Storia do Mogor 25.2

25.2

During the fifty days that we remained in this town, I noticed the antiquity of the buildings, which in early times the Greeks had built in the form of fortresses — the walls, the bridges, the churches now converted by the Turks into mosques. Outside the town you see statues of stone lying on the ground, and these are defiled by the Turks when on their way to the mosques, which is a great affliction to the faithful. The town is a large one, inhabited by Turks, Armenians, and Greeks ; but the Jews are in the greatest numbers, and they are very badly treated. In the middle of the town flows a stream which is used to water the surrounding gardens, and in addition there are several springs of clear water for household use and the seraglios ; all this makes the place very healthy. There are hot baths for cleansing the body in the Turkish and Persian fashion. The men resort to them for their bath at five o'clock in the morning, and leave again at six o'clock. When the men have come out, a horn is sounded as a signal that the baths are vacant, and that the women can attend to take their bath. In attendance are barbers to serve and bathe the men, and also there are girls who perform the same duties for the women.