Storia do Mogor 25.3

25.3

While we were in this town it happened that a young man, disguised as a woman, had been admitted to bathe the women; in the end it was discovered that he was a man, and after being well thrashed, he was taken before the criminal court, where he was condemned to death. Seeing the predicament he was in, he begged the court not to have him executed, but that he might be made a eunuch, that he should be forced to work at the baths, attending on the men and the women all his life without any pay. His request was complied with. After our departure we learnt that the said Anthoine Cheleby had been called to the court of the Grand Turk to give an account of his government. But he had foreseen a long time before that he would be thus summoned, and he had secretly transmitted all his wealth to Leghorn. In his house were excellent slaves — Poles, Georgians, Muscovites, and Abyssinians; and good horses in his stable, on which to take to flight at the first rumour. A Turkish horseman arrived from Constantinople to summon him, and entered his house immediately, and said to him with threats that he must come forth at once, that the Grand Signor required his attendance. The sharp-witted Armenian, without showing the least fear or astonishment, advanced towards the soldier, and greeting him with a smiling face and all the signs of amity and affection, desired that he would take some repose. In the morning they would set out together. Then, having taken his hand, he made him sit by his side.