*^i— » ^ . / 



Chap, VIII. Grand Seignors SepvAglio. 



rohonouraBaff*, he fends him one of thofe Swords, or one of thofe Sabres with a 

 Veft of Gold-Brockado, lin'd with fome rich Fur. But thefc fumptuous Pieces do but 



pafs to and tro, in as much as that upon the death of the Baffas, whofe Eftates fall to 

 the Grand Seignor, and confeqnently are brought into the Seraglio, they are ftill found 

 again intheTreafury,as in their Centre. 



There are yet other Coffers fill'd with Amber-greece, MW^, the precious Wood call'd r ™ff Alm 

 Lignum Aloes, and Sandalwood. There is a certain fort of this Lignum Aloes, which T^kci; " 

 is worth a thoufand Crowns the pound, according as it is fat, or Oyly, the molt Oy- 

 ly being always the belt, and the Turks are very expenfive in this Aloes Wood. When 

 fome perfons come to vifit them, and aflbon as they are fate down, it is their cultom 

 to prefent them with a Pipe of Tobacco,' with fome Lignum Aloes in it, which is done 

 after this manner. They take of that Wood, according to the oylinefs of it, and con- 

 fequently its making a greater fumigation, the quantity of a Pea, or a fmall' Bean, and 

 after they have moiiten'd it a little, they put it over a few Coals in a Chafing-dilh in 

 a kind of Perfuming-pot, which they prefent, one after another, to all the Company. 

 There comes out a thick Steam, or Exhalation, wherewith every one perfumes his 

 Head, and his Beard, and fometimes the in-fide of his Turbant, after which he lifts 

 up his hands on high, crying Elmendela, that is to fay, Thanks be to Cod. But before 

 they prefent them with the Perfuming-pot, there is fome Role-water brought in a Vef - 

 IB of Gold, or Silver, according to the Quality of thole who make the Vilit. This 

 Veffel is commonly a foot in height, the lower part of it being about the bignefs of a 

 mans fift, and from thence growing gradually {mailer and fmaller to the top of it, 

 which is about the bignefs of ones little finger. At the top of it there is a little hole' 

 out of which comes the Rofe-water, wherewith they Waft their hands and races, and 

 then hold them over the fuffumigation of the Lignum Aloes, which not only dries up 

 the water, butalfo (ticks fo much thedoier to the hair of the Head and Beard. 



There are alfo in thofe Coffers abundance of Aromatical Simples , and precious 

 Drugs, Besoar-Sones, and ftores of Mafiicl^ wherewith the SultaneJJes^ and the young 

 Maids of the Seraglio pafs away their time. They have of it perpetually in their 

 Mouths, and this Majrkk. fweetens the Breath, and cleartfb the Teeth, upon which 

 (core they are the better belov'd. 



There may be feen alfo In the fame Chamber, arid in other Goffers, abundance of 

 Plate, both Gold and Silver, which is never us'd, the Grand Seignor having other 

 pieces, for his ordinary ufe, in the Kilar, whatever is ferv'd up to his own Table be- 

 ing altogether in Pourcelaifi, 



There are, amongft other Pieces, fcveral Bafins and Ewers, whereof fome are en- Ba fins of a man 

 rich'd with feveral forts of precious Stones. Thofe Bafins are of a faihion more com- cm ^ odieus 

 modious than that of ours, and it is an evident Mark of the cleanlincfs of the Leva/i-^* * than - 

 tines. They are round, and about half a foot in depth, andcover'd as it were with 

 a Plate or Server, full of little holes, which makes the concavity of it of equal height 

 with the fides, and (b hides the dirtinefs of the water which lies at the bottom of it. 

 They do not rife after their refe&ion, in Turkey, till they have wafliM their Mouths 

 and their Hands, to do which they bring you Soap and warm Water ; and amongft 

 Perfons of Quality, they prefent Rofe-water, or fome other fvvect Water, into which 

 you put the corner of yourHandkercher. 



They have alfo in thofe Coffers great Tapers, or Wax-Candles of above two foot Tapers oft kind 

 in length, made of a certain very dear compolition, of a grcyilh colour, which has $*** °f e mi 

 fome refemblance to Wax, and is brought out of Ethiopia, every Taper amounting to valftt% 

 near a hundred Crowns. They are not us'd but only when the Grand Seignor goes to 

 vifit the Sultanejfes , and then there are two of thofe Tapers lighted, and fet in 

 great golden Candlefticks, enrich'd with precious Stones. When they are a little above 

 half burnt out, the Negro-Eunuchs, who ferve in the Haran, light others, and, out 



of ; 



