1« CONSTANTINOPLE. 
It so happened, that the gardener of the 
Grand Signior, during our residence in Constan- 
tinople, was a German. This person used to 
mix with the society in Pera, and often joined 
in the evening parties given by the different 
foreign ministers. In this. manner we became 
acquainted with him; and were invited to his 
apartments M^ithin the walls of the Seraglio, 
close to the gates of the Sultans garden. We 
were accompanied, during our first visit, by his 
intimate friend, the secretary and chaplain of 
the Swedish mission; who, but a short time 
before, had succeeded in obtaining a sight of 
the four principal Sidtanas and the Sultan Mother^ 
in consequence of his frequent visits to the 
gardener. The secretary and his friend were 
sitting together one morning, when the cries of 
the black eunuchs, opening the door of the 
Charem, which communicated with the Seraglio 
gardens, announced that these ladies were 
going to take the air. In order to do this, it 
was necessary to pass the gates adjoining the 
gardener's lodge ; where an arahat ' was sta- 
tioned to receive them, in which it was usual 
for them to drive round the walks of the Seraglio, 
(1) A covered waggon upon four wheels, with latticed windows at the 
sides, formed to conceal those who are witliin. It is almost the only 
species of carriage in use among the Turks, 
