Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1877-11-07
Itineran. Commerce of con.tantinopIe.

Almost the whole of the itinerant
commerce of Constantinople is carried
on by peasants from the provinces and
the tributary States, who come up TO
the capital to seek their fortunes, re-
naming for various periods ranging
from several months to as many years,
according TO the distance and difficulties
of transit from their native villages,
where they have left their wives and
families. They revisit their homes
from time TO time, then return to their
labors, until, having amassed suffi-
cient sum on which to retire, they set
tie down in the 'Memleket," 5" (the native
place. to cultivate the ground, and end
their days among their own people.
These street merchants and laborers
are estimated at between $4,000 and
10000, of whom a small proportion
only are genuine Turks, the greater
number being Armenians; the last, a
sober, honest, and industrious body of
men, are the "hammals. or street pOr-
tiers, who are also employed as the
guardians of banks, counting-houses,
and shops, besides which they take ser
vice willingly As household drudges in
their leisure hours. Other Armenians
are the ''sakas," or water-carriers, and
in both capacities they are members of
an organized society, under the direc-
ton of a chief of their own appointing.
1t is among these ''hammals" that the
descendants of the ancient Kings of
Armenia may principally be traced,
and the name of many humble indi-
vidual staggering under his load, or
counting the cOppers gained by his
hard days toll, is high-sounding enough
to suit the most exalted destiny: Tigh-
ranes and Argashenz, (Artaxerxes,) it
may be, carry between them the port
manteau or sedan-chair which is their
joint property; Tiridates, Balthazar,
and Arizdaghez are bringing water to
your cistern, while Mithridates stands
by with leathern hump upon his
shoulders, ready for the first load that
may offer. The Albanians are also
numerous; they are the sellers of
"Mohalibe," "Khalwah," :" Sesame seed
and honey "salep," and of sort of
fermented acid drink, much favored by
the Turks. The ''bakals" (grocers)
and the makers Of stove-pipes and of
iron work in general come from Kaise-
riah, (Cesarea in Asia Minor,) while
MaitOs opposite the Dardanelles and
other places in Roumelia sends us car
penters, and Yanina and Salonica
masons. The wCOd-cutters are mostly
Turks, from the neighborhOod of Treb-
izond and the interior of Anatolia, and
it is also the Turks who manufacture
and sell the sweetmeats so attractive to
the public of all ages. Greeks and Bull
garians arrive from the barren slopes of
the Pindus mountains to pass season
in selling fruits and vegetables, and
many engage as milkmen, and as jour-
neymen gardeners, carrying about
plants and flowers, out of which they
make a lucrative trade. The Persians
are the principal dOnkey-drivers of the
capital; they and their patient little
beasts form an important element in
the moving panorama of the street
scenes, as, i'm default of sufficient roads
and proper vehicles, it is the fate of the
little donkeys to stumble along, en-
cased in mOnstrous planks, or bearing
their heavy panniers loaded with brick
and stone. The kurds work as ham,
mails of an inferior degree; they are
much employed about the quays and
Custom-house i'm unloading vessels, and
are supposed in general way to be de-
voted to coal, while the Montenegrins
and Croats flourish spade and pickaxe,
in companies and under the orders of a
ehicftain, to whom they pay feudal
obedience.-Tempie Bar.