A Relation of the Chap. X. 



had been brought in, there were many things not fit for the Service of his Highnefê, 

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

 the dufti the Prince gives his permiflion 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-bachi, or Chief of the Merchants, who is the belt skill'd in 

 thofe things, and who, in the prefènce of the Chafnadar-bacbi, and the Pages of the 

 Treafury, fets a value on every piece, to their fatisfa$ion => for he does not prize it at 

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

 ous (tones arc difpos'd into the Treafury, and they expofè to fale only things of lefs 

 value, yet fuch as are worth much, as Trappings for Horfes, Ponyards Sabres, garnilh'd 

 with Gold, garments, rich Furres, Safches, Turbants, and other things of that nature-, 

 all the pieces being valued, the Cbafnadar-bachi fêts afide the belt of them, to be fent, 

 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 for them the more wil- 

 lingly, becaufe they have them at an eafie 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 themfelves, fend away what they do not like, to be fold in Conjiantinopk r by 

 the Halvagis. wherein they alfo make a vaft advantage, confidering the apprifcment > 

 not accounting what the fame Halvagis may hedge in for themfelves, as a compeniati- 

 oii for their trouble. 



When there is fuch a fale made, the Jences are alwaies Waiting about the great Gate 

 of the Seraglio, not daring to come too near, for fear of a chaftifemcnt of the Raftina- 

 do, from the Kafigis, 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 bell: 

 bargains they can with them. Thefe fales are feldom made above once in two years, 

 snd the leaft of them does ordinarily exceed five hundred thoufànd Crowns, nay fome 

 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 Purfés 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 be tolerates that cuitome, and knows well enough, that 

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



fhi prohibition ' 'Tis upon the fame consideration, that the Grand Seignor permits a manifeft breach 

 to lend at in- ] of the Law of Mahomet, which prohibits the taking cf any intereft for money lent for 

 terefi. he fuffers the Pages and others, to lend conliderable fumes, to the Jewes, at the rate of 



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

 evafion, to ftave off the reproach which might be made to them, of their tranfgrefting 

 againft the fame prohibition. 



the Perfians The evafion is this. When they lend out money to any one, they have a Bill or 

 ill cafaifis. 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 Perfon whom they 

 lend the money to, they make him write a fécond 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 Consciences, and imagine, 

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

 Debtor makes, in writing, is not fign'dby him, it being not thecuftom of the Coun- 

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

 quifite, that they go before the Cadi 3 or the Judge of the Law, who confummates the 

 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 (hall fee in the next, the wayes 

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



: CHAP. 



