or Berstein: Thus at Constantinople, Adrianople, and in some other towns within the Grand Signior's dominions, they call those places where the merchants have their shops, and expose their merchandise to sale. Each sort of merchants have their particular beistan, which must also be understood of the workmen, all those of the same trade working in the same place. These beistans are commonly large galleries, vaulted over, whose gates are shut every night. Sometimes the wardens and keepers of the beistans will answer for the merchandises, on paying them a very moderate perquisite for every shop.

BESIERIA. See Botany Index.