New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1855-08-13
IN AMERICAN IN THE EAST.

Correspondence Of The n. Y. Tnbune.
SILIsTRIA, Bulgaria, April, 1855.
Having seen all that is worthy Of notice in
Silistris, Terzin Bssha conducted me one even
ing to the principal Turkish Kahn of the city,
the only place where could hope to procure
conveyance for my intended journey in Bulgaria.
The Kahn, low building of miscellaneous
character, is situated in small courtyard,
and on entering found four groups Of turbaned
Mussulmen seated in the four corners after the
manner of tailsrs and enjoying their chi6ouks
with inexpressibDe gravity collection of the
pipes of all nations would give the ve'y best
idea of national characteristics. The calumet of
the Aborigines, ornamented with feathers aud
porcupine quilts and made to be smoked by
whole tribe, indicates a certain advanceme t of
the social state, but gives no idea of indiyid-
uality. The universal pipe of the Yankee
nation short, cheap and thoroughly practical, is a
decided indication of progress The American
must smoke as he runs and reads else he would
not get time to smoke at all-eanestness and ac-
tvity being chief elements of his nature. The
sharp, moneygetting American physiognomy seems
in fact hardly complete without the accOmpani-
ment of q pipe or cigar directed toward some
one of the wandering planets The more cumbrous
articles used by the English denote spirit that
does not like to be small in smoke, literal or sym
bocal The pipe boue of the French with its
pendant forward, like the French military cap,
gives us an idea of the future, but is
most liable to be ruin6e by the force
of opposing obstacles, as is the with
all schemes floating in the underlined limbo Of
French politics. The German MeersohGum, cross
between the THAN lutte and polypus, has a smack
of the oriental mingled with occidental habits and
usaees. One fingers before the window OF Wen
ma FQJrik as he would in gallery of antiques, for
upon those huge HeerschaHm bowls the cunning
bands of artists have toiled to reproduce all that
was wonderful in the smoky myths of the Greeks,
from the funeral games round the tomb of Patr0-
clus to the gorits deliDeated on Achilless shield.
Still the smoking Dutchman is working Dutch
man, as he suspends bis pipe as not to interfere
with locomoton and manipulation Without to-
bacco smoke We could not have the metaphysical
ravipgs the theological yagaries OF the Teutonlcs.
In all Germany found but two person who did
not smOke-Ope young nobleman of Vienna, who
believed that smoking was not always agreeable
TO the ladies, the other a university student too
poor to indulge even i'll kreEt-er cigars. The pipes
become longer and more cumbrOus as one pene
trates further in the East. 1t was in the family
Of Hungarian Count that | first learned 10 APP
rreciate the Turkish ChibOak charged with fra
Grant Lafskiah French civilization has done some
thing in the way of diminishing the folds of the
Ottomsn turban, in curtailing the anpler parts of
those enormous pantaloons, in which true Mussul-
men delight, and i'll displacing the cumbrous all
coIcealing vail for the woven air. which reveals
the flushing tints and rich outlines OF Circassian
beauty; but the Turks will never become pro-
eressive people until their pipes are reduced from
the dimensions of feet to inches.
Smoking is par trcelteRoe the peculiar lnstitu-
ton" of the Ottomans The influence OF the
Il 81 hava ofodt inf thair
souls and LENDS hay, dreamy Outline 20 all the
n manifestations of outward life. The genuine Turk,
dressed like hlhbuster, enjoys bis Chibouk or the
snaky NaIgilth from morn TO eve with the gravity
of IN alderman, aud all the visions OF tle great
eyed Orient appear to fost before the mental eye
as be Yields himself up TO the charms Of opium or
0tum cum digRitate. The Ch,boaches or pipe-bearer
takes the first rank among the servants OF every
Turkish erandee. Pipe-cleaners perallbulate the
streets OF Constantinople and Cairo, and announce
their craft after the manner of charcOslmen with
us. Turkish troops often go into combat with
their long pipes lashed upon their knapsacks
Iurirg the Kan a7sn or Turkish Lent no true fol
lower Of the Pro- het will eat, drink, or even smoke
from sunrise Until the time when, as the Turks say
a white ana black thread cannot be distinguished
fir, IN each other. One would suppose that hunger
and thirst would be the appettes TO be satisfied
frst, but on passing through the streets just be-
fo,e the evening run announces the conclusion of
the daily fast those grave Ottomans may be seen
with ChilOaSs al Oadsd and match in hand appar-
emily resardle cl food and water.
Smoking az rtru6uced into Turkey during the
rein Of Sultan Amureth III TWAS considered 40
innovation conflicting seriously with the spirit OF
the Koran. Ibe Sch,k-al.lslam issued prohibit
tory tra sgsinsi the practice, and several Mussu-
men lost their hesds foT INDUCING in what is nov
the fayoritc enjoyment of the Turks
Tie keeper OF the Kahn, TO which little Term
Basha conducted IRE, was iark, thin-visaget
uTk, with deep sunkeD eyes, and attined IN the
rosi approved style Of the Ottomans. He was
pointed cut 10 IRE II a group e silent smosecon
lumers and we made known to him the object Of
our call not forgetting. Of course We rotundlty OF
oriental expression. We were invited TO take
seat upon the mat lighted pipes were handed us BY
tie fervsnfs aud he Cs6djss, who now and then
vent through mysterious maniPulations in one
corner of the room. was ordered 10 bring coffee
fer according % TIE Turkish sdsge, . pipe wish
cut coffee ,s y eat without salt" They have
curious way OF bargaining IN the Eas. Seated II