Part 1. Travels info the hEv ant. 69 
hath been thought fo cruel, that the Turks very feldom pradice it. Thofe 
• that turn Chriltians, they Burn alive, hanging a bag of Powder about their 
reck and putting a pitched Cap upon their head. But Chriftians that do or 
fay any thing againft the Law of Mahomet^ are taken with a Turkifti Woraan,or 
go into a Mofque, are Empaled, though yet there be feme Mofques into which 
Chriftians may enter at certain hours. There are a great many other cafes, 
wherein if Chriftians do not turn Turks, they are put to death ; for a Chriftian 
may redeem his life, by making himfelf Turk, whatfoever Crime he may have 
committed j but the Turks have no way to fave theirs. 
CHAR L. 
Of the Grand SigniorV Militia. > 
"Aving treated of the Grand Signior^ and his chief Officers, we mufi: nov/ 
fpeak of the Forces that have got him fo great a Power, which he daily 
enlarges at the Coft of his Neighbours. The Grand Stgnior keeps always a 
itanduig Army, both in Peace and War, which confifting of Horfe and Foot, 
is pundually payed once in two months. The Infantry are of feveral Orders j 
he hath firlt his Cûpidgis, or Porters, v;ho are as it were the Officers and ^^./^.^-^ 
Porters of the Gra-nd Signiors Gate ; Capdgi comes from Cap^ which Hgnifies Porters.' 
Gate- Thefe Men keep the Gates of the Serraglio^ and ftand round the Grand 
i^ignior when he gives Audience, it being their part alfo to introduce others 
into the Princes prefence, and hold them by the arms fo long as they are there. 
When the Grand Stgnior has a mind to have the Head of any Man that is out of 
Confiantinoplej he fends a Capàgi for it ; they are in all three thoufand, and 
have a Head, called the Cafidgi B.ijlia, though fometimes they have more than 
one, according as the Grand Stgnior pleafes: Their Head-attire is a Cap, 
with a Cone half a foot long, faftened to it before. The Solaques are alfo tire of the 
of the Infantry, and are the Grand Signior's Garde du corps, or Life-guard, 
for they attend the Grand Signior when he goes abroad in the City. Thefe g"!"^?""' 
Blades, when they march in Ceremony, wear a DoUman, with Hanging-fleeves, oush^to^^t 
tuckt up under the Girdle, fo that one may fee their Shirts, which are always ceed to the 
clean and neat ; their Cap is of a pretty fluff, ending in a point, in which Officers, 
they flick Feathers in form of a Crefl ^ they have a Bow hanging over their 
Arm, and the Quiver full of Arrows on the right Shoulder, always ready to 
draw an Arrow, if it be needful. They are called Solaqiies^ ; that is to fay, 
left-handed Men, becaufewhen they are to fhoot their Arrows, thofe who zre sokque , a 
on the Grand Signior'^s right Hand, draw the Bow-ftring with the left, that Left-handed 
they may not turn their back upon him. But the chief of the Infantry, are 
tkç Janiz,aries^ who are partly Children of Tribute, (though they take but a^^- 
few at prefent) brought to Confiantinople, where the wittieft are fhut up for '"^ " ^* 
feven years time in the Serraglio to learn their Exercifes j and according as 
they have Parts and Courage, they are preferred to Places; but the duller 
fort are made Janiz.aries^ yiagemglans, or Bofiangis. Every fifth year this 
Tribute is colleded. The Janiz^aries are then, partly Children of Tribute, 
partly Volunteer Renegadoes (who are very numerous j andfomefew natural 
Turks. This Militia was firfl inftituted by Othomanox Oz.man^ Son of Ortogule, TheInftiÉutî 
the firft Emperourof the Turks. It is a body of Men, fo powerful not only on of the j^- 
for their number (for befides the Janiz.arics of the Port, who are twelve thou- nixarks. 
fand, and are difperfed over all the Provinces of the Empire, there are others 
in very great numbers) but alfo for the Privileges anciently given to them, 
and the great Union that is among them, calling one another Brothers, and 
not fuffering the leafl injury to be done to the meanefl of their Body, who do 
whatfoever they pleafe, and none but their Officers dare to lift up a hand 
• againft 
