Cutlers, Woollen-drapers, Grocers, Fruiterers, Cooks, and many more, which are very orderly distributed and placed in their several streets and places. They alfo drive a great trade in filk, and there are a great many that deal in nothing else but filk, which is convey'd thither from the adjacent places; for mount Libanus is inhabited by a numberless people, that live by fpinning and working of filk, but chiefly they of Damafcus, where is fuch plenty of filk, that a Merchant may quickly lay out in it many thousand ducats: Because of the great abundance of white Mulberry-trees (by the natives called Tut) which grow there fo high and large, that they have plenty of leaves to feed their filk-worms: But the Mulberries thereof are white, and they carry them about in baskets to fell to ordinary people. So there is in the Batzars many filk-workers, which make all forts of embroidery, as purses, buttons, and girdles or fashes of feveral colours, which they tie about their loins; these are at work before their fhops, that every one may fee them. When they work, or tie two threads together, they hold their work oftener with their great toe, than pin it to any thing, and the fame do the Turners, (which fitting to it) hold their turning irons as well with their toes as with their fingers. Further, at a certain time of the year there is brought from Damafcus and other adjacent places, to thefe Batzars, fo great a quantity of large and well-tafted Cibebs, a kind of Raifins, having but one or no ftone, that feveral fhip loads are fent from thence to us. These and the like goods are daily brought and found in their Batzars, as rare tapestry and delicately wrought filks with flowers and rofes of feveral colours, fome of which look like pure gold. But of all the tradesmen there are not fo many of one fort as of them that only deal in Soap and Potafhes, for of thefe afhes (befides Soap) feveral fhip-loads. are yearly fent from thence to Venice, which they use for making of Glafe as well as Soap. These afhes are made chiefly of a herb, called by the Arabians, Schivan, whereof there are two forts, which amongst others I have pafted upon paper, one whereof is not unlike to our little Kali; it is a thick and knotty plant, with feveral small sprigs growing out of it, which have fe

veral full buttons at the top, and underneath small pointed leaves, juft like the leffer Kali, as I faid before, tafting fomewhat fharp, the leaves thereof are underneath white, and on the other fide of the colour of ashes. The other fort becometh also many stalks, which are full of knots like our Equifetum, and underneath them appears a woody and afh-coloured root.

Both these herbs grow thereabout in great quantities, and are burnt into afhes upon the high mountains, in burning thereof there fettleth an oily matter underneath towards the bottom, which united with the ashes is almost as hard as a stone when it is cold: at the top thereof a part of the afhes remains unmix'd and loose, therefore it is not fo good as the rest. These ashes are brought down from the mountains upon Camels backs by the Moors, to fome Merchants that drive a great trade with them, for partly they fend away into foreign parts, and partly they make foap of them, fome more, fome lefs, according to every one's capacity and pleafure. The way they make their Soap in Syria, I am informed, is this, viz. They take commonly twelve hundred weight (or twelve centners) of these ashes, which in the fummer they divide into eight, and in the winter into four parts, because the Soap is fooner boiled up in winter, for the heat being then included by the outward cold is more vehement than in fummer. Of this they take first one part and make it into a good sharp Lye, which they pour into a very large kettle or caldron made of ftone, with a large bottom made of a copper-plate, and very thick, wherein they have before put fixteen hundred weight of Sallet-oil, and let it fimper for twenty four hours, pouring daily in more Lye of another part. But before it is quite boil'd up (which in winter requireth perhaps five days, and in fummer nine or ten) they take an hundred weight of quick-lime, and mixing it with the afhes, draw a Lye from it, which they put two days before it is quite enough into the caldron, more or lefs, according as they find it thick or thin. But if it should happen, that there should be too much of the Lye in the kettle, they have a cock coming out of the copper-plate, whereby they let out as much of the Lye as is con

venient

venient. When it is almost boil'd up, they take out, with a copper kettle that holds eight or ten pounds, the thicker part of the foap that fwimmeth on the top, and pour it upon the floor, which is cover'd with lime or chalk beaten to powder; let it lie there for one day in winter, and two days in fummer, and it grows fo hard that they can walk over it; then they make it smooth, cut it into fquare pieces, and put their mark upon it.

CHA P. III.

Of the Turks of high and low conditions, men and women; of their employments, offices, manners, cuftoms, cloaths, as much as I could at Tripoli, during my abode, understand, fee and learn thereof.

THE city of Tripoli is, as well as a great

many more of the adjacent towns and provinces, fubject to the Turkish Emperor, wherein he hath his officers, as in all other places, that they may be ruled according to his pleasure, and protected from all affaults and dangers. Such fuperiors are by them call'd, Sangiacks or Bafhaws, which we may render State-holders, which have several hundred horse-men under their command, more or less according to the revenues of the provinces that are committed to their care. These are brave and experienced foldiers, that lead their men out into the fields feveral times in the week to exercise them, the horse-men in riding, and the foot in shooting with bows and arrows, which have their several marks done upon high poles, to fhoot at in their running; that if there fhould be occafion they may be ready to take the field presently to fight their enemies. These Sangiachi have other captains and commanders under them, of which the Soubafhaws or Judges are the chief; thefe are placed by him round about in the adjacent places, to officiate for him where he cannot be present. To such places are commonly call'd the Burghers or Citizens of the

fame

fame places, and they continue no longer than half a year. By them are examined all criminal matters, and they have power to examine and put to the torture all malefactors, to make them confefs their crimes. They alfo accompany the malefactors, that are fentenced and condemn'd by the Cadi, to the place of execution, to see the sentence duly executed; so I have seen them often to ride along, but chiefly at one time with a poor malefactor condemn'd to die, who was carry'd on a camel's back, ty'd with his back to a crofs, with his arms extended, to the place of execution; and between the cross and his fhoulders were put two burn-` ing torches, prepared with bacon, fo that the grease run all over his body, and burnt it feverely. The Turks have alfo for feveral crimes, whereof there are a great many, their feveral punishments; as for thieves and murderers, the gallows; for traytors, impaling; and for them that kill a man, beheading, &c. and fo they keep a great many fervants, which they fend out every where to bring to them any that are fufpected to have tranfgreffed the laws, by beating or wounding one another, which happens very feldom, by stealing, or murdering, or adultery.

For any other tranfgreffions befides thefe, the Turks are brought before other magiftrates, call'd Cadi, which are to understand the laws, and to judge, and to pronounce sentence after they have examin'd the witnesses : If it be for debt, they are immediately caft into prifon until they pay, or find out any other means to make up the debt. But if it be for tranfgreffing the laws, they are feverely fined or else punish'd with blows. Wherefore alfo their Cadi keep feveral men and fpies, which they daily send out, to find out any that tranfgreffed the laws in drinking of wine; in not going to prayers frequently; in not ftrictly observing their fafts, or in tranfgreffing the laws any other ways. If they find any, they fummon them before their Cadi, who punishes them according to their default, with a pecuniary mulét; or if they have no money to give, he fentences them to receive a certain number of blows upon the foals of their feet, and befides pay half a penny for each blow, Being that a great many of fuch tranfgreffors are daily brought

!

brought before him, whereof the greatest part receive blows, it causeth fo miferable a howling and crying, that we might plainly hear it in the French Fondique, which is juft over-againft it; and although the Cadi is very much troubled with fuch tranfgreffors, yet matrimonial caufes take him up a great deal more time, because all that will marry, muft come to him, and make their agreements and contracts, which are confign'd into his books; partly that they may have them to fhew, if any differences fhould arife between them, (feeing that the Turks and Moors have several wives, and are divorced again for a small matter) and partly that they may give them copies of their contracts upon their marriages, which they write for ordinary people upon smooth and plain paper; but for others that are rich, upon a piece of white fattin, about a yard long. These their contracts they comprehend in a few words, and draw them up fo fhort, that they fcarce contain above eight or ten lines a piece, at least two inches distant from one another. For this purpose they keep several clerks, which oftener write upon their knees, than on desks or tables. These Sangiacks, Soubafhaws and Cadi's, of which I have made mention before, and also their wives go very richly cloathed with fine flower'd filks, artificially made and mix'd of several colours. these cloathes are commonly given them by those that have caufes depending before them, (for they do not love to part with their own money) to promote their caufe, and to be favourable to them; for they are fo very covetous that, where there is nothing given them, there they do but little; for the Bafhaws and Sangiachi, which under the Grand Signior, rule kingdoms and principalities, know very well that they must rule but three years in the fame place; for as foon as their Sultan commands them, they must go to another place, perhaps far diftant from that place. Wherefore they always ftrive after honour and riches, that they may either by gift or favour be by the court promoted to greater authority and office; or else if that cannot be obtain'd, they may at least lay up in the mean time fuch riches, that they may be able to maintain themselves after the fame greatness as they did before.

But

When