CONSTANTINOPLE* 19 
pTomised, if we would come singly, during the 
season of the Ramadan', (when the guards, >- 
being up all night, would be stupefied during 
the day with sleep and intoxication,) to under- 
take the greater risk of shewing to us the 
interior of the Charem, or the apartments of 
the women; that is to say, of that part of it 
which they inhabit during the summer; for 
they were still in their winter chambers. We 
readily accepted this offer: the author only 
solicited the further indulgence of being ac- 
companied by a French artist of the name of 
Preaux, whose extraordinary promptitude in 
design would enable him to bring away sketches 
of any thing we might find interesting, either in 
the Charem, or gardens of the Seraglio. The appre- 
hensions of Monsieur Preaux were, however, so 
great, that it was with the greatest difficulty 
we could prevail upon him to venture into the 
(1) The Ramadan of tlie Txrhs answers to our Lent, as their Bai'r am 
does to Easter. During the month of the Ilamadnn, they impose upon 
themselves the strictest privation, avoiding even the use of tohacco, from 
sun-rise to sun-set. They feast all night during this season, and are, 
therefore, generally asleep during the day; nor is it easy to awaken them 
at tliis time, for they are frequently intoxicated with opium. This was 
the season in which Pitts, who publislied a faithful account of the Moham- 
medans, endeavoured to effect his escape from slavery. " It was," says 
he, "in the time of Ramadan, wlien they cat meat only by night; and 
therefore in the moaning wotdd have been all fast asleep." Account of 
the Religion and Manners of the Mahometans, p. 7. Lond, 1738. 
VOL. III. C 
CHAP. 
I. 
