Chapter 5 chapter Five
European Turkey currently consists of three main parts: Rumeria (Thrace and Macedonia), Albania, Thessaly, plus a subject province of Bulgaria.This is because since the 1878 treaty, the Kingdom of Romania (Moldavia, Valasia and Dobroja), Serbia and the Principality of Montenegro have all declared independence, and Bosnia has also been occupied by Austria.
Lord Kerabon intends to advance around the Black Sea, his route first along the coasts of Rumeria, Bulgaria and Romania to the border of Russia.
From there through the regions of Bessarabia, Chesones, Tauris, or Circassian, through the Caucasus and Transcaucasus, the route would round the northern and eastern coasts until it separated Russia and the Ottoman Empire. separate borders.
And then along the coast of Anatolia south of the Black Sea, the most obstinate Ottoman will revisit the Bosphorus at Skutaly without paying a penny for the new tax.
In fact, this 650 Turkish "miles", equivalent to about 2,800 kilometers, - or in Ottoman terms, that is to say, one kilometer equal to one hour of running at the usual pace of a laden horse - requires walking 700 kilometers.There are 45 days from August 17th to September 30th.That means having to walk 15 kilometers every 24 hours to return on September 30, the last day Amasia's wedding is scheduled to take place, or she won't be eligible for her aunt's £100,000 .All in all, no matter what happened, his guests and he would not be sitting at the dinner table in the villa until 45 days later.
However, if you use fast transportation, such as railways in various places, it is easy to win time and shorten the long journey.Thus from Constantinople there was a railway to Andri Noble, and from the fork to Jaenpoli.Further north, the railway from Varna to Ruchuk is connected with the Romanian railway, which in turn passes through Iasi, Kischenev, Kharkov, Taganrog, Nachinchevan Crossing Southern Russia to join the Caucasus railway network.Finally there is a section of railway from Tbilisi to Poti that reaches the coast of the Black Sea almost to the border of Turkey and Russia.Then through the Asian part of Turkey, there is indeed no railway until Bursa, but there is a last railway from Bursa to Skuthari.
However, it is not to be hoped that Master Kairabang will listen to this truth.To get into a railroad car and make such sacrifices for the development of modern industry, is that what he, an "Old Turk" who for four years has done his best to oppose the invasion of all European inventions?Absolutely not!Better to walk than to make concessions in this regard.
So the argument arose on this point that evening when Van Mettaine and he arrived at the Galata firm.
When the Dutch talked about the Ottoman and Russian railways, Lord Kerabon responded first with a shrug and then with a flat refusal.
"But! . . . " went on Van Mettaine, thinking that formality should be maintained, but giving up hope of persuading his master.
"If I say no, I won't!" retorted Lord Kerabong. "Besides, you belong to me, you are my guest, I am responsible to you, you just let me do it!"
"Very well," replied Van Mettaine. "It's just that instead of taking the train, there might be a very simple way of getting to Skutali without crossing the Bosphorus, and without going around the Black Sea?"
"What way?" Kerabong asked, frowning. "If it's good, I'll accept it; if it's bad, I'll reject it."
"It's an excellent method," replied Van Mettaine.
"Hurry up! We still have to make preparations for departure! We can't delay for an hour!"
"Here it is, friend Kerabon: let's go to the nearest port on the Black Sea to Constantinople, and hire a steamer..."
"A steamship!" cried Lord Kerabon, the very word "ship" driving him into a rage.
"No . One of Leah Kilby's ports! Once at this point on the coast we can travel unhurriedly overland to Skuthari in one day, and mockingly toast the health of Mosir! "
Lord Kerabong let his friend go on without interrupting him.His friend probably thought he would welcome this advice, since it was a sound one and would solve all problems with self-esteem.
However, when listening to this suggestion, Master Kerabong's eyes flickered, his fingers kept stretching, and his two outstretched hands clenched into fists, which made Nisib very uneasy.
"So, Van Mettaine," he said, "you're suggesting that I take a boat to the Black Sea anyway, so that I don't have to go through the Bosphorus?"
"I think that's a very clever move," replied Van Mettaine.
"Have you ever heard of," Kerabon went on, "something called seasickness?"
"Of course I've heard of it, my friend Kerabong."
"Perhaps you never did?"
"Never! Besides, such a short sea route..."
"So short!" Kerabong continued. "I believe you are saying 'so short!'"
"Barely less than 60 kilometers!"
"But even if it's only 50 kilometers, 20 kilometers, 10 kilometers, 5 kilometers!" Lord Kailabon shouted, "it will make people sick, forever, even if it's only two kilometers, one kilometer, it's too much for me Already!"
"Please think about it..."
"You know the Bosphorus, don't you?"
"certainly."
"Well, then, Van Mettaine, a little breeze, and I'll be sea-sick in a boat!"
"seasick?"
"I'd be seasick in a pond! I'd be seasick in a bathtub! Now, dare you tell me to go this way? Suggest that I hire a barque, a sloop, a fast A sailboat or some other such disgusting machine! Try it!"
Of course the respectable Dutch never dared, and the question of crossing the sea was shelved.
So how to travel?Transportation is difficult - at least in mainland Turkey - but it's by no means impossible.There are post-posts on the usual route, so it is perfectly possible to take food, tents, suitcases, and travel on horseback with a guide, or follow a post-post courier.But the time the messenger has to travel from one place to another is limited, so that those who are not used to walking long distances will be exhausted, if not impossible, if they follow him.
Needless to say, Lord Kerabong never intended to go around the Black Sea in this way.He wants to go fast, yes!But walk comfortably.It's just a matter of money, and that's not a problem for this wealthy wholesaler on the outskirts of Galata.
"Very well," said Van Mettaine resignedly, "but if we don't travel by train or boat, how can we travel, my friend Kerabong?"
"Take the Stage Express."
"With your horse?"
"Use the post horse."
"You can find horses to use throughout your journey?..."
"It will be found."
"You're going to pay a lot for that, aren't you?"
"Pay as much as you want!" replied Lord Kerabong, getting excited again.
"Then you'll pay 1,000 Turkish pounds, maybe 1,500!"
"All right! Thousands, millions!" exclaimed Kerabong. "Yes! Millions if necessary! Are you done with your objections?"
"That's it!" replied the Dutchman.
"it's time!"
The tone in which these words were uttered was enough to make Van Mittaine resolve to remain silent.
Yet he made it clear to his domineering master that such a journey would require a great deal of expense; he was waiting for a large sum of money to be sent from Rotterdam, to be deposited in a bank in Constantinople, so that he had no money now, Have……
On all this Lord Kerabon silenced him, saying that he had paid for all the expenses of the trip; Habits of money, etc.
To this "and so on", the Dutch agreed in silence.
If Lord Kerabon had not owned and tried an old English-made cart, he would have used a Turkish cart, often drawn by oxen, for this difficult journey, but he used it on his trip to Rotterdam. The old stagecoach still sits in the garage in perfect condition.
This carriage can be used comfortably by three travelers.In the front, between those swan-neck springs, in the front half of the coach stood a huge box for food and luggage, and behind the main carriage there was another box with a covered compartment on which the two servants could move freely. stay inside.This car should be used as a mail coach, because there is no place for a driver.
The styling of the car looks a little too old, no doubt to make it ridiculous to anyone familiar with modern vehicles; but it is solid, with good quality axles, and wheels with wide rims and thick spokes; The first-class steel springs that are not too hard are strong enough to withstand all the bumps on the road that has just been opened in the field.
In this way, Van Mittain and his friend Kerabon occupied the comfortable bottom of the main window-paned and leather-curtained compartment, while Bruno and Nisib lived in the smaller compartment, with a Glass windows that can be pulled down.In this vehicle, they can even go to China.It was very fortunate that the Black Sea did not extend all the way to the coast of the Pacific Ocean, otherwise Van Mittain would have been able to get acquainted with the Chinese Empire.
However, to take all the measures and do all the things, one night is not too much time.So the employees of the firm, after a long day of abstinence during fasting, were mobilized when they wanted to go to a certain coffee shop.Besides, Nisib was there, and he acted with great speed on such occasions.
As for Bruno, he had to go back to the Hotel Pest in the Avenue de Pera, where he and his master had left that morning, in order to have Van Mittern and his luggage immediately taken to the firm.The obedient Dutchman dared not leave for a moment under the gaze of his friend.
"So it's decided, my master?" Bruno asked as he was about to leave the firm.
"What else is there to do with the damned man?" returned Van Mettaine.
"Are we going to circle the Black Sea?"
"Unless my friend Kerabong changes his mind on the way, which is almost impossible!"
"Of all the heads of Turks who have been slapped at any fair," Bruno replied, "I can't believe I could find one as hard as he!"
"Your comparison is quite correct, though irreverent, Bruno," said van Mittern. "It's also because my fist will shatter this head, so I won't hit it in the future!"
"I still wish to rest in Constantinople, my lord!" Bruno continued. "Travel and I..."
"It's by no means a trip, Bruno," replied Van Mittaine, "it's just another road my friend Kerabon took in order to get back to supper!"
This way of facing things did not calm Bruno.He doesn't like to go out, and now he's going for weeks, maybe months, through various countries—he's not interested in that, but it's all difficult, even dangerous—he's interested in This aspect is more concerned.In addition, the fatigue caused by these long journeys will cause him to lose weight, thus losing the standard weight-167 pounds! —how much he valued it!
And then his sad old tune, which he always used on his lips, rang again in his master's ears:
"Woe to you, sir, I tell you again, woe to you!"
"We'll see," replied the Dutchman, "you'd better go and find my luggage. I'm going to buy a guidebook to study these different countries, and a notebook to record my impressions. You'll come back later. Come here, Bruno, you can rest..."
"when?……"
"After we circle the Black Sea, because we are destined to do so!"
Hearing this fatalistic thought, which not even a Muslim would deny, Bruno shook his head, left the firm and went to the hotel.Truth be told, the trip didn't do him any favors!
Two hours later, Bruno came back with a few porters, who were carrying racks that had no braces but were tied to their backs with thick straps.They were natives, in felt-lined clothes, woolen stockings with gusseted wool, a kara embroidered with colored silk, and double-soled shoes, in short, Turks, who were extremely It is accurately called "the two-legged camel without the hump".
However, due to the many packs they carry on their backs, they do have a hunched back.The parcels were all placed in the yard of the firm and began to be loaded on wagons drawn from the garage.
At this time, Lord Kerabong handles his affairs as a careful wholesaler.He inspected the condition of the carriage, checked his journal, gave some instructions to the chief of the clerks, wrote several letters, and brought a large pile of gold coins, for in 1862 the paper money had been discredited and out of circulation. .
Because of the journey along the coast of the Moscow Empire, Kerabon needed a certain amount of Russian currency, which he intended to exchange with his Ottoman pounds at a bank in Selim, since his journey required him to pass through Od SA.
Preparations were made quickly.The necessities of life were piled in chests in the carriage.There are also some weapons in it-no one knows what will happen, so it must be just in case.Moreover, Lord Kerabon did not forget to take two hookahs, one for Van Mittern and one for himself, which were indispensable for a Turk who was also a tobacco wholesaler.
As for the horses, they were ordered that night, and would be brought up early in the morning, leaving a few hours for supper and rest, from midnight to sunrise.When Lord Kerabong awoke the next day, all jumped out of bed and put on traveling clothes.
The carriage was harnessed and boxed, and the post coachman on his horse waited for the travelers.
Lord Kerabon gave his final instructions to the staff of the firm.Waiting to go now.
"So, so decided!" said Van Mettertain for the last time to his friend Kerabon.
In reply, Kerabong pointed to the car, whose doors were already open.
Van Metertain stooped up to the step and took a seat on the left side of the carriage.Lord Kerabong sat down beside him.Nisib and Bruno climbed into the carriage.
"Ah! my letter!" said Kerabong, as the rowdy procession was about to leave the firm.
So Kerabong lowered the window, handed a letter to a clerk, and told him to deliver it to the post office that morning.
The letter, addressed to the cook at Villa Skuthari, consists of these few words:
"We'll have supper when I get back. Change the menu: cheese bruschetta, lamb shoulder roasted with spices, never overcooked."
Then the carriage rocked and drove to the streets of the suburbs, crossed Kinkerna on the Walid-Sultana bridge, and left the city by "Ieni-Capsi", the "New Gate". .
Lord Kelabon is on his way!May Allah bless him!
Notes:
Notes: