Part 42

Mímí Beg was not long in meeting with a hostile vessel, the commander of which was a Maltese and a pirate, and which, after some hard fighting, he took and brought into Rhodes, where he met with the admiral. He was afterwards sent with five galleys to conduct the válí of Egypt from Scio through the high seas towards Alexandria. Lálá Ja’fer Beg was also sent with ten vessels to cruize along the enemy’s coasts, but was much retarded by contrary winds. Off the Cape of Maneah he met two vessels, who having instantly hoisted the enemy’s flag, he prepared to attack them. The battle was long and bloody, and it was not till near night that he succeeded in overpowering them. The admiral, at the end of this voyage, sent these and four other vessels which had been captured, to the port of Constantinople. The two vessels taken by Lálá Ja’fer Beg, it was said, belonged to the Venetian state, and therefore, in consequence of that state being included in the last treaty made with France, a very great deal of talk and speculation took place.

On the return of the lord high-admiral to Constantinople, he was honoured with tokens of the imperial approbation for the services he had rendered. Within the three years he had acted as lord high admiral of the Turkish fleet, he captured more than fifty ships, small and great; the emperor, however, willing to show favour to Mohammed Páshá, who had been governor in Egypt, and whose exploits and virtuous deeds we have recorded, and who was every way worthy of the seals (though these, in the meantime, had been conferred on Nesúh Páshá), appointed him to the command of the fleet, that being the most honourable situation he had to confer on him at the time.

About the middle of Rabia II., whilst the emperor was enjoying himself in the gardens of Dávud Páshá, Sultán Selím was born, but died before the end of the month. Towards the end of the month Dhu’l hijja, the youngest of the princesses was united in marriage to Nesúh Páshá, and the contract was concluded in the presence of the reverend mufti and the vezírs of the court.

EVENTS OF THE YEAR 1021, H.

_Naval affairs continued._

In the month of Rajab of this year the lord high admiral, Mohammed Páshá, set sail with the royal fleet in search of prizes and further conquests. On reaching the coasts of Sidon and Bairut he found Maán Oghlí, a madman, who in the vanity of his mind had arrogated to himself princely titles, and had secured for himself some places of strength in the hilly part of the country, and who, moreover, had been a coadjutor of Jánbúlát Oghlí, and had done much mischief to the province of Syria. He afterwards entered into a friendly relation with the Turkish government, stipulating to pay an annual tribute of the products of the country he ruled, but had failed in fulfilling his engagements. The admiral, in consequence of this failure, landed some of his men with the intention of forcing Maán Oghlí into compliance. Force, however, was not necessary, for Maán Oghlí sent the admiral a submissive letter, accompanied by a larger sum than he had stipulated, as an equivalent for his neglect. The fleet returned to the port of Constantinople, and deposited in the imperial treasury the gifts and presents which had been received from Maán Oghlí. But it is to be observed that the admiral, whilst sailing through the straits of Súsam, allowed the enemy to seize no less than nine of his vessels; for which he was deposed. Khalíl Páshá was again made lord high admiral.

_Nesúh Páshá arrives in Constantinople along with the Persian ambassadors._

After Nesúh Páshá had given the despicable kizilbáshes hopes that their wishes would be complied with on the part of the Ottoman government, the sháh seized the opportunity thus afforded him, and instantly transmitted to Nesúh at Diárbeker two hundred loads of silk under the charge of Kází Khán, his military judge, and the cazís of Kazwín and Isfahán, additional ambassadors, who arrived at Diárbeker on the 26th of Rabia II. Nesúh Páshá, without loss of time, set out for Constantinople with the above silk and the messengers, and reached it about the beginning of Shabán. The grand vezír met with the honours due to his high station, and the ambassadors with that respect which it was the custom to bestow. The emperor, who had been at Dávud Páshá, returned with a great show of military pomp and grandeur to the city on the 16th of Shabán. By his orders suitable lodgings were assigned to the Persian ambassadors, and amusements afforded them, and on the 21st they were permitted to appear in the royal presence. They presented to his majesty, the asylum of the world, the gifts and presents they had brought along with them from their master, receiving in return robes of honour, and being permitted to kiss the skirt of his majesty’s robe.

The sháh had chosen his ambassadors from amongst the most cunning and shrewd of his learned men, as being the fittest for answering or asking questions in the royal diván, should they ever be called thither. When, however, they were actually introduced into that august assembly, they were overpowered with awe. Kází Khán, the foremost and most learned of their number, felt his inability to speak when he attempted to do so. “Please your majesty,” said he, with a faltering voice which betokened the agitation of his mind, “Sháh Abbás is your slave”—here he paused, and could not utter another syllable, but delivered over their credentials to the grand vezír, who handed them to his majesty, and then retired. They were again, on the 26th of Ramazán, allowed to be present at the royal diván, and were thence conducted into the imperial hall of audience, where answers to their communications were delivered to them. They again received robes, according to custom, and were allowed to retrace their steps to their own country. Hasan Páshá, beglerbeg of Erzerúm, and Anjúlí Mustafa Chávush were ordered to accompany them, with the view of settling and determining the frontiers of Armenia; but the negotiations with Persia were not finally settled until the year of the Hijrah 1024.

On the 28th of Jemadi I. the grand sultán had another son born, _viz._ Murád Khán, who was, on the 4th of Shevál, ordered, by a royal firmán, to be conveyed, according to ancient custom, to the royal harem, where the royal youths were brought up.

A beglerbegship was conferred on Karah Kásh Mohammed Aghá, chief of the falconers. About the middle of the last-mentioned month the grand princess, Ayesha Sultána, who was betrothed to the grand vezír, Nesúh Páshá, was sent home to him, on which occasion a most splendid banquet was given.

_Sultán Ahmed Khán takes a journey to Adrianople._

His majesty the emperor, having resolved on taking a journey to Adrianople, on the 8th of Dhu’l kadah he ordered the members of the royal diván, his household troops, his right and left-hand troops of Egypt, and a body of spáhís to proceed on the journey from Dávud Páshá. Two days before this mighty cavalcade left Dávud Páshá, the princes of the blood, under the charge of Mustafa Aghá, ághá of the royal palace, set out. The grand vezír, Nesúh Páshá, Dávud Páshá, Yúsuf Páshá, Khalíl Páshá, also the reverend mufti, Mohammed Effendí, Dámád Effendí, the late mufti, Asa’d-ud-dín Effendí, who had been deposed for the share he had in the late tumult, Zekeriáh Effendí, Yahia Effendí, Mustafa Effendí, and Abdul Azíz Effendí, all the grandees of the empire, and a splendid detachment of troops of various kinds accompanied his majesty on his leaving Dávud Páshá for Adrianople. This royal procession or cavalcade proceeded by way of Felúri, where such of the members of the administration as did not accompany the emperor to Adrianople took their leave of him and returned. On the high priest of the empire, in consequence of the necessary absence of Mustafa Effendí, the royal chronologer, the duty of marking events devolved. The royal cavalcade rested the first night at Kúchuk Chekmejeh, and the following day reached Búiúk Chekmejeh. At daybreak it was again in motion. The immense number of janissaries, spáhís, and other troops in the royal retinue now commenced the sport of the chase as they proceeded on their journey, which sport was accompanied by the sound of drums and other instruments. In the afternoon they reached Silivria. The emperor rose about midnight, performed his devotions on the highway, and was no sooner on horseback than his armourers and fencing-masters were again in their places. On reaching a place called Chorlí the royal party was allowed to rest there for the space of three days, in consequence of the fatigue which the emperor’s soláks and other foot-soldiers had sustained from the rains which had fallen during the previous days. On leaving Chorlí they advanced to Sultání, but as there was no suitable mansion for his majesty at this place, a pavilion had been erected for his reception. From Sultání they advanced to Burgas. During this journey the horsemen exercised themselves in throwing the javelin: the vezírs and ághás, even to the grand vezír himself, took a share in the sports of the day. The emperor partook with keenness of the passing pleasures, exercising his fleet steed, throwing the javelin, and, in short, was the phœnix of the whole company of lancers. The sound of mirth and joviality was re-echoed by the vault of heaven. The grand vezír was so astonished at the feats which his majesty performed, that he descended from his horse, approached his majesty’s stirrup on foot, and kissed it. It is quite certain that the display of horsemanship and throwing of the javelin which his majesty exhibited on this occasion was altogether unequalled. The royal party passed through Eskí Bábá and Hafsa, and on the tenth day of the journey, about mid-day, reached Adrianople.

The emperor and his suite, after offering up their devotions at the Selímiya, mounted their horses and crossed the bridge of Soleimán, exhibiting a great display of pomp and grandeur, and arrived at the royal palace of that city. The ághá of the palace, Elháj Mustafa Aghá, and other reverend dignitaries belonging to the royal house, made such a display of silver-plate and gold vessels as to excite great wonder. In short, so plentiful were articles of this description, that, in passing into the royal apartments, one was obliged to walk over them; the whole of his domestics that waited on him were made rich. Here diváns were held, and petitions of all kinds attended to. Within the palace a mosque was fitted up. The emperor himself, his domestics, and hatchet-bearers, went out every day to follow the chase, accompanied by his hounds and panthers. He ordered his bostánjí báshí to search out the places which abounded with most game, over a district of three days’ journey. Near the village of Cholmek the field, as the chase was pursued by sultáns of other days, extended to the distance of several leagues. In or about the beginning of Dhu’l hijja, the emperor, accompanied by his domestics, the odabáshí Ja’fer Aghá, the salihdár Mohammed Aghá, the chakadár Ahmed, and the stirrup-holder Ismael Aghá, set out at night, and by daybreak reached a green meadow, where his majesty offered up his morning devotions. On a rising ground near this meadow a pavilion for his majesty had been erected, and from this spot he again commenced following the pleasures of the chase. The country every where around abounded with wild-game. The grey-hounds and panthers were let loose; such of the peasants as brought in the game that had been seized, received munificent rewards, by which many a poor peasant was made rich; eighteen deers, one hundred and fifty hares, forty foxes, and a vast number of pheasants were collected on this occasion; and rewards, according to the laws of the chase, were also distributed.

The emperor, on leaving the above place, entered into Sultán Murád Khán’s garden with the view of taking some repose, whilst the whole of the game which had been taken was conveyed into his presence, when he ordered portions of it to be sent to the grand vezír and other ministers and military judges, who had not been present at this chase. In like manner, portions were sent to the royal harem, and to the other departments of the royal house. The sublime emperor then returned to Adrianople; but it was not long before he again engaged in the pleasures of the chase at a place called Kúrd Kíásí, about a stage distant from Adrianople, where the grand vezír prepared a splendid entertainment before the chase commenced. This chase took place about the beginning of the month of January, and all the vezírs and other officers of government were present at the convivial entertainment which Nesúh Páshá had given. The persons who had been employed in bringing in the game, whether whole or only the skins, received handsome rewards. The whole number of game taken on this occasion amounted to nine hundred and fifteen, and the number taken on former occasions to one thousand two hundred. The emperor enjoyed himself also in hunting along with his falconers, and outstripped the whole of his ághás, having caught nearly nine hundred birds. On meeting a peasant he condescended to enquire into his circumstances—what injury or oppression he might be enduring: and if he returned an answer that manifested content, he was sure to meet with an act of benevolence on the part of the royal enquirer. When he entered into a village, the villagers met him with the most valuable of their goods and best cattle, and offered them as presents; but for the most part he sent some of his domestics to prevent this display of kindness. In fact, such was the generosity of his own benevolent nature that many of the poor natives were made rich by his liberality. Every Friday night, according to his custom at Constantinople, he called together ten commanders or governors of garrisons, and made them read together, or separately, ten chapters of the holy writings, during the first watches of the night. Thus did the emperor, by donations of gold and silver, and by enriching his mind with reading, secure to himself a rich remuneration.

EVENTS OF THE YEAR 1022, H.

_The emperor, Sultán Ahmed Khán, goes to Gallipoli._

The emperor having resolved on taking a journey to Gallipoli, left Adrianople for the latter place on the 24th of Sefer. Nesúh Páshá, the grand vezír, provided every thing necessary for him at the different stations through which he was to pass, and prohibited every where the exercise of oppression and tyranny. His majesty passed through the meadows belonging to Mohammed Páshá, which happened to be the first station; and next day, on coming to a place called Degirmenlik, he entered on the chase. Having no meat, he and his suite were obliged to rest satisfied with the flesh of such birds as they took on the field. From Degirmenlik he moved onwards to Ieserarkinah, near which he spent two or three days more in hunting, having had his pavilion erected in a delightful spot in the neighbourhood of that place. After quitting this spot he continued his route till mid-day, when, impelled by the desire of the chase, he again betook himself to hunting through the fields, which he continued till he came to Karah Bekár, were he again joined the royal cavalcade, which had been moving slowly forward, and rested there for the night. On the following day he halted at Altún Tásh, the day after at the station called Ahmed Páshá, and the third day at Kighanlu, near Mulghra, not far from the Kogher mountains, which so large a body of men as that which accompanied the emperor would find very difficult, if not impracticable, to cross. He, therefore, selected a certain number of janissaries and spáhís to accompany him across these mountains to Gallipoli, and sent the rest of his troops, with their ordnance and baggage, to Rodosjuk. They were, however, very much impeded in their march, owing to the fall of a great quantity of snow and rain. The emperor and his party, about three thousand in number, proceeded on their journey towards Urúsha, and on the following day came to Búlair, where they pitched their tents in a sort of plain near the tomb of the heroic Soleimán Páshá, where the emperor again engaged in the amusements of the chase. He visited the above tomb, distributed some alms, and ordered the coffin to be renewed and ornamented. The emperor, on reaching Gallipoli, ordered his tent to be erected in the open fields, whither the grandees of the city, about sixty of the ulemá, besides the officers of justice, came to salute his majesty and to welcome him to their city. About eight o’clock in the evening the emperor, accompanied by the grand vezír, those ághás who had been his companions in the sports of the field, and his domestics, entered the city, and took up his abode in a pavilion which had been previously erected for him near the fortress. Great rejoicings took place, and the firing of guns, both on the land and water, commenced; the priests read the service which is usually read on the emperor’s birth-day, and many alms were dispensed among the poor and indigent. The pleasure-boat which the bostánjí báshí sent from Constantinople, was occasionally used by his majesty in taking a pleasure-sail.

_The emperor leaves Gallipoli for the imperial city._

The grand sultán, not wishing to prolong his stay at Gallipoli, ordered the signal drum to beat, and left that city on the fifteenth day after his departure from Adrianople, _i.e._ on the 19th of Rabia I. When he reached Búlair, on his return, he again visited the tomb of the heroic Soleimán Páshá, which, by this time, had been renewed and decorated after the manner of that in the Ka’ba. The emperor laid a sword across the coffin, which was covered over with cloth; ordered prayers to be offered up; distributed alms among the poor of the place, and afterwards prosecuted his march towards the royal city. He halted for the night at a place called Kowak. On the second following day, after descending from Bilban, he reached Rudosjuk, where the troops he left behind him, when he proposed crossing the Kogher mountains for Gallipoli, were waiting for his return.

_Mohammed Gheráí arrives at Rudosjuk._

Mohammed Gheráí, who had made himself obnoxious to his brother, Salámet Gheráí, the reigning khán of the Crimea, (who had joined himself to Sháhín Gheráí, and, along with some Circassian tribes among whom he lived, had committed great depredations among the Crimean Tátárs,) no sooner heard of the death of Salámet Gheráí, and the efforts which Jánbeg Gheráí had employed to prevent either his or his brother’s succeeding to the khánship, than he appeared with four hundred men in Romeili, and advanced with the utmost haste to solicit the support and countenance of the Turkish government in his own behalf. The grand vezír, on hearing of his approach, sent some of his ághás to meet him, and to bring him to Rudosjuk, where he had the felicity of kissing the emperor’s foot. The emperor, after holding a diván, promised that equity should be done; and attached two kapújí báshís to two of Mohammed Gheráí’s officers, who were to bring the two contending princes to an agreement between themselves.

The emperor’s nativity was again celebrated at Rudosjuk. At night candles were lighted up, and muskets were fired. The front of the imperial pavilion was brilliantly illuminated with a vast number of lamps. On the following day he set out for Kopurjí Cháier, passed through the village of Amúrcha, and on the third day arrived in the plains of Silivria. Here he was met by the kapúdán, Mohammed Páshá, the bostánjí báshí, Hasan Aghá, with his whole body of bostánjís. Many of the ulemá and servants of the government came to this place also, to welcome him back. In the evening, as the emperor was going towards the gardens of Silivria, he was met by his reverence the mufti Mohammed Effendí, and other learned men. When the mufti saw him approaching, he advanced, kissed the hem of his garment, and pronounced a blessing on his head. The sultán, on the other hand, no sooner saw the venerable prelate drawing near to him, than he checked the steed on which he was mounted, in order to allow him time to perform the above ceremony, and then invited the mufti and his learned associates to mount and accompany him in his jaunt, when they all entered into a variety of conversation. Other ulemá, and heads of seminaries of learning, came also on this occasion and paid him their respects. The emperor, after meeting with so many tokens of esteem from his learned subjects, ordered preparations to be made for going to the gardens of Dávud Páshá. The night on which he arrived at these gardens the whole space occupied by his soldiery of various kinds was brilliantly illuminated, and the small and great guns fired a salute. On the 24th of Rabia I. he entered the capital, whilst his troops and retinue formed a beautiful and orderly procession. In a very few days afterwards, however, _i.e._ on the 1st of Rabia II., he passed over to his palace at Scutari, where he followed the amusements of the chase. Sometimes he went to Stavros, sometimes to the port of the metropolis, and sometimes to the gardens of Dávud Páshá, in pursuit of the same sport and amusement.

On the 5th of Rajab of this year he went to the gardens of Chatálijeh, and returned to Constantinople on the 12th of the same. On the following day, after having spent the night comfortably, he went to the Halkalú gardens, where he gave audience to the grand vezír. From these gardens he retired to those of Dávud Páshá, and thence returned to the imperial palace.

About this time seven of the chaste and unsullied daughters of the emperor’s uncles, brought up in the old palace, were given in marriage to rich and powerful ághás, who were favourites of his majesty. On the 23d of Rajab the emperor removed to the gardens of Beshektásh, where he either spent his time in the library, or in the orchards of that place, and returned to his own palace in the month of Shabán, where, night after night, he attended to the duties of religion, and to the distribution of alms. He ordered Súfí Mustafa Effendí, his own Imán, to draw out a statement from authentic documents of all his royal children; and a list of twenty-six names, male and female, was returned to him. To each of these he sent by this prelate, and others who were joined with him in the commission, immense presents; and as many of them as had arrived at the age of puberty, received a suitable provision.

During the month of Ramazán he was most assiduous in offering up his devotions; and on the Leilet ul kadr,[23] he made such a distribution of money and of other benefits as had never been exemplified in any of his predecessors. After the termination of the fast, the usual salutations were attended to, and he again began to enjoy the pleasures which his palace afforded.

It having been alleged that the use of wine had been the cause of the disturbances and tumults which had taken place in the city from time to time, the pious and religious emperor, in order to put a stop to this forbidden and pernicious practice throughout the empire, ordered the laws to be enforced. The taverns were a perfect nuisance; and therefore the keepers of them had their licenses taken from them: the sellers of wine were obliged to flee, and their houses or shops were thrown down, without paying any regard whatever to the vast advantage which accrued to the government from this traffic; because of the great evil which it had done to the morals of the inhabitants. It was not long, however, before the use of wine again became as general as ever.

_A messenger from Holland arrives in Constantinople._