Vol. III. MifcelUneaCumfa. 77 



dier to raife himfelf to be the chief of his 

 Order. But other Preferments depend up- 

 on meer Chance, and upon the fanfie of the 

 Emperor, whether the Perfon be fit or no, 

 and they are as foon loft. The leaft ill Suc- 

 cefs or Mifcarriage proves oftentimes fatal^ 

 and a more lucky Man is put in his Place, 

 and he fucceeded by a third, if unfortunate 

 in a Defign, tho' managed with never fb 

 much Prudence and Valour. They admit of 

 no hereditary Honours, and have no refpeft 

 to Defcent or Blood, except the Ottoman 

 Family : He only is Great and Noble, whom 

 the Emperor favours, and while his Com- 

 mand lafts. According to a tradition, that 

 pafles current among them, a BaflVs Son by 

 a Sultana or a Daughter or Sifter of the Em- 

 peror can rife no higher than to be a Sangiac^ 

 hei or Governor of fome little Province, much 

 inferior to a BalTa and under his Jurifdiclion- 

 Being born of Slaves for the moft part, they 

 do not pride themfelves in their Birth, very 

 few among them being fcarce able to give any 

 account of their Grandfathers. They have no 

 Sirnames, but are diftinguifti'd by their Pof- 

 feflions and places of Abode, and enjoying 

 by Law a Liberty of having what Women 

 they pleafe, they have little or no regard to 

 Alliance or Kindred. 



Their Empire owes the continuance of its 

 being to the feverity of the Government, 

 which oftentimes takes place without regard 

 cither to Juftice or Equity, and to their fre- 

 quent Wars, which prevent all occafions of 

 Mutiny and Fadion among the Soldiers, 

 which happea frequently when uaiinploy'd. 

 - ' ~ So 



