'The Expedition for the survey of the rivers Euphrates and Tigris, carried on by order of the British government, in the years 1835, 1836, and 1837; preceded by geographical and historical notices of the regions situated between the rivers Nile and Indus. In four volumes. With fourteen maps and charts, and embellished with ninety-seven plates, besides numerous wood-cuts. Volume the first.' [‎371] (448/905)

CHAP. XVI.j
LANGUAGE ANt) RELIGION.
371
cone ; and within each, there is a spiral staircase leading to one
or two galleries surrounding the turret. A building with two
or more minarehs is called a jami', whilst that with a single
tower of this description, or none at all, is designated a mesjid.
The fixed inhabitants of the peninsula are composed of Turks, Language.
Armenians, Greeks, and Jews ; and the nomadic people consist
of Turkomans, Kurds, Yuruks, Xebeques, and some Gipseys.
The prevailing language, however, is that of the dominant
or Turkish section, which has been adopted even by the
Greeks. The Armenians and Kurds, however, have preserved
their ancient tongues, and the latter speak a dialect of ancient
Persia.
The Muhammedan is the most general religion; and being Religious
at once the basis of the civil as well as the moral law, 1 it seems toleratlon -
to influence every act of life ; but most happily it is no longer
characterized by that fierce and uncompromising spirit which
at one time impelled the followers of the Koran to have
recourse to the sword as the means of making converts. Even
the desire to increase their numbers by gentle arguments does
not now prevail to a great extent among the Muslims; and
although here, as elsewhere, complaints of harsh treatment
are not wanting, it is certain that the Christians of Asia
Minor enjoy in a high degree the blessings of toleration. It
may, indeed, be reasonably anticipated that the followers of
Muhammed will at length be absorbed in a Christian popula
tion, as a natural consequence of the more rapid increase of
the latter.
Owing to the villages being situated at a distance from the Agriculture,
great routes, the traveller frequently passes an extensive tract
without seeing more than a few tents dotted here and there
over the wide-spreading plains; and he may at first conclude
that the rural population of this peninsula consists only of per
sons whose occupations are pastoral. Agriculture is not, how
ever, by any means neglected; and the supplies in the numerous
bazars prove that the husbandman's labour is rewarded by
ample returns, whilst the state of the villages shows that the
See above, pp. 86, 253.
3 B 2
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