(M) Circumcision is not one of the five Points which makes a true Mohametan, but by Tradition brought from the Arabians. The Othomans never perform this Ceremony, till the male Child is upwards of seven Years old. The Operator is a Surgeon. When the Child is recover’d of his Wound, he is placed on horseback, and led through the chief Streets of the Town, attended by the Iman (or Priest) with Children of its own Age. Till the Child is perfectly cured, the Parents make a great Feast, inviting their Relations and Acquaintance to partake of their Mirth. Grown People, or those that turn from the Christian Religion (called Renegadoes) ride in triumph, with a Dart in their left Hand, the Point directed to their left Breast, to signify they would sooner have it thrust thro’ their Heart, than renounce that Faiths being in the nature of Baptism with the Christians.

(N) Circassia is a Province that extends from the Bosphorus to the Eastern Shore of the Euxine Sea, famous for its beautiful Women; and the Seraglio is generally filled with them for the service of the Emperor.

(O) The Seraglio is the Emperor’s Palace, with large Gardens bordering on the Bosphorus, the Sea that parts Constantinople in Europe, and Scutari in Asia. There the Emperor’s Women are kept, each in favour having their particular Apartments, being generally attended by black Eunuchs, and those of the most deformed sort. The young Slaves are also brought up here in a large Apartment, near the Gate of the Seraglio and though the Sons of Slaves often rise to the highest Posts in the Empire; for in Turkey Birth is seldom regarded, but the greatest Merit rises to the highest Post, contrary to the Rules of other Nations, where Bribes and Favour promote the Worthless. At the age of twelve they are taken from the Seraglio, and employ’d in Business according to their Capacity.

(P) Guntz, a small Town, situate upon a River of the same name in Lower Hungary.

(Q) Gratz, the Capital City of Stiria; it stands upon the River Mure, twenty Miles from Vienna to the South.

(R) Tunis, the Capital of a Country of the same name, is a large City, five Miles in circumference. It a noble Port on the Coast of Barbary, upon the Mediterranean, about eight Leagues from old Carthage, the Birth-place of the famous Hannibal. This City has had more Revolutions and Masters than any City in the Universe: but since 1570 it has remain’d in the possession of Kings of their own, till the Line was extinct; and is now govern’d by a Bey as a Commonwealth, under the Protection of the Turk.

(S) Nice, the Capital of Bythinia, (the old Antigonia.) This City is remarkable for that famous Council held against Arianism, relating to the time of celebrating Easter among the Christians, with some Points of Church-Discipline, in the Imperial Palace of Constantine the Great, in the Year 325 of Christianity. There was another design’d in the Year 359, but prevented by a sudden Earthquake, which destroy’d a great part of the City. There was another Council assembled in the Year 787, made up of three hundred and fifty Bishops. Nice was taken by Godfrey of Boloigne in his way to Jerusalem in order to commence the Holy War, that cost so many thousand Lives, and drain’d the Purses of almost all Europe.

(T) Tauris (the old Ecbatana) the second City in the Kingdom of Persia, situated about thirty Miles from the Caspian Sea. In 849 it was deftroy’d by an Earthquake, very frequent in those mountainous Countries. It underwent several Revolutions between the Turks and Persians, but now it remains in the hands of the famous Kouli Kan.

(U) Babylon (or Bagdat by the Turks and Persians) is a City celebrated in sacred and profane History. It is built upon the Banks of the famous River Euphrates, that had its spring from Paradise itself. It is said the Builder was Nimrod, the Grandchild of Noah. The Walls were formerly forty-eight Miles in compass, and so broad that two Chariots might pass each other. Alexander in one of his Victories made this Conquest, and in this City, Death put a slop to all his Glories, and from seeking to be Master of the World, he only found a Grave. Grand Cairo in Egypt is founded on another Babylon; from whence St. Peter wrote his first Epistle. This City is built upon the Banks of the famous River Nile, whose overflowings inriches the Earth without Tillage.

(W) Sultana Queen. The Turkish Emperors have avoided Marriage, fearing any Change of Government might bring their Queens to Infamy and Disgrace; ever since Tamerlane took Bajazet’s Wife Arpasia Prisoner, and the more to insult Bajazet, forced Arpasia to wait naked at his Table.

(X) Caramania, a Province in Lesser Asia, over-against the Island of Cyprus. It formerly had Princes of its own, but it has been many Ages subject to the Turks. It includes the ancient Provinces of Cilicia, Pamphylia, and part of Caria.

(Y) Aleppo, a City of Syria, built upon the River Marsya, which falls into the Euphrates, is a very large Town, six miles in compass, the greatest Place for Trade in all Asia. The English, French, Dutch, and Venetians, have consuls always residing there.