CONSTANTINOPLE. 35 
were disposed, with very singular taste and chap. 
effect, over the different compartments of the * ■»- ^ 
walls; their handles and scabbards being 
covered with diamonds of very large size, 
which, as they glittered around, produced a 
splendid effect in this most sumptuous chamber. 
We had scarcely ended our survey, when, 
to our great dismay, a Bostanghy made his 
appearance within the apartment: fortunately 
for us, his head was turned from the ^vindow ; 
and we immediately sunk below it, creeping 
upon our hands and knees, until we got clear 
of the Garden of Hyacinths. Thence, ascend- 
ing to the upper walks, we passed an aviary of 
nightingales. 
The walks in the upper garden are very Upper 
small, in wretched condition, and laid out m the^emg- 
worse taste than the fore court of a Diitchmans 
house in the suburbs of the Hague. Small as 
they are, they constituted, until lately, the 
whole of the Seraglio Gardens near the sea; 
and from them may be seen the whole prospect 
of the entrance to the Canal, and the opposite 
coast of Scutary. Here, in an old kiosk, we saw 
a very ordinary marble slab, supported upon 
iron cramps, which, nevertheless, was a pre- 
sent from Charles the Twelfth of Sweden. It is 
VOL. III. D 
