DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.4719#0026
SMYRNA.
ushered into the room. He takes every opportunity of
showing respect to the English, and now came to request
to be allowed to go to the ball with the Consul. He is an
old, merry-looking fellow, but yet with the appearance of
deep cunning. He was dressed for the ball in the very un-
dress costume of the Turkish Government,—blue cloth
clothes and red cap ; but he was distinguished by a splendid
locket of diamonds, and rings of the same stone. As soon
as he had, by his interpreter, welcomed us all, his pipe-bearer
handed him his pipe, which was of great value, having the
mouth-piece of lemon-coloured amber, encircled with dia-
monds. He refused to drink wine, and persisted in decli-
ning ; but, fortunately for him, rum and brandy are not ver-
bally forbidden by the Prophet. The Chief Judge of the
town afterwards called, attended by his suite. These two
men are despotic, the one condemning and the other exe-
cuting at his pleasure. The Governor farms his town of the
Sultan, paying a certain sum for the year, and makes what
he can of the taxes, fees, and fines; immense fortunes are
thus made in a short time, frequently in the most tyrannical
way; but the Governor's power only extends over Asiatics.
Life and death are in his hands; but money will always
satisfy him, and he alone has to be satisfied.
With the Slave-market I was not so much shocked as I
expected, and noticed that the children seemed healthy and
happy. I never saw negroes so black; their skin was bright,
and looked as if it had just been black-leaded and well
brushed; they had beautiful teeth, and the necks and wrists
of the children were ornamented with beads; there were only
thirty or forty slaves in the market, and these all young.
The people, from their custom of sitting cross-legged, and
having their feet generally bare, make much use of them. I
observed the men who were working the lathe, in turning
the amber mouth-pieces for the pipes, press the chisel always
with the toes, which were applied as quickly and as dexter-
ushered into the room. He takes every opportunity of
showing respect to the English, and now came to request
to be allowed to go to the ball with the Consul. He is an
old, merry-looking fellow, but yet with the appearance of
deep cunning. He was dressed for the ball in the very un-
dress costume of the Turkish Government,—blue cloth
clothes and red cap ; but he was distinguished by a splendid
locket of diamonds, and rings of the same stone. As soon
as he had, by his interpreter, welcomed us all, his pipe-bearer
handed him his pipe, which was of great value, having the
mouth-piece of lemon-coloured amber, encircled with dia-
monds. He refused to drink wine, and persisted in decli-
ning ; but, fortunately for him, rum and brandy are not ver-
bally forbidden by the Prophet. The Chief Judge of the
town afterwards called, attended by his suite. These two
men are despotic, the one condemning and the other exe-
cuting at his pleasure. The Governor farms his town of the
Sultan, paying a certain sum for the year, and makes what
he can of the taxes, fees, and fines; immense fortunes are
thus made in a short time, frequently in the most tyrannical
way; but the Governor's power only extends over Asiatics.
Life and death are in his hands; but money will always
satisfy him, and he alone has to be satisfied.
With the Slave-market I was not so much shocked as I
expected, and noticed that the children seemed healthy and
happy. I never saw negroes so black; their skin was bright,
and looked as if it had just been black-leaded and well
brushed; they had beautiful teeth, and the necks and wrists
of the children were ornamented with beads; there were only
thirty or forty slaves in the market, and these all young.
The people, from their custom of sitting cross-legged, and
having their feet generally bare, make much use of them. I
observed the men who were working the lathe, in turning
the amber mouth-pieces for the pipes, press the chisel always
with the toes, which were applied as quickly and as dexter-