Colonel of Janizaries, 1818, Paper

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This print is from 'The Military Costume of Turkey. Illustrated by A Series of Engravings. from Drawings made on the … Read more This print is from 'The Military Costume of Turkey. Illustrated by A Series of Engravings. from Drawings made on the Spot. Dedicated by Permission to His Excellency the Minister of the Ottoman Porte to his Britannic Majesty.' London, Published by Thomas M'Lean, Haymarket, (1818). Folio. One of 29 fine handcoloured aquatint plates . Very light offsetting from plate. The original accompanying text of this print is as follows: 'The designations of almost all the different officers of the Janizaries are analogous to that of the officer described in the preceding page, and like his have some reference to the Kitchen; the officer whom we call Colonel, being by them styled Tchorbadji, which, literally translated, means giver of soup. The Major, Achetchi; or head of the kitchen. The Adjutants, Carcoolooctchi, or Scullions; and others, water bearers, &c. The Adjutants wear a girdle of copper of fifteen pounds weight, wherewith they are allowed to enforce military discipline by knocking down, or even killing any Janizary with it who they may think deserves it; and on this account the officers who wear this emblem of authority are extremely respected by the Janizaries.' See less