The New York herald., 1877-09-14
WITH THE TURKS.

LARs--A zEIBEcK WAR DANcE-THE EvEN-
ING PRAYER.
TcHgRvESAvoDA, NEAR RrsrcHuK, July 10, ls77.
Armed With the 'documont' of the Political Com
mission. ana with ordinary teskereh Turkish
passport for the vllayet OF the Danube, which had
obtained long ago at RustcnuS, set out from Snuma
IN the track OF the troops, which, under Achmet
Eyoub, had marched northwestward to Rasgrad and
Rustchuk. Once mere, and, us hoped, for the last
time for many weeks. took the weary and monoto-
nous road over tho plain through the camp past the
great forts and the grassy which the site
OF the Russian positions during tho famous investment
ofls2s29 aud down the valley Of tho Balauk TO
the 'haway house'' han OF the village hard by tho
road, where the journey is agreeably broken by
cup of coffee Ia Turque Arrived at the station i
found the Varna train already In and the platform
crowded with the usual picturesque throng OF soldiers
bashi.bazouks and Clrcassians which make Turkish
railway station in these warlike times study for
Firth or a Gcrome. The train, which Of great
iongth, and drawn by two powerful engines. was
crammed from ond to end with regiment OF zeibecks
or Asiatic rreguars tho same gentlemen whose very
irregular conduct Constantinope and then varna
has resulted IN their being shipped of as far away
possble-o the banks OF the Danube, at Rutschuk,
where they Will have ample chance OF exercising their
peculiar talents in the pagng of deserted houses
IN marauding expeditions into waachia 1t is consol-
ing, too, to that cannot be long before they
Will be cut of from intercourse with the Of
kind by the Russian Investment
Acr.
At Shcitanjk, the next station to Shumla
whore halt of half an hour enabled
the passengers to get breakfast, the Zeibecks
poured out of the carriages by hundreds. and was
able to study them at my case. Great, strapping
muscular fellows they were clothed In all the coors
nj M atnjn and uplav fro,p
light brown not deeper than sunburn, to the coal
black Of the veritable negro. l. by his head and
legs that the zeibeck Is to be distinguished IRON
Mussulman klnsmen In Europe. Although since their
arrival in tho country many OF them have adopted the
iez alone us headdress large proportion still retain
the extraordinary couture in which they seem to
delight 1t Is u complicated top hamper of turbans
and handKercnefs wound round and twisted n many
cunning and raksh folds and piled up q pyramid on
the apex OF which, quite clear of the head Is placed
iez, with tassel reaching TO the shoulder. one huge
dandy man OF hercuean proportions, In addition
to the flowing tassel OF his fez, had suspended
from tho pyramid fringe Of gay colored stuff which
danged about his and round his neck. 1t was a
headdress worthy of-and indeed very suggestive Of
a red Indian Chief AS to his legs the Zeibsck Is also
remarkable. He wears short, baggy brccchcs, ending
above the knee, which is left bare: from below the
to the ancle bis sturdy, well limbs are en-
cased in greaves of cloh embroidered and worked in
anclful coors; his feet, innocent OF covering are
protected by stout slippers.
TRAVELLING CURIOSITY sHors
In their broad sashes the Zcibecks carry a whole
arsenal OF weapons swords, long aud short, straight
and curved, with curious guardsss hits sometimes
beautifully naid or carved daggers and knives with
shcaths OF embossed silver; quaint lntlock pistols
With handles ofvory and damascened locks and barrels
q bca onr at the bnc md vou
have zcibeck in his paint He has about the
means of putting to death by distinct and separate
methods dozen men but his range Of smooth
bore ntlock firearms and short swords adapted
TO modern European warfare he is SO they say to be
armed and drilled at Rustchuk like the Of the
army Of the Sultan and instead of carrying lives
OF many "Muscovs" in his sash no is to carry them
neatly packed away under the spiral spring OF VIM
chester rinc But whether armed with bundcrbuss
or repeater, the Zeibock is said to be desperate
tighter, absolutely ignorant OF the meaning OF the
word fear.
A zEIBEcK DANCE. :.
Taking advantage OF the long stay made at Sh citank
and perhaps with eye the pasiros OF the Gaours
who their follow travellers the big with tho
fringe round his head and coossal negro, black az
Erebus, treated us TO u Zeibeck dance. A ring, or
rather oval, formed on the platform, and the
motley crowd gathered round to tho performance
The rnged dandy seated himself against
the wall, and unslung from his back instrument
like small guitar, upon which he commenced u
curiousy monotonous but well accentuated measure.
Alter few bars OF tho melancholy twanging
tho big negro stepped the ring began figuring
with his legs in a slow movement, pointing
his toes planting his heels and swapping fingers in
excellent time After few moments OF this leg twist
ing figure he slowly raised leg and holding IL out
horizontally pirouetted the other in a manner
which to US Westerns was irresstiby ludicrous al
though Jailed to detect the slightest semblance of
smile on the faces OF the crowd. When the
palermo had finished this pas seui one enc
OF the ring he uttered ''Whoop!" and rushed in
state OF great excitement to the other end the crowd
falling back before him; but, suddenly stopping his
charge, he reapsed into the "Ono, TWO, threepoint
business
GREATER THAN SWORD SWALLOWING
AS a dance the repetition OF these alternate gyra-
tions and charges became monoonous and apparently
"Bones' i've instantly bestowed upon him that iamii
lar and appropriate name, although doubt he
10 all Abduiiah or an AIN thought so TOO, tor
by way OF varioty ho unsheathcd two OF his
swords and gave US bit OF sword play, continuing his
dance without intermisslon tho while. He would
cross the swords behind his back, between his logs
anu then sticking thom, with their naked points down
ward, INTO his sash, slowly hop round and round.
Whether this was intended 10 convey to minds
death agony oil man with Two swords IN his stomach
We could not tell. but 10 Judgc from the approving
mods which the audience exchanged IL evidently
very remarkable performance. just us they
covering from tue effect OF tnis figure OF the dance
Bones uttered hls whoop and went down tho middle.
whirling his swords and making tho gravel fly right
and lett III fine style. This too TOR the
crowd at tue other cnd III broke hed many Of the
onlookers. forgetting the edge OF the platform, toppcd
over but amid the confusion and laughter there
Bones, who before had stopped short In his wild
career, calmly chasoe croiscIng without trace Of
citeilent or change oi feature.
RACK TO THE PRESENT
The whole scene, although amusing and almost
childish, was strangely fascinating and shriek
OF the engine whistle broke In upon II anonymously
aud sta-tllugly. II recalled us to the unitarian civil
oi the nineteenth century from out Of the
tutored, picturesque barbarism OF the Middle Ages.
Tue musician siung his guitar behind his back, the
big negro put up his swords and all Journal
ami 2eibecks we nockcd into the train Between
Sheitauiik and lshklar there is very considerable
ascent, lshiklar being the highest station line
our hundred metres above the level OF The Black
Sea- Our fire carriages" we're dragging the long
train slowy and laborousy up the slope when sud
Jolt brought The train to "a standstL A hundred
fantastic heads and dark faces thrust from tho
windows an1 adorned with long lines OF brilliant color
the whole length OF the train
THL BOILER BURsrED.