"كتيب تركيا الأوروبية (لندن: قسم الاستخبارات، الأميرالية؛ ١٩١٧)' [و‎‎٥‎٣] (٣٤٨/١١٠)

THE SULTANATE
101
From among these inmates the Sultan designates a certain
number, nowadays very limited, to be called Kadin or full
wives. The title is only given after a child has been born to
the Sultan. Ladies of inferior standing on whom the Sultan
has looked with favour are called Ikbal, and girls in course of
training in the harem are called Odalik. The superintendent
of the harem, always an aged lady of the palace, and bearing
the title of Haznadav-Kudin, has to keep up intercourse with
the outer world through the Guard of Eunuchs.
The civil list of the Sultan is variously reported at from one
to two millions sterling. To the imperial family belong a
great number of crown domains.
The principal persons in the Serai or palace of the Sultan
are :
(1) Kizlar Aghasi, chief of the black eunuchs. He has the
rank of Mushir (field-marshal) ; his status is equal to that of
the Grand Vizier, and he has control of the harem.
(2) Kapu Aghasi, first officer of the imperial chamber,
chief of the white eunuchs. His office is a survival of the
praepositus sacri cubiculi of the Greek emperors.
(3) Kazineh-Humayun-Vekili, keeper of the Sultan’s privy
purse, a black eunuch.
(4) Hakim-Bashi, chief physician, under whom are 12
physicians in ordinary.
The personnel of the Serai under Abdul Aziz (1861 to 1876)
amounted to about 3,000. Since 1908, the Serai has been
maintained on a much more modest scale.
Imperial Departments
Of the Imperial Departments there are three classes: ( 1 )
Public Justice, ( 2 ) Revenue Departments, ( 3 ) Departments
relating to the convenience of the public.
Public Justice
The laws of the empire rest in principle on the basis of all
Sunni Moslem law, i.e. the Koran, the Hadith or traditions of