DR. WHITMAN'S ACCOUNT OF THE GREEK WOMEN. THE Greek women have the face, which is beautiful and of an oval form, uncovered. Their eyes are black, as are also their eyebrows, to which, as well as to their eye-lids, they pay a particular attention, rubbing them over, to bestow on them a deeper hue, with a leaden orc reduced to an impalpa ble powder, blended with an unctuous matter to give it consistence. Their complexion is generally pale. They wear their hair, which is of a great length, and of a deep shining black, in tresses, and sometimes turned back, in a fanciful way, on the head. In other instances it hangs loosely down the back, extending to the hips. They are commonly dressed in a pelice of silk, satin, or some other material: they are costly in their attire, in the choice of which they are not attached to any particular colour. On the head they wear a small cap. The Greek women marry at about the age of fiftcen; they are short-lived. At twenty-five they wrinkle and decay, bearing the appearance altogether of old women. They have fine children, who, however, partake of the pallid complexion of the mothers. It is unquestionably to the too frequent use of the warm bath, to which the Greek women are so much habituated, that their very relaxed and debilitated state is to be ascribed; and this abuse, added to their natural indolence and their inaction, as certainly tends to shorten their lives. DR. WHITMAN'S ACCOUNT OF THE TURKISH PROCESSION AT THE OPENING OF THE BEYCAM CAVIBAM. ABOUT eight o'clock in the morning the procession commenced; but the Grand Seignior did not make his appearance until half past nine. The dresses of all those who com posed the procession were splendid and costly. The fine horses on which they were mounted, and more especially those of the eunuchs and principal officers of state, were most gorgeously caparisoned, the housings of many of them being of gold embroidery, studded with precious stones, by which a very brilliant effect was produced. In the turban of the Grand Seignior was a beautiful aigrette of very great value, the diamonds of which it was composed being of uncommon magnitude. Several of his horses, on which his shield and various trophies were carrried, were led in the procession; and being very richly caparisoned, and ornamented with a profusion of diamonds, rubies, and other precious stones, gave a brilliancy and magnificence to the scene, which far exceeded any idea I could have previously formed of it. During the procession, a Turkish officer was constantly employed in throwing on the heads of the popu lace handfuls of new paras (small coins). The contest which ensued, Turkish spectators no little amuseto pick them up, afforded to the ment. The Grand Seignior, who was very superbly mounted, was followed by his sword-bearer, carrying his sabre, the hilt of which was profusely studded with diamonds. Next came several officers of his seraglio, richly dressed, bearing on cushions his turbans, ornamented with diamonds and other gems. The streets were lined on each side with janissaries, whose dress-caps appeared to me both ridiculous and unbecoming. As the Sultan passed along, he from time to time bowed with great affability to the people, all of whom prostrated themselves at his approach. The kisla aga, or chief of the eunuchs, officiated at the mosque, and wore on his return a valuable pelice and a rich caftan, with which the Grand Seignior had presented him. Several other caftans, of qualities suited to the rank of those for whom they were destined, were dis tributed by the Sultan on this occa- Monthly Mirror sion... The procession was conducted with great decorum, and throughout the whole of it, the best order observed. It would be impossible to describe all the striking appearances it exhibited, or to enter into a detail of the great variety and extreme singularity of the magnificent costumes which were displayed. To be brief-it afforded to us strangers a spectacle truly novel and interesting, and fully repaid us for the trouble we had taken to be comprehended among the number of the spectators. By eleven o'clock the streets were cleared. ............ Epitome 8. d. 1 0 0 6 1 0 Medical and Physical Journal 20 ..... Magazine Young's Annals of Agricul ture Zoological Magazine 2 6 2 0 2 6 0 0 6 2 0 2 6 2 0 1 6 1 6 1 0 1 6 2 0 1 0 State are partly Turks, partly The Turks have established them20 selves here since the middle of the 6 sixteenth century, and have ren10 dered themselves so formidable, 1 0 that that they may be considered as the lords of the country. They are the nobility: their privileges are founded on their personal va¬ lour; and in their hands are all the offices and employments; the other inhabitants being kept by them in a state of ignorance and subjection. All the Turks settled here, have at different times arrived either as emigrants, or even fugitives, from the dominion of the Grand Seignior. According to the established constitution of Algiers, no native of the country can be a Turk: he only is considered as a genuine Turk, and enjoys the privileges annexed to 1 6 that class, who is descended from 10 Mahomedan parents, or born of a 10 Mahomedan mother, in the domi20 nions of the Grand Seignor. Re1 6 negadoes, who come from Turkey 0 to Algiers, are indeed in one respect 1 ACCOUNT OF ALGIERS. esteemed Turks, but not so noble as the others; holding a rank as much inferior to the genuine Turks, as the new to the old nobility in Europe. Formerly the number of Turks established at Algiers was from fourteen to sixteen thousand men: but now they at most amount to nine or ten thousand, among whom there are many invalids. The vacancies occasioned by death or otherwise, are filled up by recruiting, chiefly at Smyrna and Alexandria, where young men are, by tempting and fallacious promises, enticed to leave their native land, and enter into the service of the Dey. The recruits who here offer themselves are almost all of the lowest class of the populace, runaway artificers, shepherds, criminals escaped from the hands of justice, among whom there are not seldom murderers and villians guilty of other the most atrocious crimes. Their first reception at Algiers answers not to their highwrought expectations: they receive a few coarse clothes, free quarters in the barracks, daily two small loaves of bread, and every other month 406 aspers. Twelve or even sixteen years may thus be passed, before a Turk is raised to the class of those who are entitled to the highest pay. Such as have relations, or exercise a trade, subsist tolerably well: the others overrun the country in bands, and live by plundering and robbing. These excesses are indeed sometimes punished by the government: but, as the cause still continues to exist, they cannot be entirely suppressed. No wonder, then, if the Turks are hated by the Moors: but their hatred shews itself in acts of vengeance only against such of them as singly stray too far into the country; for, on the whole, they are more feared than hated by the cowardly natives. The Turks resident in Algiers are ignorant, proud in the highest degree, lazy, voluptuous, revengeful and jealous: but then they are at the same time faithful, sincere, The courageous, and tolerant. meanest Turk esteems himself far superior to the Moors, Christians and Jews. These ideas of superiority, which he brings with him from his native country, are nourished and confirmed by the privileges he enjoys at Algiers. inhabitant of the East places his In repose and conveniency the chief happiness. Stretched in indolent ease on his carpet, the opulent Turk smokes with voluptuous relish his pipe, remains for hours in the same posture, drinks his coffee, slumbers between whiles when he has no company; takes sometimes by way of change a little opium; again smokes his pipe; orders his slaves to perfume him, and in particular his beard, with incense; and in such a round of enjoyments consumes the whole day. Those who are less favoured by fortune enjoy as much as they can, and for this purpose hasten to the coffee-house, to smoke their pipes at ease, to view the passengers, and enjoy the pleasant delirium arising from opium. Even the poor and indigent will live on a scanty portion of the coarsest food, and wander about the streets dirty and covered with rags, rather than submit to work. Nothing is able to rouse the Turk from his inactivity; he seems merely to vegetate, and to prefer this torpid state of existence to every other. no with an unbounded propensity to This indolence is accompanied sensual pleasures. passion for the sexual intercourse A moderate is in this country a rare phenomegerine Turk in his jealousy: non. Not less excessive is the Alpunishment is so cruel, no deed so black, but the offended party will resolve upon, to wreak his vengeance on his rival. knows no higher happiness on earth As the Turk tuous desires, and as his heart is full than the gratification of his volupof it, his lips overflow with it, and it forms the darling subject of his serious countenance brightens up; conversation: here his habitually The privileges and perogatives of the Turks here are merely personal. They pay no poll-tax, and have an exclusive title to rise to the first offices of the state: to the dig and his fancy is sufficiently awakened to furnish him with the necessary images. Those who are strongly built, live upon a generous and nourishing diet, belong to the beautiful races of man, and are justly_nity of Dey, none but a genuine renowned for herculean powers. But as they enter upon the course of pleasure at too early an age, they preserve the reputation of superior prowess for only a short time. Avarice, too, is a characteristic of the Turks at Algiers. Their original indigence lays the first foundation of this passion. In the sequel, domestic cares, and the extraordinary expenditure necessary to smooth their way to promotion and to the offices of the state, render parsimony a duty, which at last degenerates into the most sordid avarice. The Turk, however, has likewise his good side. One may almost always rely on his word, and reckon upon his fidelity and promised assistance: he is a stranger to dissimulation and to deceitful evasions. A Turk will seldom secretly purloin any thing, whatever he takes, he takes openly and by force, from pride or revenge. He as much abhors cunning and deceit, as he does pusillanimity and cowardice. It must be observed, however, that among the Turks their natural disposition to these virtues becomes considerably weakened in proportion as they rise to high honours and dignities. The Turks not only think, but act tolerantly: at the most, they pity those who profess not their religion. Some of them even think too nobly and rationally, to condemn those of a different persuasion merely for following the dictates and conviction of their consciences. Nay, there are not wanting instances of Turks exhorting their Christian slaves to the observance of the external rites of Christian worship. Renegadoes are by the most of them despised. In general the Algerine Turk is equally a stranger to fanaticism and bigotry; he hates both. Turk can be exalted. No Turk can be punished except by the express command of the Dey: when condemned to death, the mode of putting them to death, according to rule, is by strangling: sometimes, though rarely and for secret reasons of state, the execution is performed by the administration of a dose of poison in a cup of coffee. To their other privileges must likewise be added, that they buy all the necessaries of life at a lower price; that from all gardens and vineyards which are not inclosed with high walls, they may take as much fruit as they can eat; and that their testimony, all other circumstances being equal, is always preferred to and held of more value than that of the Moors, Jews, and Christians... Their male children and descendants inherit only a small part of these privileges; and constitute a peculiar class of men, who are next in rank and dignity to the Turks. These sons, who spring from the marriages of Turks with women natives of Algiers, are called Cololis or Coloris. They have the privilege to be in cases of necessity admitted, by permission of the Dey, into the military. After their enrolment, they are considered as equal to the genuine Turks, and advance like them in rank and pay. They may likewise be raised to civil offices of the state, but not to the first. The number of these Coloris is considerable, especially in the vicinity of the capital. Among them are ancient, rich, and respectable families. The sons even of the Dey himself belong to the class of Coloris; and consequently cannot succeed to the throne, or to any of the higher offices of state. It may even be asserted, that the richest and most considerable families of this country consist of Colo ris; as all the Beys, Califs and Caits are always Turks, who leave great wealth to their children. The Coloris form a middle class betwixt the Turks and Moors: they are certainly the most dangerous enemies of the domination of the Turks, and continual envy and mistrust subsists between both parties. The government therefore admits as few as possible of the Coloris into the military corps; nor ever employs them in secret and dangerous expeditions; and, in case of any dispute arising between them, always favours the Turks. With respect to the character of the Coloris, they resemble the Turks in being proud, vain, jealous and courageous; and likewise votaries of sensual pleasure, but more laborious and addicted to business. On the other hand, they partake of the perfidy and dissimulation of the Moors, and of their propensity to superstition. In bodily strength and structure, they are not inferior to the Turks, and cannot in this respect be distinguished from them. Being the descendants of the richest and most considerable men, many of whom have travelled into distant countries, they undoubtedly belong to the most intelligent and cultivated part of the inhabitants of Algiers, from whose conversation a European may derive entertainment and instruction....... They have likewise a genius for the arts; and the most expert artists and artificers of the country are Coloris. The second grand division of the inhabitants of Algiers is the Moors. Under this general name are comprehended the Moors properly so called; the Cabyles, mixed with Brebers (Berbers); and several proper Arabian tribes. The Moors in the Algerine dominions (Mauri Mauritani) must not be confounded with the Negroes, the more so, as their natural colour is as white and beautiful as that of the natives of the south of France, of Spain, and Italy. The country people, indeed, who expose themselves half naked to the burning rays of the sun, have an adust and reddish-yellow appearance: but this is not the natural colour of their bodies. With respect to their moral character, the Moors of this country are inferior to the Turks. They are malicious, false, cowardly, revengeful, fanatical, ignorant, superstitious, fraudulent, avaricious, and, as far as regards the lower class, likewise thievish and rapacious. But, then, they are more active than the Turks, and especially have a turn for commerce and the mechanic arts. The Moors who live in the cities, do not appear in so odious a light: for, by their frequent intercourse and dealings with other nations, they become more polished. They are likewise for the most part, in easy circumstances, and some of them even rich. The Turks are hated, and even despised, by the rich Moors; who reject and avoid all connection and inter-marriage with them and the Coloris: but they dare not openly shew their hatred and pride; on the contrary, they are obliged to take refuge in dissimulation and flattery, and to purchase with presents,patrons and protectors among the Turks. The less wealthy Moors in the towns are for the most part artificers: many of them likewise follow the sea service. Among the rich, and those of a higher rank, we find some, who even are fond of books, and apply to the study of the sciences; but their knowledge extends not beyond the Koran, and history, as told by the Arabian writers and chronicles. The greatest villians in the cities are found among the lowest class of Mcors : these cannot be kept within bounds and restrained from crimes of every kind, but by extreme severity, bordering on cruelty. The Biscaris form a small exception. Very few of the country people who are Moors are wealthy: the greater part have hardly a sufficiency to s disfy their most pressing wants. On them rests with all its weight the despotic pressure of the govern |