7^ < ~~ A Relation of the Chap. X. 



hid been brought in, there were many things not fit for the Service of his Highneft, 

 and that it were better to put them off, before they were injur'd by the moiiture or 

 the dulV, the Prince gives his permitlion for the fale thereof, and thereupon they take 

 out of the Treafury what they do not account worthy of a place there. Immediately, 

 they fend for the Bazarcan-bacbf, or Chief of the Merchants, who is the beft skill'd in 

 thofe things, and who, in the pretence of the Chafnadar-bachi , and the Pages of the 

 Treafury, lets a value on every piece, to their fatisfaction j for he docs not prize it at 

 above half the worth* All the Jewels that will bear a good price, and all the preci- 

 ous Hones arc difposM into the Treafury, and they expoie to fale only things of lets 

 value, \et luch as are worth much, as Trappings for Horfes, Ponyards Sabres, gamilh'tl 

 with Gold, garments, rich Furres, Safeties, Turbants, and other things of that nature* 

 all the pieces being valued, the Chafnadar-bachi fets afide the belt of them, to be fait, 

 together with the value fet upon them, to the principal perfons of the Seraglio, with 

 whom he is glad to hold a fair correfpondence, and they pay tor them the more wil- 

 lingly, becaufe they have them at an ealie rate. The reft is diftributed among the Pa- 

 ges, according to the valuation, and they having made choice of fuch things as they 

 will keep thcmfi#vcs, fend away what they do not like, to be fold in Conjlantimplc, by 

 the H.ihagis, wherein they alfo make a van advantage, coniidering the apprifement » 

 not accounting what the lame Halves may hedge in for themfelves, as a compeniati* 

 on for their trouble. 



When there is fuch a fale made, the Jews are al waits waiting about the great Gate 

 of the Seraglio, not daring to come too near, for fear of a chaitiicmcnt of the Baftina- 

 do, from the Kjpigis^ which they are very free to give them. They ftand in expe- 

 ctation of thefe Halvagis, with their bags full of Ducats and Ryals, and make the belt 

 bargains they can with them. Thefe fates are fcldom made above once in two years, 

 end the lead of them does ordinarily exceed five hundred thoufand Crowns, nay foms 

 have amounted to eight hundred Thoufand. The Grand Seignor is foon advertis'd, 

 what money has been rais'd by the fale, and giving orders for the difpofal of it into 

 the Treafury, he at the fame time beftows ten or twenty Purfes on the principal Of- 

 ficer, and the Pages of the Treafury. He does not make them that Prefent out of any 

 other defign, then to (hew his Grandeur, as being not ignorant of the advantages they 

 have made by the Sale : but he tolerates that cuitome, and knows well enough, that 

 fooner or later, all thofe profits will come again into the Treafury. 



rit prohibition Tis upon the fame confideration, that the Grand Seignor permits a manifeft breach 



to Uxd at In- i of the Law of Mahomet, which prohibits the taking of any intereft for money lent \ for 



ttrtfi. he fuffers the Pages and others, to lend coniiderable fumes, to the Jerves, at the rate of 



fifteen upon the hundred, intereft. And the Perfians have found cut a very pleafant 



evafion, to ftavc off the reproach which might be made to them, of iheir tranigrelling 



againft the fame prohibition. 



tht Pcrfians ^ ie eva ^on is this. When they lend out money to any one, they have a Bill or 



ill cafu/jis. Schedule made of the fum that's lent. Then they compute what the intereft will a- 

 mount to, which is commonly after the rate of twelve in the Hundred. That done* 

 they take a handkerchief, or fome old Safche, and giving it to the Pcrfon whom they 

 lend the money to, they make him write a fecond Note, upon the fcore of the intereft, 

 wherein it is expreft, that the debt is for commodities bought, and duely receiv'd.And 

 thus do they think to elude the reproaches of their own Confciences, and imagine, 

 that they do not offend againft the prohibition of Mahomet. The promife, which the 

 Debtor makes, in writing, is not fign'd by him, it being not the cultom of the Coun- 

 try, but he puts his feal to it. And yet that too is not fufficicnt, and it is further re- 

 quifite, that they go before the Cadi, or the Judge of the Law, who consummates thi 

 work, by putting his own Seal to the writing. 



I have made appear, in this Chapter, the Means and Expedients, which the Grand 

 Seignor makes ufe of, to augment his Revenues ■■> we fhall fee in the next, the waves 

 he has to exerdfe his Liberalities, without any charge at all to himfelf. 



CHAP. 



