Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1882-10-03
the + sEaAsLiO.
some Peeullarities Ofthe Turks
Domestic Arrangements.

Domestic Arrangements.
A Constantinople correspondent has
been inauirIng into the Sultan's ex
tensive household arrangements, and
gives some curious particulars. He
SAYS the seraglio buildings stretch to
the length OF q mile and a half, aud
contain more than 5000 inmates. Here
the government Of the empire is car
ried on, chiefly by women and chill
dren. The viEiers and ministers are
but the servants Of these secluded
creatures, and although at times q
statesman, supported BY a strong pal
ace clique, may WELD real power, he
seldom does so long, nor is his power
very great. From the moment he
enters Office he is secretly assaulted BY
a host of enemies, whom he does not
see. aud whom he cannot disarm nor
propitiate. All he knows is, that
while these foes are intriguing against
bin the women and slaves, to whose
influence be owes his place, are fight
Jog for him, and so long as they keep
the upper hand he will be safe. AS
for the Sultan, as a rule he was as
much at their mercy as his ministers.
A puppet in the hands of
women, be never knows exactly who
rules him. but is obliged, for peace's
sake, to do as bis mother, sisters, ka-
dues or faVoritas order. More than
one Sultan, weary to death Of sereglio
i~utrigues, would have been glad TO
make a clean sweep Of his female court
but any step 4 this direction would
have led to conspiracy and deposition.
TIE seraglios-for there are two
the new one. where the court Of the
RIGGING Sultan resides, aud the old
one, 10 which the iavorites Of The de-
parted Sultan are relegated-ha'bor
between them some 1000 persons, and
are a source ofruiuous expeuse TO the
treaso y. Not only are the allowances
OF the ~Sul,suas, kadines, ikbals (tavor-
ites) sod gniezdes (aspiraut %favorites)
large, but the ways Of the palace are
%extravaIsut. Each of the imperial
ladies has her diaFa, or retinue OF
companions, and male and female
servants, aud all these people scatter
sold about without counting whenever
they have a within to satisfy. Sultans
do not contract regular marriages, and
the reigning lady at the seraglio is
never the Sultaps vile, but his mother.
She bears the title Of SultaDa Vslide,
and all The inmates Of the seragliO
owe her %servlle obedience. der
household consists Of about 200 SER
wants aod guards. Next to Der in
rank comes the Hasnader Ousta, or
Mistress of the Treasury, who is gen.
orally a shreR d old woman promoted
from the rauks OF domesticity for her
talent in gossip and housekeeping. II
the Sulte0a Yalide dies, the Hasnader
succeeds her as Queen of SeragllO.
Alter the Hasnader comes the Sultan's
semi lawful wives and ~favorites in the
following order: First, the four kz-
dimes, who rank as spouses until his
Msjesty divorces them aud gives them
in marriage 10 some Pashs, which be
does pretty often; then the ikbats. or
lavorites, u the number of five or six,
add then the aspirant favorites, whose
0uuberis unlimited. As every one who
m2rries from the sersgiiot takes with her
her clothes, jewels, fGroiture servants,
carriage. sud a lump SUN in money.
which often amounts TO thousands Of
dollars, il may be iuag ned how the
civil list is mulched Wben there are
many aspirant favori.es. Coming to the
male members Of the seraglio, we 6od,
10 addition 10 The necessary staff Of
ehambe lsins. secretaries, guards,
eunuchs, sculi OBS and cooks, a corps
Of Two hundred pages and musicians,
aud a very large army of BARRIERS,
shampooeIs, tssters Of the Sultsn's
food, athletes, buifoOns, cock-fghters,
ram-fghteFs, sssrologers and grooms.
Toe cock fighters and ram fighters
we're appOiored 70 smuse Abdul Aziz.
butlhey have been maintained by the
present SDlsao, because it is almost
imIossbie 70 dismiss any one Wbo has
once he'd Office 10 the palace without
giving + u a pension. The same may
be said ofthe astrologers, whose fdnc-
tiJns have become q sinesare, though
they are occasionally summoned inc
the haremilk 70 entertain the ladies
By iortune telling. Asfor the buttons
and dWarls they have always been
numerous, for ladies living 10 seclu.
sion must be made to laugh when the
music aud jigging Of the dancing
girls begin to pail. These dancing
girls form a corps Of 200 strong. anC
as they are splendidly dressed snt
richly fed, they cost more TO keel
| than q cavalry regiment.