CAPIT-AGA, or CAPIT-AGASSI, a Turkish officer who
is governor of the gates of the seraglio, or grand-master
of the seraglio.
The capi-aga is the first dignity among the white
eunuchs: he is always near the person of the grand
signior: he introduces ambassadors to their audience:
nobody enters or goes out of the grand signior's apart-
ment but by his means. His office gives him the pri-
vilege of wearing the turban in the seraglio, and of
going everywhere on horseback. He accompanies
the grand signior to the apartment of the sultanas, but
stops at the door without entering. His appointment
is very moderate; the grand signior bears the expence
of his table, and allows him at the rate of about sixty
French livres per day; but his office brings him in
abundance of presents; no affair of consequence coming
to the emperor's knowledge without passing through
his hand. The capi-aga cannot be bashaw when he
quits his post.