378 
Latin mixed with Italian. Although I had not been 
taught alchemy in the Christian schools, I had how- 
ever learned Latin there; but indeed I do not know 
why, for having never practised this tongue, I spoke 
it no better than the Albanian doctor. His Latin was 
Italianized, and mine mixed with the Arabic lan- 
guage. It may, therefore, be easily imagined what my 
Conversations were, with a man who, besides, united 
to a confused kind of knowledge, a mixture of singu- 
lar extravagancies of imagination. For instance, he 
believed that the air was filled with a multitude of the 
spirits of men, which, though invisible, have a direct 
action upon our bodies, and form a kind of confrater- 
nity with some mortals, &c. In other respects he was 
a good and artless man. 
The great mosque of Aya Sophia, the ancient ca- 
thedral of St. Sophia, is a magnificent edifice. Its im- 
mense elliptic cupola, surrounded with half cupolas, 
produces a surprising effect. I shall not here under- 
take to give a description of it, for it has been already 
described by several travellers. Christians may enter 
this mosque, as well as all the others at Constantino- 
ple, with a permission from government, which is 
easily obtained. The lining of the walls is of marble, 
and the columns are in tolerably good preservation, 
but the roof is beginning to decay. The tribune of the 
Sultan is handsome; it is a sort of cage supported by 
four small columns, and surrounded with gilt blinds. 
What is most singular in this temple is an immense 
number of large sticks and reeds placed along the 
walls, and round the pillars, to which are suspended 
pieces of cloth like bed sheets, napkins, and even rags, 
hung so as to form tribunes or separated places, into 
which the proprietors alone enter to say their prayers 
