PLATE LVIIL
B Q S fN lN D J I BACHI .
T h i$ officer is the chief of the’very numerous body ■&£ men$>calle<t
Bostandjis, • wbo'se etaployment is' much arose exten-siveand -various
than their name imports, as itliterdl’ly means d ^Gardeners."/ ■ Their*
number amounts to several thousands* and out of them is formed the
body, guard of the Sultan. They superintead ali hisrgardens and
palaces,’, and- always accompany him in'his S€8«:3taip*i8n®*-' They
are,indeed, most exCCHedt rowers, and are always employed* as
sueK in the Sultan’s easkpie," w barge, whkh is steeied ;% tfc&'Bos»
- ' officer possesses considerable power. Besidesdsavifig such a
multitude of m e n u n d e r his cOHimand, h e exercises Ms-: authority
over 'all- tbe .polksa o f th e capital* and on the wate r as f a r as th e
entraim^to iSe!K^dfc Sea. H e has also th p ew il jurisihcti&nrof th e
Seraglio. The Bostandjis a « all mmssehft©®* they receive.-.ess#*
derable pay, and are almost all married.
