1822] 
For the Monthly Magazine. 
SECOND EXTRACT of @ LETTER from 
an ENGLISH OFFICER, now in the 
PERSIAN SERVICE. 
Suttlemeech, Persia, 16th Jan. 1821. 
MY DEAR FRIEND, 
ee mouths have elapsed since 
I had the pleasure of addressing 
you; during which time I have tra- 
velled nineteen hundred miles on 
horseback, and have witnessed a suc- 
cession of men, manners, and countries, 
alike new, and highly interesting toa 
stranger. 
My last was dated from Constanti- 
nople, which city I left on the 14th of 
June, incompany witha Tartarattached 
to the British embassy. On the follow- 
ing day I arrived at Ismia, the ancient 
Nicomedia, and while our horses were 
getling ready, I paid a visit to the tomb 
of Hannibal, whose bones were interred 
_in this town. 
We proceeded, travelling all night, 
and during most of the day, (for we 
only halted four hours, while the in- 
tense heat lasted) until we reached 
Boti, the Hadrianapolis of the ancients ; 
here I indulged myself in the luxury 
of a vapour bath, and was much re- 
freshed by its effects. Our next stage 
was among the beautiful mountains of 
Wamamley, and I received here such 
polite attentions from the Turkish 
adi, that I have since sent hima pre- 
sent of a Persian Schawl worth about 
fen pounds sterling. When the Tartar 
reported to him that au English tra- 
veller had arrived, he came immedi- 
ately to the post-house, insisted on my 
accompanying him tohis own residence, 
and treated me iu the kindest and most 
patriarchal manner. le had served 
with Sir Ralph Abercromby, in Egypt, 
‘and spoke of the dead hero in the 
warmest terms of admiration and re- 
spect. On leaving Ilamamley, he sent 
a load of honey, cheese, crisp bread, 
(baked in a frying pan) and fruits of 
every description, as far as one hundred 
miles on the road, and gave me a letter 
of recommendation to a newly made 
Pasha, requesting him to shew me every 
civility,and to render me any service in 
his power. Departing from this place, I 
passed through Carajela, Hajiahamas- 
san, Osmanjick and Marsovan. [arrived 
on the: 27th of June, at Asnassia, cele- 
brated as the birth-place of the geo- 
grapher Strabo. ‘The fruits in this 
part of the country are delicious be- 
yond conception: the peach—the fig — 
Monvu.Ly MAG, No. 364, 
Original Letters from Turkey. 9 
the apricot—the pomegranate, and the 
Kishmish grape, were at this time in 
their highest perfection. The next 
large town is Tochat, or Toukaut. 
So far my journey, however fatiguing, 
was at least uninterrupted ; but about 
two hours after we had left the town 
last mentioned, we met with a couple 
of Tartars in full retreat from a party 
of robbers, amounting to nearly fifty, 
which formed the van guard of a strong 
body of them posted in the hills. Thus 
warned of our danger, we regained our 
station at Toukaut, and waited on the 
governor with the intelligence; the 
problem, however, was soon solved, 
for a large caravan appeared in the 
morning, consisting nearly of one hun- 
dred camels, and men and horses in 
proportion. The robbers had received 
due notice of their approach, but had 
imprudently shewn themselves previ- 
ous to the proper time for commencing 
their meditated grand attack. On the 
true state of the case being ascertained, 
the Tartar exhibited our imperial fir- 
man, demanding a guard for me and 
himself in the name of Sultan Mah- 
moud; aud on the arrival of the prin- 
cipal person of the caravan, we agreed 
to join our guard to their body, on con- 
dition that they paid all incidental 
expences, which terms were promptly 
accepted. The following day we pro- 
ceeded on our route, attended by one 
hundred and fifty Janizaries, horse and 
foot; I- was mounted on one of the 
governor’s horses, which a guard after- 
wards took back aud returned to him. 
We now travelled only by day, and 
consequently found the heat truly op- 
pressive. An hour before sua-set we 
pitched our tents and lighted onr fires : 
the scene of our encampment was ro- 
mantic in the extreme; the camels 
resting under their loads, and the 
groups of turbans collected round the 
different fires, strongly brought to my 
remembrance the Arabian Nights’ En- 
tertainments; we only wanted the Ca- 
liph, Warovm Al-rashid, his grand 
vizier, and the chief of the eunuchs, to 
complete the picture. 
In this manner, for eleven days, we 
proceeded until we arrived at the city 
of Erzeraam, to whose Pasha the letter 
of my friend, the Cadi of Hamamley, 
was directed. 
From Constantinople to this place, 
the country exhibits one continued 
garden, agreeably interspersed with 
mountain and valley. It is Mi 
Cc by 
