other places of Europe and Asia. The
broadsheets are adorned with several engravings,
illustrative of the events and persons
described in the text — rough, clumsy productions,
but not the less agreeable to the taste
of the masses of Mussulmen. There is
considerable confusion of time and place in
them ; geography, chronology, and history,
appearing in a state of extraordinary
fermentation.

First of all it appears, in despite of diplomatic
assurances, that the war is looked upon
by people in Turkey as a religious war,
undertaken to resist the invasion, and to do
away with the dominion of the infidels. The
poems are full of the old Mussulman ardour
of conquest. Once being excited, the followers
of the Prophet want to lay their hand on
the world; their next enemy, after the
Muscovite Kral, is the Czar of the Catholic
community. It appears, that Turkey still holds
its central position, whither all other nations
hasten to assemble, England and France
amongst them, to fight the infidel Muscovites.

We have seen six poems on the war. The
first two refer to the Danubian period of the
struggle, when none but Turks and Russians
were engaged, and brings the events of war
down to the relief of Silistria. As was due,
it is headed by the portrait of Omer Pasha.
We shall select the most striking passages—
beginning with the narrative of the complications
that led to the outbreak of hostilities.
"They say," commences the poet:

the world-conquering foe
Stretches out his hand after the seat
of the Osmanli.
The infidel Muscovite has again become
very arrogant.
May he soon meet his fate!
The infidelity of the rebel is without
limit.

But Sultan Abdul Medschid, on seeing this,
summoned a great council of vizirs, professors,
and geometers; the Koran was read,
the commentaries were consulted, and orders
were given to prepare for war. Then

The poor and rich said: We have
heard it and obey.
Thereupon the chapter of the Koran
" We have conquered," was read.
They said: Let no one cling to this
perishable world!
The body to the soul shall be the
sacrifice.
We have heard this word. Let us prove
it by deeds.

The summons penetrates into every corner
of the empire, and all the nations obey it.

Many hundred thousand soldiers came
by land;
Many ships came by sea.
Even from China (sic!) God be with them!
By Allah, that was a journey, they said.
Many hundred thousand soldiers assembled
By our Lord's command. We shall have
bloodshed.
If it be God's will, we shall fight the
infidels.
By his indulgence so it will happen,
they said."

No sooner have they assembled, than the
armies are marching to the Danube and
fighting begins at Batoum and at Rustschuk,
Widdin, and Tartukai.

At first he took the lead himself,
Selim Pasha, the hero of the age. They said
The armies are ready, the lines are drawn
up,
The standards are planted on the battlefield,
The infidels are beaten, their soldiers are
dispersed,
Their bodies hanged up — bleed them,
they said.
The armies of Islamism went to fight,
We have beaten the infidels endless.
They fled and retired into
the fortress.
And cried all at once:
"Mercy!"

Having proceeded thus far (without much
military description, but with great national
and religious enthusiasm), the poet is carried
away by his inspiration, and goes on
alternately to praise the deeds of his heroes on the
Persian frontier and on the Danube; the
passage of the river by Ismail Pasha;
Mustapha Pasha's expedition to Albania in
eighteen hundred and twenty-nine; and,
lastly, again, the victory of Omer Pasha at
Oltenitza. Finally, however, thanks and
praises are given to the follower of the
Prophet, the Sultan. Therefore—

In consequence of this victory,
The sub-lieutenant of the fifth company,
Of the first battalion of the fourth regiment
Of the Imperial guard, Redif,
Ordered the Friday's prayer to be read
From the pulpit, before the inhabitants
of Silistria,
For the Gasi Abdul-Medschid-Chan."

Here the first poem concludes.

The second is shorter, but more lively and
vigorous. It resembles a summons to take
up arms, more than a narrative of the war.

We have a religious war with that
infidel,
Whom we already know a long time.
We send an army to Rome (!)
Our battle-field stretches as far as St.
Petersburg.
For allies in this war we have the lion
of God, Ali,
Ebubekr, Omer and Osman.
With these allies the war will last up
to the day of resurrection.
We have taken the crowns of many rebels
From you (the Russians) also we shall
still get much poll-money.

* * * *

In our hand is the sword and shield.
Have you not yet felt the fire of the
Osmanli?