556 TURKEY IN EUROPE. 



principle of their religion, which forbids them the use of wine ; though 

 in private many of them indulge themselves in strong liquors. Their 

 common salutation is by an inclination of the head, and laying their 

 right hand on their breast. They sleep in linen waistcoats and drawers, 

 Upon mattresses, and cover themselves with a quilt. Few or none of 

 the considerable inhabitants of this vast empire have any notion of 

 walking or riding either for health or diversion. The most religious 

 among them find, however, sufficient exercise when they conform 

 themselves to the frequent ablutions, prayers, and rites, prescribed 

 them by Mahomet. 



Their active diversions consist in shooting at a mark, or tilting it 

 with darts, at which they are very expert. Some of their great men 

 are fond of hunting, and take the field with numerous equipages, 

 which are joined by their inferiors; but this is often done for political 

 purposes, that they may know the strength of their dependents. With* 

 in doors the chess or draught-boards are their usual amusements j 

 and if they play at chance games, they never bet money, that being 

 prohibited by the Koran. 



Dress.. ..The men shave their heads, leaving a lock on the crown? 

 and wear their beards long. They cover their heads with a turban, 

 and never put it off but when they sleep. Their shirts are without 

 collar or wristband, and over them they throw a long vest, which they 

 tie with a sash, and over the vest they wear a loose gown somewhat 

 shorter. Their breeches, or drawers, are of a piece with their stock- 

 ings ; and instead of shoes they wear slippers, which they put off 

 when they enter a temple or house. They suffer no Christians, or 

 others who are not Turks, to wear white turbans. The dress of the 

 women differs little from that of the men, only they wear stiffened caps 

 upon their heads, with horns something like a mitre, and wear their 

 hair down. When they appear abroad, they are so muffled up as not 

 to be known by their nearest relation. Such of the women as are 

 virtuous, make no use of paints to heighten their beauty, or to dis- 

 guise their complexion ; but they often tinge their hands and feet with 

 Senna, which gives them a deep yellow. The men make use of the 

 same expedient to colour their beards. 



Marriages... Marriages in this country are chiefly negotiated by 

 the ladies. When the terms are agreed on, the bridegroom pays 

 down a sum of money, a license is taken out from the cadi, or proper 

 magistrate, and the parties are married. The bargain is celebrated, 

 as in other nations, with mirth and jolity; and the money is generally 

 emploved in furnishing the house of the young couple. They are 

 not allowed by their law more than lour wives, but they may have as 

 many concubines as they can maintain. The wealthy Turks, therefore, 

 besides their wives, keep a number of women in their harams, or, as 

 they are improperly called in Europe, their seraglios. But all these 

 indulgences are sometimes insufficient to restrain their unnatural de- 

 sires. 



Funerals. ..The burials of the Turks are decent. The corpse 

 is attended by the relations, chanting passages from the Koran ; and 

 after being deposited in a mosque (for so they call their temples) 

 it is buried in a field by the iman, or priest, who pronounces a funeral 

 sermon at the time of the interment. The male relations express 

 their sorrow by aims and prayers ; the women by decking the tomb 

 op certain days with flowers and green leaves; and, in mourning for 



