A Relation of the Grand Seignor s Seraglio. i i 



The Ekmefgi-bjcbi is the Mafter-Baker, who has the over-fight, and gives diredioii 

 for the Eaking of all the Bread that is eaten in the Seraglio. Thefe two Imployments 

 are not beftow'd on any of thofe who have their abode within the Seraglio, but to 

 Perfons who live out of it, but have the liberty of ingrefs into it, egrefs out of it, at 

 any time. 



To be (hortj T fhall have occafion to fpeak of the Caragi-hachi^ and of the Cham of 

 the leflfer Tartary, and I have feme curious Obfcrvations to make upon both of 

 them. 



The Caragi-bachi is the Chief of thofe, who colled the Tributes, and it is of him, The Oeconomy 

 as alfo of the Gemmerou-bachi, or grand Farmer of the Cultoms, and of the Bazarcan- ofthtPiràÎÀnL 

 bachi, or Chief amongft the Merchants, that the Grand Seignor makes ufe of, to make or ff t ^ iùn °* 

 Advancements, when he wants Money, and that there is not any in the Publick Trea-^ ilc ^ Mmxu 

 mry, he being unwilling that they (hould meddle with the Secret Treafury. They 

 mull of ncceflity find it out, and it is no hard matter for them to do, in regard that 

 of all the Tributes, Cuftoms, and other Importions due to the Grand Seignor, there 

 is not any thing pay'd till the end of the Year, and thefe Officers oblige Men to the 

 payment thereof, at the beginning of it. 



All forts of Perfons, what Religion foever they are of, except the Mabumetah, are 

 oblig'd to pay the Tribute without any exception, from the time of their fettling in 

 the Empire, and having attain'd the ilxteenth year of their Age. And this Tribute, 

 or Poll-Money, amounts to rive hundred and fifty old Afters, which neithef rife nor 

 fall, but always keep at the fame rate of eighty, to a Piafiro, which, in the Frehch 

 Money, and confequently with little difference in ours, amounts to five Crowns and 

 •J. All other Chrijiians who come into the Empire, upon the (core of Trade, or Bufi- 

 nefs, though 'twere but for one day, are fore'd to pay, at the firft City where they ar- 

 rive. The forreign Greeks, fùch as they from Mitfcovy or other places, pay three hun- 

 dred and fifty Ajpers •> but the Armenians, who come from Perfia 3 Georgia, Mingrelia y 

 and other Countreys, are tax'd but at three hundred. As to the Cbrifiians, whom 

 they call Franguis, they pay nothing ; and that has given much trouble to the Ambaf- 

 lâdors ôf-Europe-, efpecially to the French AmbalTador, there being more French that 

 are Inhabitants in Turkey, than there are of any other Nation. And yet though the 

 Turks make their Year to confift but of twelve Moons, ours being near twelve and a 

 half, they make the Tributaries pay but for twelve Moons ; yet in requital, and that 1 

 nothing may be loft, they make them pay that Tribute double, every three and thirti- 

 eth year , and are very frugal Husbands for the benefit and advantage of their 

 Mafter. . 



There are but two Princes in the World that are known by the Name of Cham, to The policy ef tkt 

 wit, the Emperour of great Tartary, and the King of the little Tartary, a Vaflal to the j^/** 

 Ottoman Monarchs. I conceive my felf oblig'd, to give the Reader fome Vrwmation jJ >tf stu + 

 of the prêtent condition of the latter. When the Cham of the lefler Tartary enters up-^ ;w - ff# 

 on the Government, he comes to take his Oath of Fidelity to the Grand Seignor, and 

 the Turks look upon him no otherwife than as a Governour of a Province, or at moll, 

 but as a VafTal-Prince. But thofe of his own Countrey, the Mufcovites, the Poles, the 

 Georgians^ the MingrelUns, and the other Nations bordering upon him, treat him as a 

 King, when they write to him. The Grand Seignor ufes much Policy towards, the 

 Cham, left he mould revolt from him, and render himfelf more powerful than hé is, 

 by Alliances with thé 'neighbouring Princes. For it is to be obferv'd, That the lefler 

 Tartary, whereof the City Caffa, near the Cimerian Streight, is the Metropolis, is not 

 a Countrey fubdu'd by the Arms of the Ottomans. The ancient Kings of it did only 

 put themfelves under the Grand Seignor's protedion, who receiv'd them into it, upon 

 condition, that when the Father dy'd, his Son, or the next of kin, his SuccelTor, was 

 not to enter upon the Government, till he had receiv'd the Inveftiture from the Port, 

 and taken the Oath of Fidelity to the Grand Seignor, obliging himfelf to come to him, 

 Ujjon the hrft Orders to that purpofe. The Grand Seignor promis' d in requital, that 

 he yntould not ertablilh any other than what were of their race, to command in the lef- 

 jcr Tartary. And whereas there are two branches of that Family, he keeps one of 



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