Part 1. Travels into /^^^ L e v a n t. 
with great bars of Iron to keep it tight, and hinder it from fallings it is of 
eight pieces of Porphyrian Marble, which were fo well joyned together be- 
fore that fire, that it appeared to be but one lingle Stone ; and, indeed, the 
feams were hid and covered by Lawrel-branches cut upon them j but at pre- 
fent they are eafily feen. 
C H A P. XVIIL 
Of the Grand Signior's Serraglio. 
TUq Serraglio of thQ Grand Slgmor is the firll thing that one fees in coming semglk* 
to Confiantinofle by Sea ^ it affords a very pleafant Profpedt, becaufe of 
the Gardens on the Water-fide ; but the Architedure of the Fabrick is nothing 
at all magnificent ; it is, on the contrary, very plain in refped of what the 
Palace of fo powerful a Prince ought to be. Serrai in Turkilh fignifies a Pa- ^end and 
lace, and the Franks by corruption, call it Serraglio^ taking it, it feems, only ^^ff'^S}^'^- 
for the Appartment where the Women are flint up ; as if they derived that 
word from the French Serrer^ or the Italian Serrar, which fignifies to clofe 
or fliut ; but the word is Turkifli, and fignifies a Palace, and the Grand Sig- 
niors is called Serrai or Serraglio by excellence. It is built in the place where, in 
ancient times Byz.antium ftood, upon the Hill of Sandimitri^ which is a point of Hill oï Sm^ 
the main land looking to the Chanal of the Black Sea : The Lodgings are upon 
the top of the Hill, and the Gardens below • This Palace is three miles about, The bignefs 
and is of a triangular Figure, of which two fides are upon the Sea, enclofed of the smA- 
within the Town Walls • and betwixt the Walls and the Sea, there is a little 
rifing Key, but no body dares go there, efpecially on the fide of the Port, 
before he be paft the Serraglio ; the third fide is leparated from the Town by 
good Walls, fortified with feveral Towers, as well as thofeto the Sea fide, in 
which Towers there are always fome ^.z4?^''^'l.?^^'^'f in Sentinel: 'Wit^ç.AÀge-Adgmoghns. 
maglans are the refufe of the tribute Children, out of whom they chufe the 
more witty and dextrous, and inftrudt them in order to be advanced to places, 
and thofe who have feweft parts, are employed in mean and clownifti imploy- 
ments, as to be Gardners,Grooms and fuch like. On the fide of the Port, over 
againft Galata^ there is a /C2c;^j^or Pavillion upon the Key, not raifed very high Ktousk^. 
from the ground -, it is fiipported by feveral Marble Pillars,and there the Grand 
Signior comgs often to take the Air j at this place he takes water when he in- 
tends to divèrt himfelf in his Galiot upon the Sea. On the other fide of the 
Serraglio towards the Sea, and the feven Bowers, there is another kind of Pa- Another 
villion pretty high, where the Prince often diverts himfelf alfo ; it is built Kiousk. \ 
upon Arches, and below it upon the Wall there are marks of Crofl^es ^ the 
Greeks fay that it was formerly a Church .• There is aJfo a Fountain there, 
where thofe of that Nation go on the day of the Transfiguration, and make The Ceremo- 
the Sick drink the Water of it, burying them in the Sand about up to the of the 
Neckj and immediately after uncovering them again ; and many who are very ^J''^^^^^^'^'^*^ 
well in health do the like. The Grand Stgmor is that day commonly at his fitu'Jatio'n " ' 
Window, where he diverts himfelf with the pranks they play, without be- ^ 
ing feen. Near to that place there is a great Window, out of which thofe 
who are flrangled in the Serraglio^ are thrown into the Sea in the night- 
time, and as many Guns are fired, as there are Bodies thrown out ; a great 
many pieces of Cannon lye there upon the fhoar unmounted. This Palace 
hath many Gates, to the water-fide, but they are only for the Grand Signior 
and fome of the Serraglio -, the chief Gate of it looks towards Santa Sophia The chief 
which is near by •• That being the Common Gate is guarded by Capidgis, it Ga*te of the 
opens into a very fpacious Court, where at firft you fee to the right Hand the ^^^^^i'^"- 
Infirmerie^ whither they carry thefickof the Sfrr<?g/zo in a little clofe Chariot, The infirme- 
drawn by two men -, when they fee that Chariot, every one fteps afidetorieof the 
make SerugUo, 
