is a market for slaves of both sexes, and the principal merchants who bring them for sale. Jews are the No foreigner is allowed to reside in the city itself, not even the minister of a friendly nation. Constantinople is surrounded by walls of freestone, and flanked by 478 towers; it has also twenty gates, six on the land side, and seven each toward the harbour and the sea. The Turks are generally robust, well-shaped, and of a good mien. They are grave, sedate, and passive; but, when agitated by passion, they are furious, raging, and ungovernable; full of dissimulation, suspicious, and vindictive beyond conception; in matters of religion, tenacious, superstitious, and morose. They shave their heads, but wear long beards, except those in the seraglio and military men. The turban worn by the men is white, and never put off but when they sleep; and their clothes are long and full. They sit, eat, and sleep, on the floor, on cushions, mattrasses, and carpets. Their principal food is rice; and the frugal repast is followed by fruit and cold water, which are succeeded by hot coffee and pipes with tobacco. With opium they procure what they call a kief, or placid intoxication. Chess and draughts are favourite games with the Turks; and the coffeehouses and baths furnish other sources of amusement. Their active diversions consist in shooting at a mark and tilting with darts, at which they are very expert; and some of high rank are fond of hunting. The wealthy Turks have several wives, but the fair sex are kept under a rigorous confinement. The Turks believe in one God, and that his great prophet is Mohammed. Drinking wine is prohibited by this pro phet in the Koran; and instead of it, they generally use sherbet, a liquor made of honey, spices, and the juice of fruits. The morals of the Asiatic Turks are said to be of a higher and nobler character than those of the Europeans. The Turks expend great sums on caravansaries and fountains, for the refreshment of travellers and labourers, and are charitable toward strangers, let their religion be what it will; and no nation suffers adversity with greater patience than they. The Greeks, who compose a large portion of the inhabitants of Turkey in Europe (the ancient Greece), profess the Christian religion; they are in stature about the middle size, strong and well made. They are gay, witty, and crafty; exercise various trades, and apply to maritime affairs. The Emperor of Turkey, or grand seignior, is absolute master of the goods and lives of his subjects, insomuch that they are little better than slaves. The grand vizier is the chief next the emperor; but it is a dangerous place. The Turks have always very numerous armies on foot, the chief of which were, till within a short time past, the janizaries, but they have been disbanded, and regular troops raised. Their navy, which is laid up at Constantinople, used to consist of about forty large ships; but, in time of war, auxiliary ships are received from Algiers, Tunis, and Tripoli. In general, the Turks are an indolent race, and disinclined to industry and trade. They content themselves with manufacturing cottons, stuffs, carpets, leather, and soap; and the most valuable of their commodities, such as silk, a variety of drugs, and dyeing stuffs, are generally exported without giving them much additional value by their labour. |