Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1830-05-20
SUPERSTITION AND CRUELTY.
From the Nantucket Inquirer.


From, the Nantucket Inquirer.
Whether we confne our observation to Chris
+e,dom ar not. superstition and cruelty VIII Oh
ten. if not generally, be found inseParaole COM
naniops,-The following sketch OF horrId trans
actcn is no fiction; but it will afford some sat's-
faction to the philanthropc, to Learn that the per-
son who caused the death of an innocent whe' as
will appear in the sequel,) is gradually throwing
off the trammels of superstition, and Will Prona-
bly introduce policy more enlightened than that
which has so long obscured and blackened the
character of the Turks.
A distinguished German traveller, who spent
considerable time in ConstantinOple, about TOUR
wears AFRO. received very kind II -itment from the
Sultan. All the rites of hospitality, and all the
Offices of friendship, were bestowed with spirit
of frankness and cordiality of feeling which
would do honor to the most enlightened Christian
ruler. Nothing was omitted by the Sultan which
could contribute to the comfort and happiness OF
the traveller. or enrich his store Conformation on
the various subjects to which his researches were
directed And as gratitude IS one OF the most
pleasing emotions that warm the human bosom,
favors SO distinguished from the Sultan did not
fail to awaken in the heart of the German the
most lively and the most grateful sentiments
After the traveller had finished his oriental tour
and returned again to Germany. ne was desirous
of transmitting to the Sultan some tokens oil al
fectionate remembrance for the polite and gen
erous attentions he had received But 1t Is prn-
chile with the Turks, when they receive a pre-
sent, always to return one equal in value, and Of
ten far superior. This principle the German
wished to evade-he did not wish to send pre-
sent of the value ola few hundred dollars to one
to whom he was under so many obligations. and
receive one in turn of much greater worth. He
had made arrangements to send his present by an
Englishman, who commanded brig then in one
of the ports of the Baltic, and which was bound
to the Black Sea. The German enjoined it upon
the bearer of his present not to receive present
in return from the Sultan.
When the English captain arrived at Constan-
tinople, after an interview with the Refs Eftend,'
he was introduced to the Sultan, to whom. by an
interpreter, he communicated his message from
the German traveller But so fixed is the senti-
ment in the mind of Turk, that presents must
be reciprocated, that the Sultan appeared hardly
to understand It as thing possible, to receive the
gift of his distant friend without making splen-
did return. But after further explanation, adj
verting to the many favors the German had for
merly received at the hands OF the Sultan, he con-
sented to accept the present, not however, with
out insisting that the Captain who had brought it,
should receive one on his own account, if he could
not receive one to carry back to the German
The Sultan was then informed that the Captain
had been rewarded for bringing the present, b.
him who sent it;-still he could not be satisfied
without making some return to the Captain.
As the Sultan seemed to be determined that
the Captain should have some remuneration, the
latter requested, as very important favor, to
see the favorite wife, or one of the favorie wives
of the Sultan. With much apparent willingness
the request was granted; and female was soon
introduced into their presence, her face entirely
concealed by veil, and she approached the Sui
tan and kneeled. He extended his hand and
took hers and with his other hand raised her veil.
AS her eyes fell on the Englishman her counte-
nance changed and her whole frame trembled.
This to the Captain was altogether unaccounta-
ble being ignorant that the Sultan's wife, in the
estimation of her superstitious lord, would be de-
filed by looking on christian, and would forfeit
her life by this act of obedience to his mandate.
Well may the wife Of Sultan shudder when un-
yelled in the presence of christian. knowing
that she will be Immediately led to the scafoId
to expiate the offence.
Soon after the interview which cost an innocent
woman her lite, the Englishman had some busl-
ness to transact with the Refs Eaendi; and when
he remarked that he had just received favor per-
haps not unfrequenty granted to foreigners-that
of seeing the Sultan's tavorte wife, Judge of his
utter establishment and horror when the Refs
EHendi replied-"I knew before that you had
seen her, and for poluting herself by looking on
you, her head was cut off fifteen minutes ago."
Shocked with the horrid atrocity, he regretted,
but in vain that his curiosity had led him to ask
a favor which produced result so despotic, in
human, and tragical,t
Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs
For the principal facts contained in the fore
going sketch, we are indebted to gentleman re-
Gently from Smyrna, where the story was well
authenticated.
Presence Of Mind-The Newburgh Gazette,
relates an instance of presence of mind worthy of
praise and reward At the fine of the explosiop