Chap. VIII. Grand Seignor s Seraglio. 45 



CHAP. VI IL 

 Of the Grand Seignor s Treafary. 



The Principal Heads. 



Noble flicks of Antiquity. 7 be Turks cannot endure Figures re- 

 prefenting either SMan or 'Beafl. The Chambers of the Treafury, 

 and their Wealth. The blood of the Bafla's is one of the Gfjyers 

 Uvhicb enter into that Sea of the Treafury. 7he ufe of Aloes 

 Wood in Turkey. A fort of Bafins of a more commodious form than 

 ow jyfor the wajhing of the hands. Books and Candles of a kind of 

 jbajc of great rvalue. Coffers full of all forts of precious ftones. 

 The precautions and ceremonies which are obferYd at the opening 

 of the Treafury. A magnificent Tiece of Tapiflry, therein the 

 Emperour Charles the Fifth, is reprefented, in embofl'dWork. A 

 particular ([{elation of a Bafla named Ruftan. The beroick fenti- 

 ment of a Turk. The principal four ces of the Wealth of the Em* 

 pire. How the (Revenues of Egypt are employ cL 



TH E Treafury of the Seraglio and the Ottoman Empire, the vaft Wealth there- 

 in contain'd, and the excellent order wherewith it is govern'd , requir'd my 

 being a little more large upon that fubjeét. I fhall difcover all the Pavers, 

 which fall into that Sea, and may have fome refemblance to thofe that enter 

 into the Cajpian Sea, and are never feen to come out of it again. 



Out of the Chamber, where the Grand Seignor fhaves himfelf, you pafs into a Noble KelieQ 

 Gallery, which is Thirty paces in length,and between Nine and ten in breadth. There of Antiquity* 

 are, on the one tide of it, Six great Marble-Pillars, of Fifteen foot in height, and of 

 different colours, among which there is one of a very delightful Green, and that co- 

 lour makes the Turks have a great efteem for it. You have under your feet in this 

 Gallery a Walk of large fquare Pieces of Marble, and the high-rais'd Fret-work thereof 

 is a Relick of Antiquity, and there are in it excellent Pieces of Painting after the Mo~ 

 pzd^way, reprelenting divers Perfbns, and which fbme conceive to have been made, 

 for the reception and entertainment of fome great Prince, in the time of the Greeks 

 Emperours. 



The %trks-> who have not among them either Gravers or Painters, in order to the tht Turks havi 

 making of any reprefentation of Man or Beaft, for which they have an averfion, have an avtrfion for 

 thought it much to endure thole Figures, and not being able to refrain from dif- Figures repre- 

 figuring the heads, there is nothing left but the bodies, which is much to be regretted. j^Jaf m er 

 It may eafily be conjcftur'd, That that Gallery was open on both fides, as being fo 

 ftill to the Court-fide, and 'tis in the midft of the Wall, whereby it is enclos'd on the 

 other tide, that the Door of the Treafury ftands. 



The rirft Treafury confifts in Four Chambers full of Riches and Rarities. The flrft 7^ chambers tf 

 contains a vaft quantity of Long-Bowes, Arrowes, Crofs-Bowes, Muskets, Fire-locks, tht Treafury and 

 Sabres, Cymitars, and and other Arms of that kind , which are all lb many Ma- tbtit frealtbi 

 fter-Pieces , that have been preferred , from time to time to the Turkifh Emperors. 



( G 2 ) Ali 



