[44^] 
then ordinary gravity in their difcourfe and walking : and af ^ 
fed: to wear Turbaots fwelling out, and made up with mor^ 
crois folds : which was all the difference which I could ob" 
ferve by their head Attire, which is various, tlio I could no^ 
find that this was conftantly and ftridtly obferved. 
In Bjram time, which is the great fettival of the year, at 
v/hich time every one looks cheerfully and merrily, among 
other figns of mutual RefpecSt, they befprinkie one another 
with fweet water. They indulge to feveral fports : and fome 
are mightily pleafed with fwinging in the open air, the ordi- 
nary fort of people efpeciaily, paying only a few Alpers for 
the diverfion. 
The Government is perfectly arbitrary and defpotical ; 
the Will and Pleafure of the Emperour having the force and 
power of a Law, and oftentimes is above it. His bare Com- 
mand without any procefs is enough to ta^^e off the head of 
any Perfon, (tho never fo Eminent in Dignity : tho ufually 
for formality and to iilence the murmorings of the Soldiery 
and People,' the Sentence is confirmed by the Mrfti ) Some- 
times Ba^Sas who have amaifed great treafures in their Go- 
vernments, are cut off in their own houies in the midlt of 
their Retinue,the Meffengers of death producing the imperial 
Command, ufually fent in a black purfe, and not a iword 
drawn in their defenfe. Others, if they are obnoxious^to 
the lealt Umbrage or Jealoufie, tho difmift the Seraglio with 
all poffible demonftrations of the grand ^ignwrs Favour, and 
with rich Prefents in order to take pofleffion of places of 
great command in the Empire, before they have got two or 
three days journey from ConRaminopk^ have been overtaken 
and ftrangled. In the Army Commands are given according 
to merit , Courage and Condud: are fure to be rewarded, 
the v/aylyi!!g open to themeaneft Soldier to raiiehirafelf to 
be the chief of his order. But other Preferments depend 
upon meer chance, and upon the fanfy of the Emperour, 
whether the Perfon be fit or no, and they are as foon loft. 
The leaft ill fuccefs or mifcarriage proves oftentimes fatal, 
and a more lucky man is put in his place, and he fiicceeded 
by a third, if unfortunate in a defigu, thomanaged with ne- 
ver/o much Prudence and Valour. They admit of no here- 
ditary Honours,- and have no refped to Defcent or Blood, 
eycept the Ottoman Family : he only is great and noble, whom 
the Emperor favours, anH while his Command lalts. Accord- 
