PART II ‘THE STORY-TELLERS A Lecexp in a Caré suovzp give but an imperfeét idea of the pleasures I: Conétantinople during Ramadan and the principal delights of its nights, if I said nothing about the marvellous Stories recited or declaimed by rofessional Story-tellers attached to the chief cafés of ‘tamboul. To translate one of these legends, is to give a finish to the opinions which one should form ofa literature which is both learned and popular, which enshrines traditions and religious legends considered from the point of view of Islam. ‘The Persians, who had taken me under their pro- toftion, regarded me as a talzb (scholar), and they took me to the cafés behind the mosque of Mayezid, where ‘the opium smokers used to gather. To-day this is no longer allowed; but business men who do not belong to Turkey are accustomed to frequent this diétriét, which is far removed from the noise and tumult of the central part of the city. ‘You sit down; a narghile or a long pipe is brought, and you liften to Stories which, like the serials in our newspapers, go on as long as possible. This is in the interest both of the proprietor of the café and the Story-teller. Although, when I was very young, I took up the Study of the languages of the Orient, I only know the mott indispensable words; yet I was always interested 244‘Tue Srory-Tetrers by the vigorous charaéter of the ory, and with the help of my companions from the caravansery I at leaét succeeded in discovering what it was all about. T can therefore give a pretty good idea of the effect of one of these piGuresque stories in which the Oriental genius for tradition takes delight. I may say that our café is situated in the working quarter of Stamboul, near the bazaars. In the Greets about it are the workshops of founders, carvers, engravers, who make or repair the beautiful weapons offered for sale in the Beseétain. Then, too, there are those who make utensils of iron and copper, while different other trades are related to the various kinds of merchandise which are to be found on the alls of the different parts of the great bazaar. Consequently, to one of our men-about-town, the gathering would have appeared rather vulgar, though 2 few better dressed people were to be seen here and there on the benches and dais. Tt seemed that the Story-teller we were to hear was a man of some renown. Besides thote who were drinking coffee, a great ho of simple lifteners pressed outside. Silence was called for, and a young man, with a pale face, sparkling eyes and delicate features, with long hair escaping like that of the santons’ from beneath 2 cap not unlike a tarboosh or fez, came and sat down on a Stool in a space of from four to five feet that was left. Coffee was brought to him, and every- body listened religiously, for, as was customary, each, part of the Story was to latt for half-an-hour. ‘These professional @ory-tellers are not poets, but rather thapsodists; they arrange and develop a subjeét already. treated in different ways or based upon ancient legends. In this way we find the adventure of Antar, ‘Kbou. Zeyd or Medjnoun revived with a thousand additions 245,A Lecenp In A Caré or changes. This time we were to have a Story intended to depiG the glory of thore ancient astocs- tions of workers to which the Orient has given birth. «Praise be to Allah,” he said, “and to his favourite Abmad, whose black eyes shine with so soft 2 splendour. He alone is the apostle of truth.” Everybody cried: “Amin!