Ramsay, William Mitchell: Impressions of Turkey during twelve years' wanderings (London, 1897)

CHAPTER II.

TURKISH VILLAGE LIFE IN ASIA MINOR.

It is then a useful part of the archaeologist's edu-
cation that he should learn to interest and amuse
the simple-minded audiences which surround and
gaze upon him in a Turkish village. You find by-
experience some little jokes, which suit the native
wit; and you may be sure that the remark which
proves effective in one Turkish village will be
equally suitable in all. Every one must learn
what suits his own style One little remark which
■I first made in sheer despair, proved immensely
effective; and, when well introduced afterwards
on many an occasion, never failed to " bring down
the house ". After a considerable conversation, in
which I had been inquiring about the roads, the
distances, the course of the streams, and other
geographical points, in respect of which I pos-
sessed a certain ease and fluency in Turkish, a
native took the lead, and began to question me in
a more thorough-going way than is usual. He
soon exhausted my small stock of Turkish; and at
t, Deing quite nonplussed by a long explana-
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