SECTION XXV.
Of the Grand Kháns for Merchants.
The first is the Khoájeh Khán, near the Mahmúd Páshá, in which all the great Persian merchants have their establishments. It has seventy rooms. The khán of Mahmúd Páshá has one hundred and twenty rooms; the Kebejílar Khán one hundred rooms: this is the residence of the rich Bulgarian merchants; the khán of Pírí Páshá, eighty rooms; Eskí Khán, two hundred rooms: it was built by Bairám Páshá, the Vezír of Sultán Murád IV., and is called the khán of the captives (asír), because all captives are bought and sold here: it has seventy apartments, and an office for receiving the penjek or slave duty, a fifth of the value; the khán of Angora, for the dealers in woollen goods (súf), one hundred rooms; the khán of Pertev Páshá, two hundred rooms; the khán of Ferhád Páshá, near the Bezestán, two hundred rooms; Kilíd Khán, two hundred rooms; the khán of the Valídeh Kosím, mother of Murád IV., was originally the palace of Jarráh Mohammed Páshá, but having fallen into decay it was rebuilt by the Válideh, and consists of three hundred warehouses, so that this khán, and that of Mahmúd Páshá, are the largest in Constantinople. In one corner is a koshk, which raises its head to the skies, and commands a magnificent view: its stables are capable of holding one thousand horses and mules: it has a mosque in the centre; the Kiaghid Khán, near Mahmúd Páshá; Kátir Khán, near Takht-ul-kala’; the khán of the honeymarket, inhabited by Egyptian merchants; Ketán Khán; Katá Khán; the khán of Rustam Páshá; the khán of old Yúsuf Páshá; the khán of the Muftí; Chokúr Khán; Súlú Khán; the khán of the tallow-market; and the khán of the Zendán-kapú. All these kháns are in that quarter of the town called Takht-ul-kala’: they are extensive buildings, and are covered with lead. The Juván Kapújí Khán is in the centre of the raisin-market. The new khán of Kara Mustafá Páshá, Grand Vezír to Sultán Mohammed IV., near Khoájeh Páshá, is a small but strong building. The khán of Kopreilí Mohammed Páshá, Grand Vezír to Mohammed IV., though, like the last mentioned, a new building, near the poultry-market, is not inferior, as regards solidity, to the Válideh Khán. It has upwards of two hundred and twenty apartments.