Page:Islam, Turkey, and Armenia, and How They Happened.djvu/182

176 "Black giaour," "Blind Mosgof," "Blind hog." They say "Hog Frank has sharp mind." They call a railroad (without having seen it), "ship on the land;" bicycle, "the devil's horse." Balloon is called "ship in the air," and they talk about Armenians having passed arms and ammunition into the interior through these "air-ships," and even some have declared that they saw them passing in the night. They say "Frank can destroy a whole army by holding a huge looking-glass against the sun and burning the enemy with its light," and sometimes use this means by night. They think about the telegraph that you strike here and the words are heard at the other end. They are very cautious not to touch the wire, thinking that it will cause wrong news at the other end, and you will be held responsible for it. When they hear the sound produced upon the wires by the wind they say, "There, the news is going!"

Some think that "the people in the interior" (Europe) walk with their heads down, and there are people in China that have one eye, which is at the top of their heads. When they hear an American talk English they say "he is talking bird language," and ask the native Christians whether they know this language. If they say "no," they are surprised and ask "Why do they not talk giaourish" (infidelist)? All the customs of the foreigners seem to them very strange and unnatural, especially their tables, where men and women sit together, talk and laugh while eating. They most bitterly detest the foreigners, be they missionaries or merchants, for their neglect to