acrossasiaminoro00chiluoft

380 ACROSS ASIA MINOR ON FOOT
horseman in appearance, but his boihng energy made
all things possible. Watching him it seemed that
his country's interests could hardly have found a
better official. When not answering telegrams and
despatches and interviewing callers and radiating
over some 50,000 square miles of territory he was
winninof native efoodwill. This branch of his duties
seemed to give him trouble, and in his efforts German
efficiency did not appear so obvious.
In many ways the Turk is the easiest man in
the world to get on with. Treat him justly and
courteously, avoid running foul of his religion, and
remember that he has the traditions of a warlike
race and counts himself a conqueror, and he will
do almost anything for you. But browbeating and
cast-iron official methods he does not accept mildly.
He becomes mulishly obstinate, and has a long
memory for scores that he sets aside for settlement.
The effects of German treatment and Turkish resentment
were visible enough at Baghche, Not a
German official went out except accompanied by a
Circassian kavass, and even his Excellency never
stirred without the giant Ibrahim Chowshe dogging
his
footsteps.
Handicapped by the arrogance and rigid official
ways of his colleagues, his Excellency evidently found
every artifice necessary, and never threw away an
opportunity of winning favourable impressions. The
first time I entered his cottage three or four young
children were playing with new German toys ; the
children were those of a local Turkish official, the
toys gifts of the German Empire. One afternoon
we went for a walk, and led by Ibrahim Chowshe
climbed into a mountain glen, following a goattrack
beside the stream. At a turn in the path
appeared a little Turkish maid of six or seven, who
began a pitiful wailing at the apparition of three
strange men.
"Korkahna" (do not fear), said the huge Circassian
kindly, stooping down and patting her head. Then