415 
with almost a moral certainty, it is evident that the 
Turkish troops could never oppose a long resistance 
to a less numerous corps of Europeans well com- 
manded. I shall not speak of some particular cases 
which may form exceptions to this rule, since they 
would draw me into an analysis and discussion foreign 
to my object. 
The janissaries have some singular customs which 
deserve to be stated. 
Their most respected military trophies, are the brass 
stew-pans used by them for cooking their food, which 
always consists of rice prepared with butter, and call- 
ed by the Turks pillaco. These stew-pans are objects 
of such high veneration, that they have always a guard 
of honour, and when the janissaries transport them 
from one place to another, they require persons on 
the line of march to make a bow or salutation to them 
as if to a prince. Woe to him who would be slow in 
paying this homage; he would be immediately pu- 
nished for his irreverence by the guard which escorts 
the convoy. 
These vessels form a central point of union for 
every division of janissaries. In the field they carry 
them in pomp adorned with tinsel and gew-gaws. If 
an orta has the misfortune to lose its stew-pans, it is 
looked upon as dishonoured. 
When the janissaries move with an affected eager- 
ness to receive their rations, it is inferred that they are 
completely satisfied in their orta; but if they advance 
with an air of indifference, it is understood that they 
are discontented; and the most certain proof they can 
give of their dissatisfaction, is wholly to absent them- 
selves at the time of distribution. When this happens 
