The Minnesota pioneer. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn. Territory) 1849-1855, 1850-10-24

The sultan cannot hut lie gra,iital at The
reception which bis commissioner has met
from the goverp,iient api people of 'he L
States. His visit vii. he strictly one of bust
ness. Orders have been given in every d.-
rection to afford him every facility in sx
amining our national workshops, navy
yards, armories, ships, Sc, &c, and ..e
have no doubt that every private facility
will le afforded him TO see our various
manufactures, aud every thing useful n,
well as ornamental. On his next visit ;o
this city we recommend our chief of the
fire department 10 invite the envoy In sce
our fire engines and the manner il y hirh
hey are worked This may afinri hip,
some valuable suggestions in organizing II
fire department for Constantinople, which,
of ali cities in the east, has suffered mast
from FIRE Besides, there Is still a great trade
to lie opened with the east. Calcutta mer-
chants of the past generation remember tho
time when they imported and sold cotton
fabrics for two and three shillngs yard,
which we can now afford AT six and eight
cents, and can therefore supply the entire
east.
Some Of our members Of Congress grunl-
bled at appropriating $4,000 to pay tha
expenses OF the commissioner, according ~
the eastern custom. Why that worId only
he the price Of three snuff boxes set with
brllliants, which the sultan would be happy
to present to any American citizen who has
successfully invented any public improve
ment. We can have no idea of what is
called eastern magnifcence in presents Oh
great public OCCASIONS. We have read Of
the splendor Of the days Of Haroun al Ras-
child, hut have only faint idea OF their ex-
tent. On the marriage of sister of the
present sultan, the bridal presents were con-
veyed from the seraglo TO the palace Mich
ad .4had, accompanied by martial music
and escort which almost riyalled the pro-
cession Of Aladdin. Il consisted Of a diy;s-
ion of infantry end cavalry; the state offic,
ers ofihc first four classes; fifty-fve mules
richly caparisoned, whose loads were COW
cred with gold and silver s,ufts six calash-
es, with four horses each, containing spleu-
did chests covered with velvet, and having
silver clasps. In one Of these calashes was
the massive silver toilet table OF the p,in-
cess, aud with it tasteful gold emtroidere.i
chair. In another, strange to say. was n sill
covered wagons, containing the silver serr
vices Of The princess, followed by twelve
servants Of the seraglio carrying :rays on
which were diamonds, pearls, and othet
costly ornaments for dress. Besides .hese,
u quantity of costly shawIs were carried,
covered with gauze and bound together by
ribbons Of all colors. Our $40, 900 bagshish
would look mighty small along side of a
bridal present 50 magnificent; bu, euch are
The customs Of the east. Let IL not be
said that the women have no interest in The
Mussu!lnan faith, and that they are all
slaves. The same custom prevails from
the highest to the lowest ia bs,,.a. presents.
The Mussulmen, however, are nll ex-
tremely simple and economical in their hab-
its and expenses. When Abou Btkre, the
father-in-law of Mahonet, entered Jerusa-
lem at the head of victo,ipus army, all
that he carried with him Was a bag of ric.
and an eartben bottel of water, his expen-
ses not exceeding fifty cents day. H.
many respects, however, The rigid obsrrv-
ance of their religion deprives Mohame.!an
women of many rights. They cannot walk
about the streets of StanbOui with unrov.
cred faces, as our ladies' do 10 Broadway
But while they are deprived of liberties
and privileges actually belonging to them,
and ere confined TO the haren,, everything
that wealth and luyury can confer is be-
slowed upon them bouniifully in their gilt-
Ell cage. They are the most tender of
mothers, and, what we do not always see in
the most civilized age, and among al. our
domicils, the presence Of a husband inspires
unbounded joy. The life is monotorous,
however. The rich Turk, who sleeps half
the day. rises from his couch on hot night
At two O'Clock, goes into the nursery to play
with his children, has a chat with his wife,
smokes pipe, takes his cup Of coffee, aui
as the sun rises he turns TO the east to say
bis inatIn prayer, while the m,4. .cim from
the mlnaret of the mosque calls the faithful
10 prayer. The Cjrcassian slave trade is
one o. the melancholy relics of barbsriy
still in practice; and yet We would be viii
ling to allow the most howling Of our abo-
itionists to gaze on the splendid beauty, tae
form, and the brilliant complex
ion of the fair slave. The only regret he
would feel a, her forlorn condition would
grow opt Of the fact that he could not afford
10 pay So COO for bef
Improvements in Turkey are slow in pro-
sress. Sill, we can perceive many rigid
customs gradually surrendered. Charity
and hospitality among the Turks shine forth
amidst all their despotic laws, add there Is
a bright destiny still III store for the chri-
iren of lsmael.-l sun. Times.