The Port Gibson reveille. (Port Gibson, Miss.) 185?-1857, 1854-06-07
The Career of the Turks.

Everything relating TO The Turks Is inter-
esting at this juncture In the February mum.
Der of Blackwood's Magazine. we 6nd an his
torical summary Of their career, which we be-
lieve will afford information. even to persons
somewhat conyersant with the past
The Turks are no new race. IL is even
asserted that the Togarmah, mentioned in
Genesis. and aferward in Ezekiel, were the
same people as the modern Turks. BE this
as il may, the Turks have founded no less
than three great empires since the introduc-
ton of Christianity. The first of these em-
pires arose about the middle Of the sixth Gen.
tury, and was established by Tonmen. the
blacksmith, an ancestor Of Jenghis Khan
The Turks, at that time, inhabited Central
Asia, where many of their tribes still remain.
Their principal city was called Tavgas, and
was situated in the northwestern part Of Chi
ma their laws were just they carried on
extensive commerce and those portions OF
them living about Mount Atal, mined and
manufactured largely. This empire was not,
however, Of long duration it sent an embas-
sy or two to Constantinople perpetuated IT
self for a few generations of princes and
then fell to pieces from its want Of homoge-
nousness, as most empires similarly consttu-
ted do.
But the Turkish race still remained, though
the empire was no more. In the eleventh
century, branch Of this great family, the
Selioukan Turks, established second empire.
This new power grew up on the political de-
cline of the Caliphate of Bagdad and the By
zantine empire But the Seljoukan Turks
came as desolators rather than as regenera-
tors as the destroYers Of civilization. not as
its friends. When they entered the countries
between the Persian Gulf the Caspian, the
Black Sea and the Mediterranean, they found
those rich provinces filled with cities, which,
though declining from their ancient splendor,
we're still fourishing marts and the centre of
elegances, refinement, and the useful arts
Thay left the cities desoiato Norman in
their habits, they destroyed She towns, and
laid waste the fields, in order 10 obtain pas
lures for their focks. and to perpetuate their
power. The Seljouk empire, in turn. soon
split into pieces. 1t was finally subdued, torn
to pieces, and utterly annihilated by the sue
cessors os Jenghis Kahu. But the Turkish
race survived this disaster as it did the first.
The empire was gone, but the people remain
ed TIE various tribes of this great family,
though dismembered and scattered, we're still
as full of vitality as ever. Nothing was
wanted to found the third empire but an oc-
casion and this soon arose.
In the fourteenth century, a tribe Of four
hundred families, Of the purest Turkish blood,
entered the SejOuk empire. under the lead Of
Koum, and Of Gilman, his son. The latter,
on the extinction of the Seljouk authority,
gradually extended bis influence over the dis
membered provinces, and is regarded as the
real founder of the present empire, TO whom
he has given his name. The new empire
progressed rapidly. 1t soon threatened Eu.
rope with conquest, and in little more than
a century after its establishment, actually re.
duced Constantinople II attained its great.
est height, perhaps, towards the close of the
sixteenth century. Since that period it has
been on the decline But it is still strong in
Asia F; and even stronger in Europe, perhaps
than is generally thought.
1t is mistake to suppose the Turks Tar
tar or Mogul race. The real Turks are eau
cassians. Nor are all the Turks under the
dominion of the Sultan. Many tribes of pure
Turks exist in the heart Of Asia, and are
found up to the very walls Of China. Their
original seats, however. are supposed to liz
around the Atal mountains. They have al
ways been good warriors, nor do they seem t
have degenerated even on the Danube
Whether they will be pushed out Of Europe
as fnal result Of the present state Of affairs
or whether they will make good their position
for new term of generations, is yet to b
seen.