Chap. XI. Grand Seignor's Seraglio. 



57 



CHAP. XL 



A Subtle Expedient, whereby the Grand Seignotf 

 exercifes great Liberalities^and meddles not at all 

 with his Revenues. 



The Principal Heads. 



Tlx Commendable ^Policy of the Turks. The Ceremonies attending thé 

 (prefents , fent hy the Grand Seignor, to thofe lohom he would ho- 

 nour. The particular way ns'd hy Mahomet the Fourth, to 

 fhelb himfelf liberal, without any charge to himfelf Formalities 

 obfernj d at the Death of the BaftVs, who are flr angled by the 

 (prince's orders. When, and ho*to they Jirike off the Head in 

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

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

 Goods of Baffa.' s deceased, not faithfully taken. The caufes indu- 

 cing the Turks to de fie Death with fo much constancy. How 

 difficult it is to get out of Turkey. Prefents made to the Su I- 

 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^are 

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

 out disburfmg any thing himfelf. He makes his advantages of all i the Baf- 

 fas are as fo many fpunges, and he fqueezes them, as well while they are living, as 

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

 him fome acceptable fervice. Let us take things in order, one after another, and fhew 

 in the firft place, how he manages his fubtle deiign, while the Baffas are living, in 

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

 tion of his Revenues. 



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

 remarkable. They would have the BaJJa's to be refpe&ed in their feveral Governments, 

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

 greater, and more lively impreffion 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 demonftration 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 ftones. The Grand Seignor, upon the con- 

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

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

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

 he muft look on as a recompence of his Services. 



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

 Baffa, and keep the People the more in fubjedtion to him. It happens many times, 



thas 



