A Relation of the Grand Seignor s Seraglio. 



many rich Prefents. All thofe Perfons alfo, who are to make any Prefent to the Grand 

 Seignor, mult addrefs themfclves to the Capi-Aga, in order to their king prefented to. 

 his Highnefs, of which he makes great Advantages. No Man can enter into the Em- 

 perour's Apartment, nor get out of it, without his Order j and when the Grand Vizir 

 would fpeak to him, 'tis the Capi-Agas place, to take and prefent him to his High- 

 nefs. Whether it be by night, or by day, if there happen fome prelling ArTair 5 whereof 

 the Vizir would give the Grand Seignor immediate notice in writing, the Capi-Aga 

 receives it from him, and brings him the anfwer thereto. He wears hisTurbant in the 

 Seraglio, and rides up and down on Horfe-back, by a Priviledge particularly annex'd 

 to his Charge. He accompanies the Grand Seignor even into the Apartment of the 

 SultaneiTes i but he ftays at the door, as having no Command in that place. When he 

 leaves the Seraglio, upon his being difmifs'd from his Charge, which very feldom hap- 

 pens, he cannot be a Batfa. As to his Table, all is at the Prince's Charge, and he has, 

 over and above, ten Suhanines a day, which amount to fixty Livers, French Money' 

 There have been fome Capi-Agas, who have dy'd worth two millions, all which re-* 

 turn'd into the Grand Seignor's Coffers. The chief of the white Eunuchs is attended 

 by four others, who, .ext to him, have the principal Charges of the Grand Seignor's 

 Quarter. 



The Hazodabacbi, is, as it were, the Lord High-Chamberlain, having under hi? 

 Charge the forty Pages of the Chamber, who ordinarily approach the Grand Seignor'* 

 Perfon. 8 



The Serai- Agafi has the general Superintendency of all the Chambers of the Grand 

 Seignor's Quarter, as to what relates to Embellimment, and theneceflary Reparations. 

 He has a particular infpe&ion • over the Seferli Odafa which is the Chamber of the Pa- 

 ges, who are to look after the Grand Seignor's Linnen, and attend him in his Progref- 

 fes. 'Tis incumbent alfo upon him to give Order for their Cloaths, and whatever elfa 

 they (land in need of: And his Charge does fomewhat referable that of Captain of the 

 Lota>er-CajUe, in France, fmce it is his work, generally to make provifion for whatever 

 may contribute to the decency and well-ordering of that great Palace* He has for his 

 AiTiftant, or Licvtcnant, the Scraikgt-Odafi, who is alfo an Eunuch, whofe imploy- 

 ment it is, to have the Tapiitry and Carpets, which are fpread upon the Floors, in the 

 Halls and Lodgings of the Seraglio, chang'd every fix months. , 



The Haznadar, or Cbaznadar-Bacbi) is the chief Intcndant of theTreafory, and has 

 the infpedion of the conduct and deportment of the Pages of that Chamber. Which is 

 not to be underftood of the Treafury, defign'd for the exigencies of the State, and the 

 ordinary Pay of the Souldiery, and whereof the Grand Vizky and the three Tefterdars, 

 or Trcafurers-General have the Keys, and Intendcncy. But the Treafury I here fpeak 

 of, is the place, where they keep the Jewels of the Crown, and all the other Rarities, 

 and the wealth gather'd together, from Father to Son, by the Ottoman Princes 5 which 

 I ihall endeavour to lay down diltindtly, before the Reader's profped, in my Relation, 

 when I come to open unto him both the Treafuries. However it is to be obferv'd, 

 that the Cbaznadar-Bacbi has only the honorary title of Chief of the Treafury, nay, 

 that he cannot fo much as enter into it, (ince that in the Reign of Sultan Amurat, the 

 Pages of the Treafury having complain'd to the Grand Seignor of the ill conduct of 

 that Eunuch, he, upon their Petition, order'd, that the Cbaznadar-bachi fhould no 

 longer have any Command there, and that the Chaznakgt-odafi (hould tor the future 

 exercite his Charge, without depriving him of the title thereof. But in regard the 

 Cbaznadar-lacbi is the better known, and the more pronounceable Name, I QaaH al- 

 ways make ufe of it, inrtead of the other i and we muft not omit giving you this re- 

 mark, That when the Cliief, or Overfeer, of the Treafury, is remov'd fromhfc Charge, 

 he is made a Baffa. Upon this counterchanging of thefe two Officers of the Seraglio, 

 it is to be obferv'd, That, amongli all the Mahurnetan Princes, Turfa terfianr, Indian^ 

 and of what Seel foever they may be of, what has been ordcr'dand eflSblith'd in the 

 Reign of one Prince, is never revok'd by his Succeflor : And under the fame Sultan* 

 Anwrat, the Capou-Agafi having committed fome little impertinence , whereat the 

 Grand Seignor took offence, he excluded, tjience forwards, all the Gapott-Agafis, who 

 (hould be remov'd out of the Seraglio* from the priviledge of coming into a capacity t& 



be 



