54 MifcellaneA Curiofa. Vol. III. 



The Grand Sigmor'^s Women are ufuallythe 

 choiceft Beauties of the ChriftianSpoils, pre- 

 fented by the Bajfa's or Tartars. The pre- 

 fent Sultana^ the Mother of the young Prince 

 Mufia^ha^ is a Candiot ; the Valide ox Em- 

 peror's Mother, a Rujfian^ the Daughter of 

 a poor Prieft, who with her Relations were 

 feized upon by the Tartars in an Incuriion, 

 which they made into the Mufcovites Coun- 

 try. . She being received into the Seraglio^ by 

 her beautiful Complexion and cunning Be- 

 haviour, gain'd the Heart and AiFeftion of 

 Sultan Jbrahim (a Man ^wholly addifted to 

 fbft Pleafures^ and who feldom cared to be long 

 abfent from the Womens Apartment^but chofe 

 to fpend his time among them) having the 

 good fortune to be the Mother of the Prince 

 Mahomet^ the eldeft Son of his Father, who 

 now Reigns, fhe had all the Honours that 

 could poffibly be done her, and was the be- 

 loved Haz^aki or chief Concubine. During 

 this heightof Splendor and Glory, the Court 

 removing from Conftantino^U to ^drianople^ 

 diftant about an Hundred and Twenty Miles, 

 as (he was palling in great State attended 

 with her Guards, through the Streets of the, 

 Ci^y, in a Coach, much like our Carriage- 

 Wagons, but that they are latticed to let in 

 the Air (for no one muft prefume to ftare 

 or icarce look upon the Women, much lefs 

 Hiuft they themfelves lufFer their Faces to be 

 feen in this jealous County) jfhe out of Curi- 

 ofity looking through the holes, faw a poor 

 Chrifiian Slave in a Shop, where Sugar and 

 fuch like Wares were Sold. Upon her return 

 ||ie fent on^ of her Eunuchs to enquire for 



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