Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1892-08-07

| be paid az these places.
THR cossrlwIisoroLIrAS DOCS.
What Is Oriental differs SO widely from
what il found in France. Germany. Eng
/ land, and the United States that one cannot
/ walk on the streets with open eyes with
ont seeing something strange and unlike
what he has been accustomed 70. All
visitors remark on the privileges Of the
innumerable dogs that lie in the sunny
places on the streets and give way neither
/ 10 carriage nor pedestrian. Protected as
scayengers and regarded with q sort Of
nuisance, obstructing travel by day and
making night hideous by their barking
and howling. In q ride Of less than halt
an hour without special effort l counted
over 300. Nor are they attractive. They
are lean, lank. law ours. without aris-
tocracy or nobility in blood or appearance.
! was told that by sort OF, unwritten
common law. rigidly enforced, the dogs
divided the city into districts and per-
mitted no aliens or intruders to invade
the assigned quarters.
TIRE GRAND BAZAAR.
All markets or places of bargaining in
the Orient are called bazaars, but the Grand
Bazaar in Stamboul is notable for the build
ings which compose Ii. tho multiplicity
and variety and value of the objects ex-
posed for sale, tho animation and eager
I
bic labyrinth of streets and passages, the
queer little dens In which sits the Turk
with his nargileh. having behind him on
shelves and in hidden, drawers studs Of
incredible richness. the turbans OF men,
the wells OF women, the chaiferlng and bar
gaining, the affected indifference and real
anxiety Of buyer and seller. and for the
motley mixture Of people and things seen
nowhere else in the world. The bazaar
covers q large area and forms village in
itself with numerous enclosed villages, the
streets being covered and giving some
what sOmbre hue to everything. Particu-
lar streets have their specialities and many
visits are needed TO make one familiar with
tho shops and the intricate windings.
Perfumory, shoes. jewelry, armor and arms,
robes. stuffs of silk and satin and linen,
eiAbrOideries, carpets, curtains, shawls,
and almost everything, ANTIQUE or modern,
that curiosity or taste or need may desire.
The Government Treasury. visited only
! by special permission ana opened with
much yigilant ceremony, contains the most
magnificent collection in the world OF
arms, accoutrements, robes, crystal, dia-
monds. rubies emeralds, pearls, and most
rare and precious stones. The Sultan
might hquidate the national Indebtedness
by the sale of these treasures. lying I'M
used and unprOductiyc.
The cemeteries are curious and worthy
of visit, although the Turks do not show
great deal of respect for the dead.
Cypress trees cover the graves, but there
Is little attention given to costly sepul-
chres or monuments. A woman's grave is
surmounted by a stone cut into point,
while the stone on mans tomb IS carved
into a ball III the shape of turban or fez.
THE DEByIsHEs.
Few visitors to the East fail 10 see the
Dervishes in their curious religious per
e.. hi A., a
sect OF Mohamedans is OF ancient origin.
an has exerted much influence by their
compac organization. their mysticism,
their ianaticism and readiness for martyr
dom, and their sanctity. The exhibitions,
If so they may be called, took place In
rude unadorned rooms. No admission fee
Is charged but strangers are expected to
leave a contribution.
The dancing Dervishes, after saying their
PRAYERS according TO the usual forms, sat
mOtIonless, listening TO sort of rhythmic
melody, made by flutes and other instru--
lnents. This music after awhile seemed
20 lntoxicate. when one arose, stretched
out and lifted his arms higher than his
head, and began TO revolye slowly on his
feet. Others followed, until the whole
band. seized by a sim ultaneous and ire
sistlble nfatuation, began double
circular motion on their feet and around
tho enclosure. turning gs tops their
shirts shaped like umbrellas. AS the or
| cbestra accelerated the time, with dizzy
velocity, each Deryish quickened his
revolutions. and this dance continued
until the performers were thoroughly ex-
hausted, some falling helpless upon the
floor.
The hall of the bowling Dervishes was
equally exempt from all architectural or
other ornamentauon. On the walls were
suspended some verses of the Koran. Inc
Imam or chief priest and his acolytes sat
at one end in Turkish style on carpet.
Assembled in front were the Deryishes,
who repeated in unison kind OF lltany.
At each verse they balanced their heads
backwards. forwards, sldewise, with q KIND
of sympathetic frenzy. Soon they formed
against the opposite wall KIND OF chaln,
putting arms across their breasts and their
/ shoulders in close contact with those OF
/ their companions, and As the excitement
grew began from their chests to hurl or
/ below III tones inhuman prolonged and
} painful cry, Ia Iidh allah. The company
moved as one man. throwing themselves
violently sdewise and forward, holding
( their feet in fixed position. bowling as with
one breath like wild beasts, persplring,
/ painting frenzied, intoxicated.
DISGUSTING SPECTACLE.
/ 1t was o disgusting spectacle, and each
! spectator felt as If ne had an attack Of
/ cess. The Imam encouraged by voice and
/ gesture the insane orgy. Afterwards. men
/ and children, and even babes. were pros
/ trated before him, and he walked upon
| and over their bodies, aud then breathed
! his benediction upon them. The theory
/ Of the faithful is that unseen angelic
! hands uphold to prevent harm, but To my
infdel eyes it seemed as if miracle were
unnecessary by reason OF the support
/ given by attendants Absurd and repul-
/ sive a. were the gonutiexiOns, the howllngs,
/ the contOrtions. it was impossible not to
/ be impressed, not to feel a sort OF awe,
/ when one witnessed religious feryOl
aroused to such violent expression, the
/ swaying and bending and kneellng and
/ revolving and gestlculatIng III unison
/ with military uniformity and precision,
and the harmonious, simultaneous move
ments and utterances as if inspired by
some sublime faith in an unseen being.
THE OTTOMAN EMPIRE.
The Ottoman empire has extensive pos
sessions in Europe, Asia, and Africa. In
some cases jurisdiction Is exercised
I directly, in others it is nominal, or by dele
| CATION. Egypt, Samos, some provinces IN
7 Europe are held, if held at oil, by very
slight tenure. Excluding what the
sovereignty does not really cover,
there remains an immense terri
torial area, capable under wise and
| weli-adminlstered government OF support
I ing prosperously vast population. The
western portion of Asia Minor is called
/ Anatola. and embraces towns and .ooun-
| tries we'll known to us in ancient classics
/ and in the Scriptures. such as Blthynia.
Mysia, LYDIA. Pamphylia, Troy, Assos,
/ Eohesus. and others. The government Is
a hereditary, personal, absolute monarchy,
at tho head OF which is the Sultan. who IS
! both civil and religious prince, The
I 50 If. ,ratr of llrlant
sents facts without grandeur, contests
without glory, and rGlers known Chiefly by
their crimes and their follies." The Sui
/ tan is assisted in the direction OF affairs
/ by two high functionaries- Grand
/ Yizier in civil affairs, and IN religious mat
tiers. the Mufti, who Is the chief dignl-
tary OF the Mussulman Church. The Sui
tan has also Council of State, whose
official duties are quite similar to those
I OF The ministry or cabinet in other coun-.
tries of Europe. The Empire. is divided
/ into 80 provinces. over each OF which Is q
"