When I  was  in  the  service  of  the  Turks,  I  frequently amused  myself  in  a  pleasure-barge  on  the  Sea  of  Marmora,  which  commands  a  view  of  the  whole  city  of  Constantinople, including  the  Grand  Seignior's  seraglio.  One  morning,  as  I  was admiring  the  beauty  and  serenity  of  the  sky,  I  observed  a globular  substance  in the  air,  which  appeared  to  be  about  the size  of  a  billiard-ball,  with  somewhat  suspended  from  it.  I  immediately took  up  my  largest  and  longest  fowling-piece,  without which   I   never   travel  or    make    even    an   excursion,  if  I  can help  it.  I  charged  with  a  ball  and  fired  at  the  globe,  but  to  no purpose,  the  object  being  at  too  great  a  distance. I  then  put  in a  double  quantity  of  powder,  and  five  or  six  balls.  This  second attempt  succeeded  ;  all  the  balls  took  effect,  and  tore  one  side open,  and  brought  it  down.    Judge  my  surprise  when  a  most elegant  gilt  car,  with  a  man  in  it,  and  part  of  a  sheep  which seemed  to  have  been  roasted,  fell  within  two  yards  of  me. When  my  astonishment  had  in  some  degree  subsided,  I  ordered my  people  to  row  close  to  this  strange  aerial  traveler.

- Chapter 9