Page:Islam, Turkey, and Armenia, and How They Happened.djvu/145

Rh expect anything done this side of Bairam (great festival at the end of Ramazan). If the governor of the province is expected the next week the machinery of public affairs in the court is stopped and the attention of all directed to the sweeping of the streets and arranging about his entertainment, and trying to make a good collection of taxes with this pretext.

Traveling in Turkey is constantly interfered with and delayed; the travelers are stopped on their way in many guard stations and are cross-examined, especially if they be Christians; often retained for several days with the excuse of inquiry by telegraph, and sometimes sent back; and are often tied hands and feet and sent to prison, as the fancy of the officer may dictate and the supposed wealth of the accused may suggest.

One exception to this rule of delay must be mentioned—that when the unspeakable Turk unsheathes his "dripping sword" to cut off the heads of "dog giaours" in the name of "Allah the Compassionate and His Apostle" and by command of the all-powerful Padishah—he forgets the words "yavash, yavash;" his thirst for human blood pushes him to extreme activity and madness.