'Collections of travels through Turky into Persia, and the East Indies. Giving an account of the present state of those countries, as also a full relation of the five years wars, between Aureng-Zebe and his brothers in their father's life time, about the succession. And a voyage made by the Great Mogul (Aureng-Zebe) with his Army from Dehli to Lahor, from Lahor to Bember, and from thence to the Kingdom of Kachemire, by the Mogols, call'd, the Paradise of the Indies. Together with a relation of the Kingdom of Japan and Tunkin, and of their particular manners and trade. To which is added a new description of the Grand Seignior's Seraglio, and also of all the Kingdoms that encompass the Euxine and Caspian Seas, being the travels of Monsieur TavernierBernier, and other great men.' [‎56] (605/1024)

<6 A Relation of the Grand Seignors Seraglio.
" ' But it is not always the Grand Seignor’s defign, by fuch Prdents, to honour
the Balia, aud keep the People the more in iubjeaiou to tun. It happens many
times that when he intends to rume him, he makes him a Prci'em, that he nni
thence take occafion, in cafe he does not receive another from him, fuchashe
defires, to fend another Meffenger for his Head. The Pretent, upon that occa^
fion is not a Veft, or a Garment, but, a Sword, or a Battle-Axe, which are very
Ominous Prefents, 'and Advertifements to the Baffa, that the Grand Seignor has
little kindnels for him. To divert the Storm, which he fees likely to fall upon
him, he doubles the Prefent he fhould have made, in cafe he had lent him but
a Veft,' which is a pledge of his Affedfion. And if that Baffa be one of thole, who
Commands in the greater Governments, the Prefent which he fends to the Grand
. Seignor, ought not to amount to lefs than Two hundred Purles, that is to fay, a
Hundred thoufand Crowns, not comprehending what is particularly given to the
perfon who is fent by the Bmperour. r ^ n
The Ceremonies The Pcrfons charg'd with this Commifhon are, for the molt part, fuch as the
Attending the Grand Seignor is willing to be Munificent to. So that, all things confider’d, the
Frefentsfentby p re { ent { s not fo muc h defign d for him who receives it, as for him who fends it,
SelnoTfa and the Perfon who carries it: And in this confifts the artifice of exercifmg great
thJfe reborn he Liberalities without disburfmg any thing. The Ceremony perform’d at the de-
"muld honour. )iyery of this Prefent of the Grand Seignor, is this; He who carries it being come
to the place where the Balia lives, to whom it is fent, and having advertis’d
him of it, this latter, with the noife of Drums, Trumpets, and Hawboys, aflembles
the People together, fomeof whom motint themfelves on Horfe-back, to do him
the greater honour. The Bafla himielf, marches in the Head of all, and they who
are not mounted follow afoot, together with the Curtezans, or common Strum*
pets of the place, who are obliged to allift at this Ceremony, dancing after a
Tabour, and putting themfelves into a thoufand lafeivious poftures, according to
the Cuftome of the Countrey. r ’
The Meflenger who brings the Prefent makes a halt, in expedtation of this
Cavalcade, in fbme Garden near the City, or in the Fields under a Tent, which
he had got fet up for that purpofe. After mutual Salutations, he caffs theVdl
over the Bafla’s fhoulders, putting the Sabre by his Side, and thrufjs the Ponyard
into his Safchebefore his Bread, telling him, That the Emperour their Mafter,
honours him with that Prefent, upon the good report which had been made to
him, that he has demean’d himfelf well, that he does not tyrannize over his
People, and that there is no Complaint made, of his being defective in the Ad-
miniftration of juftiee. , ,n i t m
This Complement pad, the Bafla, in the fame order, and arriidlf the Joyful.
Acclamations of the People, takes his way, and the Grand Seignor’s Envoy along
with him, towards his Houfe, where he entertains him at a great Treat, and,
after all is done, with a Pretent, which amounts to Ten thoufand Crowns at the
lead. For, as I told you before, if the Prefent be carried to one of the baffa s
who are in the greater Governments, as the Baffa’s of huda^ Cairo, or fobylm,
they fhall not efcape under Thirty or Forty thoufand Crowns, and the l relent
which is fent to the Sultan, ought to amount to a hundred thoufand. Nay it
many times happens, that the Grand Seignor appoints what he would nave
their Prefent to his Envoy t© amount to, and that efpecially, when he fends
fuch as he has a particular kindnefs for, and would amply gratifie.
the particular The Emperour Mahomet the Fourth, who now fits on the Throne, has a par-
ZlliX dollar inclination to exercife Liberality, and to bedow Rewards on taole w o
tofhew himfeiffcwt him $ but he does it fo, as that it cods him nothing, and confequently, the
liberal, vrithour is no cccafion of taking ought out of the Treafury. When there is novan p
my charge. p orain ity to fend the Perfon whom he has a dedre to gratifie, into the Coun y
with fome Prefent, he has- another Expedient, which will do the_ work.
Dari in g-Diver tifement is Hunting, and he takes but little plcafure m any o
Exercife. He thereupon orders the Perfon whom he would r £ C0 ^P e {j ce5 i s
one at the Sport, and having kill’d a Stagg, or fome ocher Dealt
him to go and prefent it, from Him, to one of the Grandees oitneior,
abode is either at Conilantiwpk, or fome place near k*
> V , / - This