Papers Relating to the Foreign Relations of the United States, Transmitted to Congress, With the Annual Message of the President, December 3, 1877

No. 333.
Mr. Maynard to Mr. Evarts.

Legation of the United States,
Constantinople, August 24, 1877. (Received September 17.)

No. 179.]

Sir: A curious custom has prevailed time out of mind, it seems, of discharging fire-arms during an eclipse, to deter the monster which, according to the popular belief, had fatal designs upon the heavenly orb. So effective, apparently, have been the means employed, that in every remembered instance the danger has been averted and the luminary, after more or less delay, has reappeared in all its wonted brilliancy. This custom, originating in superstition, had become, like similar displays elsewhere, little more than a piece of juvenile sport, amusing to the young and the thoughtless, but annoying and even dangerous to others.

Late last evening I received from the Sublime Porte a note, of which I inclose a copy and a translation, announcing that the custom has been abolished. It reached me too late to give the notice requested in the concluding paragraph in time for the eclipse of the moon last night, but it may be gratifying to learn that none of our countrymen appear to have incurred the penalty for violating the new regulation. Indeed, the ordinance was so generally observed, that I heard not a single report, whereas heretofore an eclipse was like the 4th of July in one of our noisiest towns.

I have, &c.,

HORACE MAYNARD.

[Inclosure.—Translation.]

police regulation.

(Verbal Note.)

The ministry of the interior having determined to put an end to the abusive and dangerous custom of shooting tire-arms during eclipses, as has been the practice of the Mussulman and non-Mussulman population on the occasion of an eclipse of the moon, to the great damage of public repose, has decided that any person who shall fire a shot during the eclipse of the moon, which the imperial observatory has announced to take place on the night of the 15th of Chaban (11/23) of August), will be liable to a fine of one Turkish pound. In case that the shot shall be fired from the inside of a house and the owner shall refuse to declare the offender, the fine shall be paid by the master of the house.

The amount of the fines will be placed at the disposition of the emigrant commission, in the same manner as the fines incurred by firing arms during easter-days are delivered to the patriarchates for the benefit of schools and hospitals.

The ministry of foreign affairs has the honor to bring this decision to the knowledge of the legation of the United States, and begs it to kindly inform its citizens of it.

To the Legation of the United States of America.