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profession so many years as you have , and who Tetire from it so sound in health , as to be capable of other and better occupations , and I venerate those who are likewise so sound in mind as to show a readiness
to undertake them . In Turkey Mte have no distinctions , but from the services we Tender biir country . The most powerful man in Constantinople , after the Sultan , was waiter at
a public bath , and if he behaves ill , may return to it . I think I ieard you say that your lodgings are at the inn . My house is cool and spacious . As I give no credit to the Christians of
this city , whether Greeks , Jews , * or English , and deal chiefly with the Armenians , I employ no book-keeper . When I may happen to want one , I will request the favour of your assistance . Allow me then , as a military man ,
to offer you my quarters ; as a merchant , to provide for your table ; and as a friend , if you believe a . Mussulman can or ought to be one , to enjoy the
situation of your purse-bearer . " The lieutenant grasped his hand , and gazed upon his placid countenance , but stood speechless ; Sidi Dahr , such was the Turk ' s name , understood the
real cause of his emotion , and added with greater animation , " Grant it me , grant it me for life . " The lieutenant was induced to accept the quarters , and to accompany his benefactor . On my first visit I found
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them extremely cleajaly 9 being covered with mats of coloured reeds , but containing little furniture . In the bed-room , instead of a mattrass , there w&s an enormous cushion of
morocco-leather filled with wind like a foot-ball , but not to such a degree as should spoil the level of the surface . Over this was thrown some coarse ,
glazed linen ; the sheets were very fine , and a net-work was suspended round from the center of the ceiling . There was one sofa as hard as the bed .
another very soft and broad , two cane-hottomed chairs , a small cedar table , a marble dressing-table , a large stone jar of rose-water , and two porcelain vases filled with flowers . I
mention these particulars to show what poor ideas the richer Turks have of comfort ; though indeed these apartments looked cooler than any I ever entered in the month of August . Mr Cockles assured me that in the
winter , his own rooms were covered with Turkey carpets , and his bed hung with velvet , and the counterpane of the same . I verily believe that my little parlour in Cranboum alley contains more furniture
than the twenty rooms of Sidi Dahr ' s palace , rich as he is , and unsparing in expense , if he knew how to spend his money . The library contained one chair only , an arm chair , with Russia-leather cushion and
back , a small cedar table , and a small tea-cup , instead of
ink-* Strange oversight in so careful a writer as Mr Raikcs , unless it was thf rror of the Turk .
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IpTO X ^ & . aM'X ^^ JUfe inrltafy .
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Citation
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Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), Aug. 1, 1837, page 100, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct1834/page/28/
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