The Bolivar bulletin. [volume] (Bolivar, Hardeman County, Tenn.) 1865-1888, 1877-08-09
PIPES AND TOBACCO IN TURKEY.
How the SuItaus and FaEhas Enjoy a
Quiet Smoke.

to the southeast of Salonica (Thessalon
ica). This small brownish-yellow plan
is allowed to dry for weeks-yes, otter
for months-after it has been gathered
then it is packed in small bales (bog5tche) J
and not till it has remained for years IL
the storehouse of the tobacco merchant,
is it hOnored by the Stamboul nicotiar
epicUres with the name of " aalagOb0ck'
The tobacco, cut as small as the finest
silk, is thereupon in hot request in the
imperial palace, in the sovereign harem
and likewise in the supreme porte
where the ministerial council, in
the midst of ascending aromatic
clouds of smoke, discusses state
affairs. The pipes, stalk as well as
mouth-piece, which are used for the
enjoyment of this best of all tobaccOs, are
with great care both chosen and kept.
The clay head must bear the mark of
HassaD, a noted maker of Findekli, a
suburb of COnstantinOple. The long
| Jasmine stalk, with its silken -velvety
| bark, must come from the BrOUsson
plantations. The nOuth-piece, of bright,
transparent amber, is carved after the
most approved fashion its " "zivana' (the
thin shank on which it is 6xed) has
/ come from the hands of some most
accomplished turner. Such perfect
smoking requisites and this best Of all
! tobacco are deemed worthy of each
other; and when pipe and tobacco are
both of the first quality, the pipe attend
ant (TschibUktscBil must be immensely
deft in the performance of his duties.
Often have I, alike with amusement
and astOnishment, observed the proceed
ings of the tschibuktschi, and especially
the predigious care he displays in placing
symmetrically together the various parts
of the pipe. The clay head, filled some
days before, and enriched with a fringe
like ornament, is deposited in thin box.
Frequently heard it asserted that the
taste of the tobacco depended on the form
and the size of the piece Of burning char
coal placed on it; and the tschibuktschi,
when kindling the pipe, Takes with his
tOngs in the coal pan till he has found a
fiat, round piece. Though the Turk
finds it all quite natural, yet it Is a COM
ical spectacle to follow the attendant in
the discharge of his various duties. Hold
ing the long pipe in his right hand and
the round brass dish in his left, the at
tendant moves with serious face and with
measured step toward his master. At
distance from his master, which is eX-
actly equal to the length of the pipe
stalk, he kneels. He puts down the
brass dish then he places the pipe on
the dish then, describing a half circle
with the stalk, he inserts the mouth
piece with the utmost accuracy between
the open lips of his master. While the
master is taking hold of the stalk, the at
tendant rises from the floor, and he has
scarcely retreated a step when a cloud of
smoke, sent forth by a deep breath, en-
velOpes him and everything around. The
first draw is dee med Insignificant; the
second and third are reckOned the best /;
the fourth is regarded as bad the fifth
is thoroughly desPised by the nicotian
epicure.
Of the deceased Sultan Abdul Med
schid, have heard it said that of pipe
he never took more than three draws
also the former foreign minister, Aali
Pasha, never smoked a pipe out. What
remains, and is despised by the dainty
smoker, is a delicate mOrsel for the ser
wants in waiting. That which for the
refined taste Of the Turk is too rough and
sharp, Is delicious to the coarse gums of
the wild Anatolian, who likes something
which bites his tongue sharply.
As every one uses his own pipe, we
niustn not be astOnished that this instru-
ment has become an indispensable Uade
nlecttnJ tor every man of rank. In effect,
the pipe is forever found in close PrOx-
unity to the Turk. To wait upon his
pipe, the man OF rank keeps two, and
sometimes even three, servants.
One servant has to look after the home
arrangements another accompanies his
master when he goes riding or walking.
The long stem is carried in beautifully
ornamented cloth bag; the head of the
= C4l
ries are contained in a pouch which hangs
by the servants side. a foreigner in
Constantinople often cOntemplates with
curiosity a proud Ottoman proceeding
on foot or on horseback, followed by a
servant with his long, well packed instru
ment, who, from the airs he gives him
self, looks like the armOr- bearer of some
gallant blade on the way 10 the first
fight. How times change? What the
armor-bearer was to the old warlike races,
the tschibuktschi is now to the efiem-
mate descendants.
1t IS not an uncommon thing to see a
Turk smoke from sixty to eighty pipes
daily. The pipe IS the indispensable
companion of the Turk in every oCcupa-
tiOn, however earnest and important it
may be. In the supreme porte, in the
ministerial council, where the Turkish
grandees debate regarding the welfare of
their fatherland, which extends over
| three. quarters of the globe, the question
was once discussed whether, during the
consideration of ate afftirs, the tschi-
| buktschis (pipe-bearers) should not be
excluded. Great was the difference of
| opinion; long was the contest between
| the yearning of the Palate and the sense
| of prOpriety, till at last was vIctOriOns
| the sentiment of some cOTpuleHt mem
| bers who thought that it would be wrong
| to reject ANONYMOUSLY the old custom,
and that the blameless tschibuktschis
must be permitted, as be ore, To enter
| the chamber and give the needful atten
tion to the pipes. And yet all the mem
! bers knew very well that this resolution
was pregnant with mischief and danger,
! for the cunning servants, while busy with
the pipes, snatch up with quick ear many
! a secret of state, and before even the
/ sultan and the official world have any
| knowledge of the decisions OF the supreme
/ council, many weighty debates and de-
] crees have already Through the pipe
! bearers) been divUlged. Con JequentIy
] the tschibuktschi is, next to the servant
! Of the harem, the most valuable re-
/ porter whom journalists and ambassadO-
rial dragomans can find. How often have
I seen a proud Levantine who, IN his
| contempt for the rest of the world
seemed as if he would strike the stars
with his nose, craDging and crawling in
the most abject fashion before a tschi-
buktschi, in order to entice him to
communicate some important secret, or
to furnish a glance into some valuable
document. That this playing the part
of the gO-between is for the pipe-bearer a
lucrative affair need not be said. What
alone, what exclusively, makes the
tschibuktschi the alter ego of his master
is the boundless love OF smoking which
distinguishes the Turks. Tobacco aDc