A few days after he invited us to make an excursion by sea to a certain garden; and we got into a boat with him, and with the other janissaries, sailed to the garden, and entered it. The janissaries, leaving us in the garden with their servant, went into a second garden, in which they stayed a long time, and, on returning, invited us to go with them, saying that their female friends were there. We Christians—there were only four of us—went into the garden, and saw at a distance five or six Turkish women walking about in the garden. Our janissary’s servant had a pipe, made of reeds, like an organ, on which he piped a Turkish tune. At this the women were apparently terrified, and looked to see who and where the piper was; but our janissary, stepping out and showing himself, bent his head to his knees, kissed the hand of each, and begged them not to take it ill that he had brought four giaours, or Christians, into the garden. After conversing with the ladies a tolerably long time, he called to us to come to him. We came to them, and, kissing their hands, said in excuse that we had not been aware of their presence, and begged that our conduct might not be annoying to them. Not far off was a summer-house, which the ladies entered. We followed, and conversed with them as well as we could, and what they did not understand in our conversation our janissary explained to them. At length, at his urgent request, all but one unveiled; but we saw nothing particularly beautiful in them. All were brown, and black-eyed, and had dyed hair and eye-brows. They caused apples, oranges, and other fruit to be brought, and requested us to eat. After staying there a short time we took leave of them and departed.
