THE EUNUCH.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 3498, 22 September 1882, Page 4

THE EUNUCH.

The eunuch is a great personage in tbe harem or palace. His power is almost absolute- There is no limit to his control. The chief eunuch in a palace is styled Kislar Agaci; he is black, takes the position of the second man of the Empire, ranking with the Grand Vizier. He is Captain of tho girls. If they are insubordinate, he does not mince matters, but chastises them with rods on the bare body. Should the matter, however, be a very serious one, they are disposed of. These blackeunuchsarehideous, ungainly fellows, generally with short necks and long legs ; they are very haughty and overbearing in demeanor, and when escorting their charges on excursions, slash about with their ' courbatch ' or whip indiscriminately, to clear the way for the pets of the Pedishah. They enjoy princely salaries, and the large fortunes amassed by them result mainly from bach-sheesh screwed out of the inmates of the harera. It is from this class of Orientals that the mutes are selected. Mutes are still employed by the Sultan in his palaces as guards and attendants, and especially are their negative services availed of at the Porte, where all official business and diplomatic interviews are carried on. The mutes, (we are not talking of the ' Arabian Nights' and their fanciful stories, but in sober earnest as to what is happening at the present hour) are selected from the eunuchs, and when very young they have their tongues cut out, and every means devised to keep them in a state of ignorance, as they are not even taught to read and write. The eunuchs are also turned to further account. When a Grand Vizier is to be deposed, or some other person in high office to be dismissed, such matters are generally carried through with expedition. The officer whose duty it is to undertake the important mission is termed 'Black Ears.' It is for him only to notify the Grand Vizier that his power is at an end ; he appears suddenly, always afc midnight, and without any kind of warning. He receives for this errand a large amount of back-sheesh. In former days it was his privilege and duty to strangle then and there the Grand Vizier or high functionary, whoever he might be. But things are more mercifully managed now, and the victim is smuggled on board the Sultan's steam yacht, to Izzedin, or some distant point in Arabia or Asia Minor, and most probably the Ministerial career is terminated by the simple process of administering a cup of ' mocha.'—London Society.