Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1882-07-05
BARBARY.
The Country in a High State Of Excite.
ment, and an Outbreak Against
Christians
Liable TO Occur at Any MOment-The
Situation Very Graye-C0nceits
of Consuls.
correspondence of the Appeal.

TRIPOLI, June 6.-The country Is in 8 high
state OF excitement, and has been for months
past boiling like a caldron, and at any mo-
ment an outbreak may occur. The Arabs
have been excited by the Turks against the
French for some time, but now their hatred
has turned against all Christians. The mar
abou,s aud other fanatics are marching
through the streets of the town, and all over
the country, carrying the green flag, the flag
of Mahomet, with drums, followed by large
crowds OF Arabs yelling like madmen, as
they are crying out, Down with the chris
tian=!!' "Away with christians Several
Maltese and Jews have been beaten, and yes
terday the Spanish vice-consul was insulted
just outside Of the gate, or city wall. The
worst feature Of the excitement is that the
professions are headed by Turkish military
bands, which shows that the military is en-
coursging the Arabs. The situation by some
is considered grave, for should another out
break occur there is no way of es-
cape. We are cut of from all tele-
graph communications, nc men-of-war are
known TO be on the Tripolitan coast; En-
gland and France are SO much taken up Just
now with Egyptian affairs tina. they have
forgotten their subjects in Tripoli. Ameri.
can men-of-war are scarce, and, like police
men, can never be found when wanted. But
we have no American subjects mere. The
most valuable thing the United States have
here is a small library of valuable books
which ought to be sent home, for In case of
a massacre 1t would be burnt certain. But
the excitement. may pass off without any
mischief being done. Should any one be
killed, it will be the worst for these fanatics
in the end, for the civilized world will not al
low their subjects to be murdered BIZ these
sanity gentlemen without retaliation. One
cause of the disturbed state of affairs il the
regency is, unfortunately, some so, 600 Tunis-
ian Arabs that have been driven out of Tunis
by the French, and have taken refuge in Tri-
politan territory; and many OF these people
belong to the worst tribes in all Barblry.
Some OF them belong to the Marick, and are
the descendants OF the ancient Romans.
They still retain the Roman cross on their
arms, and many wear the cross Suspended
around the neck, but they are Mohammedans
in religion. They are the most powerful
tribe of the desert, and the most wsrlike.
They very frequently attack and destroy
whole caravans, killing the people and APP
propriating their goods. They inhabit the
country from Algeria and TrIpoli TO Tim
buctse. The men cover their faces from
their eyes down, and it is said that no one
ever sees their faces, not even their wives.
Those that L have seen are fine men. They
remind me of the Western Indians. They
are white, but being exposed to the hot sun
from childhood, naturally become dark.
They have magnificent eyes and teeth, and
from all accounts they can cut a mans
throat on the most improved plan, even with
more dignity than a Sioux Indian. An
Oriental consul, or rather a consul in Tri-
poll, is q very important man, especially in
his own estimation. King Pepin, or a pro-
vost marshal during the late war, is the
nearest idea L can give you OF their i'm
portauce; but even that does not give any
correct idea. In the first place. they have
by treaty and usage considerable power as
regards the subjects of the country they rep
resent. They can send a man to prison,
Danish one that does any wrong, etc, here,
and settle all disputes between their subjects,
so to speak; they are judge, lawyer and jury
composed OF one man. But his self-im-
portance does not arise so much from his
judicial powers as it does from the attention
that is shown him when he makes his appear
ance on the street. Accompanied by two
eaUases (soldiers) in the most gaudy uniform,
whose duty ii is 10 clear the streets of
donkeys, Arabs and all who may come in
the way. When this august person passes the
Turkish Guard he is saluted by the soldiers,
presenting arms. In passing along the mar
row street, a little wider than a dry goods
counter, that leads by the castle and 20 the
main gate of the city wal, you have to pass
a dozen sentries, so the salutes received arc
many and most gratifying to the person re-
ceiving the same. On the slightest provoca-
NAOh q SOhChA wi hbo = IL oAAu oOL1C " Il
them are of the brightest material. A field
marshaIs uniform gives one only a slight
idea of the brilliant equipage OF an Oriental
consul. We have a vice-consul here who
affords some fun for those who like such
amusements. i will give you a description
of him: He is about five feet three inches in
hight, will weigh about 200 pounds; nearly
as long one way as the other. He wears a
scarlet coat with large epaulets and a
cI0DSUI with n nlUma Of ostrich fpatherg
This wonderful hat looks something like one
of those oyster schooners you can see on the
Chesapeake Bay.) White pants with gold
lace, patent-leather boots and a seven-pound
saber complete this important mans
dress. 1t would do you good to see him
when he is rugged out and fully equipped.
His cauaSeS Tor soldiers) are men
six feet in hight, who march just in front
with two long stats of polished wood, silver
mounted. The c1Uases referred 10 stand, or
sit rather, at the entrance of the consulates,
announce visitors (wben they are not asleep), |
carry messages, and in importance are only
second to the consul, in their Imagination.
They are a guard OF honor TO the consul, and
as a rule are considered a necessary nuisance
by all sensible people. But all the consuls
here have them; must keep them, cannot get
along without these important staff officers
staff officers is a good word. The Turkish
is in a sad state. The soldiers never
think of pay; at least they never speak of
it, and their clothes are in rags I am really
sorry for the poor men), while the officers
strut around in their gold lace uniforms
and display any amount of ignorance and
brutality. Tn men are good soldiers, and it
is a lasting shame the way they are treated.
If both officers and soldiers were out of the
regency it would be much better for the
Arabs. The Turks have no money, no heart
and less sense. The whole law, political,
moral and religious, Of Turkey can be
in one word-intrigue. What
can you expect of or from a people who
their women not only slaves, but pris-
oners, SO to speak. These satraps fill their
harems from the young women of the coun-
try without any consent on the part OF the
poor woman. They are never allowed to see
the face Of a man, but their master, and
when they have to appear in the street they
go thickly yelled and wrapped up, looking
like a cotton bale, with the center hoops of,
wrapped up in a sheet. Whenever / see one
Of these deluded creatures on the street, l
like pulling off their veil and saying:
Woman, behold the beauties of the great
Yen will be tired Of this rambling
disconnected and disjointed, but IS /
have no one near me to scold, you must par
lon me. As for tush! his skin is thick;
yes, much too thick, so 1 will not disturb
aim by anything L may saw.