The  ceremonial  attending  the  departure  of  the  Sacred
Caravan  is  one  of  the  last  bits  of  Oriental  colour  left  in
Constantinople.  I  have  now  seen  it  several  times,  how-
ever, and  every  year  it  seems  to  lose  something.  My
best  procession  was  my  first,  which  also  happened  to  be
the  last  under  a  Caliph  of  absolute  power  to  draw  upon
the  public  funds.  And  although  I  had  a  camera  with
me  that  time,  I  was  not  allowed  to  use  it.  The  convoy  I
had  encountered  on  the  bridge  was  merely  a  preliminary
of  the  true  pageant,  escorting  the  sourreh  from  the  Min-
istry of  Pious  Foundations  to  Yildiz  Palace.  There  the
presents,  installed  for  two  days  under  rich  tents,  were
inspected  by  Abd  iil  Hamid  and  given  into  the  custody
of  the  Sourreh  Emini.  Then  after  an  imposing  rehgious
ceremony  the  Sacred  Caravan  commenced  its  march.
For  a  spectator  without  the  palace  walls  the  first  inti-
mation of  its  approach  was  given  by  several  carriages  of
Palace  ladies,  who  take  an  unofficial  part  in  most  public
spectacles.  Rehgious  and  military  dignitaries  also  began
sauntering  down  the  road,  which  was  bordered  by  soldiers,


TWO  PROCESSIONS


305


with  an  air  of  dispersing  after  some  important  function.
