Purchas his pilgrimes. part 2 In fiue bookes. The first, contayning the voyages and peregrinations made by ancient kings, patriarkes, apostles, philosophers, and others, to and thorow the remoter parts of the knowne world: enquiries also of languages and religions, especially of the moderne diuersified professions of Christianitie. The second, a description of all the circum-nauigations of the globe. The third, nauigations and voyages of English-men, alongst the coasts of Africa ... The fourth, English voyages beyond the East Indies, to the ilands of Iapan, China, Cauchinchina, the Philippinæ with others ... The fifth, nauigations, voyages, traffiques, discoueries, of the English nation in the easterne parts of the world ... The first part.

§. VII.

Of inferiour persons, as Buffons, Mutes, Musicians; of white Eunuches, and of the Grand Officers of the Serraglio.

BEsides the Women, and Aiamoglans of this Serraglio, and the aforesaid Youths last spoken of; there are many and diuers Ministers for all manner of necessarie seruices, and particular functions: there are also Buffons of all sorts, and such as shew trickes, * 1.1 [ 50] Musicians, Wrestlers, many dumbe men both old and young, who haue libertie to goe in and out with leaue of the Capee Agha; And this is worthie the obseruation, that in the Serraglio, both the King and others can reason and discourse of any thing as well and as distinctly, alla mu∣tesca, * 1.2 by nods and signes, as they can with words: a thing well befitting the grauitie of the bet∣ter sort of Turkes, who care not for much babling. The same is also vsed amongst the Sultanaes, and other the Kings Women: for with them likewise there are diuers dumbe women, both old and young. And this hath beene an ancient custome in the Serraglio: wherefore they get as many Mutes as they can possibly find: and chiefly for this one reason; that they hold it not a thing befitting the Grand Signior. Neither stands it with his greatnesse, to speake to any about him familiarly: but he may in that manner more tractably and domestically iest and sport with [ 60] the Mutes, then with others that are about him.

It followeth now, that I speake of the White Eunuches; who, as the Blacke ones are for the * 1.3 Seruice and Attendance of the Sultanaes, and for the keeping of their Gate; so are the White

Eunuches appointed for the King and his Gate; And the chiefe and most ancient of these, attend only the most trusty and important employments, both about the Kings Person and his Hou∣shold: of which the first is the Capee Agha, for he is the Chiefe of all the Eunuches; and is High * 1.4 Chamberlaine. The second, is the Hazinehdar Bashee, who is the Chiefe Treasurer for the House. The third, is the Keelergee Bashee, who is the Chiefe Butler and Master of the Wardrobe. The fourth, is the Sarai Agasee, who is the Keeper of the Serraglio. Now of these foure olde Eu∣nuches, the Capee Aga (as I said) is principall in Authority, and in greatest esteeeme with the Grand Signior, for, none but he can of himselfe speake with his Majestie, neyther can any Mes∣sages, Writings, or Petitions, be sent in (ordinarily) but by his hand and meanes; He likewise doth alwayes accompany the Kings Person whither so euer he goeth, both without and within [ 10] the Serraglio. And when he goeth to his Women, also he accompanieth him to the very doore, which leadeth in vnto them, and there he stoppeth, and so returnes to his owne Lodgings againe; alwayes leauing some bodie to wayte at the said doore, that when the King is ready to come a∣way againe, they may call him. This Capee Agha hath for his ordinary Pension eight Sultaneens * 1.5 per diem, besides Vests and other necessaries as many as he will; he getteth great store of Money, and (indeed) more then befits a man that hath so small occasion of expence as he hath, by vertue of his place; for that both they of the Serraglio, and those abroad of what condition or degree soeuer they bee, to obtayne his fauour and furtherance in any businesse, doe present him with all * 1.6 that they can imagine may giue him content, whatsoeuer it cost.

The second, is the Hazinehdar Bashee; and he hath the charge of the Treasurie, which is with∣in [ 20] the Serraglio, he hauing one Key of it and the King another, the doore being likewise sealed * 1.7 with the Kings Seale, which is neuer taken off, but when the King himselfe giues order for the opening of the same. In this Hazineh are all the Treasures which haue beene layd vp by the deceased Emperors; and into this commeth no other Reuenue of the Crowne, sauing that from Egypt of sixe hundred thousand Crownes per annum; all the other Reuenewes going into the * 1.8 outward Hazineh, out of which all Expences are borne, both ordinary and extraordinary. But there is not any thing taken out of the aforesaid inward Hazineh, vnlesse it bee vpon extreame * 1.9 necessitie, when the Grand Signior is not otherwise prouided, to appease the out-cries of the Souldiers for their pay; or for some other the like occasion: Notwithstanding, it is done with this Prouiso, that the Defterdar bee bound to make it good againe to the vtmost Aspar. This [ 30] Agha's charge is to keepe an exact Accompt of all the Treasure that is brought in or taken out * 1.10 of the same: nor may any goe into the said Hazineh, but only the Hazinehdar, and such as hee shall take in with him when occasion shall require. And when there is any Gold or Siluer ta∣ken out, it is all put into Leather Bags, and so brought before the King, who disposeth thereof as he thinketh fit. He hath also the charge of all the Kings Iewels, of which he keepeth a Book by himselfe, that hee may know what Iewels the King giues away, what Iewels are giuen to the King, and what are likewise for his Majesties owne wearing; And the Capee Agha dying, hee succeeds him in his place.

The third, which is the Keelergee Bashee, keepes the account of the Kings Wardrobe (viz. of all his Houshold-stuffe.) Into which Wardrobe are all the Presents brought, which are giuen to [ 40] * 1.11 the Grand Signior, as Cloth of Gold, Silkes, Woollen Clothes, Furres of all sorts, Swords, Fea∣thers, Raw Silke, Carpets, and whatsoeuer else may serue for his Majesties owne vse. Of all which things he keepes particular Notes, to the end he may at any time see what is giuen to the King, and what the King giues away to others: The which is a very painfull employment, in∣asmuch * 1.12 as his Majesty doth euery day, aswell take as giue a great number of Vests, and other the like things: But the businesse is so well ordered and carefully lookt vnto, that there doth not follow any confusion at all. This Eunuch hath diuers Seruants vnder him; and stayes alwayes (for the most part) within the Serraglio; his Pension is a thousand Aspars per diem, besides Vests, * 1.13 and other such Presents which are giuen him in abundance from time to time; hee also is much fauoured and graced by the King, for that he is to succeed the Hazinehdar Bashee, in case hee the [ 50] said Hazinehdar should dye; and is well esteemed of and reuerenced by all, aswell without as within the Serraglio.

The fourth, which is the Sarai Agasee (who is an Eunuch as the former are) hath the care * 1.14 and looking vnto the Serraglio, nor doth he euer goe out of it in the Kings absence; but is very vigilant, not only in seeing all things readie for the daily Seruice of the same; but also to looke ouer all the Roomes and to eye the Officers, marking whither they exercise themselues in their seuerall Functions, as befits them to doe. And because he is old, and his businesse great, he hath liberty to ride within the wals of the Serraglio, as the three former Agha's are also permitted * 1.15 to doe; for which purpose they haue a Stable of Horses within the Garden for their vse alone; his Pension is eight hundred Aspars per diem, besides Vests and Furres, as many as hee can well [ 60] haue occasion to weare; and is to succeed the Keelergee Bashee, and so cursiuely the Capee Agha if he out-liue the rest.

And although all these foure Eunuches may weare Telbents in the Serraglio, and ride, (being * 1.16 the chiefe next the King himselfe in authoritie, within the Serraglio) and are reuerenced and

respected of all men; yet the three last viz. Hazinehdar Bashee, Keelergee Bashee, and Sarai Aga∣see, may not of themselues speake to the Grand Signior, but onely answer when any thing is as∣ked of them: howbeit they alwayes attend (with the Capee Agha) the person and seruice of the King, with all the other Eunuches vnder them, and the aforesayd Aghas; And they foure onely gouerne the Kings Houshold affaires, giuing order for all things needfull and necessarie, as well for the Dayes as for the Nights prouision.

All the Eunuches in the Serraglio may bee about hundred in number, what with old ones, middle aged, and young ones: they are all guelt and cut cleane off, and are chosen of those * 1.17 Renegado youthes which are presented from time to time to the Grand Signior as aforesayd: few or none at all are guelt and cut against their will, for then (as the Master workman in that [ 10] businesse sayth) they would bee in great danger of Death; wherefore, to get their consent there∣to, the▪ shew vnto them the assurance they may haue (in time) to become Great men, all which must bee done at their first comming into the Serraglio, for it is a worke not to bee wrought vp∣on men of yeeres.

They are brought vp with the others, and are taken out by turnes of the fourth Odah, for the Grand Signiors seruice, as well as those which are not Eunuches. * 1.18

His Majestie also employes some of these his white Eunuches in the gouernment of all the o∣ther Serraglios and Nurseries of young Lads, as well in Constantinople, as in Adrianople, Bursia, and * 1.19 in diuers other places, (in each of which there are commonly two or three hundred Schollers) that by their ouerlooking them (together with the helpe of other Ministers) they may bee [ 20] brought to an excellent Discipline, by which they may proue men of good manners and reaso∣nable Learning.

And it so falleth out oftentimes, that the Grand Signior (to giue way to the other inferiour and younger Eunuches, who expect that they shall succeed in order the aforesayd Officers) sen∣deth * 1.20 forth some of the ancientest and of the h••ghest ranke, into great employments, as to bee Bashaw of Cairo, or of some Prouinces in Asia, and sometimes Vizirs of the Port; for the Eu∣nuches generally proue Subiects of greatest iugdement and fidelitie; their mindes being set on businesse rather then pleasure. And for that they are more trustie then any other seruants of the * 1.21 Serraglio, the Capee Agha committeth such things as the Grand Signior would haue kept for cu∣riositie, vnto their custodie; who for that end haue places made of purpose to lay vp such delica∣cies [ 30] as are presented to the King; as great peeces of Amber Greece, sent from the Bashawes of the Morea, Muske, Treacle, Mithridate of Cairo, Terra sigillata, Balsami, Boloarmeno, and other things of great value; Cups also of Agat, Christall, and Iasper, Turkesses, and other precious Stones; all which are so nearly and orderly kept, that indeed it is admirable; they likewise lay vp his Iudian Presents of Zeua and Ciuet, of all which things his Majestie and his Sultanaes make daily vse, the Eunuches who are the keepers of the sayd Dainties, being first made acquainted therewithall.

There is in the Serraglio a very large place, in which are kept all the goods which fall to the King, as well by them which are put to death, as by those which dye of naturall Diseases, of * 1.22 which the King will bee Master. And the goods being brought into the sayd place by the chiefe [ 40] Defterdar (whose particular charge it is to see them brought thither) and the King in presence of his Assistants hauing seene and viewed it all; maketh choise of what he thinkes fit to reserue, and for to giue away; the rest is cryed in the Serraglio, to the end if any one there haue a will to buy, hee may haue a good penniworth: and the surplusage is carryed into the publ••que Bezisten, a place somewhat resembling the Paune in our royall Exchange: where it is cryed vp and * 1.23 downe, the Cryer still naming the most that hath beene alreadie offered; and is at last sold to him that bids most, nor may hee that bids money goe from his word, at least if hee bee able to performe and stand to it. Now the money is deliuered to the Hazinehdar Bashee, and is put into the outward Hazineh: And although the goods did come from out of the Houses of such as dyed but the day before of the Pestilence; the Turkes neuerthelesse buy them, and vse * 1.24 [ 50] them as if the Disease were not infectious at all; affirming that their end is written in their Fore∣head, and it cannot bee auoyded by any humaine Rule or Policie.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Buffons, Mutes, &c.
• * 1.2

  Discourse by signes.
• * 1.3

  White Eu∣nuchs.
• * 1.4

  The Chiefe of them Capee Agha, or Chamberlaine 2. Treasurer of the House. 3. Master of the Wardrobe. 4. Keeper of the House. Capee Aghas Priuiledges.
• * 1.5

  Pension.
• * 1.6

  Presents.
• * 1.7

  Treasurer.
• * 1.8

  Treasure.
• * 1.9

  Outward Treasurie.
• * 1.10

  Houshold-Treasurers Office.
• * 1.11

  Wardrobe.
• * 1.12

  Busie employ∣ment.
• * 1.13

  Pension.
• * 1.14

  Keeper of the Serraglio.
• * 1.15

  Riding liberty.
• * 1.16

  Differing Pri∣uiledges.
• * 1.17

  Eunuches guelding.
• * 1.18

  Education in the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 O〈…〉〈…〉s
• * 1.19

  Other S••mina∣ries.
• * 1.20

  Their ad∣uan••ement.
• * 1.21

  Fidelitie.
• * 1.22

  Goods of the Decea••ed.
• * 1.23

  The Bezisten.
• * 1.24

  No feare of Pestilence.