The most ancient of these is the one founded by Mohammed II., within the grand gate of Ayá Sófíya, and is called Sirkejí Tekíeh. It was founded when Moslema and Eyúb besieged Constantinople, and was afterwards turned into a nunnery; but on Mohammed’s conquering Constantinople he again made it a convent. Its first Sheikh was Oveis, who had the charge of seventy-four disciples. He was buried at Damascus, near Belál the Abyssinian: may God sanctify his secret state! The other tekíehs are those of Ak-shems-ud-dín, near Alí Páshá; of Emír Najárí; of Sofílar; of Khoájeh Mustafá Páshá; of Umm-sinán; of Sívásí; of Táváshí Mohammed Aghá, near Ayá Sófiya; of Erdebílí; of Sunbul Efendí; and of Gulshení at Ak-Seráï.
SECTION XXII.
Of the Imáret, or Refectories.
Praise be to God! who, according to the sacred text of the Korán: “There is no beast on the earth for which God hath not made a provision,” has provided a plentiful supply for the poor by the foundation of Sultán Mohammed II. at the new palace, in which food is distributed to them three times a day; at the Imáret of Sultán Báyazíd twice; the same at the imárets of Sultán Selím I.; Soleïmán; Prince Mohammed; Ahmed; Eyúb; Khasekí Sultán, near the women-market; Vafá Sultán; Prince Jehángír, near the Top-kháneh; Mehrmáh Sultán, at Scutari; Válideh of Murád IV.; Ibráhím Khán; and of Othmán Khán. May God extend His mercy to them all! Besides these there are some hundreds of kitchens attached to the various convents; but the above are the old establishments of the Sultáns and Princes, where the poor receive a loaf of bread and a dish of soup every day. I, the humble Evliyá, who during a period of fifty-one years have visited the dominions of eighteen different monarchs, have no where seen such establishments.
SECTION XXIII.
Of the Tímáristán and Moristán, or Hospitals.
The Tímár-kháneh of Mohammed II., which consists of seventy rooms, covered with eighty cupolas, is attended by two hundred servants, a physician-general, and a surgeon. All travellers who fall sick are received into this hospital, and are well attended to. They have excellent food twice a day; even pheasants, partridges, and other delicate birds are supplied. If such are not at hand in the hospital, it is provided by the charter of foundation that they shall be furnished from the imárets of Sultán Soleïmán, his son Prince Mohammed, Sultán Ahmed I., Khásekí Sultán, Vafá Sultán, Eyúb Sultán, Prince Jehángír, Mehrmáh Sultáneh, and of the Válideh’s mosque at Scutari. There are musicians and singers who are employed to amuse the sick and insane, and thus to cure their madness. There is also a separate hospital for infidels. The hospital of Sultán Soleïmán is an establishment so excellent, that the sick are generally cured within three days after their admission, it being provided with most able physicians and surgeons. The mosques of Báyazíd and Selím have no hospitals attached to them. The hospital of Sultán Ahmed is chiefly for the reception of insane persons, on account of the purity of its air. The attendants are remarkable for their patience and good-nature, the reason of which is, that they are under the immediate inspection of the Kizlar-ághásí, who himself attends to inquire into the state of the sick. The hospital of the Khásekí, near the women-market, is also an excellent institution.