SPORT AND TRAVEL 103 



ceeding on our journey, it was getting on for three 

 o'clock before we again got under way, and it was 

 past eight, and bright moonlight, when we at last rode 

 into the town of Ouchak. We went straight to the 

 house of a Turkish gentleman, to whom I had a letter 

 of introduction, and who is the local agent of a large 

 carpet-making establishment. He received us most 

 hospitably, gave us a most excellent dinner of many 

 courses, everything being prepared in the Turkish 

 style, and then had very comfortable beds of soft cush- 

 ions and quilts laid down on the floor for Theodore 

 and myself, Mustapha finding accommodation amongst 

 the servants of the house. 



On the following morning, our host provided us 

 with a most sumptuous breakfast, and then took us 

 for a stroll round the town, whilst arrangements were 

 being made to hire a couple of country carts to con- 

 vey us and our luggage to the foot of the Murad 

 Dagh. We first visited some rough sheds where 

 carpets were being made. Here the workers were all 

 Greek women and girls, some of them mere chil- 

 dren. Being Christians, these women were unveiled. 

 They all looked fresh-complexioned and healthy, but 

 I did not think them remarkable for beauty. It was 

 really wonderful to watch the gradual evolution of 

 these beautiful carpets under the deft fingers of these 

 poorly dressed women, who were carrying on their 

 work amidst the roughest, not to say, most squalid 

 surroundings. The exquisite colouring and tasteful 



