The Sun.
London, England, 1857-05-07 00:00:00

THE CAPTURE

MOHAMMERAM

The following further telegraphic despatch has
been received from Sir James Outram through
Constantinople :
" The flying expedition to Ahwaz returned to
Mohammerah on the sth inst. (April) completely
successful.

" The large Persian army retired from their
position, and retreated rapidly towards Dizful be-
fore a British force not 400 strong.

" One gun was captured, and extensive militarT
stores were seized and destroyed."

TURKEY.
CONSTANTINOPLE, APRIL 24.
Yesterday was the day fixed for the Nikiah, or
fiancailles, of the Sultans three daughters, who had
been promised in marriage some time ago to Mah-
moud Pasha, son of Fethi Ahmed Pasha, Grand
Master of the Artillery ; Ethem Pasha, son of
Mehemet Ali Pasha, Capitan Pasha • and El Hami
Pasha, son of the late Abbas Pasha, Viceroy of
Egypt. It had been arranged that the ceremony
should take place at the same time for the three at
he Palace of Top-Kapou or Seraglio Point, which,
although abandon• d by the Sultans as a residence
since the overthrow of the Janissaries, is still
the traditional place where many grand ceremonies
are performed. Ta this palace, therefore, the Sul-
tanas were to proceed in stale from Dolma Bakcbe,
and to witness the procession all the harems of

Constantinople had poured forth their inmates

from an early hour ; every window, every shop,
every little noA whence it was possible to catch
a view of the procession in the long distance
from Dolma-Bakche tl Top-Kapou was covered
with Turkish women ; they were squatting all
around and all one upon another, decked out in
their gayest ferejees, of an the colours of the rain-

bow, topped with their white heal-dresses, which
contrasted with the black faces of their attendants.
Wherever the street widened it was lined with
carriages, la which were reclining the slaves and
favourites of the wealthy, and in many of these wee
to he noticed a lovely face reluctantly concealed
behind the curtains, which would now and then be
gently drawn aside by delicate white fingers covered
with gems, to allow of the admiration of the Euro-
pean passers-by.- The Sultanas left Dolma Bakche
at 11 a.m. At the head of the cortege was the
Kislar Aga, or chef of the black eunuchs. He
rode a superb charger magnificently caparisoned ;
he is frightfully ugly, but his dress was so bril-
liant, the gold was thrown over it in such profuse
masses, that it stayed the eye and prevented his
ugliness being noticed. Then came the three Sul-
tanas, each in a state carriage glittering with en-
ter and gol I, and drawn by horses whose trappings
were also studded with silver and gold ornaments.
There were eunuchs riding on all sides, and all in
fine clothes and on splendel horses. Each Sultana
was attended by her neetlier and by one slave. As
they drove rapidly 'past a blaze of diamonds flashed
across the eyes. Then came the other slaves and
Peedants in about thirty carriages, vie-
fienmg.alwei.,,aaa tt
their mistresses in the splendour of
they: dresses and jewels, and many far surpas-
sing them iu their charms. Although the Sul-
tanas went to the Seraglio in person, neither
they nor their future bridegrooms appear at the
ceremony of betrothal. This is performed by pro-
curation. The Kislar Aga represents the Sultan
and the Sultanas on this occasion, and the Grand
Vizier, Redschicl Pasha, represented the bridegrooms.
The witnesses were Iliza Pasha, the Seraskier,
Chefik Pasha, of the Mint, and Ali Ghalib
Pasha, son-in-law of the Sultan. Like every
Turkish father, the Sultan stipulates the sum
his son-in-law is to pay for his daughter, and this
sum becomes her dowry. This was fixed at 5,000
Turkish pounds in this instance. The marriage
contract is read before the witnesses, prayers are
pronounced, and the first chapter of the Kora,
read, and this part of the ceremony is overy. The
Sultaras return to their residence, and are followed
there by the presents offered by their fiances. The
presents are by no means the least important part
of the ceremony, and are taken to the Imperial
Palace in great state. First, three beautiful Arab
chargers, magnificently caparisoned were led past.
The saddlecloths were of- the handsomest embroi-
dery in precious stones I ever saw, even in this
land of embroideries. These were a present to the
Sultan himself from his future sons-in-law. Then
came the presents to the Sultanas themselves,—
first, sweetmeats of all sorts contained in covered
china vessels ; five of these vesselsare put on a tray,
and a cage of hoops and gauze of various colours,
trimmed gaily with ribands and flowers, covers the
tray, which is borne on a man's head. A hundred
such trays of sweetmeats were borne past from each
bridegroom. Then came other trays, larger, ten in
number, on which were placed shawls and articles of
dress ; ten pieces of the richest brocade of silver and
gold were among the dresses offered by El Hami
Pasha, and various rich cashmere shawls. Then
came two carriages in each of which was an enor-
mous coffer covered with velvet and ornamented
with silver plates, fully of costly perfumeries.
Then came the more precious articles on teatrays,
covered with a large cage, surmounted, in those
sent by El Hami Pasha, by a golden eagle, with
spread wings. As the presents offered by El
Hami Pasha were by far the most costly and taste-
ful, I will content myself with describing these.
First, the 5,000 pounds dowry was carried past in
five red satin bags on five trays. Then the head-
dress for the bride on her wedding-day—a gold and
silver knot for supporting the hair at the back of
the head, and a band of ve!vet embroidered in bell
liants and pearls, with a verse of the -Koran for the
front. Then the veil of silk which is thrown over
the bride, embroidered in pearls and brilliants,
and with no less than 700 carats of brilliants on it,
—then the slippers, also one mass of pearls and
diamonds, and the pattens used in the bath, co-
vered with gold and precious stones, then the
round toilet glass, of which the back was a plate
of gold beautifully worked, and also studded with
precious stones. Precious stones were scattered in
profusion in all these articles of every-day use, so
to speak, but now came the jewels themselves,—a
splendid diamond tiara, very high, and long enough
to go round to the back of the head, with a large
bunch of flowers in diamonds dropping over the
right ear; this had been set in Paris, and was beau-
tiful in design, as well as costly. A pair of diamond
earrings, with diamond drops of great size and per-
fectly oval shape. These gems, without an equal in
the world, had been the property of El Hami
Pasha's father, and had been procured for him in
India. It is calculated in jewels alone he has spent
over 120,000/. sterling. What will be the effect on
the little Sultana to whom all this finery is des-
tined ? The eldest is scarcely 15—a mere child
in our ideas. Although the three hive been be-
trothed, only one was married this year—that one
which is destined to Ethem Pasha, son of Mehemet
Ali Pasha, who must not be confused with the
Minister for Foreign Affairs, whose name is also
Ethem Pasha,

The Marchioness of Salisbury will return to town to-
morrow, from Eastbourne, Sussex.
The Marchioness Dowager Townshend and Mr. Laid-
ler have arrived in town for the season.

-•
The Earl of Derby is detained at Know,'ley by an at-
tack of gout, from which be is suffering.
The Earl and Countess Craven and family arrived in
town ya,terday, from Ashdown Palk, for the season.
The Earl and Countess Granville gave a grand dinner,
last evening, in Bruton•street.
The Countess of Zetland has left town for Brighton.
The Earl and Countess Spencer arrived in town a few
days since, from Althorp Park, for the sea-on.
Viscount Palmerston gave a grand entertainment last
evening to the following members of the House of Coin-
mons:—The Earl of Mulgrave, the Right Hon. the
Speaker, the Soficitor•General, the Attorney-General for
Ireland, Viscount Castlerosee, Lord Ashley, Viscount
Duncan, Viscount Monck, Lord Alfred Paget, Lerd E.
Bruce, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, the Right Hon.
R. Lowe, Sir M. Berkeley, the Right Hon. W. G. Hay-
ter, Mr. B. Osborne, the Right Hon. R. V. Smith, the
Hon. Sir C. Wood, the Right Hon. Sir B. Hall, the
Right Hon. W. Cowper, the Right Hon. Sir G. Clrey,
the Right Hon. C. P. Villiers, Sir J. Ramsden, the
Right lion. F. Pool, Mr. Denby Seymour, Mr. R. W.
Grey, Mr. C. Clifford, the Right lion. W. Labouchere,
the Right Hon. H. F,tzroy,'Mr• Wilson, Mr. Dodson,
Mr. Brand, Mr. Buchanan, &C.
Lord Stanley of Aldeeley arrived in town, last even-
iug, from Manchester. Lady Stanley is expected in town
in a few days, from Madeira.
Lord and Lady Cbarles Pelham Clinton have left town
for Aynbo Park, Northamptonshire.
Lady Howard de Walden and the Hon. Misses Ellis
are expected in town today from Brussels.
A deputation from the clergy of the East-end of Len-
don, consisting of the Rev. Canon Charopneys, the Rev.
G. H. M'Gill, the Rev. R. Carter Smith, the Rev. W.
:VITO, and the Rev. G. T. Driffield, had an interview
with the Right Hon. E. P. Bouverie, at the office of the
Foor•law Board, on the subject of the equalisation of the
p9Or MOO in the metropoll,c,i'.