Chapter XIV: Appendix: I

THE SECOND BOOK OF THE AFFAIRS OF THE TURKS

Written in 1534, supposedly by Benedetto Ramberti

Translated from the Italian

[From _Libri Tre delle Cose de Turchi_, as printed in _Viaggi ... alla tana_, Venice, 1543, pp. 131-146.]

As from a laborious and very dangerous sea into a safe and very quiet port, one enters the city of Constantinople, after the great trouble and inconvenience of the ride which he has endured over the long road.[713] This city (to continue until I have here made an end of particular description) was anciently called Byzantium, and afterwards was called New Rome, and then Constantinople from the first Constantine. Byzantium, as it is reported, was in the region where Pera is now, and was so named from the river Byzantium, which afterward, by reason of an earthquake such as are frequent in that region, changed its course elsewhere. But I do not believe this, nor does it seem to me to agree with the description of Polybius and other writers, who call those here Chalcedonians; these, when they might themselves in ancient times have built upon this site, did not care for it, but built in Asia, not having discerned the convenience and beauty they were leaving to others; who might deprive them even of their own site, as indeed happened.

The city is 18 miles in circuit. It has seven little hills, not very high. It is surrounded by wretched walls, and is full of houses, not many of which are good, being made of clay and wood and only a few of stone. It is full of groves, that is, of places wild and uninhabited, where cypresses grow, and other such trees.[714] In Constantinople, then, is the palace of the Turkish Signor, which is a singular structure and very large, as will be told later.

There is the palace of the ladies of the Signor, the palace of the Janissaries, the Patriarcate, the palace of the Emperor Constantine, which is in part ruined, the church of St. Sophia, which is a structure most beautiful and divine; this was built by the Emperor Justinian from the oldest and finest columns and marbles, as one can see now; in part of it the Turkish Signor has made stalls for his horses. There is the mosque of Sultan Mohammed, which has an _Imaret_ attached to it that is like a hostel; in which they lodge any one, of any nation or law, who may wish to enter, and they give him food for three days,—honey, rice, meat, bread, and water, and a room in which to sleep. They say that from day to day there are more than a thousand guests from various nations. Near this they have baths and some fountains, most beautiful and delightful to behold. There are the mosques of Sultan Bayezid, Sultan Selim, and other Signors, which are very beautiful and exceedingly well-built. This makes it clear that, when they wish, they know also how to build houses and palaces that are magnificent and sumptuous.

There is the Hippodrome, that is, the place where in ancient times horses were made to run as in a theater and circus: in the center of this Hippodrome there stands a needle, which is a column made in the form of a needle, very beautiful and wrought very well and without mortar, made of living rocks joined together in such a manner that they rise through more than fifty cubits, tapering in the shape of a needle, which rests on four marble balls.[715] There is a column of bronze in the shape of a serpent with three heads.[716] There is a bronze Hercules brought from Hungary,[717] and in the center there is a colossal structure made of different beautiful marbles, in which is engraved the history of all the above-mentioned objects, and of other things which used to stand in the Theater and Hippodrome. There are throughout the city many vestiges of antiquities, such as aqueducts, arches, porphyry columns, fountains brought from the Danube and other near-by rivers.[718] Many gardens about the houses of the great. Many mosques of private lords, and baths which are attached to the mosques of private men and of public magistrates.

On the other side of the sea from the Seraglio Point are the hills of Asia, and the journey is of a little more or less than two miles; this Asia is today called by a single name Anatolia; and there are on the shore there some fortresses called Scutari. Then Kadikeui, situated on a bay of the Hellespont,[719] where one can see many vestiges of antiquities; and I, when I went there, saw underground where men were working, a well of the finest marble with an aqueduct which came to the center of the well, and a canopy of fine marble supported by four beautiful columns. And in other places there appear many vestiges of old churches, both of Christians and of heathen, places indeed most beautiful, most pleasant, most fruitful. The situation of Constantinople is such that not only can it not be described adequately, but it can hardly be grasped in thought because of its loveliness. Certainly it is rather to be considered divine than otherwise. Nor is there any one who has seen it who has not judged it worthy to be ranked above all other situations in the world.

There are in the city besides the Turks, countless Jews, or Marrani expelled from Spain;[720] these are they who have taught and who are teaching every useful art to the Turks;[721] and the greater part of the shops and arts are kept and exercised by these Marrani. There is a place which is called _Bezestan_, where they sell and buy all sorts of cloth and Turkish wares, silks, stuffs, linens, silver, wrought gold, bows, slaves, and horses; and in short all the things that are to be found in Constantinople are brought there to market: this, except for Friday, is open every day.

Constantinople is in Thrace: this has as its boundaries on the east the Propontis and the mouths of the greater sea, on the west part of Bulgaria and part of Macedonia, on the north Bosnia, on the south the Aegean Sea with part of Macedonia which lies toward the river Nishava, called in ancient times the Nesus.[722]

This most noble city is inhabited by Turks: these as the more reliable authors have written, and as many of the Turks themselves have confirmed to me, had their origin in Scythia, which now is a part of Tartary, a northern region divided into two parts by the river Don: one of these parts is in Europe, and one in Asia.[723] The European part is bounded on one side by Pontus, and on the other by the Riphean Mountains, and at the back by Asia proper and the river Taspus. In Ptolemy these two Scythias are called the one _intra Imaum montem_, and the other _extra Imaum_. They departed then from Scythia (as is said above) and began to make invasions and raids into their present confines: then proceeding farther, in a short time they became lords of a good part of Asia, but because they did not know how to keep only one chief among them, they had no foundation or firmness. This circumstance having been considered by one who was called Othman, a man of low rank among them, but of lofty and valorous mind, he thought that, by having the arm and the favor of some men of intelligence and authority, he could easily rule all this people and the conquered territory, and increase it further upon good opportunity: then having revealed this his thought to three persons, who seemed more suitable than others for this business, he promised that those by means of whom he might acquire the dominion to which he aspired, he would always maintain, both themselves and their descendants, in great state and dignity, and suitably to the great benefit which he had received from them: besides this that he would never harm their blood nor that of their posterity through laws that would lay hands upon them even if they should transgress grievously.[724] They accepted the condition and conspired together for the sovereignty; which they obtained by astuteness, artfulness, threats, and the slaughter of many. These three were called, the one Michael, a Greek who had turned Turk; from him the Marcalogli[725] are descended; one of them is now Sanjak in Bosnia. The second was Malco, a Greek renegade; from him have come the Malcozogli, and there is now only one, who is Sanjak in Greece. The third was Aurami, a native Turk; his descendants were called the Eurcasli; it is not now known that any of these remain. In case the Ottoman family should fail, these would pretend to the sovereignty, and therefore they are highly respected.

This Othman came to power about the year 1300, and lived in lordship twenty-eight years:[726] Orchan succeeded him and lived twenty-two years in the kingship. Then Murad who reigned twenty-three years. Then Bayezid. Then Chiris Celeby, or, as others wish, Calepino, who lived about six years. Then Mohammed, who reigned fourteen years.[727] Then Murad II who reigned 31 years. Then Mohammed II who reigned 32 years and was the first Emperor of Constantinople. Then Bayezid II who reigned 31 years. Then Selim eight years: to him succeeded Sultan Suleiman, his only son, who reigns at present. Of this succession it is written otherwise in some histories, where they treat of wars and peaces, which have been made by our republic in times past with this family: but since I have recounted these in other places, it now suffices to have noticed the common opinion of those who have written of the affairs of the Turks up to this time. And so I will go on to describe the court of this Signor: it is arranged in the following manner.[728]

SULTAN SULEIMAN has a palace in the angle of Constantinople by the two seas:[729] this is in circuit about three miles: and in it are his residence and his court, which is called the PORTE. This palace, because it was begun to be built by Sultan Mohammed, he willed when dying that it should be rent-paying property of his mosque, and that it should pay a thousand aspers a day, which are twenty ducats; and this has been observed to the present.[730]

He has in the aforesaid palace countless highly ornamented chambers, but one among the others is set apart for himself: in this he sleeps, and he has there six youths who serve his person.[731] Of these six, two are deputed for the service of the chamber and the Signor during the day, and then in the night the same ones come to keep guard when he sleeps: these stand ever vigilant, the one at his head and the other at his feet, with two lighted torches in their hands: these two then in the morning when they clothe the aforesaid Signor, put into one of the pocket-purses of his caftan a thousand aspers, and into the other twenty golden ducats; whatever of this money is not given away by the Signor during the day, remains to those who undress him at night; they never find much in the garments, according to report. And always when he goes forth to enjoy the chase or for some other purpose, besides the aforesaid money which he carries, he is accustomed always to have behind him the _Khazinehdar-bashi_, or chief treasurer; this man carries with him a great sum of money to be given away.

The duty of the aforesaid six youths, who are changed according to the will of the Signor, is: of one to be _Papuji_,[732] or him who bears the shoes, of another _Silihdar_, who bears the bow and arrows, of another _Chokadar_, who bears the garments, of another _Sharabdar_, who bears the pitcher of water, of another _Iskemleji_, who carries the stool, and then of the sixth to be _Oda-bashi_, or chief of the Chamber. These have a fixed salary of 15 to 20, and the _Oda-bashi_ of 30 aspers per day.

Next comes

The eunuch _Kapu Aghasi_,[734] or chief of the gate, who has 60
aspers per day.

The _Khazinehdar-bashi_, a eunuch, chief treasurer, 60
aspers.[733]

The _Kilerji-bashi_, chief of the butlers, 40 aspers.

The _Seraidar-bashi_,[734] a eunuch, chief of the palace when
the Signor is away; he has 50 aspers. Twelve eunuchs subject to
the aforesaid, with 10 to 15 aspers each.

There are next about five hundred youths aged from eight to twenty years, who reside in the palace and are the delight of the Signor: they have each from ten to twelve aspers per day; they are instructed in various arts according to their genius, but especially in reading, writing, and in the doctrine of their laws, and in riding. The masters are old _Danishmends_,[735] called _Hojas_, or doctors of the laws. These boys at the season of Bairam, which is like our Easter day, are clothed by the Signor, some with silk and some with cloth, without any uniformity; and each has a golden bonnet, a scimitar, and a bow: they never leave the aforesaid palace until they have reached the age when the Signor thinks them fit for offices: and then he makes them _Spahi-oghlans_, or _Silihdars_, or of higher degrees according to their worth and the favor which they have gained with the Signor. Each ten of them are guarded by a eunuch called _Kapu-oghlan_, or chief of youths,[736] and each has a slave’s frock, in which he sleeps rolled up in such a manner that he does not touch another who may be near him. They reside in a large hall, full of great lights and spacious, and their eunuchs sleep in the middle of this hall. They have a garden in the palace, which extends more than a mile, in which reside about thirty-five gardeners, called _Bostanjis_, who are _Ajem-oghlans_:[737] these gardeners have from three to five aspers each per day; they are clothed in blue cloth, and given a shirt. Then when they leave the palace, they become Janissaries, or _Solaks_, or _Kapujis_, or something else according to their quality.

The _Bostanji-bashi_, or chief gardener, has fifty aspers a day
and many perquisites.

The _Kiaya_,[738] who is, as it were, a lieutenant for the
gardeners, has 20 aspers per day; and each ten [gardeners] have
a chief called _Boluk-bashi_. From this garden, which is very
large and well-tended, full of excellent fruit-trees of every
sort, they obtain so much every year that from the product
of it alone they make the living expenses of the Signor, and
also get something more. Near the garden are always stationed
two small galleys; these are rowed by the gardeners when the
Signor goes on a pleasure-trip, and the _Boluk-bashi_ holds the
helm.[739]

The _Ashji-bashi_, chief cook, with fifty cooks under him. He
has 40 aspers per day, the cooks under him four, six, or eight
aspers each.

The _Helvaji-bashi_, or chief confectioner, with 40 aspers, and
he has thirty companions with five to six aspers per day each.

The _Chasnijir-bashi_,[740] chief of the cupboards, with eighty
aspers: morning and evening he brings with his own hand the
dish of the Signor, and he has under him a hundred _Chasnijirs_
with from three to seventy aspers each.[741]

The _Mutbakh-emini_,[742] or steward, with 40 aspers. He has a
secretary with 20 aspers a day.

A hundred _Ajem-oghlans_, who transport on carts the wood of
the palace. They have three to five aspers, and are provided
with clothing.

Ten _Sakkas_, who carry water on horseback in leathern sacks,
with three to five aspers each.

The expenses for the table of the Signor, and of the youths
with their eunuchs and others to about a thousand, amount to
five thousand aspers a day.

Three _Kapuji-bashis_, or captains of the gate, who have a
hundred aspers a day and are clothed every year: and they have
under them two hundred and fifty _Kapujis_, who have five to
six aspers each; and each _Kapuji-bashi_ with a third of the
_Kapujis_ is obliged to keep guard at the gate of the Signor,
changing from day to day. And when any ambassador or other
person goes to kiss the hand of the Grand Signor, all these are
given presents of clothes or of money according to the degree
of him who is introduced.

A _Kapuji-kiaya_, who is, as it were, a lieutenant of the
_Kapujis_, has forty aspers a day.

Four Vizier Pashas, or chief counsellors: the greatest has
ordinarily twenty-four thousand ducats a year and the others
sixteen to eighteen thousand; but they have also so much
feudal income that they receive three times as much as the
provision in money.[743] To this should be added the garments
which the Signor gives them, the presents of ambassadors and
of others, the perquisites of the office they hold, which
are unlimited. At present they are only three. The first
is Ibrahim, born a Christian at Parga. The second Aias of
Khimara. The third Kassim of Croatia, a kidnapped Christian.
To these there is added a fourth at present,[744] who is
Khaireddin Bey Barbarossa of the Albanian nation, formerly a
corsair and now king of Algiers in Barbary. These Pashas live
and dress very superbly. They have: Ibrahim six thousand and
more slaves, Aias two thousand, Kassim fifteen hundred, and
Barbarossa about four thousand. To all these slaves they give
pay, horses, garments, golden bonnets and silver chains,[745]
according to their offices and degrees. And these serve their
Pashas under the same arrangements by which the Signor is
served by his [slaves]. They have also twenty-five or thirty
chancery secretaries to the Signor, men of great repute, with
twenty-five to thirty aspers per day each: they keep more or
fewer slaves as they can. These Pashas have entry to the Signor
for affairs of state; and it is in fact they who govern the
whole after their own fashion.

There is next the _Mufti_, or the interpreter and chief of the
laws; they do not trouble him about anything except the affairs
of religion and their faith, and he has the position which our
Pope had in ancient times.[746]

Two _Kaziasker Danishmends_, or doctors of the laws for the
army, one for Greece, the other for Anatolia. Their position is
of great importance. They sit at the Porte and have precedence
of the Vizier Pashas: on this account they are much esteemed.
They are executors of the laws, and with the consent of the
Pashas they appoint and remove the _Kazis_, who are like
podestas for the whole country. They have feudal income of
about six thousand ducats a year each. They keep two hundred
to three hundred slaves each, and they are accompanied by ten
secretaries appointed by the Signor and two _Mochtur-bashis_,
who hold the office of ushers:[747] these live from
perquisites, of which they have a great many.

Two _Defterdars_, or treasurers, or rather, as we would say,
governors of the revenues. One of these has the receipt and the
care of those revenues which come from a third of Greece, or
from that part which is toward the Danube, and besides, from
Asia, from Syria, and from Egypt, with feudal income of ten
thousand ducats a year, although with the perquisites he gets
twice as much. The other has the care of the other two-thirds
of Greece: but when the Signor takes the field this man remains
in Constantinople as his vicar and lieutenant; and he has six
thousand ducats of feudal income, but gets three times as much;
and their position is of great dignity. They have under them
fifty clerks with many helpers: these keep the accounts of the
_Khazineh_, or treasury of the Signor; and these clerks are
appointed by the Signor with pay of fifteen to fifty aspers per
day each. The _Defterdars_ have, the first a thousand slaves
and the second five hundred, and the clerks from two to twenty
slaves each.[748]

Two _Rusnamehjis_, chief clerks, who receive the money and
disburse it as needed, with twenty-five companions besides
themselves.

The two have forty aspers each, and the twenty-five have eight
to ten aspers a day.

Two _Veznedars_, or weighers of aspers and ducats, with
twenty-five to thirty aspers each.

Six _Sarrafs_, or bankers, who know gold and silver [coins],
and they have ten to fifteen aspers each.

One _Nishanji-bashi_, who signs the ordinances and public
writings with the monogram of the Signor. His position is like
that of grand chancellor and is of great repute. He sits at the
Porte below the _Beylerbeys_. He has eight thousand ducats of
feudal income, and travels in great honor with more than three
hundred slaves.

An outside _Khazinehdar-bashi_, or household treasurer, with
ten _Khazinehdars_ under him. He has fifty aspers, and they ten
to fifteen per day.

A _Defter-emini_, who has charge of the feudal grants: he keeps
the register of those who receive feudal grants. He has forty
aspers a day, and under him are ten clerks with ten to fifteen
aspers per day each.

Eighty _Muteferrika_, or lancers of the body-guard[749] of the
Signor, these always carry lances when he takes the field; they
recognize no other head than the Signor himself. And when by
artifice or merit they acquire favor, they are made _Aghas_, or
generals. The least has ten, the greatest eighty, aspers per
day.

A _Chaush-bashi_, or chief sergeant of the army. He is of so
great credit with every one, that when he is sent by the Signor
to some Pasha, _Sanjak_, or _Kazi_, with the order to have
the head of such and such a one cut off, he is obeyed without
their requiring a letter from him, or a command in writing;
not otherwise than if the Signor himself were there, and gave
command. He has a hundred aspers a day, and under him he keeps
a hundred slaves,[750] with twenty-five to forty aspers each.

The _Mihter-bashi_, or chief of those who pitch the tents and
spread the rugs, who sweep the court-yards and attend to other
similar duties; he has forty aspers, a _Kiaya_ with twenty-five
aspers, sixty _Mihters_ with five to eight aspers each; and
they are clothed every year by the Signor.

An _Agha_, or general of the Janissaries. He has for pay a
thousand aspers and over per day, and six thousand ducats of
feudal grant per year. When this _Agha_ holds court, which
is two or three times per week, he is obliged to give the
Janissaries to eat, a meal of bread, rice, mutton, honey,
and water. He has under him a _Kiaya_ or Secretary of the
Janissaries, who is, as it were, a vicegerent; he has two
hundred aspers per day of pay in cash, and thirty thousand
of feudal grant per year.[751] And there is a clerk of these
Janissaries, called the _Yaziji_ of the Janissaries,[752] with
a hundred aspers a day.

A _Seymen-bashi_, chief of the harriers.[753] He has a hundred
aspers and has from the number of the Janissaries about two
thousand under him.

A _Zagarji-bashi_, head of the hounds.[754] He has fifty aspers
a day, and has under him about seven hundred of the Janissaries.

The Janissaries number about twelve thousand: they have each
from three to eight aspers of pay per day. Each ten has its
_Oda-bashi_, and each hundred has its _Boluk-bashi_. And
these heads of ten or of a hundred go on horseback. And the
_Oda-bashis_ have forty, and the _Boluk-bashis_ sixty aspers
a day. The remainder of the Janissaries go on foot. They are
clothed once a year by the Signor with coarse blue cloth.
They have their residence in two barracks in Constantinople
given by the Signor. Those who have no wives reside in these.
Those who are married reside at various places in the city.
For their living expenses each contributes so much a day, and
they have a steward and a cook, who provide their necessary
living: and those who have less pay than the others are obliged
to serve those who have more pay than they. Every hundred of
them when they take the field transport a tent. They go on
foot, and part of them are musketeers, and part halbardiers,
and part use the scimetar alone. Every three lead a horse
which carries their clothing. And when they come to old age,
or when for some other reason the service of one of them does
not please the Signor, they are stricken from the book of the
Janissaries, and are sent as _Hissarlis_[755] or castle guards;
and those of their officers who are deposed for such a reason,
are sent as castellans with a feudal grant equivalent to the
pay which they had previously, in such a way that none of
them suffers hardship. Such of them as succeed in war are made
_Voivodes_,[756] and raised to high positions. They come as
boys to this soldiery and are taught by the experienced ones.
They choose healthy ones, well-built, but nimble and dextrous,
lively above all, and more often cruel than compassionate.
In them rests the force and all the firmness of the army of
the Turk; they, because they are always exercising and living
together, all become as it were a single body, and of a truth
they are terrible.[757]

From the Janissaries are chosen a hundred and fifty _Solaks_,
who are footmen of the Signor, with fifteen to twenty aspers a
day each: they march surrounding the person of the Signor every
time he goes forth.

Two _Solak-bashis_, chief officers of the _Solaks_, who go
on horseback, with thirty aspers per day. And these and the
_Solaks_ are in obedience to the _Agha_ of the Janissaries.

An _Agha_ of the _Spahi-oghlans_, an office of great honor.
He has from feudal grant and pay ten ducats a day, and he
has a large number of slaves, with a _Kiaya_ under him, or
lieutenant: this man has from feudal grant and pay a hundred
aspers a day. And also a _Yaziji_, or secretary, with thirty
aspers, and with large perquisites.

The _Spahi-oghlans_, or youths on horseback, who may be
called _Spahi-oghlan_, are more than three thousand; and they
have twenty to forty aspers each; and every twenty have a
_Boluk-bashi_. These serve on horseback, each with five or six
slaves and a like number of horses. And they always journey,
and also encamp, at the right hand of the Signor. They are
great people. From them the Signor is wont to choose his chief
men. They are first put as boys into the palace, and when they
grow up they succeed well if they attain this grade: it is like
a ladder to mount to higher positions.

An _Agha_ of the _Silihdars_, who has thirty thousand aspers
a day,[758] and under him a lieutenant, a secretary, a
_Kiaya_,[759] with thirty aspers and more each.

There are three thousand _Silihdars_. They moreover ride and
encamp at the left hand of the Signor. They have twenty to
twenty-five aspers per day each, and they have four or five
slaves and a like number of horses, with feudal income for
their living. They are trained by the same education with
which the _Spahis_ are brought up: nor is there any difference
between them, except that the _Spahis_ go on the right, and
these on the left, of the Signor.

Two _Ulufaji-bashis_, or chief officers of soldiers, with
two thousand _Ulufajis_, who go on the right hand and the
left of the Signor. The chief officers have a hundred and
twenty aspers, and the others eight to sixteen aspers; then
under them[760] they have a _Kiaya_, a secretary, and a
lieutenant,[761] with slaves and with horses, some more and
some fewer.

Two _Aghas_, chief officers of the _Ghureba-oghlans_, or poor
youths[762] with eighty aspers each. _Kiayas_, thirty aspers.
Secretaries, twenty-five. And they have under them about two
thousand _Ghureba-oghlans_ with seven to fourteen aspers per
day: these have slaves and horses.

Two _Emir-al-Akhors_,[763] or masters of the stable, a greater
and a lesser. The greater has five hundred aspers, the lesser
two hundred, with lieutenant and _Kiaya_[764] and others, who
have thirty to forty aspers each.

Sixteen thousand altogether of _Serraj_, who have charge
of bridles[765] and saddles; _Ceyssi_, or stable servants;
_Carmandari_, who take care of the mules; _Deveji_, who take
care of the camels, and _Cavriliji_, who herd the cattle and
horses in various places. These have two to twenty aspers per
day each.

Thirty to forty _Peiks_, or runners on foot, men who when boys
have had their spleens removed:[766] and they run post on foot
with great speed. These when the Signor goes forth remain
continually near, so that he may employ them according to his
needs.

Select horses about four thousand for the person of the Signor;
on these the pages of the palace and the eunuchs ride for
exercise in their turns.

A _Chakirji-bashi_, chief Vulturer, and a _Shahinji-bashi_,
chief Falconer. The first has a hundred and fifty aspers, and
the other has eighty; with _Kiayas_, lieutenants,[767] and
others, with ten to twenty-five aspers each per day. Under
these are about two hundred _Zanijiler_,[768] only a hundred of
whom have ten aspers a day, and the others have feudal income,
or exemption from taxation. And they take the field when the
Signor has need.

A _Jebeji-bashi_, chief armorer. He has sixty aspers, a _Kiaya_
and a secretary with twenty aspers each. He has under him about
one thousand five hundred _jebejis_, with seven to twelve
aspers. These all go on foot when the Signor takes the field.

A _Topji-bashi_, chief of artillery. He has seventy aspers, a
_Kiaya_ [and] secretary with twenty aspers: and under him are
two thousand _Topjis_ with six to ten aspers, and they go on
foot.

An _Arabaji-bashi_, chief wagoner. He has forty aspers, a
_Kiaya_ [and] secretary with twenty aspers: and under him three
thousand _Arabajis_ with three to six aspers each.

A _Mihter-bashi_, or chief of trumpeters and drummers. He has
thirty [aspers] per day, and under him two hundred _Mihters_,
part of them on foot and part on horseback with three to five
aspers per day.

An _Emir-Alem Agha_, who carries the standard of the Signor.
He has two hundred aspers a day, and is captain of all the
musicians.

An _Arpa-emini_, who is Provider of the grain, with a
Lieutenant and a Chancellor.[769] He has sixty aspers, the
Lieutenant thirty and the Chancellor twenty: this _Arpa-emini_
has under him twenty persons who receive among them all about
eight hundred aspers.

A _Shehr-emini_,[770] or Commissioner of public works, who
takes care of the streets of Constantinople, and also of the
road when the Signor goes forth to war: and he has charge also
of public buildings, fountains, and aqueducts. He has fifty
aspers, and keeps under him four hundred men: among all of
these is given a thousand aspers. He has also a _Kiaya_ and
secretary with about thirty-eight aspers each.[771]

A _Berat-emini_, who is deputed to distribute the ordinances
of the Signor in writing and who receives the fees; and he has
forty aspers, with two secretaries, and two superintendents
with twenty aspers each.

A _Terjuman_,[772] or interpreter of all the languages. This
position is highly reputed in proportion to the worth and
intelligence of him who holds it. He has five hundred ducats
of fixed income each year, and has also a like sum from feudal
grant, and more than four times as much of extraordinary
income; and he is wont to be highly respected.

Proceeding now further as I have begun, I shall leave it for
another time and eye to reduce this Porte to better order and
put everything in its proper place. I find that to all the
above-mentioned things should be added a PALACE of the ladies
of the Signor.[773] This is very large, with a circuit of about
a mile and a half; and it is provided with different chambers
and other rooms, where the sons of the Signor reside separately
with their mothers, and with a great number of eunuchs for
their guard and service. There also reside the Sultanas, that
is the mothers and the wives of the Signors; and there are
three hundred damsels, placed there virgins, and given to the
government of many matrons. To all of these damsels the Signor
has it taught to embroider different designs, to each he gives
pay of ten to twenty aspers per day; and twice every year at
the two Bairams he has them clothed in stuffs of silk. And
when one of these pleases him he does what he wishes with her,
and when he has lain with her he gives her a golden bonnet
and ten thousand aspers, and has her placed in a separate
apartment from the others, increasing her ordinary pay.[774]
In the aforesaid Palace there is an _Agha_ of the Eunuchs:
to these are given a hundred and twenty aspers for all.
Three _Kapuji-bashis_, and with them a hundred _Kapujis_ and
Janissaries at the gate: among all these is given six hundred
aspers a day. Ten _Sakkas_, who carry water, forty aspers in
all. And the damsels are served and educated up to the age of
twenty-five years. The teachers are the matrons, the servants
are the youngest among them; and when they have arrived at
twenty-five years, if it does not please the Signor to keep
them for his own use, he marries them to _Spahi-oghlans_,
and to others of the slaves of the Porte according to the
degree and condition of both parties; and in their place he
substitutes others.

There is also a palace near Pera for about four hundred boys,
who have pay of six to ten aspers, and are clothed with silk
twice a year. These have an _Agha_ and eunuchs, as have
those in the great palace, [and] _Kapujis_, _Ajem-oghlans_
and a hundred teachers of various arts. Among all these is
distributed eight hundred aspers a day. They are not so
noble, or of so beautiful appearance or show of intelligence
as are those who reside with the Signor; but from these also
many become great, and some of them are taken into the great
palace. And similarly in Adrianople there is a palace of
three hundred boys under pay, an _Agha_, eunuchs, _Kapujis_,
Janissaries, and teachers, about two hundred in all, who have
all together two thousand eight hundred aspers a day. These are
of third grade, but they are carefully taught and well kept
like all the others, and from them according to the spirit
and worth which they show promotions are made. There is also
in that region another palace, recently built, with a large
and beautiful garden: this is located on the river Maritza,
and in it reside about three hundred _Ajem-oghlans_; on these
[palaces] they spend every year two hundred thousand aspers
for each, and they have an _Agha_ with forty aspers and a
lieutenant and secretaries with thirty aspers each per day. In
various other places in Adrianople there are gardens: in these
reside continually as on deposit one thousand five hundred
_Ajem-oghlans_ with _Agha_ and secretaries, and on these they
spend six thousand aspers a year[775] or a little more.

There is also an _Agha_ of the _Ajem-oghlans_, or Janissary
recruits, who resides in Constantinople; he has sixty aspers
per day, and under him are about five thousand _Ajem-oghlans_:
these they clothe twice a year, and on their teachers and
chiefs they spend ten thousand aspers[776] a year. They put
them on ships and buildings to carry wood and perform other
tasks. They become cooks or servants of the Janissaries, and
finally they become Janissaries.

And every four years the Turkish Signor sends into Greece and
into Anatolia to seize boys, sons of Christians, ten or twelve
thousand each time: these he sends into Anatolia in the region
of Brusa or Caramania to dig the earth, so that they will
become accustomed to hard labor, and so that there they may
learn the Turkish language. These boys remain in such a place
and occupation three or four years: then they are ordered to be
gathered again, and are given to the government and discipline
of the _Agha_ of the _Ajem-oghlans_. For these the Signor does
not have any expenses so long as they reside in Anatolia,
because they are clothed and have their living from those whom
they serve by plowing the ground and doing other work for them.

It seemed best to me to make mention in this place of all the palaces, because they are as it were of the same body as that of the Signor, and all the expenses of these are computed in the book of the expense of the great palace, or that of the Signor. To these expenses are added those, which are incurred in clothing twice each year the Pashas, the _Kaziaskers_, the _Defterdars_, the _Beylerbeys_, and the _Nishanji_, and the expenses which are incurred for the extraordinary presents of the Signor. These in all amount to and go beyond a million aspers a year.

There is also an Arsenal in the region of Pera, small and of
short circuit: this has on the sea-front ninety-two vaults, and
so little area and ground within that not merely no galleys
but not even materials and timbers can be contained there. In
it usually work each day about two hundred men; although there
are under pay two hundred patrons with two thousand aspers per
day for all.[777] A thousand _Azabs_, who have among them four
thousand aspers. Foremen, or masters fifty in number, who have
in leisure, that is, when not working, six aspers, and when
working, twelve aspers each. An Intendant, forty aspers. A
Secretary, twenty-five aspers, with ten clerks under him, who
have a hundred aspers. All these fulfil their duties when there
is great need; but they understand ill the trade and art of
building galleys. For this reason they do not turn out good and
ready ones like ours; and what few there are are overseen by
Christians, who are well paid.

Over this Arsenal and all these persons, there is one who
is called the _Beylerbey_ of the sea; that is to say, Lord
of lords, an office created at the time when I was in
Constantinople; since in the past he who was _Sanjak_ of
Gallipoli was wont to be called Captain of the Sea. And
Khaireddin Bey called Barbarossa was the first who had this
title; he was then made fourth Pasha. To him is given the
government of all the fleets, and he has for income every year
a feudal grant of fourteen thousand ducats, besides that from
Rhodes, Euboea, and Mytilene; so that he receives twice as much
more.

I find nothing else that pertains to arrangements for the rule and watch of the sea which are worthy of note: wherefore I will now come to those of the land; these are in truth well and usefully ordered.

There is first one called the _Beylerbey_ of Greece: in this
are included all the lands which the Turkish Signor possesses
in Europe: this _Beylerbey_ is greater than all the others.
He has from feudal grant sixteen thousand ducats a year, and
gets more than double this. He sits at the Porte after the
Pashas,[778] and is of great repute with everybody. He has
under him besides his slaves, who number more than a thousand,
a _Defterdar_ with feudal income of three thousand ducats a
year; a hundred clerks who keep the books and accounts of the
feudal grants assigned to _Subashis_, _Kazis_, _Spahis_, and
others; among all of whom are distributed ten thousand ducats a
year.

Thirty-six _Sanjaks_: these are in obedience to him, and have
for feudal income from five to twelve thousand ducats a year
each. They are distributed through the provinces: in these they
reside only so long as pleases the Signor: he changes them, as
seems best to him, from one province to another. Their duty is
to rule the _Spahis_, and to have them trained in arms, and to
keep them in obedience.

Four hundred _Subashis_, who have among them all from feudal
income four hundred thousand ducats, and have about five
hundred slaves each.[779]

Thirty thousand _Spahis_: these are horse soldiery set apart
some to the service of the _Beylerbey_, and some to that of
all the _Sanjaks_ of Greece. They have from feudal grant two
hundred ducats each, and each of them, for every hundred ducats
of feudal income, is obliged to maintain an armed man, with
horse and lance. And then they have besides the armed man two
or four or five servants and horses. These _Spahis_ are all
slaves of the Signor, and sons of slaves, and of _Spahis_.

Twenty thousand _Timarjis_ who have ten to forty ducats of
feudal income each year, and because they do not reach a
hundred ducats, they are not called _Spahis_. These have each
a horse and two or three servants, and they serve distributed
through all the _Sanjaks_ of Greece. The feudal grants are by
assignment of land; the income of this assignment they get
partly from rent, but the greater part from the tithes of all
the income, which Turks as well as Christians pay, and from the
poll-tax, which is twenty-five aspers per head from Christians
alone, and from the imposts laid on animals, fruit-trees, and
other things. These imposts, moreover, are in addition to those
which they pay ordinarily to the Signor.

Sixty thousand _Akinji_, or mounted adventurers, inscribed for
the lands of Greece and obliged to go to war without payment.
But they are exempt from any burden, and cities and villages
are bound to give them, when they pass through, living expenses
only.

There are in all Greece, that is, in all the countries which
the Turkish Signor possesses in Europe, sixty-eight thousand
villages of Turkish and Christian people, subject to public
burdens.[780]

There follow next six _Beylerbeys_ of Asia, and a separate
one of Egypt. The first of these is called the _Beylerbey_ of
Anatolia which was anciently Asia Minor: he has from feudal
income fourteen thousand ducats, but gets a great deal more.
This man has under him and in his government Pontus, Bithynia,
Asia proper, Lydia, Caria, and Lycia: these provinces under a
single name are called at present Anatolia. This man’s place at
the Porte is after the _Beylerbey_ of Greece. And he has under
him, besides his own slaves, who are more than a thousand,
twelve _Sanjaks_ with feudal income of from four to six
thousand ducats each. Ten thousand _Spahis_, with five to ten
aspers a day, and also more or less feudal income according to
their degree. Next after these follows

The _Beylerbey_ of Caramania, which was anciently Cilicia and
Pamphylia, with feudal income of ten thousand ducats. This man
has under him seven _Sanjaks_ with four to six thousand ducats
of feudal income each, and five thousand _Spahis_, with five to
ten aspers a day each and feudal income besides.

The _Beylerbey_ of Amasia and Tokat, which was Cappadocia and
Galatia, with feudal income of eight thousand ducats. Four
_Sanjaks_ with four to six thousand ducats of feudal income
each. Four thousand _Spahis_ with five to ten aspers a day each
and feudal income.

The _Beylerbey_ of Anadole, which is a region between Syria,
Caramania, and Tokat, which was anciently Paphlagonia, and
is the half of Armenia Minor. He has ten thousand ducats of
feudal income, and under him seven _Sanjaks_ with four to five
thousand ducats of feudal income. Seven thousand _Spahis_, with
five to ten aspers per day and feudal income. In this province
of Anadole, they say that when the Signor is there, besides the
paid troops thirty thousand persons are obliged to ride without
any pay, but only with expenses from the villages.

The _Beylerbey_ of Mesopotamia, under whom is the remainder of
Armenia Minor and part of the Major, the other parts belonging
to the Persians and the Kurds. This borders with Bagdad, or
Baldach, which was anciently Babylonia. He has of feudal income
thirty thousand ducats: and besides his own slaves, who number
two thousand, he has under him twelve _Sanjaks_ with feudal
income of four to six thousand ducats a year, and ten[781]
_Spahis_ with ten to fifteen aspers per day each, and with
large feudal income because of being at the confines of the
Persians: with these they are continually in conflict.

A _Beylerbey_ of Damascus and Syria and Judea, with feudal
income of twenty-four thousand ducats; he has more than two
thousand slaves, and under him twelve _Sanjaks_ with feudal
income of five to seven thousand ducats, and twenty thousand
_Spahis_ with ten to fifteen aspers per day each and with good
feudal income.

A _Beylerbey_ of Cairo: he holds jurisdiction as far as Mecca,
or as far as into Arabia: this Arabia is possessed by the
Turkish Signor in the way in which he possesses Albania, where
he is not yielded such obedience as he is accustomed to receive
from all his other states and countries. But [Arabia] Felix
stands in somewhat greater obedience than the rest. He has for
feudal income thirty thousand ducats, with numerous slaves:
these amount to more than four thousand; sixteen _Sanjaks_ with
feudal income of six to eight thousand ducats each; and sixteen
thousand _Spahis_ with fifteen to twenty aspers each per day.

Near Mecca, and the countries of the Persians, are some Arabic
lords who do not obey any one. The rest[782] then borders
the Persians as far as Mesopotamia, in which is Bagdad.[783]
Passing Mesopotamia it borders the Persians again to the plain
of Naximan, then touches Erzinjan[784] and Erzerum, which are
the chief places of Armenia Major. This Armenia borders with
the Iberians and Georgians. In these Armenias, Major and Minor,
are many Kurds, people of the mountains and warlike, those of
[Armenia] Major obedient partly to the Turkish Signor, and
partly to the Persian; those of [Armenia] Minor to no one.
Next Trebizond borders with the Georgians and Mingrelians,
and with part of the Iberians, which people were anciently
called Colchians. And Ajemia,[785] which anciently was Assyria,
belongs to the Persian: he is absolute master of it.

There are in all Anatolia, or in all the countries which
the Turkish Signor possesses in Asia, villages of Turks and
Christians to the number of more than seventy-two thousand, not
counting those which are in Egypt, which are many.

The _Sanjaks_ truly [set forth]: these (as I said above)
have under government the provinces entrusted to the
_Beylerbeys_; they are men of much and very great reputation
and esteem, especially in the affairs of war; they are named
as below by the names of the places which are given to their
government. And first the _Beylerbey_ of Greece holds as his
sanjakate the places about Salonika. Then follow the others
of Kaffa, Silistria, Nicopolis, Vidin, Semendria, Servia and
Belgrade,[786] Zvornick, Bosnia, Hersek, which is the Servia
called the Duchy,[787] Scutari, Avlona, Yanina, Karli Ili,
Lepanto, Morea, Negropont, Trikkala, Gallipoli, Kirk-Kilisse or
Forty Churches, Viza, Chirmen, Kostendil, Vishidrina, Prisrend,
Okhrida, Alaja Hissar, Elbassan, Voinuch, Chiuchene, Zaiza.
These are usually counted thirty-five, but five are regions
united to neighboring places, namely Philippopolis, Sofia,
Durazzo, Albania, and Uskup.

ANATOLIA, or Asia Minor: Pontus, Bithynia, Lydia, Caria, and
Lycia. The sanjakate of the _Beylerbey_ is at Kutaia. And the
others are in Hoja-ili, Boli, Kastamuni, Angora, Kanghri,[788]
Tekke-ili, Menteshe-ili, Aidin-ili, Alayeh,[789] Bigha, and
Manissa,[790] which is that of Sultan Mustapha, the oldest son
of the Signor. This place is opposite the middle of Chios near
the sea.

AMASIA, and Tokat, which is Paphlagonia, Galatia, and
Cappadocia. The sanjakate of the _Beylerbey_ is in Amasia, of
the others in Chorum, Janik, Kara-hissar, Samsun, Trebizond.

CARAMANIA, which is Cilicia opposite Cyprus and Pamphylia.
The sanjakate of the _Beylerbey_ is in Konia. The others
have theirs in Naranda, Hissar, Eski-hissar, Versag-ili,
Sivri-hissar.

ANADOLE, or Armenia Minor. The sanjakate of the _Beylerbey_
is in Marash. Those of the others in Sarmussacli,
Albistan-ovassi,[791] Adana, Tarsus.

DIARBEKIR, or Mesopotamia, and part of Armenia Major, of which
the remainder belongs to the Persians and the Kurds. The
sanjakate of the _Beylerbey_ is in Diarbekir. And the others
have theirs in Kara Amid, Arghana, Toljik, Hassan-Kief, Mardin,
Kharput, Mosul, Erzerum, Baiburt, Bitlis, and Naximan-ovassi.

SYRIA, and Judea. The sanjakate of the _Beylerbey_ is in
Damascus. Of the others in Malatia, Divirigi, Aintab, Antioch,
Aleppo, Tripoli, Hama, Homs, Safita, Jerusalem, Gaza.

EGYPT, with part of Arabia Deserta as far as Jeddah;[792]
Mecca, with all of Arabia Felix, where are many Arab lordlings,
who are partly in devotion to the Turkish Signor, partly to no
one. The sanjakate of the _Beylerbey_ is in Cairo, and of the
others....[793]

All the aforesaid _Sanjaks_, _Beylerbeys_, Pashas, and other
officials have salary or feudal income, as I have said above,
by fixed arrangement, that is, regularly: but they obtain from
extraordinary sources about as much more. And they live with
very great expenses for slaves: these they are accustomed to
clothe and they give them also wages besides, so that they will
not steal.

How great the revenues of this Signor are, may be estimated from the expenses. These revenues are obtained from the Kharâj, which is paid by the non-Turkish subjects; this gives a million and a half ducats: from the tax on animals, which gives eight hundred thousand ducats: from mines, which give six hundred thousand ducats: from countless other duties, salt-taxes, commendations, inheritances, gifts, the revenues of Egypt over and above the expenses, rents, and tributes. And they are so great that they not only meet the expenses, which amount besides the feudal income in ready money drawn from the Treasury to more than twelve thousand ducats a day;[794] but there remains over a great sum of money from the surplus of each year. And it is believed that all the revenues amount to fifteen millions in gold: five of which enter the Treasury, and the other ten remain for the servants of war.[795]