The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1891-08-29
THE MORNING NEWS: SATURDAY, AUGUST 20, 1891.
ABDUL AzIz.
How Gen. Ignatieff Got Ahead of a
Royal Cock-Fighter.


From N,rrGys Magazine.
Many anecdotes of Gen. Ignatieff's Guns
ming in diplomacy were current in Constan-
tinople. am not sure that did not have
the following from his own lips The late
Sultan Abdul Azz. if not absolutely mad,
was sufficiently eccentric to cause constant
irritation not only to his ministers, but to
the foreign ambassadors. At one time he
refused absolutely to grant an audience TO
any Of the members of the diplomatic body,
and this at a time when many of them, in
Guiding the Russian ambassador, were wait
ing anxiously for interviews. Ignatieff as
certained that, under the plea of official
occupation, the sultan was spending q great
deal Of his time cock fighting, an amuse-
ment which he greatly relished. He further
ascertained that his imperial majesty was
in want Of fresh birds to supply the places
of those killed in fight. Thereupon Igna-
tief procured a fine looking white fowl Of
farmyard species, had it trimmed aud
spurred to resemble game cock and sent it
in "A richly decorated cage to the sultan,
with the respectful compliments of the
Russian ambassador.
The ruse was successful. His majesty,
who at first was delighted with the gift,
soon sent for the ambassador to present
himself at the palace and explain, if he
could, why the bird had no fight in him.
IgnatiaR went and in the presence of the
sultan examined the bird, and with of
course, immense astonishment and regret,
acknowledged that it was quite
unable to cope with his majesty's
superior game cocks. A conference fol-
lowed on the subject of game cocks in goa
eral and this one in particular, and when
the diplomatist had succeeded 10 drawing
the sultan into a conversational mood he
adroltly introduced the political matter he
had 50 long awaited an opportunity to bring
before his majesty. Ignatief returned to
his embassy triumphant over his colleagues,
who were left out in the cold.
This reference to the late sultan, Abdul
AZiz, recalls an amusing incident with
which | will close these off hand recoilec>
tions During grand council" of minis
tiers at the Sublime Porte, and i'll the midst
OF the discussion on a subject Of vital i'm
portance, q mounted messenger arrived,
bearing an imperial order to the grand
vizier to wait upon bis majesty without an
instant's delay. The council broke up, aad
the grand vizier proceeded to the palace in
hot haste. There he was informed that the
sultan was in his garden impatientlv await
ing his arrival. As he catered be saw his
majesty standing with few attendants in
tently watching fight between two game
cocks. The grand vizier, following the
custom of all Turkish subjects when APP
pro9ohlng the august presence, stopped at a
respectful distance and commenced the
series of salaams with downcast eyes and
shrinking attitude appropriate to the occa-
sion.
Never mind that now" exclaimed his
majesty excitedly, but coma here directly
Look-see-W What did l tell youa Did
not say that Achmet,n pointing to one OF
the cooks. would whip Assam? Look, he
is doing itl'
And this was what, and all, the sultan had
| to communicate to his grand vizier.