Page:The Strand Magazine (Volume 6).djvu/566

Abdul Hamid II., Sultan of Turkey.
From a Photo. by W. & D. Downey, Ebury Street. Taken during His Majesty's visit to England.

here is, perhaps, no person living who is historically, religiously, and politically more interesting to both the East and the West than the occupant of the throne of Constantine and the head of the religion of the Prophet of Arabia.

True it is that Turkey is no longer an invincible power, dictator of peace and war in Europe, arbiter between great nations, and a terror to Christendom; but she does still possess a large empire, extending over three continents, claims sovereignty over lands the richest and most beautiful in Nature, and holds under her sway a multitude of races, nationalitics, and religions. Her capital, which is the meeting-place of two great civilizations, continents, and religions, commands the keys of the commerce of both Last and West. She owns, even yet, a highly powerful army of soldiers, second to none in bravery and patriotism. Apart from his political importance, which is unquestionably great, the Ruler of Turkey, as Caliph of Islam and protector of her holy shrines, exercises a moral influence over countless millions quite unrivalled in this age of scepticism and unbelief. And yet, strange to say, there is no ruler who is so little known to Europeans and Asiatics alike beyond his country as Sultan Abdul Hamid.

It is true that many European and American travellers have written pamphlets and articles about His Majesty, but few of them are free from bias, and all of them generally