Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1901-04-04
TRADE GUILDS OF TURKEY.
Special Privileges and Usa&es Datins
From Past Centuries.

Special Privileges and Usa&es Dating
From Past Centuries.
From the Leisure Hour
Many once wealthy and important es-
nafs or guilds found their occupation gone
or at least considerably administration
the abandonment Of the ancient oriental
splendor Of dress and equipment and the
adoption OF western military uniforms and
weapons OF warfare which have distin-
guished the nineteenth century Trade
guilds are. however. still very numerous
In southeastern Europe, and especially in
Constantinople. where representatives Of
all the various crafts and caliings prac-
t1ced In the empire are to be found, each
having one or more loujasIodges or clubs
in every quarter Of the city and sub
urbs. Each esnaf is presided over by sew
eral ofncers. called. respectively. accord
ing to their rank, sheiks. naibs oustas and
kiayas-or presidents, vice presidents su-
pertntendents and inspectors-who are an
nuaiiy elected by the members from among
its own master craftsmen, and these off,
GERS are recognized by the government
which holds them responsible for the good
behavior Of their fellow-guildsmen
few esnafs possess large revenues or
enjoy peculiar privileges granted by va
rious sultans in bygone centuries in return
for services rendered at some important
crisis. Among these are the shoemakers
who have special officers empowered to
judge and punish all offenders belonging
to their fraternity without the interposi-
ton of the kgal authorities. This extra
ordinary privilege was 1t appears. con-
ferred upon them in the sixteenth CEN
fury by Sueiman II, THE Magnificent"
This sultan being on one occasion greatly
ries who. in sign Of revolt. had as usual
overturned their camp kettles swore that
with the help Of the shoemakers only he
would break their rebellious spirit. The
ma Choh q dc
like rapidity through the streets of the
bazaar occupied by the shops Of the pa
poutch1is. who, rapidly assembling from
every lonja In the city, presented them
selves armed before the seraf, an army Of
10000 men. shouting the Moslem war cry,
Allah! Allah!' The sultan, gratifed by
their loyalty and zeal in his service, re-
ceived their officers In audience. babe them
name their own reward, and granted the
four privileges they asked for, of which
the above named was one. When the news
or these events reached the barracks of
the Janfssarfes these insolent troops were
so dismayed that, in the words of seven-
teenth century chron1cler. they were
ready to eat not only their soup. but their
very trenchers.'' -.
i The apprentices to the various trades are,
ter under. whom they have served their
time to admission to the guild of their
craft, into which they are formally admit
ted on engaging to observe its rules and
80 W. ~ 40 uoudl ol
these occasions for all present to proceed
forthwith to some fayorite spot In the
ineighborhood Of the city, where the rest
of the day Is spent in feasting and merry
;making. Some guilds are composed entire
lly of Moslems as certain callings are ex-
iclusively in the hands of the ruling race;
Others entirely Of Christians. Many, how
ever. include adherents of both creeds, and
las members of the same esnaf Christians
and Moslems, allied by an esprit de corps
and by trade interests. pull together much
better and evince mutually a greater lber-
ai1ty OF feeling than is generally displayed
In the social relations of Greeks and Turks
At their al fresco festivities, which are
also held annually in honor Of the patron
saint Of the guild. the greatest harmony
prevails. The amusements INDUCED in
after the conclusion of the midday repast
include variety of juggling and acrobatic
performances, wrestling matches and for
the Greeks the syrtes horos-the long
drawn" classic dance-during the execu-
ton of which their Turkish fellow crafts
men. seated on rush-bottomed stools in
front of a rustic coffee house, with long
stemmed tchibouks or bubbling narghilehs
passiyely enjoy their kali.
Every esnaf has its own special tradi-
tional laws and usages, which are not less
binding than is its Kanoun. or written con-
stituti0n: and the social customs and mode
of life Of their members afford In many In
stances curious and interesting nlustra-
lions Of native manners among the labor