DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.4719#0306
284
CARIA.
most ridiculous kind—Russian and Greek modern coins,
buttons, pieces of tin, part of a spoon—all considered by
these men as of value, from their ignorance of their use. I
was amused by the conscientious conduct of one Turk: he
possessed, he said, the head of a marble figure, which he
promised I should see; considerable delay occurred, and a
Russian tailor, who was on his professional tour for the
clothing of some young recruits, which we saw on entering
the town, brought the little mutilated head to my room, and
said that I might have it at my own price. On inquiry, I
found that the Prophet has strongly forbidden the dealing
in idols, and any representation of man is looked upon as
such by the Mussulman; the owner therefore did not choose
to offer it to me himself. The strict observance of this law
must be a constant obstacle to the progress of art; but the
same law given to the Jews did not prevent their following
this craft, and the semblance of idolatry continued even in
the early Christian church; the Prophet alone has cleared
places of public worship of all appearances of idolatry and
form.
A general stir among the Greeks in the khan induced me
to look out, and I found that among the crowds of turbaned
people leaving the mosque, was the Pasha; a few soldiers
escorted him from the door to his richly caparisoned horse;
his own dress was the modern European, and over it a com-
mon blue cloth cloak : the red fez and a diamond locket were
the only features unlike an European gentleman. A little
eastern form still lingered about his suite; a white horse, sad-
dled and covered wdth scarlet velvet and trappings of gold,
was led in front to prance and display its attitudes, which
were beautiful, as it reared and curveted almost upon the
same spot; at a suitable distance followed the Pasha, on a
black horse, led by grooms on either side, with a number of
attendants around. In the rear followed a still more popular
personage, with the crowds of children and women who had
*"
:: i
>■*-■
mkm
•■-:.- ,,
CARIA.
most ridiculous kind—Russian and Greek modern coins,
buttons, pieces of tin, part of a spoon—all considered by
these men as of value, from their ignorance of their use. I
was amused by the conscientious conduct of one Turk: he
possessed, he said, the head of a marble figure, which he
promised I should see; considerable delay occurred, and a
Russian tailor, who was on his professional tour for the
clothing of some young recruits, which we saw on entering
the town, brought the little mutilated head to my room, and
said that I might have it at my own price. On inquiry, I
found that the Prophet has strongly forbidden the dealing
in idols, and any representation of man is looked upon as
such by the Mussulman; the owner therefore did not choose
to offer it to me himself. The strict observance of this law
must be a constant obstacle to the progress of art; but the
same law given to the Jews did not prevent their following
this craft, and the semblance of idolatry continued even in
the early Christian church; the Prophet alone has cleared
places of public worship of all appearances of idolatry and
form.
A general stir among the Greeks in the khan induced me
to look out, and I found that among the crowds of turbaned
people leaving the mosque, was the Pasha; a few soldiers
escorted him from the door to his richly caparisoned horse;
his own dress was the modern European, and over it a com-
mon blue cloth cloak : the red fez and a diamond locket were
the only features unlike an European gentleman. A little
eastern form still lingered about his suite; a white horse, sad-
dled and covered wdth scarlet velvet and trappings of gold,
was led in front to prance and display its attitudes, which
were beautiful, as it reared and curveted almost upon the
same spot; at a suitable distance followed the Pasha, on a
black horse, led by grooms on either side, with a number of
attendants around. In the rear followed a still more popular
personage, with the crowds of children and women who had
*"
:: i
>■*-■
mkm
•■-:.- ,,