M. KNIGHT'S ORIENTAL OUTLINES
Is a pleasant and lively narrative of a Mediterranean trip,- embracing a visit to the Grecian Islands, Constantinople, Smyrna, and its vicinity, with a sojourn at Pisa, and a notice of Leghorn. Though not a scholar, Mr. KNIGHT has had a "clas- sical education ; " so he is neither at a loss amongst classical antiquities, nor displays the pretended raptures of the ignorant. He has also, since his school. days, read many authors who have treated of Turkey and Greece : he is therefore fiuniliar with their history, and knows much of what others have written upon the places he visited, which at least prevents him from telling the same thing in a worse way. We guess Mr. KNIGHT is a member of a Yacht Club, with sufficient knowledge to criticize and describe the "points" of the Grecian and Levant craft ; which gives somewhat of a feature to his book. He appears to have acquired enough of Turkish to comprehend a discourse, correct an interpreter, and make himself understood on a pinch ; so that the groupes in a coffee- house, a bazaar, or thc way-sick, were not to him mere tableaux vivants, as they are to the majority of 'tourists. In some sense, too, he is a practical man ; and his little book contains information which those about to tread in his footsteps may find useful. Add to these qualifications, a power of forming his own opinions, and a free-spoken way of expressing them, with some truthfulness of de- scription, enlivened or disfigured by efforts of smartness, and the reader will form a notion of the traveller, who invites his com- panionship through scenes which have not the charm of novelty to recommend them.
Though generally avoiding politics, Mr. KNIGHT discovers that he is an Anti-Muscovite ; and so much has acquaintanceship im- pressed him in favour of the Turks, that he not only thinks well of their success, but half pledges himself to wield a sabre in their favour against the Russians whenever an occasion occurs. Our "ancient ally" will therefore know where to beat up for a recruit.
It is curious, that wherever Englishmen go, they generally find
something telling against their own Government in comparison with that of other countries, and Constantinople is no exception. This is Mr. KNIGHT'S account of THE ENGLISH HOSPITAL.
Whatever may be a man's station or colour—in his face or coat—I hope every Englishman is sufficiently alive to the feelings of humanity to endeavoar, whenever he has an opportunity, to better the condition of a fellow mortal, therefore call with confidence upon every British traveller into whose hands this humble volume may fall, to visit (if he touch at Constantinople) the English Hospital. Far hue' it from me to say who is to blame, hut I fearlessly assert that this establishment in the Turkish capital is a disgrace to the British nation ! it is—or was in 1836 and 1837—little better than a dog-kennel; Rea therein, during the winter of the latter year, I saw the shipwrecked crews of the Lyra, Trio, and :Midas ; three English merchantmen lost in the Black See, shivering with cold, badly fed, seemly covered with decent clothing, and almost without beds, when the snow was some feet deep in many parts of' the capital. I visited this "hospital" not alone, and can by witnesses substentiate, if neeese sary, wore than I have set down. I, however, despair not of seeing an improve. went in such =acre, if travellers will regard the "English hospital at Con- stautinople " as one of time " lions " of the city, and make a point of visiting the establishment. Other nations are not so careless of their seamen, the French and Austrians especially. Their hospitals require no " reform!"
CREEK BALLS,
All Greeks are passionately find of this amusement, which is encouraged by the priests, who sanction its indulgence even on the Sabbath. Any exclusion frurn a village ball is unknown ; DO invitation, are necessary. The doors of a house are thrown open, the guitar aunt fiddle strike up, accompanied by the steutorian voice . u.lt he musicians, :mud flue Axone are instantaueouely tilled as it were by magic. Even women with infants in arms are admitted. The occasional squalling of these brats adds to the fun. No waltzing,, no quadril. ling has yet reached Pyrgo. The old Greek dance is all-sufficient ; it main- tains its ground on am earthen floor, and laughs at innovation. Some people even bring their own provisions; and the hoist is seldom expected to be pre- pared with more than a " clean-swept floor" ;sod a few musicians. A man of the name of Stratti is the Weippert of Oxomaria. His costume is purely [lel- lenic, with one exception —a pair of English top-baots. With these lie stamps out the time in a manner that on t-Herods Herod; aml he ie thus enabled to cone fine his tiddle-etiek to the strings of the instrument, instead of flourishing it in the air for the mere purpose of beating time, which his boots more strikingly effl.‘et ; the chief charm of Oriental music—moise—is, much to the gratification of his audience, ennsiderably increased. Old Astley the equestrian, who once threatened to discharge the trumpeters of his orchestra for not playing in some part of an overture where they happened to have several bars rest—an arrangement which he himself could never understand—would, in the East, Lave iieen considered the best musical manuger out of Paradise. * * * Altlemgh, as I have already said, he who gives a dance is expected to pre- pare but hie rooms, and to " find out Smak's noise ;" nevertheless, even tithe the music, in not at his sole expense ; for after each bout the young isea who have lieured in the dance always throw the musicians a few leptas or drachma, which contributions, during the afternoon or an evening, generally amount to a sufficient sum to remunerate them handsomely.
GREEK DANCE.
The Greek dance is commenced by three men holding the ends of two ker. chicle, in such a manner that they are, as it were, linked together. Time nsaa in the centre grave a kerchief in each hand. Each of his two compenione takes a vacant end, by which means; the right hand of one is disengaged ud, the left hand of the other. One generally waves and flourishes a third ker- chief; while his companion on time other flank snaps hie fingers in imitation of a caetenet. They first make two or three circuits of time room, and at lust break or cimet off, when two select partners from the surrounding crowd. The two ladies tints take the disengaged ends of the kerchiefs oa the flanks ; so that the number in the dance now consists of five persons, who continue making the circuit of the apartment together, each showing off the most favourite stop, while the musicians cease not to play and sing most boisterously. In some eases the ladies take the disengaged ends of the kerchiefs held by the man in the centre, and the other two men fonss the flanks. This is certainly the prettier faehion. In a few nsinutes three return to their seats, leaving hut one lady and one gentleman to proceed with the more interesting part of the figure. These two face each other. The gentleman next " glues the circuit," following up the lady with as much anxiety as a young barrister lookiog out for a brief. The art of making love is now explained by pantomimic action. Dots Felix urges his suit, but Violente will not listen; the Dols becomes gloomy, dances more slowly, aud casts not a glance at his inamorata. Epon this Violente mem- mences her ocular skirmishing, the gentleman is easily induced to make a se- cond attack, Violante shows symptoms of surrender, signals are playfully ex- changed witli the white kerchiefs, time dance increases in rapidity, the music iu sound, amid cries from all parts of the room of" Vesta, vaeta I "—quicker, quicker—and the manual applause of the company. When both of time dammeers are fatigued, they make way for another set. The girls generally the out two or three partners. The latter only are allowed to be relieved. When the lady is tired, she stops, and another &mere is commenceml with five persons, who now go through the same manieuvres effected be the five they have replaced. Thus the chief part of the dance is perfigmed in going round and round the room. Sheridan Knowles would call it a " love-chase." A little variety is, however, introduced by an occasional set and shuffle to prevent giddiness. Each dance generally lasts a quarter of an hour.
FREE DU3I OF S PE L C AND "SWING IN TURK EY.
It has been truly said, that little is ever done among the notables, even in the interior recesses of the imperial seraglios that is not known in the bazaars
by the fidlowing morning, through the medium of the slaves. In the teherseees freedom of speech is seldom restrained, and almost permitted ; the timid be- come bold, the bold rash ; and thus a haughty vizier, any man in authority, and occasionally the sultans themselves, receive hints that could not be uttered elsewhere with impunity. Thus, a few words from a tekebookji, addressed to his opposite neighbour, but really meant for the ear of a pashe or a WI, may cause, as intended, the price of bread or any other article to be lowered. If no fireman be issued, the wives of the citizens may next be sent in a body, :Imre closely veiled thau usual, to clamour at the gates of the Governor's senu, If this fail, a few streets may be SOUll tbund in Ileum, and then the Governor generally yields. Fire, the " forlorn hope" of the discontented &Wald, is, how- ever, much less frequent than formerly.
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