1822.] 
disposition. ‘The difference exists 
even in the shades of character. ‘The 
Turk is honest when his interest or 
confidence gets the better of his fana- 
ticism, and allows his natural good-will 
to exert itself; you may then rely 
upon him: he makes no vain protesta- 
tions like his neighbour, but devotes 
himself entirely to those whom he 
obliges. The Persian, on the con- 
trary, has only the exterior of kind- 
ness; expect nothing more from him. 
Whether you excite his distrust or not, 
whether he loves or hates you, whe- 
ther he expects or does not expect any 
thing from you, he will seek to de- 
ceive you: he will never keep his pro- 
mises, and you will always be his 
dupe. In a word, the Turk renders a 
service instantly, and without saying 
anything: the Persian speaks much, 
declares with emphasis what he will 
do, and scarcely ever does what he 
professes to intend. 
The Turk, obstinate in his igno- 
rauce, shuts his eyes against the light. 
More credulous than can be conceived, 
he is at the same time suspicious and 
distrustful by instinct. This people, 
transported originally from the banks 
of the Oxus and Iaxartes into the ter- 
ritory inhabited by the Greeks, have 
been for so great a number of years in 
continual contact with the Europeans, 
that one would be led to suppose they 
had acquired milder manners, as well 
as a taste for the arts and sciences; 
but all the suggestions of example, 
aided by all the strength of power, 
would not, I believe, be able to change 
the manners and laws of the haughty 
Ottomans. 
The Persian is distinguished from 
the Turk by more liberal ideas, by a 
Spirit of curiosity, and a love of no- 
velty. Although sometimes under the 
dominion of the Usbeks, and some- 
times under that of the Turcomans or 
the Afghans, he has nevertheless pre- 
served his enthusiasm for the sciences 
and arts. Had there been a more re- 
gular intercourse between this people 
and the Europeans, I doubt not that 
knowledge would have reached a high 
degree of perfection in Persia. The 
Persian loves to be informed, and to 
interrogate foreigners concerning the 
manners and customs of their respec- 
tive countries, the sciences cultivated, 
and the arts practised in them. He 
discovers in them that superiority of 
intelligence, which causes him to es- 
a] 
The Modern Persians and Turks compared. 
503 
teem them, although they are of a reli- 
gion different from his own. The 
Turk, on the other hand, is pleased 
with his own ignorance, and thinks it 
quite beneath him to receive instruc- 
tion from other nations, all of which he 
despises. He believes that the Koran 
contains ail that ought to be learned. 
The Turk is fanatical. The Persiau 
is superstitious without having reli- 
gion, and more tolerant, though more 
strongly attached to the trifling forms 
of worship. The Christians in Persia 
enjoy almost as much liberty as the 
Mussulmans of the lower classes. If 
they are insulted or struck, they may 
not only complain, butmay also defend 
themselves. In Turkey, and espe- 
cially in Romelia, a Greek would be 
punished with death who should dare 
to lift his hand against a Mahometan. 
The same penalty would be paid by the 
bold ci-devant zealot who should at- 
tempt to preach to a Mussulman, and 
convert him to the Christian faith. 
The Turks, it is true, respect the reli- 
gious opinions of foreigners, and no 
people were ever less tormented with 
eagerness, or even desire, to propagate 
the faith of their ancestors. The Per- 
sians pass their lives in dissertations 
on the Koran, and take pleasure in ar- 
guing with the. Christians. They are 
not offended at hearing an irreverent 
proposition against Mahomet or Ali; 
they look upon you with compassion, 
and pity your destiny in not haying 
been born in the true belief. Here the 
national spirit prevails over the spirit 
of religion. 
The Turk does not permit an infidel 
to enter his mosques, except with a 
supreme order, and bare-footed. The 
foreigner, accompanied by an officer of 
the government, has free access, in 
Persia, to the mosques, and may enter 
them in his boots. Nay, in the course 
of our travels, lodgings were appointed 
us, in several villages, in these edifices 
consecrated to public worship. But; 
on the other hand, the Persian is su- 
perstitious in the highest degree. He 
neyer eats with a Christian, touches 
no food prepared by the hands of an 
infidel, and is fearful of defiling himself 
by drinking from the same cup or 
smoking with the same pipe. Taking 
a ride one day in Ispahan, and being 
extremely thirsty, 1 begged a Persian, 
who was passing on foot, to give me a 
little water from a neighbouring foun- 
tain; he filled. me an earthen cup, 
which 
‘ 
