■ -P L A T E X E V . —;3
SWO RD BEARER
TO- T H E G RAND- S IG 'N IO R .
In the grand ceremony bp'gijding on the sabre, 'which takes plae#
on the accession of the Gran# Signior, and of which a short accop'ht
is ^vem ri’n the dese^ptioa;to PIate X iy, the office of sabre-bearei'
fOrhis a very important part. TheGrand Signior proceeds oh horseback
between two rows of SoTacks, armed with bows and arr&wsj
and so called 'from drawings the bow with their left hand; and surrounded
by numerous- attendants on foot, who also accompany the
s§bre-bearer. 'This office is always held by the Selictar Aga, who is
dmssed in a superb habitejf eloth of gold, which is almost the only
Turkish' dress, that fits- ctole to the shape of the body.; This officer
carries the imperial- sabre on his shonMersj- tlll he comes to the little
village of Y&ub, ~
The' SeJictar-Aga is-' also the chiefl or eommanderi' o# a corps of
cavalry called Selictars, who are not so- much scattered over the
empire as the Spahis, nor are they near so numerous.