DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.5541#0517
484
HADJI MEHMET AGHA.
[Chap, xxvii.
pliment of not shutting myself up with ray books in my own
room.
Amongst others the Mutzellim, Hadji Mehmet Agha,
sent one of his officers, who had been in England with
Nourri Effendi, and expressed himself much pleased with
everything he had seen there, to welcome me on my arrival,
and to express his wish that I would call upon him in the
evening. Accordingly, at the appointed time, I proceeded to
visit him at his konak, where I was certainly received with
unexpected honours. The rediff turned out and presented
arms on entering the gate, and when I acknowledged the
salute, each man immediately raised his hand to his head,
at the imminent risk of dropping his musket. The rediff,
or newly-organized national guard, were marching up and
down the court-yard, with drums and fifes playing; and,
considering how short a time they had been organized, ac-
quitted themselves remarkably well. Strict orders re-
specting their instruction had lately been received from Con-
stantinople, and it was said that there were 300,000 now
enrolled in Asia Minor and Roumelia, independently of
the regular Nizam, whom they far surpass in their gene-
ral appearance, being older and stouter men than the raw
recruits of whom the army is composed, many of whom are
merely boys. Hadji Mehmet Agha had organized four
battalions, each of which was called out in turn, and did
duty for three months. I was much pleased with his agree-
able manners and rational conversation ; he seemed active
and intelligent, and in all respects superior to the gene-
rality of his countrymen. The inhabitants, both Turks
and Rayahs, spoke of him with the greatest regard, and
said that his rule was mild and equitable. Before I took
leave, his horses, and he had several fine animals, of which
he seemed justly proud, were paraded before him. He
related to me how astonished he had been at the manner in
which an Englishman, to whom he had some time ago sold
a horse at Constantinople, concluded the bargain, paying
HADJI MEHMET AGHA.
[Chap, xxvii.
pliment of not shutting myself up with ray books in my own
room.
Amongst others the Mutzellim, Hadji Mehmet Agha,
sent one of his officers, who had been in England with
Nourri Effendi, and expressed himself much pleased with
everything he had seen there, to welcome me on my arrival,
and to express his wish that I would call upon him in the
evening. Accordingly, at the appointed time, I proceeded to
visit him at his konak, where I was certainly received with
unexpected honours. The rediff turned out and presented
arms on entering the gate, and when I acknowledged the
salute, each man immediately raised his hand to his head,
at the imminent risk of dropping his musket. The rediff,
or newly-organized national guard, were marching up and
down the court-yard, with drums and fifes playing; and,
considering how short a time they had been organized, ac-
quitted themselves remarkably well. Strict orders re-
specting their instruction had lately been received from Con-
stantinople, and it was said that there were 300,000 now
enrolled in Asia Minor and Roumelia, independently of
the regular Nizam, whom they far surpass in their gene-
ral appearance, being older and stouter men than the raw
recruits of whom the army is composed, many of whom are
merely boys. Hadji Mehmet Agha had organized four
battalions, each of which was called out in turn, and did
duty for three months. I was much pleased with his agree-
able manners and rational conversation ; he seemed active
and intelligent, and in all respects superior to the gene-
rality of his countrymen. The inhabitants, both Turks
and Rayahs, spoke of him with the greatest regard, and
said that his rule was mild and equitable. Before I took
leave, his horses, and he had several fine animals, of which
he seemed justly proud, were paraded before him. He
related to me how astonished he had been at the manner in
which an Englishman, to whom he had some time ago sold
a horse at Constantinople, concluded the bargain, paying