Gell, William: The itinerary of Greece: With a commentary on Pausanias and Strabo and an account of the monuments of antiquity at present existing in that country (London, 1810)

PREFACE. xi

these houses a small present in money should be given to
the servants, particularly to the cook.

When a traveller is lodged at a house where he is per-
mitted to pay his own expences, it is better that such pay-
ment be made in the presence of witnesses, for it frequently
happens, that as a firman orders that every assistance should
be given to the bearer of it, so he might live at the expence
of the province if he pleased, and this gives an opportunity
to the person who entertains a stranger not only of being
twice paid, but of sacrificing the honour of the traveller, and
of extorting whatever sum he pleases from the inhabitants,
under pretence of his maintenance.

This precaution is the more necessary, as the lower order
of people affirm that the practice is frequent, and so artfully
managed, that even those who are aware of the feet will find
some trouble in preventing the imposition. It will often
be found convenient to sleep at small villages, situated near
remarkable ruins. In these places the Janissary or some
person of the party should begin by announcing that no-
thing shall be taken without payment. A cottage is thus

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