American telegraph. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1851-1851, 1851-11-13
SKETCHES OF ORIENTAL LIFE.
~ BY II. A. NEALE, ESQ.,.
Taca &c =. ZL..L...L Ga..lIa.,.


at Antioch, is rather of monotonous charac-
ter. He lives in his own, or rather in two
houses--for the harem, though part of the same
house, is entirely partitioned off, and no one but
. himself and his slave know where it is, or how
to get in or out Of it, He always keeps the
door keys in his pocket, and when the ladies
want anything they rap, like SO many woodpeck-
ers, at kind OF revolving cupboard, which is
securely fastened into the wall. Through this
cupboard, at which neither party can see the
other the lady speaks to the servant, and tells
him what to fetch or buy for her at the bazaars
and the article is brought and placed in the
cupboard, which is wheeled round by the lady
inside, SO that she may take it out. When they
are desrous of walking in the garden, or going
to the bath, the key is delivered into the charge
of some old duenna, and the Effendi sees no.
thing more Of till the party has returned, and
the ladies are safely locked up again.
The Efendi is generally speaking, an early
riser and seldom sits up till a late hour at night.
On issuing from his harem, he is waited upon
| by half dozen slaves, who assist in his ablu-
| tions: one holds the ever, another the soap, q
| third the towel and fourth and fifth assist
him with his clean apparel. Having washed
and dressed, ne goes through his morning devo
! tons at the nearest mosque. Returning home,
his servants serve him with his cup of bitter
coffee and pipe Of real gibili, by which time it
is about seven O. M, the fashionable hour for a
Turkish gentleman to call and receive visits.
Acquaintances and friends saunter in, and sa-
lutte the host, who salutes them. Beyond this
there is little conversation, for Turks hate talk
ing; and still less joking, for they detest laugh
ing They inquire, like parcel of anxious doc
tors very kindly, after each others health, and
after the general salubrity Of their respective
houses, for no one ever dreams Of asking how
his friends wife is; that would be considered
the grossest breach of decorum.
/ Draft-boards and pipes and coffee are intro
duced. Some play, others look on; and, save
the rattling of the dice, very little is heard to
interrupt the silence of the room. The Effendis
clerk comes in occasionally, with q batch of
unanswered letters in his hands, and whispers
mysteriously to the Effendi, who either goes off
into violent fit of rage, or mods his consent in
approval of what has been done, just as the
contents of the letter are pleasing or the re-
verse; Most Of these letters are from the over
seers, or the laborers in the Effendi's silk gar
dens or olive plantations; some few from people
craving his assistance, others demanding repay
ment of loans of money; for there are but few
of the Efendis of Antioch, though all rolling in
riches, that are not indebted to some person or
other for cash loans, as such is their strange
avarice, that though they possess Ito us an
Oriental expression) rooms full Of money, they
are 10th to extract one farthing from their trea-
sures for their daily expenditure.
About 10 a. m. the Efendi orders his horse,
and, followed by his pipe bearer, who is equally
well mounted, takes sedate ride in the envi-
rons of the town. On Saturdays, in lieu of
riding, lie goes to the bath, but in either case
he is pretty punctual as to the hour of his re
turn. On reaching home, more pipes and cof-
fee are produced and he afixes his seal flor a
Turk never signs his name) to the various busi-
i 1atfa laf
ready for despatching. The cry from the nina
ret now warns him that it is the hour for mid
day prayer Washing his hands, face, and
feet he proceeds to the sami, (mosque, where
he remains till it is time to breakfast; and
when the breakfast is served, he goes through
the forms of ablution again. After his meals,
he is required to wash once more.
may here remark, for the guidance of stran-
gers, that there is nothing Turk considers
more degrading than the want of this scrupulous
cleanliness in Europeans and considering the
climate, and the wisdom of doing in Rome as
Rome does, (apart from all other arguments, J
travellers, although seldom obliged to use their
fingers Turks do at their meals, ought
strictly to adhere to this custom while among
Orientals.
The Efendi, after his breakfast, which is
generally very good one, and is prepared by
the careful hands of the fair ladies OF the harem,
retires into his seraglio for q couple of hours
siesta, during the heat Of the day In this in.
terval, if Pasha, or bosom friend, or the
devil himself were to appear, and ask of the
servants to see their master Immediately, they.
would reply that he was asleep in the harem,
and that it was as much as their heads were
worth to disturb him.
About two p m, the Effendi is again visible.
He then occupies his time in playing drafts, or
reading Turkish newspaper. At four, he goes
once more to the mosque, and thence proceeds
to the secluded garden, the banks of the
0rontes. Here several other Effendis are sure
to meet him, for it is their usual evening rem
devious. Carpets are spread; baskets of GU
cumbers and bottles of spirit produced; and
they drink brandy, and nibble cucumbers, till
nigh upon sundown. Sometimes cachouks, or
dancing boys, dressed up in gaudy tinsel- work,
and musicians, are introduced, for the enter
tainment of the party. BY nghtfall, every in
dividual has finished his two--some more-bot-
ties Of strong aqua VitG, and they return home
ward, and dine--and dine heartily. Coffee is
| then introduced, but nothing stronger--as they
never drink spirit or wine after their evening
meals. The nine o'clock summons to prayer
/ resounds from the minaret and nine minutes
after that the Effendi is fast asleep, and no
thing under earthquake would bring him
| forth from the harem again, till he rises stimuli
taneously with the sun next day.
We notice among the new things India rub
Der he'd ticks filed with wind instead of feathers.
Good for some we wot of, who can as well sleep
on wind as live by it,
1 PREcocITY.-A row occurred on Thursday at
the Catholic school room, Allegheny, Pennsyl-
vsnia. Some pupils made an attack upon the
teacher, inficting q serious injury upon the
back Of his head. Through the intervention Of
the priest the rebellion was quelled The cause
was the cowhiding of pupil.