nts. They are all of green, and the _bassas of
three tails_, have those ensigns of their power placed in very
conspicuous manner before their tents, which are adorned on the top
with gilded balls, more or less, according to their different ranks.
The ladies go in coaches to see the camp, as eagerly, as ours did to
that of Hyde-park; but 'tis very easy to observe, that the soldiers
do not begin the campaign with any great cheerfulness. The war is a
general grievance upon the people, but particularly hard upon the
tradesmen, now that the grand signior is resolved to lead his army in
person. Every company of them is obliged, upon this occasion, to
make a present according to their ability.

I TOOK the pains of rising at six in the morning to see the ceremony
which did not, however, begin till eight. The grand signior was at
the seraglio window, to see the procession, which passed through the
principal streets. It was preceded by an _effendi_, mounted on a
camel, richly furnished, reading aloud the alcoran, finely bound,
laid upon a cushion. He was surrounded by a parcel of boys, in
white, singing some verses of it, followed by a man dressed in green
boughs, representing a clean husbandman sowing seed. After him
several reapers, With garlands of ears of corn, as Ceres is pictured,
with scythes in their hands, seeming to mow. Then a little machine
drawn by oxen, in which was a wind-mill, and boys employed in
grinding corn, followed by another machine, drawn by buffaloes,
carrying an oven, and two more boys, one employed in kneading the
bread, and another in drawing it out of the oven. These boys threw
little cakes on both sides amongst the crowd, and were followed by
the whole company of bakers, marching on foot, two by two, in their
best clothes, with cakes, loaves, pasties, and pies of all sorts on
their heads, and after them two buffoons, or jack-puddings, with
their faces and clothes smeared with meal, who diverted the mob with
their antic gestures. In the same manner followed all the companies
of trade in the empire; the nobler sort, such as jewellers, mercers,
&c. finely mounted, and many of the pageants that represent their
trades, perfectly magnificent; amongst which, that of the furriers
made one of the best figures, being a very large machine, set round
with the skins of ermines, foxes, &c. so well stuffed, that the
animals seemed to be alive, and followed by music and dancers. I
believe they were, upon