The Northern Pacific farmer., 1880-02-26
THE SULTAN,S HOUSEHOLD.
A 0reat Retinue, with Light Duties and
Heavy Pay. :.

rectly from high officer of the palace.
After remarking that the sultan has
converted the Yildiz Kiosk, his favorite
residence, into sort of Plessis les
Tours, surrounded by thick walls, de-
Tended by thirty guns and guarded by a
garrison of 5000 men, the correspond
ent goes on to say that, Notwithstanding
the present penury of Abdul Hamid's
civil list and the general poverty of
the country, his wives, concubines, re-
telners and slaves are little less numer-
GUS than those of his predecessors, and
the Turkish court is still the most cost
ly in Europe. The Sultan has four
chief chamberlains, exclusive of sew
eral who figure in professions on the
gala days, carrying the emblems of
their office-a bunch of keys-on their
backs. Among the latter are the two
chief black eunuchs, Bahr Ramoun
and Khereddin, who besides their other
titles, enjoy that of 'Highness," and
are members of the most illustrious
orders Of the Ottoman empire. Bahr
Ramoun is supposed to favor the pre-
tensions of Russia, while Khereddin is
understood to be g. warm friend of the
English alliance. Twenty-three aides
de-camp, at the head of whom is
Namvk Pasha, who signed the prelimi.
naries of the peace of Kezanliz, are al
ways on duty at the Yildiz Kiosk. Five
mussahibs or takers are charged with
the duty of relieving the tedium of his
Majesty's unoccupied moments by live
" conversation, by reading aloud, and
by retailing in the royal ear the gossip
of the capital, with which they are sup
piled by sixty spies specially told off
for this purpose. The Sultan's health
is watched over by five physicians, the
first ofwhom Is Greek, DR.. Mavrogeni,
a member of the illustrions Phanariote
family of that name. The imperial es-
tablisment includes four chaplsins, or
imaums, and four astrologers. During
the war one of the latter became for
awhile an important political parsonage.
He predicted the capture of Shipka
Pass, and though it was held by the
Turks for two hours only, his prediction
was considered to have been fulfilled.
and he was honered as a prophet, It
was on the advice of the same astrologer
bimself a native of Tunis. that the Sui
tan summoned Kheredin Pasha from
Tunis, and, at a latter period, made
him Grand Vizier. Then there are
directors ofthe private apartments, of
the privy purse, and of the palace tele-
graph (tbel ashamed of whom has the
assistance of ten employes,) five librar-
lans, and secretary, who receives
and reads the not very numerous peti-
tions addressed to the Sultan by his
faithful subjects, a bufoon, company
OF Turkish singers, a brass band, (the
leader of which is an Italian, ENJOYING
the rank and em0luments of Pasha.)
and five pianists who have the privilege
Of giving lessons to the Princes and
Princessess of the Imperial family
complete the hierarchy of the Mabein
or mems department, of the Sultan's
household. The menial duties of the
palace are for the most part performed
by women. The high officer who
communicated these particulars to
the correspondent of the Journal de
Ge''eue, belonging naturally to the Ma-
5ean, was unable to give him equally
minute information touching the organ
ization of the imperial harem. The
sultanas, of whom there are four, and
the oodoksques, who are reckoned at 80,
are guarded by 120 black eunuchs.
Many of the latter are waited on by
one or two women servants, and in
former times the mcst hlghly-placed of
them lived "as 1uxuriously as princes"
Among the inferior domestic servants
OF the sultan there are ten stable mast
ers," who cater for the palace kitchens
and'se that the imperial tables are
duly supplied with food and properly
served. Next come ten maaitres d'hote!,
who superintend the ordering of the
1,ae'sus and the cooking of the meats.
The cooks and turnspits who receive
their commands number 800, while the
services of 200 walters are required in
the different dining-rooms of the Yildiz
Kiosk. Besides the inmates of the
palace, many persons living in its i'm
mediate nelghborhood draw by pre-
scrlptlve right their daily supplies of
food from the imperial Kitchens. 1t is.
estimated that 800 families, including
1000 individuals, live in this way at the
sultan's expense. Ten servants are
charged with the sole duty of carving
and unfolding the sultan's carpet when
he goes to prayer. Ten others. called
tutund5is, have the care of his Maiesty's
pipes and tobacco. Ten cgted5is give all
their time to the roasting, grinding and
making of his Msjesty's coffee. The
due order of the imperial wardrobe is
assumed by the constant attention Of
twenty properly qualified employers;
thirteen others keep an eye on the i'm.
perial valise, five armorers are respon-
sible for the perfect condition Of the
Sultan's arms, eight men look after the
chandeliers, torches and flambeaux, and
eight take charge of the aviaries and