Part î. Travels into ri^^ L e v a n t. i o i 
of the Turks than Chriftians: The Chiots make much Damask, Sattin, Taf- 
fetaes, and other Silk Stuffs, and drive a great Trade in many places with their 
Saiques. Such as neither Work nor ^Travel abroad, fpend whole days Sitting 
and Talking together under Trees. Letters are in no vogue in that Country, 
and perfound Ignorance reigns among them ; neverthelefs they have naturally 
a fharp Wit ; and are indeed-, fo great Cheats, that one hath need of both 
Eyes to deal with them. They are much given to their Pleafures, and Drun- 
kennefs^ and, in a word, they are Greeks. The Women are very Beautiful, 
and well Shaped j their Faces are as white as the fairefl; Jafmin, that they 
commonly carry on their Heads. And Ï never faw in any Country, Women 
that had fo much beauty and charmingnefs in the Face (1 fay in the Face) for 
their Breaftsare fcorched with the Sun and black,at which I have often wondred, 
feeing they take no more care to keep their Faces than their Breafts.For my part, 
I could not but Quarrel with them fometimes^that they covered nor their Breafts 
with fome Handkerchief, or other Linnen ; for if they did, nothing could be 
more lovely. Their Habit contributes much alfo to let off their , * Beauty, 
for they are always very Neat in their Drefs, wearing on their Heads very 
white Linnen , fhaped like a little Capucins Hood , fquatted at the end : 
Befides all thefe External Charms, they have fomething that is more folid, 
for they have a brisk and merry Wit, that renders them the mofi: taking 
Women in the World i but if they be Pretty, they are alfo extreamîy Vain, 
and that is a Vice infeparable from the Sex. They wear the fineft Stuffs 
that they can get, and yet it is nothing now to what it has been formerly j 
for the meaneit of them, even to the Coblers Wife, v^ould needs have love- 
ly Velvet- Shoes , that cofl five or fix Crowns, Neck-laces and Bracelets of 
Gold, and their Fingers full of Rings ; but they payed dear one dny for 
their Vanity. The Church of St. John is a Mufket (hot without the Town, A ftoryof 
upon the Sea- fide, on the Vigil of that Saints Day, there is a great Con- ti^ie Bravtries 
courfe of People at that Church, all the Ifland are there, and the Women cimu 
and Girls ftrive who fliall be fineft : This Day being come, they opened 
their Coffers, and brought out all the rich and fine Things they had, and 
fuch as had no Ornaments of their own, went and borrowed of their Friends : 
When they had Dreft themfelves to the belt Advantage they could, they 
went after Dinner to St. Johm-^ now near the Gate by which, they go to 
that Church, there is a Tower, on the top thereof was the Captain Bafl)a, 
who beheld them as they pafleci by, which did not a little puff them up. 
When the Service was over, they ftopt before the Tower as they came 
back, and there fell a Dancing before the Captain Bajha, whofeemed to be 
much taken with it j but next day, the Bafja demanded an Hundred thou- 
fand Piafires of the Citizens, faying , That he flood in need of it againft 
the coming of the Grafid Si^q^nior. They made excufe, pretending that they The chms 
had it not-, but he ftopt their Mouths with this reply. That they could find 
enough to load their Wives and Daughters with Gold j and all they could ^'^^"^ Vanity» 
do, was to compound with the Captain Bajha, and pay him Fifty thoufand 
Piafires. After that, both the Greeks and Latins^ with common confent, get 
their Bifhops to charge the Women under pain of Excommunication, not 
to wear any Jewel, Gold or Silver about them ; but they not enduring to 
lay afide their Ornaments , flighted and laught at the Excommunication, 
until at length, they procured one from the Pope; fince that time they have 
not worn any. The Chiots are much given to Dancing, both Men and Wo- 
men, and on Sundays and Holydays in the Evening, they fall all a Dancing 
promifcuoufly together in a Ring, which continues all Night, not only in 
the City but Villages ^ and a Stranger newly come , who neither knows, 
nor is known of any, may freely put in with the roil, and take the fairefc 
by the Hand without any Scandal , more or lefs than in our Country 
Towns in France. And I know no other difference betwixt the Chiots and 
Cer.ocfe^ but that the former are not at all Jealous: For though they be in 
a Country where a Woman dares not fhew her felf to a Man, unlefs fiie 
would be taken for a Strumpet. Yet the Women of tjiis Ifle, have retained fo 
great Liberty, both in the City and Villages , that the Maids fpend com- 
monly the Days and Evenings at their Doors, talking and playing with 
their 
