Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1828-05-01
TILE TURKISH REVIEW.

the throwing Of the dierid. The field, or ex-
tensive area, in which this took place, wa'
beautiful valley, into which The hills sloped
gently down: innumerable spectators were
there. The turbaned heads, covered WIN
shawls Of all colors, wedged in dense ana I'M
movable mass, looked as f,he assembly were
already called before the Prophet Tor Judgment
so still was their attitude. The Sultan at.
rived about mid>day, mounted on beautiiui
Arabian charger, and encompassed by mass
of splendidly dressed officers, bashees, capidS.
bashees, eunuchs, &c. Handsome as many OF
these men were, The Sultan was eminenliY Inc
handsomest man i'll the whole group; and, pro-
baby, in the whole assembled multitude, there
would scarcely be found another to compare
with him in personal advantages, notwi'hs'ano-
ing tine Turks are in general fine looking MS
countenance has precisely the character OF ''''
clan, blended with Turkish features; the long,
straight nose, the full, large, melancholy eye
the Oriental lips and chin There was mucn
Of mind in the lace, of reflection as well as ae-
cision; his hair wos not visible 0eneah inc
folds of his superior turban, but his beard was
of raven black. Except the tuiban IN front OF
" hich was magnificent aigraffe OF diamonds,
no other part Of his dress had any splendour,
and Welded IN this respect 10 the habiiiments
Of many OF his chief officers He did not keep
his look full IN front with imperlurbab'e dlgnI-
", as is said to be the practice OF the sul:ans,
but turned it often from right to left, as any OBJ
ject or individual in the crowd attracted his
curiosity We composed party OF several
Europeans, all English: at one momen' we
caught his glance, and it was bent on US with
a very peculiar expression OF scoin and iurk'
ish pride, without, however, there being any
"ha,red or malice" in II. Had he then lore
seen tie fatal defeat that has since been given
INN by these Franks at Navarino, his gaze had
perhaps been Of a more deadly character. lie
rode with much grace, at slow pace, whiie
number Of his Inferior officers ran along on each
side Of his horse His favorite body guard, that
gathered closely round him when he took his
station in the valley; was The celebrated white
guard, so called from the entire Of their dress,
from head 10 foot, being of that color They
were remarkably fine men, all ofthem very tall,
and rather slender and elegantly, than robustly
formed Their shilouah, or trousers, the tu-
nit, the robe, the turban, ard sandals, were ali
white as snow, aud gave to this superb body Of
,nen, as they circlrd round their imperial mas
ter, very peculiar anG imposing appearance.
Ii was cloudless and very sultry day, and their
splendid arms, that g!ittercd in the sun, con-
lras,ed strongly with the slollsss hue OF their
dresses. Each Of these men seemed TO have
been selected for his beauty, and they were
certainly, to the eye. noble fellows, though in a
close or desperate charge, the ruder Delbls
would probably have beat them. for they were
not muscular or sinewy, but their full and hrshy
figures bore too much the character oil the IN
dolent and monotonous life OF the Orensals -
The Sultan Mahmoud, on horse back, in the
midst Of these men, was striking object: the
high pay they receive, and the peculiar marks
of favor their master often bestows on them,
render them peculiarly devoted TO his person.
rhey, as well as the red guards, have had no
part in the late result, but assisted with zeal in
the destruction of their refractory comrades
Ii was singular thing 10 see on this held so
many Of these men, the naughty janissaries, who
were not long after doomed to perish. or the
many thousands on the ground, very few pro-
badly escaped. However cruel and despotic
the measure tina, was melted them, heir cup
was certainly full aud allowing. The his
toiv Of these lawless troops would pcrsent as
dark, fierce, and bloody picture as that OF the
P,alorlan guards OF Rome, whom they so
closely resemble, Should they meet in the gar
dens Of the Psophe., whittier they are I'M
timely sent by hcCatnmb~, the many sulians
they have de,hroncG and put TO death, the MANY
feet, merely a, .heir call, reminding them Of
The countless tumul,s and slaughter they have
made in the empire-the eternal groves and
rushing rivers, and lovely hours, will hardly
avoid becoming scene of uproar instead of
luxury and love.
Not far from the white guards stood body
Of men, little inferior to them i'll appearance,
bu, less splrndiAly accou,red-ihe red guar
The enfir. of their habiliments, turban &c
were Of this color They were not, however,
so favorite body Of men, or so much trusted
al ound the royal person as The former. Not a
war>w orn or veteran coun,enance was 10 be seen
in eithe, body. The music was sounded, and
the fierce and wild cries rung through the field,
which are always raised during the progress of
tho game of the djcrid;,he display Of horseman-
ship was beautiful The Sultan at last dis
mounted, and went into small kiosque, or
summer house, built Of light materials for the
oeo aston, and open in front; here he reclined
on splendid divan, with two or three only Of
his favorite officers. and behold, perfectly at his
case the array Of trooDs and the progress of the