The Minnesota pioneer. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn. Territory) 1849-1855, 1849-05-12
Justice in Turkey.

Justice in Turkey.
As NJ. Msara finished his explanation, we
saw the cad on duty. He goes out IN the
morning without making known his intended
route, takes his walk, suitably attended, and
stops at the first bazaar. He seats himself
al random in one of the shops and examines
the weights, measures, and merchandise.
He lends an ear 10 all complaints, interro
gates any merchant accused of lniractlon of
the law, and then, without court or Jury,
and especially without delay, pronounceS
Judgment, applies the penalty, and goes on
in quest Of other delinquents. In these ca
ses, however, the punishment is Of differ
ent character. Notwithstanding the identi
ty of the crime, he cannot treat the offending
merchant as a common thief; that would
have prejudicial effect on commerce. The
penalty is graduated thus, the mildest, con
fi>carlon; the moderate, closing the shop;
the sex crest exposure. This last is inflicted
in ii Singular manner. The lprit is placed
with his hack against the shop. The pun-e
l>hment is two, four, or SIX hours. Ii Is
true, the criminal may abrldge its duration
to let himself down. But the Turkish
merchant is Jealous of his reputation, and
nothing but the last necessity would induce
him to resemble Il thief by the mu,ation Of
his ears.
stopped in front Of one of the wretches,
who had just been nailed up. was diSpo-
sed TO compassionate his case, but Mahatn-
med told me he was an hajitue, and that if
| would observe his ear closely, should find
il was like a cuIIender. This changed the
current uf my synlpuihies, and, as he was
to remain sometime longer, ceased to re-
greet his sutierngs, aud reJolced IN the OPP
portunity to make sketch. drew forth
crayons and paper, aud begged the rest 10
continue with Mr.. Msara, leaving Maham-
med to assist me IN my enibarrassment.-
But Mayer would not quit ne; SO we three
reuained, and the others proceeded.,
My picture was composed, the criminal,
nailed by his ear, was standing stiff and
motionless, on the extreme points of his
great toes, and seated near him, OF the sill
of the door, was the guard, charged with
seeing the punishment dolly executed snIo-
king pipe. The quaptIty Of tobacco IN
the pipe seemed graduated to the time that
the punishment was 70 continue. Around
these two personages was Il delnl-circle Of
oilers. We took cur places at one side, and
/ commenced my task.
! Alter time, the cuprlt, finding that he
had nothing To expect from the crowd
among whom perhaps he recognized some
Of his Observation-Disclosures word to the
guard:
''Brother,'' said he, cone law of our holy
prophet is, that men should help enc anoth-
err
The guard seemed to take no exception to
this prrcept in the abstract, and continued
quietly to smoke.
"DrOther,'' resumed the patient, "didyou
not hear me -
The guard made no other reply than Il
large puff Of smoke that assembled 10 his
nei ghbor's nose.
! "Bgother,' still persisted the man, Zone
of lis can aid the other, and do ii thing ac-
ceptable to Mahonlnet."
The putfs Of smoke succeeded each other
with a regularity That eXtingulshed the poor
fellows hopes.
"Brother,'' cried the deponent, with a
dol0rouS voice, ''putoa stone under my heels,
and viii give you piastre."
No reply.
"Iwo piastres."
pause.
"fhree piastrcs."
Smoke.
"Ten piassres," said the guard quietly.
The ear and the purse OF the man held 4
I,arley which was visible in the countenante
At length pain conquered, and the ten pas-
tres rolled TO the feet of the guard, who
counted them with great delIberatlon,, put
them in his purse, rested his pipe against
the wall and picked up Il pebble about as
large as the egg of a ton.-tit, and placed it
under the mans heels.
"Brolher," said the culprit, 81 feel moth
ing under my feet"
"A stone is there, however," answered
the guard, resumns his seat and his pipe;
shut it is true, selected in reference to
your price. Give me a tatari Give francs')
and will place a stone under you so APP
propriate 10 your necessities, that you will
! sigh for il when you reach paradise
The result may he anticipatetl; the guard
had his money, the merchant his stone. -
How the affair terminated thereafter do
net know.
My drawing was completed in half an
hour, and we proceeded on our walk.