THE SERAGLIO. 253 



good-looking, but not strikingly so. One of them, 

 in particular, leant her head upon her hand and 

 appeared very melancholy. These are a superior 

 description of person ; they doubtless feel the 

 humiliation of being exhibited for sale, but I 

 doubt much if they care about the actual state 

 of slavery itself, because with a good master they 

 are happy. It is said, that Circassians occa- 

 sionally bring their nearest and dearest relations 

 to be sold in the slave-maket ; but I believe this is 

 incorrect, and that the generality of Circassians that 

 are sold as slaves are carried oiF as prisoners in 

 petty warfare amongst themselves. I observed 

 several very fine-looking fellows, who appeared to 

 have something to do with the slaves, and, upon 

 inquiry, Ilearnt they were Circassians. 



There is no difficulty in obtaining admittance 

 to the outer court of the Seraglio. We went into 

 the second court likewise. There is nothing very 

 remarkable in either, except, in the first, the stone 

 upon which Ali Pasha's head was exposed, and 

 in the second, the rooms where the ambassadors 

 used formerly to be received, and feasted in the 

 greatest possible Eastern splendour, previous to 

 being admitted to the presence of the sultan. 



