416 
it becomes absolutely necessary to take measures to 
satisfy and appease them. 
In cases of discontent the divisions of janissaries 
carry their stew-pans to the front of the Sultan's 
palace, and place them on the ground upside down. 
At this signal of revolt all the janissaries arm them- 
selves, and assemble together; they then give law to 
the government, demand the heads of the ministers or 
chiefs of the state, who are sacrificed to them imme- 
diately without form of trial; and even depose the 
Sultan himself, as was the case with the unfortunate 
Selim the third. All is riot in Constantinople until 
this undisciplined armed rabble have taken back their 
stew-pans. 
When the Sultan grants public audiences to the 
ambassadors, in order to give them a high opinion of 
his power, founded on the satisfaction of his troops, 
the rations are distributed to the janissaries previous 
to the ceremony, when they run in tumult to receive 
them in the presence of the foreigners. On the same 
principle, to give the ministers of foreign courts an 
idea of the supreme justice, the Grand Vizier judges 
some causes in their presence; and that their eyes may 
be dazzled with the imperial magnificence, they are 
also admitted to a feast with the Grand Vizier, at 
which they are clothed with rich pelisses, and others 
less costly are distributed among the persons attached 
to the embassy. 
In consequence of the importance of the stew-pans 
in the corps of janissaries, the chiefs of the ortas are 
called by a Turkish name, which is equivalent to that 
of distributor of soup. All the military of this corps 
bear on their forehead, attached to their full dress cap, 
a brass plate, instead of plume; in this they stick a 
