422 TRAVELS IN AFRICA, 
The Turks are remarkable for half-meafiires. In the mathe- 
matical and marine fchool, a fubftantial and commodious build- 
ing, they are furnifhed with every thing — except inftruments 
and books ; the clafs fmall or none ; but the end of the infti- 
tution is confidered as completely anfwered, as there are profef- 
fors who meet and fmoke their pipes together. 
There are feveral Kuttub-chans^ or public libraries, among 
which the principal are thofe of St. Sophia and the Solimanie 
Jamafy ; but none fo elegant as that built by Raghib Paflia, for- 
merly Grand Wizir. The magnificent inftitutions of this great 
man being envied by the Sultan of the day, his head was the 
forfeit of his virtues. This library is an infulated building, in 
the middle of a fquare court, confifting entirely of marble, and 
very neat and convenient. A large tomb, decorated with gilt 
brafs, in which Rafhib Pafha is buried, forms the centre of the 
library. Around are numerous books, on all fubjeds, chiefly 
as ufual theology ; convenient feats and elegant carpets and 
cufhions for the readers. A librarian conftantly attends. The 
light is well difpofed, and the place perfectly quiet ; fo that I 
have no where feen a building or inftitution more complete of 
the kind. The apartment is raifed above the ground by feven 
or eight eafy fteps. Fronting the ftreet there is a fchool, 
founded by the fame Pafha. It is a convenient room, of thirty- 
five feet long and proportionate width, where about an hundred 
boys are taught to read and write, and the more fimple part of 
their theology. There is only one clafs, which attends every 
day for two hours in the morning and two in the afternoon. 
I met 
