The morning call., 1890-08-04
THE SULTAN
AT PRAYER.
A Religious Display With Mill
tary Accomplishments.
How the Ruler of the Ottoman Empire OBJ
serves the Ceremony of the s=lamlik in
the City If COnstantiuOple.:

Very few pageants in the world can be
found which, for stately magnificence
ana sort of solemn splendOr, can
compare with the weekly ceremony Of
the selamlik in Constantinople. says the
Kansas City Times. Friday is the AFoham-
medan Sunday, and every Friday the Sui
tan goes in state with a pomp and eircum-
stance which in most countries is reserved
for more stately occasions from his palace
10 some neighboring mosque to pray. All
his Generals, Ministers of State and ad
Visers are expected to be present in uniform.
and the occasion has grown to be the weekly
sight in COnstantinOple, the capital. OF the
Ottoman Empire. a very pretty sight IL is,
too, TO see all the grandees OF the empire
drive up in carriages and alight near the
palace, and the Sultan in every possible
way makes the Sc lamlik one of great i'm
poEtance to his subjects. Thousands OF SOL
diers, cavalry and infantry, and marines
are ordered out for the occasion, and the
eight is a most imposing one as the regl-
ments march up and take possession, hold
ing the streets adjacent. to the Sultan's
mosque. The troops then form four deep
about the edifce and on both sides OF the
roadway through which the Sultan and
suite pass. The Turkish Soldies are splen-
did looking fellows, and their marching and
drilling are almost perfection. The white
"
beautiful white Arabian horses, to the num-
Der of over 1000, ride by the saluting point
at wild pace and create the greatest en-
thusiasm. Tue post of honor about the
Handle Mosque is held by two regiments
of Syrians, whose sWarthy compilations and
splendid physiques show their nationality,
while their dress is Turkish TO degree. In
green turbans, short embroidered jackets,
baggy trousers and
WHITE CATERS,
They march with a steady, easy swing that
would put to shame almost any other Turk
ish regiment. Their green turbans. show
either that they are lineal descendants OF
the Prophet or have made the pilgrimage to
Mecca.
The palace of the Sultan is more than
quarter Of a mile from the royal mosque,
directly opposite which is very pretty lit
tie kiosk where the invited guests of the
different Ministers each Friday assemble to
witness the pageant, the great mass, how
ever, being held at some distance by the
troops. From the kiosk the scene is mag
nificent one. AS far as the eye can reach
are seen the trOops of the Sultan, while in
the distance the Golden Horn and Sea of
MaTmOra glsten in the morning sun.
After a wait of at least two hours the notes
of trumpet are heard. and it is made certain
that the Sultan Will to-day visit the Handle
Mosque, and not the second royal chapel
some distance away. Sometimes, alter the
troops have been for hours waiting in the
hot sun, his Majesty changes his mind, but
to-day he is not capTlclous. The Crown
Prince of SaXony, who has been spending
some days in the city, is present to view
the scene, and in his honor special review
Is held after the selamiik Is over few
minutes after the Sultan appears, and
while fresh sand is being sprinkled over
the roadway where his carriage is to run a
dozen or more closed carriages issue from
the main gateway and come slowly down
N.al Il Tha TWanI ord af
the mosque. They contain the Sultana and
fayorites Of the royal harem, yelled TO the
eyes and attired in light, fleecy garments Of
white, pink, purple and yellow. Beside
each cOachman sits huge black eunuch in
dark coat and trousers, with
A RED FEE ON HIS HEAD,
And as the carriages take position at the
LET'S OF the main entrance TO the mosque in
order that the inmates can see the Sultan,
the shouts of the troops and the blare of
trumpets announce that his Majesty is
coming.
In irontof- the royal carriage, which is a
most gorgeous affair, drawn by four white
horses and attended by Turkish grooms.
walk about 100 OF the leading Generals.
statesmen, maTShalS and advisers Of the
Sultan. They all wear brilliant uniforms,
covered with gold braid and medals. In
front walks Osman Pasha, the hero of
Plevna, while about him are the Cen
erals who, in more than one war, have
carried the star and crescent TO the fore.
In the carriage with the Sultan rides the
Grand Viz er, and as they slowly approach
the kiosk, where are the invited guests Of
the day, the Sultan acknowledges their
presence in the Turkish custom By touching
his heart, his head and his lips with his
right band. He is not large man. and has
strong Jewish cast Of cOuntenanee and
books very much like Jay Gould. He does
not look Ike happy man nor healthy one
either. He looks as If he was afraid of his
very life, and those who know him say this is
fact, and that he is in constant fear OF
assassination. The fact that Abdul Hamid,
the present Sultan. dep0Sed his elder brother
Murad Y in 1876 and now holds him pris-
oner in one Of the palaces on the Bosporus,
and that Abdil AZiz, the previous Sultan,
came TO such mysterious death in the
white palace, gives color to the fears Of the
present Sultan. Whether there is any
truth in them or not, the fact Is well known
that Abdul Hanid lives in daily fear
As the royal procession nears the mosque
the Generals and Ministers OF State open
toothe right and left, through which
THE ROYAL CARRIAGE PASSES.
Every one bowling almost to the ground as
the Sultan leaves tile carriage aud enters
the mosque, followed by the Grand ViZier
What takes place within only those of the
Mohammedan faith know. No Christian
otherwise known to the Turks as dogs oil
oinfdels) has ever set foot within its sacred
precincts, and none probably viii SO long as
tourists will no doubt be admitted at the
usual pride OF % cents per head.
IL takes the Sultan about forty minutes
to say his prayers in royatforln, after which