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some playing at chess or other games, others smoking 
the nerguile, or Persian pipe. 
The bazars contain also baths, which have a magni- 
ficent appearance; the first saloon, which is generally- 
large and lighted by great windows looking to the 
street, is covered with a fine cupola of wood, ornament- 
ed with arabesques; round the saloon runs a raised gal- 
lery, upon which matrasses are placed; the persons who 
have just left the baths sit upon these closely wrapped 
up in cloths, and form rather a droll spectacle. There 
is generally a marble fountain in the middle of the 
saloon, and cords fixed at a certain height, upon which 
the napkins are hung to dry. 
There are also several shops in the bazars, for the 
sale of liquors, composed of sugar, raisins, apricots, and 
other fruits. 
The time when the greatest number of people are to 
be met with at the bazars, is from the morning until 
one or two in the afternoon; after which hour the greater 
part of the merchants shut up their shops, and retire; 
but the workshops remain open, and the workmen, 
among whom there is a great number of boys and ap. 
prentices, continue their labours the whole day. 
The provision- markets rival and surpass in abun- 
dance the bazars for the sale of merchandise. The 
quality of the different articles is excellent, and I firmly 
believe there is no country in the world supplied with 
better victuals; the meat is fat and delicate, the vegeta- 
bles, herbs, and roots are extremely tender; the suc- 
culent fruits are sweet, and of a mtonstrous size. Game 
of all sorts is abundant. The honey and milk are deli- 
cious. The bread is whiter and bette than in Europe. 
In short, it may be said that this is the best place in the 
