ignior's treasury, when they are not likely to have any
children of their own, they chuse some pretty child of either sex,
amongst the meanest people, and carry the child and its parents
before the cadi, and there declare they receive it for their heir.
The parents, at the same time, renounce all future claim to it; a
writing is drawn and witnessed, and a child thus adopted, cannot be
disinherited. Yet I have seen some common beggars, that have refused
to part with their children in this manner, to some of the richest
among the Greeks; (so powerful is the instinctive affection that is
natural to parents!) though the adopting fathers are generally very
tender to these _children of their souls_, as they call them. I own
this custom pleases me much better than our absurd one of following
our name. Methinks, 'tis much more reasonable to make happy and
rich an infant whom I educate after my own manner, _brought up_ (in
the Turkish phrase) _upon my knees_, and who has learned to look upon
me with a filial respect, than to give an estate to a creature,
without other merit or relation to me, than that of a few letters.
Yet this is an absurdity we see frequently practised.--Now I have
mentioned the Armenians, perhaps it will be agreeable to tell you
something of that nation, with which I am sure you are utterly
unacquainted. I will not trouble you with the geographical account
of the situation of their country, which you may see in the maps; or
a relation of their ancient greatness, which you may read in the
Roman history. They are now subject to the Turks; and, being very
industrious in trade, and increasing and multiplying, are dispersed
in great numbers through all the Turkish dominions. They were, as
they say, converted to the Christian religion by St Gregory, and are
perhaps the devoutest (sic), Christians in the whole world. The
chief precepts of their priests enjoin the strict keeping of their
lents, which are, at least seven months in every year, and are not to
be dispensed with on the most emergent necessity; no occasion
whatever can excuse them, if they touch any thing more than mere
herbs or roots (without oil) and plain dry bread. That is their
constant diet.--Mr W----y has one of his interpreters of this nation,
and the poor fellow was brought so low, by the severity of his fasts,
that his life was despaired of. Yet neither his master's commands,
nor the doctor's entreaties (who declared nothing else could