New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1880-08-22
NEW PUBLICATIONS.
.nyrNrIlREs IN ASIATIC TURKEY.

rommau,er Cameron already we'll known by
h;s Journey across Central Africa, undertook two
vc,rs ago an expediton from the eastern sh"re
of the Mediterranean, across the Nhaye'S y.
Aleppo. Diarbekr and Bagdad, to the Naiiey oi
the Tigris and the Persian Gulf. HIS spcciai Pu'-
pose apart from the indulgence OF that 'as'c ior
adventure of which he had previously given such
striking proof TO explore route lot railway
No scheme for the construction of a road had been
put into definite shape but people had beguh 10
talk seriously of a railway to India rs pressing
- immortal necessity: and it was characteristic
NJ Mr. Cameron that without waiting for q COM
mission from ANYBODY he asked for leave of absence
from the Admiralty and started OF. as volunteer
pathfnder. to see for himself what facilities the
country afforded for the undertaking, and what
difficulties would have to be ov ercome. He made
scientic observations, surveys ETC., and doubtless
took abundant field notes but in the volumes
now before us he gives tho story Of the match,
sketches Of the people and places. and incidents
Of the way, rather than the dry data which the
railway company will want from him, II 1t be ever
organized even the discussion of the best route is
telcgated to a chapter at the end Of the "oIk
The style has little literary polish, but II is
clear and unaffected. If Commander Cameron is
never brilliant on the other hand he Is never dull
lie impIe sses the reader as a brave, manly good
nat,,red intelligent, unparalleled and observant
fellow. He is q lover Of horses. and dogs ana
boys and an enthusiastic sportsman. He describes
the hunt with zcst that is almost infectious we
learn to share his afcctonate admiration LOT MS
fGvorite steed and we become fast friends OF the
greyhound Nimshi, whose character may be in
ferred from the following sentence u: The mules
came Struggling in one by one, and one was so ex-
hausted that he lay down, load and all, and
Nimshi who always took care of herself, instantly
lay down the top of him.
Commander Cameron had one European CON-
panion. a gentleman named Schaefer. AS drago-
man or Interpreter, he engaged Chaldean, de-
scribed as a pretentious and rotund person /" the
lines on which lie was built" says our sailor trav-
eller, were more adapted for stowage than
speedy with unbounded faith in the decorative
effect Of paper cuffs and collars. which he put on
whenever he saw n chance TO air his dignity
A curious looking little sduat fat man he was
with an enormous face, in which the mouth usuTped
the greater portion, swarthy complexion, tnicK
lips heavy eyebrows. snub nose, and pcndulous
cheeks, the vast eXpanse OF which was occasion
ally shaved showing on other days a stubbly waste
like Hotspur's dandy lord Rounj-sh0uldered and
how-kneed. with enormous hands and feet, he still
thought himself a perfect Adonis and regular
lady killer. He attempted his captivating powers
among the ladies' maids, and when repulsed put
down his want of success 10 their want OF cult.
waited tastes. Like the semi Europeanized ORIENTAL
generally, he was failure. but his pretcnsions
were SO great that still believed in HIM Afterwards
he was found out
The Chaldean after afordlng a great deal OF
amusement, is discharged in disgrace and for the
rest of the journey the interpreter is delightful
boy named Gabriel, who speaks French and Eng
lsb. The expedition started from Beirut. Be-
sides MeSsrs. Cameron and Schaefer and the
Chaldean 1t comprised a groom. a cook. two other
servants and a train of mules and theI muleteers
From time to time one OF two zaptiehs or soldiers
Joined the party as escort, by command of the l0ca
authorities. The line Of Ilalch Law first to the
norhward, as faT Aleppo. and thence crossed the
Euphrates ncrtheastward into kurdistan turned
back for a while at Diarbekr. and ran sOutlIw est
ward to Mosul and Bagdad. The luggage, camp
cGuipage, and conmissary stores we're transported
Oh pack mules. The travellers met with more or
less hospitality on the road, but they were gen
orally Obliged TO sleep under canvas, and even at
the towns and villages the camp was often decld-
edly preferable to the khans trinan from Con-
stantinople saved them from serious mocstation at
the hands of the Turkish officials and procured for
them various privileges and they too strong
10 fear much from tho robbers who lricsied the
highways. al along tie route pilaging seemed
to he regarded as a customary incident of travel.
"Oh," said an old shek near Aleppo. "you have a
good spear; now if you have a good horse YOU
don't want ANYTHING more, because you can rob
ANYBODY who is not so we'll provided you are"
Besides the soldiers assigned TO guard duty al the
camp CT On the march. the authorities sometimes
detailed officer to attend the Englishman for
special occasions, and Commander Cameron soon
discovered that this gentleman of rank expected
TO be tipped as well as the servants:
As left the town we were invited by our
friend the officer who had been appointed TO guard
our tent to take parting cup of coffee, so, as we
had been told by Monsieur Blanche that the right
thing to do was to tip him. we begged OF him to
enough. On this subject Monsieur Blanche told us
a very good story. He took the captain of an Eng.
liSh mai-oi-war up TO see the castle at lTlpoh and
on leaving the Turkish officer refused the money
offered HIM however, after accompanying them a
short distance, and when he was out OF sight OF his
men. he said he would be very glad TO take 1t.
Monsieur Blanche rallied him on his mock
ui0desty, when he said. ! don't mind the men
seeing me take money, but should be ashamed II
they saw me take 50 little Inc hht was hot
acted on.
Bribery in Office is apparently universal and the
government would be looked upon as the very
worst possible if Mr.. Cameron did not assure US
that in Persia it is still worse. The folio wing
experience hcfcll the fench vce-consul at Orfa,
the ancient Odessa:
Monsieur Martin has bought a large tract of
country near Orfa. which he cultivates, and cx-
ports the wheat Notwithstanding his title deeds
having been made ont and legazcd at Constants.
nople he was not allowed by successive Governors
to enter upon full possession until he had paid
heavy brides three or four times he gave hity
pounds nut though allowed to cultivate his land
they would not register his deeds. AT last he was
hundred and fifty pounds IN one sum, which had
the desired effect.
The difficulty of reforming Turkish admins
tration is illustrated By the following pages:
The telegraph which comes here is almost entirely
nsed for Official PURPOSES for which, in the eyes of
tie Turks it is admirably adapted. as, In the first
place il docs away with the bother of letter
writing aud in tbs second il is such an admirable
instrument for binding those dogs of Giaours.
This is the usual way which the dogs
dcred bind SPINE abuse is reported which de-
mands instant redress. dispatch is dictated TO
the central authorities By European consul or
minister and sent of ut once by special messenger
70 the official implicated, and the ire of the Euro
pean is appeased AS soon as the Turk is left Alone
he offers thanks 10 Heaven for having enabled hun