Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1854-07-12
The vaie of Sweet waters.
THE TURKISH LADIES OUT OF DOORS.


Friday, the Sunday of the Mahomedans
is also their day of recreation. We are nov
in full spring. the season in which th'
Turks frequent the country. This is th'
time for their excursions to enjoy the day
either on the banks of the sweet waters o
Asia or of Europe. The former is, howev
er, more reserted to in the autumn, and tht
latter draws greater crowds in the presen
season. On Friday last the Sultan repair
ed there after mosque, as also the ladies o
his harem. Many thousand caiques nigh
be seen gliding along the Golden Horn
filled with the families OF the pachas, al
bound for the same destination the Swee
Waters of Europe, and filled with the veil
ed beauties of the harem. 1t is vain to at
tempt TO give a description of this scene
1t would require the eye Of an artist to de
servsdly appreciate its peculiar features
and not the humble pen of your matter. of
fact correspondent to describe it. Th'
scene of the Sweet Waters of Europe las
Friday reminded one of the Arabian Nights
and of the brilliant descriptions of the Eas
only to be met in the poems of Moore OF
Byron. The waters of Europe were swee
indeed last Friday. Many thousand swee
creatures were there, spread about the greer
meadows in groups of four and five, will
little children and young girls in their bril-
liant Oriental costumes. In order to place
this scene vividly before you, it is neces
sary to explain the position Of the little
valley in which all this occurred.
The valley of the Sweet Waters of Eu
rope is at the extremity of the Golden Horn
where two small rivulets enter the sea-
The Sultan has kiosque on the border o
these streams. The valley is not mor'
than halfa mile wide, with green hills rlsin!
at each side. 1t is almost entirely mea
dow, interspersed with trees here and there
and little wood on the left side. 1t is no
cultivated, neither is much care taken o
it. At any time but spring or autumn it i
indeed barren, and towards the centr'
swampy, and during the winter month
frequently under water. Atpresent it is
however, in its full beauty and verdure.-
On Friday it was peopled by many thou
sand persons. tnever saw it so full before
The way was blocked up by carriages tul
of Turkish ladies, and the river was literal
ly GO full of caiques that you could no
pass. The fair natives Of far Armenia ant
Georgia were there spread about on th'
grass, whilst black eunuchs on white Ara
bians whlrled 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, bu
these fair Orientals have ofate years chan
ged the texture of this covering, so tina
you can we'll distinguish the finely chisel
led nose, and rosy lips beneath it. Wba
beauty was not there assembled | hat
never seen such an assemblage of Turkish
ladies before or rather of ladies belonging
to Turks, and had often thought the ac
counts and descriptions of Oriental beauty
exaggerated. Tbey are not. If there wa;
one. there were q hundred young women
there of the highest class of beauty, with
Tile straight Grecian nose, and that clear
soft, dark, almond-Shaped eye. Wha
eyes, and also what looks They seemed
very happy--seated in little groups, pic
nicking, They had all brought their din.
ners with them, and sweet-meats, which
they were enjoying, listening to the mos
discordant humdrum Turkish music, which
was being performed by parties of four OIL
five men with a species of guitar, not un'
frequently accompanied by a guttera
chaunt, the only excuse the Turks have fol
singing. am not an admirer of Oriental
minstrelsy. They have no ear fer music.
Picture TO yousrelf these thousand dam
sells spread about the green, in blue, pink
purple, orange, scarlet, green, and yellow
costumes children in scarlet velvet witt
gold plated through their hair, and inter
mixed with long locks falling over theil
shoulders there was one little Turkish boy
the son of some pacha, dressed in red vel
vet, prancing about on pony in every
direction j Turkish soldiers; great carts
gilt and decorated, drawn by bullocks, ano
filled with women negroes on white horses
galloping about on every side; Turks sit
ting cross-legged smoking narghiles anc
chibouks, in silence, enjoying their kief
Armenians; Persians, in their peaked ful
caps, the Persian ambassador in his carri
age in full costume followed BY the most
extraordinary looking men on horseback
dressed up in Cashmere shawlsj Circas.
slams, in yellow pointed caps (almost all the
embassies were there y mix with those
some hundred British officers OF every UNI
form, and his Royal Highness the Duke o
Cambridge with his staff all mounted or
superb Arabian horses, the property of the
Sultan, with purple velvet saddles richly
embroidered in gold, and you may have
some idea Of the brilliant scene the Sweet
Waters Of Europe presented en- Friday
last.
His Royal Highness walked and rode a
bout good deal, and seemed to enjoy tht
scene amazingly. Lord de Redcliffe, whc
| regret to say is indisposed, did not ac
company him. Our officers strolled roun,
the meadows looking at the Turkish beaut
les; and they stand fire very well, assure
you. Many glance was exchanged be
tween them and the Inglis Asker, those
smart young fellows in the red jackets in
deed | am told tnat one urkISH la0y pre-
.ented her handkerchief to handsom,
ensign OF the SSth but this Icannot voucI
for, as did not see it. Several got flower
from them, | know, for one young gentleman
very nalvely asked, can one take flowers i
they give them to you? | have no doubt ma
nya boquet was given them. tits to,,be hop
ed none of this will end in a sack and tht
Borsphorus. The black guardians of th'
fair were all eyes, OF rather scowls-the,
were on the qui Uipe but had they seen any
thing, they dared not touch an English off
Ger for smiling at lady. saw one O
these fellows shake al unfortunate raya
by the collar most numerically, becaus
he did not get out of the way quick enough
He had better no! try the same trick on an
Englishman.