, and we were soon rid of
the Fears in which this frightful Accident had cast us, being in our
Beds, and not able by reason of the Surprize in so little a space to
have past through a Gallery down a pair of Stairs into the Court, if
we had attempted it. The _Turks_ made direful Reflexions on it, as if
some Calamity would inevitably fall upon the Empire, quickly forgetting
the great Triumphings and Rejoycings which they exprest but a few Days
before for the Surrendry of _Candia_. In the Year 1668. in _August_,
the Earth shook more or less for forty-seven Days together in the
lesser _Asia_ at _Anguri_ (_Ancyra_), and for fifteen at _Bacbasar_, as
we heard from a _Scotch_ Merchant, who liv'd there: And particularly,
that at this latter Place on the second of _August_, between three and
four of the Clock in the Afternoon it lasted for a quarter of an Hour;
several Houses were overthrown, and some hundreds of Chimneys fell (it
being a very populous Town) and yet there were but seven kill'd. The
trembling being so violent, both _Turks_ and _Christians_ forsook their
Houses, and betook themselves to the Fields, Vineyards, and Gardens,
where they made their Abode for several Days.
Their Punishments are very severe, this being judg'd the most effectual
way to prevent all publick Disorders and Mischiefs. They use no great
Formality in their Processes: If the Criminal be taken in the Fact,
and the Witnesses ready and present to attest it, and sometimes if
there be but probable circumstances, without full Conviction, condemn
him; and soon after Sentence, sometimes an Hour, or less, hurry him
away to Execution. For an ordinary Crime, hanging is the usual Death:
But for Robbery and Murder, committed upon the High Way by such as Rob
in Parties and alarm whole Provinces, or for Sacriledge, or for any
hainous Crime against the Government, either Gaunching or Excoriation,
or cutting off the Legs and Arms, and leaving the Trunk of the Body in
the High Way, or Empaling, that is, thrusting an Iron Stake through the
Body out under the Neck or at the Mouth; in which extreme Torment the
miserable Wretch may live two or three Days, if the Guts or the Heart
happen not to be wounded by the pointed Spike in its Passage. This
Punishment seems to have been in use among the _Romans_, _Seneca_'s
Epist. 14. _Cogita hoc loco carcerem, & cruces, & eculeos, & uncum, &
adactum per medium hominem, qui per os emergat, stipitem_: and so in
his Book _De Consolatione ad Marciam cap._ 20. _Ali capite conversos
in terram suspendere: Alii per obscena stipitem egerunt: Alii brachia
patibulo explicuerunt._ Murder is seldom Pardon'd, and especially if
the Relations of the Murder'd Person demand Justice.
The Circumcision, tho' it be a Sacred Right, is perform'd in their
private Houses, and never in the Moschs.
The Women colour their Eye-Brows and Lids with an ugly black Powder,
I suppose, to set off their Beauty by such a Shadow; and their Nails
with the Powder of _Kanna_, which gives them a Tincture of faint Red,
like Brick (as they do the Tails and Hoofs of Horses) which they look
upon as a great Ornament. Their great diversion is Bathing; sometimes
thrice, if not four times a Week. They do not permit them to go to
Church in time of Prayer, for fear they should spoil their Devotion:
The _Turks_ being of so brutish a Temper, that their Lust is rais'd
upon the sight of a fair Object. They are call'd oftentimes by the
Names of Flowers and Fruits, and sometimes Phantastick Names are
given them, such as _Sucar Birpara_, or bit of Sugar, _Dil Ferib_, or
Ravisher of Hearts, and the like.
Their Skill in Agriculture is very mean. In their Gardens they have
several little Trenches to convey Water, where it may be most necessary
for their Plants and Flowers. They know little or nothing of manuring
their Grounds: Sometimes they burn their Fields and Vineyards after
Harvest and Vintage, partly to destroy the Vermin, and partly to enrich
the Soil. They tread out their Corn with Oxen, drawing a square Plank
Board, about a Foot and a half or two Foot over, studded with Flints,
and winnow it upon their threshing Floors in the open Air, the Wind
blowing away the Chaff. They feed their Horses with Barly and chopt
Straw; for I do not remember ever to have seen any Oats among them; and
they make but little Hay.
For Draught of great Weight in their Carts they make use of Buffalo's.
Camels will endure Travel four Days together without Water, and
will eat tops of Thistles, Shrubs, or any kind of Boughs: They are
very sure-footed, and kneel when they are a loading, and live to a
considerable number of Years, some even to sixty.
The chief Furniture of their Houses are Carpets or Mats of _Grand
Cairo_, neatly wrought with Straw, spread upon the Ground; they having
no occasion of Chairs, Couches, Stools, or Tables; their postures
within Doors, being different from ours. They have no Hangings, but
their Walls are whited and set off with Painting, only adorn'd with a
kind of Porcelane; no Beds clos'd with Curtains.
They seal not with Wax, but Ink, at the bottom of the Paper the
Emperor's Name being usually written with Flourishes and in perplext
Characters: Nor have they any Coats of Arms upon their Seals, there
being no such thing as Gentility among them.
Some of them, notwithstanding their Zeal for _Mahomet_ and the Religion
by him establish'd, retain not only a favourable and honourable Opinion
of our Blessed _Saviour_, but even place some kind of Confidence in
the usage of his Name, or of the Words of the Gospel, tho' it may seem
to be wholly in the way of Superstition. Thus in their Amulets, which
they call _Chaimaili_, being little bits of Paper of two or three
Fingers breadth, roul'd up in pieces of Silk, containing several short
Prayers or Sentences out of the _Alcoran_, with several Circles with
other Figures, they usually inscribe the Holy and Venerable Name of
_JESUS_, or the Figure of the Cross, or the first Words of St. _John_'s
Gospel, and the like; they hang them about their Necks, or place them
under their Arm-pits, or in their Bosom near their Hearts (being the
same with what the _Greeks_ call ἐγκόλπια) and especially when they go
to War, as a preservative against the Dangers of it; and indeed against
any misfortune whatsoever. Some have them sow'd within their Caps: And
I heard of a _Turk_, who was so superstitious herein, that he always
pluck'd it off, and was uncover'd when he had occasion to make Water.
Some are such Bigots in their Religion, and so furious against the
Christians, that not only do they treat them with all imaginable Scorn
and Contempt, but take it ill to be salam'd or saluted by them, as if
it were the effect of Sawciness or unbecoming Familiarity. Their Malice
against the Christians makes them envy the rich Furs they line their
Vests with, and it is a trouble to these hypocritical Zealots to see
the _Franks_ ride upon their fine _Arabian_ Horses.
The respect which they shew the _Alcoran_ is wonderful: They dare not
open the Leaves of it with unwashen Hands, according to the Advice or
Command written in _Arabick_ upon the Cover, _Let no one touch this
Book, but he that is clean_. They kiss it, and bend their Heads and
touch their Eyes with it, both when they open it and shut it.
The _Janizaries_, when they attend upon _Christian Ambassadors_ to
their Audience, seem to appear in their Bravery, and in a Habit far
from that of a Soldier, being without either Fire-Arms or Swords,
(which latter are not worn but in time of Service), or when they are
upon a March, or embodied, wearing a Cap made of Camel's Hair, with a
broad Flap dangling behind, a gilt embroider'd Wreath running round
it, and an oblong piece of Brass rising up from the middle of their
Forehead near a Foot, with a great Club in their Hand, like inferior
Officers of the Civil Government. But when they are in the Camp, they
throw off their upper Vest, and Turbants, which they wear at all other
usual times, as troublesome, and put on a _Fess_, or red Cap, which
sits close to their Head, and tuck up their _Duliman_ or long Coat, to
their Girdle, that they may be the more quick and expedite in their
Charge.
They affect finery and neatness in their Cloths and Shashes; not
so much as a spot to be seen upon them, and in rainy or suspicious
Weather, are very careful how they go abroad without their
_Yamurlicks_, which is a kind of Coat they throw over their Heads at
such times.
Their Pans and Dishes are for the most part of Copper, but so handsomly
Tinn'd over, that they look like Silver.
There are thousands of Gypsies or _Zinganies_ in _Turky_, who live
the same idle nasty kind of Life, as they do in _Christendom_, and
pretend to the same Art of telling Fortunes; and are look'd upon as the
Off-scouring of Mankind. It is accounted the extremest point of human
Misery to be a Slave to any of this sort of Cattel.
The _Haggi_, or Pilgrims, that have been at _Mecca_ and _Medina_,
forbear to drink Wine most Religiously, out of a perswasion, that one
drop would efface all the Merits of that troublesome and expensive
Journey; and some have been possess'd with such a mad Zeal, that they
have blinded themselves after their having been bless'd with the sight
of _Mahomet_'s Sepulcher.
After _Jatzih_, that is, an Hour and a half in the Night, throughout
the whole Year, there is as great a silence in the Streets as at
Midnight: The Emperor _Achmet_ in the Year 1611. having made an Order,
that no one should presume to be out of his House after that time;
which is to this Day most punctually observed. The _Bostangi bashi_,
who has the Command of all the _Agiamoglans_ in the _Seraglio_, the
_Topgibashi_ or such great Officers attended with a great Train of
armed Men, walking the Rounds, and drubbing such as they find abroad at
unseasonable Hours of what Nation or Quality soever, except Physicians,
Chyrurgeons, and Apothecaries, whom they allow at all times to visit
the Sick.
The _Turkmans_, (for so they are peculiarly called, as if they were the
true Descendents of the _Old Turks_ or _Scythians_, whose wandering
kind of Life is described by the Poet;
Ἁμαξόβιοι { _Nulla domus, plaustris habitant, migrare per arva
{ Mos, atq; errantes circumvectare penates._)
have no fixt Residence any where, but Travel with their Families and
Cattle from Place to Place, carrying their Wives and Children upon
Camels; they pitch their Tents usually near Rivers and Fountains, for
the convenience of Water, and according as their necessities require,
make a longer or a shorter stay. Their whole Estate consists in their
numerous Flocks and Herds, which they sell upon occasion to supply
themselves with what they want, at the Towns they pass by. Their only
concern is how to enjoy the Benefits and Blessings of Nature, without
the troubles and turmoils and disquiets of Life; being contented
and happy in one another's Company, void of all Ambition and Envy,
Courteous and Humane to Strangers, that may want their Help and
Assistance, kindly entertaining them with such Provision as their Folds
afford. I have met with some Companies of these harmless Wanderers
in my Travels. The Country lies open without any Inclosures, and the
Propriety not being vested in any one, they Travel thro' the Plains
unmolested, and find excellent Pasturage every where. The _Turks_
Till no more Ground than will serve their necessities: Being supplied
with Corn from _Ægypt_, and from _Moldavia_ and _Walachia_, by the
way of the _Black Sea_, letting vast Tracts of Ground lie wast and
uncultivated; so that their Sloth herein sometimes is justly punished
with Dearths.
They have nothing to shew for their Houses and Possession, but an
_Hogiet_ or piece of Paper subscribed by the _Cadi_, if they have
acquired them by their Mony, or that they were their Fathers before
them.
The _Dervises_ generally are Melancholy, and place the greatest part
of their Religion in Abstinence and other Severities. Some cut their
Flesh, others vow not to speak for six or seven Years, or all their
Lives long, tho' never so much provoked or distressed. Their Garments
are made of a course sort of Wool or Goat's Hair: They are tied up by
the Vow of their Order ever from Marrying. Several of this Sect in the
heighth of their Religious Phrenzy have attempted upon the Lives of the
Emperors themselves, (at whose Government they have taken disgust) as
_Mahomet_ the second, and _Achmet_, as if such desperate Attempts were
fatal to Bigots in all Religions.
They pay a mighty Veneration to any Relique of _Mahomet_, his Banner
is still preserved in the Treasury of the _Seraglio_, and is look'd
upon as the great Security of the Empire. They believe that it was
sent from Heaven, and conveyed into the Hands of _Mahomet_, by the
Angel _Gabriel_, as a Pledge and Sign of Success and Victory in
his Battels against the _Christians_, and all other Enemies of the
_Musulman_-Faith. It was sent to _Candia_ to encourage the Soldiers
to endure the fatigue of that long and tedious Siege; and when it was
brought thence after the Surrendry of that City, to be deposited
in its usual Place, the _Vizir_ gave several _Christian_ Slaves,
that row'd in the Galley that was fraught with this Holy Ware, their
Liberty. They pretend to have some Rags of _Mahomet_'s Vest, to
which they ascribe great Virtue. In confidence of which, the Emperor
_Achmet_, in the time of a great Fire which raged at _Constantinople_,
when all other means fail'd, dipt part of them in Water to be sprinkled
upon the Fire to rebate the Fury of it.
Next to the _Mufti_ or _Cadaleskires_ are the _Mollas_, of which these
four are the chiefest in Dignity. The Molla of _Galata_, _Adrianople_,
_Aleppo_, _Prusa_; and after them are reckoned these eight, _Stambol
Ephendi_, _Larissa_, _Misir_ or _Cairo_, _Sham_ or _Damascus_,
_Diarbekir_ or _Mesopotamia_, _Cutaia_, _Sophia_, _Philippi_.
The Priests have no Habit peculiar to their Profession, whereby they
are distinguish'd from others. If they are put from their Moschs for
miscarriage or neglect of doing their Duty, or if they think fit to
resign and be Priests no longer, they may betake themselves without
any Scandal to secular Employments, their former Character and Quality
wholly ceasing. While they remain Priests, they counterfeit a more than
ordinary Gravity in their Discourse and Walking: and affect to wear
Turbants swelling out, and made up with more cross folds: which was all
the difference which I could observe by their Head Attire, which is
various, tho' I could not find that this was constantly and strictly
observed.
In _Byram_ time, which is the great Festival of the Year, at which time
every one looks cheerfully and merrily, among other signs of mutual
Respect, they besprinkle one another with sweet Water. They indulge to
several Sports: and some are mightily pleased with swinging in the open
Air, the ordinary sort of People especially, paying only a few Aspers
for the diversion.
The Government is perfectly Arbitrary and Despotical; the Will and
Pleasure of the Emperor having the force and power of a Law, and
oftentimes is above it. His bare Command without any process is
enough to take off the Head of any Person, (tho' never so Eminent in
Dignity, tho' usually for formality and to silence the Murmurings of
the Soldiery and People, the Sentence is confirm'd by the _Mufti_)
sometimes _Bassa_'s who have amassed great Treasures in their
Governments, are cut off in their own Houses in the midst of their
Retinue, the Messengers of Death producing the Imperial Command,
usually sent in a black Purse, and not a Sword drawn in their Defence.
Others, if they are obnoxious to the least Umbrage or Jealousie,
tho' dismist the _Seraglio_ with all possible demonstrations of the
Grand _Signior_'s Favour, and with Rich Presents in order to take
possession of Places of great Command in the Empire, before they
have got two or three Days Journey from _Constantinople_, have been
overtaken and strangled. In the Army Commands are given according to
Merit, Courage and Conduct are sure to be rewarded, the way lying
open to the meanest Soldier to raise himself to be the chief of his
Order. But other Preferments depend upon meer Chance, and upon the
fansie of the Emperor, whether the Person be fit or no, and they are
as soon lost. The least ill Success or Miscarriage proves oftentimes
fatal, and a more lucky Man is put in his Place, and he succeeded by
a third, if unfortunate in a Design, tho' managed with never so much
Prudence and Valour. They admit of no hereditary Honours, and have
no respect to Descent or Blood, except the _Ottoman_ Family: He only
is Great and Noble, whom the Emperor favours, and while his Command
lasts. According to a tradition, that passes current among them, a
Bassa's Son by a _Sultana_ or a Daughter or Sister of the Emperor can
rise no higher than to be a _Sangiac-bei_ or Governor of some little
Province, much inferior to a Bassa and under his Jurisdiction. Being
born of Slaves for the most part, they do not pride themselves in their
Birth, very few among them being scarce able to give any account of
their Grandfathers. They have no Sirnames, but are distinguish'd by
their Possessions and places of Abode, and enjoying by Law a Liberty
of having what Women they please, they have little or no regard to
Alliance or Kindred.
Their Empire owes the continuance of its being to the severity of
the Government, which oftentimes takes place without regard either
to Justice or Equity, and to their frequent Wars, which prevent all
occasions of Mutiny and Faction among the Soldiers, which happen
frequently when unimploy'd. So that tho' Ambition may put a warlike
Sultan upon enlarging his Territories by new Conquests, yet reason
of State forces a weak and effeminate Prince, such as was _Ibrahim_,
to make War for his own Security. Their Politicks are not owing to
Books and Study and the Examples of past times, but to Experience and
the plain Suggestions of Nature and common Sense: They have Rules of
Government, which they firmly adhere to, holding the Reins strait,
especially being cruel and inexorable to Criminals of State, who never
are to expect any Mercy or Pity. Their Councils formerly were open, and
their Designs known, and proclaimed before Hand, as if this had been
a Bravery becoming their Greatness, and that they scorned to steal a
Conquest. But they have learned since the Art of dissimulation, and can
Lie and Swear for their Interest, and seem excessive in their Caresses
to the Ministers of those Countries, which they intend to Invade. But
their preparations for Arming are made with so much Noise, that an
ordinary Jealousie is soon awakened by it to oppose them, in case of
an Attack. They seldom or never care to have War at both Extremes of
the Empire at the same time, and therefore they are mighty sollicitous
to secure a Peace with _Christendom_, when they intend a War upon the
_Persians_: And as much as is possible, they avoid quarrelling with two
Christian Princes at once, being usually at League either with _Poland_
and _Muscovy_, when they War upon _Hungary_, and so on the contrary;
dreading nothing more than an Union of the _Christian_ Princes,
bordering upon them, which would prove so fatal to their Empire, and
quickly put a Period to their Greatness. For hereby they would be
put upon a necessity of making a defensive War to their great Loss
and Disadvantage, and at last either be forced to beg a Peace of the
_Christians_, or run the hazard of losing all, by a further Prosecution
of War.