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

LETTER XIV.

For several days previous to the grand feast Of
Bairam the streets OF ConstantinoPle were crowded
with shoop, many thousands Of which wore to be sa
criheed on tho first day Of this great Mohan nedan
festival. The shepherds who attend"' tt-L were
as wild and uncultivated in thor Ie3!n.,cE the
hills and mountains amidst which .h5y O.. their
docks. In their gay but much sole t;,y .ans-thcir
savage expression ard unshorn bcaras-their latter
ed fnery-thc blankO.s thrown carelessly but grace
fully about the shoalders-with their brda: belts
and red scarfs loaded with long barrelled, aim ost
straight handled pistols, and ,oked daggersthey
presented ~ fne picturesque specimens of Turkish
,cut~throats as had seen. Tho sheep arc of that
kind peculiar to the East, whose is protected
by an enormous mass Of fat, that hangs down
behind and projects on each side of their hips;
from this oily shield hangs ordinary tail, which
justly entities the Oriental mutons to the epithet
of double tailed.
Pious Mussulmans were searching amidst the
focks for young fat ram, else were followed by
porter, bearing his back the intended sacrifice.
Business was almost forgotten, and every thing be-
tokened active preparation for the approaching re-
ligious celebration. Each man must provide him
self, according to the law Of their Prophet, with
becoming sacrifice, which is offered in his own house,
and the rich slay sufficient number Of sheep to
give aims of meat to the poor Three days of con-
tnued feasting and rejoicing succeed the previous
month receive presents from their
masters-and the women form cornwall parties for
mourning and carousiDg amidtt the tombs, with
the spirits Of departed friends and relationship
Sultan goes in state to the mosque, and every thing
combines to render the feast Of 6aram great in the
e. OF the MOSicm5. There are two great MO-
hammedan feasts which occur during the year, and
are always solemny Observed upon these occasions
the Sultan goes to the mosque, attended by all his
chief officers in full uniform, and offers sacrifice
On the eve Of the grand feast of Bairam, the rig
ring Of the numerous men-oEwar in the harbor fiut-
tered with countless signals, arrayed in gay confu-
sion Of coors, and rs night closed in. lamps usurp
ed their places. twnkled among the ropes, and
were seen brightly beaming from the mast-heads-
the mosques and the dark groves Of the seraglio
were brightly illuminaed--the projecting galleries
Of the minnrets were thicky surrounded with lamps
that, through the unusually black night, seemed
like wrcaths of glowing fire suspended in mii-alr.
II is difficult to conceive Of the beautiful effect OF
these illuminated minarets, hundreds of which loft-
ly reared their daxzling crowns through the dark
ness. As the night wore on, bright fash is seen
for an instant in the distance, and the low,
heavy roll Of gun came booming upon the car
then fash followed fash and gun followed gun, till
the whole line of ships was LIT up by a blaze, and
the surrounding hills re-echoed tho thunders Of n
general salute. All was ne nore silence and
darkness; when gain the flash of solitary gun
broke for an instant through the thick gloom, and
its loud, swelling report soon followed Every ten
minutes afterwards did we soc the fash and hear
the roar Of some heavy gun. l was delighted with
watching for the trembling fash that announced
the thunders, which continued to startle the deep
stiffness Of the night, and it was late before tore
. myself from this mimic Lightning Of storm.
Long before aybreak, was startled from my
restless dreams Of the approaching ceremonies by
the solemn roar of another general salute. The
paration, were heard in the darkencd groves of
the seraglio. Our party were soon up and dressed.
AS the Sultan was expected to cut the throat OF an
innocent mutton in the mosque, just as the sun was
see rising above the distant top OF Mount Olym-
pus, 1t was allimportant that we should obtain a
position in some shop in time to SEQ him pass. The
streets were already alive with people, and swollen
streams Of spectators all flowing in the same
direction, and all was hurry, now costumes, and
confusion. When we reached the principal gate OF
the seraglo We found the guards already stationed,
and the streets along which the Sultan was to pass
to the mosque, distance OF more than half mile,
were thickly lined with soldiers ia bright now uni-
forms. Red and light blue jackets distinguished
the cavalry and artillery fsom the dark blue Of the
infantry. Every public SQUARE, every open space,
every elevated position, md available entrance,
= was crowed by men or occupied by troops OF wo-
men, who, even on AL occasion like this, wandered
about unattended and kept aloof from the other
sex. We took our seats, ar some trifiing rcmune-
ration, in the open shop x tobacconist and anx-
iously awaited the approach OF the procession. w
found that the Sultan, in his arrogance Of power,
scorncd to be regulated even by the sun, and we
waited some two hours with much impatience and
empty stomachs before his highncss made his ap-
pearance.
First came the Sultan's led horses. Each pranc-
ing stallion was almost entirely covered by gor-
geous saddlecoth stiff with exquisite gold enbroi-
derry, and adorned with large bouquets OF flowers
in pearls diamonds, rubies, and emeralds of unsur-
PASSED richness. The head piece Of the bride was
studded with large gems, and onamentcd with a
nodding plume OF different colored ostrich feathers,
having IA jowelied clasp. These plumes dropped
most gracefully about the heads &C the fiery horses,
who reared and plunged as they were restrained by
the rchly-livcried glooms. The martlngales aud
the c,urrers we're an sparkling !, 18th jewels. The
sllendor and beauty Of this y, On OF the process
sion can never forget. Ii Was magnificent beyond
all expectation. Those rich clusters Of glowing
flowers, whose leaves were delicately formed of the
rarest gems, reminded Inc Of the enchanted cavern
Of Aladdin, in which fruits Of gold and flowers of
precious stones ravished the delighted senses at
every turn.
Ncxt came the generals Of tho army and their
chief officers. riding two abreast gallant chargers
The breasts, the rts Of their blue ffoek.coats,
their collar. and the seams on the back, were all
richly embroidered with strnght wreaths Of gslden
lcase-; broad stripe Of golu Lace ran down each
i ie of their ighbu pants, and gilded spur. arm
Cd the heels Of their patent leather shoes. Their
saddlc-cloths werc surrounded ~ n deep border OF
the heaviest gold lace having ia each corner sym
Dol Of the rank of the owner surrounded by flowers
aso embroidered la gold: amd their shining patent
leather brides we're prolusely oTamentcd with gait
or silver roscttcs. Zach wore the ordinary red
cap with the brass plate, 10 give It the military dis
tinction, Hand had plain sabre girded about his
waist Thee were followed by long lines Of colo
rels and majors, the Gully difference between whose
uniforms ana equipments aud those Of the generals,
tho ErNatCT maguhctnce n the saddle-cloths Of
the former.
Then caiue the Pachas on their spirited Arab
studs, who champcd the bit, n u impatient Of the
Slow movement 10 which they subjected. Their
no-trils were dsteudcd. their cats moved resle-ly
e. and fre aud FIRE flashed from their large fall eyes,
they curtcttcd along tbe al,gy 90 hrstling bayo-
nets. ] wa delighted with - i beauty aud thei7
animation. Each prove Pagha's lrrat glrtercd
with orders. the ht hi sah,c sparhcd with dia-
monds. and his saddle 1loth pss-~d al IN magni-
fccncc, except the Sultaus Next 70 them were
the different mr stcIs 81 state ~ the uniform,
but each one riding R'aue, uuG followed by nume-
rous train ~ attendants 81 foot, guards, grooms,
servants, aud pipc-beaic :, Who followed pcll nell
at bis hcrsc's heels. The Grand Fiz,er. attended
by an increased nuiaber If Lauger-on, brought up
the rear &c The ministers. lie is a keen cunning
looking old man, with short, slightly grz,ed beard
AMI very black eyes, that r,stlessly turn from side
to side a. Il seeking FOR SOmg one in the crowd.
Next followed four ~ her he'd horses that cspe-
cal ay oritcs cf the sultan. being permitted
his person than the Grand Vixier himself, and be-
ing, IL ossiblr more sumptuously decorated thar
those that hal gone before. AMER these came the
servants a. the reyal household. walking foot in
single flo ON each eide of The street