A VISIT TO THE MONASTEEIES OF MOUNT ATHOS. 



The Custom House at Constantinople Seizing- my Books "Women excluded 

 from Mount Athos Females of other Sorts The Tourist at Mount 

 Athos My Voyage Karies I am presented to the Holy Synod 

 Disadvantages of having an Interpreter Libraries of Mount Athos. 



FIRST I should like to state what travellers may 

 expect on arrival at the Sultan's capital, who may not 

 be aware of the extent of the system of bribery and 

 corruption which prevails in all parts and offices of the 

 misgoverned country of the Turk, and which reaches 

 to such a pitch that it has become an organized 

 institution which must defraud the revenue of a con- 

 siderable sum, but constituting the sole salary of the 

 individuals connected with the various Custom-houses 

 who have to deal with travellers' effects on their 

 arrival at Constantinople. Having nothing whatever 

 liable to duty, I thought it unnecessary to offer bribes 

 to prevent an examination of my luggage taking place, 

 and allowed matters to take their course, as the tra- 

 veller naturally would on arrival in London from the 

 Continent of Europe. The whole of the books in my 

 possession were carried off to a small office connected 

 with the Custom-house at Galata, and I was informed 

 that in two or three days I must return to receive 

 back any that the censor of literature (Cacavas 

 Effendi) considered fit and proper to admit the rest 

 to be confiscated. On my return at the expiration of 



