66 CONSTANTINOPLE. 
CHAP. London and Edinburgh. The causes of disap- 
>■ pointment, which has so often attended the 
search after manuscripts by literary persons sent 
out from the Academies of Europe, may be 
easily explained. These men have their resi- 
dence in Pera, whence it is necessary to go by 
water to Constantinople. The day is generally 
far spent before they reach the place of their 
destination ; and, when arrived, they make 
their appearance followed by a Janissary. The 
venders of manuscripts, who are often Emirs, 
and sometimes Dervishes, beholding an Infidel 
thus accompanied, gratifying what they consider 
to be an impertinent, and even a sacrilegious 
curiosity, among volumes of their religion and 
law, take offence, and refuse not only to sell* 
but to exhibit any part of their collection. The 
best method is, to employ a Dervish, marking in 
the catalogue such books as he may be required 
to purchase ; or to go alone, unless an inter- 
preter be necessary. We found no difficulty in 
obtaining any work that we could afford to buy. 
Tlie manuscript of ** The Arabian Nights^" is not 
easily procured, and for this reason; it is a 
(1) As there have been different statements made respecting the 
title of this Compilation in the East, we shall write the name of it 
exactly as it is pronounced by the booksellers of Turkey, and especially 
tliose of Grand Cairo, who call this work *' Alf Leela o Lila." 
