9 2 



A Relation of the Chap. XIX. 



CHAP. XIX. 

 Of the Gardens of the Seraglio. 



The Principal Heads. 



The %e\>enues of the Gardens employ d for the Grand Seignor* s Table. 

 Cucumber s j a fruit of much delicacy amongïl the Levantines, 

 and how they eat them, A noble Pyramid, refembling Trajan's 

 Pillar. Fountains. The number of the Gardiners. 



the Revenais "W"T is an ancient Cuftome, or rather, a Law, eftablifh'd by the Ottoman Princè?, 

 of the Gardens, m that the profits made out of their Gardens, Ihould be contributary to the keep- 

 tote employed. § j ngo f their own Tables, and they have feveral of them, in the Neighbourhood 



J^. of Conjiariiinople, as well on the European fide, as the Afian, all along the Sea- 

 more. But I fhall give an account, only of the Gardens of the Seraglio, that fo 



I may not exceed the limits I have prefcrib'd to my felf in this Relation. 



There are in the Seraglio feveral Gardens, wherein there are only Flowers, in di- 

 vers Appartments, and particularly in that of the Grand Seignor, and, no queftion,but 

 the fame thing may be faid of the Quarter of the Sultanejjes. Yet is there not any 

 thing extraordinary, which might oblige me to give this defcription thereof. The 

 great Garden, whereof the Bofiangi-bachi has the overfight, as he has alfo of all the 

 others belonging to the Grand Seignor, takes up the greateft part of the Seraglio, and 

 confifts of a great number of Walks, planted, of each fide, with Cyprefs. Thofe 

 Walks are much neglected, fo that in feveral places, they are not clear'd of Bryars and 

 Thorns. When it is known, that the Grand Seignor is to come and take his diver- 

 tifement there, a great number oïBoftangis are immediately commanded out, to make 

 clean the Walks, which he ufes to frequent, and the fpaces between thofe Walks are 

 fo many Kitchin-Gardens, or Orchards, which are very well furnifh'd with Fruit- 

 Trees, of feveral excellent kinds. Of Strawberries and Rafpices there is great ftore, 

 and they have large beds of Melons, and Cucumbers but molt of thefe laft, which are 

 accounted a great delicacy amongft the Levantines. 



As to the Cucumbers, they commonly eat them without taking off any thing of thé 

 rinde, after which they go and drink a glafs of Water. In all Afia/it is the ordinary 

 fuftenance of the meaner fort of people, for the fpace of three or four months j the 

 whole Family lives upon them, and when a Child asks for fomething to eat, whereas 

 in our European Countries, they would give him bread, in the Levant, they bring him 

 only a Cucumber, which he eats raw, as it comes out of the Garrifon. Laborious 

 perfons, and fuch as are in a manner tyr'd with working, fuch as Camel-drivers, and 

 thofe who are entrufted with the care of the Horfes, and Mules, in the Caravans , make 

 a kind of Sail ad of their Cucumbers, not much unlike the Mafh, which we would give 

 our Horfes. When they are come to the Lodging place, where the Caravan is to make 

 a (by, they take a large Bafin, which they almoft fill with water, and having put fome 

 fowr milk into it, they cut a great number of Cucumbers, into great flices, and fo 

 make a kind of math of them. 'Tis a pleafant light to fee them at the confounding of 

 it. Amongft ten, or twelve, who all ftand round the faid Bafin, there is but one woo- 

 den Spoon, which every one takes in his turn, till they have made a (hift to empty the 

 Bafin. That done, they fall a drinking of water, and thofe who have wherewithal!, 

 go and take a diîh of Coffee, or fmoke a Pipe of Tobacco. 



Cucumbers a 

 great delicacy 

 amongft the 

 Levantines. 



But 



