74 MifcelUnea Curiofa. Vol. III. 



and uncultivated ; fo that their Sloth herein 

 Ibmetimes is juftly punifhed with Dearths. 



They have nothing to flievv for their Hou- 

 fes and PofTeflior, but an Hvgiet or piece of 

 Paper fubfcribed by the Cadi^ if they have 

 acquired them by their Mony, or that they 

 were their Fathers before them. 



The Dervifes generally are Melancholy, 

 and place the greateft part of their Religion 

 in Abilinence and other Severities. Some 

 cut their Flefh, others vow not to fpeak for 

 fix or feven Years, or all their Lives long, 

 tho' never fo much provoked or dillrefled. 

 Their Garments are made of a courfe fort of 

 Wool or Goat's Hair : They are tied up by 

 the Vow of their Order ever from Marrying. 

 Several of this Seft in the heighth of their 

 Religious Phrenzy have attempted upon the 

 Lives of the Emperors themfelves, (atwhofe 

 Government they have taken difguft) as 

 Mahomet the fecond, and Achmet^ as if fuch 

 dejfperate Attempts were fatal to Bigots in all 

 Religions, 



They pay a mighty Veneration to any Re- 

 lique of Mahomet^ his Banner is ftill pre- 

 ferved in the Treafiiry of the Seraglio^ and is 

 looked upon as the great Security of the 

 Empire. They believe that it was fent from 

 Heaven, and conveyed into the Hands of 

 Mahomet^ by the Angel Gabriel^ as a Pledge 

 and Sign of Succefs and Viftory in his Bat- 

 tels againft the Chrifiians^ and all other Ene- 

 mies of the Mufttlman-¥ ^it\\.^ It was fent to 

 Candia to encourage the Soldiers to endure 

 the fatigue of that long and tedious Siege; 

 and when it was brought thence after the 



Sur-» 



