Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1834-11-13

the least timldlty except Tor their races,
these true children Of Eve examine the
goods in barter, watch the strangers
countenance, and If he takes off his
glove or pulls out his purse, take it upl
and look at il, without ever saying byl
your leave Their curiosity often
extends to your dress, and they put
out their little henna.stained fin
gers, and pass them over the sleeve OF
your coat, with a gurgling expression
Of admiration at its fineness, or if you
have rings or a watch-guard, they
lift your hand or pull out your watch
without any kind Of scruple. have
met with several instances Of this
in course ofmy rambles. But day
or two ago found myself rather more
than usual subject of curiosity. ]
was alone in the street of embroidered
handkerchiefs, (every article has its
peculiar bazaar) and wishing to look
at some of uncommon beauty, called
one Of the many Jews always near a
stranger, to turn a penny by interpret
ing for him, and was soon up to the ell.
bow in goods that would tempt fe-
male angel out of Paradise.
As was selecting one for purchase,
a woman pumped down upon the seat
beside me, and fixed her great black,
unwinking eyes upon my face, while
an Abyssinian slave and another white
woman, both apparently her depend.
ants, stood respectfully at her back
A small Turquoise ring (thc favorite
color in Turkey first took her atten-
ton. She took up my hand 81 turned III
over in her soft fat fingers, and dropped
1t again without saying word, looked
at my interpreter but no seemed tol
think it nothing extraordinary, and |
went on with my bargain. Presently
my fine eyed friend pulled me by the
sleeve, and rs | leaned toward her,
rubbed her foreinger very quickly |
over my check, looking at me intently
all the while. | was little disturbed
with the lady's familiarity, and asked
ny Jew what she wanted. | found
hat my rubicund complexion was some
hing uncommon among these dark
skinned orientals, and she wished to
satisfy herself that was not painted
concluded my purchase, and putting
ny parcel into my pocket, did my
,rettiest at an oriental salaam, but to
ny modification, the lady only gather
Up her hashmack, and looked surprised
ut OF her great eyes at my freedom.
iy Constantinople friends inform me
hat | am to lay no JUNCTION to my
oul' from her notice, such liberties be-
lg not at all particular. The hus.
and exacts from his half dozen wives
My the concealment of their faces,
nd they have no other idea Of impro-
riety in public.
In the centre of the bazaar occupy
lg about as much space as the body
f the City Hall in New York, is what
called the bezestein. You descend
ito il from four directions, by massive
ates, which are shut and all persons
xcluded, except between 7 and ID in
he forenoon. This is the core of Con-
tantinople--the soul and citadel of
1t is devoted to the sale
If arms and to costly articles only.-
The roofs loftier and the light more
linn than in the outer bazaars, and the
who occupy its stalls, are
ofold and established credit. Here are
subjects for the pencil! If you can
take your eye from those Damascus sa-
bres, with their jewelled hits and cost
ly scabbards, or from those gemmed
daggers and guns inlaid with silver and
gold, cast glance along that dim ave-
nue. and see what a range there is, of
glorious old grey boards, with their
snowy turbans These are the Turks
of the old regime, before Sultan Nah
mould disligured himself with coat
like dog of christian,' and broke
in upon the customs of the orient
These are your opium eaters, who
smoke even in their sleep, & would not
touch wine lift were handed to them by
Hours These are your fatalists, who
would scarce take the trouble to get out
oftho way of lion, and who are as
certain of The miracle Of Mahomet's
coffin as of the length of :heir pipe, or
ofthe quality of the tobacco ofShiraz
have spent many an hour in the be-
zesteln, sleeping my fancy in its rich
orlentalism, and sometimes trying to
make purchase for myself or others.
tbs curious TO see with what perfect
indifference these old cross-legs attend
to the wishes of Christian. was ri.
ding round one day with an English
traveller, whom | had known in Italy,
when Persian robe ofsngular beauty
hanging on one of the stalls arrested
my companions attention. He had
with him his Turkish dragoman, and
as the old man was smoking and look.
ing right at us, we pointed to the dress
over his head and the interpreter ask
ed to see it. The Musselman smoked
calmly on, taking no more notice of
! us than ofthe white clouds curlinpthro'