DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.4752#0028
18 TURKISH VILLAGE LIFE IN ASIA MINOR
their opinion was conveyed almost in the words of
the poet:—
A one-year sheep was sweeter,
But a two-year sheep was fatter ;
Therefore they thought it meeter
To feed upon the latter.
After this was arranged, and the sheep and cooks
selected, we went away to see the winter village
(Kishla) and the river Sangarios, as it seemed
better not to show interest in antiquities at this
stage. In the evening our Turkish servant pre-
sided at the dinner, and turned the conversation on
Mordtmann's visit: several of those present re-
membered him and his vain inquiries after the
stone, whose situation they willingly described.
Next morning a great crowd came to the mill with
us, and showed where the stone was hidden : it
formed the main support at the end of an embank-
ment along which the stream was conducted to
turn the mill. It was easy to strike a bargain with
the miller to uncover the stone, for the mill was
not working. A score of willing hands soon pulled
away the loose material; but, alas ! the water had
deposited a hard thick incrustation which covered
the letters and filled up the hollows, leaving in most
places a smooth surface. Here and there a few
words could be read, so that the inscription was
identified. In a few minutes we recognised that
their opinion was conveyed almost in the words of
the poet:—
A one-year sheep was sweeter,
But a two-year sheep was fatter ;
Therefore they thought it meeter
To feed upon the latter.
After this was arranged, and the sheep and cooks
selected, we went away to see the winter village
(Kishla) and the river Sangarios, as it seemed
better not to show interest in antiquities at this
stage. In the evening our Turkish servant pre-
sided at the dinner, and turned the conversation on
Mordtmann's visit: several of those present re-
membered him and his vain inquiries after the
stone, whose situation they willingly described.
Next morning a great crowd came to the mill with
us, and showed where the stone was hidden : it
formed the main support at the end of an embank-
ment along which the stream was conducted to
turn the mill. It was easy to strike a bargain with
the miller to uncover the stone, for the mill was
not working. A score of willing hands soon pulled
away the loose material; but, alas ! the water had
deposited a hard thick incrustation which covered
the letters and filled up the hollows, leaving in most
places a smooth surface. Here and there a few
words could be read, so that the inscription was
identified. In a few minutes we recognised that