THE MUSSULMA N. BY R. R. MADDEN, ESQ. AUTHOR OF "TRAVELS IN TURKEY, EGYPT, NUBIA, AND PALESTINE." "the face of Mussulman Not oft betrays to standers by The mind within, well skill'd to hide Bride of Abydos. "And indeed the sundry contemplation of my travels, in which my IN THREE VOLUMES. VOL. II. As You Like It. LONDON: HENRY COLBURN AND RICHARD BENTLEY, NEW BURLINGTON STREET. 1830. THE MUSSULMAN. CHAPTER I. Let not a man perform such an act hastily: want of circumspection is a great cause of danger; wealth pays homage, even voluntarily, to a man who does the deed with caution. VISHNUSARMAN. THE chief executioner of Smyrna was one of the most amiable of men, and best of Moslems. As Yussuf very properly remarked of the exemplary coolness of his manner, it was truly admirable. Whether he had one wretch to de-, capitate, or ten, it made no difference in the land-tortoise dignity of his pace; whether he had to bow-string a grandee, or simply to cut VOL. II. B the throat of a rayah, it was done with the same gentlemanly, flint-faced apathy. One morning he was sailing along the bazaar at the customary rate of half a knot an hour, when his son-in-law made his appearance. "This is rather a busy morning with me, Yussuf,' said the executioner: "I have no time to lose; go and order that Caffigibashi to bring me a a cup of coffee and a pipe. I have two to kill this morning-they are only Christians; but after dinner I have one of your corps to bowstring privately. I am generally" (continued the worthy functionary, yawning a little) "rather fatigued after the latter operation. I have a mind to let you try your hand on one of the rayahs, but I fear you would make a bungling business of it." "O honoured father!" exclaimed Yussuf, "by your bright sword I implore you, by your powerful arm I conjure you, try my skill; if I dispatch not the infidel to your satisfaction, never give me the cutting off of another head." "Well! be it so, my son," replied the executioner; "but I still fear your well-meant |