Page:Adventures of Baron Wenceslas Wratislaw of Mitrowitz (1862).djvu/112

 aside. After that, having all been previously searched by the Turkish chamberlains, to see whether any body had a dagger or knife—but, of course, knowing that we should be introduced to the Emperor, we had nothing of the sort—we were conducted, one by one, by the chamberlains to the Emperor in the same room, and, when each had kissed his hand, were again conducted out of it. I cannot describe the apartment where the Emperor sat, on a place about half-an-ell elevated from the ground, and covered behind him with very beautiful gold brocade cushions, embroidered with precious stones and pearls, for it was impossible to notice it in so short a time, and, indeed, I looked more at the face of the Emperor than at the beauty of the room; only there were some balls hanging from the ceiling, which glittered very much, but I do not know whether they were made of looking-glass, or studded with precious stones.

After transacting our business, we returned from the divan in the same fashion, and the pashas invited my lords the residents to take refreshment, and placed a table for them in a separate room, where they dined sitting on chairs, although the Turks are not accustomed to eating at a table, and sitting on chairs. They entertained us, also, in the open saloon, but on the ground, which was spread with handsome carpets. But, before they gave us anything to eat, we saw how the Turkish emperor is served. First came about 200 cup-bearers, or servers, dressed almost uniformly in red silk dresses, and with caps on their heads like those of the janissaries, except that about a span above the head they were embroidered with gold. These having placed themselves in a row from the kitchen to the Sultan’s apartment,