DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.12665#0217
A TURKISH DIGNITARY.
201
time of our Saviour, sat in a large room, ready to
receive everybody who had any complaint to
make ; his divan was a raised platform, on an iron
camp-bedstead, covered with rich Turkey rugs, and
over them a splendid lion-skin. His face was
noble, and his long black beard the finest I ever
saw; a pair of large pistols and a Damascus
sabre were lying by his side, and a rich fur cloak,
thrown back over his shoulders, displayed a form
that might have served as a model for a Hercules.
Altogether, he reminded me of Richard in his tent
on the plains of Acre. At the moment of my en-
try he was breathing on a brilliant diamond, and
I noticed on his finger an uncommonly beautiful
emerald. He received me with great politeness ;
and when I handed him the pacha's firman, with
a delicacy and courtesy I never saw surpassed
he returned it to me unopened and unread, telling
me that my dress and appearance were sufficient
recommendation to the best services in his power.
If the reader would know what dress and appear-
ance are a sufficient recommendation to the best
offices of a Turkish governor, I will merely men-
tion that, Having thrown off, or rather having been
stripped of, most of my Turkish dress at Hebron,
I Stood before the governor in a red tarbouch, with
a long black silk tassel, a blue roundabout jacket
buttoned up to the throat, gray pantaloons, boots
splashed with mud. a red sash, a pair of large
Turkish pistols, sword, and my Nubian club in my
hand ; and the only decided mark of aristocracy
VOL. II.-S
201
time of our Saviour, sat in a large room, ready to
receive everybody who had any complaint to
make ; his divan was a raised platform, on an iron
camp-bedstead, covered with rich Turkey rugs, and
over them a splendid lion-skin. His face was
noble, and his long black beard the finest I ever
saw; a pair of large pistols and a Damascus
sabre were lying by his side, and a rich fur cloak,
thrown back over his shoulders, displayed a form
that might have served as a model for a Hercules.
Altogether, he reminded me of Richard in his tent
on the plains of Acre. At the moment of my en-
try he was breathing on a brilliant diamond, and
I noticed on his finger an uncommonly beautiful
emerald. He received me with great politeness ;
and when I handed him the pacha's firman, with
a delicacy and courtesy I never saw surpassed
he returned it to me unopened and unread, telling
me that my dress and appearance were sufficient
recommendation to the best services in his power.
If the reader would know what dress and appear-
ance are a sufficient recommendation to the best
offices of a Turkish governor, I will merely men-
tion that, Having thrown off, or rather having been
stripped of, most of my Turkish dress at Hebron,
I Stood before the governor in a red tarbouch, with
a long black silk tassel, a blue roundabout jacket
buttoned up to the throat, gray pantaloons, boots
splashed with mud. a red sash, a pair of large
Turkish pistols, sword, and my Nubian club in my
hand ; and the only decided mark of aristocracy
VOL. II.-S