trade in the empire; the nobler sort, such as jewellers, mercers, &c. finely mounted, and many of the pageants that represent their trades, perfectly magnificent; amongst which, that of the furriers made one of the best figures, being a very large machine, set round with the skins of ermines, foxes, &c. so well stuffed, that the animals seemed to be alive, and followed by music and dancers.  I believe they were, upon the whole, twenty thousand men, all ready to follow his highness, if he commanded them.  The rear was closed by the volunteers, who came to beg the honour of dying in his service.  This part of the shew seemed to me so barbarous, that I removed from the window upon the first appearance of it.  They were all naked to the middle.  Some had their arms pierced through with arrows, left sticking in them.  Others had them sticking in their heads, the blood trickling down their faces.  Some slashed their arms with sharp knives, making the blood spring out upon those that stood there; and this is looked upon as an expression of their zeal for glory.  I am told that some make use of it to advance their love; and, when they are near the window where their mistress stands, (all the women in town being veiled to see this spectacle) they stick another arrow for her sake, who gives some sign of approbation and encouragement to this gallantry.  The whole shew lasted for near eight hours, to my great sorrow, who was heartily tired, though I was in the house of the widow of the captain bassa (admiral) who refreshed me with coffee, sweetmeats, sherbet, &c. with all possible civility.

I WENT two days after, to see, the mosque of sultan Selim I. which is a building very well worth the curiosity of a traveller.  I was, dressed in my Turkish habit, and admitted without scruple; though I believe they guessed who I was, by the extreme officiousness of the door-keeper, to shew me every part of it.  It is situated very advantageously in the midst of the city, and in the highest part of it, making a very noble show.  The first court has four gates, and the innermost three.  They are both of them surrounded with cloisters, with marble pillars of the Ionic order, finely polished, and of very lively colours; the whole pavement is of white marble, and the roof of the cloisters divided into several cupolas or domes, headed with gilt balls on the top.  In the midst of each court, are fine fountains of white marble; and, before the great gate of the mosque, a portico, with green marble pillars, which has five gates, the body of the mosque being one prodigious dome.  I understand so little of architecture, I dare not pretend to speak of the proportions.  It seemed to me very regular, this I am sure of, it is vastly high, and I thought it the noblest building I ever saw.  It has two rows of marble galleries on pillars, with marble balusters; the pavement is also marble, covered with Persian carpets.  In my opinion, it is a great addition to its beauty,