text:  Taking the bezestans and markets--the focus of business and commerce to which the various classes of the Stamboul population converge--as the ground-work of his lucubrations Mr White proceeds to enumerate in detail the various trades and handicrafts carried on within the precincts of these great national marts the articles therein sold and the guilds or incorporated companies to many of which extensive privileges have been granted by the sultans for their services to the state