58 
Travels into, the Levant. Part 
bore: If he was a Janifary^ they puc a red Turban^ if a Spahi, a red one and 
a white, and if he be a Schertf^ a green Turban j for others, they put a white 
one. Ke is after that carried to the Burying-place, then prieHs going before, 
faying certain prayers and often calling upon the name of God j after the 
Body, comes- the Relations and Friends, then the Women, who altogether 
crie along the Streets like Mad-women, and holding a Handkerchief about 
their neck with both handsthey pull it fometimes this way, and foraetimes that 
way, as if they were out of their wits for Grief. In fine, being come to the 
Burying-place where the Corps is to de Interred, they take it out of the Coffin 
or Beer, put it into the Grave, and fo depart, leaving the Women there to 
make an end of their Mufick. If it be a Perfon of Quality, his Horfes are led 
Horfes led at in ftate. Now the difference of the Turkifh Graves and thofe of the Chriftians 
Funerals. of the Country in the infide, is this, that after the Turks have put their Dead 
into the Grave, they lay over a floaping Board, one endof it being fet in the bot- 
tom of the Grave, and the other leaning on the upper end of the fame above 
fo that it covers the Body, which the Chriftians of the Country do not j but 
The ufe of neither of the two Bury their Dead in Coffins. When the Grave is filled up,they 
t'^^^'^one a ftone over the head of the deceared,to ferve for a feat to the Angels w ho 
Graves ^'^ examine him, that they may be the milder to him ^ but the Richer have 
Tombs of Marble rais'd as ours are, with a Stone, whereon the Turban of the De 
ceafed is cut. Somtimesthey ered a Stone at the Head, with a Turban of Stone 
like to that the Deceafed wore,and another at his Feet, with hisEpitapth. Their 
Burying-places are always without the Town, that the Air might not be In- 
fedled by the corrupt Vapours that rife out of the Graves ; and that was always 
obferved by the Ancients. For the fame reafon thofe of the Turks are diftin<ft 
from thofe of the Chriftians \ and the Turks Burying-places are commonly 
by the Highway fides, that Travellers may remember to pray to God for 
them, and wilhthem happinefs and upon the very fame account, they who 
build a Bridge or any other publick work, are commonly Buried upon or near 
it, that they may have the Prayers of the PalFengers. There are fo many 
great Stones eredled in fome of thefe Burying-places, that they might ferve to 
build a Town. Now after they have Interred their dead, the Relations and Fri- 
ends for feveral days come and pray upon the Grave, befeechingGod to deliver 
the Deceafed from the Torture of the Black Angels, and calling to him, bid 
him not be afraid, but anfwer them ftoutly ; and the Women alfo with their 
acquaintance, come and fpend feveral hours there, nay, fometimes half a day 
in bewailing the Dead, as they did at home in the Houfe; fo that a Man who 
were not informed of this, and faw them in that pofture, would make do doubt 
Viflualsand but they were Mad-women. Oïi Friday vcan^ bring Viduals and Drink, which 
Drink upon they leave upon the Graves, and Travellers may freely eat and drink there. 
i^^^y ^^^^ ^^^^ ^^"^^ ^^^^^ "^^y P^^y Blelfing on him, 
tiie Dead. ^^^^^ ^^^^ ^^^^ charity is given. 
CHAP. XLIV. 
A Summary of the Humour of the TurJ^ 
Humour of TTAving defcribed at length the Cuftoms and Pradices of the Turks, it 
the Turks, will be fit in this place to make a little Recapitulation, and in a few 
words reprefent their Nature and Manners. In Chriftendom many think that 
the Turks are Devils, Barbarous, and men of no Faith and Honeftty, but fuch 
as know them, and have converfed with them, have a far different opinion ; 
for it is certain, the Turks are good People, and obferve very well that com- 
mand of Nature; not to do to others, but what we would have others to 
do to us. When I fpeak here of Turks, I underftand Natural Turks, and 
not 
