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CHAPTER XXVII.
Snow-bound at Dubekji Khan—A quarrel with Ighsan—His brigand
friends — Brigands of Asia Minor — On the road again — Road
blocked by caravans—The Cilician Gates Pass— Castles—Forts
Ibrahim Pasha—British guns—Castle of the Sclavonian Guard
The Gate of the Pass— Descending to the Mediterranean.
We arrived at Dubekji Khan only just in time,
for heavy snow began at once, and travellers coming
down from the pass were in search of shelter. They
thought themselves hardly used when the khankeeper
said the khan was already full. They pointed
to vacant spaces on the divans and against the walls
where they could sleep ; they argued, they pleaded,
but all without effect. They were told they might
warm themselves awhile at the fire, and then, if
they chose, find shelter in the donkey-stable, but
could sleep nowhere else at Dubekji Khan. Had
my host been a Greek I should have known that
my bill would be in proportion to all this exclusiveness.
But he was a simple Turk, he guessed that
I should pay well, and was contented with the
prospect.
At this khan host and guests found themselves
on easy terms at once. On my divan I set up my
bed and stoves and cooked and ate to my liking,
and then with the lamp hung on a nail above my
head I could lie in my sack and read. On the other
divan Ighsan, our host and his
—sat on the skins of wolves and deer.
son—a lad of sixteen
They smoked