Elmore bulletin. [volume] (Rocky Bar, Idaho) 1889-1906, 1891-10-10
THg s. LTAN'S KEEPING.
THE TURKISH RULER ALWAYS EATS
ENTIRELY ALONE.
Feeding the Army or Servants and on
ccrs-Th- sdltan's BlS Tarms-waste
aud Extravaganza In the Kitehen--ono
Years Expenses

The food for the sultan Is cooked by
one man and his aids, and none others
touch IL II IS cooked in silver vessels.
aud when done each kettle is sealed by a
elip of paper and stamp. aud this Is
broken IN the presence Of the sultan by
the high chamberlain who takes one
spoonful Of each separate kettle before
the sultan tastes IL This Is 10 prevent
the sultan = being poisoned. The food Is
almost always served up Ia the sultan In
the same vessels IN which II was cooked.
and these are often of gold. but when
baSer metal. the kettle Is set into a rich,
golden bell shaped holder. the handle of
which is held by slave while the sultan
eats Each kettle j. course, and Is
served with bread aud a kind Of pancake.
which is held on a golden tray by another
slave.
1t requires Just twice as many slaves
n there are courses to serve n dinner 10
him. lie usually sii. on divan near
window. which ioole ont over the Bos.
phorus, and takes his ease and comfort In
loose pensDazar and gegelik. with his
sleeves turned up. After lie has eaten
all lac wants the sultan takes his coffee
and his chilbouk aud lies back In an
ecstasy of enjoyment and quiet reverie.
which he calls taking his keif Woe be
to the one who comes to disturb IL,
The food being cooked outs side Of the
palace makes II necessary To have bell
shaped felt covers Ia clap down tightly
over each kettle. which has been placed
ON tray For the sultan and royal
family there are magnificent velvet covers
which 10 over the out side OF these, EN-
broidercd with gold and silver threads
and pearl. coral or turquuis beads. Those
for Others are NOT 50 handsome,
The sultan is served first and he always
eats entirely alone. never under any cir
cumstances deigning % eat with any one,
aud soon he has begun To eat the
harem Is served Tie sultan never uses
plate He takes al his food direct from
the little kettles. and never uses table
and rarely a knife or fork a spoon. his
bread or pancake or fingers are far
handler The whole household is at lib.
erty to take meals where 1t suits him or
her best. and thus every one Is served
with small tray, with IA spoon. great
chunk of bread. and the higher ones only
get the pancakes.
After the harcm the officers OF the i'm.
perial body guard the eunuchs. the cham
berlains aud other high funetionaries are
fed, they usually being seated around a
table and the kettles are offered each one
who helps himself To Gsle or two spoon
. etiquette To take more, no matter how
nice the dish nor how hungry, but as the
number of dishes is always 50 great no
one need go hungry.
: After all tile officers and others of high
degree are fed the soldiers and servants
get their food, and at the same time all
Q the men employed in the imperial stables
: have theirs, and during the progress OF
! the meals any stranger. whoever II may
u be. Is at liberty To come In and seat him
/ self and eat. As general rule thre'
n hundred persons are fed every day wh'
!, have no earthly right except what th'
}, laws of hospitality give. Ii is a sort o
g perpetual free lunch. and beggars rs wei
3 as rich men avail themselves of this roya
y bounty.
o The sultan has number of very larg
IT farms, some of them covering miles in OK
n tent, both in European Turkey and Asiati
W Turkey, and these are intended To suppl
ir all those things which farms can produc
TO the palace. One of these farms Is nea
id TcEutchaldja. where the government
u now about building fortress. and anotht
T. at All Bey keni, both of these within cas-
ride from Constantinople. There are tw
" others at Kouchoukchickmedje and BC
II youkchoukmedje These are all nea
in Constantinople The others are in Asi
Minor On these much Of the grain an
e, food of the horses are raised They Nj
v. or were titled by the compulsory labor {
a the Bulgarians. large numbers of thei
being Obliged by conscrfption to serve !
ne many months a year ON these farms. The
eIl were tied together like cattle and brougf
ar by force and treated like brutes. Tn
ms was a sort Of tax duty which they wei
I Obliged to pay in labor. 1t may not be
at now, but gsobably Is.
- & - F.t-f iis.
~ productive, and from these farms ann
IN ally are brought ON donkeys and in boa
'of tons upon tons of vegetables Of all kind
,ly milk. butter and cheese, mutton, egg
10 poultry and fruit The amount In Q
aggregate Is suspendous, aud yet IL Is n
M, a quarter enough for the needs of TIA
a,x household Nearly all the tobacco. ho
- ever, comes from these farms. and Is
AZ the finest quality.
~ quality They do not grow rice. and.
,gs consequence. buy nearly one ton Of n
,,ts per day for the inevitable pilaff. .
:, pounds Of sugar. as much coffee. to =
NJ. nothing of the other groceries. frn
40 vegetables and meat Rice. mutton n
=, bread form the greater part of food for I
-, majorityof Turks; yet, aside from th,
~, ~ they get away with one ton OF beef q
half ton of veal per day. TO say moi
20 ing of the other viands and fish. swe
a. meats. confectionery. nuts and dried a
fresh fruits The waste and extra
- -. gance In the kitchen are enormous, a
~ enough is thrown away every day
~, .sA maintain a hundred families. Much
ns this is gathered up by beggars. and
- dogs eat the rest.
. he The estimate is that 1t costs per year
laer supply the food for the sultan's hon
rue hold. horses and animals. aside fr
oAu the value of the product Of the v
Se1 farms, very nearly II not %
was O.. 600. 900, cost of furniture. bedd
an aud carpets. 5000 900; drugs. wome
own clothes. Jewels and cosmetics. $40 200
caprices Of all kinds. 5.000. 900, suita
WIN clothes and bedding. g.. OOO. 600; sundr
ana presents and servants wages. $4,000.
nish plate. gold and silver dishes. $4,000
carriages. 4T4 OF them. f47i.OO0 To
seem $4i ,474 900. That is a snug little 81
sue but Il is an under rather than an o.
'nres estimate. as every one who has lived ]
= In Turkey and had means Of judging
, but seeing the reckless extravaganza OF
o be royal household will concede.-New I
sell Herald.