The daily gazette., 1876-05-25
THE GRAND TURK.


Palaces Iwetve Hundred Vices in Siz-
teen Harems-The Service of Ten IhoiS-
and Persons Daily at his Command.
The New York Mercury says Few
Americans have any conception of the
fabulous extravaganza OF the daily life of
the sultan OF Turkey. There is nothing
to equal the Golden Horn anywhere in
the world. The Sultan has defaulted on
his debts, and he is generally considered
to be in serious political trouble. Yet,
in spite Of all his difficulties, his enormous
establishment is kept up undiminished,
and his faithful Mussulmans contribute
cheerfully to support the successor of the
prophet in style OF life SO gorgeous as
to surpass the most boundless imagina-
tion. The grand Turk keeps in his pay
not less than three hundred and fifty
cooks to prepare the meals for him
self and his court; he has four hundred
and twenty coachmen, Jockeys and stable
boys, and his many gardens and parks
are looked after by two hundred and
twenty-five watchmen, guards and gard
eners, not counting the detail of two or
three regiments of soldiers every day for
duty at the palaces and the parks. There
are one hundred and ten doorkeepers,
and three hundred and forty walters for
the various buildings. For his private
amusement the Sultan has an orchestra
of four hundred musicians, ballet
corps of four hundred dancers, and
three hundred operatic and dramatic ac-
tors. Three thousand people are re-
quired for the personal service of the
Sultan. 1t is well that the Mohammedan
religion not only authorizes, but directs
the grand turk TO be polygamist on the
most extended scale. Hence Abdul Aziz
. maintains IN all sixteen harems, in which
he supports more than twelve hundred
women, who are divided into three clas-
ses-regular wives, recognized favorites
and candidates for promotion to the
higher ranks. Each of the wives has a
retinue of twelve ladies of honor, the
favorites are sim ilarly attended by six
ladies, and the candidates have two
each, but every one of these ladies of
honor has from two to ten female slaves
to wait upon her. Besides these there
, are other harems, one known as that of
/ the Kadin- -Effendis, being the mothers
Of the Sultan's infant sons and daugh-
| ters, and the harem Of the sultannas, be-
ing the grown-up princesses, daughters
of the grand Turk, who each have re-
tinue OF twenty servants. Fol the pri-
| vate entertainment of all these women
the Sultan supports another corps of bal
| let dancers, an orchestra OF female
musicians, while for the more menial
offices of the household two hundred fe-
male slaves and four hundred chamber
maids are engaged.
| In the Selamleik, the place where all
official receptions are held, his majesty
employs two thousand five hundred Off
cials. Attending on his person are twen-
ty-fve adjutants, seven chamberlains,
six secretaries, and ono hdndred and fifty
secretaries of lesser grades, who are sub
divided into groups, each of whom has
special functions, one taking care of his
wardrobe, another Of his coffee, another
of tobacco, another cleans the smoking
pipes, and still another must always be
ready to light his pipe. A very high Off
cial is the Barber -bashaw, whose sole
duty is to attend to the Sultan's beard.
This official is generally more infuen tial
at court than the grand vizier or prime
minister himself. Ruslizi-bashaw IS the
superintendent of the kitchen, and at
each meal of the Sultan this official
stands by his side and tastes from every
dish as it is brought in, and what he does
not approve the Sultan will not eat
Kulhamil- bashaw is the head of the stove
brigade, about eighty men, who make all
the fires in the place, and Damadji-ba-
shaw commands a company of 100 men
who have nothing else to do than to dust
the furniture and beat the carpets. For
himself and his harems the Sultan keeps
fifty physicians, surgeons, apothecaries,
and thirty-fve more of the lower rank
for the servants of the palace. The
ichief occupation of these consists in pre-
iparing cosmetics and perfumery for the
women. In addition there are fifty ka-
wpssis and one hundred batadjis consist
ing of sort of private messenger service
to carry Communications between the
Sultan and the harems. Besides, as a
special guard, there is q corps of black
eunuchs, about two hundred strong. who
act as watches over every entrance to
the harems, and their chief has the pecu-
liar title of" Head Guald of the Gates OF
Happiness" In all, the Grand Turk
feeds daily over IL 900 persons in his pal.
aces. which is larger retinue than all
the other crowned heads of Europe main-
tain together.