Turkish Superstition

I connection with thi, I will relate nn anecdote I once heard in Europe. An Englishman of íveakh some few yenrs since was trav ellinnf in Turkey - k was about the time tlie phoephorti3 matches first carne into se- you muy recollect the little red cases imported from Fmnce at Uiat time, witii a small gloss botlle in one end, and tlie matches in Ihe oiher. The firman which he had obtained from the Sultan for his safe conduct, lie had lost; and, arrivíng at nneof the border towns, ho was carried wiüi h,s servants and effect.s before the Aga, ns n spy of the Russians.- Vain were his asserlion?, his pleadiugs,thrcats, or profiered bribcs; to prison he must go, until orders from Constantinople conld be rcceived, nnd his effect s were left in posession of the Aga and his officers. Curiosity; thüugh not one of t lie grealesl atlributes of a Turk, in this case became a duty, his portmanieau and trunk were submitted to the phlegrnatic Turks. An Englishm.in generally consulis his comfort, nnd this onp, knowing how liltle of lliat orticle he should find in the land he wns visiting, had suppÜed himself with nll the ariictcs of ncce.4sity or luxury he could conveniently carry with hini. A tmall lamp, chaffing1 dish, a tea-pot, knife and fork, spoon, silver tumbler, brushes fur the head, teeih and flesh, razors, sonp, wax taperp, and other suudries, wi'.li sliirts, dickoys, bosoms, hosiery, boots, shoes and night-cape, were thrown in admirable disorder beibre the assembled divan. - These articles wera not unknown, at least to many of the Mussulmen present - but a sni;il tin case, openintr with a spring-, attracled the attention of 11; in ir, in pix litlle conipnrtments, were six red paper boxes. one of which was placed in the hands of the Aga for examinution. The top was removed, and a number ofliule sticks, their ends covered with a composition, met his eye - n conversnüon onsued as for wlmt purpoe they couM be used - ut Inst he discovered anotlicr end to the box. which be opened, a vial sealed with red, wao ditclosed.A Turk s no fooi, and finding both bottle and sticks in the same box, he very natural ly concluded they had somcthing to do with each other; he accordingly, as a Clirstian would have done, inserted ilie end oí' the stick into theuncorked vial. A light hisMiig noise was heard, the stick was euddenly withdrawn, and injlomes! - "Allah il Allah!' bursi from the tluuidrr-struck Agn - thu box was dashedtrom bis band. and epringing trom bis carpet, bo rosbed, together witb the croud, from the room and the house. Wheii their allright wns somewhat abated, since they foiind no tremendous consequences had itrrmedititefy ensued, a consul tation was held - bnt for a long lime no one would vennire near ihe haunted room. Musfenrig cour Mire, however, witb pistolscocked, ataghans in liaud, led by their chief, tho ofBcers marclicd in battle arrny to the dreadful apartment, gxpectmg, no doubt toseeoneof the fabled yonii they had read of 'm the Arabian tales. - An nwltil Biiencp ensuod - the curtain was diawn, nnd on the iloor, where it was thrown by the Agn, lay the terrible machine. Tlic [niiium was sent for, and ínnid prn}erí!, and in j solemn (iroceesion, gnardcd with Jani.saries on both öidop, the "infernal machine," with iis cotnrmnions fixcd qu forked ules, wascarried to the side of Ihe rivcr, and sunlc beheath )ts surface. The Engiitílimau vvas soon nfier releised; but to tliii uay, says ny informant, the Turkt, h;ive not torgolten the Demon of the Giaour.