Page:Busbecq, Travels into Turkey (1744).pdf/263

 rich Banquets, of which Haly sent me a part; eight huge Dishes full of Sweetmeats, and plenty of the richest Wines. 'Twas the Custom of the Romans to send Dishes from their Feasts to their Friends; the Spaniards do it to this Day; and the Turks from their great Feasts carry home something, especially if they have Wives and Children. They many times carried home whole Napkins full of good Bits from my Table; and tho' they pretend to Cleanliness, yet they would sometimes daub their Silk-cloaths with some Collation-drops.

me tell you a Story to this purpose, which I know will make you laugh heartily, as it did me at the first hearing it: For we are not such Cato's, but that sometimes we may season our Care with moderate Laughter, which shews that we are Men.

the custom of the Turkish Bashaws, some Days before their Fast, (which we call Lent) to make a public Feast or Entertainment for all Comers, none are excluded; yet generally none but Servants, Friends, and Relations come. There is a Napkin made of Leather, spread over a long Tapestry on the Ground, full of Dishes; the Table will hold abundance of Guests; the Bashaw himself sits at the upper end, and the choicest Guests next to him, and then the ordinary Guests, in Ranks, till the Table be full. It will not hold all at once, but some stand by till others have din'd, which they do with great Decency and Silence; and then drinking a draught of Honey diluted with Water, salute their Landlord, and away they go. In their Places, others sit down, and a third Class after them; the Servants still taking off the old Dishes and setting on new. A certain Bashaw making such a Feast, invited a