strangers.” I alluded to Emírgúneh, who, when he was in a good humour frequently danced and played. The emperor laughed and said, “The boy has ready answers,” and being full of good humour, he ordered some chákír to be brought. Chákír in his metaphorical language signified wine. He drank a glass, and said, “Evliyá, thou art now initiated into my secrets; take care not to divulge them. I replied by the following verses. “Deep in thy breast be love’s sweet secret hid— Forbid thy soul to feel its presence there,— And when death hovers o’er thy dark’ning lid, Still in that knowledge let no other share!” I also quoted the saying, “He who keeps silence escapes many misfortunes;” and added, “my emperor, he who is admitted to your secrets ought to be a magazine of secrecy.”—“Evliyá,” said the Sultán, “having spoken so much of science, let us now hear some of your performances in music.” I enumerated all the different tunes, and having made many allusions to the taste of Emírgúneh for wine, the Sultán was so much pleased with my ready wit that he said, “Now, Evliyá, I shall no more call thee to account, or ask thee any reason for what thou sayest: I appoint thee a Musáhib;” and he then ordered me to be dressed in a fur robe. Seeing that it was too long for me, he said, “Send it to thy father that he may remember me in his prayers;” and he directed that another should be given to me. He next with his own hands put on my head a sable-fur kalpak. Before this I had only a plain Tátár kalpak. He then desired me to sing a wársikí. At one time my music-master was a Dervísh Omar, a disciple of the famous Sheikh Gulshaní, with whom he became acquainted in the reign of Sultán Soleïmán, and with whom he passed seventeen years in Egypt, performing all manner of menial services, such as valet, groom, cook, &c. One day Gulshaní, perceiving the worth that was concealed under the garb of this poor Dervísh, advised him to repair to Turkey, where he was wanted by Sultán Soleïmán. On his departure Gulshaní gave him his own carpet, and on this carpet Dervísh Omar had the honour to associate with all the Sultáns, from Soleïmán to Murád. Having arrived in Turkey with seventy followers, he was present at the siege of Siget, and at the death of Soleïmán. From that time he enjoyed the confidence and patronage of all the Sultáns. He was well skilled in the science of music, in which he gave me lessons. In obedience to the Sultán’s orders, I took up a _dáyara_ (tambourine) and kissed the ground before the Sultán. On looking at the dáyara, he observed that it was set with jewels, and said, “I make thee a present of this dáyara, but take care thou dost not go beyond this circle.”[5] I leaped in a sprightly manner, kissed the foot of the throne, prayed for a blessing on Dervísh Omar, and said, “If it please God, I shall never be debarred from this circle of the Ottoman court, for I know my limits too well to overstep them.