The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1889-09-05

TURKISH LADY.
wide. and IL rests high above the waters of the
Golden Horn. At its two ends stand turbaned
men who take toll from all who cross, and the
Pasha and the Bey stop here with the hcggar
and the hamal before going through. Let us
stand beside them aud make a note of the
strange characters. Here is Turkish woman
developed in a balloon-like gown of crushed
strawberry, tied in with a string at the
waist making her look, for all the world,
like two mammoth sausages on legs. The
top of the wrap half covers her head, and
its sides are gathered in at the chin, so that
her face shines out through a white gauze
vail, which begins just below the bridge of
her nose and loses itself in her bosom. Her
eyes and a strip of her forehead are the only
parts of her face which arc bare, but the eyes
are large aud luscious, and you can see through
the thin game of the vail that her cheeks are
as fair as those Of a schoolgirl l look at her
as she passes, aud then take glance at the
lady who follows behind. She is dressed in
much the same way, but her silk is of bronze,
and note that she holds il close about her
face with one hand in her modest endeavor TO
shut out the least glance of my heretical eyes.
Ii is muddy, ana / glance ut the rest of her
costume. She has pulled her gown up TO her
knees, and note that her stockings are striped,
and that her feet are clad in silk slippers. So
careful Of her face. she has no regard for her
ankles. aud she trims along as though the
Zouave pantaoons which she wears while in
the harem came down TO her heels Behind
her comes a ConstantinOple porter, who is
known here as a hamal. He is bent half
double, and his turbaned head has a strap
around the forehead, which is tied to great
box on his back. This box rests on q saddle of
leather made in the shape Of n wedge about
foot thick at the base, where il is fastened TO
the small of his back He has full pantaloons,
i ~ Il
bushel bag, aud his strong white calves stand
out in knotted cords, and they end in thick
ankles aud turned-up red leather shoes. The
box he carries is the largest of drygoods cases,
and such a porter is not esteemed efficient
unless he can carry at least 500 pounds. Near
him struts along monk in a cowl, aud behind
him Dervish. whose lanaticai Arabian feat
ures are crowned with sugar-ioaf brown cap.
which looks for all the world, like mammoth
inverted tumbler. and which stands for full
foot above his head. He wears long black
gown, aud note that his face bears a scar. /
am told that some Of his kind mutilate them
selves in their religious enthusiasm, and /
wonder whether the wound was made by q
brother fanatic or himself. There Is Greek
priest now paying his toll 10 the bridge man,
and j see behind him an English Arch Deacon
from Singapore. All religions and all peoples
ATE represented on this bridge. and here comes
a company of Mahomeian soldiers, some Of
whom are inspired with the same feeling ms
that Of their fathers when they fought the
Crusaders. They scowl at the Europeans and
doubt not they would like To earn an extra
houri in Paradise by washing their swords in
the blood Of the Christians.
Here come two fabby faced eunuchs. Each
carries stick in his hand, and both talk to-
gether in shrill, piping voices as they pass by.
They belong 10 the harem OF some Boy. and it
may be are going on erFands for their mis-
tresses. Behind them comes a CiTcassian q big
man with black beard, who has dagger In
his belt aud whose breast Is covered with car
tridge-boxes His clothes are half European,
and he wears the uniform Of one Of the Sultans
Corps He is talking 70 q Greek who IL dressed
In bailet-girl costume and who has q whole
armament Of pistols at his waist They both
stand aside 70 let the carriages pass, and In
these come some ladies of a noted Pashas
harem. The c0aehman is Turk in fez cap.
and beside him sits a stin-backcd euuuch who
was probably imported from hubia, and whose
skin is as black as your hat. lie sc0wls nj me
and raises his whip in threatening manner as
/ j peer in st the carriage and catch glimpse
OF pretty CircassiaB, whose golden hair shows
] out over magnificent eyes above q white gauze
vail. notice she has kid gloves on her hands,
and that her dress il Of sky-blue silk trimmed
with satin. The carriage drives on, and my
\ guide warns rue TO be careful how look mt the
/ ladies, and tells me how man was fiogged not
/ long ago for looking at a young bride Of q
/ Bey. The eunuchs, he says, have the right "a
! strike anyone who pays attention 10 the women
under their care, and the Turks are the most
/ jealous men in the world.
There are beRgars by the hundred and buck.
/ sters Of all sorts dressed in all coi0rs of the
/ rainbow. Some Of these sell lemonade in great
| bottles which they have slung Oh their backs
others are peddling fruits and sweetmeats and
stop as they pass over the bridge TO offer THEN
wares. There is continuous stream Of ear
Tiages Of all sorts and shapes. Here is Rus
sian wagon driven by Turk. and there comes
swell Mahometan on a white horse whose
/ pedigree dates back 10 the stud Of Solomon.
have never seen such horses before. There are