Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1826-05-09

who had shown on all occasions the warmest
interest in the Cause OF the Greeks, ana oy
whom I was received with the greatest kind
ness, at the time Athens had been abandoned
by its inhabitants, became, after the embarka-
ton of those Turks that had been rescued I'm.
mediately after the massacre,again the refuge OF
those unfortunate people. A great NUMBER
were. for money released by the Consul; amongst
them were several Turkish ladies OF distinction,
as the wife Of Hassan Aga, with her daughter,
two sisters of Mehemet Aga, the vile OF the
waIwode, with two Circassian slaves, the wife
Of the disdar, or the Turkish governor OF the
castle, and the Cadi and his wife. Born at A
thens, they all spoke Greek fuently, as well as
Turkish, and some knew the Arabic language.
Every one had her own tale Of horrors to tell;
there was scarcely one that had not to bewall
the loss of brother or sister; their husbands
had been slain either on the day of the general
massacre, or before, in the course OF war =
Some knew not whose slaves their children
were; Others asked in vain, where the aged mo-
Their had been dragged. Most of them behaved
with that dignity which becomes deep and ST.
lent grief; sometimes to cheer themselves up,
they would gather together in room; but who
could stem the current Of conversation, and turn
i, from the most doeful recolleciions! Tears
would begin to sparkle in their eyes, and clouds
Of sorrow darken their counenance. A Turk
ish song had been composed while they were
besieged in the Acropolis relating to the events
Of the war and their own suHerings, sometimes
when collected together, they would sing it, as
if the heart felt aeviated by throwing the
charms of music over dreadful remembrances.
The song done, every one present would burst
into tears, and give themselves up to all tue ex-
travagance off rieI. On other days they assem-
bIed and sung by heart devotional passages OF
the Koran. Some of them were bright specl-
mems Of Oriental beauty, and endowed with
great vivaci,y Of imagination; their converse.
ton betrayed shrewdness Of spirit and depth OF
feeling, it was such flow of easy, naiura! elo-
quence, as may hardly be met among the Ia
shionabe ladies Of Europe Many evenings
heard them tell fairy tales similar 10 those OF
the Arabian Nights; not breath was heard,
and they'would listen for hours with the deep,
est attention. Although their singing is at first
disagreeable to one whose ear is used to Euro
pean music, yet ii cannot be Denied that some
of their tunes are delightful, and expressive OF
great feeling Their dancing was particularly
graceful and dignifed. When it was explain.
ed TO them with what regard the ladies were
treated in Europe, how universal Difference was
| paid them, and what conspicuous element OF
| societythey constituted, they expressed an as
constituent, as if our practice were subver'
sion Of nature; and with selfdenying resignation
they chose TO live in the Harem, in Incidence
and obedience; and never spoke Of their hus'
bands by any other name than that Of my lord
They seemed to prefer the large silk cloaks
which concealed the shape Of the body, and to
cover the face with drapery with eye holes in
it, to the elegant appearance OF our women IN
public And still they were fond Of dress, and
not deficient in taste, although unacquainted
with any journal des modes; just as their mind
seemed to have treasured up many romantic no.
tons without the aid ofnoves. have remark
I'd that Oriental people are superior to US in
the knowledge of man, theirs is the produce Of
conversation, intercourse, experience and acute
observation, and therefore drawn from real life
whilst we get our notions chiefly from books
1t is well known that the Turks have shown, in
all diplomatic transactions, such calmnes $, per-
severance and judgment, as have often bafHed
all the skill Of European ambassadors.