The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1880-06-23

flashing in the sunlight Such is coup
deal of the conglomerate of cities which
make Constantinople. Yourreaders have
so often followed tourists through the
mosques, palaces, bazaars, and gardens of
this great city that need not rehearse
what has already become so familiar to
them. WV t43I
Sultan Abdul Hamid.
Since our arrival nothing in the way
ofspectacle has entertained us more than
the march of Sultan Hamid from his
palace to the, Mosque on Friday last.
Friday is, the Mohammedan Sunday, and
on that day the Sultan is expected to
show himself to his subjects and to join
the faithful in prayer in one or the other
of the, great Mosques of the city. On
this occasion he selected the one nearest
to the palace. 1t is said that of late he
has been very nervous through fear of an
attempt on his life, and that he ,iscayerse
to showing himselfoins public. We had a
good opportunity of seeing the pageant
of inspecting the troops which lined the
street on both sides, and the promiscuous
multitude of natives and foreigners who
had assembled to witness the spectacle.
Here were to be seen faces of all shapes,
compilations of all shades, raiment of all
colors, and all the styles and fashions of
dress by which men and women adorn or
dis6gure themselves. Here were Turks
in the universal red fez, but all the rest
of their dress European and sombre;
Circassians arrayed like brigands, in tall
caps, with knives and silver mounted pis-
tolls stuck in their belts, and their cart
Il L.
Syrians with striped silk handkerchiefs
wound round their heads, embroidered
vests, and flowing neither habilaments;
Greeks in fanciful costumes looking like
harlequins; Bulgarians in coarse, drab
cloaks and caps trimmed with fur; Ar
menian priests in black wells; Albanian
dandies in long curls; blue-black negroes
from Darfur, jet-black negroes from Nj
bia, with long scars on their faces made
by being gashed (ornamentally) in child
hood; Mongrels Of mixed races with ruff
fan written in every lineament; Moham-
medan women in carriages, with folds of
muslin drawn across their faces lust under
their eyes, but so transparent as to reveal
the contour of their features; and sprin-
killed. among this motley throng, hand
full of Europeans, chiefly English, with
here and there an American All this
while we were waiting; but Sultan Hamid
did not keep us waiting long. First there
was movement among the policemen,
then stir in the crowd, then blast of
trumpets, the palace gates opened, the
body guard fled out marching in advance,
and Sultan Abdul Hanaid appeared,
mounted on white charger, Immediately
behind him three or. four priests in snowy
turbans, and retinue of gaily bedizzened
officers following. The Sultan is thirty
eight years old, thin and rather below
the ordinary stature, with dark COM
plexion and beard cut close. He return
ed the salutations of his officers with a
quick wave of his hand, frequently re-
peated, and when he reached the door of
the Mosque he hastily dismounted, the
priests commenced loud chant, and all
swept in together and disappeared from
sight. There was no shouting from the
outside multitude, only single cheer,
sort of mechanical, regulation cheer,
from the troops, and all was silent. There
are two very different aspects in which
the Sultan may be contemplated, First,
as the absolute ruler over one of the
greatest empires of the world, territorial
ly; revered by the millions who profess
the Mobammedan faith throughout Eu-
rope, Asia, and Africa his will the sole
law in his vast dominions. Second, as
the representative of an aggregation Of
discordant nationalities; ruler with
bankrupt treasury, disafected and dis
couraged people, hopeless of the future;
his very capital filed with the embassa-
doris of the great powers of Europe who
pay him an outward homage and inward
ly contemn or despise him; owning num-
berless palaces, yet without home; sur
rounded by soldiers whose business it is
to shield him from all harm, yet perpet-
ually trembling for his life. Such is the
Sultan Abdul Hamid TT.
Eastern Colleges.
Two Of the important instrumentalities
in the Christian civilization of Syria and
Turkey are the Protestant colleges Of
Beirut and Constantinople. 1 visited
both of them, saw their Libraries, Geolog-
ical Botanical and Geological Cabinets,
became acquainted with some Of their
professors, and learned much from them
with regard to the management of these
institutions, and the influence they are
exerting upon the young men of the East.