signifying in the Turkish language "The Triumph," a ceremony which accompanies the assembling together the forces of that vast empire upon the breaking out of a war. It consists of the most infidel buffoonery, and is attended with acts of the most shocking barbarity. That which took place upon occasion of the late war between the Porte and Russia is described by Baron Tott in his Memoirs as follows.

"It consists in a kind of masquerade, in which each trade successively presents to the spectators the mechanical exercise of its respective art. The labourer draws his plough, the weaver handles his shuttle, the joiner his plane; and these different characters, seated in cars richly ornamented, commence the procession, and precede the standard of Mahomet, when it is brought out of the seraglio to be carried to the army, in order to insure the victory to the Ottoman troops.

"This banner of the Turks, which they name Sandjak-Cherif, or The Standard of the Prophet, is so revered among them, that notwithstanding its reputation has been so often tarnished, it still retains their implicit confidence, and is the sacred signal to which they rally. Everything proclaims its sanctity. None but the emirs are allowed to touch it; they are its guards, and it is carried by their chief. The Muslims alone are permitted to look upon it. If touched by other hands, it would be defiled; if seen by other eyes, profaned. In short, it is encompassed by the most barbarous fanaticism.

"A long peace had unfortunately caused the ridiculousness, and especially the danger, of this ceremony to be forgotten. The Christians imprudently crowded to see it; and the Turks, who, by the situation of their houses, could make money of their windows, began to profit by the advantage; when an emir, who preceded the banner, proclaimed with a loud voice,

'Let no infidel dare to profane with his presence the holy standard of the prophet; and let every Mussulman who perceives an unbeliever make it known under pain of reprobation.'

"From that moment no asylum was to be found; even those became informers, who, by letting out their houses, had rendered themselves accomplices in the crime. A religious fury seized on every mind, and put arms in every hand; the more atrocious the cruelty, the more was it meritorious. No regard was paid to sex or age; pregnant women, dragged by the hair, and trodden under foot by the multitude, perished in the most deplorable manner. Nothing was reflected by these monsters; and under such auspices the Turks commenced the war."