View source for (Boylove Documentary Sourcebook) - A British Travel Account Regarding the Foiling of a Pederastic Sexual Encounter in Early 18th-Century Adrianople

[[File:Drinapoly-by Rossi.png|thumb|center|Adrianople (Edirne), Turkey. Late 17th century. Engraving by Giovanni Giacomo de Rossi.]]


From <i>A Full and Just Account of the Present State of the [[Ottoman Empire]] in All Its Branches</i> by Aaron Hill (London: John Mayo, 1709).

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But now, O black and horrid Shame! I must with all the detestation of a <i>Christian</i> Zeal, descend to speak a shocking Truth, relating to the strange and curs’d Pollution of <i>inverted Nature</i>, that ancient hellish Crime, which ruin’d <i>[[Sodomy|Sodom]]</i>, and at present reigns <i>among the Turks</i>, with such libidinous extravagance, that they will publickly avow their countenanc’d delight in such a beastly and inhuman Practice.

They have their favourite <i>Pooshts</i>, or <i>[[Catamite|Catamites]]</i>, as common as their Concubines, and ride attended to the Wars or distant Governments, by rich and splendid Numbers of these young <i>Male Prostitutes</i>.

[...]

Impunity for such unnatural and encroaching Guilt, emboldens their Presumption to so vast an height, that I remember with the greatest horror and amazement, an <i>unexampled</i> Impudence I was my self a witness of at <i>Adrianople</i>.

Sir <i>Robert Sutton</i>, now Embassador from Her Present Majesty to the Court of <i>Constantinople</i>, being just arriv’d in the abovenam’d City, where his Predecessor had some time expected him; it was my Duty to Congratulate his Entrance on that Dignity, which I did in company with many <i>[[United Kingdom|British]] Gentlemen</i> at that time there: The House in which Sr. <i>Robert</i> lodg’d, was seated pleasantly upon a noble River, which runs along the City, and an open <i>Kiosk</i> or airy <i>Summer House</i> look’d out upon the Water.

We were standing here extreamly pleas’d with the delightful Prospect, when from the Plain upon the other side, we saw a <i>Turk</i> of middle Age and decent Habit, lead a Boy about Fourteen directly to the Bank which slop’d upon the River, where he thought himself securely shelter’d from the People of a Village not far distant.

Descended to a Place convenient as he thought for the execution of his Purpose, he began, <i>to our surprise</i>, <i>and inexpressible confusion</i>, to prepare himself and his <i>consenting Catamite</i>, for acting a Design so hateful to our sight, and such a stranger to our Customs, that we scarce believ’d our Eyes, when they beheld this Object: We hallow’d loudly to the lustful Wretch, who turn’d his Head with seeming wonder to perceive us there, but still persisted in his first Attempt, till snatching up a <i>Fowling-piece</i>, which lay by chance upon a Table in the Summer House, I cock’d it, and presented it against his Body, as if I would have shot him dead immediately; <i>at this</i> he started, and adjusting the disorder of his loosned Dress, retir’d precipitately, with a thousand Curses on the House and Company, for having baulk’d so impious an Intention.
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[[File:Köçek-II.jpg|thumb|center|<i>[[Köçek]]</i> (dancing boy). Engraving, 19th century.]]

==See also==
*[[Adult friend (dictionary)]]
*[[Age of attraction (dictionary)]]
*[[Boylove]]
*[[Ephebophilia]]
*[[Ghilman]]
*[[Loved boy (dictionary)]]
*[[Minor-attracted person (dictionary)]]
*[[Pederasty in the Middle East and Central Asia]]
*[[Pedophilia]]
*[[Sufism]]
*[[Tellak]]
*[[Young friend (dictionary)]]

==External links==
*[http://name.umdl.umich.edu/004869666.0001.000 A full and just account of the present state of the Ottoman empire in all its branches: with the government, and policy, religion, customs, and way of living of the Turks, in general. ... By Aaron Hill, ... (Eighteenth Century Collections Online - Text Creation Partnership)]
*[https://greek-love.com/near-east-north-africa/turkey/the-present-state-of-the-ottoman-empire-by-aaron-hill-1709 <i>THE PRESENT STATE OF THE OTTOMAN EMPIRE</i> BY AARON HILL, 1709 (Greek Love Through the Ages)]
*[https://greek-love.com/near-east-north-africa/arab-islamic-loved-boy-age-pederasty THE AGE OF THE LOVED BOY IN THE ARAB-ISLAMIC WORLD, 1500-1800 (Greek Love Through the Ages)]

[[Category:Boylove Documentary Sourcebook]]
[[Category:Ottoman Empire]]
[[Category:United Kingdom]]
[[Category:Travel literature]]
[[Category:Sexuality]]
[[Category:LGBT articles]]