The Portland daily press., 1872-09-28
SELECTED STORY.
An Eastern Stratagem.

Turkey in Europe retired from obsc walton
with the Crimean war. She promises now
to come forward again. The Bear of the
North advances slowly and sr-ely toward the
prey destined long ago to be his. 1t is a
question of time only. All that vast territory
north and west of the Golden Horn will be
Muscovite. So be it. Meanwhile, anything
which throws light upon power that never
changes and a people that never improves
cannot be without its use.
There is no intention of taking the ref Ter
of this article through the intricacies Of an
Oriental plot. The sto. J in all its principal
features, illustrates the precarious tenr"e by
which power is held in the East. The slave
of to-day has often been the sCltan of the
morrow; while, on the other land, the des-
pot whose throne in the morning seemed be-
yond the risk Of ovel thrown az before the set
ting of the sun been mass of lifeless clay.
1t were doubtless subjectiEg all the details of
the following to too severe standard to try
them by strict historical test, althou Oh
in their broad features they graphically pho
tograph the truth.
In the year 1865 of the Hegira-corre-
spending to 1867 of the Christian era-on the
second day of the feast of Beiram, a large
group of Mussulmans were assembled in a
circle before the mosque of st. Sophia. Some
were standing, and others sitting cross-legged
Oh carpets spread upon the sand. By de-
grees the group inc. eased as the Moselems is
sued from the mosque, and as pr 'sers-by,
prompted by curiosity, remained to see what
was going on. Every eye was turned toward
one point with look of expectation, but
cloud of blush smoke slowly rising in the air
proved that the qualification Of their curiosity
was not the only plea3ure which these Mus
sulmans enjoyed.
In the midst of this crowd of smokers a
young man of remarkably handsome featr res,
though somewhat bronzed by an Asiatic sun,
was seated before small table, which was
covered with swords and brass bans. He was
dressed in close jacket of green silk, admira-
bly, fitted to set off his light and graceful fig
ure; girdle of antelope skin, on which some
mysterious characters were inscribed in silver,
confined pair of loose trowsers which were
drawn close at the ankle. This light and at
tra:tive dress was completed by Phrygian
cap, from the top of which hung small mu-
81 al bell. Ey this costume, at once graceful
and fantastic, it was easy to recognize one of
those jugglers whom the feast of Beiram
drew every year to Stamboul, and to whom
was usually given the name of Zingaro.
The spectators soon became so numerous
that many found it difficult to get even a
glimpse of the juggler's tricks The brass
balls, glttering in the sun, were flying round
his head With amazing rapidity, and forming
case and Gyaca With which he narforn, aJ
these wonders cave nromise of stijI Greater
At length. allowing Che Tails to dron one af
ter the other into q resonnding vase of b;s
foot he armed birseif With ua fsohaT ST.
;n1 A. br;IIan. h;It he dno,, tI'e L1.do go,
the scabbard stnJded with oemS and der-
terously whirling it over his head, made, as it
were, thousand flashes of lightning sparkle
ed ths;r headS in toIen Of annrohot;nyn hut
,,ttered not : VOID " "pPi0''''''-' 'A'
Tho ;n~ y m oor,t;,,rod h;s n,o;+s without
annear9nS 70 notict tho adm;ration he evcited
He NEXT took a nigeon's ego from a small
moss basket and nIacino II nnrght ON tho
table. strucR if. with the edoe Of his sword
without ininrino the shell An incredulouS
bystander took the EGG to examine if but the
,jioht nressure of his fingers served to destroy
the frail object that had resisted the blow OF
the scimetar. Then. taking of his Phrvgian
can. the prestidipitator disclosed a LARGE clear
forehead shaded by locks of jetty blackness.
Placing upon his bare head helmet of steel,
which he had first submitted to the circle for
inspection, he made the curved weapon fly
around him with such fearful velocity that he
appeared for a moment to be enyeloned with
in the luminous circles it described. Pres
entity the sword appeared to deviate, and
grazed the hair of the holder, Some Franks
present turned pale and closed their ewes
against the dreaded sight. but the iuepler's
hand was sure. The yataehan. which had
spared the pigeons egg. had severed i'm two the
pyramid of steel.
This act of dexterity was followed by many
others no less perilous. The boldness of the
Young man terrified the usually imoassiye
Turks and, what was vet more surprising.
he related. Persons of his profession were
generally silent, and their only power of
amusement lay in their fingers ends; but this
man possessed the varied qualities of an in
dian jugger and an Arabian stOry-teller. He
paused after almost every trick to continue
tale, again to be interrupted by fresh displays
of his power, thus by turns delighting the
eyes and ears of his audience.
One OF the most enthusiastic admirers of
the performance was a man apparently about
forty years old, whose carpet was placed in
the first circle, and whose dress denoted him
to be ofsuperior rank. 1t was the Bostangi-
Bassa, superintendent of the gardens and
keeper of the PRIV purse to the grand signior
The tricks ended, the Young man Completed
his story and gathered up his implements as
if to depart.
''Stopp' said the Bostanoi-Rassa "Since
YOU are such magician. will Won tell me the
sultan's favorite fOwer?''
''The poppy of Aleppo; it is red" replied
the juggler, without moments hesita-
ton.
CAT what time does the sultan sleep ?" re-
sumed the Bostangi.
''Neverp' said the juggler.
The Bassa started and looked anxiously
around him, fearing lest other ears had heard
this answer. Then, reckoning the juggler to
approach and lowering his voice, he asked,
"Can you name the sultan's favorite wife?
"Assarach," replied the diviner.
''The Bostangi put his fingers on his lips in
token Of silence. and. moving away. said.
sFoIiow mo p,
The voung man took nm his vataqhan. and.
leaving the rem a;nder Of liz efscts 70 he car,
ried by sIavs foIIoaad lis I'D +ou.rd tb.
great door Of the na,sce HIS su'O0 'o""'" 'A'