The Portsmouth inquirer. [volume] (Portsmouth, O. [Ohio]) 1849-1855, 1851-12-12
TurLi.h NOTION. q p0me.lio HsI

Turkish Notions Of Domestic Hhppi
ness.
A correspondent Of the New York Tri-
bune, writing from Asia Minor, gives a
graphic account Of domestic life among the
Turks, from which we extract the following.
Every Turk longs for children. Why, is
still mystery to me. Their daughters are
sometimes given away. sometimes sold, or
some times married before they reach what
we call the age Of discretion, and their pa
rents see 10 more Of them. Their sons are
not taken from them, but they follow their
own will, and take no heed of the distress
OF III i parents when age or misfortune has
fallen upon them. rreslly do not know, nor
Gun ! guess why Turks SO much wish to have
children; but wish them they do, and ac-
cordiDgly they marry thu lirst wife, then the
second aud then third, and SO on till they
die. 1t is not true thuta good Mussulman
canpot marry more than four times. He
cannot, indeed. marry more than that num-
Der Of msidtns, but he is not only allowed,
but obliged to marry the woman, whether
slave or lree, who has borne him child.
went some time ago, 10 visit q very old
and venerable MlJti, Ia sort of Mahomedan
Bishop,) who enjoys the public esteem and
respect. l found him indeed, fine and
pleasing old man, rather bent down from
age, but smiling benevolently, and talking
atfably TO all; his fine transparent blue eyes,
his white flowing beard, his large snow
white turban! his scarlet robe, all were inn
posing, and Ifelt quite inclined to like the
old gentleman, who had no superstition in
his religion. and acknowledged, with perfect
simplicity and good temper, that he did not
follow the rigid Prescriptions Of the Rama
jan, (Mohamedan Lert,) but deemed it as
well to give a little money 10 the poor, and
to eat whatever his exhaused nature requi-
ned. When l Hrst entered his drawing
room. saw little girl of about six or sew
en- years standing BY his side, and leaning
against him in a very familiar WY. i
thought at first it was his grand daughter,
but knowing The peculiariti.s Of nv Eastern
4 hosts. said, US candidly as could; lis that
| your daughter. sirT yes, it is, he replied
and this boy (pointing to baby just en-, ;,
terirg the room) lis my son, and have
still younger one.' ,Ah!' said !, Lam sure
| you have many d.
| Many interrupted the old man, shaking
with laughter; so many that don't know
the number Then one of his followers, a
sort Of body guard, took up the thread OF
conversation, adding, with hearty laugh
oh he has children everywhere, here, al
Siamboul, at Bagdad, al Angora, at Ddmas-
b tus, at Alrppo. in every town, and in every
village Of Asn Minor aud CHAM. Somr-
timts they come to see him. or send him a
greeting, but if they do not inform him they
are of his own blood, it is impossible foI
him to know it-they are SD many But
SO many childlen must have many mothers 7
% dear. yes,' answered The old saint, 'very
n many. let me see-Hassan, help me Il
n find H. and the two began to look at IT,,
ceiling. as one does when immersed in alb
stract and complicated calcula aions-'Five
six, eight; yes, :hinkI had eight wives p
All atonceP reclaimed /. No, no, only
six; the other two died b+fore took the
two last. Bu, all my children don't come
/ from my eight wives. God blessed my house
and each one who entered il added at leas
one to the list Of my children Though ac
customed TO Turkish ways. / felt rather as.
tonished at this saint. this light of tht
: Church, this pillar Of the Faith. / went on
however. enquiring after the present Stat o
his family. AT this moment said he, Z
have only one wife left, and she is rathe
old 'How oldT Thirty, perhaps. OF
thity-iye.' (The old man was eighty o.
nineiy.) lis she handsomr?' She wat
!, hut it is gone. DO you think Of taking
! auotherq i Idare say shall. What can
do? My last boy is two years DID,
II had an opportunity next day OF seeins
s the wife Of the Multi, the old wife Of thirtJ
lyesrs Of the young husband of eighty. Sh,
was really splendid Asiatic; 100 round
II To- fat; loo heavy, and TOO much painted 70
: our motions of female elegance and beauty
. bu: suchas she was, she seemed much tot
n lovely for her lord. But to return to thl
Pachas and other Mussulman RichelieuG
and Loyelsces. Every one OF them nus
A have one child year at least, and Mi
: seems to be the sole domestic affection will
r which, they are endowed friendship, com
Y paniopship are unknown things for the fol
lowers Of the Prophet. Where their inter
ests or their pleasure calls them they GO
% but they know nothing OF the heartfelt sat
isfaction OF living beside one person, won
alan or man, who possesses our confidence
ct and shares in our joys as well as in our sol
rows. In his fsllow-being each Musstl
man looks for himself; he understands sen
I; sations. but is perfectly unaware Of the e,
istence Of sentiment.