Knoxville journal. [volume] (Knoxville, Iowa) 1874-1986, 1875-10-28
Oriental Justice.

Oriental Justice.
Some years since, when Prince Murat
and his family were travelling in the
Orient he was taken sick, and on the way
from Stamboul TO Jaffa became so i'll
that he considered it prudent TO discon-
tinue the journey for a few days and re-
main over At the latter place. his wife and
daughter, however, continued their travels
until they reached Jerusalem.
The Pasha had been informed of the
contemplated visit some weeks previous,
and in honor of such distinguished visit.
ors had ordered the principal streets TO
be newly paved and the road between the
Holy City and Jafia to be put in order,
and made tolerably passable.
Ii was time of terror for the fellahs
(peasants), for all these Improvements
were not 10 be accomplished at the ex.
pense OF pasha or Government. The sol
diers and prisoners were set To work, and
where their labor proved insufficient a
rope was stretched across the streets and
roadway extending TO the city gate and
every fellah coming in or going out was
arrested with his camels or donkeys and
forced 10 work, receiving his reward on
his back in the shape of beating, and
having one plaster placed 10 his credit, TO
be paid ia some dim future day.
Merchants were ordered to par,ake of
the general gloritication by painting their
shop-dOors and windows green.
His Highness Prince Murat might come
now as soon as he pleased.
Alas Fate with her unfathomable
ways and tricks plays with Turks just as
she does with other mortals. The Prince
remained in Jaffa, and the whole Moham.
medan world was not little chagrined 10
find that all this fuss" and labor had
been expended for nothing but woman,
With fiambeaus and Turkish music the
Princess was escorted over the newly
paved streets to the residence of the
French Consul.
Of course the Pasha heard how charmed
the lady was with the beautiful streets
and excellent roads. 1t was really dread.
full, though, that this apprecia;iye Great
ure, and q Princess AT that, should meet
with mishap in the very presence of the
Pashal
The entrance, namely, leading TO the
holy sepulchre Is narrow and low, and
the stately Princess could not bend sui.
ficicntly lowing, probably to some spinal
defect tits royal inheritance, this stiff
ness in the back, although I've known
some ordinary individuals to be afflicted
the same way) to admit her without bring
ing her brow in contact with the rocky
pediment; and this resulted with such
force that the lady fell fainiing 10 the
ground. Such Oriental confusion as fol-
lowed is indescribable.
The Pasha sent orders TO the pa.riarchs
of the church that the entrance should be
torn down and larger and more elegant
portal built Immediately 10 prevent any
such distressing occurrence In future.
This proved very apple Of iiscord
among the ecclesiastics-the Catholic and
Greek clergy.
They could not decide which had the
best right to rebuild, and thus claim the
portal, or how great or small the expense
attending it, and how much each should
contribute toward It's erection.
The cunning Greeks meanwhile were
not idle. During the quarrel they had Sc
cretly ordered stones TO be hewn, and In
the night they took down The old and
built the new portal.
This created terrible storm, that did
not end In n simple quarrel OF words /;
Catholic, Greek, Armenian, kopts-all
Joined in the disturbance until arrested by
the Turkish kawasses (soldiers) and
brought before the Pasha. He was seated
on his divan, ink and pen at his side, and
listened, In silence, 10 this babel Of races.
"We have the best right 10 build the
gate: we are the greatest In number and
the wealthiestp' screamed the Greek mob.
"Santa Madonna delorataf' shouted the
Franciscans; 1--WE have lived here for 800
years and more, and yet are to be prohib-
tied from building this gate"
The Pasha smoked his narghiley quiet
Iy for some time, then he suddenly ex.
claimed TO an officer:
"Mustapha, go, take lsborers, and tear
the portal down; leave not one stone on us
foundation
Mustapha bowed and withdrew.
The Joy Of the scholars was as wlld as
the rage Of the Greeks, but the Pasha
sternly babe them be silent. Mustapha
returned.
"Thy will, o Pasha, has been done.'
" Where is the master-masony"
The master IL brought before him.
" Mason, what Is your demand for re-
building this portaly"
Six hundred piasters, o PashaF
Very well, begin your work +"
The mason departs, and the Pashaturns
TO the Christians, saying:
! am going to erect this portal myself,
az you have seen, for | am just, and you
shall pay me 900 piasters each. The busi
ness il ended"
Wise decree, the Pasha rebuilds with
the material torn down, pockets 800 pr
asters from the various warning denomlna-
tons, and makes peace--1raastated for
the st. Louts ReDubtican. @assJ
I -
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