Finally, one of his many swear-phrases traced: according to my reading of Ottoman history, the "basi bozuka" were local Muslim militia that rampaged in Bulgaria, slaughtering sundry Christians there, in 1876. This had followed riots by Christians on rumors that a Bulgarian Orthodox girl had been forcibly converted.
History - what a kick.
PS: I can't figure out accents, but the "s" in "basi" has an accent below it, and is pronounced "sh".
Sent from outer space.
2 comments:
I never read Tintin, but you just reminded me of a word I haven't heard since childhood. I've been called a bashibozuk a few times as a child, when I was being mischievous. You just gave me a rain main - Raymond moment.
Our walk at the fortress in Belgrade only sank in on this trip, dude. Been reading Ottoman history. I know now why you so love the Turks.
Fellow bashi bazouk,
CY
Post a Comment