New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1881-09-10
AFFAIRS IN THE ORIENT.
opr1DoruLAH IN CoNsTANTINoPLE

OF PUBLIC ADOKATION-HlS DESIRE TO LEARN
THE MYSTERIES OF WESTERN CIVILIZATION
LORD DUFFERIN AND THE TREATY OF BERLIN
ANARCHY In EUROPEAN TURKEY.
BYRON THE REGULAR CORRESPONDENT OF THE TRIBUNEl
CoNsTANTINoPLE, Aug. IT. The great
Kourdsh Sheikh, Obeidoullah, has recently arrived
here as the guest of the Sultan. year and half
MOO he went to war with Persia at his own charges.
He organized q filibusterng expedition of Kourds,
passed the frontier unopposed by the Turkish
authorities and drove the Persian troops before him
as far as to the city of Oroomiah Here he
checked and amused himself with ravagng he
surrounding country far and wide while arrange
ments were being made to bring his pans TO noucht.
The Persans collected large army to drive him
out while the Sultan. urged by the foreign anlbas-
sailors here, expended much eloquence in appeals to
his loyalty and in arguments intended to convince
his judgment of the improperly of such private
warfare against ally of Turkey.
The Sheikh processes to have been unmoved by
the military demonstrations of Persia and declares
that he returned his side of the frontier solely
out of regard to the tender feelings of his soyer
egn. He declares that had he continued, as he
mighG have done, he would have conquered Persia
In few weeks The squeamishness which led
Turkey TO disapprove of the addition to its terri
tories which he contemplated he is entirely unable
to appreciate. BE this as it may, he returned to his
mountains aud disbanded his troops. This done,
nothing further was said about the matter
THIS year another attempt to invade Persia was
In the course of execution, when the Porte peremp
torily interfered. IL announced that the Gov
eminent had decided to arrest the Sheikh and to
bring him 10 Constantinope. In due time the
arrival of the Shelkh in this city reported.
Some curiosity fel. to the manner i'll which
the Turkish Government would punish its lawess
subjects oi the Eastern frontier. The reception of
the Sheikh quantity Oriental, in view of his
history and of the circumstances of his arrival in
this city. The day after his arrival Sheikh
Obeidoulah taken to the Sultan The
Sultan kissed his hand and had long talk with him
on the state of the country and the best means of
extricatlng the Empire from it's difficult position.
de showed so much regard for the Sheikh that it
has been rumored that this Kourdish chieftain
might become Grand Vzier. A large house
near the palace set apart for the residence of
The Shekh; horses, carriages and servants were
placed at his disposal and every day food from the
Royal table is sent to the house for the deectation
IF the Sheikh and his suite.
At his new residence the Sheikh now holds sort
of court of his own His reception room is a great
hall on the second story. At one end, on broad
divan, sits the Sheikh-a tall rather spare man.
dressed in the long lowing robes of the lar East
and wearing an immense white turhan on has head
md brilliant yellow slippers upon his feet To this
place flock the people from far and near. Each
man, as he enters the hail. folds his hands upon his
breast and bows TO the ground. Then with bowed
head and tie peculiar rapid shuttle with which
Undetermined Orientals approach their superiors
the visitor crosses the reccption-room. Be he of
high low degree, his attitude in the presence of
Sheikh Obcidoullah is one of abject servity. He
pauses to bow once within two or three
PAGES of the Sheikh. and then makes a sudden dash
At the great mans teet Ii the visitor is dexterous
Ind not too high in rank, he succeeds in Selling the
yellow covered object OF his affections and fer
vently kisses it, But the Sheikh always makes
fent of Withdrawing his feet from such alteration,
and in the case OF visitor of rank he commonly
succeeds, after slight scue in receiving the kiss
npoE his hand He then kisses or appear to kiss
the head of his visitor without much care as TO
the point towards which the kiss is directed. Tins
little ceremony being the visitor still keeping
his hands well folded IN front of him. and still bow
Ing the head in humility, retires backward two or
three PAGES and stands in silence. The Shekh
then in yites him to sit down. Since there are no
chairs in the room, this might seem vain and
strictly complimentary invitation. But it is not so
to the visitor, who quickly kneels upon the floor
and seats himself upon his heels still keeping
his head bowed and his hands folded in front of
him. Let any reader OF The TRIBUNE try kneeling
npon the floor in order TO sit upon his heels, and he
will realize the discomfort Of the position taken by
Bcores of grave men, who thus place themselves be-
fore Sheikh Obeidoullah and remain silent, with
downcast eyes, for long periods of time to receive
In their own hearts the mystic influence which they
believe TO radiate from the presence of so holy a
man. The men who come TO do homage to the
Sheikh seem TO be thoroughly in earnest. There is
nothing perfnnctory about the ceremony. The
men who kiss the feet of the Sheikh are visibly
much affected, trembling from head to foot as
under some violent emotion. After baskinn in the
presence sufficient length of time, they arise and
SILENTLY bow venture forward again to plunge
at the yellow feet with the kiss of veneration and
then they back away to the door of the hall never
Haring tor an instant to turn around or to relax
bhe folded arms. to lift the bowed head until
they are fairly out of the room. Then they 10
Down stairs to their carriages, and drive away re-
treshed by the interview.
This alteration of the semi -rebelous chief of the
T1lu kourdish mountaneers is not in any wav
worship. 1t is merely the homage owed by common
laymen to man who is reputed of unusual attain
ments in holiness, and in the knowledge of the
means of spiritual access 70 the One True God
Sheikh Obeidoullah is very high authority in the
order Of the Nakhshibendee Dervishes. His life
70 God, and the people venerate him accordingly
1t would be utterly imposs. BILE for the Government
70 punish the Sheikh for any little mistep like his
hlibustering expedition into Persia lust as il
would be impossible, IL Obeidoulah was at home
Tor the Government TO arrest him. He came to Con-
stantnople OF his own free will, and although the
Turks will find means of keeping him from returning
Eastward for some time, they cannot venture to
show him disrespect, to use visible means of
hampering his movements. OF course, however
the Pachas surround him with spies as il their
wont.
The territories in the vicinity of the abode of
Sheikh Obedoullah practically under his con
frol. His district is hne stretch of mountain and