APPENDIX. 353 



in establishing a friendship with this extraordinary 

 character. 



On my first visit to him, I accompanied the resident 

 of the island ; we were received with kindness and true 

 Turkish hospitality; coffee, pipes, and that most re- 

 freshing beverage, which Turks alone know how to mix 

 — sherbet. Being in quarantine with the country, we 

 were accompanied by a guardian, who also acted for me 

 as dragoman or interpreter; on our taking leave of him, 

 we made bold to ask a request to see, that which in 

 Turkey is considered almost too sacred to talk about — 

 his wife, when, much to our astonishment, he said he 

 would consent to do so, provided we Franks would 

 return him the compliment, by bringing over our ladies 

 to shew him. He probably thought at the time, that it 

 would never enter our heads to do so, but the resident 

 well knowing he could depend upon his amiable lady 

 and daughter consenting, much to the surprise of 

 Rassuli, stated he was agreeable to do so, and within a 

 few weeks after, he made good his promise. He, of 

 course, received us with all the attention he could com- 

 mand — shewed us his house and family, and had a most 

 sumptuous dinner served up to us, consisting of all sorts 

 of Eastern dishes, at least thirty in number, and, as is 

 always their custom, brought to the table, one by one ; 

 we were served and attended (a very high honour) by 

 his own sons, three very handsome boys. 



After our repast, we proceeded to put him in mind of 

 his promise, regarding the ladies in his harem, which he 

 would most willingly have forgotten, and endeavoured 

 for a considerable time to evade the subject ; but, upon 



