Ghap. XIV. Grand Seignor's Seraglio. 6<) 



CHAP. XIV. 



Of the Quarter of the Dogangi-bacbi, or Grand 

 Faulconer, and offbme other Officers. 



The Principal Heads. 



s^Magnifcent Chambers. The ordinary ^eyenues of the Grand Faul* 

 coners. The ^Magnificence of the Ottoman Trinces, in Tohat 

 relates to Hunting. Birds Supplying the places of Dogs, in run- 

 ning down a Deer, or a Hare. Tlie delicate Chamber of the 

 Selidgar-Agi, W*J carries the Grand Seignor's Sword. The ex- 

 cellent order obferVd in the Seraglio ; 



rnr^ 



He Vogangi-bachiy or Grand Faulconer, and the Pages, whom he has under Mtgtjficmi 

 his Charge, have their .Quarter, between that of the Pages of the Trea- chmbm * 

 fury, and that of the Pages of the Chamber. The place appointed for 

 the Pages of the Falconry, has nothing in it extraordinary, and a man 

 cannot make a dilcovcry of any thing of beauty therein : but on the 

 other fide, the two Chambers, where the Grand Falconer Lodges, have fomething 

 that's Magnificent, and are as fumptuoufly furniih'd , as any other Room of the Se- 

 raglio. The firft, which ferves for an Anti-Chamber, is leflfer, and they are both of 

 them pav'd with a Checquer-work of black and white Marble, having the Roof 

 beautify'd with Flowers, painted, and guilt. But that of the lecond Chamber is the 

 more fumptuous by much, as having large Flowers, in embofs'd Work, every Flower 

 in its fquare piece, and the Junctures all cover'd with Gold. The Walls are ex- 

 cellently wainfeoted, wherein alfo they have not fpar'd for Gold, and on both fides, 

 there arc crofs-barrM Windows, whereby the Chamber receives much light. The 

 Marble Checquer-work of the Floor is not feen, as being covered with a iilken Car- 

 pet, ufx>n which there are laid, in feveral parts of the Chamber, a certain number of 

 Quilts, two or three foot in breadth, and about four Inches thick. Some of them 

 are cover 1 d with Velvet, or Satin, of different Colours •, others, with Gold-Brocka- 

 does, and every one has its Cuthion, of the fame Stuff, between three and four foot 

 in length, and about two foot in heighth. Thefe Culhions are laid behind their 

 backs, when they are fitting, after their Mode, crofs-legg'd, and thofe little Quilts 

 are, to them, inltcad of Chairs, and Couches, in a Chamber. 



If the Grand Falconer be removM out of the Seraglio, it is upon his advancement Tht ordinary 

 to the Charge of one of the principal Bajfas^ and to one of the greater Governments, Rrvmisoftht 

 as that of Ca'rro^ or Babylon •, and while he continues in the Seraglio, beiides his Ta- Grand ^ ilct " 

 blc, which is all at the Prince's charge, he is allow'd an annual Revenue, of ten or 

 twelve thoufand Crowns.The Pages ot the Falconry ,carry Hawks on their Finland feed 

 them: they have the liberty to go and cxercife them in the Gardens and they all attend 

 the Grand Seignor, when he goes a Hawking, or Hunting. They wear the fame Stuffs, 

 as the Pages of the Treafury, and may alio put on Vcfts of Cloath, but made after 

 fuch a fafhion, as makes them eafily diitin'gniihable from thclcbogtans^ 6f the ririt and 

 fecond Chamber, who are always clad in Wool len-cl oath. For me Pages of the Fal- 

 conry have their Sleeves made narrower and narrower, from the Shoulder to the Wriuy 

 and they are there fallen' d clofe with Buttons i but the Sleeves of the Pages of 



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