'The Transactions of the Bombay Geographical Society. From December 1854 to March 1856. (New Issue.) Edited by the Secretary. Volume XII.' [‎65] (176/258)

OBSERVATIONS ON BAGHDAD.
66
of their neighbours, are ever ready to whine about oppressions, and unfortu
nately they receive attention from those who are ignorant of their characters
and real position in Turkey. I venture to assert indeed, there is more real ill -
will felt toward Jews in Europe than at the present time in Turkey, and the
concealed hatred of Roman Catholics and Protestants manifests itself more
in |hose civilised states, than it now does in the dominions of the Sultan.
We have nothing to compare among Mahomedans with the Spanish denial of
sepulture to their fellow Christians. Here every sect of Christians has its
churches and cemetries, and the intercourse between individuals of totally
different creeds in the common concerns of life is less restricted, and infinite
ly more courteous than among those professing Christianity under different
denominations in Europe. Massacre in this country, solely on account of
antagonistic belief, is a rare thing, and when it does occur, it arises more
from its being the first political weapon at-hand on the part of the rebel
lious towns-people against the Government, than from any inherent desire
to shed Christian blood, and in some cases it has been brought about by the
Christian parties themselves being urged to set at defiance the restrictions
they had lived under in peace, if not in absolute freedom. The spirit that
shews itself occasionally in England and Ireland has recently evidenced in
the Wiseman ebullutions are but emanations having a similar tendency at
heart, though fortunately for parties the bit is there firmer in the mouth.
They nevertheless 'chafe a great deal.
The law of Tanzimat or Tansimat, suspending the infliction of capital
punishment in the provinces governed by Pashas, has been productive of
both good and evil. It was certainly wise and humane to place restrictions
on the despotic will of local governors, particularly in the provinces near
to Constantinople ; but we may question if it was politic to set aside the
punishment which held in check the lawless tribes of marauders that wander
over a great part of the Turkish Empire at a distance from the capital. In
Irak and its towns, the promulgation of this edict was looked upon by the
evil as an amnesty for crime, and by the well disposed with alarm. Revolt,
robbery, and murder increased, whereas the amputation of a hand or afoot, the
timely impalement or public decapitation of a blood stained villain, (I must
speak the truth while deploring the necessity) operated for a long time in
these provinces on the public mind, though doubtless there were occasions
when the absolute power of the Pasha An Ottoman title used after the names of certain provincial governors, high-ranking officials and military commanders. might be exercised in ridding him
self of people less obnoxious to the public than to himself. The law in
deed has been too sweeping to be attended with entire good, for we observe
offenders, after being convicted of parricide and other hateful murders,
escape the death they have fully merited, and when immediate example
was required by long confinement in prison awaiting a decision from Con