88 A. Relation of the Chap. XVII. 



How to dijtin- j a ^ c i t then for granted, that this is all that can be known, with certainty, of the 

 gufjh whit's Appartment of the Women, who are fubfervient to the pleafures ojf the Ottoman Mo- 

 fabHousj *s*t0 narchs > whatever is fcatter'd abroad, beyond this account thereof, being grounded 

 ffoSukancflc*. only upon imaginations and conjedures, which haply are at a great diltar.ee from the 

 truth. Certain it is, that this Quarter of the Seraglio, as to (ome part of it, has a fair 

 Profped upon that of the Grand Scignor, and that the Doors of it are kept.night and 

 day, by a certain number of Negro-Eunuchs , the molt deformed, and the molt dread- 

 ful to look upon, that can be found. It is certain alio, that it is well furnilh'd with 

 abundance of molt beautiful Women, ot feveraj Countries, who, by the chance of War 

 or otherwife, are fallen into the hands of the BaJJ'as, and Governours of Provinces' 

 who (end them up, as Prefents, to the Grand Seignor. It is known alio, That,of that 

 variety of Women, the Prince dees not appropriate to himfelf above two or three 

 whom he has the greateli afTedion for j nay fome of thofe Princes have confin'd 

 thciufelves to the embraces of one only, after intermarriage. And this isarlirm'd at 

 Gnijianttnopk) of Solyman the Great, alter he had plighted his faith to Koxulana can* 

 trary to the ordinary Policy of the T«/-^r, after the affront, done by Tenwr-lew, to the 

 Wife of Bajazet. The white Eunuchs, who wait in the Grand Scignor's Lodgings 

 are able, in fome meafure, to give an account of thefe things, in regard that the 

 Woman, who is to participate of the Grand Seignor's Eed, is concluded into his 

 own Chamber ; and, it it be a new Amour, the noife of it is fprcad, the next day all 

 over the Seraglio. 



It is alfo known, That the firft of thofe Women, who is deliver'd of a Male-child 

 and, by that means, becomes Mother to the preemptive Heir of the Ottoman-Empire] 

 is conlider'd as the principal Sultancfs, and treated according to her dignity : and the 

 others, who afterwards have Sons or Daughters, have alfo the quality and denomina- 

 tion of SnkancJJ'es ■■> but the number of the Women, who are to wait on them is 

 much inferiour, to that of thofe, who are to attend the principal Sultanefs. It is 

 known, in fine, That thofe young Princes are brought up under the tutelage of their 

 Mothers, till they are fo many years of ege ; and when they are ftrong enough to be 

 put upon certain Exercifes, they have Governours and Mailers appointed over them 

 in a diftind Quarter by themielves. 



Bcfides thefe things, which may be pofitively known, concerning the Appartment 

 of the Women, in the Seraglio, it may well be imagined, that the embellUbments o{ 

 their Lodgings are anfwerable to thofe of the Grand Seignor, lince it is the place 

 where he panes away the molt divertive part ot his time. It is alio not to be que- 

 Ition'd, but that it has its Infirmary, its Baths, and the other accommodations and 

 conveniences, that can be wilh'd for. It may alio be conjectur'd, That there is,in 

 this Quarter, an obfervance of the fame regulations, as there are in the Chambers ot" 

 the Icboglans : That fome of the more ancient Maids are MifyejOTes over the Younger 

 ones, and arc, night and day employ'd in obferving their adtions , and mat their un- 

 voluntary rcftraint forces them to the fame unfeemly adions amonglt themfelves, as 

 the brutilh Pallions of thofe Young Men engages them in, whenever they can rind the 

 opportunities to commit them. And this preemption has no doubt given occalion to 

 the Fabulous Story, which is related of their being ferv'd up with Cucumbers cut into 

 pieces, and not entire, out of a ridiculous fear left they lhould put them to undecent 

 ufes : they who have forg'd the Story not knowing, that it is the cuftome in the Le- 

 vantytoait the Fruit a-crofs, into great thick llices, as I (hall make it appear in the 

 Chapter, where I treat of their Gardens. But it is not only in the Seroglio,that that 

 abominable Vice reigns, but it is predominant alfo in the City of Conjhntinofje, and 

 in all the Provinces of the Empire, and the wicked Example of the Men, who, flight- 

 ing the natural ufe of Woman-kind, are mutually enrlam'd with a deteltable love for 

 one another, unfortunately enclines the Women to imitate them. 



A ftrangi Sto- Of this, there was a ftrange inltance in the time of Solyman the Magnificent. An 

 ryofan old old Woman was guilty of fuch an excels of extravagance jas to put on Man's Cloaths, 

 and to give out, that (he had bought a Cbiaouxs place, the better to compafs her de- 

 fine, of obtaining the only Daughter of a Trades-man of Conjiantinoph, with whom 



