Chap. XI V^. Grand Seignor's Seraglio. 69 



CHAP. XIV. 



Of the Quarter of the Dogangi-bachi, or Grand 

 Faulconer, and of fome other Officers. 



The Principal Heads. 



Magnificent Chambers. The ordinary ^Venues of the Grand Faul = 

 coners. The Magnificence of the Ottoman Trinces, in lohat 

 relates to Hunting. Birds fupf lying the places of Dogs, in run- 

 ning down a Deer, or a Hare. The delicate Chamber of the 

 Selidgar-Agi, who carries the Grand Seignor's Sword. The ex- 

 cellent order obferVd in the Seraglio. 



T 



"^He Vogangi-bachiy or Grand Faulconer, and the Pages, whom he has under Mwjflcm 

 his Charge, have their Quarter, between that of the Pages of the Trea- m tr " 

 fury, and that of the Pages of the Chamber. The place appointed for 

 the Pages of the Falconry, has nothing in it extraordinary, and a man 

 cannot make a difcovery of any thing of beauty therein : but on the 



other fide, the two Chambers, where the Grand Falconer Lodges, have fomething 

 that's Magnificent, and are as fumptuoufly furnifh'd , as any other Room of the Se- 

 raglio. The nrft, which ferves for an Anti-Chamber, is leffer, and they are both of 

 them pav'd with a Checquer-work of black and white Marble, having the Roof 

 beautify'd with Flowers, painted, and guilt. But that of the fécond Chamber is the 

 more fumptuous by much, as having large Flowers, in embofs'd Work, every Flower 

 in its fquare piece, and the Junctures all cover'd with Gold. The Walls are ex- 

 cellently wainfeoted, wherein alfo they have not fpar'd for Gold, and on both fides, 

 there are crofs-barr'd Windows, whereby the Chamber receives much light. The 

 Marble Checquer-work of the Floor is not feen, as being cover'd with a lilken Car- 

 pet, upon which there are laid, in feveral parts of the Chamber, a certain number of 

 Quilts, two or three foot in breadth, and about four Inches thick. Some of them 

 are cover'd with Velvet, or Satin, of different Colours -, others, with Gold-Brocka- 

 does, and every one has its Cuthion, of the fame Stuff, between three and four foot 

 in length, and about two foot in heighth. Thefe Cufhions ate laid behind their 

 backs, when they are fitting, after their Mode, crofs-legg'd, and thofe little Quilts 

 are, to them, inftead of Chairs, and Couches, in a Chamber. 



If the Grand Falconer be remov'dout of the Seraglio, it is upon his advancement The ordinary 

 to the Charge of one of the principal Baffas, and to one of the greater Governments, Rwenm of tht 

 as that of Cairo, or Babylon ■■> and while he continues in the Seraglio, befides his Ta- Gran ^ Pdlct " 

 ble, which is all at the Prince's charge, he is allow' d an annual Revenue, of ten or 

 twelve thoufand Crowns.The Pages of the Falconry,carry Hawks on their Filts,and feed 

 them: they have the liberty to go and exercife them in the Gardens.and they all attend 

 the Grand Seignor, when he goes a Hawking, or Hunting. They wear the fame Stuffs, 

 as the Pages of the Treafury, and may alfo put on Vefls of Cloath, but made after 

 fuch a falhion, as makes them eafily difiinguifhable from thelcboglans, of the hrit and 

 fécond Chamber, who are always clad in Woollen-cloath. For the Pages of the Fal- 

 conry have their Sleeves made narrower and narrower, from the Shoulder to the Wrift, 

 and they are there faften'd clofe with Buttons j but the Sleeves of the Pages of 



(K 2) the 



