The New York herald., 1877-09-14
WITH THE TURKS.
FROM sHUMLi BY RAIL IN WAR TINE-AN
EASTERN RAILROAD TRAIN-AsIATIc IRREGU-

LARs-A zEIBEcK WAR DANcE-THE EVEN
ING PRAYER.
TcHERvESAvoDA, NEAR RrsrcHuK, July 10, ls.7.
Armed with the document" of the Political Com
mission ana with ordinary teskereh Turkish
passport for the villayet OF the Danube, which had
obtained long ago at Rustcnux, set out from Shuma
IN the track OF the troops, which, under Achmet
Eyoub, had marched northwestward to Rasgrad and
RustchuK. Once mere, and, as hoped, for the last
time for many weeks. took the weary and monoto-
nous road the plain, through the camp, past the
great forts and the grassy MOUNDS which mark the site
OF the Russian positions during tho famous investment
ofls2s-29 and down the valley OF tho Baanik
the 'hafway house' han Of the village hard by the
road, where the journey is agreeably broken by q
cup of coffee Ia Trrque Arrived at the station.
found tho varna train already in and the platform
crowded with the usual picturesque throng Of soldiers
bashl-bazouks and Clrcassians, which make Turkish
railway station in these warlike times study for
Firth Gcromc. The train, which Of great
iength, and drawn by two powerful engines was
crammed from ond to end with regiment OF zeibecks,
or Asatic rregulars, the gentlemen whose very
irregular conduct at Constantnope and then at varna
has resulted in their being shipped OF as far away
possbleto the banks OF The Danube, at Rutschuk,
where they will have ample chance OF exercising their
peculiar talents the plaging of deserted houses
marauding expeditions into waachia 1t is conso,-
ing, too to that cannot be long before they
will be of from intercourse with the Of man
kind BY the Russian Investment
HOW THE zEIBEcKs AcE
At Sheanjik the next station to Shumla,
whero halt of half hour enabled
the passengers to get some breakfast, the Zeibccks
poured out of the carriages by hundreds. and was
able to study them at my case Great strappng,
muscular fellows they were clothed In all the colors
of rv,.
light brown, not deeper than sunburn to the coal
black Of the veritabe negro. II Is BY his hsad and
legs that the zebeck Is to bs distinguished IRON his
Mussulman klnsmen In Europe. Although since their
arrival In tho country many OF them have adopted tho
ez alone as headdress large proportion still retain
the extraordinary couture in which they seem to
delight. 1t is a complicated top hamper of turbans
and handkerchiefs wound round and twisted n many
cunning and rakish folds and piled up pyramid
the apex OF which, quite clear of the head Is placed
ez with tassel reaching the shoulder. one huge
dandy, man OF herculean proportions, in addition
to the flowing tassel OF his fez had suspended
from tho pyramid fringe of gay coored stun, which
dangled about his ears and round his neck. 1t was
headdress worthy of--and indeed very suggestive Of
red Indian Chief AS to his legs the Zebsck is also
remarkable He wears short, baggy brcechcs, ending
above the knee, which Is left bare: from below the
knee the ance his sturdy, well turned limbs
cased in greaves of cloth, embroidered and worked in
faRcifu colors; his feet innocent Of covering, are
| protected by stout slippers.
! TRAVELLING CURIOSITY SHOTS.
| In their broad sashcs tho Zcbecks carry a whole
arsenal OF weapons; swords, long aud Short straight
and curved, with curious guardless hits, sometimes
beautifully inlaid carved daggers and Knives with
sheaths OF embossed silver; quaint fntock pistols
with handles oivory and locks and barrels
| sna,a LAM t1,o hacl-
have Zeibeck in his paint He has about him the
means of putting to death by distinct and separate
! methods dozen men; but as his range OF smooth
bore intlocK firearms and short swords not adapted
70 modern European warfare he is they say, be
armed and drilled At Rustchuk like the rest Of the
army Of the Sultan, and instead of carrying the lives
| of many "Muscovs" In his sash he is to carry them
neatly packed away under the spiral spring OF Win.
chester rifle. But, whether armed with blundcrbuss
or repeater, the Zsibock Is said TO be desperate
tighter, absolutely ignorant OF the meaning OF the
| word fear.
| zEIBECK DANCE. !.
Taking advantage the long stay made at sheItank
and perhaps eye the piasiros OF the Gaours
who were their follow travellers the big with the
fringe round his head and colossal negro black
Ercbus, treated us TO Zeibeck dance. ring, or
rather oval, was formed on the platform, and the
motley crowd gathered round to tho performance.
The frnged dandy seated himself cross-legged against
| the wall, and unslung from his back instrument
like small guitar, upon which he commenced u
curiously monotonous but we'll accentuaied measure.
| After a few bars OF tho melancholy twangng
the big negro stepped the ring and began figuring
| with his logs In a slow movement, pointing
his toes planting his heels and swapping his fingers
excellent Time After few moments OF this leg twist
ing figure slowly raised leg and holding It out
| horizontally pirouested the other in mannor
which Westerns was rresistibly ludcrous, al
though Jailed to detect the slightest semblance Of
smile on the faces OF the crowd When the enormous
Dallerin0 had finished this pas seut at enc
OF the ring he uttered swhoop!" and rushed In u
state OF great excitement TO the other end the crowd
falling back before HIM; but, suddenly stopping his
charge, he relapsed into tho "Ono, TWO, three-pon
business
| GREATER THAN SWORD SWALLOWING.
As dance the repetition OF these alternate Ryra
tions and charges became monotonous and apparently
"Bones' 1--WE instantly bestowed upon him that iam
lar and appropriate name, although no doubt he
10 an Abdullah or All AIN thought so too. for
by way OF variety hc unsheathcd two OF his
swords and gave us bit OF sword play continuing his
dance without intcrmssion tho while. He would
cross the swords behind his back, between his legs
ward, into his sash, slowly hop round and round.
Whether this intended 10 convey TO our minds the
We could not toll, but to Judge from the approving
mods which the audience exchanged II evidently
very remarkable performance. just as they were re-
covering from the effect o tnis figure OF the dance
Bones uttered his wh0op and went down tho middle.
whiring his swords and making tho gravel fly right
| and lett fine style. This too for the
crowd at tue other d;t broke ana ned many Of the
onlookers, forgetting the edge OF the platform, topped
over but amid the confusion and laughter there was
Bones, who before had stopped short In his wild
career calmly chas6e croiseing without trace OF
citement change oil feature.
PRESENT
The whole scene, although amusing and almost
childish, was strangely fascinating, and the shrek
OF tho engine whistle broke in upon II anonymously
und startugly. II recalled us to the utitatau evil.
iztion the nineteenth century IRON out Of the
| tutored, picturesque barbarsm oil the Middle Ages
Tue musician slung his guitar behind his back, the
big negro put up his swords and ana all, Journal
lists zeibecks we hockcd into the train Between
Sheitauk aud Ishklar there is a very considerable
ascent lshiklar being the highest station line
some hundred metres above the level OF the Black
Sea- Our Two fire carriages" were dragging the long
train slowly and aboriousy up the slope wnen sud
den jolt brought the train TO "a standstL hundred
fantastic heads aud dark faces thrust from the
windows and adorned with long lines OF brilliant color
| the whole length OF the train.
| THE BOILER BuRsfED.