624 Retrofped? of Domeftice Eiterature—Vayages, Travels, &c. 
fince the juftly admired letters of Lady 
Mary Wortley Montagu. Dr. Wittman 
was phylician to the Britifh military mil 
fion, which accompanied the Grand Vi- 
zier in his pregrefs from Conftantinople 
to Egypt; and, in his medical capacity, 
he attended the Vizier, and all the princi- 
al officers of ftate for nearly two years. 
Be had, therefore, the beft opportunity of 
obferving the Turkifh manners and cha- 
racter. He alfo made excurfions in the 
courfe of his progrefs to every place 
which was worthy of the attention of the 
curious traveller. 
Shortly after his arrival at: Conftantino- 
ple our author ‘took up his abode in the 
delightful village of Buyukdere, in the 
vicinity of that capital, to wait there un- 
til the Britifh Miffion fhould take its de- 
parture for Syria and Egypt. Among 
the inhabitants of the above village there 
are many Greeks; the following is his 
animated defcription of the females of 
that nation. 
‘© The Greek women have the face, 
which is beautiful and of an oval form, 
uncovered. Their eyes are black, as are 
alfo their eye- brows, to which, as well as 
to their eye-lids, they pay a particular 
attention, rubbing them over, to beftow 
on them a deeper hue, with a leaden ore 
reduced to an impalpable powder, blended 
with an unétuous matter to give it con- 
fiftence. Their complexion is generally 
pale. They wear their hair, which is 
of a great length, and of a deep fhining 
black, in trefles, and fometimes turned 
back, in a fanciful way, on the head..In 
other inftances it hangs loofely down the 
back, extending to the hips. They are 
commonly drefled ina pelice of filk, fatin, 
or fome other material: they are coftly in 
their attire, in the choice of which they 
are not attached to any particular co- 
Jour. On the head they wear a {mall 
cap. - 
‘© The Greek women marry at about 
the age of fifteen; they are fhort-lived. At 
twenty-five they wrinkle and decay, 
bearing the appearance altogether of old 
women. Th.y have fine children, who, 
however, partake of the pallid complex- 
jon of the mothers. It is unqueftionably 
tothe too frequent uf2 of the warm bath, 
to which the Greek women are fo much 
habituated, that their very relaxed and de- 
bilitated ftate is to be afcribed ; and this 
abufe, added to their natural indolence 
and their inaétion, as certainly tends to 
fhorten their lives.” . 
The limits to which we are neceffarily 
confined, would not aliow us to follow 
our author through the great diverfity of 
valuable details with which his Travels 
in Turkey, Afia Minor, Egypt, and Sy- 
ria, abound. We fhall, therefore, refer 
our readers, who are defirous to avail 
themfelves of the curious and multifa- 
rious information it contains, to the work 
itfelf. The following is his defcription of 
the proceffion at Conftantinople, on the 
opening of the Beyram Courbam, or fe- 
cond pafchal feat. 
<¢ About eight o’clock (in the morning) 
the proceffion commenced ; but the Grand 
- Seignor did nct make his appearance un- 
til half paft nine. The dreffes of all thofe 
who compofed the preceffion were fplendid 
and coftly. The fine horfes onwwhich they 
were mounted, and more efpecially thofe 
of the eunuchs and principal officers of 
ftate, were moft gorgeoufly caparifoned, 
the houfings of many of them being of: 
gold embroidery, ftudded with precious 
ftones, by which a very brilliant effeét 
was produced. In the turban of the Grand 
Seignor was a beautiful aigrette of very 
great value, the diamonds ef which it was 
compofed being of uncommon magnitude. 
Several of his horfes, on which his 
fhield and various trophies were carried, 
were led in the proceflion; and being very 
richly caparifoned, and ornamented with 
a profufion of diamonds, rubies, and 
other precious ftones, gave a brilliancy 
and magnificence to the fcene, which far 
exceeded any idea I could have previoufly 
formed of it. 
«© During the proceffion a Turkith of- 
ficer was conftantly employed in throwing 
on the heads of the populace handfuls of 
new paras (fmall coins.) The conteft 
which enfued, to pick them up, afforded 
to the Turkifh fpeGtators no little amufe- 
ment. 
‘¢ The Grand Seignor, who was very 
fuperbly mounted, was followed by his 
{word-bearer, carrying his fabre, the hilt 
of which was profufely fudded with dia- 
monds. Next came feveral officers of his 
feraglio, richly dreffed, bearing on cufhions 
his turbans, ornamented with diamonds’ 
and other gems. The ftreets were lined 
on each fide with janiffaries, whofe drefs 
caps appeared to me both © ridicuious 
and unbecoming. As the Sultan pafied 
along, he frorn time to time bowed with 
great aftability to the people, all of whom 
proftrated themfelves at his approach. 
‘The kifla aga, or chief of the eu- 
nuchs, cficiated at the mofque, and wore 
on his return a valuable pelice and a rich 
caftan, with which the Grand Seignor 
had prefented him. Several other caftans, 
of 
