Travels in Turkey, Asia Minor, Syria, and across the desert into Egypt ...

SYRIA, EGYPT, GERMANY, &C a IO5
*oast of Syria for the operations of the Ottoman forces, the in-
tention was to convert it into a general depot.
I introduce the following anecdote to evince, among other facts,
the very unenlightened
condition of the Turks, without excepting
even their principal men, in whatever regards the sciences. General
Koeliler was requested by
the Grand Vizier to have a map of the
world sketched out for him. This request having been complied
with, a conversation ensued, in which the General, having the
plan before him, told his Highness, among other particulars, that
the earth was round. This information caused no small degree of
surprise to the Turkish minister ; and it appeared, by his reply,
that he was disposed to doubt the truth of the assertion. " If,"
he observed, " the earth is round, how can the people, and other
" detached objects on the half beneath, be prevented from falling
" off?"—When he was told that the earth revolved round the sun,
he displayed an equal degree of scepticism, observing, that if that
was the case, the ships bound from Jaffa to Constantinople, instead
of proceeding to that capital, would be carried to London, or else-
where. So much for the astronomical and geographical knowledge
of a Turkish statesman !
On the evening of the 27th, as Mr. Read, the draughtsman, and
myself, were returning from a shortpedestrian excursion, we were
accosted by two Turkish soldiers; one of whom, a black, behaved
in a most disrespectful manner, and even threatened our lives. He
went so far, indeed, as to put his hand to his sword; but, on our
assuming a bold and spirited air, he seemed surprised at our confi-
dence, muttered something, and allowed us to pass.
On the following morning the troops commanded by Mahomed
Pacha returned to the encampment. They had been sent to Nablous
to suppress an insurrection, said to be excited by the Pacha of
that place, who was suspected of meditating a plan to join the army
of Dgezar Pacha. This was one of the accounts : but it was said,
on the other hand, that the movement of Mahomed Pacha had for
its object the laying of the Pacha of Nablous under contribution,
and extorting from him a sum of money. Be this as it may, the
affair was amicably settled.
The janissary Aga had this day a conversation with General Koeli-
ler, in which he warned the British officers not to walk singly in
the camp, as in such a case he could not be answerable for the con-
duct of his people. Fie therefore recommended to us to be con-
stantly accompanied by a janissary, as a guard.
( 14 )
This circumstance