The Woodville Republican. [volume] (Woodville, Miss.) 1847-1853, 1850-07-02
THE PRESENT RACE OF TURKS.

The Turks in Constantinople certainly
looked much less like Turks, and were far
| more civil, than in 1923. They are incom-
. parably less picturesque and imposing in
! their outward appearance. The forced
change of costume has transformed them in
\ 70 q rather mean, shabby-looking people,
but for the giaring red fezz IA mean, un-
graceful head-covering in itself they might
pas for Franks who employed bad tailors,
and seldom got their clothes brushed A
blue frock coat bnttoned up to the chin, and
{ dirty duck pantaoons not wider than we
|, wear them, were the prevailing fashion.
!. In my time, Sultan Mahmoud had made
i war on flowing, bright-colored robes and
|, a fierce attack on the loose, baggy neither
4 garments of the Mussulmans; but still the
:. prejudice was strong in favor Of an ampli-
!, tude of trowers, and a shabby fellow contin-
!. tied to be designated as a eight breeches,"
! ! pr narrow breeches )" butnow every mans
:. breeches were narrow IN Stamboul except
!" among the common people, Ouema, Der
vlshes, and few od-fashioned country peo-
:. pleifom the mountains in Europe or from
al The interior of Asia Minr. In many cases
II cost me thought and trouble to distin-
m guIsb between Mussulmans and Rayahs
n EWenty years ago there was no possibility
Ia Of eohiounding them; for even without the
:. then marked distinctions of dress, of head
:, gear of boots or papoushes, the Osmanlees
ia were to be known by their staggering gait
Their overbearing looks, and their contemp-
>, tuons, insolent manners. The Turks now
: seem to have lost their pride and their
!. seRke of Importance. Over in the city they
: wefe the quietest and most modest part of
i ha population. Their former swagger and
i fudeness appeared to be transferred to the
Amerlcan serafis and their dependents
y Where had been repeatedly insulted, and
4 rnofe than once spat at by the Turkish rab-
!, PIE, we certainly found nothing now but
!. Guilty. In162S there was no going across
j the Golden Horn into Constantinople with
I out being attended by one or two armed
! Turks; and the presence and guard OF the
, faithful could not always screen one from
The most gross and opprobrious language.
we are now alone, my son and |. In the
!. bazzars we meet some Frank ladies, dressed
!. ihsthe French fashion, unveiled and unat-
tended, walking about unconcemedly and
making their purchases. They are constant
!. " doing this, walking over by the Glata
Y Bridge, which is about the best promenade
! here, and walking quietly back ia the midst
y Of Turks, and not unfrequently inthe midst
= of troops. Formerly it was solemn and
Y hazardous enterprise if any European ladies
J! veTltured from thence 20 Stambonl, It was
',qIIte a field of anxious fotethought. and
Iruany preparations were necessary. The
Turkish authorities must be spoken TO, half
> a.dozen cavasses or chapoushes, girded and
. bed to the teeth, must be provided for the
szkft by some embassy OF other, or the la
c. must oe muffied up and disguised in
y A4kish costume, and wear the white mus
~ hee-covering yashmac, which makes the
= hvehest and loveliest of living women look
Z hKe 50 many walking spectres. "Ou a
Change tout celia, Gu bien fait." It
: mast be noted, however that we did not
= stroll far from the bazaars, where they are
accustomed TO the daily visits of Franks,
y nd that the ladies from Galata and Hera