Wednesday, 16 September 2026

A braw wee tale

 

I love this tale, which historians are unconvinced by. It is referred to in the book by Balkan Dave l have previously mentioned. Keith in the below extract from an old book  is James Francis Edward Keith  (   https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Francis_Edward_Keith )   by the way

RUSSIAN SERVICE. 
During this war with Turkey a very curious incident
happened to Keith, illustrative of the " wandering Scot."
In the year 1739, when a treaty of peace was being agreed
upon between the two belligerents, the commissioners for
this purpose were Keith on the part of Russia, and the Grand
Vizier on that of Turkey. These two personages met
and carried on their negotiations by means of interpreters.
When all was concluded they rose to separate. Keith
made his bow with his hat in his hand, and the Vizier his
salaam with his turban on his head. But, when these
were over, the Vizier turned suddenly round, and, coming
up to Keith, took him by the hand, declaring in the
broadest Scotch dialect that it made him " unco happy to
meet a countryman in his exalted station." Keith, com-
pletely surprised, looked eagerly for an explanation, when
the Vizier said, " Dinna be surprised, man •, I'm o' the
same country wi' yoursel'. I min weel seein' you and yer
brither, when boys, passin'. My father, sir, was bellman
o" Kirkcaldy ."

True or false my 25mm Ottoman Turks will be commanded by a Grand Vizier who hails from Fife. Here he is resplendent in green in front of his braw command tent-

Any suggestions for his name in the Eric Knowles style and with a Scottish flavour most welcome indeed.

5 comments:

  1. Abdul al Langtoon- the infidels will fear his wra(i)th!

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  2. Jari Munir Owais - sticking with the Kirkcaldy theme

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  3. If he was my 25mm Grand Vizier he would definitely be known as Wee Wully Big Turban

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  4. Gaffir al Ek-ferghi, the Pasha of Pars

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  5. Truth are usually stranger than fiction, so it may well be so. Nice miniatures!

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