10 A Relation of the Grand Seignors Ser aclio. 



who thus ferveih the Brigantincs, and row on the right hand, may beadvane'd to 

 the charge of Boflangi-Bachi, which is one of the raoft coufidcrahlc places of the Sera- 

 glio : But they who row on the left hand, are capable only of the mean Employ- 

 ments, which arc beftowM in the Gardens. If it happen that any one of them break 

 his Oaf, by ltrength of rowing, in the Grand Scignor's pretence, his Highnefs imme- 

 diately orders him a gratuity of fifty Crowns \ and there is alfo a certain diftribution 

 made of feme Money to the others, as the Grand Seignor takes his diverfion in the 

 Brigantine. Their greateft Pay, after they have ferved fome years, is feveil Afpers 

 and a half per diem, beiides clothing and diet, which they all equally have. 



Bo1.ivgi-b.iehi 

 on .• of the nc- 



nor 



The "BoftangSacbi has the general Intendency of Over fight of all the Grand Seig- 

 .Ss Gardens, as well thofe of Coiijtantinople as tfiofc of the neighbouring Villages, 

 ^ c ^ e p^ t r # 8CS aud command's above tell thoufand Bojiangis, who are employed in the culture of 

 them. Though he be taken out of the mcaneft rank of the Azamoglans, yet his pow- 

 er is very great, and his Employment one of the noble ii and moft confiderable about 

 the Court. That gives himaccefs to the Prince's Perfbn, to whom he may fpeak fa- 

 miliarly, when he carries him by Sea •, for he has his Seat at the Helm of the Brigantine, 

 wherein the Grand Seignor is, who moft commonly makes ufe of him, to carry his 

 Orders to fomeB.i/p, when he would have his Head. All the Grandees of the Port 

 Hand in awe of him, and endeavour to gain his affe&ion by their Prefents, becaufe it 

 lies in his power, to do them either good or bad Offices about the Prince, whom he 

 can difpote, as he pleafes, when he has him abroad upon the Water. Eor being as 

 'twere at his elbow, and having the whip of the Rudder in his hand, with the prlvi- 

 ledge of fitting in his pretence, that he may the more ealily govern it, he has then the 

 opportunity to entertain him with aftairs of State, and the conduct of the Baffas, and 

 anfwerably to his pailion, orintereit, clearly to acquaint him how things pafs, or turn 

 and difguife them as he pleafes. In hue, if he be highly in favour, he may obtain one 

 of the great Governments, and become Bajfa of Bttdj, Babylon, or Cairo, nay haply 

 Grand Vizir, which is the moft eminent Charge of the Empire. 



The CapigU are the Porters or Keepers of the Gates of the Seraglio, that is to (ay, of 

 the firft and fecond Courts ■•> for the third Gate, which gives entrance into the inner 

 Seraglio, is kept by Eunuchs. The Chief of the Capias is calTd Capigi-bacbi, who has 

 under him other Officers, bearing the fame Name i and whom the Grand Seignor 

 makes ufe of, to carry his Orders. The Capi-Ag.i is above all. 



The Attagti are the Cooks of the Seraglio, over whom as well as over the HalvagU> 

 the Kilargi-bacbi has full Power. Every Kitchin has its Atiagi-bacbi, that is to fay, its 

 chief Director or Maiter-Cook. And the Moutbai^Emin is the Intendant or Ovcrteer, 

 who fupplies the Kitchins with all that is necefTary, taking care alfo for the Tables of 

 the AmbaiTadors, according to the Orders he has received from the Grand Vizir. 



The Halvagis are the Confectioners, of whom I (hall have cccafion to fpeak more at 

 large elfewhere. They give alfo the fame Name to thofe who ferve the Grandees of 

 the Seraglio, and are permitted to go out of it and into it, when they pleate. 



The Baltagyf are a robuft fort of People, imploy'd in the carrying of Burthens, as 

 Porters, and Cleavers of Wood are amongft us. Baltagi implies properly a Labouring 

 Man, who makes ufe of the Wedge.- 



The Hafteler-Agafi is the Overfeer of the Infirrnary, who obferves what comes in, 

 and what goes out, and efpecially that there be no Wine brought in. 



I (hall have occafion alfo, in my Relation, to fpeak of two others, to wit, the 

 EmiraljoKr-bacbi, and the Ekpteggi-bachi, who are two Officers belonging to the Sultan, 

 but have their Habitations out of the Seraglio. 



The Emirabour-bacbi is the great Gentleman-Uftier, who goes before the Grand 

 Seignor, when he appears in publick, and in all Ceremonies. ? 



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The 



