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]