Part 511

TULWAR, Ind. A sword.

TUMBRELS, (Tombereaux, Fr.) Covered carts, which carry ammunition for cannon, tools for the pioneers, miners, and artificers; and sometimes the money of the army.

TUMSOOK, Ind. A bond.

TUNKAW, Ind. An assignment.

TUNES, Fr. Small twigs which are inlaced, or twisted across, around several stakes planted in the earth, and which serve to keep the fascines together.

TUNIC, (Tunique, Fr.) A coat with short sleeves above the elbow; a tunic. It derives its name from the Latin word Tunica, a close coat, which was the common garment worn within doors by itself, and abroad under the gown. It was distinguished by different names among the Romans, corresponding with the several classes of the people that were clothed according to their rank in life. See Kennett’s Roman Antiquities, p. 311, &c.

This sort of clothing is still worn in the east, and was prevalent among the French after their return from the crusades to the Holy Land. They adopted it from the Saracens, and seemed ambitious of appearing in a garb which bore testimony to their feats of valor. These tunics, which were converted into a sort of uniform, obtained the name of Saladines among the French, in compliment to the emperor Saladin. Hence too the origin of Salade, which not only signified the armor that was worn beneath the tunic or saladine, but also the light helmet of that name.

TUNIQUE, Fr. Among the French signifies likewise a particular dress which was worn by the kings, under their robes of state at a coronation.

TUNTUNGI-Bashi. A Turkish term signifying master of the pipes, a situation under the pacha.

TUQUE, Fr. A tarpaulin.

TURBAN, TURBANT, TURBAND, (Turban, Fr.) A cover consisting of several folds of white muslin, &c. which was worn by the Turks and other oriental nations. The blacks belonging to the different bands that are attached to British regiments likewise wear turbans, ornamented with fictitious pearls and feathers. Those of the foot guards are particularly gorgeous. The French say familiarly Prendre le Turban, to turn Turk.

The great Turk bears over his arms a turban enriched with pearls and diamonds, under two coronets. The first, which is made of pyramidical points, is heightened up with large pearls, and the uppermost is surmounted with crescents.

Green TURBAN. A turban worn by the immediate descendants of Mahomed, and by the idiots or saints in Turkey.

White TURBAN. A turban generally worn by the inhabitants of the East.

Yellow TURBAN. A turban worn by the Polygars who are chiefs of mountainous or woodland districts in the East Indies. By the last accounts from India, this turban has been adopted by the revolted natives of that part of the globe, as a signal of national coincidence and national understanding. The Polygars are in possession of very extensive tracts of country, particularly among the woods and mountains, and are likely to be extremely troublesome to the British. For an interesting account of them see Orme’s History of the Carnatic, pages 386, 390, 396, 420, &c.

TURCIE, Fr. Mole; pier; dyke.

TURK, (Turc, Fr.) The following account of the Turks has been given by a modern French writer:--“The Turks are a nation that is naturally warlike, whose armies are commanded by experienced generals, and are composed of bold and executive soldiers. They owe their knowlege of war, and their experience in tactics to three national causes, two of which do credit to their intellects. In the first place, they become enured to arms, from being bred to the profession from their earliest infancy: in the second, they are promoted upon the sole ground of merit, and by an uninterrupted gradation of rank: and in the third, they possess all the opportunities of learning the military art that constant practice and habitual warfare can afford. They are naturally robust, and constitutionally courageous, full of activity, and not at all enervated by the debaucheries of Europe, or the effeminacy of the East. Their predilection for war and enterprise, grows out of the recollection of past victories, and is strengthened by the two most powerful incentives to human daring, viz. reward and punishment; the first of which is extremely attractive, because it is extremely great, and the other equally deterring, because it is rigorous in the extreme. Add to these the strong influence of a religion, which holds out everlasting happiness and seats near Mahomed in heaven, to all who die fighting for their country on the field of battle; and which further teaches them most implicitly to believe, that every Turk has written upon his forehead his fatal moment, with the kind of death he must submit to, and that nothing human can alter his destiny. When any thing is to be put into execution, the order they receive is absolute, free from every species of intervention or control, and emanating from one independent authority. The power which is entrusted to their generals (like that of the Romans to their dictators) is brief and comprehensive, viz.--“Promote the interests of your country or your sovereign.” See Essai sur la Science de la Guerre, tom. i. p. 207.

Such is the character of the Turks, as detailed by their old allies the French. How far it corresponds with reality, especially in regard to military knowlege, we must leave to future historians to determine; observing at the same time, that a few sparks of British valor and perseverance have contributed more to the preservation of the Ottoman empire, during the present war, than all the fantastic images, or well-devised hypocrisies of Mahomed could have done. Our brave countrymen, on their return from Egypt, will probably be enabled to give a more faithful and correct account of their characters as soldiers.

TURMA. A troop of cavalry among the ancient Romans. The horse required to every legion was three hundred, divided into ten turmæ or troops, thirty to a troop, every troop making three decuriæ, or squads. See Kennett, R. A. p. 192.

TURNCOAT. A renegade, a deserter; one who abandons his party.

TURNOVER. A piece of white linen which is worn by the soldiers belonging to the British cavalry over their stocks, about half an inch deep.

To TURN out. To bring forward, to exhibit; as, to turn out the guard; to turn out so many men for service.

To TURN in. To withdraw; to order under cover; as, to turn in the guard.

TURNPIKE, (Barriere, Fr.) An obstacle placed across a road to prevent travellers, waggons, &c. from passing without paying an established toll. British officers and soldiers regimentally dressed, and on duty, pass through turnpikes gratis.

TURNPIKE is also used in the military art, for a beam stuck full of spikes, to be placed in a gap, a breach, or at the entrance of a camp, to keep off the enemy. It may be considered as a sort of cheval de frize.

TURPENTINE. A very combustible resin, much used in the composition of fire-works. All resins are discriminated from gums, by being soluble in oil but not in water; gums the contrary.

TURRET. A small tower.

Moveable TURRETS. See TOWERS.