In _Constantinople_ there are several narrow streets of Trade, closed up with sheds and pent-houses, which I suppose were in use before the _Greeks_ lost their Empire, and are the same with the σκεπαστοὶ καὶ φρακτοὶ δρόμοι in _Chrysaloras_ his[13]Epistle. But besides these places, several Trades have their distant quarters. The streets are raised for the most part on each side for the greater convenience. Not far from _Suleimania_ is the house of the _Aga_ or General of the _Janizaries_, which so often changes its Masters. _Pompey_'s pillar, as the _Franks_ erroneously call it, is of the _Corinthian_ order, curiously wrought, about eighteen foot in height and three in Diameter. _Beshiktash_, a Village within three or four miles of _Constantinople_ towards the _Bosphorus_, where lies buried the famous Pirate _Ariadin_, whom the _Christian_ Writers call _Barbarossa_, who built here a handsome Mosch, having two rows of Pillars at the entrance. The Captain _Bassa_ usually, before he puts to Sea with his Armata of Gallies, visits the Tomb of this fortunate Robber, who had made several thousand _Christians_ Slaves, and makes his Prayers at the neighbouring Church for the good Success of his expedition. They reckon in the City above a hundred publick Baths, every street almost affording one. They are esteemed works of great Piety and Charity; there being a continual use of them, not only upon the accompt of Religion, but of Health and Cleanliness. For their Diet being for the most part hot spiced meats in the Winter, and crude fruits in the Summer, their Liquor Fountain Water, or Coffee, to which we may add their lazy kind of Life (for walking is never used by them for digestion, or otherwise in the way of diversion) frequent bathing becomes necessary. There are several receptacles of Water under Ground, and one particularly under the Church of _Sancta Sophia_, as I was informed; but I did not think it worth my curiosity to descend into it. These were of great use to the poor _Greeks_ in the last fatal Siege; but the _Turks_ are so secure, that they do not think, that they deserve either cost or pains to keep the Waters sweet, or the cisterns in repair. The _Aqueducts_, which answer to those glorious _Aqueducts_, near _Pyrgos_, and convey the water to the great cistern near Sultan _Selim_'s Mosch, are in that part of _Constantinople_, which lies between the Mosch of _Mahomet_ the Great and _Shaxade_. The _Turks_ began to besiege _Constantinople_ on the fifth of _April_, and took it the twenty ninth of _May_ on _Whitsun Tuesday_ morning 1453. or as the _Turks_ reckon in the year 857. of the _Hegira_, or flight of _Mahomet_, the 22 day of the first _Jomad_.