The bee., 1883-01-13
THE MUSDEGIs.
Bearers Of Important News TO Importan
People.--How n nIusdegi Earns HI
Living.

Bearers OF important News 60 important
People---How MusdeE Earns His
Living.
In Turkey and Egypt it is customary
for the grandees to make presents to
those who bring them the first infor.
nation of good news. These men are
called "musdegis" or newsbearers, and
although it may appear singular, q
number Of these are professionally at
tached to the various ministries. They
receive no salary, of course, but, on
the contrary, have to pay a pretty
round sum to the minister or other
high official for the position. The in
slant fiTman is signed comforting a
decoration upon anybody, pro-
noting a civil or military officer, ap-
pointing an ambassador or consul,
ETC., the musdegi runs off at full speed
to convey the havadis or good news
to the party concerned. Long before
he reaches the house, but when within
hearing distance, he shouts out as
loud as he can, GOOD news for the
most noble, respected, or honored (as
the case may be) so and so pasha, bey,
or effendi," which he goes on repeating
till he enters the lucky mans residence.
Upon being admitted he Immediately
becomes silent, and under no con-
sideration will he impart the news to
anybody else but to the person whom
it concerns, as if the latter was to first
hear it from anybody else he would
have to remunerate him, and not the
"musdegi," the custom being to
recompense the person who is the
first to bring the news. Being con-
Quoted to the grandee's apartment, he
bows low, kisses the tips of his fingers,
touches his forehead with them, then
the ground, which he goes on repeating
several times. according to the gentle
mans rank, this being the only method
of Turkish salaaming" or salutation.
lie then asks him if he is in a humor to
receive good news, and upon being told
to proceed, tells him the pleasant
tldings, for which ne receives a present,
which is in accordance with the magni-
tude of the promotion or decoration.
In many cases the sum paid is actually
fixed by old habit, such cases being the
promotion to the grand vizierate, to
the Greek patriarchate, ministry of
war, ETC.
This custom of rewarIing bearers of
good news exists officially in England
also, but only in exceptional cases, one
of these being that the treasury pays
the fixed sum of $500 to the officer who
comes from foreign campaign to in
form the sovereign of the successful
termination of the war, and a great
deal of fuss was made in England when
Sir Garnet Wolseley sent Lord Clifford
on this mission to inform the queen of
the capture of Cetewayo, instead of
the officer who had effected that
worthy's capture, and who, it was
thought, deserved the $500 more than
anybody else.
The musdegi" in the East, besides
being the bearer of good news, for
which he gets equally we'll, if not bet
Ter, paid, as Turkish officials, being
liable to be dismissed, arrested or ex-
lied at any moment, without cause or
warning. generally arrange with one
of the "musdegis" to inform them in
time so that they can make good their
escape. 1t was through this source
that Midhat Pasha got news of an or
der having been issued for his arrest,
upon which he took refuge in the
French consulate at Smyrna, but was
afterward handed over to the Otto
man authorities by order of the French |
minister of foreign affairs.