The Sun.
London, England, 1861-10-21 00:00:00

TEE SULTAN AND HIS HOUSEHOLD.

A correspondent of the Morning Post, writing
from ConStantinople, Oct. 7, says :—" I believe that
I reported at the time, in common with everybody,
that the Sultan had, on his accession, struck a heavy
blow, at polygamy by declaring his intention to re-
form hiS harem bills' by keeping only one wife. If
so, iregret to have to spoil the excellent impression
which so exeniplerya piece of news must havp pro-
duced by-:now apprising Son that his nrije'sty has
already increased his conjugal stud to four kadkins,
several ikpals, and a tolerably strong contingent of
guzdes, which, being interpreted, mean, the lofty
in rank,' those:who have found favour,' rind those
who please the eye.' The first of these categories
may be increased to seven, and includes the fortu-
nate ladies whose rank is as nearly as possible equi-
valent to that of wives,' for it is a western fallacy
that the Sultan ever marries.' The first seven of
his ladies have, in the order of their accession, wifely
rank ; but marriage ceremony, such as loosely binds
other true believers, there is in his august case
none. Next to these in the haremic hierarchy come
the.ikpals,, fortunate ,fair ones, from whom the
supreme seven are generally recruited in case of
death or penal bestowment on a Pasha -Whilst
each of the kadkins has a suite of about 40 attend-
ants, these second class houris have severally an
attendance of 25 or 30. They are themselves either
singled out by the imperial taste from amongst the
retinue of the loadkina, or are- special purchases, and
presents to his Majesty by one of these latter. The
guzdes, like. the apals, are limited' to no number,
and differ from the latter rather in the degree of
their hold on the imperial eye' than in original
inferiority of rank in the household. But when
they have gratified the sublime optic, be it only
for once, they cease to belong to the rank and file
of the great female brigade, and attain a substan-
tive status and attendants of their own. With all
three of these categories of pro-conjugal stock,then,
I am assured :by no meaner authority than one of
the palace physicians that his Majesty is already
well provided, having, as I say, four of the first and
a fair number of both the second and the third. So
much for the highly, respectable story of one wife.
And not only does what I now report dispose of
that ethical fable, but it plays havoc, too, I regret
to say, with half the statements which have been
made as to palace reform. It was said weeks ago,
and locally believed by all Pera, that the whole of
the late Sultan's harem had been shipped' over to
the old seraglio, and there installed on themeagrest
of board wages. Indeed, I believe I reported as
much my,self at the time, and lavished deserved
praise one his Majesty for such excellent' energy and
good sense. Well, the informant above referred to
now assures me that not one of Abdul Medjid's
whole eight hundred' has yet left Dalma-baktche.
Apartments are, indeed, being prepared for them
at the old serai, but as yet they remain at the new
palace—swelling the total of womankind now
within its precincts to nearly 1,300. The Valide
Sultana has a suite of 60 female attendants, besides
a strong contingent of eunuchs ; each of the kad-
kins, as I have
,said, has 40, with neutrals' to
match ; and the inferior favourites their double
m e suitesnt, infn
rea he f proportion,tbe xA
sons
st o
of The:
for even the five-year old son of the presebnt,
bought
whom whom a little Circassian girl playfellow_was ?nate
the other day at a cost of 30,000pl.a:Td you ,
with the aggregate of Abdul Medjid Women, the
monstrous total abcmze2tl2fdL_
e latea n 6establish-
ment' Sultan,tbl snhd-
-' . '

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