West Virginia Democrat. [volume] (Charles Town, W. Va.) 1885-1890, 1888-11-16


nez he is met by troop of $4,000
men on horseback superbly accou-
tired, and shortly afterward the sui
tan himself, with dazzling suite,
rides forth to meet him at the gates
of the city. He remains on horse
back, but the envoy alights, and the
first short formal ceremony OF intro
duction takes place, after which the
emperor retires and the diplomat
with his suite is conducted to the
palace set apart for him and his es-
cort-the only dwelling in the city
furnished in European fashion.
The grand vizier is still commits.
stoned TO minister to his wants, and
pays him frequent visits, never omit
ting to admire tritiing personal OBJ
jects, that may be lying about with
such persistency that no alternative
is left save to beg his acceptance OF
them. AS he expects the offer and
would be very much put out if it not
made. the only way of securing ones
property is to put it out of sight be-
fore his arrival. 1t must, however,
be added, that he is very easily sat
isfed: an old opera glass, q sixpen-
nv frame, an ancient almanac.
A MATCH Box
being equal prizes in his greedy es-
timation.
At Mequinez the interviews he
tween the sultan and his guest are
numerous and protracted, always,of
course, carried on through the inter-
prefers. The sultan is seated cross
legged on q heap of superb rugs and
furs, the envoy accommodated before
him with small arm chair, the
suites remaining motionless and
standing.
Dinners are given in honor of the
stranger at his own residence; his
servants and retainersI if they are
European, are made to sit at the
same table with himself. The dishes
placed upon the table are of gargan-
tuesque proportions; a whole sheep
is brought up on one dish, on an
other two dozen fowls, surrounded
by smaller birds, and the size of the
dish does not preclude a great varl-
etv. The viands, in themselves, are
not bad, but they are dressed in a
peculiar way, according to national
culinary receipts, in which cinnamon
predominates. AT every visit which
the minister pays to the pashas and
high functionaries coffee is served.
The beverage in every instance is
prepared by a black in the cup out
of which it is drunk, and he makes
no mysteries of testing itrepeatedly
to be sure that it is compounded
perfectly. Etiquette requires that
three cups should be taken; the first
is sweetened to the consistency of
syrup, the second is favored with
peppermint, the last with verbena.
At no meal is'wine served; the ma
tives, of whatever rank, never sit at
table with the Christians, but squat
on the floor. tearing the meat with
their fingers, as the Koran fOrbids
the use of knives and forks. They
are possessed of extraordinary dex-
terity in their manipulation, dis
iointing huge carcasses and boning
fowls with the greatest ease. The
sultan is, or affects to he, great
observer of the Mussulman tenets,
and in obedience to one OF the reli-
gious laws, does not wear single
order or decoration.
The women of Mequinez are al
loy ied to walk out of the precincts
Of the harem on one day of the week,
Friday. Their favorite resort is the
TOP of the walls surrounding the
gardens, which are so wide that sew
eral carriages could move abreast.
From that point of vantage they do
not scruple to cast fascinating CLAN
ces on the "Christian dogs" whom
curiosity has attracted, and who are
not remiss in conveying to them
their mute and forbidden admira-
tion.
The sultan is not rich in so far
that he has neither civil list nor
private fortune; but this is abso-
lutely immaterial, as he is privileged
to appropriate whatever he chooses,
money, houses. land, cattle, horses,
Jewels, weapons and women. As soon
as any of these find favor in his eyes
he merely sends a message to the
owner to the effect that henceforth
they are his, aDd no one ever dis
putes his sovereign right to do so.
He Is NEITHER CRUEL
nor voluptuous,and seems conscious
of the cupidity, rapacity and un-
scrupuiousness of his followers.
while he sincerely wishes to have
certain improvements introduced
into his dominiors. He is, for in
stanca. anxious to establish rail
WAYS, and it is matter of moment
and rivalry to European nations to
obtain the contract for them. Bel
gium has sent him, as present, a
complete train, engine, tender, and
two carriages, with the necessary
rails for a track of few miles. The
necessary engineers, strokers and
dr;vars accomnanv the train and