ETHNOLOGY OF THE PRESENT OAY. 185 



at niglit. The Turk understands liow to associate in his life the enjoyment of 

 repose with everything gratifying to the senses. He is not fond of such recrea- 

 tions as -svalking and dancing, and he is not very sociable. His ignorance is 

 a bar to rational conversation. When visits are paid, men never meet any 

 but persons of their own sex, women not being permitted to appear in male 

 society. Even among the lower classes they never go abroad unless veiled, 

 the eyes alone being visible. The place in which the women reside (harem, 

 that is to say, prohibited spot) is always separated from the portion of 

 the house inhabited by men. Women only meet in their carefully inclosed 

 baths, or in the interior of the harem, Avhere their feasts also take place. 

 At such assemblages they partake of sherbets, confectionery, (fcc, exhibit 

 and admire dresses and jewelry, and converse about the male sex and 

 female neighbors. Female dancers, who perform the most voluptuous pieces 

 before them, are allowed to enter : a respectable woman never dances 

 herself They are forbidden also to take part in the public prayers at the 

 mosques. Although confined in this manner, the women are very adroit 

 in contriving intrigues against their husbands, and for such purposes 

 chiefly make use of milliners, who are usually Jewesses or Armenian 

 females. 



Rope dancing, Chinese magic lanterns, public dances, and ill-performed 

 masquerades in the open fields, are the principal amusements of the Turks. 

 They have no particular taste for the drama and music. Games of chance are 

 strictly prohibited. 



Turkish artists and artisans are divided into guilds. Among the craftsmen, 

 the workers in leather are distino-uished above the rest for their beautiful 

 work ; they furnish excellent saddles and harness. The Turkish painter pro- 

 duces only landscapes, flowers, birds, ifcc, and arabesques ; the Koran forbid- 

 ding him to paint the human form. The sculptor executes tombstones, but 

 seldom any other work ; and the engraver cuts seals and passages from the 

 Koran. The phj'sicians entertain many superstitions and prejudices, and 

 hence Franks (Christians) are preferred as medical attendants. Commerce is 

 in the hands of Greeks, Armenians, and foreign commercial houses ; the bank- 

 ing and exchanging business is managed by Amenians and Jews. There are 

 but few Turkish farmers, and they never raise a greater quantity of produce 

 than is necessary for the subsistence of their fiimilies and the payment of their 

 trifling imposts. 



The dress of the Turks consists of long wide trowsers and a long full gar- 

 ment, under which a handsomely trimmed vest is worn. When out of doors, 

 they wear fancy-colored leather slippers, which are put off before entering a 

 mosque or a room. Boots are made use of only for riding. The head 

 is .shaved and covered with a turban. The beard is Avorn full, and is care- 

 fully trimmed. The military have at present the tight-fitting European dress. 

 The men attach great value to costly pipes ornamented with gold and 

 precious stones ; gorgeous and expensive riding equipments are equally 

 esteemed. 



Females color the edges of the eyelids with a fine black powder (Surmeh), 

 and the nails, brown, dark, yellow or red. They wear a long, wide mantle 



357 



