of the Old World. 379 



mountain-piece, which he always keeps in front of his 

 tent, to be pointed so as to command the source on 

 a rising ground far out of range of the small-arms of 

 the garrison. During the night a noise was heard in 

 the ditch by some of the advanced sentries, and the 

 Pacha was informed that the villagers were drawing 

 water: he immediately rushed to his gun and loaded 

 it, not knowing that one of his staff had previously 

 made it all ready for him. When he applied the 

 match, the piece, being doubly charged, recoiled vio- 

 lently, knocking down the Pacha on the broad of his 

 back, with half-a-dozen of his hangers-on, and injuring 

 his wrist. Thus is the only wound Omer Pacha ever 

 received accounted for, and it is not to be wondered 

 at if he never mentions how and when he got it. 



Omer Pacha had appropriated to himself the whole 

 of the plunder of Princess Dadien's palace at Sugdidi, 

 despatching for his own use, at Constantinople, a 

 magnificent collection of furniture, consisting of chairs 

 and couches covered with crimson velvet, beautiful 

 inlaid tables, magnificent chandeliers, and articles of 

 virtu, which looked like recent importations from 

 Paris. The tame deer and peafowl were killed for 

 his table, and the exotic plants transported to his 

 garden at Stamboul. 



Story-telling is a great amusement amongst the 

 Turks, and each of us in his turn had to contribute 

 some anecdote for the amusement of the rest. 



