Litchfield enquirer. [volume] (Litchfield, Conn.) 1829-current, 1844-07-04

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murdered, some fed, and 40 900 were sold as slaves
The island is rich and verdant, and towns and
villages extend for miles and miles along its coast
which are now almost, and in some places totally
deserted, and only the outer walls of buildings
standing know nothing that could have caus-
ed such sad and mournful feelings as did the sight
OF these ruined dwellings scattered over hill and
dale, and even the thickly built towns tenantless
and deserted.
AT Smyrna we were received with great kindness
by the Dutch Consul, to whom we had letters and
equally well by our own to whom we had none and
on whom we had no other claim but that of COM
mon country We took some sweetmeats and cof
fee with the Dutch Consul which must describe
to you. One servant offers silver waiter on which
IS an empty silver cup, and either side silver
dish containing sweetmeats. Spoons are placed a.
round the waiter. with which you taste one mouth
full of the sweets and put the spoon you have used
into the empty silver cup. Another servant then
steps up with waiter and hands you cup of cof-
fee in little china cup about the size of HIS toy
cups. These little cups are held in little stands
like egg cups of silver of the most beautiful ligree
work you can possibly conceive. The coffee is
black and strong, with sugar but no milk Our
Consul at Smyrna is a bachelor, but he gave us an
excellent dinner, and entertained us very kindly.
We here too were served with coffee in the same
little fairy cups with their exquisite stands; and,
better than ALL as boat put off to take us to the
steamer ne ran up our nations banner to the top of
the flag staff near his dwelling, cheering our hearts
and eyes with the stripes and stars OF our countrys
flag. While at Smyrna there arrived caravan of
camels, and the narrow streets were filled with
these meek and patient creatures and their huge
burdens looking about as oriental as any thing we
have seen. These with the vast number of Tur-
band Turks, seated cross legged on their shop
boards, smoking universally either the chibouk
with its stick some six feet long, or the brookah
with its long and snake like tube, and the women
whom we saw with their yellow papooshes Tor
boots) without soles, over which they wear in the
streets mestlers or slippers of the same color. A
long loose robe called Feridgee, with loose hang
ing sleeves, entirely cover the form, (form be-
lieve they have none, for they almost shapeess)
while the face is enveoped in folds of thin muslin
| through which they see without being seen. Over
this is thrown yashmac or veil of white cambria
Occasionally you can get glimpse of face, when
any thing excites the wearers curiosity and enti-
ces her to open the folds, and must say that SO far
as have seena they may as well conceal them out
of pity to maiikind, lest they should fright them
with their ugliness. They have usually fine eyes,
but are dreadfully pale and salow, and all look
like both in age and features WereI to meet 20 diff
ferent singly lat intervals should never know
but that had seen the same at every different
turn. They lead such dull-lfe, poor things, that
if like Christian women they are born with souls,
should think tquite possible, according to the mus
salman creed they would be soulless when they die
We visited at Smyrna slave market, but there
were only six or eight poor blacks, blacker than
any have ever seen in America, yet withal better
featured, and quite good looking, but savage and
untamed wild Arab, and approached us as we
entered with loud cries and threatening gestures,
and even laid hands on one of the gentlemen, but
the master came and restored order. We went in
| to the large square court and looked into the
| wretched stalls with which it is surrounded, all
his wooden bedstead eating some coarse bread, but
who on seeing us came violently forward and shut
the door in our faces. For my part was glad to
withdraw from the sickening spectacle. Mr.. C.
has since visited one here, where he says there
were some 800, about 100 Circassans, very fair,
but so closely yelled that he could not Judge of their
beauty. The rest were acksseeming very happy,
laughing and chatting, and all came forward offer
ing themselves for sale. We were all on deck on
the morning of Nov. Sd. gazing with delight on the
beautiful scenery Of the Dardanelles, lined all the
way on either side with minarets, forts and forif-
cations. Near their entrance from the archipela-
go we passed the Isle of Yenedos opposite to which
are the plains of Troy with its ancient mounds,
described above,) discussed the wondrous feats Of
Leander and Lord Byron as we rounded Sestos and
Abydos, as we'll the most feasible point for Xer-
xes bridge, listened with curious ear to the first
muezzin we had heard as "Allah ell Allah" (There
is but one God and Mahomet is his prophet) SCUM
ded from a tall minaret on our right, and gazed
with equally curious eye the blood red flag with
its white star and crescent as it futtered in bright
ness on the green bank amid a cluster of Cypress
which Swallowed the grave of holy Turk. Among
our passengers were Turks with their sbaven heads
and long heards and turbans of various hues at the
hour of prayer turning their faces towards Mecca,
bowling their heads repeatedly to the ground in
PRAYER had no idea of the size and vast extent Of
this great city of the Sultan In entering from the