A Relation of the Grand Seignor's Seraglio. 



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

 Seignor, muft addrefs themfclves to the Capi-Aga, in order to their being 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 ; and when the Grand Vizir 

 would fpeak to him, 'tis the Capi-Aga\ place, to take and prefent him to his Higlv 

 , nefs. Whether it be by night, or by day, if there happen fomepreilmg Affair,whereof 

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

 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 th« 

 Sultaneffes ; 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 Baffa. As to his Table, all is at the Prince's Charge, and he has, 

 over and above, ten Sultanines 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, next to him, have the principal Charges of the Grand Seignor's 

 Quarter. 



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

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

 Perfon. 



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

 Seignor's Quarter, as to what relates to Embelliftiment, and the necefTary Reparations. 

 He has a particular infpedion over the Scferli Odaji, which is the Chamber of the Pa- 

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

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

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

 Louver-Cafile, in France, fince 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 

 Affiftant, or Lievtenant, the Seraikgt-Odafi, who is alfo an Eunuch, whofe imploy-» 

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

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



The Haznadar, or Cbaznadar-Bacbi, is the chief Intendant of the Treafury, and has 

 the irifpe&ion 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 Vizir, and the three Tefterdarfy 

 or Treafurers-General have the Keys, and Intendency. 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 > which 

 I (hall endeavour to lay down diftindly, before the Reader's profpect, in my Relation, 

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

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

 that he cannot fo much as enter into it, fince that in the Reign of Sultan Amurat y 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-bacbi (hould no 

 longer have any Command there, and that the Chaznahgt-odafi ihould for the future 

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

 Cbaznadar-bacbi is the better known, and the more pronounceable Name, I (hall al- 

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

 mark, That when the Chief, or Overfeer, of the Treafury, is remov'd from his Charge, 

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

 it is to be obferv'd, That, amongft all the Mabttmetan Princes, Turks, Perfians-, Indian^ 

 and of what Sed foever they may be of, what has been order'd and eftablilh'd in the 

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

 Amur at y the Capu-Agafi having committed fbme little impertinence, whereat the 

 Grand Seignor took offence, he excluded, thence forwards, all th& Gapou-Agafis, who 

 (hould be remov'd out of the Seraglio, from the priviledge of coming into à capacity to 



