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

SYRIA, EGYPT, GERMANY, &C. 79
for on the 23d, 1 purchased several bunches of violets and narcissus
flowers, brought from that quarter. They were at that time
sent in
great
abundance from the interior of the Asiatic territory
to
the capital; but were no where to be seen on the banks of the Bos-
phorus.
A few days prior to the last date of my narrative, an incident
occurred which terminated in a singular way. One of the men be-
longing to the British mission was, without anv provocation on his
side, assaulted by a Turk, who attempted to stab him with his
yatikan. On a report of this outrage being made to the Capitan
Pacha, to whose retinue the Turk belonged, he came to a resolution
to have him decapitated,
as an expiation of his offence. By
the mediation and entreaties of Lord Elgin, a
mitigation of the
punishment ensued : the Turk, after having received fifty strokes
of the bastinado on the soles of his feet, was sentenced to twen-
ty years imprisonment in the college of Pcra,
language.
to learn the Arabic
Intelligence vvas received on the 26th, that a formidable band of
robbers, in number four or five thousand, had proceeded to the
town of Burgas, which, although at a verv inconsiderable distance
from the capital, they had ravaged with impunity.
Similar bands
had, during our residence in Turkey, infested the neighbourhood
of Adrianople, and furnished a striking proof of the enfeebled state
of the Turkish government, which permitted the high roads with-
in a few leagues of the seat of the empire, to be beset to such a
degree by these hordes of banditti, that travellers were at every
step in imminent danger both of their lives and property.
It was
however reported, that the Levant Chijlick regiment was under
orders to set out without delay for their dispersion.
On the 28th, further accounts relative to the devastations of
these banditti were brought to Constantinople. It was reported
that they had burned several villages, and murdered such of the in-
habitants as had not had time to betake themselves to flight, tope-
ther with the young children. The inhabitants of the places situ-
ated within their reach, were every where betaking themselves to
flight; and a letter from Ridoslo stated, that that place was crouded
with people, who had come thither for shelter, or to procure
boats to facilitate their escape from these ferocious bands. The in-
habitants of Ridosto were employed in digging a ditch round the
town, and in contriving other means of defence, being in the daily
expectation of a visit from them, and of being exposed to the alter-