The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1851-04-25

horse which he rode to the mosque did not like
much; indeed the Sultan's horses generally, al
though larger, were, thought, much less exqui-
sely formed than the little beauties of the Pachas
The Sultan short black coat which was
confined BY jewelled clasp at the throat, but fell
with unstudied elegance from his shoulders, leaving
exposed the breast the cufs and the collar of his
| coat, which were covered with diamonds He, too,
the red cap with single straight plume Of
the bird f-pa radise confined by q large diamond.
Although the color of his coat was dark, and only
onamented by the Jewels yet, sparkling dazzlingly
in. the sunbesms, they gave his in other respects
simple costume, the appearance of the most taste
Aner the Sultan, riding alone, followed the chief
black eunuch, who was dressed in the uniform worn
by the other high officers Of State, with his diamond
hllted sabre, and was followed by numerous train
| Of attendants. The rank and consideration enjoy
Cd by this black funcionary Of doubtful gonder, is
next TO that Of the Grand Vizier; he precedes all
the ministers on State occasions and is entitled IN
professions to the place nearest the person Of the
| Sultan. No hdeous genii, or disgusting efreet,
that ever poet imagined or Arab described, could
compare in exaggerated pgiiness with this sable
iormity. The degrading state to which he had
been reduced, appears to develop all the more dis
| gushing pecularities Of the African features His
face was atter, his broader, and his lips lch
thicker than had supposed they could be. It seems
to me- that the constant presence Of 50 frightful
caricature upon the human face would produce
chrC c nigh mare, and other serioas disturbances,
among the fair inmates Of the harem. But he
seems more fortunate in the discharge Of his deli
cate duties and enjoys the confidence Of his master
to degree that would make him u most dangerous
enemy even to the Grand ViZer His friendship
and influence are therefore most eagerly sought by
the highest officers Of the state.
Aftcr this powerful parsonage rode other eunuchs
! high in Office, side by side with the Turkish fnnc-
tionaries, who appear to feel foolish distinction
Of color. Then follow the multitude Of government
officers, whose names and duties are unknown to
other countries, but who all enjoy the high priyi-
leges Of attending the Sultan, and Of pllaging the
Sultan's subjects. This snowy procession closed,
10 it commenced, with long line Of military Off.
GERS in double file. The same profusicn of gold
lace, the red caps and buff pants were worn by
all ranks, civil and military, the only observable
distinction being, as before remarked, the ncreas-
ed magnifcence Of the sadde-coths, and the jewell
ed sabres of the Pachas and ministers. This great
! similarity in uniform diminished very decidedly
the pleasure Of the spectacle, which would have ac-
CURED additional interest from greater variety in
costumes
Profound silence reigned among the crowd, rs
the Sultan passed along No cheering, no mani
festation of enthusiasm greeted him on his pious
mission to the mosque. All was gaping wonder at
the Sultan's horses, and his own diamonds, but the
grand parsonage himself seemed uncared for or for
gotten. A faint shout was raised by the soldiery,
ut signal from the drums, but neither master nor
men seemed moved by this hired counterfeit Of at
| tachment-'' this mouth honor" that g the poor
heart would fain deny, but dare not" Several
bands were stationed at intervals along the streets
but they allowed the procession to move by them
in melancholy silence, except when the rolling OF
the drums gave the signal for the cheers Of the sol
| dicrs.
The striking contrast presented in tho color of
some Of the Sultan's chief officers, reminds mo Of
what have often thought since l reached Constan-
tinople-thc compilations Of the Turks know not
why, but | had always expected to see these pratt
cal gentlemen, whose crueties towards Christian,
had inspired my boyhood with such indignant ha-
tired, somewhat more like Satan in color. had
always imagined that the Turks were very dark,
but, on the contrary, they are very fair. And
could but think, NJ | couple after couple Of
Al. Ca sL,.-
duh, heavy countenances indicated Of that active
ferocity which has always distinguished their ma
ton Nearly all had Roman noses, al appeared
sleepily indifferent as to what was being done
around them and almost all of them seemed to me
candidates for apoplexy whose final success appear
ed insured by their very short necks and pursy per-
sons. have rarely seen many men, occupying
distinguished positions, in whose appearance there
was little to admire. The minister of war, who,
by-thc-bye is now the brother-n-aw of tho Sultan,
and was once the slave Of his father. is the only
seemed 10 feel any Of that excitement that gold lace
and fine horse will produce IN any mind less pho-
scplical than the Turks.
LETTER xxxnf.
Disa 10 The Runs of the Temple Of Ha,aac, SC.
Eager to realize tho dream of years, hurried at
once to the ruined temple Of karnac, the PRIDE the
boast Of ancient Ihebes Thebes. Its name, and
the mysterious interest that surrounded il, ia
miar 10 my childhood; il; stored wonders sank
deep into the memory OF my boyish days and in RI
per wears had folio Fed with delighted curiosity
the eDthusiastic descriptions and eloquent praises
of modern travellers And now 1 stood upon the
very spot-l was gazing on all | had so longed to
zee, and felt panied to confess, even to myself that
was disappointed in this browning glory OF Thcbes.
The glowing encomiums Of others haa prepared me
for a glorious something that did not lind. Their
uriounded admiration had induced me to expect
indescribsble grandeur and elegance Of design-tc
look for an unsurpassed LONELINESS in Titan mould
that were not there. II sad TO view the dis
pcgscn Of all those fancics tina; had long cu er
cd about this ancient capital of Egypt IL was
inournful in attaining the object OF weary pigri-
mage, TO feel such bitter disappointment.
saw lofty propylons covered with the defaced
figures of the Egyptian priesthood, engaged in the
dark rites Of their religion J admired their mas
siye cornices, upon which were scu pturcd those
mysterious symbol, fthe globe, the serpent-. and
the wings. which sdorn I'll the entrances to the
cred places Of ancient Egypt. ! wandered along
alleys Of mutilaled Sphinxes: paused beside the
trunks Of broken colossi, showing, even ia their ma-
tiator, how fer the Egyptian nj that early date,
Ind advanced in sculpture. There besides.
timchonorcd walls, covered with stiff sculptures, in
relief Of battle scenes, that had resisted the
biHcd efforts Of the elements and angry invaders for
their destruction There were gloomy chambers,
in which were portrayed all the dread parapherna-
liza of the ancient rrligi0nthe arful sacrifices OF
human victims to THEN monstrous deitics-the de-
wort offerings Of supIlianss--the solemn but fam
tattic professions Of prirsts-aui shrincs loaded
WITH the sacred N"'"ts and holy things OF the TEN
pie. There arU c,e~-nt obelisks, rearing their
graceful forms ftGw amidst tho shattered ruins Of
Cthcrs, and eitc. try low fat, in one respect OF
least. the anVtnnt EeyIt,a aurpis,sd the moderni
j. Architectural pnurume1s. All the5e were most
wonderful ami whcp vfCNeo IN heir intimate con-
ntciian with The carly hi.t 'fy Of arts among that
nation nom wo9m an me AIS hrc spEung--Wbcn
seen surrO,f. cp a- they are, with that halo which
the lapse Of acc thtcws bout works Of art--they
MAJ be truly 'aid fo-n Che most interesting relics
Il antiquity thnt t.'..e has left the world Bit ~
g. t.e beauty. think the temple Of harnsc !. the
most magnificent humbug ever reared on huge mis-
Sharpen pilsrs.
The ruins have al the dj.od,antsges, without
any of the Venerable beauty 81 age. They have
none ct that hosry massivencss. that ivy-grown
melancholy, tina, deeply mpresscs the most CON-
non-I place beAolJcr, and often makes him forget
the absence Of other charms. Tho light yellow
sandstone, glaring IN the sunshine, produces the
imprc sion Of tho ,tmp, being not ruined but un-
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