POLES. — PERSIANS. 
193 
countries, as the ancient Grecians did. They generally loiter away 
their time, either among the women in the harem, or in smoking, or 
in taking opium ; and though they herd together, you will observe 
as little conversation among them as among so many horses in a 
stable. They seldom travel, or use any exercise or rural sports, and 
discover little or no curiosity to be informed of the state of their own 
or any other country : but Turkey, after all, is not without men of 
parts, probity, and honour; nor without benevolent, liberal, convert 
sible, and ingenious people. They behave very commendably to 
their slaves and servants, and frequently better than the Christians 
do to theirs. There are no hereditary governments, or titles of 
nobility, in Turkey ; and indeed the commonalty there enjoy the 
greatest liberty. 
Inhabitants of Poland. 
When Poland was an independent kingdom or republic, the 
inhabitants consisted of nobles, citizens, and peasants. The first 
possessed great privileges, which they enjoyed, partly by the indul- 
gence of their kings, and partly by ancient custom and prescription. 
Some of them had the title of prince, count, or baron, but no supe- 
riority or pre-eminence on that account over the rest, which was 
only to be obtained by some public post or dignity. They had the 
power of life and death over their vassals ; paid no taxes ; were sub- 
ject to none but the king ; had a right to all mines and salt-works on 
their estates ; to all offices and employments, civil, militarv, and 
ecclesiastic; could not be cited or tried out of the kingdom ; might 
choose whom they would for a king, and lay him under what 
restraints they pleased ; and none but they and the burghers of par- 
ticular towns could purchase lands. In short, they were almost 
entirely independent, enjoying many other privileges and preroga- 
tives besides those we have specified ; but if they engaged in trade, 
they forfeited their nobility. 
The Poles are personable, and have good complexions. They 
are esteemed a brave, honest people, without dissimulation, and 
exceedingly hospitable. They clothe themselves in furs in winter, 
and over all they throw a short cloak. No people keep grander 
equipages than the gentry : they consider themselves as so many 
sovereign princes ; and have their guards, bands of music, and open- 
houses ; but the lower sort of the people were, and we fear still are, 
in the lowest state of slavery. The exercises of the gentry are hunt- 
ing, riding, dancing, vaulting, &c. They reside mostly upon their 
estates in the country; and maintain themselves and families by 
agriculture, breeding of bees, and grazing. 
Manners of the People of Persia. 
The ancient Persians are known to have been exceedingly volup- 
tuous and effeminate. After the conquest of the empire by Alexander, 
the Greek discipline and martial spirit being in part communicated to 
them, they became much more formidable ; and hence the Parthians 
2 B 
