Chap.X* Grand Seignor's Seraglio. 55 



Government, and thai, they who have lent him Mony are not to hope ever to reco^ 

 ver any part or it. 



From what has been faid, it may eafily be concluded. That the grcateft part of the 

 Mony of the whole Ottoman Empire, is in the Grand Seignor's hands, and among the 

 Jerves •> I mean the J ewes of Conjtantiiwple. For as to thofe who live in the Provinces, 

 the world goes but ill with them, and they are in a much more wretched condition, 

 than the Christians j in regard they do not follow any thing of Husbandry : and their 

 inclinations being altogether bent for Traffick, and the management of the publick 

 Taxes or the Cultomes, 'tis impollible there (hould be employment for them all. 



The Grand Seignor therefore receives very cohfiderable Sutnmes from the Bajfa% IhetxtrwAi- 

 and other perfons, on whom he beltowes Charges, even before they have taken pof- na ^^^ h 6 f 

 feffion of them. But that amounts to little or nothing,in comparifon of the advantages * s " 

 which he makes, upon their removal out of them, and efpecially When they have had 

 a fair time to gather Treafures, by their infupportâble exactions from the people. 

 Some of thefe Bajftfs have come to that exceflive VV ealth and Power, that their Reve- 

 nues were equal to thofé of many great Princes. Such was the fortune of one Much- 

 mut, Beglierbeg of Europe^ under the Reign of Mahomet the Second -, and that, of the 

 Grand V/zir, Nafiuf, under Achmet the Firtt. At the death of the latter, there were 

 extraordinary Riches found in his Houfe, in Silver, Gold, and Jewels, and all was" 

 brought to the Seraglio, along with his head. 



It may eafily be conjectufd, by the number of the greater and lefTef Governments, 

 whereof the Empire conlifts, that there is a confiderable mortality amongft thofe, who 

 derive their Charges and Fortunes from the pure Munificence of the Grand Seignor, 

 and whofe acquittions thereupon tailing to him, muff of neceffity make vaft additio- 

 nal to the Seraglio. But befides thofe who are gently convey'd out of this World, by 

 a natural death, there hardly paffes a year, but violent death comes and acls its part, 

 and upon the leaft jealoufie, or any fahtaftkk apprehenfion the Grand Seignor may 

 have, a Bajfa receives a peremptory Order to ftreteh out his Neck, and he is immedi- 

 ately ftrangled. In the next Chapter, 1 lfiall give the Reader an Account, of the for- 

 mality and ceremony, which is obfêïV'd upon that occafion, where he will rind fome- 

 what worth' his remarking!, and I think I may confidently affirm, That they who 

 know it is the cuftome, to ltrangle thofe, whofe Lives the Grand Seignor would take 

 away, know not all the Particulars obfervable in that Act ion. 



AfTooh as a Ba-JJa, of ether Grandee of the Port is dead, hoWe're it came to pafs, rte Bàfla's 

 and. an Inventory of his Goods taken, of which by. the Lawes of the Country the Prince Goods brought 

 is the only Hen?,, all is carried away into the Seraglio, and the tattagU bring it in Cof- z £ ' 

 fers to the Door of the Treafury. The Cbafnadar-bacbi, having difpos'd them into one 

 of the Chambers, Commands the Locks to be broke open, and the Coffers to be emp- 

 tied in his prefence -, and 'fis thet^ that as well he himfelf, as the Pages of the Trea- 

 fury endeavour to make their advantages of that Rich Booty. For there being ordi- 

 narily, amongft the other things, Jewels of great value, fuch as that wherein the He- 

 ron-tops are faften'd in their TurbantSj- or a Ponyard enrich'd with precious Stones, 

 or fome Careanet of Pearls, if one or other of thofe Pages can make a dextrous and 

 clean conveyance of fome Piece, 'tis his own, and he puts it to what élfe he has in 

 Stock, reflecting on what he has to do;, at his departure out of the Seraglio, in order to 

 his eftablifhment in fome Change, and the gréât Exp^nces he muft be at upon that ac- 

 count. The Cbafnadat^baihiy who does his Work tirft of all, and with more liberty, 

 does fometimes eonnive ; aï WhM he feé^'done' by the others, retnembring that he has 

 been as they are, and was then glad, that he wàs riot reprov'd for fo doing. Yet if 

 he perceives that any one of them has fecur'd to himfèîf a piece of great value, alToon 

 as he is got to his Chamber, he fecretly fends for him,ahd makes him reftore it, paying 

 him one half of its worth, and fô keëps it himièîfl 



The great ad- 



There are yet other great advantages accrewirig to the' Chief Officer, and the Pages, vmagts oftjn 

 from thofe things which are brought into the Seraglio, upon the death of the Buffo's. ^^^S'jii 

 hen the Cbafnadar-bacbi has advertised the Grand Seignor^that, in the Coffers^which jfggji iht 



had Treafurjr. 



