Miscellanea Curiosa, Vol. 3 · Royal Society
FOOTNOTES:
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.
This they are very sensible of, and therefore as they take all occasion to promote Quarrels and Dissentions in _Hungary_ and _Transylvania_, so they greatly rejoyce, when the Princes of _Christendom_ are at War one with another. This is their great time of Advantage, and they know that it is their true Interest to pursue it, tho' they do not always, by reason of the ill condition of their own Affairs, make use of it. During the Civil Wars of _Germany_, the Bassa's and other Commanders of the Army were very importunate with the grand Signior, to make a War on that side, and to enlarge his Conquests as far as _Vienna_, no conjuncture having been ever so favourable to consummate such a Design, in which _Solyman_ so unhappily miscarried. They promised him an easie Victory, assuring him that the Animosities of the Princes of the Empire were so heightned, that there was no room left for a Reconciliation, that he was but to go in the Head of an Army to take Possession, and that _Austria_ would Surrender at the first News of his March towards it. The Emperor was not to be moved at that time by these Insinuations and plausible Discourses; being continually urged, He as often denied. One day when they came to Renew their advice about the _German_ War, He having given order before, that several Dogs should be kept for some Days without Meat, commanded that they should be brought out, being almost Starved, and Meat thrown among them, whereupon they snarled and bit one another: In the midst of their Noise and Fighting, he caused a Bear to be let loose in the same Area; the Dogs forgetting their Meat, and leaving off their fighting, ran all upon the Bear, ready to Prey upon them singly, and at last killed him. This Diversion the Emperor gave his Bassa's, and left them to make the application.
Text from Project Gutenberg, public domain in the United States.