The Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1822-1822, 1822-04-02

/ ~ embroidered with gold; over the head
Of the Grand Vizler was a line grating,
behind which the Sultan conceals him-
self, and hears what passes with the
Visier and the Christians--we could
evidently see some person there. but
could not vouch for It's being the Sui
tan.
After we had stared at each other for
two hours (no one being permitted to
sit except the Minisser) they common
ced the tedious ceremony OF paying off
the Janizaries, which they take care to
perform when any Christian Min er
has his audience. This is undoubtedly
intended to impress the beholder with
conception of their riches and power =
They bring in the gold in bags, which
is piled up between the Turks and in.
fdels, until they can just see each 9TH
err; this is all taken account OF by the
Minister of Finance, who is directed a
sum sufficient to pay one Regiment, to
be placed on the flag stones before the
door, at equal distances--the regiment
at the same time is waiting in anxious
expectation on the opposite side of the
Court-a signal is then made by one OF
the officers, when the whole troop start
at full speed for the most enviable prize
the first who reach the spot stop to
seize the bags. when those who follow
precipitate the first into the dirt, and
this formidable troop Of heroes lay pros
trate before us-after recovering them
selves, those who had succeeded IN get
ting the most bags retired to their quar-
tiers, exulting in their agility. Thus we
were compelled to witness this ludic
rous scene until the whole corps ofJan.
izares were paid off.
Preparations were now made for dim
ner, stools being placed before the
Grand Vizier and all the Divan, just as
they were seated in state, on which
were placed gold or silver trays three
or four feet in diameter, of a circular
form. We infidels took seats opposite
to the Turks, when were introduced a
dish of roasted fowls which we pulled
to pieces with our fingers. the next, per
haps ragout of rabbits or some other
wild game-their preserves of an ex.
quisite kind were then handed in In
this manner were some thirty dishes al.
ternatelv brought to this most noted en-
tertainment, from all of which we help.
ed ourselves most plentifully, with our
hands. except from those dishes which
contained the liquids; for these we we're
provided with spoons of turtle she'll or
wood-these being the only instru-
mens to manage with. From every
dish, as it was brought in, the Mussel
man who sat at the table with me al
ways took good care to help himself
first-it being considered sacrilege FOR
Christian to touch before he has fin
ger en- the pie, After we had finished
our repast, perfumed water was bro't
with embroidered towels to wipe our
mouths and fingers; the Musselmen
smoked their long boards with burnt
odours, the fragrance of which scented
the whole room.
AS soon as we had done RECALLING our
selves at the Sultan Mahmoud's expense
we repaired to the Court, and dressed
ourselves with pehsses, trimmed with
fur, that of the Ambassadors being ex-
tremely beautiful In short time the
I Drogoman of the Sultan made his APP
pearance, with information to his Excel
lency's Drogoman that if the Infdels
had been clothed and fed, they might be
permitted to appear before the mighty
Nahmoud, the Sultan of all Sultans.
Two Jauizaries came up and seized each
of us by the shoulders, and in this man
ner, we were conducted into the pre-.
sence ofthe grand Seignior. Wepassed
through another gate, where were
arrayed the most hideous looking set
OF wretches that ever appeared in human
form-shey were disgrace to the Turks
themselves. This sallow, meagre race
were eunuchs who guarded the Sultan.
Such mass of ugliness could not have
generated by the ordinary course of ma
ture.-To complete the spectacle, these
walking ghosts were dressed in yellow,
with caps ofthe same colour, in the form
of sugar loaf When we reached the
presence chamber, the Sultan was seat
ed on his throne, surrounded by his
Court. The Ambassadors made his
speech, which was translated by the Dro-
CONAN, who repeated it to the Vizier.
In answer, the Sultan in a low and en-
phatick style, addressed himself to the
Visier, whe repeated it to the Ambassa-