I 
Part 1. Travels into /i?^ L e v a n t. 83 
Wedding, for fear of being feen. The Greeks zxt married by aPriefl, as the 
Latins are, and give a Ring in the fame manner , But over and above that, they 
have fomething that the Latins have not ; for they take a Godfather and God- Father and 
mother, to whom they prefent fome wrought Handkerchief; at leaft, 1 had JJ°|!j Jj^j^ "^'^^ 
one prefented to me, when once I was chofen for a Godfather. The Godfather ' ^ ' 
and Godmother prefent thenifelves before a P^/j^j, with the Bridegroom and 
Bride ; and while the Papas fays fome Prayers, the Godfather and Godmother 
hold a Garland of Flowers, interlaced with Orpine, over the Heads of the 
couple that are to be married, and a Pall over that: When Prayers are faid, 
the Bridegroom and Bride holding one another by the hand, turn feveral 
times, while the Father and Mother who give them have hold of them behind ; 
then a glafs of Wine is brought, of which the Bridegroom drinks a little, and 
then the Bride ; then the Bridegroom drinks again, which the Bride pledges ; 
and then the glafs is given to the Prieft, v;ho merrily drinks off the reft, and 
breaking the glafs, fays. So may the Bridegroom breaks the Virginity of the Bride. 
All things elfe are done as among Koman Catholicks. As to their Cuftoms and The Manners 
ways of living, they are much like the Turks, but more wicked. The um^jof theGreeh. 
are covetous , perfidious and treacherous , great Pedereafts, revengeful to 
extremity, but withal very fupcrilitious, and great Hypocrites ; and, indeed, 
they are lb defpifed by the Turks, that they value not even a 6'yff^that turns 
Turk. They are far greater Enemies to Roman Catholicks themfelves, than 
the Turks are \ and if it lay only in their power to hinder us from becoming ■ 
Mailers of the Turkifh Countries, we need never exped it. Their Women are 
beautiful, but a little to fat, and very proud. 
The Jews in Tiirkie are cloathed as the Turks are, fave that they dare not The AppareJ 
wear Green, nor a white Turban, nor red Vefts; they wear commonly a of the Jews. 
Violet colour, but are obliged to wear a Violet Cap, fhaped like a Hat, and of 
the fame height j and fuch as can reach to the price of a Turban, have one 
round their Cap below. They ought alfo to wear their Meftes and Pabouthes 
of a Violet colour. I need fay nothing of their Religion, iincc it is fully 
contained in the Old Teftament and Talmud : But as to their Manners , they The Manners 
are the fame in all places, that is to fay, as great Cheats in IW^V, as in of the Jews. 
Italy ; and their thoughts run upon nothing elfe but deviling and finding 
out taxes and tricks to vex Chriftians or Turks. They are in all places 
defpifed and ill ufed by all People. In the whole extent of the Tnrkîjh 
Empire, all Male Chriftians and Jews who are Subjedsto the Grand Signior, 
pay the yearly Karadae, which is a Tribute of four Piaftres and a half The /r^y^j^s 
a Head : They begin to pay this Tribute, when they are Nine years of Age ; which the 
but the Chriftian Priefts and Monks are exempted from it, and fo are the ^^^^^ ^'^^^ 
Jewilh Rabins ; the Women alfo pay nothing. This brings in a great Re- 
venue to the Grand Si^nior ^ and no body can avoid it by often changing 
Habitation ; for whatfoever place they come at when they Travel, their 
Karadge is demanded ^ if they have paid it for that year in another place, 
they muft produce an Acquittance -, but if they have none to fliew, they muft 
pay it, and take a Note or Acquittance to ferve them in other places. Seeing 
none but the Subjeds of the Grand Stgnior pay that Tribute , the Jews of 
Chriftendom pay it not when they are in Tnrkie. And to ihew that they are 
not liable to it, they wear a Hat, and have a good Certificate from a Conful, 
that they are of fuch a place in Chriftendom. 
CHAP. 
