242 
Travels into the Levant. 
Part I 
though it were even a vejoycing for a Vidlory obtained by the Turks over their 
own Country, elfe they would have an Avame put upon them, and therefore 
when they keep an Efmie for a Vidory over the Venetians, the Conful of 
Fertice is obliged to do as others do, if he had not rather pay the next day a 
fwinging Avanie. There they expofe, befides Lamps and Tapiftry, feverai 
excellent Pidures, which the Turks look upon with a great deal of pleafure, 
efpecially when ic is fome good Face; thinking it impoffible that we fliould 
have fuch Beauties in Chriîtendom, nay, that there can be any fuch in the 
World. The Women came alfo, being allowed then, as at Bairam, to go 
abroad and fee the Feftival, yet not the great Ladies, as thofe of the Bafta's, 
Beys, and others of higher Quality, but only thofe of an inferiour Condi- 
tion. This is very expenfive to the Confuls, and to all that would make any 
ftiew ; for befides fome hundreds of Lamps, and the Tapiftry which muftbe 
hired ^ it is the cuftom to treat all thofe who come to fee what is before the 
Houfe with Coffee, and if they be People of Honour and Falhion , they 
muft give them Sorbet alfo , nay , and Sweet-meats too. And for that 
end, every Conful had before his Houfe a piece of Tapiftry, hung out on each 
fide of the Street, and Hangings all round, leaving only a PalFage between ; 
under thefe kind of Pavillions on each fide of the Street , there were fome 
hundreds of Lamps, and a great many Pictures, as likcwife ai the Avenues of 
the Street, with Chairs and rich Cufhions for thofe that come to fee, to fit on. 
And nofooner did any come, how mean foever he was, but he had Coffee and 
Tobacco brought to him, fo that the Expence went high ; for betwixt morning 
early, and three a Clock after Midnight, many thoufands of People came. 
This Feftival ended on Friday Morning, the fifteenth of November^ fo that the 
Efme lafted but fix days, though it had been cried for feven, becaufe the Infe- 
riour fort of People were at too great Charges, and got nothing, for during 
that time, no Man was fufFered to Work. 
CHAP. LXXI. 
Of the Defarts of St. Macharius. ^ 
The Journey 
to tfie De- 
farts of St. 
Macharius, 
Dris. 
ON E fhould alfo fee the Defarts of St. Macharius^ where there are four 
Monafteries, to wit, of St. Macharius^ the Syrians^ Balfarion^ and of our 
Lady. I did not fee them, having ftill put it off from day to day : However, 
I will here give you a Relation of them, which I got. You muft take Water 
at Boulac, with a Janizary or two, and fall down as far as a Village called 
Terrana^ where there is a C^c^f/, to whom it will not be a mifs to make fome 
fmall prefent of Sweet-meats, or the like, that yon may be the better prote- 
cted by him. Then the Janizaries wait upon the faid Cachef^ and inform him 
that their Company have a defire to go to the Defarts of St. Macharius : Imme- 
diately the Cache/ gives orders to two of his Men, and to Arab Scheiks^to make 
rcsdy to attend the Travellers,and provides Beafis to carry them. For the price, 
you muft endeavour to agree as cheap as you can,and it muft be made in prefence 
of the Cachef, before you fet out, for if you delay till you come back, they'll 
exaft the more. The hire commonly for going and coming is two Piaftres for 
each Horfe or Camel, and one Piaftre for each Afs, befides three or four Piaftres 
for every Horfe-man that accompanies you, which pays both for Man and 
Horfe. Such as would fpare Charges, fhould at Caire ftrike in with one of the 
Monks of fome of the Monafteries of the faid Defart, who will oblige himfelf 
to Conduft them thither and back again to Caire^ and they are to go down the 
River with him,to a Village called I>m,where thefe Monks have a Houfe. There 
the Monk will do well to take with him an Arab that is known in the Moun- 
tain, and every one being mounted on an Afs, they may begin their Journey. 
Firft, 
