198 FROM CONSTANTINOPLE, 
around us a genuine Thracian prospect ; bleak, 
desolate, and barren. The weather was cold; 
a tempestuous Tramontane blowing from the 
north. We made nearly the whole circuit of the 
Bay, coming almost to the Seven Toivers before 
we turned off in the road to Kutchuh Tchekmadjeh- 
Upon this road we met many of the Turkish 
grandees returning, who had escorted their 
ambassador out of the city. Signor Franchini 
spoke to some of their attendants, who said that 
he left the city in very great pomp, and that we 
should probably overtake him, as he was proceed- 
ing very slowly. The whole distance from Con- 
stantinople to the Ponte Piccolo is only three hours, 
about nine miles ; but it is five hours from Peru. 
About half an hour before we reached this 
Appear- Small town, wc ovcrtook the cavalcade of the 
Ambas-^ '^ Ambassador. He was on horseback, dressed in 
sador. great state, escorted by about fifty other horse- 
men, and preceded by his Secretary, Prince 
Muruzi; by a guardian of the prince, Signor 
Francopiilo, a native ofNnxos, and by a large party 
of dragomans ; all dressed in embroidered scarlet 
pelisses, and on horseback. His carriage fol- 
lowed him ; one of those arabahs, or close Turkish 
waggons, the inside being concealed by lattice- 
work: it is the sort of machine in \yhich the 
