AMONG THE TURKS. 33 



pean finds his boots a great inconvenience on 

 these occasions. The Turks leave their slippers 

 at the door, and when they sit down they tuck 

 their legs up under them in a tailor-like but most 

 sensible position. This may seem ridiculous to 

 our notions, but I must persist in maintaining that 

 any one who gives the Turkish mode of sitting a 

 fair trial, supposing, of course, that he wishes to 

 luxuriate in idleness, because it is not a position 

 for occupation, will be obliged honestly to confess 

 that it is a most agreeable and resting position, 

 and in a hot climate far more rational than our 

 business-like but most uncomfortable one of being 

 cramped up in a chair without arms. I became 

 a good deal accustomed at one time to sitting in 

 this manner, and I can state on my own expe- 

 rience, that so far from considering a chair a 

 luxury when I did get one, I discovered, rather, I 

 will own, at first to my own surprise, that I had 

 been sitting all my life very uncomfortably ; and 

 so far from ever laughing again at tailors, I mean 

 hereafter to maintain that they are very sensible 

 fellows. 



The first compliments over, the Turk continues 

 his smoking, which the entrance of the visitor has 

 c 3 



