VARNA FUMIGATION. 277 



fully and compassionately round upon the rest of 

 us, whom she appeared to consider as unwilhng 

 slaves to our nationality, and, with uplifted eyes, 

 exclaimed, " Quelle horreur !'^ 



About twenty-two hours after leaving Con- 

 stantinople, we arrived at Varna. Here we had 

 a proof of the absurdity of introducing into an 

 uncivilized country the customs of their more 

 civilized neighbours, before the full force, meaning, 

 and intention of such customs are understood. 

 A good many boats came alongside, most of the 

 passengers left the ship, andof course in getting 

 into the boats effectually communicated (to use a 

 quarantine expression) with those who were row- 

 ing the boats, and our clothes would undoubtedly, 

 if possessed of any infection, have communicated 

 it to any of them. We landed, and, to our sur- 

 prise and dismay, were immediately pushed into a 

 very small room, in the centre of which were 

 some wood embers, on which some brimstone 

 and other composition being thrown, the smoke 

 which arose was most horribly suffocating; in 

 addition to which, the number of passengers 

 was so great, that we had just room enough not 

 to burn our shoes in the fire. This process of 



