Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1897-05-20
TURKISH MIxTURE.~
me Extraordinary Variety OF Races Which
Afford Some Excuse for the Sultan.


The Sultan of Turkey may be a very
inefficient ruler; but when we blame
nun Tor not carrying out the promised
reforms without hitch or delay we do
not treat him with that fair play of
winch we are so proud as a nation.
owing to the extraordinary variety of
races and ereeds over which he rules.
his difficulties are almost insurmount-
able and it is doubtful whether he or
any one else will ever succeed in MAX
ing Turkey land of peace and har-
mony.
There are no fewer than seven main
divisions of races in the European and
Asian provinces. In Europe both the
Greeks and Albanians are as numerous
as the Ottoman Turks, each contingent
numbering about 1900, 900, according to
the best authorities. Constantinople
itself has just as diversified a mixture
as the Kingdom generally; and only
$4,000 of its $4,000 inha bitants are
Mussulmans, the Greeks numbering
153, 900 and the Armenians 100000. But
in Asia there are twice as many Otto
mans as all other races put together
Yurouks. and Turkomans. The names
have something terrible in their very
sound to us; but travellers unite in de-
scribing the Ottomans as honorable
and humane men. although they can
fight when it comes to blows The
Turkomans live a pastoral life, while
the Yurouks are nomadic and therefore
not easily subjected to law.
Although the Greeks and the Alba
mans are regarded as belonging to the
same Graeco-Latin race. the latter are
for the most part Mussulmans. Some
of the Alban!ans are Roman Catholics,
and others are of the Greek church,
and the two slightly divergent sects
hate each other as cordially as Parnel
lites and anti-Parnellites. But. what
ever the form of faith, they prefer rob
berry as a means Of livelihood to any
other industry. AT the same time they
are of a fine physical type and make
splendid soldiers; but they treat their
women like oxen, and, although they
dress in rich clothes of the fashion OF
the Scottish Highlands, they have
horror of soap. In fact, it is said that
they put on their clothes once for all,
and never take them off. In the event
Of war the Albanians would probably
fight for the Sultan. The Greeks have
not penetrated very far inland, but
have scattered themselves along the
coast of both European and Asiatlc
Turkey, where they are always on the
lookout TO put money in their purse
Together with the jews and the Ar
menians. they do nearly all the trading
L Il q
a very good thing out of ii. In spite of
the Sultan's misrule, the Greeks immi-
CRATE in increasing number every year
which makes one think that they mus
he singularly imprudent people, OF
that Abdul is not so very much damned
after ALL
Armenians ard their eXterminators
the Kurds, are both sprung from
Persian stock The Kurds live in tbs
mountains and are not precisely the
kind of people enc would care TO SET
about reforming. Some say there are
an even million Of them; others say
there are over two millions. They
keep the Sultan in perpetual not water
being very bad Moslems. But they are
very enterprising, chiefly in Staying the
Armenians and stealing their nelSh-
bor's goods When not thus engaged
they rear cattle. sheep and goats: ana
they differ in no way from their anceS-
tors as described by Aenophon. Ar
menia was a portion of Western ASIA
between the Caspian Sea and ASIA
Minor. but it has suffered the rate OF
Poland. and the Arnenians are now
almost as scattered as the Jews.
They number about two and a mar
millions, ard are intelligent people with
, nartic,1lar talent for trade and bank
mo The Kurds would probably fight
an the side of the Turks. and we all
know what side the Armenians would
take. 50.
Tba Semitic race has many families
in Turkey. There are the Jews VIM
rersecuted everywhere, took refuge III
Turkey: the Greek Church MafohiteS'
who are the deadly foe of their nelgh-
hor. the Druses; the Druses' Oh the
Nahometan faith, brave ana temperate
mon who take neither vine nor tooac-
20 and who detest the Maronltes' the
C,haldean. who are Christians OF
so,t. tbe Arab, of whom there are Iour
~ five millions. and who, though hoid-
,ng the religious views as the sultan
no bis inyeterate enemies ana the
Syrians. ~ c,;rcae-
Then there is a fine race OIL Clrcas-
who are differentiated from most
~ tha other inhabitants by the tact
49, +hax, work for a living; the LaZes
40 Cvusies. 1t is supposed that
=. ,ho event of war, the LaZes ana
r ~ ms well as the Tarterst
v,,o,,t,s ard Turkomans, would sup
mort the Sultan and his ottoiiiai, ~,
iects. while the Aipaniahs a.u ~
Knrds might, but probabiy Wouiu ii''
oppose him.-St. James 1azel'e'