DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.748#0057
INVESTIGATIONS AT ASSOS, 1881. 45
for all manner of extortion in the future. Still it was requisite
to procure in person an endorsement of the Minister of Pub-
lic Instruction upon the iradeh, which could be displayed to
the Kymacahm, and, if need be, to the Pasha of the Darda-
nelles. This direct appeal to the eventual arbiter of all ques-
tions relative to the prosecution of excavations in territory
under Turkish rule was wholly successful, after the usual
delays attending the transaction of business at Stamboul.
The would-be commissioner retired from the scene without
even collecting his expenses. He had gained nothing, and
the probability of similar attempts at extortion had been
greatly diminished for the future; but meanwhile the work
had been stopped, and the enforced close of the excavations
was vexatious.
It was fortunate that the heavy sculptured blocks from the
Acropolis had been brought down to the magazine at the port
early in the season, for at the end of the year laborers enough
did not remain to perform this task expeditiously.
It is well known that all pictorial representations are an
abomination unto the Moslem; on this account it proved ne-
cessary to remove the reliefs from the reach of the Turks
as speedily as possible. The villagers of Behram gradually
became too closely attached to the interests of the Expedition,
by the friendly and unobtrusive bearing of its members, and
by the material profit derived from the work, to make any hos-
tile demonstration; but the wilder peasants and herdsmen
who came to the site from time to time were not always well
disposed. The mosque of Behram is the only place of worship
for miles around, and the inhabitants of the neighborhood
frequently assemble, in festive attire and high spirits, to listen
to the droning intonation of the Imam. After the excavations
had been transferred from the Acropolis to the lower town the
visitors always crowded, on Friday afternoons, to the exposed
for all manner of extortion in the future. Still it was requisite
to procure in person an endorsement of the Minister of Pub-
lic Instruction upon the iradeh, which could be displayed to
the Kymacahm, and, if need be, to the Pasha of the Darda-
nelles. This direct appeal to the eventual arbiter of all ques-
tions relative to the prosecution of excavations in territory
under Turkish rule was wholly successful, after the usual
delays attending the transaction of business at Stamboul.
The would-be commissioner retired from the scene without
even collecting his expenses. He had gained nothing, and
the probability of similar attempts at extortion had been
greatly diminished for the future; but meanwhile the work
had been stopped, and the enforced close of the excavations
was vexatious.
It was fortunate that the heavy sculptured blocks from the
Acropolis had been brought down to the magazine at the port
early in the season, for at the end of the year laborers enough
did not remain to perform this task expeditiously.
It is well known that all pictorial representations are an
abomination unto the Moslem; on this account it proved ne-
cessary to remove the reliefs from the reach of the Turks
as speedily as possible. The villagers of Behram gradually
became too closely attached to the interests of the Expedition,
by the friendly and unobtrusive bearing of its members, and
by the material profit derived from the work, to make any hos-
tile demonstration; but the wilder peasants and herdsmen
who came to the site from time to time were not always well
disposed. The mosque of Behram is the only place of worship
for miles around, and the inhabitants of the neighborhood
frequently assemble, in festive attire and high spirits, to listen
to the droning intonation of the Imam. After the excavations
had been transferred from the Acropolis to the lower town the
visitors always crowded, on Friday afternoons, to the exposed