The Sultan's Flotilla

All their faces were stamped with the wolfish ferocity to which they had been reared under their dark blue cloaks glinted fine mail. Many wore stee skull caps under their curious, high peaked hats, from which depended a white sleeve like piece of cloth. And through which was thrust a copper spoon, long bird of paradise. Each janisary bore a match lock, and their officers carried pots of coals for the ding of the matches. Up and down the ranks scurried the dervishes, clad only in cowpacks of camel hair and green aprons fringed with ebony beads. Cymbals clashing, lutes twanging over the flowing sea