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

fine and fertile country.
SYRIA, EGYPT, GERMANY, &C.
325
At eight o'clock we passed Gallipoli, on
the European side of the Dardanelles, the territory adjoining to
which is also very fertile, abundant harvests or corn being collected
on the gently sloping hiJis which rise from the sea shore.
We were becalmed on the IGth in the morning in the Straits of
St. George, the Marmoi'a islands bearing noith-east, distant about
thirty miles. At eight o'clock we had a slight
brce,:u from the
south and south-east, which enabled us to make some
way. We
saw a considerable number of vessels a few miles a head of us.
The greater part of the day was cold and showery. At
midnight
we passed the south-west extremity of the island of Marmora ;
and at three the following morning cleared the island, and stood
for Constantinople, with light winds and occasional calms. At
seven in the evening we were abreast of Cachouk Chckmcgc, at
which time several of the" headmost vessels appeared to be entering
the harbour of Constantinople.
On the morning of the lSth we were overtaken by calms, which
obliged our crew to tow and row the vessel. At eight o'clock we
and were soon after taken from the caick,
passed the seven towers ;
and conveyed in a boat to Tophana, which place we reached at ten
o'clock. We were informed on our arrival, that Colonel Hollo-
way and Major Hope had quitted Constantinople on their way to
England, six days before. We lost no time in engaging a rowboat
to convey us to Vamp on the Black Sea.
On the 20th I called on Mr. Stralton, the British
secretary of
legation, who desired the principal dragoman, or interpreter, Monsieur
Besani, to procure me a firman, and to make the
necessary
arrangements for my journey to Vienna^ by the route of Varna.
The firman, or passport, which I obtained in consequence, was
similar to those customarily furnished by the government of the
Sublime Porte to all persons, not Turkish subjects, passing from
one part of the Ottoman dominions to another. These firmans are
not only a protection to the traveller, but contain an injunction to
all the pachas, or governors, of the Turkish provinces and towns,
to forward him on his route, and supply him with every requisite
his necessities may demand.
On the 2 1st I went from Tophana to Buijukdcrc, to wait there
until circumstances should be favourable to my depaiturc, I had
-isipn, however, to lament, upon my arrival at Constantinople,
that the British ambassador, Lord Elgin, was then at Jthens, on
account of the ill state of his health.