Page:Busbecq, Travels into Turkey (1744).pdf/204

 his Mind, turning his former Blessing into a Curse, and forbidding it, as an Abomination, to all his Disciples for ever.

For this Reason all was quiet in the Camp, and the greatest Composure imaginable, especially at their Feast-time: So much did Camp-Discipline, and a Strictness received from their Ancestors prevail upon them!

Turks punish all Vice and Wickedness very severely; their Punishments are, loss of their Places, sale of their Goods, basting with Clubs, Death: But Club-basting is most common, from which the Janizaries themselves are not free; though they may not, as such, be put to death. Their lighter Offences are chastised by the Club; their more heinous by cashiering or degrading, which they count worse than Death, because commonly they are put to Death afterwards; for being stripp'd of the Ensigns of Janizaries, they are banish'd to the farthest Garrison of the Empire, where they live contemptible and inglorious, till, upon any light Occasion, they are put to Death; yet not as Janizaries, but as common Soldiers only.

here let me acquaint you with the Patience of the Turks in receiving that Punishment; they'll receive sometimes an hundred Blows on their Legs, their Feet and Buttocks, with wonderful Patience; so that diver's Clubs are broke, and the Executioner cries out, Give me another! Yea, sometimes the Chastisement is so severe, that several pieces of torn Flesh must be cut off from the wounded Parts, before any thing can be applied to cure them. Yet for all this, they must go to their Officer, who commanded them to be punish'd; they must kiss his Hand, and give him Thanks; nay, they must also give the Executioner a Reward for beating them. The Club they are beaten