Chap, VIII. Grand Seignor s Seraglio. 47 



Stirrups. The Sides, and the Handles of the Battle-Axes which they carry in Tri- 

 umph, are alfo cover'd with precious Stones \ and in all their Accoutremeuts, the 

 Turfy are Magnificent, and do not fpare for Money. When the Grand Seignor defigns 

 to honour a Ba(fa, he fends him one of thofe Swords, or one of thofe Sabres, with a 

 Veft cf Gold-Brockado, lin d with fome rich Fur. But thefe fumptuous Pieces do but 

 pafs to and fro, in as much as that upon the death of the Baffk\ whofe Eftates fall to 

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

 again intheTreafury,as in their Centre. 



There are yet other Coffers fill'd with Amber-greece, Mus^ the precious Wood call'd ^[fjf/j^ 

 Lignum Aloes, and Sandal-wood. There is a certain fort of this Lignum Aloes, which Turkey, 

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

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

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

 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 fumagation, the quantity of a Pea, or a fmall Bean, and 

 after they have moiften'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 God. But before 

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

 fel of Gold, or Silver, according to the Quality of thofè who make the Vifit. 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 fmaller 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 wafh their hands and faces, and 

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

 the water, but alfo (ticks fo much theclofèr to the hair of the Head and Beard. 



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

 Drugs, Bezo^r-Sones, and flores of Majlickj wherewith the Sultanejfes, and the young 

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

 Mouths, and this Majiifl^ fweetens the Breath, and cleanfes the Teeth, upon which 

 fcore they are the better belov'd. , 



There may be feen alfo in the fame Chamber, and in other Coffers, 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 Pourcelaih, 



There are, amongft other Pieces, feveral Batîns and Ewers, whereof fome are en- Bafins of ~ a mors 

 richM with feveral forts of precious Stones. Thofe Bafms are of a fafhion more com- j^^/^ 

 modious than that of ours, and it is an evident Mark of the cleanlinefs of the Lev an- 

 tines. They are round, and about half a foot in depth, and cover'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 fo 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 wafh'd 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 fweet Water, into which 

 you put the corner of yourHandkercher. 



They have alfo in thofe Coffers great Tapers, or Wax-Candles of above two foot fyers of a fynd 

 in length, made of a certain very dear compofitibn, of a greyifh colour, which has^^* °f 

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

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

 Vifit the Sultaneffes , and then there are two of thofe Tapers lighted, andfet 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 



