Travels in Turkey, Asia Minor, Syria, and across the desert into Egypt ...

SYRIA, EGYPT, .GERMANY, &C. 21
consecration of his Standard, previously to his taking the field, and
to his promotion to the rank of a pacha of three tails—a ceremony
which could not fail, to be highly gratifying to strangers. To this
mark of attention our officers were not insensible.
At eleven o'clock in the morning they were conducted to the
sublime Porte, under an escort of a body of janissaries, and attended
by an interpreter. They were led to an apartment, whence they
had a view of the hall of the divan, and of an extensive court-yard,
in which a
very
numerous body of Turks was assembled at
prayers.
A little before noon the standard, supported by several of the
great officers of state, was brought with great ceremony from the
hall, and carried to the bottom of a flight of steps, the different
religious sects, the Mufti, lmans, Dervises, &c. being in front
of the procession. A solemn prayer, in which the spectators joined,
having been repeated, and the Mufti perceiving
that the sun was
at irs meridian height,
the standard was raised and planted. This
part of the ceremony having been accomplished, twelve sheep were
immolated, and the foot of the standard washed with their blood.
In this state it was to remain forty days, at the expiration of which
time his Royal Highness was to take the field. The great officers,
namelv, the Mufti, the head of the Ulema, the Kiabey, the Reis
EfFendi, the Tefterdar, the Janissary Aga, &c. who had attended
on this occasion, now took leave, the Mufti being accompanied to
his carriage, a small close vehicle covered with scarlet cloth, by
the Vizier himself. On the close of the ceremony the British
officers were introduced to the Reis Effendi,"or secretary of state
for foreign affairs, by whom they were conducted and presented to
his
royal highness
the Grand Vizier. They found him seated in
the corner of a room, richly furnished in the 'Turkish
style, and
surrounded by a numerous body of attendants and mutes, all of them
superbly and elegantly dressed. Our officers being seated, they
were served, according to the custom of the country, with pipes,
sweetmeats, coffee, sherbet, rose-water and other perfumes. No
mark of distinction due to their rank was neglected on this occa-
sion ; and after they had been apprised that an early day would be
appointed for a second interview, they withdrew.
1 his interview was not delayed.
It took place five days after
the preceding one, on the 22d of sJpril, at the^kioscjue at Kaiihana,
where his highness the Vizier had assembled a party of Turkish
artillery, and a corps of infantry, for a review, and for artillery
practice. The latter succeeded much better than our officers had