31.07.2013 Views

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

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

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

SHOW MORE
SHOW LESS

You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles

YUMPU automatically turns print PDFs into web optimized ePapers that Google loves.

o,<br />

SYRIA, EGYPT, GERMANY, C£C. 329<br />

ravan was formed <strong>in</strong>to a guard, to keep watch for <strong>the</strong> night; a<br />

necessary precaution to prevent an attack,<br />

to which <strong>the</strong> traveller is<br />

cont<strong>in</strong>ually exposed.<br />

On <strong>the</strong> 1st of June we set out at four <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> morn<strong>in</strong>g, <strong>and</strong> at six<br />

entered <strong>the</strong> town of Rouzchook, where 1 immediately took up my<br />

residence <strong>in</strong> one of <strong>the</strong> bans. 1 had <strong>the</strong>re <strong>the</strong> good fortune to meet<br />

with a Greek merchant named Keriyahcoh Polizio, who paid me<br />

<strong>the</strong> most friendly attentions, <strong>and</strong> gave me <strong>the</strong> best counsel for <strong>the</strong><br />

fur<strong>the</strong>r prosecution of my journey. He had himself been obliged<br />

to fly from Bucharest, toge<strong>the</strong>r with all <strong>the</strong> pr<strong>in</strong>cipal <strong>in</strong>habitants,<br />

<strong>the</strong> consuls, <strong>and</strong> o<strong>the</strong>rs, <strong>in</strong> consequence of <strong>the</strong> dreadful menaces of<br />

<strong>the</strong> b<strong>and</strong>itti by whom <strong>the</strong> country was at that time desolated, <strong>and</strong><br />

<strong>the</strong> approach of Paszcan Ogloii's troops. The Pr<strong>in</strong>ce still re-<br />

ma<strong>in</strong>ed <strong>the</strong>re with a few of his followers ; but <strong>the</strong> consuls had<br />

deemed it more prudent to proceed to Cronstadt. I went with <strong>the</strong><br />

above gentleman to pay a visit to <strong>the</strong> dragoman of <strong>the</strong> Pr<strong>in</strong>ce of<br />

Bucharest, <strong>the</strong>n at Rouzchook, but who was on <strong>the</strong> po<strong>in</strong>t of his<br />

departure for Constant<strong>in</strong>ople, <strong>and</strong> who gave me a letter to <strong>the</strong> Capicahchiah<br />

at Georgivai, to aid me on my route to Bucharest.<br />

Gcorgival is situated on <strong>the</strong> western side of <strong>the</strong> Danube ; <strong>and</strong> it<br />

is <strong>the</strong>re that travellers from Rouzchook stop to procure arabars, <strong>and</strong><br />

whatever besides is necessary for <strong>the</strong>ir journey by Bucharest to<br />

Vienna. 1 was, however, thrown <strong>in</strong>to a great dilemma <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong><br />

even<strong>in</strong>g by <strong>the</strong> news which arrived from, Bucharest, that <strong>the</strong><br />

pr<strong>in</strong>ce <strong>and</strong> his people had betaken <strong>the</strong>mselves to flight on account<br />

of <strong>the</strong> approach <strong>and</strong> menaces of Paswan Oglou. This unlucky<br />

circumstance forced me to alter my plan, <strong>and</strong> to make new ar-<br />

rangements.<br />

Rouzchook is<br />

pleas<strong>in</strong>gly<br />

situated on <strong>the</strong> eastern banks of <strong>the</strong><br />

Danube, <strong>and</strong> is a place of considerable extent, <strong>in</strong>habited by Turks<br />

<strong>and</strong> Greeks. Be<strong>in</strong>g <strong>the</strong> only town possess<strong>in</strong>g an open <strong>and</strong> free<br />

trade <strong>in</strong> that quarter<br />

at <strong>the</strong> time of my arrival, all <strong>the</strong> merchan-<br />

dize had been brought thi<strong>the</strong>r, <strong>and</strong> <strong>the</strong> bazars well supplied with<br />

commodities of every description. In <strong>the</strong> course of <strong>the</strong> morn<strong>in</strong>g<br />

of <strong>the</strong> 2d a vessel arrived with merch<strong>and</strong>ize <strong>and</strong> several passengers,<br />

Germans, from Jienna, bound to Galatz <strong>in</strong> Moldavia. It was<br />

expected that she would prosecute her voyage on <strong>the</strong> follow<strong>in</strong>g<br />

day ; <strong>and</strong> as <strong>the</strong> distress<strong>in</strong>g advices from Bucharest were confirm-<br />

ed, it was recommended to me to take a passage <strong>in</strong> this vessel to<br />

Galatz, <strong>the</strong> Greek merchant engag<strong>in</strong>g to supply mc with letters<br />

( 42 )

Hooray! Your file is uploaded and ready to be published.

Saved successfully!

Ooh no, something went wrong!