Alexandria gazette & daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1817-1822, 1818-01-30

1 by which Parga u peiWltteu " o'
ed BY the lanian Islands.
Madame Krudener is on her return v"
Russia, accompanied by an officer OF the
police. The Spanish government IS ne
gotiating with some of the Swiss canIons
70, corps Of Swiss troops. he nus
sian squadron, bound to Cadiz. is report
ed to have sailed from Gottenburg NOV.
IS. A Madrid article OF Nov. Il men
lions that nothing is known OF the c"nd''
tons of the cession Of this squadron by
Russia. Layelette is said to be h'ing'
under another name, near Munich.
From the National .idrocate, Jan. "a
The new Dey of AIgiers has adopted
an admirable mode, novel and some
what ext;aordinary, for remed,lng me
effects of the plague now ravaglrg tha'
fine country. Tie has calculated, with
all that gravity for which musse!nen are
remarkable, that disease and death cab
only be opposed by increasing Popula.
ton in equal ratio-by which equal ef-
fects will be balanced, aud the state in
the end, receive TO injury. Acco' ding
ingly he has ordered all bachelors over
the aye of 20 to be conducted to the pub
lie square, and then and there be basti-
nadoed until they acquire a relish for
matrimOny. This is singular tex on
bachelors and if the regimen is daily
repeated, we take it for granted that the
old maids in the regency will shortly be
supplied with husbands. As this may
be considered a species Of CONSUMPTION
perfectly constitutional in Turkey, and
# man has ne soft or tender passions,
and is, in TO manner, disciple of Ovid,
Johannes Secundu:, or Petrarcb, the de
Wis in it if a good baItinadoing will not
arouse feelings Of some kind. 1t is how
ever, strange to contemplate the adoP-
ton of new measures in a government
where custom is the common law, ard
where no innovation is permitted. 1t is
well known that poiygamy, which is per.
mitted by the musselmen code, is by no
means favorable to population but the
early marriages are likewise a powerful
obstacle. II is no uncommon occurrence
for boy Of fourteen and q girl OF twelve
years marrying among mahometans. l
recoIlect perfectly well an old TUX call
ed Pfraud, who was in the habit OF fur.
nishing American vessels with provisions,
etc. Pfaud spoke English perfectly
well, and when he got on the deck OF an
American ship he felt all his veneration
fur the code of Mahomet dwirdle away.
and he drank wire and brandy in ccpl-
Gus lbations, the alcoran to the contrary
Notwithstanding. Pfraud in one OF his
merry moods, told me he was going 10
marry his con, boy of sixteen. and that
the procession would pass my door on a
certain day. took occasion to watch Tor
it. Instead however Of being in the mar
row streets, the cavalcade pas ed without
the walls ard this Wa the first matri.
moniaI procession | had ever witnessed
in that country. Two black slaves ca
ried on their heads dish of kusklsu,
IAN Arabic dish Handsomely ornamehted
and covered with colored silk haDdksr-
chiefs two other slaves bore large
square wooden chest, painted with lively
coIors. containing the BRIDES dresses and
clothing for present. The bride her.
self was seated on camel, whose ears,
tail and long neck were decorated with
various cOlcred ribbons, but she was en-
closed in large balloon of silk, or species
of cage, that with all my efforts, could
not get peep at her few wind in
struments in the shape Of fageIets, TO-
gether with dull tambourine, coD.tltu-
led a wretched band Of music motley
assem5lase OF boys, camel drivers, etc.
filled up the procession, which went to
the house Of the bridegroom and the
whole night the firing Of msskets and
nOi.y rebels Of guests displayed the sum
and measure of Turkish marriage.
Turkish girls who are engaged in mar
riage, are generally kept close, and are
fattencd for the purpose, corpulency be-
ing considered mark OF beauty and
for this purpose they are fed with nutri-
tious food and quantities Of o.. The sill
yer ciuctures that they wear on their an
eles are filed g adually, b, increasing in
flesh, and they are not unfrequently re-
ported fit to marry, as we would pro.
uOunce fat sheep fit for slaughter.
They stain the palms Of their hand, and
nails with the juice of an herb called
benna, which produces brown or dinsy
tint; they likewise colorstheir eve brows,
and the inside Of their eye lids with lead
ore. Thus corpuient and colcrcd, it
may be questionable whether the bastlna.
doing, ordered by the Dey ot Algers.
might not be necessary to enforce an at
tschment that personal attractions, could
they be seen, would tail to produce.