Page:Busbecq, Travels into Turkey (1744).pdf/212

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with a great deal of Pleasure, and the rather, because they stood unmoveable, as if they had grown upon the Place; not a Cough hawking to spit, nor any Sound to be heard; no, nor the least moving of the Head to look backward, or about them. At the Name of Mahomet, they all, as one Man, bowed their Heads, even to the Knee; but when the Name of God was pronounced, they all fell prostrate on their Faces, and kissed the Ground.

And the Truth is, the Turks are very ceremonious and attentive in the acts of their religious Worship; for, if a Man doth but scratch his Head when he prays, they think his Prayer is lost. For thus say they, if a Man composes his Body so reverently, even when he speaks but to a Bashaw, how much more becoming is that Observance towards God, who is infinitely greater than the greatest of Men?

After Prayers, the whole Congregation was discharged, and they ran up and down ranging over the Fields. A while after the Emperor's Dinner is served up, which the Janizaries carry away Dish by Dish, and eat it with a great deal of Mirth and Drollery. 'Tis an old allowed Custom for them so to do, on that day, their Emperor being provided of a Dinner elsewhere. When I had beheld their Show, I returned with great Pleasure to Constantinople.

The remainder of my Talk, is, to acquaint you what become of Bajazet, and then I shall ease you of the trouble of Reading, and my self of Writing. He, as I told you, with his invincible Band, march'd out of Amasia with such Speed, that his coming prevented the Report thereof; and those Bashaws, who designed to observe his Motion, he came upon unawares. He put a notable Cheat upon the Bashaw of Suvas; for whereas, there