Chap.V* Grand Seignor's Seraglio. 



35 



G H A P 4 V. 



Of the inner part of the Seraglio, in general, and 

 particularly,, of the Quarter of the Eunuchs, and 

 the Ichoglans. 



The Principal HeaDs. 



The tchoglans educated under à feWre Difcipline. The gréât 

 Officers of the Tort taken out of the fame School. The mife- 

 rable condition of the Children of the BaftVs. TJ?e great Autho- 

 rity of the Capi-Aga. The Gaffes, through ivhich the young 

 Lads of the Seraglio are to pafs. The Quarters of the four prin- 

 cipal Eunuchs. 



1 



"■^H E inner Seraglio is that part of the great Palace of the Ottoman Ëmperoufs", 

 which, from the Second Court, whereof we have given a defcription, ex- 

 tends to the point, at which place the Gardens are terminated, and which 

 comprehends, in general, the Grand Seignors Quarter, and the Quarter 

 of the Sultanefles. But in regard the former is diftingmlh'd into fcveral 

 Appartments, appointed for the Habitations of the Officers, who ordinarily approach 

 the Grand Seignor's Perfon, and are his moft neceflary attendants, I will conduct the 

 Reader from one to another, and give a dilUndr relation of every one of them. In this 

 Chapter, I lhall treat only of thofe Appartments which are taken up by the Eunuchs-? 

 and the Ichoglans, who are under their Difcipline. 



At the beginning of this Difcourfc, I made mention of the four principal Eunuchs, ^ ichoglahs 

 who have others fubititute to them, to obferve the actions of thofe young Lads, who fat under a ft- 

 are committed to their charge, and to inftrudl them, as well in the Mahometan Reli- vere difciflim. 

 gion, as in the Excrcifes of the Body, and particularly, as to what relates to the Grand 

 Seignor's Service. The Quarterns well of the Eunuchs, as the Ichoglans ftands next 

 to the P/'i'j/;-Hall, and begins to make part of the third Court, all along which it, 

 reaches on the left hand. It is divided into lèverai Appartments, and among others , 

 there are four, which they call Oda\ that is to fay, Chambers, into which are distri- 

 buted fix hundred Ichoglans, according to the orders of the Capi-Aga \ who, with the 

 other principal Eunuchs, judges of every ones capacity. 'Tis the Capi-Aga alfo, who 

 orders their palling out ot one Oda into another, as we remove our Scholars from a 

 lixth form to a fifth s and the cafe is the fame in their Oda\ as in our Forms, or Claf- 

 ies, ths rirft of the four Odas, the feverities wb.ere.of they mult weather but as well as 

 they can, being the laft in point of dignity. When he makes his general Vititation , 

 upon which follows the forefaid promotion-he turns out of the Seraglio, all thofe whom 

 he thinks uncapable of doing their Prince good Service, and that fuch as betray their 

 difguit of fo aultere a life \ and then they are put out of all hopes of ever entring into 

 the Seraglio any more, and catindt pretend to any other Fortune, then that of Spabis, 

 withaimall pay. The advantage of capacitating themfelves for the moft eminent 

 Charges ot the Court and the Empire, makes thofe who remain behind to take the 

 greater courage, and accordingly they patiently differ, for the fpace of many years, the 

 harm and unmerciful treatments of the Eunuchs, whom, upon all occaiions, they al- 

 wayes rind very liberal of the Baltinado. 



They are thofe Icboglans 7 whom we may alfo call the Grand Seignor's Pages, who 



C F ) ar£ 



