Omaha daily bee., 1909-04-18

the town designed by the Turks to protect
the consulate from the Albanians. As the
consul passed the sentinels each presented
arms, but one man required to degrade
himself in this way lowered his gun quick
ly as the consul passed before him at three
yards distance and without aiming put a
bullet into his body.
Dropping his gun the little soldier then
took to his heels as fast as he could go
over the rocks down the Metrovitza slopes
into the Albanian valley. The consul's
retinue were surprised for a moment, but
were soon after the soldier, firing rapidly.
Either the consuls Turkish guards were
very bad shots or else their sympathy
with their brave comrade influenced their
aim, for II was the Russian Cossack who
brought the fugitive down, wounding him,
II I remember rightly, in the leg.
The Turks, contrary to prevailing opin-
ion, are not generally very good horse
men. The men We had with US on a jour
ney in Macedonia seemed to understand
their animals very little, for though the
ponies We rode could have been managed
without a bit at all, yet they kept 4 heavy
hand always on the curb. The ponies were
small and had none but natural gaits, and
the short trot was most uncomfortable un-
less one rose in the saddle. This the zap
ITEMS were unable to do, and in conse-
quence the horse suffered. Two at a time
they took turns riding with US at a steady
trot, while the others galloped or walked
alternately, thereby covering the same dis
tances as we by leaving us behind and
then allowing us to overtake them.
Ruling Race Brings Blight.
Our route the first day lay through open
country and our escort was therefore
small. We traversed the length of the
Monastir valley and stayed the night at
Prelip. 1t should be a happy prosperous
valley. for nature smiles on it. but the
blight Of the race that rules is visible
here as elsewhere throughout the empire.
The cornfields, small and poor. cling close
about the towns and the villages seem to
hide themselves in obscure corners OF tha
mountains in order to be as little as pos
sible attractive to the marauder.
The high road, a wagon track, which we
followed. skirted one village and passed
through another. but they were made of
such huts as only Macedonian brigsnds
would demean themselves TO rob, A sheep
dog, big framed and thick coated. but q
bread fed, skinny animal with an uncer-
tain lope and a hollow bark, came upon
us. on Of the Zaptiehs drew his sword
and gave It a trial swing at a low bush
near his horses feet, but a peasant came
crying after the dog and called 1t off be-
fore It came within reach of the Moslem's
blade. This was a Turk who did not re-
spect the life OF a dog in the same way as
most of his fellows.
The zaptiehs moked continually as they
rode and rolled cigarettes for us. They
gave us lights from their cigarettes, but
only the irreligious fellow would accept the
same favor from us, for which l asked the
reason.
They will not take fire from a Chris
tian." he said.
II is rather a bore to dine with Turkish
offleers-a thing one seldom had an OPP
portunity TO do in the days OF spies. In
Constantinople the table manners OF Eu-
rope are closely initiated, and the most
conspicuous differences that strike one are
the presence Of eunuchs. or ordinary black
boys, the absence OF urkis women,
though European women may be present,
and the general wearing Of the fez. But
In the interior many things are different.
There few officers know the ways OF
Europe and almost none follows them.
Queer Table Manners.
IL a Turk is to be your guest. say at 7
o'clock, he will probably arrive at 5 in the
Afternoon and he will stay on after dinner
till y or l o'clock. II is polite Of him to
give you demonstrations OF the extent to
which he appreciates your food, and this
he does by making 90 much noise as posi-
Bile In eating. II he is a real old Turk BIO
laps the soup frem his spoon audily and
smacks his lips; he highs over his coffee
and sucks his teeth. AT his own home
towels, soap and q basin OF water are pro-
vided after the meal.
The Turk Is a self-sausfied being. he il