DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.5542#0012
Chap, xxxi.]
HUSSEIN BEY.
3
the same hour, and the same night twelvemonth, on which
the murder had heen committed.
Many anecdotes were current at Smyrna respecting Hus-
sein Bey, the governor, who had the character of being
the most notorious and rapacious money-maker in the
empire. Some of his expedients are worth recording as
instances of Turkish manners. He possesses a large house
and garden, near Bournoubat, which produces excellent
fruit, and in which two years ago he had a most abundant
crop of cherries. Anxious to sell them to advantage, he
sent for the principal fruiterers to value them, who were
all equally desirous of propitiating the governor by
praising his fruit. They vied with each other in esti-
mating the quantity as well as the quality, and ended by
congratulating Hussein Bey on his good fortune and suc-
cess : but they did not know whom they had to deal with;
for no sooner had he got them to declare unanimously that
his cherries were worth some highly preposterous sum, than
he nailed them to their bargain, and declared they should
not leave his house until they had bought his fruit at the
price they had named. Remonstrance was useless; and they
were compelled to pay the penalty of their flattery.
On another occasion he determined to make money by
what he called " selling the sea," i. e. he put up to auction
fifty feet of sea-shore along the Marina and wharfs, which
the inhabitants of the houses abutting on the beach were
compelled to buy in order to prevent others from building
on the spot. But a condition was attached to the transac-
tion, binding the purchaser to enclose and fill up his portion
within a very short space of time ; and if this was not done,
the sea was again sold, and the unfortunate owners were
compelled to repurchase it. In one instance the purchasers
proceeded to enclose and partially fill up their shares. The
sea-walls were built, and some muddy swamps were formed,
which caused, according to the opinion of Dr. Clarke, the
malignant fever which raged in the town a few years ago.
The weather during this month was variable and un-
HUSSEIN BEY.
3
the same hour, and the same night twelvemonth, on which
the murder had heen committed.
Many anecdotes were current at Smyrna respecting Hus-
sein Bey, the governor, who had the character of being
the most notorious and rapacious money-maker in the
empire. Some of his expedients are worth recording as
instances of Turkish manners. He possesses a large house
and garden, near Bournoubat, which produces excellent
fruit, and in which two years ago he had a most abundant
crop of cherries. Anxious to sell them to advantage, he
sent for the principal fruiterers to value them, who were
all equally desirous of propitiating the governor by
praising his fruit. They vied with each other in esti-
mating the quantity as well as the quality, and ended by
congratulating Hussein Bey on his good fortune and suc-
cess : but they did not know whom they had to deal with;
for no sooner had he got them to declare unanimously that
his cherries were worth some highly preposterous sum, than
he nailed them to their bargain, and declared they should
not leave his house until they had bought his fruit at the
price they had named. Remonstrance was useless; and they
were compelled to pay the penalty of their flattery.
On another occasion he determined to make money by
what he called " selling the sea," i. e. he put up to auction
fifty feet of sea-shore along the Marina and wharfs, which
the inhabitants of the houses abutting on the beach were
compelled to buy in order to prevent others from building
on the spot. But a condition was attached to the transac-
tion, binding the purchaser to enclose and fill up his portion
within a very short space of time ; and if this was not done,
the sea was again sold, and the unfortunate owners were
compelled to repurchase it. In one instance the purchasers
proceeded to enclose and partially fill up their shares. The
sea-walls were built, and some muddy swamps were formed,
which caused, according to the opinion of Dr. Clarke, the
malignant fever which raged in the town a few years ago.
The weather during this month was variable and un-