TURKS. 
4,92 
Dress Character, and Manners of hie Inhabitants of 
Turkey, 
The Turks are generally robust and well-shaped, of a good mien, 
and patient of hardships, which renders them fit for war. They 
shave their heads, but wear their beards long, except the military 
and those in the seraglio, who wear only whiskers. They cover their 
heads with a white linen turban of an enormous size, and never put 
it off but when they sleep. None but Turks must presume to wear a 
white turban. Their breeches or drawers are of a piece with the 
stockings ; and they have slippers instead of shoes, which they pull off 
when they enter a temple or house. They wear shirts with wide 
sleeves, not gathered at the wrists, and over them a vest tied with a 
sash ; their upper garment being a loose gown, something shorter 
than the rest. The women’s dress much resembles that of the men ; 
only they have a stiffened cap with horns, something like a mitre, on 
their heads instead of a turban, and wear their hair flow'ing dowm. 
When they go abroad, they are so wrapped up that their faces can- 
not be seen. The Turks sit, eat, and sleep, according to the custom 
of the East, on sophas and cushions, mattresses and carpets. Rice 
is their most general food, and coffee their common drink. Their 
most usual salutation is to bow their heads a little, laying their right 
hand upon their breasts ; but to persons of rank, they stoop so low as 
to touch the border of their vest. The women are kept under a rigor- 
ous confinement. They have generally delicate skins, regular fea- 
tures, black hair and eyes, with an admirable chest. Many of them 
are complete beauties. Their cleanliness is extraordinary ; for they 
bathe twice a w'eek, and suffer not the smallest hair or least soil to be 
upon their bodies. As to the qualities of their minds, they are said 
to want neither wit, vivacity, nor tenderness, and to be exceedingly 
amorous. It is no doubt for this reason that the men never suffer 
their wives’ faces to be seen, not even by the dearest friend they have 
in the world. There is no need of much wit to behave one’s self well 
here ; for a good mien and gravity supply the place of merit in the 
East, and much gaiety w^ould spoil all. Not that the Turks want w'it, 
but they speak little, and pride themselves in sincerity and modesty, 
more than eloquence. The Turks use no unnecessary words, whereas 
the Greeks talk incessantly. Though these tw'o nations are born 
under one climate, their tempers are more different than if they lived 
in the most distant countries. The Turks make profession of candour 
and faithfulness, and are charitable good-natured people, jealousy 
excepted, and very sober. On the other hand, they are extremely 
proud, insolent and indolent, superstitioifs and covetous. They are 
also much addicted to unnatural lusts; and despise all other nations 
in general, especially those which are not of their own religion. The 
common appellation they give to Christians is that of — dogs. 
An uniformity runs through all the actions of the Turks, and they 
never change their manner of living. They seem to have no kind of 
genius for the improvement of the arts and sciences, though they 
live under the influence of the same heaven, and possess the same 
