SECTION XVII.
Of the Medresehs or Colleges.
The first college founded at Constantinople after its conquest by Sultán Mohammed was that of Ayá Sofía; the next was the foundation of the eight colleges on the right and left, that is, on the north and south of Sultán Mohammed’s mosque; these eight colleges may be compared to eight regions of Paradise. The Sultán also founded a school for the reading of the Korán on a spot adjoining the college, and on the east a hospital for the poor. This hospital is a model for all such foundations. On the north and south of the eight colleges are the cells of the students (sokhté), three hundred and sixty-six in number, each inhabited by three or four students, who receive their provisions and candles from the trust (wakf). There is also a conservatory (dár-uz-ziáfat), and a kitchen lighted by seventy cupolas, which may be compared to the kitchen of Kaikáús, where the poor are fed twice a day. Near this refectory there is a cárávanseráï, and a large stable capable of holding three thousand horses and mules.
The medreseh of Sultán Báyazíd is situate on the south side of the grand court of his mosque. The Sheikh-ul-Islám is the chief lecturer, and superintends its affairs.
The medreseh of Sultán Selím, near Yení-bághcheh, at the Koshk of Khaljílar, was built by Sultán Soleïmán, but dedicated to the memory of his father. Its revenue was derived from the Yení-bághcheh (new garden), which originally was one mile long and half a mile broad. On this very spot Sultán Selím pitched his camp when he came to the empire, and received the act of obeisance.
The medreseh of Sultán Soleïmán, on the north and south of this mosque, consists of four schools, one for the traditions (dár-ul-hadíth), one for reading the Korán (dár-ul-kiráa’t); a separate one for medicine, with an hospital and an asylum for the insane, numerous baths, a cáravánseráï, a stable, and a boys’ school.
The college of the Prince Mohammed was built by Sinán, and is famous for its learning.
The college of Sultán Ahmed I. adjoins the mosque of the same name.
The college of Kara Mustafá Páshá is near Parmák-kapú (finger-gate).
The college of Mo’íd Efendí is near the Kádhí Cheshmeh.
The college of Hámid Efendí, at the Fílyúkúshí (Elephant’s hill).
The college of Hasan Páshá, near the palace of Jánpúlád Zádeh, is a fine lofty building, and the lower part of it is ornamented with shops.
The college of Esmakhán Sultán, is within the Adrianople gate.
The colleges of Kadhí Mahmúd Efendí; of Murád Páshá; of Dávud Páshá; of old Alí Páshá; of Mesíh Páshá; of Rustam Páshá; of Chevízádeh; of Kapenkejí; of Báshjí Ibrahím Beg; of Altí-marmar; of Nishánjí Mohammed Beg; of Kúrekjí-báshí; of Kara Pírí Páshá, near Soúk-koyú; of Afzal Zádeh; of Mardumíeh, near the Kizil Maslak; of Mollá Kúrání, the khoájeh of Sultán Mohammed II.: being offended with the Sultán he left him and went to Egypt, but subsequently returned at the Sultán’s request, and was present at the siege of Constantinople; the college of Revání, an eloquent man of the time of Sultáns Selím I. and Soleïmán, a native of Adrianople, and was buried near the Kirk Cheshmeh (Forty Fountains) before his own mosque; the college of Etmekjí Zádeh Ahmed Páshá, the Defterdár of Sultán Ahmed I.; of Sunnat Khatún; of Fatima Sultáneh; of Uch Básh (three heads); of Núr-ad-dín Hafr, within the Adrianople gate, built by Sinán; of Farrúkh Kehiyá; of Mená; of Ak-hesám-ad-dín, near the bath of Sultán Selím; of old Ibrahím Páshá; of Khásekí Sultán; of Kahriéh, built by Sinán; of Khásekí, in the women-market, also built by Sinán, at the expense of Sultán Soleïmán; of the Válideh of Sultán Othmán II. near the Ak-seráï; of Makbúl Ahmed Páshá; of Iskender Páshá; of Súfí Mohammed Páshá; of Ibrahím Páshá, near the Isá-kapú (gate of Jesus); of Ja’far Aghá; of the Treasurer, Ahmed Aghá; of Moavil Emír; of Omm-valad; of the Kádhí Asker Dervísh Efendí; of Khoajehkí Zádeh, near the Sultán Mohammed II.; of Aghá Zádeh; of Defterdár Abd us-salám Beg; of Tútí Kádhí; of Sháh Kúlí Hakím Mohammed Chelebí; of Husain Chelebí; of Emír Sinán Chelebí; of Daraghán Yúnus; of Kárjí Soleïmán; of Hárjí Khatún; of Defterdár Sherífeh Zádeh; of Kádhi Hakím Chelebí; of Bábá Chelebí; of Germástí Zádeh; of Segbán Alí; of Bezestán Kehiyásí; of Kowájilar; of Imám Zádeh; and of Kor Ahmed Páshá. Fifty of these colleges were built in the time of Sultáns Selím I. and Soleïmán, by the famous architect Sinán.