in the Turkish teraglio, signifies a class, order, or chamber. The grand signor's pages are divided into five classes or chambers. The first, which is the lowest in dignity, is called the great oda, from the greater number of persons that compose it; these are the juniors, who are taught to read, write, and speak the languages. The second is called the little oda, where from the age of 14 or 15 years, till about 25, they are trained up to arms, and the study of all the polite learning the Turks are acquainted with. The third chamber, called kiler oda, consists of 200 pages, who, besides their other exercises, are under the command of the kilardgi-bachi, and serve in the pantry and fruiterly. ODE
Oda Bachi fruitery. The fourth consists only of 24, who are under the command of the khazineda-bachi, and have charge of the treasure in the grand signior's apartment, which they never enter with clothes that have pockets. The fifth is called kas oda or privy-chamber; and is composed of only 40 pages, who attend in the prince's chamber. Every night eight of these pages keep guard in the grand signior's bedchamber while he sleeps: they take care that the light, which is constantly kept in the room, does not glare in his eyes, lest it should awake him: and if they find him disturbed with troublesome dreams, they cause him to be awakened by one of their agas.