Page:The Six Voyages of John Baptista Tavernier.djvu/156

The Athenian Merchants buy up Tissues, Velvets, Satins, and Cloth, with which they serve other Countries adjoyning. The Commodities which Foreigners export from thence, are, Silks, Wool, Sponges, Wax, Cordivan-Leather, and Cheese. Which is all that can be said in few words, of the Trade of all these Places.

Formerly there lay in the Road of Constantinople above a hundred and fifty Galleys: But the Grand Visier perceiving that so great a number did but cause confusion, and that the Captain-Basha could not conveniently take so great a burden as to look after such a number, he gave order that no more than twenty-four should lie in the Port of Constantinople; sending the rest to other Ports, as well of the Continent, as the Islands.

At present the Number of the Grand Signor's Gallies is fourscore, thus distributed under the Command of their several Beys or Captains.

At Constantinople, twenty-four under the Command of the Captain-Basha, or Admiral of the Sea; who when he goes out upon any Expedition, sends to the rest to meet him according to Orders. When he goes in person to Sea, he gives to every one of his Slaves, besides their ordinary Habit a kind of Cassock of Red Cloth, and a Bonnet of the same colour. But this is only in the Admiral's Gally, and at his own Cost. His Gally carries usually 366 Slaves, and to every Seat of the Rowers, a Bonne Vole. These Bonne Voles are certain Volunteers that freely offer themselves to the Service of the Admiral, and there is great care taken for their being well paid. Their Pay is 3500 Aspers for their Voyage, which generally continues seven or eight Months. They feed as the other Slaves; but if they Row negligently or lazily, they are beaten worse than the Slaves; for the Volunteers have nothing to do except it be to Row: But the Slaves are put to several other Duties. Take notice also that the Volunteers that serve in the General's Gally, have 500 Aspers more than those in the other Gallies, that is to say, 4000 Aspers for their Voyage, which comes to 40 Crowns.

The Reer-Admiral carries Two hundred and fifty men, as well Slaves as Volunteers. That Galley and the great Testerdar's or Treasurers, are the best provided of any in the whole Fleet: For the Reer-Admiral Basha has his choice to take four of the best men out of every Galley for his own, or else to receive 3500 Aspers for every man, which is paid by the Captain of the Galley; which makes him the richest of all the Beys.

The great Testerdar's Galley is one of the Twenty four Galleys of Constantinople, and he sends a particular Treasurer, in the quality of a Lieutenant, to command her. That Command is very much contested for, in regard that Galley is very well provided with all things; and for that all the Captains Court the Testerdar, who, when the Galleys return to Port, rewards them according to their Merit.

The Janizary-Aga's Galley is of the same number but he never goes to Sea, always sending one in his room.

The Bey of Rhodes, that takes upon him the Title of Basha, has eight Galleys.

The Bey of Stancho, an Island about an hundred Miles from Rhodes, Lieutenant to the Bey of Rhodes, has one Galley.

The Bey of Sussam, a small Island near Scio, has one Galley, and his Lieutenant another. These Galleys are generally appointed to watch the Maltesi, and Ligorn.

The Bey of Scio formerly had but three; but since the War with Candy, he has had six.

The Lieutenant of the Bey of Scio has two Gallies. There be also three other Beys in the Island of Scio, who have no dependance upon the Basha of Scio, but buy their Provisions where they can find it best cheap.

The Bey of Smyrna and his Lieutenant have two Gallies; but they can do nothing without the Orders of the Bey of Scio.

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