TURKS

a general term for Tatars, “urcomans, and Ottomans. The last amed, under the rule of the Sultan, re the most important branch of Tatar rig in and Mohammedan faith. The ‘urks had a powerful empire in Western isia, including Persia and_ Syria in he XI. cent. Osman, or Othman, a turkish chieftain, added to this territory 4 1299. In 1355 the Turks invaded nd Servia, captured Adrianople and nade it their capital. Constantinople eli in 1453, and has remained to this lay the capital of the Ottoman Empire. Jnder Sultan Suliman I. (1502-56) the Jttomans reached the height of their jower. Belgrade, the great bulwark sf the West, was captured by Suliman, Hungary was invaded and Buda taken, Phodes and the finest islands of the Archipelago were added to the Ottoman Bmpire. On the death of Suliman sorruption set in, and the Turks began o lose ground. It was not till the latter years of the XIX. cent. that Rumania, Servia, Bulgaria, and Monte negro were released from Turkish rule and the Ottoman Empire in Europe reduced to very small dimensions. In Africa, Tunis and Algiers have gone to France, Italy has annexed ‘Tripoli, and Great Britain has established its authority over Egypt. In Europe the people of Albania and Macedonia have now_ obtained freedom from Turkish rule. While the Turks themselves are industrious, sober, and brave, the rule of the Sultans has everywhere been destructive of decency and civilization, and corrupt and cruel. 1S AND CAICOS ISLANDS (21° 26’ N.. 71° 10’ W.), group, in Bahamas, Brit. W. Indies salt. Pop.