though it were even a rejoycing for a Victory obtained by the Turks over their own Country, else they would have an Avanie put upon them, and therefore when they keep an Esinie for a Victory over the Venetians, the Consul of Venice is obliged to do as others do, if he had not rather pay the next day a swinging Avanie. There they expose, besides Lamps and Tapistry, several excellent Pictures, which the Turks look upon with a great deal of pleasure, especially when it is some good Face; thinking it impossible that we should have such Beauties in Christendom, nay, that there can be any such in the World. The Women came also, being allowed then, as at Bairam, to go abroad and see the Festival, yet not the great Ladies, as those of the Basha's, Beys, and others of higher Quality, but only those of an inferiour Condi∣tion. This is very expensive to the Consuls, and to all that would make any shew; for besides some hundreds of Lamps, and the Tapistry which must be hired; it is the custom to treat all those who come to see what is before the House with Coffee, and if they be People of Honour and Fashion, they must give them Sorbet also, nay, and Sweet-meats too. And for that end, every Consul had before his House a piece of Tapistry, hung out on each side of the Street, and Hangings all round, leaving only a Passage between; under these kind of Pavillions on each side of the Street, there were some hundreds of Lamps, and a great many Pictures, as likewise at the Avenues of the Street, with Chairs and rich Cushions for those that come to see, to sit on. And no sooner did any come, how mean soever he was, but he had Coffee and Tobacco brought to him, so that the Expence went high; for betwixt morning early, and three a Clock after Midnight, many thousands of People came. This Festival ended on Friday Morning, the fifteenth of November, so that the Esine lasted but six days, though it had been cried for seven, because the Infe∣riour sort of People were at too great Charges, and got nothing, for during that time, no Man was suffered to Work. CHAP. LXXI. Of the Desarts of St. Macharius. The Journey to the De∣sarts of St. Macharius.ONE should also see the Desarts of St. Macharius, where there are four Monasteries, to wit, of St. Macharius, the Syrians, Balsarion, and of our Lady. I did not see them, having still put it off from day to day: However, I will here give you a Relation of them, which I got. You must take Water at Boulac, with a Janizary or two, and fall down as far as a Village called Terrana, where there is a Cachef, to whom it will not be a miss to make some small present of Sweet-meats, or the like, that you may be the better prote∣cted by him. Then the Janizaries wait upon the said Cachef, and inform him that their Company have a desire to go to the Desarts of St. Macharius: Imme∣diately the Cachef gives orders to two of his Men, and to Arab Scheiks, to make ready to attend the Travellers, and provides Beasts to carry them. For the price, you must endeavour to agree as cheap as you can, and it must be made in presence of the Cachef, before you set out, for if you delay till you come back, they'll exact the more. The hire commonly for going and coming is two Piastres for each Horse or Camel, and one Piastre for each Ass, besides three or four Piastres for every Horse-man that accompanies you, which pays both for Man and Horse. Such as would spare Charges, should at Caire strike in with one of the Monks of some of the Monasteries of the said Desart, who will oblige himself to Conduct them thither and back again to Caire,Dris. and they are to go down the River with him, to a Village called Dris, where these Monks have a House. There the Monk will do well to take with him an Arab that is known in the Moun∣tain, and every one being mounted on an Ass, they may begin their Journey. 0