A VISIT TO THE MONASTERIES OF MOUNT ATHOS. 141 



the prescribed interval of time all were returned to me 

 with the exception of two well-known English guide 

 books in red covers one to the shores of the Medi- 

 terranean, the other to Turkey and I was told to 

 come again in two days, as the two guide books in 

 question required more careful examination. After 

 the lapse of the two days the Effendi informed me 

 that he feared he would have to forfeit the obnoxious 

 volumes, as they contained passages injurious to the 

 Turkish Empire. At the cost of several packets 

 of cigars and a good deal of flattery I got him to 

 return me the two books upon the assurance that 

 I was leaving Constantinople the following day, 

 but not until he had torn out the offending pages, 

 from which he allowed me to cut the particularly 

 unpleasant passages in order that I might "get them 

 altered." I was informed that I was most unusually 

 fortunate to recover the volumes. The passages in 

 question are as follows : " The country is pervaded 

 by a sort of feudal system. There is indeed a judge 

 whose duty it is to administer justice ; and a Go- 

 vernor who is head of the police. But the doings of 

 these people are largely controlled by their pecuniary 

 interests: they hold their offices for short periods, 

 and endeavour to make them profitable. The people, 

 therefore, are compelled to look elsewhere for pro- 

 tection." And again : " Turks never purchase wives ; 

 they buy these girls as their servants, and are allowed 

 by Turkish law to make them their concubines." The 

 following passage made him extremely angry, al- 



