Sentinel of the valley. [volume] (Woodstock, Va) 1841-1848, 1844-03-07
$50 !. -
4 TALE OF THE TURKS.


y TALE OF THE TURKS.
will relate an anecdote heard once
in Europe, and it is full as likely to be
tue as many others, which are not now
doubted. aud which are handed down to
US, of the.records Of past ages. An Eng
lishman OF wealth, some few years since,
was travelling in Turkey--it was about
the time the phosphorus matches first
came into use-yyou may recoliect the 1T
tie red cases imported from France, at
that time. wife little red bottle in one
end and matches in the other. The Fis-
man which he had obtained from the sui
tan for his safe conduct, he had. Lost. and,
arriving at Ole of the border towns. be
was carried with his servants and effects
before the Aga, as spy OF the Russians
Vain were his assertions, his p!eadiEss,
threats, or preferred brides: to prison he
must go, till orders from Constantinopie
were received, and his effects were left
in possession of the Aga and his Off
GERS.
Curiosity, though not one of the great
est attributes of Turk, in this case, be-
came duty, and his portmanteau and
trunk were submitted to the ransacking
of the phlegmatic Turks. An English
man generally eonsults his comfort, and
this one, knowing how little OF that arti-
Gle he should fad in the land he was Wis
ting. had supplied himself with all the
articles of necessity or luxury he could
conveniently carry with him. A small
lamp, chating dish. teapot, knife and
fork, spoon, silver tumbIer, brushes for
the head, teeth, aud flesh, razors. soap,
waX-tapers, segars, and other sundries,
with shirts, dickNys, bosoms, hosiery,
boots, shoes,and night-caps, were thrown
ia admirable disorder before the assem-.
bled divan. These articles were not UNI
known, at least to many of the assem-
bled Mussulmen-but small tin case,
opening with spring. attracted the at
tention OF all; in it. in six little compart-
ments, were six red paper boxes, one of
which was placed in the hands of the A.
ga sor examin.t.ans tt,e~ta ga-,uas- raa,.aDei
aud "A Number of little sticks, their ends
covered with a composition, met his eve
IA conversation. ensued as for what pur-
pose they could De used-at last he dis
covered another end to the boz, which,
being removed. a little bottle sealed also
with red, was disclosed. i; ... -,
A Turk is no fool, ahd finding both
bottle and sticks in the same box, he very
naturally concluded they had something
to DO with each other: he accordingly, as
Il Christian would have done, inserted
the ED Of The stick into the uncorked
ph!al. A light Kissing noise was heard,
the stick was suddenly withdrawn, and
IN jtanaes ALLAH. IL ALLAH. burst
from the thunder-struck Aga-the box
was dashed from his hand. and springing
from his carpet, he rushed, together with
the crowd. from the room and the house
( When their aff;igh: was somewhat o.
yer, that they found no tremendous con-
sequences had immediately ensucd. a
consultation was held-but for a long
time no one would adventure near the
haunted room. mastering courage how
ever, with pistols cooked, ataghams in
hand, led by their chief, the officers
marched in battle array to the dreadful
apartment, expecting, no doubt. to see
one of the tabled genii they had heard of
in the Arabian tales. An awful silence
ensued-the curtain was drawn, and on
! the floor, where it was thrown. lay the
dreadful machine. ., But no one would
touch it. The Imaun was sent to,, and
amid prayers. and in solemn process.
sion. guarded with Jannisaries on both
sides. the internal macbine,' with its
companions. fixed on fork poles, was car
ried TO the si;ie of the river. and sunk be.
meath its surface. The Enslishman in a
few days was released, but to Ibis siay,
SAID my Informant, the Turks have not
forgotten the demand of the Gia-
our. q.