Chap.XI. Grand Seignors Seraglio. 



them, by a moft fubtle piece of Politicks \ and they believe, That, if they dye by the 

 Command of their Prince, they go ftreight into Paradife. 



As for the opportunity of making an efcape out of Turkey, by any one who might 

 have fome prefentiment of his destruction, it is to no purpofe to think of it. All the 

 Officers, and the Slaves, whom the Baffas have in their Retinue, are fo many Spies, 

 and obfervers of their Actions i and it is impolTible for them, to conceal what they do 

 from them. Twere dangerous for a man to entruft a Secret with any one of them i 

 they are mean Souls, and uncapablc of any gallant Action , befides that the Ports and 

 Partages are equally (hut up again!! both. If there be the leaft difcovery made thereof, 

 the Governour of the Frontier places would immediately have Orders from the Port' 

 to take the Field ■■» nay if there were not any fuch, they are but over-diligent, in en- 

 quiring after, and informing themfelves of all thofe, who pafs through the extent of 

 their Jurifdiction. 



Befides, though there were fome likelihood of comparting it, and that, travelling 

 only in the Night time, a man might get into fome Neighbouring State;, yet Turkey 

 being in a manner quite lurrounded by Nations who abhor the Domination of the 

 Ottomans -, 'twere as much as to leap out of the Frying-pan into the Fire, and to go 

 and pafs for a Spy, amongrt a fort of people, who would give no quarter. Whence it 

 might be imagined, that there were lefs difficulty in attempting an efcape by Sea, than 

 to hazard it by land : but the former is the much more difficult, and the fevere prohi- 

 bitions made to the Cbrijiians, upon pain of death, not to take any Tur\ or Slave, into 

 their Ships, which are exactly fearch'd, before they weigh Anchor, (hut up all the 

 Ports of Turkey-) agaihft thole of the Country,who might be defirous to get out of it. 



True it is, however, that few years pafs, but that a confiderable number of Slaves 

 are convey'd away, by the charity and contrivances of the Chrifiian Confuls, and Mer- 

 chants. They are fecretly kept at the Houfes of fome Cbrijhan Inhabitants of the Coun- 

 try, whole fecrecy and filence are bought with Mony -, and the fame receipt flops the 

 mouths of thole, who have the over-light of the Ports, and are warmly entertain'ct 

 with drinking, while they cunningly get the Slaves aboard the VefTel, which has been 

 vifited, and is then ready to let fail. They would be loath to run themfelves into that 

 danger for natural Turks : there would be fome ground to fear, that it might be fome 

 Plot on their fide, to furprize and try the Chriflians ; and it leldom happens that they 

 have a thought of making any efcape. They know well enough, that, whether it be 

 by Sea, or land, (excepting only the Kingdom of Perfia, where they are hated upon 

 the account of the difference of Sects) they cannot make their efcape any where but 

 into Chriftendom, where they would not be permitted the exercife of their Mabumetaa 

 Religion, which they would not renounce for a thoufand lives. 



E're we dole up the Difcourle concerning the Liberality of the Ottoman Monarchs, p re f ents m ^ e 

 it is to be oblerv'd, That fometimes they make very confiderable Prefents, which they to the Sultanefi 

 take out of the Grand Treafury,- and which are paid in Silver only, if they are order'd fis. 

 for the Grandees of the Port, whether in the Seraglio, or cut of it. Thole Prefents 

 confifts ordinarily of a Purlè of Gold, which amounts to Fifteen thoufand Ducats, or 

 Thirty thoufand Crowns » and when there are any fuch made to the Sultanejfes, they 

 receive all in Gold. To do that, there's no occafion of going to the Secret Treafury, 

 there is gold enough in the Fourth Chamber, into which they at firft bring in all the 

 Gold and Silver of all the Revenues of the Empire -, and that Summe, which makes no 

 great hole in the great heap, returns again into the fame place, by feveral waies. 



61 



The Difficulties 

 of making an 

 F.fcape out of 

 Turkey. 



ï 1 



CHAP. 



