The examiner. [volume] (Louisville, Ky.) 1847-1849, 1849-11-17
The De ma nil, or Turks.

The Osmnnii, or Turks.
A constanIinople correspondent OF the
Courier and Enquirer writes Of the race
now dominant in the more ancient seals Of
civilization as follows:
1--WE naturally regard the Turks as spe
cies of outside barbarians, and it is liltle
difficult to survey them with a perfectly
unprejudiced eye; yet an honest view affords
much that can be contemplated with salts
faction. Their gravity Of mien, soberness
OF gait, and rich flowing robes give them
an air OF genIlemanly dignity. in pleasing
contrast with the hurried expression, the
impairment carriage, and the stiff angular
garments Of Franks; and there is natural
ease and delicacy in their social forms and
etiquette, that is far superior to anything or
dinarily observed at home. Personal clean
illness is not among Them as among US, a
halfneglected 'seini-viItue, but a scIupu-
lousy fulfilled religious obligation. Pro-
priety and courtesy distinguish their mutual
intercourse, and hospitality rendered to ell
without distinction Of county or condition
is an inviolable duty. Quaneling is ex-
tremely rare among them, and their treat.
ment Of the brute creation is far kinder
than ours.
The Koran prescribes the giving Of one.
tenth Of their income 10 charitable purpO-
ses, and benevolence with them is no tran-
sient impulse, bu: an abiding sacred prnci.
pie. look here in vain for the sqUalidlly
and beggary that used to meet my eyes
everywhere in la belle France and 'Merrie
England IntemPerance, the curse of so
many Christian lands, is driven away from
the followers Of the Prophet by the divine
law which forbids the use Of wine. The
fatalism, for which the Turks are reproach-
ed, is not the stupid folly it is represented.
They are as earnest in averting calamity as
other men, but when calamity comes, with
sublime resignation, they are ready to ex.
claim, God hath willed it, In truth and
honesty they are inferior to few other peo-
Ple, and are certainly far superior to the
Jews and Christians that dwell among them.
AmouTs and intrigues and conjugal in6del
ity prevail TO a certain extern. in their so.
cial life, but far less than in France, which
calls itself the mistress Of modern civiIizl.
IiOn; and public prostitution among them
has 10 local habitation and hardly a name.
Polygamy is tolerated by the law, but pub.
lie opinion decidedly condemns it.
Ii is the magnates Of the land only who
have plurality Of wives even they sci.
dom have more than two or three, and the
Sultan himself never more than seven.--
The Koran permits husbands to chas,ise
and divorce their wives ar pleasure, but
these privileges are not often abused. Chill
dren are trained to honor and submit 10
their parents, and great affection and kind
ness usually pervade their family relations.
The women, instead OF being kept in that
strict restraint so generally imagined, are in
reality far more free than in any continent
al country of Western Europe. They re-
pair to the mosques, range the bazasrs,
and ride into the country or pleasure par.
ties in perfect liberty. Multitudes of them
of all classes go every Friday unattended
to the valley Of the Sweet Waters, FIVE
miles up to the Golden Horn. have been
among them there, and have seldom beheld
more unresTained and yet innocent eriov
ment. Ii is true that Mahonedan females
are not allowed to appear in public unveil.
ed; but this is no great hardship, since the
yiishmsc, which is Of white muslin, is usu-
ally, especially if the face is pretty, so thin
and transparent that the features are easily
discernable. The Sultana frequently is
sues edicts, prescribing the thickness OF the
wells and the mode Of wearing them, but
woman's will is the same everywhere, and
the compliance is but temporary. Besides
this, Infringement Of the natural rights Of
the female countenance in Turkey is in 3
measure compensated by the privilege OF
arraying the bosom ad libitum in the fash.
ion of the beauties
"By Sir Peter Lely,
Whose drapery hints we may admire them
freely"
It's true that among Mahomedans women
are not ranked so high in the scale Of crea.
tion as men; but the prevailing idea that
females are deemed to have DO souls is
a strange mistake. They are regarded
as immortal beings, and as subject 10
religious obligations and responsibiliiies.-l
Husbands may or may not, as they
please, admit their wives to share with
the hours their love in the abodes of Hiss
hereafter but the wives who are excluded
are neither annihilated nor damned, but go |
TO dwell in separate appropriate places OF
enjoyment.
Slavery still exists in Turkey, but with
none Of its blacker elements. Its type is
much like that OF the slavery Of ancient
Scripture times. The slave, instead of be-
ing soulless chattel, is really a member
Of his masters family. He is neither des-
pissed nor degraded; he possesses his rights
and his privileges, and has many facilities
Tor elevatng his social condition. His
term Of service is only seven
years, and when he leaves his master. the
latter is bound to settle upon him peculj.
nm. He is subjected to no such task
work as is imposed upon the American
slave, since his business is not field labor.
but attention TO the personal wants of his
master. Slaves in Turkey frequently ris,
10 the highest places Of trust and dignity.
and become Seraskiers and even Viziers
The son.in-law Of the late Sultan was o,i.
5lnally Georgian slave. Circassian slaves
Are now comparatively rare. not, however,
On account Of any unwillingness on the
part oil Circassian parents to entrust their
children TO Turkish control. but because