His Excellency had audience of leave of the mufti, a reverend person about seventy years of age, somewhat corpulent, of an insolent and proud aspect, well learned in the Turkish law and polity, and formerly hogia to the present Sultan. He is extremely covetous, and at the same time prodigiously rich, having hoarded, as it is said, one great part of the current gold of the empire, and likewise purchased many vast and extensive possessions about Erzerum and Trebisond, which is his native countrey.
March xx.
His Excellency had audience of leave of the caimekám, a courteous, affable, and obliging person, of no great estate or character, except that his wife is sister to the Sultan. The same day, being Friday, I saw the Grand Signior riding from his palace to the mosque, where he paid his public devotion. He was preceded by several chiaushes, then by six led horses, and then by several solácks, habited in short vests, and adorned with high caps of gilt silver. On each side of his horse walked three churbegées, bearing on their heads so many beautiful white ostrich feathers; and behind him followed on stately horses his selictár agá, and kyslér agá. He is of a low stature, but broad and corpulent; has a short neck, a large squat yellow fleshy face, a flat nose, a low forehead, with cheeks remarkably long and squabby. In his coins he stiles himself, The mighty Sultan of the earth and sea, a Sultan son of a Sultan, Sultan Mustafá Han, son of emperor Mahomet.
March xxi.
His Excellency had audience of leave of the nakéib effendi, who is the son of the mufti, and by patent the designed successor of his father. He is about thirty years of age, of good parts and behaviour, naturally arrogant, but made shew on this occasion of an affected courtesy.
March xxiv.
I this day saw the heads of five robbers brought from Natolia, and laid at the gate of the seraglio, where by custom they are to remain three suns. They are only the skins of so many criminals heads stuffed with straw.
April ii. A. D. 1702.
His Excellency, my Lord Paget, now drawing near to his departure was this day invited to the grand vizír’s, where among many singular tokens of that esteem, which this court truely bears to his person and character, he received a splendid feast, together with the present of a sable vest to the value of two purses; as also a noble horse, and sumptuous furniture, computed at three more.