The present state of the Ottoman Empire containing the maxims of the Turkish politie, the most material points of the Mahometan religion, their sects and heresies, their convents and religious votaries, their military discipline ... : illustrated with divers pieces of sculpture, representing the variety of habits amongst the Turks, in three books / by Paul Rycaut Esq. ...

GHAP. VIII. Of the Mutes and Dwarfs.

[illustration]

A mute A Dwarf

BEsides the Pages, there is a sort of Attendants to make up the Otto∣man Court, called Bizebani or Mutes; men naturally born deaf, and so consequently for want of receiving the sound of words are dumb: These are in number about 40 who by night are lodged a∣mongst the Pages in the two Chambers, but in the day time have their stations before the Mosque belonging to the Pages, where they learn and perfect themselves in the language of the Mutes, which is

made up of several signs in which by custom they can discourse and fully express themselves; not only to signifie their sense in familiar que∣stions, but to recount stories, understand the Fables of their own Re∣ligion, the Laws and Precepts of the Alchoran, the name of Mahomet, and what else may be capable of being expressed by the Tongue. The most ancient amongst them, to the numder of about eight or nine, are called the Favourite Mutes, and are admitted to attendance in the Haz-Oda; who only serve in the place of Buffones for the Grand Sig∣nior to sport with, whom he sometimes kicks, sometimes throws in the cisterns of water, sometimes makes fight together like the combat of Clinias and Dametas. But this language of the Mutes is so much in fashion in the Ottoman Court, that none almost but can deliver his sense in it, and is of much use to those who attend the Presence of the Grand Signior, before whom it is not reverent or seemly so much as to whisper.

The Dwarfs are called Giuge; these also have their quarters amongst the Pages of the two Chambers, until they have learned with due re∣verence and humility to stand in the Presence of the Grand Signior. And if one of these have that benefit, as by natures fortunate error to be both a Dwarf, and dumb, and afterwards by the help of Art to be castrated and made an Eunuch, he is much more esteemed, then if na∣ture and Art had concurred together to have made him the perfectest creature in the world; one of this sort was presented by a certain Pasha, to the Grand Signior, who was so acceptable to him and the Queen Mother that he attired him immediately in Cloth of Gold, and gave him liberty though all the Gates of the Seraglio.