‘The Ottoman emperors, with their court, often enjoy the diversion of archery in public, and there is an extensive piece of ground allotted to that purpose. ‘This place is upon an eminence in the suburbs of the city of Constantinople and commands an extensive view of the town and harbour. It is called Ok Meydan, or the Place of the Arrow. The ground mentioned is covered with marble pillars erected in honour of those archers who have succeeded in shooting arrows to any remarkable distance. Each pillar is inscribed with the name of the person whose dexterity it records, together with some complimentary verses to him, and the exact range which he attained with his flight arrow. ‘The Ottoman emperors, from ancient times, have always been supposed to live by their manual labour and in consequence of this supposition they have each learnt some art or profession, most of them having preferred the art of making bows and arrows. ‘The present emperor was bound apprentice to the trade of archery, and at the time he was received as a master in this trade he gave very splendid public entertainments at the Ok Meydan, where the State tents were pitched for him and his court.’ [Page 125] _Translations of the inscriptions on some of the marble columns at the Ok Meydan (Place of the Arrow) which were erected in honour of those who excelled in archery._ 1. Ak Siraly Mustapha Aga shot two arrows both of which travelled to a distance of 625 yards. 2. Omer Aga shot an arrow to a distance of 628 „ 3. Seid Muhammed Effendy, son in-law of Sherbetzy Zade 630 „ 4. Sultan Murad 685 „ 5. Hagy Muhammed Aga shot an arrow 729 „ 6. Muhammed Ashur Effendy shot an arrow which fixed in the ground at 759 „ 7. Ahmed Aga, a gentleman of the Seraglio under Sultan Suleiman the Legislator, shot an arrow 760 „ 8. Pashaw Oglee Medmed shot an arrow 762 „ 9. The present Grand Admiral Husseir Pashaw shot an arrow which drove into the ground at 764 „ 10. Pilad Aga, Treasurer to Hallib Pashaw 805 „ 11. Hallib Aga 810 „ 12. The reigning Emperor, Sultan Selim, shot an arrow which drove into the ground at a distance of 838 „ The Sultan shot a second arrow to near the same distance. In the translation of the above from the Turkish language the feet and inches were also given for each shot, but these I have omitted as unnecessary.