The Davenport gazette. [volume] (Davenport, Scott Co., Iowa) 1841-185?, 1849-05-17
JUSTICE IN TURKEY.


A. n. Msara finished his explanation,
We saw the cadi on duty. lie goes out in
tho morning without making known his in
tended route; takes his walk with suitable
attendants, and stops at the first bazanr.-
He seats himself at random in one OF the
shops and examines the weights, measures
and merchandise. lie lends an ear 10 all
complaints, interrogates any merchant nc
cused OF iniracion Of the law, and then,
without court or jury, and especially with
out delay, pronounces judgment, applies
the penalty, and goes on in quest Of other
delinqucnts. In these cases, however, the
punishment is Of different character
Notwithstanding the identity of the crime,
he cannot trent the offending merchant ms
q common thief; tina. would have a pref.
judicial effect on commerce. The penalty
il graduatcd thus:-the mildes,, conti-ca-
ton; the moderate, closing the shop; the
last is inflicted ina singular manner: the
culprit is placed with his back ngains, the
shop. and is compelled 10 raise himself on
his toes until the weight of his whole body
rests upon them; his car is then nailed Ia
the door or shutter Of his shop. The punish.
ment has two, four or six hours; il is true,
the criminal may nbridgc its duration b,
letting himself down. But The Turkish
merchant is jealous ot his reputation, aud
nothng bn, the last necessity would in
duce him TO resemble tibet By The muta-
tion Of his ears.
stopped in front of one of the wrctchcs
who had just been nailed mp. was dis.
posed to compassionate his casc, bu, Moham.
mod told me hc was an hubitue. and tina, il
] would observe his ear closely, | should
find il was like cullcndcr. This changed
the current Of my sympa,hics, aud as he
wns 10 rem,in some time longer, ! ceased
10 regret his snferings, mud rej,iccd in the
opportunity of making Il sketch. drew
forth crnyons and paper, and begged the
rest To continue with NJ. Msara, leaving
Mohamned to assist me in my embarrnss.
ment. Blu. Never would not quit me; $,
We three remained, and the others pro.
ceedcd.
My picture wns composed, the criminal.
nnilcd b, his car, was standing stiff aud mo-
tioDIcss, on the extreme points Of his great
toes, and seated near him, On tho sill of the
door, was the guard, charged with sccin.
the punishment duly executed, smoking a
pipe. The quantity Of tobacco IN tho pipe
seemed to be graduated 10 tho time thai,
the punishment was TO continue. Around
these two personages was u demcircle oi
idlers. We took orr place al one side, aud
commenced my task.
Alter time, the culprii, finding that he
had n"hirg to expect from the cr"wd-n-
mong whom perhaps he recognized some Of
his customcrs-hazarded word 10 the
guard:
'}ruthcr,' said he, zone law Of our holy
prophet is, that men should help enc an.
other
The guard seemed to take no exception
10 this preccpt in the abstract, aud con,inu.
ed quietly to smoke.
: 'Brother,' resumed the patient, did you
no, hear me?'
The guard made no other reply than a
large puff nf smoke that asccndcd 10 his
neighbours nose.
'BrMher,' slil persisted the man, 'onc Of
Us can MD the other, and DO thing ac-
ccp,nbIc To Mahomme,'
The pntis Of sm Ike succeeded each other
with n regulsrii, that eAtingushcd the
poor fellows hopes.
Brother cried The Respondent, with n
dolorons voice, put u stone under my heels,
and will give YOU q piasirc.'
No reply.
'Two piaslres.'
A pause.
'1hrcc piosires.'
Snake.
'ren piastres,' snid the guard quietly.
The car aud The parse Vi the man held n
pnrley which was visible in the counten
nnce. Al length pain conquered, and the
ten piasircs rolled NJ The feet Of the guard,
who counted them with great dclibera,ion,
put them in his purse, rested his pipe n
gninst The wali, and picked up pebble
about MS largo as the egg Of n iom.ti,, and
placed j, under the mans heels.
.Brother,' said The culpri,, i feel nothing
under my feet
"A stone is there. however, answered
tho guard, rcsnming his pipe; but il is true,
lselected il in reference to .onr price. Give
me ta,ari five irancs) md will place
. stone under YOU 81 appropriate 10 ,aas
necessities. that You shall sigh Tor j, when
you reach pnradisc.'
The rcsnl. n,y 10 nn,icipa,el;.h the gunrt
had his monev, the merchant his Stone
How the affair tcrmins ted thereafter do
not know.
Ms drawing was completed in half an
hour, aud We proceeded on our walk.
The Boston Post SAYS TINT on SATURDAY.
and Sunday the weather wns SO cold, that
~ Il II.