The Argosy — page 251: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

235 TEN MINUTES IN A LIFE. N the year 1065 of the Hegira—corresponding to 1687 of the Christian era—on the second day of the feast of Beiram, a large group of Mussulmans were assembled in a circle before the Mosque of St. Sophia. Some were standing, and others sitting cross-legged on carpets spread upon the sand. By degrees the group increased as the Moslems issued from the mosque, and as passers-by, prompted by curiosity, remained to see what was going on. In the midst of a crowd of smokers a young man of remarkably handsome features, though somewhat bronzed by an Asiatic sun, was seated before a small table, which was covered with swords and brass balls. He was dressed in a close jacket of green silk, admirably fitted to set off his light and graceful figure; a girdle of antelope skin, on which some mysterious characters were inscribed in silver, confined a pair of loose trousers which were drawn close at the ankle. This light and attractive dress was completed by a Phrygian cap, from the top of which hung a small musical bell. By this costume, at once graceful and fantastic, it was easy to recognize one of those jugglers whom the feast of Beiram drew every year to Stamboul, and to whom was usually given the name of Zingaro. The juggler performed his exploits without appearing to notice the admiration he excited. He took a pigeon’s egg from a small moss basket, and, placing it upright on the table, struck it with the edge of his sword without injuring the shell. An incredulous bystander took the egg to examine it, but the slight pressure of his fingers served to destroy the frail object that had resisted the blow of the scimetar. This act of dexterity was followed by many others. The boldness of the young man terrified the usually impassive Turks : and, what was yet more surprising, he made them smile by the amusing stories he related. Persons of his profession were generally silent, and their only power of amusement lay in their fingers’ ends ; but this man pos- sessed the varied qualities of an Indian juggler and an Arabian story- teller, One of the most enthusiastic admirers of the performance was a man apparently about forty years old, whose carpet was placed in the first circle, and whose dress denoted him to be of superior rank. It was the Bostangi-Bassa, superintendent of the gardens and keeper of the privy purse to the Grand Signior. The tricks ended, the young man completed his story and gathered up his implements ‘as ‘if to depart. comicbooks (C(O) mn ae