dismisses them from the court. It need scarcely be added, that suits are quickly decided, and it is very rarely that they exceed two sittings. False testimony is said to be common in Turkey; but this seems to rest entirely upon the evidence of foreigners, who can scarcely be competent to judge; at any rate, it would seem to be disproved by their strict notions on other points of morality. When a witness is suspected, instead of examining others as to his eharacter and standing, he is examined himself by the judge as to his acquaintance with the precepts and doctrines of the Koran. If he displays an ignorance on these subjects, his testimony is set aside. It is related of Bajazet I., that upon a certain occasion he interested himself warmly in a cause in which one of his favourites was concerned, and offered to give evidence in his favour: "Your testimony cannot be received in a judicial process," was the sturdy reply of the judge; "for your majesty is publicly known to neglect the most important observances of our religion." It is added that this made such a deep impression upon the sultan, that he became thenceforward a model of propriety to his subjects. This story is reported in the annals of the empire, and we may say of it, "Se non é vero e ben trovato."

Real estate is held in this country either as military feoffs or in fee. When property is held in fee, it is often converted into what is called vakoof, which is generally done in the following manner. The intention is to put the property beyond the rapacity of judges or pachas, or the profligacy of heirs. The estate is vested in a trustee who may be either the proprietor himself or a stranger. He designates how it shall be inherited for ever by his descendants, leaving a part of it to a mosque for pious or benevolent purposes. There are many forms of vakoofs. Sometimes an estate is thus placed for three years, when it reverts entirely to the original heirs, but it is oftener perpetual. The most usual form of vakoof is the following.

The owner of an estate worth $10,000 gives it to a mosque, and receives in lieu of it $1500. He then holds his estate from the mosque, and pays it a certain interest upon the money actually advanced. In default of heirs the entire property reverts to the mosque. Foreigners can hold real estate in the name of their wives, if these latter are born in Turkey. They may also dispose of their property in vakoof even to a Christian church, and the government will only interfere at the request of the legal heirs. The Turks appear to have something analogous to the statute of mortmain, for no legacy or donation made by a sick person is valid except to one-third of the amount bequeathed.

The funds arising from these vakoofs are enormous, and are managed by a particular department. In times of emergency the surplus is loaned to the sultan, who is solemnly pledged to repay it.

Notwithstanding the apparent fairness of their courts of law, and the thorough training which all the judges must receive, it is a striking commentary upon the insecure tenure of property when we see so much of it conveyed to mosques in order to obtain protection. It is supposed that more than one-half of all the property, particularly in the large cities, is thus held under the power of the ulemah. The church, in fact, is a great mont de pieté, or pawn-brokers shop, with this difference, that she holds not only all the goods and chattels, but a great part of the real estate, of the empire under her control. The reigning sultan is fully aware of this rotten part of his institutions, and has laboured to correct the evil. Let us hope that his efforts may prove successful.

CHAPTER XLIV.

Kafe-Arrabah-Forest of Belgrade-Turkish Soldier-Military RankConjecture as to the Number of Turkish Troops-Turkish MarriageAppearance of the Bride - Mehemet Ali of Egypt

Bridal Portion
Turkish Diplomacy.

IMITATING the example of our Turkish friends, we determined this morning to make an excursion to Belgrade, and spend the day near one of those artificial reservoirs which supply the city with water. A large American party was assembled at Buyukdery, and all the requisite preparations for a glorious kafe were in readiness at an early hour. An arabah, drawn by two milk-white oxen, was engaged for the female part of the company, while the gentlemen were mounted on a motley variety of nags, of all ages and conditions. A sumpter horse, laden with eatables in the shape of Westphalia hams, partridges, &c., with a due proportion of choice wines, brought up the rear of our cavalcade, which drew all the idlers to their windows as we slowly passed the streets of Buyukdery.

The arabah, which we have attempted to sketch, is drawn by two white oxen, with their tails fastened to a long bow proceeding from the necks of the animals, and decorated with a great quantity of variegated tassels. It is impossible to see those covered wagons without being reminded of their ancient origin; for they undoubtedly represent the carpentus, or currus arcuatus, used by the Roman matrons. They form the only vehicles for the transportation of families or goods, and during many centuries it seems never to have entered the heads of the people of these countries that horses might be attached to these wagons with great advantage.

Our procession moved slowly over the plain of Buyukdery, and ascended the hilly road which leads under the aqueduct of Batchkiery, occasionally stopping to gather the blackberries, which are plentiful in the hedges along the path. After riding some distance through the forest already described, we passed the village of Belgrade, which we left on our right, and then entered a wood, where scarcely a vestige of road could be discovered. The underwood had been removed, and remnants of ornamental fences in various places showed that much attention had at one time been paid to the decoration of this spot. Our course lay over rustling autumnal leaves, which were now falling thick and fast. At the distance of half a mile from Belgrade we reached a small bendt over the stream, once designated as the Hydraulis. The principal trees here .were hornbeam, Carpinus betulus. About a mile and a half farther on we reached another bendt, which was our place of rendezvous. This bendt fills up the gorge of a narrow wooded valley, and the contrast between the glittering whiteness of this colossal marble structure and the green verdure surrounding it was not the least striking peculiarity in the scene. It is 350 feet in length, 35 wide on the top, and 80 feet above the bottom of the valley. The date, 1233, upon a marble upright slab, would seem to indicate

that it had not been built more than fourteen years ago; but this date may possibly refer merely to some recent repairs.

Upon a sort of marble throne or platform on the top of this reservoir our attendants quickly arranged cushions and our picnic dinner, and immediately kindled a fire for the preparation of coffee. Here we partook of a repast which the most fastidious would not have disdained, and which certainly lost none of its relish from our previous exercise and the novelty of our present situation. Our conversation naturally reverted to home, and many a cheerful glass was dedicated in this Turkish forest to our friends on the other side of the Atlantic. The younger ones of the party -the polyglot children of Mrs. G. and the interesting little Emilie B.-amused themselves with various sports among the woods until the declining sun admonished us to hasten our departure.

Upon our return we met with several soldiers rambling along the road. They were extremely civil, and returned our salutation with expressions of kindness and good-will. They were, as usual when not on duty, without their sidearms, in compliance with an order of the sultan, which is now rigorously enforced.

It is impossible to estimate with any tolerable precision the number of troops actually on foot in the Turkish empire. Various travellers have given statements which profess to be accurate; but, as they are only conjectures, we shall pass them over in silence. We have frequently asked the question of Turkish officers of high military rank, and their contradictory answers have convinced us that the number of troops in service is entirely unknown to the Turks themselves. We may, however, form some estimate of the troops they can call forth, by referring to the total population of Turkey in Europe and Asia, which, according to Hassel, amounts to twenty-three millions. It is not unreasonable to conjecture that this would furnish a

III