COFFEE. 
75 
Aden (according to the same information) the use 
of coffee soon spread into every place that was sub- 
ject to the laws of Mahomet. 
After the use of coffee became generally known 
throughout the East, several houses were opened 
for the accommodation of the public, and were 
soon frequented by people of every denomination. 
In Persia the coffee-houses became, as with us, the 
resort of politicians and of men of business ; affairs 
were there transacted with as much order and regu- 
larity as our commercial business is managed on the 
’Change. This, however, was not the case in all 
parts ; for at Constantinople the coffee-houses were 
no sooner opened than they became the haunt of 
the most disorderly inhabitants ; and from the ex- 
cesses committed by these people, the government, 
under Amurath the Third, thought fit to shut them 
up, and prohibit the use of coffee in any but pri- 
vate families. Notwithstanding the order to the 
contrary, coffee still continued to be drunk in pub- 
lic, and the places where it was distributed soon 
multiplied exceedingly. Under the minority of 
Mahomet the Fourth, the grand visir Koproli again 
suppressed the coffee-houses ; but this, like the first 
attempt, proved ineffectual ; the people were deter- 
mined to be indulged, and their favourite liquor 
was not to be taken from them with impunity. 
The opposition of government therefore, without 
effecting its purpose, contributed only to raise dis- 
sensions amongst the people, and to diminish the 
