A Narrative of Personal Experiences & Impressions During a Residence on the Bosphorus Throughout the Crimean War (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1881. Excerpt: ... CHAPTER III. Muezzins' call--Stoves purchased--Delay in arrival--Disappointment--Singular effect on Scutari of fires in Constantinople--Difficulties about servants--Pilfering of rations--Emilio--Lack of good bread and water. VERY early in the morning, before dawn, our slumbers were disturbed by a peculiar sound, and being in that half-awake state where the dream is fading and reality advancing, imagination converted the noise into the mimi-miming of some powerful mosquito just about to pounce on the eye or cheek. Quick thought strengthened the idea," We are in the East, it must be so " and I started up to do battle with the enemy--daylight suddenly breaking through our trellised windows--but no mosquito was there, they do not care to be out on cold December mornings On recovering my senses I found it was the muezzins' call for prayer, from the top of the minarets of the great mosque close by, a they watched the sun rise in its beauty. But such was the curious effect on the ear of the trembling and shrill voices of these usually old men, from their great height, that even when wide awake to hear it, it still reminded us of that little insect's horn, only at a louder pitch. 30 Turkish Building. Breakfast was arranged very much in the same way as our supper the previous evening. It was very cold, therefore necessary that we should as soon as possible procure some stoves, for the Turks had no fireplaces; they sat round charcoal braziers, and as women as well as men smoked, managed to keep themselves warm; but such habits did not quite suit us. However, we were now housed, and Dr. Blackwood entered on his work immediately, leaving me and our two friends to get any extras we could find to make ourselves more comfortable. Thus for the next few days we were occu...