The Sultan and His PeopleOscanyan, C. (Christopher)
History
The Sultan and His People
Oscanyan, C. (Christopher)
Turkey -- Description and travel; Turkey -- Social life and customs
The interior arrangements of the Turkish apartments and their
furniture, are very peculiar, and quite unlike those of European
or American drawing rooms, being entirely adapted to the habits and
tastes of the Orientals. There is never any doubt or hesitation as
to the place suitable to be occupied by any one who may happen to
enter a room; nor is it possible to mistake the different ranks of
its occupants.
Generally there is a sofa on three sides of the room, sufficiently
ample to accommodate the ladies in their style of sitting, which is not
cross-legged as is usually represented in pictures, but with the limbs
folded under their persons and carefully concealed by the drapery of
their long robes; for to show these parts of the person while sitting,
is considered a great breach of etiquette. Hence no Osmanli lady is
ever to be seen perched on the very edge of the sofa, but leaving
her slippers on the floor, she steps upon the couch and gracefully
bending her knees, sits reclining against the cushions behind her.
On the floor, at the foot of the sofa, are placed mattresses,
furnished with cushions, and these are called erkean mindery or
seats of homage, where humbler visitors or members of the family
are allowed to place themselves. The angles or corners of the sofa,
are regarded as the seats of honor, and the places on either side,
rank in regular succession down to the seat of homage; but the most
honorable person in the company may, at her or his option, occupy
any part of the couch, when the rest place themselves on each side
according to their own rank. The servants are always present, and
stand in a row at the lower end of the room, their arms humbly folded
on their girdles, attentive to the slightest nod of their superiors.
There are several windows on each of the three sides of the room, so
as to permit a full view of the surrounding scenery, while they are
seated; for the Osmanlis are very fond of sunlight and the beauties of
nature. The windows of the harem are all furnished with close lattices,
permitting those within to see without being seen.
The more modernized salons, have only a sofa on one side, European
couches, chairs, tables, and mirrors, being substituted for the other
sofas. They also endeavor to imitate the Europeans in the style of
the window draperies, which are often of the most brilliant hues.
There is one peculiarity in the Oriental houses. You may wander
from one end to the other and not see a single bed-room or any of
its appurtenances--which has induced many persons to report them as
sleeping on the sofas, and never dressing or undressing. It would,
however, seem more natural to suppose, that the Osmanlis never had
any but day dreams.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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