Being men of
great taciturnity, they very seldom disturb a stranger with questions; and
a person may live in their country a dozen years, without having twenty
words addressed to him, except on important business. They seldom
travel, and have very little wish to be informed of the state of their
own, or any other country; when a minister of state is turned out of his
place, or strangled, (which is a frequent custom,) they coldly observe
that there will be a new one, without inquiring into the reason of the
disgrace of the former. The doctrine of predestination prevails, and
they therefore think it wicked to endeavour to avoid their fate;
frequently entering houses where they know the plague is raging.
All religions are tolerated in Turkey, though none are encouraged but
the Mahometan faith. The Christians have churches, which the Turks not
unfrequently convert into mosques for their own use; nor will they
suffer any new churches, or temples, to be built, without extorting an
exorbitant fine from the poor Christians.
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