[ 30 ] [JULY, 



THE " MAMMALINGA-VODA." 



AMONG the heaps of worm-eaten and dusty manuscripts which fill the 

 shelves of the store and lumber-rooms of the metropolitan palace at Yassy, 

 in Moldavia, and, thus negligently preserved, form the only historical 

 records of the country, some papers are to be met with of very extraor- 

 dinary curiosity ; and the following narrative of the strange and romantic 

 vicissitudes incident to the private and public life of the well-known Hos- 

 podar Joann, or Yanacki, surnamed Mammalinga-Voda, which was 

 found so late as 1817, by an English gentleman, officially employed in 

 Moldavia and Wallachia, may not be devoid of interest and entertain- 

 ment to the general reader. 



Yanacki was a Greek, of humble origin, born in a village of Roomelia, 

 where his father had spent his life in the obscure condition of a common 

 labourer. He came to Moldavia in 1722, at an early age, attracted by 

 the resources of all kinds with which that country is ever supposed to 

 abound, and in the hope of acquiring a fortune, which abler adventurers 

 before him had succeeded in realizing. 



He made his debut at Yassy, the capital of the principality, in the 

 modest capacity of a caviar-dealer ', and opened a shop in one of the 

 obscurest districts of the town, which he stocked with all those provisions 

 so greatly in requisition during the days of religious fasting, and when 

 every thing which bears the semblance of meat is held in due sacred horror; 

 and, with some liberality of disposition, he combined a cheerfulness in the 

 manner of attending to the calls of his customers, which, in the course of 

 a few years, made him one of the most popular and thriving daccals* of the 

 town, and assured him custom even from distant parts of it. 



On one of the most sultry days of August, a poor Turk, covered with 

 dust, and apparently exhausted from the fatigues of a long journey, seated 

 himself on the rude steps of Yanacki's shop-door, evidently incapable of 

 further exertion, and with an exterior which announced great poverty and 

 dejection. The baccal, with his usual good-nature, invited him to come 

 and rest in a cool part of the inside ; and, after having spread out on the 

 brick floor a clean mat for the wearied Turk, laid before him some refresh- 

 ments, consisting of his best caviar and preserved olives, with some bread, 

 fruit, and a glass of brandy .f Husse'in (which proved to be the Turk's 

 name) ate and drank sparingly, then stretched himself out on the mat, and 

 fell asleep. He soon awoke, with symptoms of a burning fever ; and 

 Yanacki, taking compassion on his destitute condition, made up a bed for 

 him in his own house, and had him attended, at his own expense, by one of 

 the ablest medical men in the city. The Turk remained three weeks confined 

 with an acute disorder; during which time he received from Yanacki every 

 attention and care which his situation required. Having finally recovered 

 his health and strength, he proceeded to the business which had brought 

 him to Yassy, and soon after returned his thanks to the Greek for his 

 kindness, assuring him that he would not forget to requite it, if at any 

 future time he had it in his power to do so. He then took his departure 

 from the Moldavian capital. 



It is a well-known fact, to those who have had sufficient opportunity to 



* The dealers in caviar, olives, and grocery nre so called in Turkey, 

 t The Turks nre not forbidden the use of spirits, though many abstain from (hem 

 through mere excess of devotion. 



