THE SMYRNA FIG AT HOME AND ABROAD 27 



made to do this artificially, there being enough Capri figs growing in the immediate 

 vicinity to supply the edible figs with insects. At Narli Dere, located six miles south 

 of Smyrna, one of the great vineyard sections, a San Pedro fig known under the 

 name of "Vidi Veren Maning," "7 Giver," was found growing in one of the vineyards. 

 This and the Bardajic were the only two varieties, in neither of which Capri figs 

 had been distributed, which does not seem necessary, the insects coming of their 

 own accord to the female figs, and of course caprify them. The Capri Fig trees 

 grow in the mountains near by, so I was informed, and the insects migrate pretty 

 much over the fig district. Having thus obtained all the necessary information on 

 the subject of caprification during my first visit, I took my departure from Smyrna 

 the latter part of June with the intention of returning in August to observe the 

 methods followed in harvesting the crops. 



My first stop was at Athens, where four days were spent visiting the vineyards 

 and ancient ruins. Time did not permit of my visiting the fig districts in the ex- 

 treme southern part of Greece, where figs of a very inferior grade are grown, and 

 where caprification is also practiced. Distinct types of Capri Figs and also edible 

 figs were observed along the roadways leading out of Athens, but information as to 

 varieties could not be obtained. The Capri Figs here were much later in reaching 

 maturity than those in Smyrna, due, no doubt, to the season in Greece being some- 

 what later. Leaving Piraeus, on one of the steamers of the Messargerie line, my next 

 stopping place was Naples, Italy. 



Vesuvius, the ruins of Pompeii, and many other points of interest were visited in 

 the limited time devoted to this place. My itinerary included a visit to Rome, and 

 many other important cities of beautiful sunny Italy, before returning to Berlin, but 

 illness made it imperative for me to go direct to Germany without making any stops. 

 Having fully recovered from my spell of sickness in Berlin, in company with my 

 wife, a tour was made through Germany, Switzerland, and thence through France to 

 Paris. Returning to Berlin the latter part of August, preparations were made for 

 my second trip to Smyrna. 



DIFFICULTIES OF THE SECOND TRIP. 



The Bubonic plague, which had been creating more or less havoc in Egypt for 

 several months, was reported to have made its appearance in Constantinople, and 

 that port had therefore been quarantined. The Tourist Company would sell tickets 

 to Constantinople, but no further; none of the steamship lines being permitted to 

 take passengers from the infected port, or if they did, the passenger had the pros- 

 pect of spending a couple of weeks in a Turkish lazarette on his arrival in Smyrna, 

 by no means a pleasant outlook. 



Steamer connections from Italy could not be made without a great loss of time, 

 so wiring to my former interpreter at Smyrna of my predicament, he wired back 

 that there was a way out of the difficulty, and told me to start for Constantinople 

 at once. My trip from Berlin was made over the same line I had previously traveled 

 by, but the experience gained in my travels prevented a repetition of the difficulties 

 encountered on my first trip. 



On arriving at Constantinople, Mr. Agadjanian was there to receive me. Having 

 taken the precaution to have my passport vised at the Turkish Consulate in Berlin 

 before starting on my second trip, the vexatious annoyances of my first trip were 

 avoided. During my brief stay of two days in Constantinople, my time was taken 

 up in visiting the suburbs around the city, the leading mosques, including the 

 largest and most historical one, Santa Sofia. It was finished something over thir- 

 teen hundred years ago, and dedicated to Christ. In the year 1453, when the Turks 

 captured Constantinople, it fell into their hands, and from that time it has been 



