ottery. The
complement of soldiers, whether volunteers (_levents_), consisting of
Turks, renegades, or _Kuroghler_ (_Kuloghler_)--_i.e._, _creoles_,
natives, Turks born on the soil--or if these cannot be had, ordinary
Moors, or Ottoman janissaries, varied with the vessel's size, but
generally was calculated at two to each oar, because there was just
room for two men to sit beside each bank of rowers: they were not paid
unless they took a prize, nor were they supplied with anything more
than biscuit, vinegar, and oil--everything else, even their blankets,
they found themselves. The soldiers were under the command of their
own Aga, who was entirely independent of the Reis and formed an
efficient check upon that officer's conduct. Vinegar and water, with a
few drops of oil on the surface, formed the chief drink of the galley
slaves, and their food was moistened biscuit or rusk, and an
occasional mess of gruel (_burgol_): nor was this given out when hard
rowing was needed, for oars move slackly on a full stomach.

It was usual to consult an auguration book and a _marabut_, or saint,
before deciding on a fortunate day for putting to sea, and these
saints expected a share of the prize money. Fridays and Sundays were
the favourite days for sailing; a gun is fired in honour of their
tutelary patron; "God speed us!" shout the crew; "God send you a
prize!" reply the crowd on the shore, and the galleot swiftly glides
away on its destructive path. "The Algerines," says Haedo, "generally
speaking, are out upon the cruise winter and summer, the whole year
round; and so devoid of dread they roam these eastern and western
seas, laughing all the while at the Christian galleys (which lie
trumpetting, gaming, and banqueting in the ports of Christendom),
neither more nor less than if they went a hunting hares and rabbits,
killing here one and there another. Nay, far from being under
apprehension, they are certain of their game; since their galleots are
so extremely light and nimble, and in such excellent order, as they
always are[63]; whereas, on the contrary, the Christian galleys are
so heavy, so embarrassed, and in such bad order and confusion, that it
is utterly in vain to think of giving them chase, or of preventing
them from going and coming, and doing just as they their selves
please. This is the occasion that, when at any time the Christian
galleys chase them, their custom is, by way of game and sneer, to
point to their fresh-tall