DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.4752#0096
86 AN EXCURSION IN PHRYGIA
money as a gift. In this way they would have re-
spected the action and the doer. It is not so much
what you do, as the way you do it, that helps you
to be on friendly terms with the Turks. They like
far better to get money for nothing than to earn it;
to earn it is a degradation, and the paymaster a
tyrant. Put it in the light of a gift, and regard
their service as a kindness, or a bit of hospitality
to a stranger : they love the gift, and admire the
generous giver. On the other hand, your Scotsman
hates to get money, unless he has earned it fairly ;
the best of them won't take it, the worst of them
take it and hate the giver.
At Apameia, the belief that the Ottoman Rail-
way was coming soon had roused the spirit of
activity and speculation. A number of Greeks had
already settled there. Two khans had been built.
Every one was eager to find out where the station
would be placed, hoping to be first to buy land
which would rise in value after the railway was made.
As I was understood to know everything, many
crafty schemes were put in operation to worm out
of mc the secrets of the railway plan ; but it was
easy to conceal my knowledge, and gain credit for
a deep one who could keep his own counsel,
for, of course, I knew no more than they did.
Others wanted to be recommended to my good
friend, Mr. Walker, Chief Engineer of the O. R.,
money as a gift. In this way they would have re-
spected the action and the doer. It is not so much
what you do, as the way you do it, that helps you
to be on friendly terms with the Turks. They like
far better to get money for nothing than to earn it;
to earn it is a degradation, and the paymaster a
tyrant. Put it in the light of a gift, and regard
their service as a kindness, or a bit of hospitality
to a stranger : they love the gift, and admire the
generous giver. On the other hand, your Scotsman
hates to get money, unless he has earned it fairly ;
the best of them won't take it, the worst of them
take it and hate the giver.
At Apameia, the belief that the Ottoman Rail-
way was coming soon had roused the spirit of
activity and speculation. A number of Greeks had
already settled there. Two khans had been built.
Every one was eager to find out where the station
would be placed, hoping to be first to buy land
which would rise in value after the railway was made.
As I was understood to know everything, many
crafty schemes were put in operation to worm out
of mc the secrets of the railway plan ; but it was
easy to conceal my knowledge, and gain credit for
a deep one who could keep his own counsel,
for, of course, I knew no more than they did.
Others wanted to be recommended to my good
friend, Mr. Walker, Chief Engineer of the O. R.,