CHARTERING A VESSEL.

3

active little old man, with a white beard, and lively, handsome features, in which the fire and decision of youth yet contended with the craft and composure of a later period.

It was evident, from the assurance with which he assumed the direction of the whole business, leaving his demure associate to count his rosary by his side, that he was in the habit, not only of exerting his authority over his dependents, but of extending it, if possible, to his superiors. It was, perhaps, for this reason, or that, unlike his cleverer brother pilgrim, he could discover no personal advantage in it, that, before the arrangements were completed, Hadji Besni declined accompanying us on our voyage. I was sorry for this desertion, as he was evidently the more desirable attendant of the two; one in whom I could place greater confidence myself, and who would have obtained for me more respect from others.

Imam Oli having engaged to find a vessel by the next day, we met by appointment at the counting-house of a merchant of Galata, where he came attended by the Reïs Achmet, and another rough, weather-beaten Turkish tar, who, to my surprise, assumed the right of sharing in our deliberations. I subsequently ascertained that he came on the part of the crew, who, as is customary in Turkey, had

all an interest in every trading transaction of the ship, and had sent this their rugged representative to watch over it for them.

It was found, after bargaining about the freight for some time, that nothing could be satisfactorily arranged unless we repaired to the vessel, where all the parties concerned might confirm the arrangement. The Turks, therefore, having intimated to us where we might find them, went away as stealthily as they had come, while the merchant and myself threaded the alleys of Galata by another route, to the port, and engaging a caique, proceeded to Topklané, the skellé where it was stationed, and which is that where the Circassians "most do congregate." It was easily distinguishable among the Greek and Turkish vessels which crowd the shores of the Golden Horn, and whose high bows and sterns, resembling the rostrums of Roman galleys, render them so remarkable; whereas the object of the Tchekdermeh (so called from the facility with which it is drawn on shore) being to escape observation as much as possible, it is built to run low in the water, or, as the Turks say, like a thief.

On its deck, as we approached, we discovered a man of rather wild appearance in the Abasian dress, and as we mounted the vessel's side, his

FREIGHT AND CARGO.

5

eyes, which glared beneath his shaggy calpac with unusual brilliancy, were fixed on us with an expression of wonder, not unmixed with suspicion. Our Frank costume was naturally associated in his mind with the Russian. We were here soon joined by Imam Oli, the captain, and the rest of the crew, consisting of five or six sailors; and the whole party of us immediately descended into the hold, where we might confer without being seen from the shore. The scene and group amused me very much. Here we were in the dingy hold of a Turkish vessel, crouched with a party of sailors, on a cargo of salt, mysteriously discussing the price to be given for it, and at which we could charter a ship for Circassia,-danger and the dread of that ambitious power, whose blighting influence already overshadows the East, thus investing the every-day affairs of these simple mariners with an air of ro

mance.

We concluded upon taking the salt, amounting to 200 killos, at four piastres the killo, and engaged the ship outwards, at 5000 piastres.

The following three or four days were employed in completing the cargo with an assortment of such goods as we understood were the staple articles of commerce in the country of our destination. They consisted of bez, a coarse white calico, which the Circassians use for shirts; aludja, a striped cotton

cloth, employed for cushions, or for covers for couches and mattresses, and sometimes for enteris, or robes for the women; and the tchivit, a blue gingham, (the word also signifying, in Turkish, indigo,) employed for enteris by both sexes. These are all Turkish manufacture, and produce a good profit in Circassia, being purchased here at twelve and fourteen piastres, and realizing there twenty and twenty-five, the piece. I am thus particular in giving these details, not only to shew the advantages of the trade, but because the three articles I have enumerated, retaining a fixed and standard value, are employed in lieu of a currency all over the Caucasus. So many pieces, or top, as they are called, determine the value of all other property-slaves, horses, guns, swords, &c.

But to return to our venture: in addition to the articles I have named, we laid in a considerable quantity of lead and steel, and the ship being loaded with as much merchandize as she could take without compromising the swiftness with which she should sail, Achmet Reïs received orders to proceed with her to Capac, a village in the Bosphorus, towards the entrance of the Black Sea, where there is a customs establishment, for the searching of the ships that pass the Straits, and where I agreed to join them the next day. After some difficulty, I had succeeded in obtaining a

DEMETRY.

Dragoman. The dangers and privations of the expedition, which, without naming the place we were going to, I thought it right to hint at, had deterred all from embarking in it; and I had made up my mind to dispense with an interpreter till, as had been agreed upon, I had joined Mr. Bell in Abasia, where I should have the benefit of his, when a Greek presented himself for the service.

He was a lad of Cyprus, one of the "noble and swelling spirits of the isle," described by Iago. His testimonials and appearance were alike in his favour. A pair of piercing black eyes, locks of jet flowing to his shoulders from a fez, thrown with a dashing air on one side of his head, an active frame, and swaggering gait, bespoke him a man invaluable to the Eastern traveller, one who would make both him and his firman respected, and permit nobody to rob, cheat, or bully him, but himself. Though, in justice to Demetry, it must be confessed he did all these things in moderation, and he had a host of qualifications besides-valet, tailor, cook, waiter, and dragoman-he could mend or wash, dress a dinner and serve it, and, if necessary, fight; for had he not fought in the war of independence? He was, moreover, master of four languages-at least, he declared himself to be so; but I soon found, to my cost, that his proficiency in them only extended to the details of his various profes