796 
DEPOSING THE NATIVE PRINCES ; 
tine Bessarabba, Voivode of Valachia; to avert which the Vala- 
chian prince gave large presents of money, jewels,. &c. to the 
Grand Seignior and his ministers. But unhappily their magni¬ 
ficence infused into the mind of His Sublime Highness an idea 
of immense riches easy to be transferred to his own treasury, 
and a plan was soon after formed for becoming their master. 
Our Consul-general is my authority for the particulars. In 
1714, at the beginning of April, it being Passion-week, when the 
attention of the Valachians was entirely devolved to the long ce¬ 
remonies of the fast of the Greek Church, a Capigee-Bashi of the 
Sultan arrived at Boucharest with a train of a hundred men. 
He sent word to the Voivode he was on his way to another 
place, on pressing business of the state ; but that he should pay 
his respects to him next morning for a few minutes. Accord¬ 
ingly he went to the palace at the time specified, and on entering 
the private apartment of the Voivode, who stood up to receive 
him, the treacherous visitor placed a black scarf on his shoulder, 
conformably to the then custom of announcing his deposition 
to any person of high authority under the Turkish government. 
The Valachian prince was confounded; but the moment he re¬ 
covered his presence of mind, he burst into indignant expressions 
against such a return for all the services he had performed for 
the Porte. The Capigee placed a guard over his person, and 
proceeded to the divan or council-chamber, where he read a 
firman, which contained the decree of Bessarabba’s deposition, 
declaring him a traitor, and ordering him and his family to answer 
for themselves at Constantinople. After this ceremony the 
Turkish emissary secured the property of the state, and the 
Voivode’s private treasures besides. The terrified inhabitants of 
the city stood trembling by, viewing these acts of violence, and 
