Alexandria gazette & advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1822-1824, 1822-06-22

The Greeks from CoDstantinople ma
turally m onopolize as many places as
thew possibly can. Each Hospodar has
brothers, sisters, nephews, cousins in
his suite-these strangers do not think
the Wallachians gifted with enough un-
derstanding to fill the highest political
functions-But still they will not dis
dsin to fill the Office of Ispraunick, or
receiver of contributions which requires
no other talent than that of reckoning.
The public safety is ccnfided to
kind Of Gendarme composed of native
troops amounting to 1900 and comman
ded by the grand Spathar this title
sounds badly; it is as if one said the
great Spadassin out the title belongs to
the ci-devant Bysarline empire, and
names are nothing in the case-these
soldiers are neither numerous enough,
nnr!warlike enough to guarantee public
order-Latelya corps of Arnautes have
been added to them--what office is IN
accessible to Arnautes in Turkey
Every where they pant after glory;
power and wealth-they would be per-
haps already the ruling nations il the
generous mustapha Beyractar had
sought to usurp the throne rather than
die at his sovereign's feet-however n
deity is not the characteristic OF every
Arnaute-those of the grand SPathar
forsook him: thew went over to Theo-
tlore. then served under the banners OF
Ypsilante, and finally sided with the
Ottomans.
The Boyards are in reality as unfors
tunate and oppressed as their peasants
the latter must be eminently patient u
patriotic indeed to pass the whole course
of their existence in the midst of so
many evils-they are described as quiet
and religious men, not at all addicted
to drunkenness and crimes-But con-
scious that the fruits of their labor will
never be left to them, they work as lit
tie az possible; the milk of their cows;
the meat Of their pork, a little bread
made of corn, some bad beer, and q
wooden great coat are what constitutes
their wants. If they satisfy them, little
do they care whether the European
traveller sneers at their huts, and large
baskets in which their grain, as sub
stitute for barns--these baskets are
like those Of the Bouchouanas, a people
of the southern part of Africa-What
would be the use of building a barn? the
Ispraunick would lay tax upon it.
The Wallachians believe it is better
to sing at the sound OF the bag pipe on
the borders of a peaceful lake crowned
with elms, ash trees, and linden trees.
The country is so fine desert, they
think it would be pity to spoil it by
culture. The Wallachian Peasants
are no warriors; they who followed
Theodore had no other purpose than to
go to Bucharest, agreeably to an ancient
custom CT the country, and cry out at
the door of the Divan. The first can.
non was no sooner fired than they ran
into the woods, there the stragglers of
the Turkish army followed them, ac-
cording to custom, to cut off their ears,
and fill bags full of the abominsble tro-
phies acquired at so tri1ing peril.
The clergy of those two provinces
keep superstitious habits that give bad
idea of their understanding. AS an ex-
ample of this-a late traveller says they
unbury the dead after seversl years, and
if at that period the body be not in
complete state of dissolution, the clergy
look upon the deceased as damned, and
even as Vampire. The family then
order explanatory prayers to be made,
which are source of considerable lu,
ere to the Hopas. This facra French
man lately arrived from Bucharest, re-
lates as positive.
How can we reconcile this trait to
the general praise we have heard be-
slowed upon Archbishop Ignatios. the
head cfthe Wallachiau clergy and foun-
der of many schools.
There are no true citizens in that
Countrywide mechanical arts arc either
unknown. or exercised by wandering
troops of Bohemians. The principal
trade at Bucharest remains in the hands
of Armenians. The children Of Israel
though commonly thrashed by the pea
SAINTS persevere with that laudable zeal
so peculiar to them, to cause the retail
ing trade to flourish.
Thus deprived of civilization, these
two provinces have central point
whence knowledge can spread its be-
nign influence; however, will not Euro
pean policy aim at rendering the coun-
try subservient to a common usefulness.
1t has often been the question to form a
otto fa of tina nrnpincas cnmnrised in an.