Halil the Pedlar: A Tale of Old Stambul Read online

  HALIL THE PEDLAR

  A Tale of Old Stambul

  by

  MAURUS JOKAI

  Author of"The Green Book," "Black Diamonds," "The Poor Plutocrats," etc.

  Authorised Edition, Translated by R. Nisbet Bain

  SANS PEUR ETSANS REPROCHEThird EditionLondonJarrold & Sons, 10 & 11, Warwick Lane, E.C.[All Rights Reserved]1901CopyrightLondon: Jarrold & SonsNew York: McClure, Phillips, & Co.

  Translated from the Hungarian, "A feher rozsa,"by R. Nisbet Bain.

  CONTENTS.

  CHAPTER PAGE

  INTRODUCTION 7

  I. THE PEDLAR 11

  II. GUEL-BEJAZE--THE WHITE ROSE 36

  III. SULTAN ACHMED 49

  IV. THE SLAVE OF THE SLAVE-GIRL 69

  V. THE CAMP 99

  VI. THE BURSTING FORTH OF THE STORM 123

  VII. TULIP-BULBS AND HUMAN HEADS 134

  VIII. A TOPSY-TURVY WORLD 153

  IX. THE SETTING AND THE RISING SUN 179

  X. THE FEAST OF HALWET 203

  XI. GLIMPSES INTO THE FUTURE 216

  XII. HUMAN HOPES 240

  XIII. THE EMPTY PLACE 270

  INTRODUCTION.

  On September 28th, 1730, a rebellion burst forth in Stambul againstSultan Achmed III., whose cowardly hesitation to take the field againstthe advancing hosts of the victorious Persians had revolted both thearmy and the people. The rebellion began in the camp of the Janissaries,and the ringleader was one Halil Patrona, a poor Albanian sailor-man,who after plying for a time the trade of a petty huckster had beencompelled, by crime or accident, to seek a refuge among the mercenarysoldiery of the Empire. The rebellion was unexpectedly, amazinglysuccessful. The Sultan, after vainly sacrificing his chief councillorsto the fury of the mob, was himself dethroned by Halil, and Mahmud I.appointed Sultan in his stead. For the next six weeks theex-costermonger held the destiny of the Ottoman Empire in his handstill, on November 25th, he and his chief associates were treacherouslyassassinated in full Divan by the secret command, and actually in thepresence of, the very monarch whom he had drawn from obscurity to setupon the throne.

  This dramatic event is the historical basis of Jokai's famous story, "AFeher Rozsa," now translated into English for the first time. No doubtthe genial Hungarian romancer has idealised the rough, outspoken,masterful rebel-chief, Halil Patrona, into a great patriot-statesman, amartyr for justice and honour; yet, on the other hand, he has certainlypreserved the salient features of Halil's character and, so far as I amcompetent to verify his authorities, has not been untrue to historythough, as I opine, depending too much on the now somewhat obsoletenarrative of Hammer-Purgstall ("Geschichte des osmanischen Reichs").Almost incredible as they seem to us sober Westerns, such incidents asthe tame surrender of Achmed III., the elevation of the lowliestdemagogues to the highest positions in the realm, and the curious andcharacteristically oriental episode of the tulip-pots, are absolutefacts. Naturally Jokai's splendid fancy has gorgeously embellished theplain narrative of the Turkish chroniclers. Such a subject as Halil'sstrange career must irresistibly have appealed to an author who isnothing if not vivid and romantic, and ever delights in startlingcontrasts. On the other hand, the unique episode of Guel-Bejaze, "TheWhite Rose," and her terrible experiences in the Seraglio are largely,if not entirely, of Jokai's own invention, and worthy, as told by him,of a place in The Thousand and One Nights.

  Finally--a bibliographical note.

  Originally "A Feher Rozsa," under the title of "Halil Patrona," formedthe first part of "A Janicsarok vegnapjai," a novel first published atPest in three volumes in 1854. The two tales are, however, quitedistinct, and have, since then, as a matter of fact, frequently beenpublished separately. The second part of "A Janicsarok vegnapjai" wastranslated by me from the Hungarian original, some years ago, under thetitle of "The Lion of Janina," and published by Messrs. Jarrold and Sonsas one of their "Jokai" Series in 1898. The striking favour with whichthat story was then received justifies my hope that its counterpart,which I have re-named "Halil the Pedlar," from its chief character, maybe equally fortunate.

  R. NISBET BAIN.

  _September, 1901._

  HALIL THE PEDLAR.