Asia Minor: Farewell to Constantinople, Brussa, ascent to Olympus and Troy

When I got home, I said that something had been prepared. Flowers were scattered in my room, the table was covered with a tablecloth; the hostess looked young and dressed, and the owner seemed pleased and smiled. The girls met me at the door; The big one grabbed my hand and pulled it down; I didn’t bother to warn this politeness, and when I wanted to pay her the same way, my father said: Oh! O! Well, is it worth it? - I sat down on the sofa and invited the owner to sing with me. The old housewife and her daughters were clearing the table with willows; he asked me to have dinner. In vain I tried to dissuade him from never going out in the evenings; they told me that I probably wouldn’t want to offend them, that the Cosmos DFWs themselves prepared for me, and Pashinskaya’s catering. I finally agreed, but seeing one of my travel devices on a pole, I asked why they didn’t have devices either? Kosmos said that they would serve me, but they themselves would be late; then I vehemently refused dinner, or wanted them to have dinner with me. They added one more device for Cosmos; I argued again and forcibly begged the old woman to come with us. But Kosmos could not agree to put his daughters in prison for the same thing: he brought us food and served us. According to the cruel custom, first of all they decided to wash themselves. There were a lot of food items, but I only. I ate them, not being used to having dinner. Old men Flea is delicious and plentiful; The Dfvits stood modestly, changed plates, and looked at me with curiosity. However, I still ate the kid goat, which was very fried, and ordered my servant to bring me a bottle of champagne, which was in my travel bags. My owners refused at first; but I, in turn, told them that this would offend me, and that in parting I should drink to the health of the Orthodox Tsar, and. but wish me a bon voyage tomorrow. They agreed. I poured Kosmos a good glass. He stood up, took off his stool, raised his eyes to the sky, and respectfully drank to the health of the Russian Tsar. The old woman did not refuse and drank half a glass; They just took a bite, grimaced and bowed. I, in turn, thanked them and asked them not to forget me. The old man, who seemed to like champagne, extended his hand with a glass, drank it, and handed the glass to his wife. She made no excuses, and thus the bottle was drained. The conversation became much more fun and frank. Then I found out that the eldest daughter has a fiancé, but that they did not dare to present his myth that he is a sailor, has his own boat and six comrades (oarsmen); He even goes to the Archipelago, and is very skilled in sailing. The next day I met him and hired his boat. After dinner, the old owner took a mandolin, a kind of torban, and began to play, and his daughters, like three Grashas, ​​went to dance the romeika. they were really charming, cheerful, and, having become acquainted with me, very free and kind in their behavior. I spent an enjoyable two hours with them in the evening. Mnz was served various fruits and watermelon; I, in turn, fed them with fruits sent to me on behalf of Akhmet Pasha. Before it was time to go to bed, I gave the eldest girl a necklace, and the two younger girls a bracelet made of chrysocal. I have never seen such joy, one might say, such delight! they did not take their eyes off their treasures; the father was beside himself; he bowed and ordered his daughters to whip my hands. I told him that this is not the case with us, but that he would allow me to kiss his beauties. He extended his lips very favorably, and we parted amicably. Early in the morning, horses and a convoy of four armed cavas were waiting for me at the door. Osman-Ata himself came to see me off. He really admired my Tula double-barreled pistols, but did not understand how to shoot with them. I explained the mechanism to him and presented them with a box of priming capsules. Good Aga was delighted and accompanied me to the outpost of his village, the once lush Nikomidi. All my family cried when they said goodbye to me.