The National tribune., 1889-09-26

up and no was forced 10 ask the shelLer OF
poor peasants hat. he WAS cordially vel.
coined, and tho best that tho man had was
given 20 himself and his servant. The bad
weather continued for eight days. and at the
close of that time, ON departing. this man Of
fered the peasant present Of money for his
entertainment. Tho peasant burst into tears
and asked him not TO insult him. He Haid
that his hospitality was free. aud that bo could
not think Of taking money Tor il. The Turks
hate the Christians, bat 30 far have received
nothing but poIiteness from them, aud their
hospitality seems 10 extend to their enemies as
well an to their friends. You ses but few bcggars
ia Turkey, and this comea from the fact that
every man here keeps open house. The poor
man without dinner feels perfectly free to
drop ia at meal times upon his more wealthy
neighbor. aud families are seldom without
guests, both male aud female.
Tho Turkish house has its mems apartments
and It's women's apartments. aud tho sexes do
not. as e rule, either eat nor live very much
together. There arc two meals day, ono
about 10 o'clock in the morning aud the
other at sunset. In addition to this there
is coffee In the morning, which the trader
often takes at tho coffee houses on bis way
to tho bazars. aud u cup of which he drinks
from time 70 time during the day. During
Kamazan, the Mahometan Lent. the family
rise and take heavy meal before day
light. aud another meal Is served just after the
sun has gone down. Between the two not
drop Of water and not bit of food Of any de-
seription pass the lips. The meals of the even
ing aud the early morning are, however.
among tho best of the year, and the Ramazan
nights are filled with reyelry and feasting. A
Aahomctan meal Is eaten without knives or
forks still there is as much etiqHet connected
with IL as with ono OF our own dinners. The
Mahometan washes his bands before eating
He uses his left hand 10 put his food In his
mouth, and he touches IL only with his thumb
aud two fingers. IL Mahometan lady wishes
10 honor guest who is dining with her she
will pick out % It'd bit from the common dish
into which all put their fingers and put il into
her friends mouth. Finely -embrOideTed tow
els and napkins arc used by the Turks at meals,
and great many of these towels are gathered
up and sent 10 America and England for use in
house decorations. Their ends are worked in
fine patterns, IN gold thread and silk aud some
OF them arc very artistic often selling for from
So 10 $40 apiece. The Turks do not use tables
To eat from. The dinner Is served on trays,
some Of which are as big around M the bottom
of "a washtub. In the center of the tray there
| is Il mat on which 10 put the hot dish and
around this are the salt-cellars, tho pepper-
Dishes the pickles and the other little nick
naeks which the Turks love. In the interior
each person has his own spoon and he helps
| himself 10 m0uthiul after mouthful Of the thick
soup which forms one of the usual courses
| Dishes are changed from time 10 time and
| among those served are fish. mutton, milk
| eggs cooked in butter, and often a sheen or n
| lamb roasted whole. Between tho courses
sweets are served, and in a well-todo family
| eight or nine dishes are set out at every meal
j have been present at dinner at which a
| sheep was the piece de resistance, and tho nut
ting OF desert between every course by no
means suited my American stomach. A dish
very popular in Turkey is plat, and this is to
the Turk what maccaroni is To the Italian. or
rice 10 the japanese. IL is made OF rice cooked
with butter and 10 is by no means an unsayorv
| dish 1t is served at all the hotels of tho Ori-
cnt, and is quite as popular as tho curry and
| rice in India. The cooks of the better families
of the Turks arc usually slaves. The chief
wife Of the establishment gives the directions
and there is such extravagant provision that
| much goes 10 waste.
The Snltan's kitchens are perhaps the big.
gest cook shops in tho world. Thousands of
| servants are fed at the palace every day, and
| the cooking for the harem alone must take
scores Of cooks. The present Sultan seems 10
| have very delicate sense OF smell, for he will
not permit the cooking for his harem to be
| done at the Yildiz Palace, where he lives. The
| meals must be prepared at the Palace OF Dolma
| Bagtche. nearly mile away, and they have to
| DO carried from one place TO the other The
| Sultan's father kept 500 cooks in his kitchens