Travels into the Levant, 
Part I 
Men and Women, but Free-women are not permitted to do fo *, for they are 
to be covered all over when they pray, unlefs it be one half of the Cheek and 
Chin. This is the difference betwixt the Ceremonies of the Men, and of the 
Women, when they pray j the Men lift up their Hands to their Shoulders, 
fay Allah ekber^ and then lay them on their Navil j the Women lift them up 
but half way to their Shoulders, and then lay them upon their Breafts, faying 
their Prayers as the Men do, and performing their Ablutions in the fame man-'' 
ner. When Prayers are ended, all both Men and Women bow, firft to the 
^■^•^3*^ I^^vo- right fide, and then to the left, as faluting the two Angels Kerim Kiatib. In 
Turks Ihort, none can be more Devout than they are, for when they are in the Molque 
they pray fo affedionately, that they turn neither this way nor that way whan 
ever may happen: And in my time, a Fire breaking out one Night of the 
Ramadan in Cofifianttnople at the hour of Prayer, a Renegado told me next day, 
that thofe who were at that time in the fame Mofque where he was, which was 
not far from the place where the Fire was, confulted which was bell, not to 
breakofF their Prayers, or go and put out the Fire; and at length, they re- 
TheReve- folved upon the latter. They are never feen to Prattle and Talk in their 
rcnce i)f the Mofques, where they carry themfelves always with great Reverence, and cer- 
theirlfiraw tainîy they give us a LelTon for Devotion. There are but few who go not 
1 ojquss. gygj.y prayers,^at leafl: to thofe of Noon^Quindy and Ackjcham j for many 
perform the other two at Home ; nor does Travelling excufe them, for when 
they know that it is about the hour of Prayer, they flop in the Fields near to 
fome Water, and having drawn Water in a tinned Copper-Pot, which they 
carry always purpofely about with them, they do the Ahdejl, then fpread a 
little Carpet upon the ground, without which they never Travel, and fay 
their Prayers upon it. They have Chaplets alfo, which they often fay, for 
moil part have them always in their Hand, whether it be at Home or abroad 
in the Streets, talking with their Friends, Buying or Selling, or drinking 
Coifee^ and at every Bead they turn they fay uillah, which is the Name of 
s God. 
CHAP. XXXVIII. 
Of the Chanty of the Turl^^ and the Pilgra^ 
mage to Mecha. 
Charity of 
the Turlts, 
The reafon 
why there 
are few Keg- 
gars among 
the Turks. 
Charitable 
Donations of 
the Turlis. 
npiHE Turks Fourth Command is Charity , by that Command they are 
X obliged to give yearly to the Poor, the fortieth part of their Goods j 
if they have poor Kindred, they ought to prefer them before others j if they 
have none, they fhould give their Charity to their poor Neighbours ^ and if 
they have no poor Neighbours, they give it to the firft they meet. This Com- 
mand is not ill obferved among the Turks, for they are very charitable, and 
very willingly help the wretched, without minding Religion, whether they 
be Turks, Chriftians or Jews. I will not fay, that the Charity alone of the 
Rich hinders the beggary of the Turks, there are fin my opinion j other cau- 
fes ; for moft part of the Turks have pay from the Grand Signior^ they live at 
a cheap rate, and make good chear of a fmall matter ; fo that a little Pilan, a 
bit of Meat, and a fmall portion of water, will make to them a confiderable 
Feaft : But after all, they perform great ads of charity j fome in their life- 
time relieve the Poor with their Goods ; and others at their death leave great 
Eftates for the founding of Hofpitals, building of Bridges, Kervanferrais, or 
Inns for the Caravans, bringing Water to the High-ways, and fuch other pub- 
lick Works ^ nay, many of them fee them done in their own life-time ; others 
again at their death give their Slaves their liberty: They who can't be cha- 
ritable with their Purfes, do good with their Hands, employing themfelves in 
mending 
