Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Wayne County, Ind.) 1831-1837, 1836-08-06
An interview with sultan ssshmOud.

from the divan to the presence, with
the captain pacha. refs etiendi. ard
other officers. A lane Of attendants
was made for them across the garden.
and in their way they passed close by
us. bu: took no more notice OF US
than if We were jug9iers dressed up
ard waiting to exhibit before their
master.
In about half an hour, !, was noti-
fed that VIC should come forward, and
VIC advanced TO the gate Of the Sc
raqlio. or rather the harem. This
gate was decorated with the most
gorgeous display Of Turkish sculpture;
It was covered by large semi-circu-
lar projecting canopy supported on
pillars richly carved, gilt, and en-
bosscd, in a style ofarchitecture per-
fecily oriental. Round the entrance
were several officers in their richest
dresses-some in stufis shot with
roid, which, as they moved, were
quite dazzling; but those who struck
us most were the unfortunate eu-
nuchs. Some Of these creatures we-e
boys. or young men from sixteen to
twenty. They were tall, bloaied. and
disporportioncd; their countenances
were OF n sickly, sallOw hue, with Il
delicate, hectic-looking flush, and an
expression Of extreme anguish and
enxiety. as if they suffered pain, and
labored under a deep sense Of degra-
iation. One old man was wr mixed
nd pallid, his face perfectly smooth,
nd resembling that Of an aged VIC
i an, except only that it had an ex-
pAssion very strange and unnatural.
'rIxy were all dressed in green satin
rot&s. Among them were many
blacks. who did not look so much dis
fgHed as the whites-probably be-
cause the change Of their features was
not so CONSPICUOUS.
While stood gazing on these things
in kind of absorption Of mind, J
was reused by being suddenly seized
b. the collar by two men, one at each
side Of me. now saw that each of
the party was caught in the same
manner; and in this way we were
hurried, or rather dragged, down a
broad, descending passage, between
rows of guards, to the interior OF the
harem. Here we found ourselves in
marrow, gloomy courtyard, and sud-
denly turning to the right, we entered
i dark, dismal little chamber, lighted
only by one grated window which
looked into the yard. At first /
could not clearly discern objects, but
in little time my eyes were accom-
modatcd to the dim light. Our party
filled one half of the apartment-the
other was occupied by a large throne,
exactly resembling in size and shape
old-.ashioned four-post bed without
curtains. This was covered with
something very like \ grey-colored
cotton quilt, but it was rich stuff,
embroidered with dull gold & pearls.
On one side of this, with his feet
hanging down, sat the Sultan, exactly
in the attitude of n man getting out
of bed in the morning. ! mention
this, because the Turks on state Occa-
sions always sit with their legs hang
ing. but on others cross-legged. Next
TO him. standing stiff with his back to
the wall, was the vizier. and next to
him the captain pacha; both were
motionless as statues, with their eyes
fixed on the ground. Our party for
med a kind of irregular semi-circle
across the room and half round the
bed; in our front stood the ambaSsa-
dor with his dragoman and that OF
the Porte.
The Sultan appeared 4 tall. Ill made :.
mean-looking man. about forty. His
countenance is as dark Us mahogany
his beard very full. and as black
and glossy as jet; it is said he uses
artificial means to color it. He isl
remarkable for the smaIlncss of his
hands and the length of his body
the latter being that of man excee-
ding six feet in stature. though his isl
not more than five feet seven or eight
inches. He always looks to most
advantage sitting or riding; and inI
fact, he is seldom seen by strangers
in any other position. His dress was
4 dark. dingy red robe, and we hot
there appeared nothing brilliant a.
bout him. He never turned his head.
which he kept straight forward as
immovabie as if il were fixed in vice:
but his eye was continually rolling.
and the white oft, something like the |