Chap.XlX. Grand Seignor s Seraglio. 93 



But to clo them all the right they deferve, the Cucumbers in the Levant are excel- 

 lently good, and, though eaten raw, they never do a man any hurt. The Story of the 

 Cucumbers which occafion'd the cruel death of Seven Pages of the Grand Seignor's 

 Chamber, is not, haply, known to all people j or at lealt all know not the reaibn,why 

 the Pajges of the Chamber are not now permitted to go into the Gardens. 



Sultan Mahomet, the fecond of that name, taking a turn in the Gardens of the Se- 

 raglio, attended by his Pages, was much furpriz'd to fee a bed of Cucumbers, which 

 lookM very (air to the eye, and were extreamly forward, ccniidering the Seafon. Be- 

 ing a great lovet of that fruit, he recommended them to the Bojlangi-bachi, who told 

 them over every day, and, with fome impatience, expected their maturity, that he 

 might prcilntthem to the Grand Seignor. Some daies after, going to Vifit the bed, 

 he found his number of Cucumbers fhorter, than it thould have been, by three or four, 

 and that they who had taken thole that were milling, had made choice of the ripeft, 

 and thereupon making a ilrict enquiry, to find out who have been guilty of that pre- 

 emption, he found that the Pages of the Chamber were the only perfons who had 

 been, that day, in the Gardens. « 



Upon that difcovery, he went and gave an account of the whole matter to the 

 Grand Seignor, who was fo highly incens'd thereat, that, not prevailing with any one 

 of the Pages to acknowledg the Theft, he, out of a cruelty as much above all credit, 

 as beyond all example, caus'd the Bellies of (even of them to be rippM up. The Theft 

 was found in the Belly of the feventh of thole unfortunate Young Men, who, after 

 the execution done on the other fix, would not acknowledge his guilt, out of hopes, 

 that the Prince's indignation would not have extended fo far. From that very time, 

 and in commemoration of fo it-range an action, the Pages of the Chamber are not per- 

 mitted to go into the Gardens of the Seraglio i what one Prince has eitabliih'd, as I 

 have hinted elfewherc, being never revok'd by his Succcifors, who bear a certain rc- 

 fped to the enactions of their AncelVors. 



In the midft of the Great Walk, which goes from the Seraglio, to the Sea-Gate a Pyramid^ 

 which looks towards Scudarct, there is a Pyramid, erected upon a fquare Pedeftal, and much rtfemblin£ 

 which four men would have much ado to fathom. About the Pedeltal they have fuf- 5S? s 

 fer'd fome bryars and thorns to grow, and it fecms to have been done out of defign, 

 to hinder peoples coming dole to it. The Pyramid, from the top to the bottom, is full 

 of Figures, whereof the heads are (truck offi and it may be conjectur'd by fome re- 

 mainders, that there was a very noble head on the top of it, as being the Matter-piece 

 of the work. This Pyramid fomewhat refembles Trajan s Pillar at Home > and fome, 

 who have fcen both, imagine, they were the work of the fame Malter. 



All the Fountains of the Gardens have their Bafins of Marble, of different colours. Voxntains\ 

 Near each of them, there is a little Scaffold, furrounded with Ballifters, which they 

 fpread with rich Carpets, and Brocado-Cufhions, when the Sultan comes to take his 

 walk there : and 'tis only at that time, the Waters play \ which Diverfion he frequent- 

 ly gives the PrinccfTcs, who bear him company. 



There are appointed for the culture of thefe Gardens two thoufand Boftangish and The Gxrdiwsi 

 yet, though there be fo vait a number to keep them, they come far (hort of the Neat 

 Contrivances, and Imbcllilhments of ours. 



( N i ) CHAP, 



