\y2. T iR A V E L S i n G R EJ&C.E,
as he is fometimes feen, in the fhade by the door o f his houfe ;
or in a group, looking on, while the horfes, which are flaked
down with a rope, feed in the feafba on the green corn. When
he is walking or riding, it is carried in his hand or by an attendant.
The tube is o f wood perforated, commonly long and
pliant, and fometimes hung with fmall filver crefeents and
chains, with a mouth-piece of amber. The bole is earthen,
and a bit o f aloe-wood put into it, while be is fmoking,
augments his pleafure, yielding a grateful perfume.- A filken
embroidered bag is ufually tucked in at his falh,- by his fide, and
contains tobacco. His horfe, his arms, and haram are the other
f?Mef objects of his attention. He is grave, fentei^iQui^iand
Ready, but fond of narrations and not difficult to be overcome
by a Aoiy.
T he Turks, obferving that we did not ufe the % n o f the
crofs, and being informed that we difapproved o f the Worfhip-
ping o f pictures or images, conceived a favourable opinion o f us.
Their abhorrence o f hog-fleih is unfeigned, and we derived
fome popularity from a report, which we? did not contradidt,
that we held it in equal deteftatkm. Several o f them frequented
our table. The principal Turks came all to our houfe a t night,
while it was Ramazan or Lent when they feft in the day-time
and were entertained by us with fwcet-meat, pipes, coffee,: and
fherbet much, to their fatisfa&ion, though diftrcfled by our
chairs j fame trying to cdleft .their legs under therm on ithe
ieats, and fome fquatting down by the fides. When we vifited
them, we were received with cordiality, and treated with dif-
tindlion. Sweet gums were burned in the. middle o f die room,
to fcent the air; or fcattered on coals before us, while fitting on
the, fofa, to perfume our muftaches and garments; and at the
door, on our- departure, w e were iprinkled with rofc-water.
The vaiwode at certain feafons fent his muficians to play in our
court. The Greeks were not lefs civil, and at. Eafter we had
the company of the archons in a body. Several o f them alfo
eat often with its; and we had daily prefents o f flowers, fometimes
T K A V E L S r n G R E E C E . *$3
times perfumed, of ■ pomgranates*, oranges and Lemons frefh
gathered, paftry, and other like articles.
. T he . Turks have few public games or lports; We were
prefent at a foot-race and at a wreftling-match provided by a
rich Turk for the. entertainment of his fan and? other boys, who
were about to.be-circumcifed. A train, headed by the vaiwode
and principal men on horfes richly caparifoned, attended the
boys, who were all neatly dreffed, their white turbans glittering
with tinfel ornaments, to a place without the city, where
carpets were fpread for them on the ground, in the fhade, and
a multitude of fpeftators waited filent and refpeaful. T h e
race was fbon over, and the prizes were diftributed; to the
winner a Efficient quantity of cloth for an upper garment, to
the next a live fheep, to the third a kid, to the fourth a huge
water-melon. The company then removed to a level fpOt'near
the ruin o f the temple of jupitex Olympius, and formed a
large circle. T h e wreftlers were naked, except a pair of clofe
drawers, and were anointed all over with oil."
Some Arabians and black flaves, who had obtained their freedom
and were fettled at Athens, had a feaft ortthe performance Of
the ritenf cireumcifion.' The women danced in a ring, with flicks
in their hands, -and turning- in pairs clafhed them over their
heads, at intervals, finging wildly to the mufic. A couple
then danced with caftanets; and the other fwarthy ladies, fitting
crofs-legged on a fofa, began fmoking.
A thens was antiently enlivened by the chorufes finging and
dancing in the open air, in the front o f the temples of the
gods and round- their altars, at the feftivai of Bacchus and on
other holidays. The Greeks are frequently feen engaged in the
fame exercife, generally in pairs, efpecially on the annivtr&-
ries of their faints, and often in the areas before'their churches.
Their common mufic is a large tabour and pipe, or a lyre and
tympanum or timbrel; Some of their dances are undoubtedly