Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1826-10-05

Grand Seigneur. The basin is always covered
with vessels and innumerable bateaux. ne
arsenal. situated on the right side OF the mar
bour. and in the extreme suburb, is we'll con-
structed building. There were nearly iorty
vessels of war at this place, but IN bad conui-
ton. The breadth of the harbour and canal Is
nearly four hundred fathoms.
There are in this city great number OF col
fee-houses, where the INCIDENT Turks resort
and continue smoking their pipes the whole
day, sitting with crossed legs, and rarely utter
ing word. This grave department Is pecui-
ar to the oriental character Among the urk-
;sh cafes of Pera, that of Ickhe is remarkable;
deriving its name from neighboring convent
ri Deryishes. The DerUiShesmeacieD's, Turkish
monks. are dependent on their principal con-
vent ar Coena. town of Asia Minor. They
;nhabit fine house, and live in common
Within this house, there is circular chapel,
with double gallery for spectators, who as
sist ar the dance, which these monks, accord
ing to their rites, perform every Tuesday and
Friday. The Dervishes assemble near the bal
ustrade in the centre of the chapel, and seat
themselves on their launches. While In this
position, a hymn is sung for half an hour, ac-
companied by Persian flute, called neil
After this, the monks salute their cheik or supe-
rior very reverently, and at the first signal,
thew commence waltzing, and continue this
dance for half an hour, with the most astonish-
ing rapidity; and such is the force Of habit,
that they are never rendered giddy. The Der
wishes preach discourses, and observe rigor-
Gus fast every Thursday. They make vows OF
poverty, chastity and humility; but their virtue
in the two first, is no, always severe. The dress
70 ln CT
ing of cylindric cap Of grey felt, waistcoat,
white pettcoats, and cloak of greyish cloth.
The beautiful Georgians, and lovely Circas-
slams, victims to the cruel jealousy OF their mas
tiers, are constantly confined to the Harem, which
is esteemed the sacred part OF house. IL, now
ever, fortune should throw one OF these enchant-
ing creatures in the way, their black stag-eyes
NAV be seen through the jachmack, which enve-
lopes their head and face, leaving but small
opening for those brilliant eyes. They are kept
by the ministers, and weather. classes Inc
slaves of the Grand Seigneur, who are never
gazed on by other eyes, are guarded by black
eunuchs, the most frightful of beings, under
command of their chief the Kslar-Aga, high
officer and an important parsonage IN the en-
pire.
The other Turkish women are not so much
restrained, as may be supposed They are
seen walking every where, but never with men,
and always covered with the jachmack, like the
pretty Georgians. They possess the Agreements
Of their sex, without beng remarkably hand
some. They speak with great ease and ele-
gance, and with bewitching sof;ness.
The Ottoman government evinces great soil
citude to maintain order and public tranqullll-
ty, This is due to the sacred principle, that
laws are the primary necessities OF people,
and the glory of a sovereign.
The Turks are sober people, and are capa-
BILE of suffering: They are hospitable, faithful,
generally active. penetrating, and covetous OF
knowledge, superstitious in the extreme, but
jealous for their religion. They pray FIVE times
every day, and when the hour Tor these is an
nounced, they abandon the most important bu-
siness. Their priests, who are called imanS and
muezzins, notify these hours Of prayer from the
minarets upon the moschs, and the Turks fall
upon their knees, with their faces towards Mec-
ca In their alteration, they often bow their
heads TO the ground. The Mussumans rigor-
ously observe fast called the Ranadan, the
name Of their lunary month They are obliged
to abstain from all sorts of food, from wafer,
coffee, anG the pipe, which is grievous priva-
ton; from the rising TO the setting of the sun.
The bairam, which answers 10 Easter, terml-
mates this fast; and for three days, every body
is engaged in donanama (fcasts and rejolcings.)
Seventy days after this another feast is celebra-
ted, called ceurban-bairam or id-ad'ha, which
signifies the feast Of sacrifices.
The arts, sciences, industry, and almost all
the happy results of civilization, are estranged
to this delightful country The excessive fa-
naticism and intolerance of the Mahometans,
and their policy, prevent them from using those
bent fetal lights which are interchanged among
other nations.
The Nufh, head Of the law, and the body Of
Ulema (savans) entrusted with the interpreted
ton of the koran, and the laws, with the admi-
nistration of justice, and public instruction, eZ
ercise an extensive and salutary influence over
the spirit ola people, who are ever restless, Sc
ditious, and fierce. They are commonly exclt-
ed to revots by the corps of Janissaries, mill
tia always dangerous to the State, which fire.
ouently terminate with the life of the sovereign
and Of his ministers.
The conquest of this country would no; be
difficult enterprise: The defence that could be
made would be feeble, except on the side OF the
sea, where there are well disposed batteries
stretching from the Dardanelles to the Black
Sea. The naval and land forces are in the ut
most disorder. Without instruction, they are