EUROPEAN TURKEY. 



707 



via. It was almost destroyed by the Janissaries in 1821, and it suffered much again from the 

 conflagrations of 1827. Its trade is active, but is carried on cijictJy by Creeks and Armeni- 

 ans, and the mechanic arts are chiefly exercised by Germans. 



3. Agriculture. Notwithstanding the ferlihty of tlie soil, agriciillure is little known and less 

 practised. In the norlhern provinces the pasture is luxuriant, and wheat might be raised in al- 

 most any quantity. In the southern parts rice is common. Barley and a kind of grain called 

 durra, are likewise cultivated. Excellent grapes are produced, with abundance of dates and 

 olives. 



4. Commerce. No country possesses greater commercial advantages than European Tur- 

 key ; but they are neglected through the despotism of the government and the inactivity of the 

 people. The internal trade is almost entirely in the hands of Greeks and foreigners. The 

 principal exports are carpets, cotton, wool, silk, tobacco, currants, raisins, wine, hides, wax, 

 &c. The imports are chiefly cloths, cofi'ee, sugar, spices, glass, hardware, jewelry, paper, 

 and slaves from Georgia and the Caucasus. 



5. JWanufaclures. Few articles are made in sufficient quantities to supply the home con- 

 sumption, and scarcely any for exportation, except carpets. Silks are manufactured in several 

 places, but not to any great extent. 



6. Inhabitants. The Turks themselves do not form the chief part of the population of the 

 Empire. The great mass of inhabitants are Greeks, Armenians, Wallachians, Jews, Al- 

 banians, Gypsies, &c. The Turks are perhaps, with regard to form and feature, the finest race 

 of men in Europe. Their life is one of ease ; their dress is loose and flowing, and without 

 the ligatures so common in the west of Europe ; their ablutions are frequent, and their women 

 have for ages been selected for beauty from the Creeks, Circassians, and Georgians ; with all 

 these circumstances it would be strange if the Turks were not a handsome race. The Turks 

 are well formed and have high foreheads, dark eyes, and finely cut features. Their complex- 

 ion is dark ; nearly a copper color. They have much gravity of demeanor, and are seldom 

 seen to move quickly, except on horseback. 



The distinctions of rank are those of oflice. There is no hereditary nobility except the 

 Emirs or descendants of Mahomet, through his daughter Fatimah. They are scattered over 

 the empire, and have such a character for simplicity, that the Turks say of a simpleton, " he is 

 of the Emirs." This deterioration of intellect in the Emirs is perliaps occasioned by intermar- 

 rying only in their own lineage. They wear Mahomet's color, green, which it is not lawful for 

 others to wear, and Christians are never suffered to assume it. The daughter of a foreign 

 consul was shot by a Mussulman, while she was inadvertently riding in a green dress, and the 

 murderer was not thought to be a fanatic. A blow to an Emir is punished by cutting off the 

 hand. 



7. Dress. The dress of the Turks is not liable to sudden change ; it is hardly liable to in- 

 novation. It is, however, considerably different 

 from the prints in books of travels in Turkey a hun- 

 dred years ago. On the head is a turban, or a cap 

 surrounded by many folds of cloth. The form and 

 size are various, and denote the rank of the wearer. 

 The Turks abominate hats, and the populace nail 

 them to the doors of those whom they stigmatize as 

 traitors. The Turks never uncover their heads, and 

 the ambassadors wear their hats before the Sultan. 

 The head is shaven close, except a single long tuft 

 left on the crown, by which the devout IMoslemin 

 supposes he will be lifted into paradise. The Ar- 

 menians, Jews, and Greeks are distinguished by the 



Turk. colors of their hats and slippers, and it is not per- 



mitted them to wear any but the stated color. 

 The Turkish dress is loose and flowing ; the outward garment is a long and loose robe. Un- 

 derneath is a wide vest bound with a sash ; loose drawers, and a shirt with wide sleeves, with- 

 out wristbands. On the feet are worn slippers, which on entering a house are left at the door. 

 This is the usual dress, though many classes have a diflerent one. An office is often denoted 

 by the dress. There are sumptuary laws regulating dress ; which is, however, still very rich, 

 especially on the great religious festivals. The present Sultan has reduced the dress somewhat 



