The southern enterprise. [volume] (Greenville, S.C.) 1854-1870, 1854-07-07
Hliarllaaulld Rruaitlq.
! he dale Of Sweet iU aisrs.

-
Friday, the Sunday of the Mahomedans,
is also their day of recreation. We are now
in full spring, the season in which the Turks,
frequent the country. This is the time for
their excursions to enjoy the day, either on
the banks of the sweet waters of Asia or of
Europe. The former is, however, more re-
sorted to in the autumn, and the latter
draws greater crowds in the present season.
On Friday last the Sultan repaired there af-
ter mosque, as also the ladies of his harem.
Many thousand caiques might be seen glid-
ing along the Golden Horn, filled with the
families of the pachas, all bound for the
same destination, the Sweet Waters of Eu-
rope, and filled with the veiled beauties of
the harem. 1t is vain to attempt to give a
description of this scene. 1t would REQUIRE
the eye of an artist to deservedly appreciate
its peculiar features, and not the humble
pen of your matter-offact correspondent to
describe it. The scene of the Sweet Waters
of Europe last Friday reminded one of the
Arabian Nights, and met the brilliant de-
scription of the East only to be met in the
poems of Moore or Byron. The waters of
Europe were sweet indeed last Fridav.-
Many thousand sweet creatures were there,
spread about the green meadows in groups
of four and five, with little children and
young girls in their brilliant Oriental cos
TUNES. In order to place this scene vividly
before you, it is necessary to explain the posi-
ton of the little valley in which all this oc-
CURED. ..... ~. ... .
The valley of the Sweet Water of Europe
is at the extremity of the Golden Horn,
where two small rivulets enter the sea-
The Sultan has a kiosque on the border of
these streams. The valley is not more than
halfa mile wide, with green hills rising at
each side. 1t is almost entirely meadow,
interspersed with trees here and there, and
little wood on the left side. 1t is not culti-
waited, neither is much care taken of it. At
any time but spring or autumn it is indeed
barren, and towards the centre swampy, and
during the winter months frequently under
water. At present it is, however, in its full
beauty and verdure. On Friday it was peo-
pied by many thousand persons. / never
say it so full before The way was blocked
up by carriages full of Turkish ladies, and
the river was literally so full of caiques that
Armenia and Georgia were there. spread
about on the grass, whilst black eunuchs on
white Arabians whirled about with jealous
eyes, watching over the property Of their
masters. The Turkish veil (the Yashmak)
hides the greater part of the face from view,
but these fair Orientals have of late years
charged the texture of this covering, so that
you can we'll distinguished the finely chisel-
led nose, and rosy lips beneath it. What
beauty was not there assembled! / had
never seen such an assemblage of Turkish
ladies before, or rather of ladies belonging to
Turks, and had often thought the accounts
and description of Oriental beauty exaggera-
ted. They are not. Ifthere was one, there
were hundred young women there of the
highest class Of beauty with the straight
Grecian nose, and that clear, soft, dark, al
mond-shaped eye. What eyes, and also
what looks They seemed very happy
seated in little groups, picnicking. They
had all brought their dinners with them,
and sweet-meats, which they were enjoying,
listening to the most discordant humbrum
Turkish music, which was being performed
by parties Of fouf or five men with species
of guitar, not unfrequently accompanied by
a guteral chaunt the only excuse the Turks
have for singing. am not an admirer of
Oriental minstrelsy. They have no ear for
music. ...s.~
Picture to yourself these thousand damsels
spread about the green, in blue, pink, purple,
orange, scarlet, green, and yellow costumes;
children in scarlet velvet, with gold plated
through the hair, and intermixed with long
locks falling over their shoulders (there was
one little Turkish boy, the son of some pacha,
dressed in red velvet, prancing about on a
pony in every direction y Turkish soldiers
great carts, gilt and decorated, drawn by bull
lock, and filed with woman; negroes on
white horses, galloping about on every side /;
Turks sitting cross-legged, smoking narghiles
and chibouks, in silence, enjoying their kief
Amenians, Persians, in their peaked fur-caps,
the Persian Ambassador in his carriage in
full costume, followed by the most extraor-
dinary looking men on horseback, dressed
up in Cashmere shawls; Circassians, in vel
low pointed caps, (almost all the embassies
were there;) mix with these some British
/ officers of every uniform, and his Royal
Highness the Duke Of Cambridge, with his
staff, all mounted on superb Arabian horses
the property of the Sultan, with purple vel.
vet saddles richly embroidered in gold, and
you have some idea Of the brilliant scene
the Sweet Waters Of Europe presented on
4 Friday last