[ lOI ] 
{^rangers j none could remain a night in the city 
v/ithout commands from the Porte ^ and thofe were 
with great difficulty obtained. 
It is extreme difficult, if not impoffible, to come 
at any other computus of the number of inhabitants, 
much more fo of houfes, at Conflantinople. The 
city is divided fomewhat in the manner it was under 
the Graecian empire, that is, into different (quarters, 
called Mahales, and each under the fpecial diredion. 
of an Imaum. As far as it extends to their imme- 
diate advantage, they are informed of the iiumbcr of 
families in their diftrid j but whoever would dare 
to colled from them, might not only riik the cen- 
fure of the government, but his head. Befides, if 
the inquiry is general concerning houfes, it is im- 
poffible to fix a determined idea ; they confound pa- 
lace, feraglio, fhop, room, and call them indifcri- 
minately houfes. The Jews fay, that they have 
I oooo houfes at Conflantinople : but in what we call 
a houfe, there are perhaps ten families, and the di- 
ftind number of the latter they dare not mention. 
I endeavoured with perfuafion, and all my weight, 
to induce the Greek and Armenian patriarchs, to ob- 
tain for me a regifler of the births and burials of their 
refpedive .communities ; but at length they acknow- 
leged it impoffible. Their pariffies are farmed to- 
curates, by the diocefan bifhops j the income arifes 
from births and burials j fo that to conceal the 
former, they muff likewife the latter; and they 
never exhibit a faithful regifler. 
3,. That there are more women than men born^ 
in the eafl,'"feems a figment of travellers, rather than, 
founded in truth j it is fcarce to be known, where 
polygamy 
I 
