Summer Cruise in the Mediterranean on board an American frigate

by Nathaniel Parker Willis

LETTER XLIII.

Punishment of Conjugal Infidelity—Drowning in the Bosphorus—Frequency of its occurrence accounted for—A Band of Wild Roumeliotes—Their Picturesque Appearance—Ali Pacha, of Yanina—A Turkish Funeral—Fat Widow of Sultan Selim—A Visit to the Sultan’s Summer Palace—A Travelling Moslem—Unexpected Token of Home [257]

LETTER XLIV.

Farewell to Constantinople—Europe and the East compared—The Departure—Smyrna, the great Mart for Figs—An Excursion into Asia Minor—Travelling Equipments—Character of the Hajjis—Encampment of Gipsies—A youthful Hebe—Note—Horror of the Turks for the “Unclean Animal”—An Anecdote [263]

LETTER XLV.

Natural Statue of Niobe—The Thorn of Syria and its Tradition—Approach to Magnesia—Hereditary Residence of the Family of Bey-Oglou—Character of its present Occupant—The Truth about Oriental Caravanserais—Comforts and Appliances they yield to Travellers—Figaro of the Turks—The Pilaw—Morning Scene at the Departure—Playful familiarity of a Solemn old Turk—Magnificent Prospect from Mount Sypilus [268]

LETTER XLVI.

The Eye of the Camel—Rocky Sepulchres—Virtue of an old Passport, backed by Impudence—Temple of Cybele—Palace of Crœsus—Ancient Church of Sardis—Return to Smyrna [274]

LETTER XLVII.

Smyrna—Charms of its Society—Hospitality of Foreign Residents—The Marina—The Casino—A narrow Escape from the Plague—Departure of the Frigate—High Character of the American Navy—A Tribute of Respect and Gratitude—The Farewell [279]