Herald Of The Times

The Ottomans.-A late traveller in
Turkey thus describes some of the
peculiarities in the manners and
customs of the Turks :
" They abhor the hat : but uncovering
the head, which with us is an
expression of respect, is considered by
them disrespectful and indecent; no
offence is given by keeping on a hat in
mosque, but shoes must be left at the
threshold : the slipper, and not the turban,
is removed in token of respect.
The Turks turn in their toes; they
write from right to left ; they mount on
the right side of the horse; they follow
their guests into a room and precede
them on leaving it ; the left hand is the
place of honor ; they do the honors of
the table by serving themselves first ;
they are great smokers and coffee
drinkers ; they take the wall, and walk
hastily in token of respect : they beckon
by throwing back the hand, instead of
throwing it towards them ; they cut the
hair from the head ; they remove it
from the body, but leave it on the chin
they sleep in their clothes : they look
upon beheading as a more disgraceful
punishment than strangling ; they deem
our short and close dresses indecent
our shaven chins a mark of effeminacy
and servitude ; they resent an inquiry
after their wives as an insult; they commence
their wooden houses at the top
and the upper apartments are frequently
finished before the lower ones are
closed in: they eschew pork as an
abomination; they regard dancing as a
theatrical performance, only to be looked
at, and not mingled in, except by
slaves ; lastly, their mourning habit is
white ; their sacred color, green; their
Sabbath day is Friday : and interment
follows immediately on death."