Jasper County Democrat, Volume 1, Number 33, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 26 November 1898 — A Savage Monarch. [ARTICLE]

A Savage Monarch.

The Bey of Charjui is a Mohammedan ruler of the district in Turkistan of that name, which adjoins the celebrated River Oxus. He Is, however, under the control of the Russian government. The Bey’s appearance is picturesque. He is generally clad In a gayly colored kbalat, bound round by a highly ornamented girdle, and a large white turban on his head. His reception of Europeans is most cordial, and he is wont to organize entertainments in their honor. A correspondent of St. Paul’s gives an account of such feast: “We were taken to an open undulating plain, in which a tent had been constructed and tables spread with a variety of fruits and sweetmeats, which was afterward replaced by a more substantial meal. The Bey himself sat near the table, but, being a Mohammedan, he did not join us at the feast, nor did he provide vodki or wine. We had, however, a liberal supply of coffee and sherbet. The tent was open at one side, and we had a view of about a hundred horsemen, clad in gay raiment. The carcass of a newly killed goat was thrown among them, aud after a scrimmage of about a quarter of an hour, one of them succeeded in carrying off the prize without dismounting from his horse, aud as he rode off with it in triumph he was pursued by the others, but he succeeded in retaining it as his property. This was repeated several times, and it was followed by music and dancing.”