V 



THE QUEST OF THE PELICAN : ALBANIA 



The traveller arriving at a Turkish port must be 



prepared for unpleasantness, Unable to speak the 



language, I was not long in finding out the difference 



between the manners of Montenegrin and Turkish 



customs officials, and very soon found myself in 



difficulties. The whole of my luggage was opened 



and subjected to a vigorous search, and all my goods 



and chattels were quickly scattered over the floor in 



inextricable confusion, while the Turkish officials 



were busy confiscating my gun and all the cartridges. 



Then they came on several gross of photographic 



dry-plates, and proceeded to commence opening 



them to see what they contained. The previous 



proceedings had sufficiently exasperated me, but 



this was more than I could stand. • How I managed 



to stop them I hardly know to this day ; but by 



very vigorous expostulations I did manage to stay 



proceedings, and induced one of the bystanders — 



for by this time a considerable crowd had collected 



—to take my card to the Consul and request him to 



come to my assistance. 



85 



