[ i°3 ] 
enter into intimate particulars with fuch Mahometans 
as could truly inform them. 
Credulity and vulgar errors abound, as a confe- 
quence of their faith j for they are al* Greeks or Ro- 
manifts. Thofe are taken traditionally. To inflance 
in one collected from them, and univerfally received 
by travellers; they tell us that the Turks make pub- 
lick prayers and proceffions in time of plague, when 
looo corps a day are carried out of the Adrianople** 
•gate. This tradition was current in the year 1751. 
I kfiew it muft be falfe from the very Koran. How- 
ever, I had the queftion put to many, particularly to- 
the Reis Effendi, great chancellor of the empire, 
who let me know they never numbered them, nor 
inquired minutely how many, died ; that in time of 
great calamity or ficknefs, they only ordered a paffage 
of the Koran to be read in their Mofehes. Thus, 
by a fingle inquiry, I detected a fable which has 
pafTed current, fince Mahomet the Second’s time. 
This is one example of many. 
4. I can affirm, with truth, what may feem a pa- 
radox, that in general, Mahometans, fnotwithftand- 
ing their law, procreate lefs than ChriftianSi The 
rich, who are the only perfens that can maintain 
concubines, have feldom four or five children. Few, 
I have heard of, or known, exceed two or three; many 
of the former, and moft of the middling and poorer 
fort, have generally but one wife. The latter indeed 
exchange them with facility ; but yet we do not per- 
ceive they have a numerous progeny. I take this to 
arife fkom a caufe different from that which is com- 
monly affigned, not from their being enervated by 
variety, but rather from their law. The frequent 
ablutions 
