The Sultan and His PeopleOscanyan, C. (Christopher)
History
The Sultan and His People
Oscanyan, C. (Christopher)
Turkey -- Description and travel; Turkey -- Social life and customs
The moral effect of these establishments upon the community is
very evident; for though wine is forbidden by the Koran, there are
many mey-hanés, or grog-shops, to be found in Turkey, which are not
generally frequented by people of any pretensions to respectability;
indeed drunkenness is a very uncommon vice, doubtless owing to the
numerous kahvés, which afford the habitual refreshments of pipes and
coffee to the people, with every facility for social intercourse.
On entering the coffee shop, there is an elevated platform on the three
sides, which is furnished with cushions or mats for the accommodation
of visitors. On the sides of the wall are various grotesque pictures,
and also shelves, where the implements of shaving and toilette are
so fantastically displayed as to create a somewhat comic appearance,
and one altogether peculiar to Turkey. At one of the remotest corners
is an elevated fire-place for the preparation of coffee, which is
served in very small cups. The diminutive quantity of this beverage
was so unsatisfactory to one of the sailors of the English fleet at
Constantinople, that upon tasting it he observed, "This is excellent;
just bring me a dozen."
Surrounding the fire-place are shelves, upon which stand the graceful
narghillés, with their brazen and polished mountings, attractive and
pleasing to the eye. But the most active and busy personage in this
establishment is the Berber, or barber, who is not only the shaver,
hair-dresser, and trimmer in general, but extends the province of his
sharp profession to bleeding, cupping, leeching, and tooth-drawing; the
results of which avocations are displayed at the door, fantastically
strung and diversified with colored beads.
Barbers always follow in the train of doctors, and even precede them,
for bleeding is a universal remedy in Turkey, whether the patient
is sick of fever or fright. Indeed, it is the custom for every
body to be bled once a year, generally in the spring, in order to
purify the system. Add to this the frequent application of leeches,
scarifications, and cupping, and it may be easily conceived that
this branch of industry is very profitable; still more so when
it was the custom to shave the whole head, for the convenience of
frequent ablutions. Many, in conformity with European civilization,
now allow the hair to grow, but those who oppose other reforms are
equally unyielding in this respect, and "calculating even to a hair."
CHAPTER XXXIV.
HAMAM, OR BATH.
In the East there is one source of comfort and enjoyment which is
more essential than all else, and that is the use of the bath, which
follows all other pleasures, when excess has wearied the system, and
precedes and prepares for anticipated luxuries physical or mental. This
process of purifying and refreshing the body, is eagerly sought for
as soon as the traveller arrives at Constantinople; indeed seems to
be second only in his mind to the impressions of an entrance to the
magnificent harbor.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account