^pWpRP^ 



Chap. XJ. Grand Seignor's Seraglio. 57 



CHAP. XI. 



A Subtle Expedient, whereby the Grand Seignor 

 exercifes great Liberalities^and meddles not at all 

 with his Revenues. 



The Principal Heads. 



Tin Commendable Policy of the Turks. The Ceremonies attending the 

 Trejents 7 fent by the Grand Seignor, to thofe Tbhom.he would ho- 

 nour. The particular way us'd by Mahomet the Fourth, to 

 frelo himfelf liberal, witlmtt my charge to him/elf. Formalities 

 t>bfer<v'd at the Death of the BaiTa's, who are fir angled by the 

 Prince's orders. When, and holo they Jlrike off the Head in 

 Turkey. A prohibition againji Jhedding the blood of the Ma- 

 humetans, who are condemn* d to death. The Inventories of the 

 Goods of BafTa's deceas'd, not faithfully taken. The caufes indu- 

 cing the Turks to defie Death with fo much constancy. How 

 iff cult it is to get out of Turkey. Prefents made to the Sul- 

 tanefles. 



TH E Two expedients which the Grand Seignor makes ufe of to augment his 

 Treafury, befides what comes in by the ordinary revenues of the Empire,arc 

 much of the fame nature, with thofe he ufes, to beftow great largeffes, with- 

 out disburfing any thing himiHC He makes his advantages of all * the Baf- 

 fas arc as fo many fpunges, and he fqueezes them, as well wMe they arc living, as 

 when they are dead, and at their coft, aflignes recompences to thofe, who have done 

 him fomc acceptable fervice. Let us take things in order, one after another,.and (hew 

 in the rirft place, how he manages his fubtle defign, while the Baffas are living, in 

 getting out of them whcrewithall to make ample gratifications, without any diminu- 

 tion of his Revenues. 



Amongft the Political maximes of the Ottoman Monarchs, this is one of the meft 

 remarkable. They would have the Buffo's to be refpeded in their feveral Governments, 

 by the People, as much as if they were there themfelves in Perfon : and to make a 

 greater, and more lively impreilion of that veneration in their minds, they think it fit- 

 ting, to honour them, from time to time, with fome Prefent, which is carried to them 

 with much Ceremony. This Prefent,which is a certain demonstration of the Efteem, 

 which the Prince has for the Perfon to whom he fends it, is commonly fome rich Gar- 

 ment •> and when he is willing to make it compleat, he adds the Sabre, and the Pon- 

 yard, garnifh'd and adorn'd with precious (tones. The Grand Seignor, upon the con- 

 tideration before-mentioned, finding himfelf as it were oblig'd to make a Prefent to 

 that Baffa, knowes well enough, that he will be fure, on the other fide, to fend him 

 one which (hall be worth ten times as much, and to make another to his Envoy,which 

 he mult look on as a recompence of his Services. 



/. 



But it is not alwayes the Grand Seignor's defign, by fuch Preients, to honour the 

 BaJJfa, and keep the People the more in fubjeCtion to him. It happens many times, 



that 



