DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.5541#0452
Chap, xxiv.]
the kaimakan.
419
The population of Angora is considerable, and is some-
times stated to exceed that of Tocat. My accounts varied
much, one party making G000 Turkish houses, 4000 Ca-
tholic Armenian (of whom Angora is the head-quarters in
Asia Minor, whither they fled when driven away from Con-
stantinople a few years ago), 300 Schismatic Armenian,
300 Greek, and about 150 Jewish houses—in all about
11,000; which would give a population of between 50,000
and 60,000 inhabitants. The reports of Catholic Armenians,
although nearly the same in gross amount, vary considerably
in the detail, and are probably more correct. According to
them, Angora contains 9000 Turkish, 1500 Catholic Ar-
menian, 300 Schismatic Armenian, and 300 Greek houses.
As an instance of the modes of communication and doin«-
o
business in Turkey, I may mention, that on my arrival at
Angora I received a bag of money for which I had written
from Amasia to a friend at Constantinople. It was brought
by a Government Tatar, who had arrived the clay before.
Fearing that the funds with which I had started from Tre-
bizond might fail me before reaching Smyrna, and finding
it impossible to procure money from the Armenian or other
bankers, except at exorbitant interest, I wrote to Con-
stantinople for 10,000 piastres, or 100/., to meet me here,
which were accordingly forwarded to me in gold.
The day after my arrival I visited the Kaimakan, or
deputy of the Pacha, who was at Constantinople, and re-
ceived from him a promise of assistance in my researches,
and a chavasse to accompany me about the town. The
Kaimakan professed to feel great hostility to the Russians,
with whom he was anxious to go to war. He spent half the
day in drilling a corps of 200 infantry, and 80 cavalry, with
one small gun, in which he was assisted by a European
officer, said to be a Pole, and who had been sent to him
from Constantinople. The Kaimakan had served at Shumla,
where, according to his own account, at the head of 700
Delhis, he had charged and dispersed a corps of 10,000
Russians.
2 e 2
the kaimakan.
419
The population of Angora is considerable, and is some-
times stated to exceed that of Tocat. My accounts varied
much, one party making G000 Turkish houses, 4000 Ca-
tholic Armenian (of whom Angora is the head-quarters in
Asia Minor, whither they fled when driven away from Con-
stantinople a few years ago), 300 Schismatic Armenian,
300 Greek, and about 150 Jewish houses—in all about
11,000; which would give a population of between 50,000
and 60,000 inhabitants. The reports of Catholic Armenians,
although nearly the same in gross amount, vary considerably
in the detail, and are probably more correct. According to
them, Angora contains 9000 Turkish, 1500 Catholic Ar-
menian, 300 Schismatic Armenian, and 300 Greek houses.
As an instance of the modes of communication and doin«-
o
business in Turkey, I may mention, that on my arrival at
Angora I received a bag of money for which I had written
from Amasia to a friend at Constantinople. It was brought
by a Government Tatar, who had arrived the clay before.
Fearing that the funds with which I had started from Tre-
bizond might fail me before reaching Smyrna, and finding
it impossible to procure money from the Armenian or other
bankers, except at exorbitant interest, I wrote to Con-
stantinople for 10,000 piastres, or 100/., to meet me here,
which were accordingly forwarded to me in gold.
The day after my arrival I visited the Kaimakan, or
deputy of the Pacha, who was at Constantinople, and re-
ceived from him a promise of assistance in my researches,
and a chavasse to accompany me about the town. The
Kaimakan professed to feel great hostility to the Russians,
with whom he was anxious to go to war. He spent half the
day in drilling a corps of 200 infantry, and 80 cavalry, with
one small gun, in which he was assisted by a European
officer, said to be a Pole, and who had been sent to him
from Constantinople. The Kaimakan had served at Shumla,
where, according to his own account, at the head of 700
Delhis, he had charged and dispersed a corps of 10,000
Russians.
2 e 2