2o A Relation of the Chap. I, 



it * extent , fi- That great Indofuie makes a Triangle, one fide whereof is to the Land-fide, and 



gm^andtxttr- rcac j lcs t0 tnc city, and the two others lye open to the Sea and a River which (alls in- 

 "*** to it. This Triangle is unequal, and if it.be divided into eight parts, that fide to- 



wards the Land takes up three of them, and the five others are lor the two tides abut- 

 ting on the Sea. Its compafs is about three Italia^ miles, or one oi our common 



Leagues* And this Palace is iurrounded all about with high and throng Wails, tlankM 

 on the Sea-fide with fquare Towers, at a confiderable diftance one from another, and 

 towards the City, with round Towers, Which are at a nearer diftance one from ano- 

 ther, from the great Gate of the Seraglio, which is towards St. Sophia, as far as the 

 Sea, where you imbark for Galata. In thofe Towers, in the night-time, there arc 

 Guards of the Azamoglans, to fee that no Body approaches the Seraglio, by Sea or 

 Land , and ifoecalion require, they may fire Tome pieces of Artillery, which itand al- 

 ways loaden upon a Quay, of rive fathom breadth, which is carried quite about the 

 Seraglio. 



Upon one of thofe Towers, about a hundred paces from the great Gate of the Sera- 

 glio, as you go down, in order to your paiTage over to Galata, they have wrought 

 a Clofet, into w : hich the Grand Seignor goes toinetimes to divert himfelf, and to fee 

 People palling to and fro, without being feen bin. kit. Somewhat lower, and upon 

 the Sea-fide, there is a fpacious place cover'd over, under which, as if it were in a lit- 

 tle Haven, they keep the Caicks ox Brigantines, wherein the Prince takes his divertife- 

 ment by Water, when he is pleas\l to do it. 



Not far thence, within the inelofure of the Seraglio, are the Habitations of the £,> 

 ftangifi who are entrufted with the conduit oi the Brigantines ; and at a little farther 

 diftance, in your way to the point of the Seraglio, which is towards Scudaretj (lands 

 the Quarter of the Bojiangi-bacbi, Overfeer of the Gardens of the Seraglio, and of all 

 the other Gardens belonging to the Grand Seignor. 



rti AnilU.y "Upon the Quay, which, as I told you, does furround the Walls of the Seraglio, 



out of order, there are forty or fifty pieces of Canon of different bignefs, and there are fome of Co 



and the Gun. g reat a k ore> fa^ a jyj an m ight get into them. Oppotite thereto, and in the middle 



*kilTd of the Channel, there is a Tower built upon a Rock, which the Turks call §htifler hou~ 



lefo or the Torvcr of the Virgins. It is kept by Bojlangh; and has its Guns Icvelfd with 



the Water, which better defend the Streight, than thofe at the point of the Seraglio, 



which for the molt part are without Carriages, and unferviceable. Befides, they want 



good Gunners, and if all that Artillery were well mounted, and managed by skilful 



Perfons, it would better keep in awe, whatever comes out of die Mediterranean, and 



the FIjc^Sc j. 



Some few paces from the place where thefe Canons are planted, there fprings a 

 Fountain which comes out of the Seraglio, and cafts a great quantity of Water, for 

 the convenience of the Veflels, which lye at Anchor near it, and fupply themfelvcs 

 therewith ■■> it being not permitted that any Qiould land on that tide of the Seraglio, 

 but upon that account. 



A pleafant We have fpoken fufficiently of the external parts, 'tis time we now enter into the 



abode, but re- Seraglio, and rather confides what paffes in every Appartment of it, than the Structures 

 ftraint mafa thereof, wherein, as I faid, there is not any thing of Magnificence, whatever fome 

 itstberwife. p cr fons might invent, who, in my pretence, have made noble Draughts of it, ground- 

 ed on their own pure Imaginations. I have feen as much of the Seraglio, as a Stranger 

 could do, and I have feen it feveral times, in feveral Voyages, having haei time enough 

 to coniider, the two rirlt Courts, the Divan, and the Hall of Audience, but cannot ce- 

 lebrate them much for any great Beauties I could rind in them. There is, I muff con- 

 fefs, abundance of Marble and Porphyry in all the Appartments j but on the other fide, 

 all thofe Appartments arc confufedly (hurried together ', there is no regularity at all -, 

 molt of the Rooms have but little light, and all the ornament of them coniifts in rich 

 Tapiftry lay'd all over the Floors thereof, and fome Culhions of gold and firver Bro- 

 kaclo, fome whereof are embroidered with Pearls. Eut taking things generally, if the 

 Walls and the Towers, which indole the Seraglio, look more like a frightful Prifon, 



than 



