"What a lot of dogs!" exclaimed the young lady, as her companion shoved one out of her path. "I should think every person in the city kept one."
"On the contrary, no one keeps a dog. They do not belong to any person, but every one of them has to look out for himself."
A little farther along a mule was approaching with panniers on his back, filled with cord wood. The street at this point was not more than six feet wide, and they had to step into a doorway to avoid being knocked down. They reached the Rue de Pera, which was wider, and looked a little more like a street in a European city. They walked through a portion of it, looking in at the shop windows, till they came to Misserie's, as it is oftener called than Hotel d'Angleterre, its proper name.
At this hotel Captain Ringgold procured the services of two guides who were to serve the tourists for the next week, and longer if needed; and they were to be on board of the steamer the next morning. Dimitri was the principal one, and was a Greek; the other was a Turk, whose name was Munif. Both of them spoke English, French, and Italian, as well as Greek and Turkish.
"To-morrow will be Friday, and that is the Mohammedan Sunday, and you can see the Sultan when he goes in procession to the church," said Dimitri. "You will need a firman to visit the mosques and holy places."
"We must certainly see the Sultan, and the procession will be a fine sight," added Mrs. Belgrave. "But what is a firman?"
"It is a permit to visit the sacred places of the city, given by the Sultan, or in his name; and it costs five hundred piastres, or twenty-five dollars," replied the commander.
"Then it is very expensive to see the sights here."
"The commissionaires, or guides, usually make up a party of a dozen, so that it does not cost but about two dollars apiece. Be sure and have the firman ready for to-morrow, Dimitri," said the captain as the party left the hotel, though they halted in the street.
"But how are we to get about this city if there are no carriages?" asked Mrs. Woolridge. "The walk I had up that narrow street, through the mud and garbage, was quite enough for me."