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Travels in Turkey, Asia Minor, Syria, and across the desert into Egypt ...

Travels in Turkey, Asia Minor, Syria, and across the desert into Egypt ...

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SYRIA, EGYPT, GERMANY, &C. 45<br />

brate <strong>the</strong> open<strong>in</strong>g of <strong>the</strong> Bei/ram Courbam, or month' of sacri-<br />

fice, <strong>the</strong> second paschal feast. He <strong>in</strong>vited me to Constant<strong>in</strong>ople to<br />

be present at this ceremony.<br />

The festival of <strong>the</strong> Bei/ram, which succeeds <strong>the</strong> Turkish rama-<br />

zan, or lent, is <strong>the</strong> season of pleasures <strong>and</strong> festivities of every de-<br />

scription.<br />

He must be poor <strong>in</strong>deed, who has not new clo<strong>the</strong>s pro-<br />

vided for <strong>the</strong> occasion ; <strong>and</strong> among <strong>the</strong> better sort of people rich<br />

dresses are given <strong>and</strong> received as presents. The streets <strong>and</strong> public<br />

places are filled with groups, whose amusements <strong>and</strong> pastimes are<br />

varied accord<strong>in</strong>g to <strong>the</strong> nation to which <strong>the</strong>y belong. It may strictly<br />

be denom<strong>in</strong>ated a paschal feast, s<strong>in</strong>ce, at its open<strong>in</strong>g, sheep are sa-<br />

crificed by <strong>the</strong> Gr<strong>and</strong> Seignor, <strong>and</strong> by all <strong>the</strong> dist<strong>in</strong>guished <strong>and</strong><br />

opulent Turks. The animals thus immolated, have <strong>the</strong>ir horns<br />

"gilt, <strong>and</strong> <strong>the</strong>ir wool nicely combed. It is so contrived as that<br />

<strong>the</strong>se offer<strong>in</strong>gs should be made at <strong>the</strong> precise hour when similar sa-<br />

crifices take place at Mecca.<br />

At three o'clock <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> morn<strong>in</strong>g of <strong>the</strong> 14th,<br />

I set out from<br />

Chi/l:ck, where I had spent <strong>the</strong> preced<strong>in</strong>g night, <strong>and</strong> was, on my<br />

arrival at Peru, jo<strong>in</strong>ed by Capta<strong>in</strong>s Lacy <strong>and</strong> Leake. We reached<br />

Constant<strong>in</strong>ople at live o'clock, <strong>and</strong> proceeded to <strong>the</strong> house of a sur-<br />

geon, from whose shop we were to be gratified by a sight of <strong>the</strong><br />

procession, as it passed. In. this house we breakfasted, <strong>and</strong> were<br />

<strong>and</strong> coffee were first<br />

enterta<strong>in</strong>ed <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> follow<strong>in</strong>g manner. Pipes<br />

served, <strong>and</strong> were followed by a very agreeable <strong>and</strong> palatable preparation<br />

of milk, called caimac, which was accompanied by hot su-<br />

gared cakes, <strong>and</strong> melons. Our repast was concluded by a second<br />

service of coffee; <strong>and</strong> dur<strong>in</strong>g our stay, sherbet <strong>and</strong> pipes were<br />

brought to us at <strong>in</strong>tervals.<br />

About eight o'clock <strong>the</strong> procession commenced; but <strong>the</strong> Gr<strong>and</strong><br />

Seignor did not make his appearance until half-past n<strong>in</strong>e. The<br />

dresses of all those who composed <strong>the</strong> procession were splendid <strong>and</strong><br />

costlv. The f<strong>in</strong>e horses on which <strong>the</strong>y were mounted, <strong>and</strong> more<br />

especially those of <strong>the</strong> eunuchs <strong>and</strong> pr<strong>in</strong>cipal officers of state, were<br />

most gorgeously caparisoned, <strong>the</strong> hous<strong>in</strong>gs of many of <strong>the</strong>m be<strong>in</strong>g<br />

of gold embroidery, studded with precious stones, by which a very<br />

brilliant effect was produced. In <strong>the</strong> turban of <strong>the</strong> Gr<strong>and</strong> Seignor<br />

was a beautiful aigrette of very great value, <strong>the</strong> diamonds of which<br />

it was composed be<strong>in</strong>g of uncommon magnitude. Several of his<br />

horses, on which his shield <strong>and</strong> various trophies were carried, were<br />

led <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> procession; <strong>and</strong> be<strong>in</strong>g very richly caparisoned, <strong>and</strong> orna-<br />

mented with a profusion of diamonds, rubies, <strong>and</strong> o<strong>the</strong>r precious

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