The Evansville journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ind.) 1866-1870, 1870-07-14

ike q small mouse, ana near Dy arc |
those of his wives and some children.
Twelve enormous candles and candle
sticks stand around, and the richly
ornamented tombs or collins, glitter
ing with silver flowers on the black
velvet covering, are surmOunted by
turban and shawl for the Sultan, and
nearly ornaments for the wives. Be-
sides precious relics, from Mecca,
there is a fine model of a pilgrim
band jOurneying to that city. Else
where we saw, Of similar character,
the tomb of Mahmond Second, who
had the Janizaries murdered in 1926;
and we also descended to the vast,
vaulted, so called, Cistern of Philox-
enes of Byzantine times. with its
treble tier of columns (only the upper
ones, however, now visible) number
ing in all six hundred and seventy
two. The arches are built with fat
tile brick, and are reported to extend
to the vaulted substructure of st.
Sophia. They were using this under
ground structure for the manufacture
of long cords of gold and blue, en-
ployed in decorating military uni
forms.
THE HIPPoDRoME, ALMEIDIAN ODE
LIsK AND BURNT COLUMN.
The large Hippodrome, laid out by
Severius, is $50 feet long and $50 feet
broad. It is southwest from Aga So
phia, and the mosk of Achmet is
built partly within it. Until 1904,
the bronze horses, now in st. Mark
Palace, Venice, ornamented this Hip
podrome; but since then the mono
18th Obelisk of Egyptian granite, 80
feet in hight. and covered with hero
glyphics, is the chief attraction. The
Burnt Column stands In Adrianople
| Street, and is composed of several
pieces of porphyry. with inscriptions
partly obliterated by fire, but yet in
dicative of its Roman character and
great antiquity. Not far from Aya
Sophia is, perhaps, the finest of the
numerous fountains which grace the
city. It is of marble, highly carved
and polished, and 10 many parts gor-
geously ornamented with gilt designs.
THE MUSEUM,
in which are preserved all the relics
of the Janizaries, as we'll as countless
wax and wooden figures, exhibiting
the various costumes and arms OF
earlier periods, is we'll worthy of a
visit. Besides curious chain armor,
and repeating guns. which they claim
furnished the idea of Colts revolvers
they exhibit weapons of every descrip-
ton, as we'll as musical instruments
and costumes. Here are large kettle
drums to be carried on camels. and
figures of quiet looking musicians
there field piece with forty barrels
pistols, guns, lances, swords and
hatchets of every size, shape and
pattern. Here, again, the figure of the
chief of the Janizaries, and of Cap
tain who receives small coin, while
the cooking is going on, | suppose
from those who expect to eat; there
postillions, pugilists, and attendants
on the Seraglio. The only female
figures represent slaves, and at the
termination of the long gallery is the
modern soldier, in red fez and blouse
and blue pants, with a good rifed
musket. who has replaced the FUR
baned JANUARY with clumsy match
lock or hintlock. While was taking
notes, the guide came up and looked
over my shoulder, informing me,
through the Dragoman, that no one
was allowed to make sketches of any
items; but finding / had only written
notes, he allowed me to proceed.
THE RUSSIANS AND TURKS.
When contrasting these nationali
ties it is rather the lower than the
upper classes Of each whose peculiar
tiles are adverted to, there being al
ways, between the inhabitants of ru-
raj districts In separate countries, n
much greater difference than is found
among citizens of their respective
cities. In both nations there is yet a
good deal of ignorance and supersti-
ton, In both external forms go appa-
rently a great way in the discharge of
religious duty. The Russian peasant,
with many crossings and genuhexions.
occasionally places the forehead on
the ground, and depends much on ex-
pending money for the purchase Of
candles to be burned on the altar, Of
ten praying for the intervention Of
the Virgin Mary, or of some favorite
saint, although he believes In Christ.
| The Mahometan Turk prostrates him
self, after ablutioD, in apparently fer
vent and impressive humility constant
~ kneeling and often bowed to the
dust; but he prays chiefly through
his worshipped Prophet.
The Russian may drink as much as
he pleases, but he must only have
one wife, yet he may treat her very
roughly and sometimes does so. The
Turk is forbidden to taste wine, but
| polygamy is permitted. Yet, as far as
We could learn, tho Turkish immoral
ity, outside Of the law, is less than
among the others.
As regards cleanliness, there does
not seem much to choose between
them, both appearing deficient; and in
education both are yet far behind the
other civilized nations, although con-
siderable steps have been made re-
Gently in the way Of progress. In
front of the hotel windows from
which these remarks were written,
October 9th, 1869. there is a fine
lar ge college, from which numerous
students, all in red fez, issue at regular
hours to the tap of the drum, and
m reh to their various classes, and the
building betokens good educational
| facilities.
| 1t would be presumptuous TO con-
tend that the necessarily short visit
to Russia and Turkey could furnish
sufficient material for a matured judg-
ment on all points of comparison,
therefore the remarks made should
rather be received in the light of first
| impressions.
The manners of both are quiet and
undemonstrative, but of the two, l
think the Turk has more natural or
acquired suavity. Notwithstanding
the abolition of serfdom in Russia,
there is great Difference to authority,
especially when emanating from a
uniformed official. This cannot be
surpassed by the Turk, even when he
| bows with head to the horizon and