with you; and the Turkish ladies don't commit one
sin the less for not being Christians. Now, that I am a little
acquainted with their ways, I cannot forbear admiring, either the
exemplary discretion, or extreme stupidity of all the writers that
have given accounts of them. 'Tis very easy to see, they have in
reality more liberty than we have. No woman, of what rank soever, is
permitted to go into the streets without two _murlins_, one that
covers her face all but her eyes, and another, that hides the whole
dress of her head, and hangs half way down her back. Their shapes
are also wholely (sic) concealed, by a thing they call a _serigee_,
which no woman of any sort appears without; this has strait sleeves,
that reach to their fingers-ends, and it laps all round them, not
unlike a riding-hood. In winter, 'tis of cloth; and in summer, of
plain stuff or silk. You may guess then, how effectually this
disguises them, so that there is no distinguishing the great lady
from her slave. 'Tis impossible for the most jealous husband to know
his wife, when he meets her; and no man dare touch or follow a woman
in the street.

THIS perpetual masquerade gives them entire liberty of following
their inclinations, without danger of discovery. The most usual
method of intrigue, is, to send an appointment to the lover to meet
the lady at a Jew's shop, which are as notoriously convenient as our
Indian-houses; and yet, even those who don't make use of them, do not
scruple to go to buy pennyworths, and tumble over rich goods, which
are chiefly to be found amongst that sort of people. The great
ladies seldom let their gallants know who they are; and 'tis so
difficult to find it out, that they can very seldom guess at her
name, whom they have corresponded with for above half a year
together. You may easily imagine the number of faithful wives very
small in a country where they have nothing to fear from a lover's
indiscretion, since we see so many have the courage to expose
themselves to that in this world, and all the threatened punishment
of the next, which is never preached to the Turkish damsels. Neither
have they much to apprehend from the resentment of their husbands;
those ladies that are rich, having all their money in their own
hands. Upon the whole, I look upon the Turkish women, as the only
free people in the empire; the very divan pays respect to them; and
the grand signior himself, when a bassa is executed, never violate