CONSTANTINOPLE: 
19 
We had not been long in this situation, before the janissa» 
lies, with their large felt caps and white staves, ranged them¬ 
selves on each side of the street leading to the mosque ; form¬ 
ing an extensive line of sallow-looking objects, as novel to an 
Englishman’s eye as any in the Turkish empire. 
About a quarter of an hour before the procession began, the 
imam , or high priest, passed, with his attendants, to the mosque, 
to receive the sultan. They were in four covered wagons, 
followed by twenty priests on horseback. The procession 
then began, and continued, according to the order given be¬ 
low.* Afterward it returned in the same manner, although 
not with the same degree of regularity. 
* Procession of the Grand Signior, at the opening of the Bairam. 
1. A Bostanghy, [the Bostanghies were originally gardeners of the seraglio, but ar© 
now the sultan’s body guard. Their number amounts to several thousands] on foot, 
bearing a wand.—2. Four Baltaghies, or Cooks of the Seraglio.— 3. Fifteen Zaim, 
or Messengers of State.—4. Thirteen of the Chiaoux, or Constables, with em¬ 
broidered turbans.— 5. A party of Servants of the Seraglio — 6. Thirty Capighi Ba- 
shies, or Porters of the Seraglio, in high white caps, and robes of flowered satins, 
flanked by Baltaghies, or Cooks, on each side, who were on horseback, with wands.— 
7. Baltaghies, on foot, with caps of a conical form, and white wands.—8. Fourteen 
ditto, more richly dressed, and mounted on superb horses — 9. Other Baltaghies, on 
foot.—10. Ten of the High Constables, on horseback.—11. Forty servants, on foot. 
—12. The Teftirdagh, or Financier of the Realm, on horseback, most magnificently 
caparisoned.— 13. Forty Servants, on foot.— 14. The REIS EFFENDY, or Prime 
Minister, in. a rich green pelisse, on a magnificent charger, with most sumptuous 
housings, &c.— 15. Twenty Servants.— 16. The great body of the Chiaux, or Consta¬ 
bles, with magnificent dresses, and plumes on their heads.— 17. The Colonel of the 
.1 annissaries, with a helmet covered by enormous plumes — 1 8. A party of Fifty 
Constables of the Army, in full uniform, with embroidered turbans.— 19. Ten beauti¬ 
ful Arabian led Horses, covered with the most costly trappings,— 20. The CAPU- 
DAN PACHA, on one of the finest horses covered with jewelled housings, in a rich 
green pelisse, lined with dark fur, and a white turban.—21.Bostanghies, on foot, with 
white wands.— 22, Ten Porters belangingto the Grand Vizier.— 23. The Kaimakan, 
on horseback, as Representative of the Grand Vizier, in a rich crimson pelisse, 
lined with dark fur, and accompanied by the appendages of office.— 24. Twentyse? 5 - 
vants, on fo;.t, bearing different articles.— 25. Twenty of the Grooms of State, on 
horseback, followed by slaves — 26. The Master of the Horse, in embroidered satin 
robes.— 27. Servants on foot.— 28. The Deputy Master of the Horse, in robes of em¬ 
broidered satin.— 29. Servants on foot.— 30. Inferior Chamberlains of the Seraglio* 
on horseback.— 31. Bostanghies, with white wands, on foot.— 32. The Sumpter- 
Horses of the Sultan, laden with the ancient Armour taken from the Church of St. Irene 
in the Seraglio : among which were ancient Grecian bucklers and shields, magnificently 
embossed , and studded with gems— 33. Forty Bostanghies, bearing two turbans of 
State, flanked on each side by Porters.— 34. An Officer with a bottle of water.— 35. 
Fifteen Bostanghies, in burnished helmets, bearing two stools of State, flanked on 
each side by Porters.— 36. The Grand Chamberlain, most sumptuously mounted.— 
37. Bostanghies, in burnished helmets covered by very high plumes.—38. Lofty 
waving Plumes,, supported by Chamberlains on foot.— 39. The GRAND SIGNIOR , 
on a beautiful managed Arabian Horse, covered with jew r els and embroidery, in a 
scarlet pelisse lined with dark fur, and a white turban ; flanked on each side by tall 
Plumes,supported by Chamberlains.— 40. Lofty weaving Plumes, supported by Cham¬ 
berlains on foot.—41. Slaves of the Seraglio, in black satin, having ppignards in their 
girdles, whose handles were studded with pearls.— 42. Bostanghies, on foot.—43 The 
Seliktar Agha, or Sword bearer of State, carrying a magnificent sabre.—44 Party 
of Attendants on foot.— 45. The Agnator Agha, or High Chamberlain, on horseback, 
scattering paras, the small coin ©f the empire, among the people.— 46. Party of At¬ 
tendants, on foot.— 47. The Kislar Agha, or Chief of the Black Eunuchs, on horse¬ 
back, making his salaams to the people, and flanked on each side by a party of Bostan- 
