Through Five Turkish Provinces (Illustrated)

In regard to the 2-star review, all digital errors have been corrected as of September, 2017. This travelogue was published in 1900. From the book's Preface: In the spring of 1898 I renewed my acquaintance with the Hauran and commenced some investigations which I resolved to continue at the earliest opportunity. To enable me to do so, the authorities of my college at Cambridge kindly gave me leave of absence for the Lent term of 1899. I left England with the intention of spending three or four months in the Syrian desert, but, when I reached Damascus, I found that I was unable to obtain the necessary permit. The conseqence was that I went over what to me was new ground and visited Aleppo, Baghdad, Mosul and Van; coming home by way of Mount Ararat, Erivan, and Batoum. In the following pages I have given an account of my travels. The delay in publication is due to a variety of causes; among others to the fact that since the beginning of December last I have been with my militia battalion first at Aldershot and then in South Africa. The notes which have served me for the compilation of this little book were jotted down day by day; whatever erroneous opinions may be expressed were formed on the spot and are not due to subsequent investigations. I have been blamed for not making "more of a book": to have done so would have been easy enough. I need but have padded what I have written wth historical and geographical information, which it is better to seek in workd on history and geography, and with crude and worthless criticisms of men, manners and institutions. I have preferred to state simply what has come under my own observation and not to ape the omniscience of the journalist or of the globe-trotter. ............................................................................... Excerpt: I left Damascus on January 17th, 1899. It was the first week of ramadhan and travelling in the month of ramadhan has its disadvantages; for fasting puts the muleteers into a very bad temper and the escort clamour for food at all hours of the night. The first day's march was a short one of five hours, a mere trial trip. The camp was pitched at Khan Aiash, a ruinous building which is also used as a barrack; ten or twelve mounted police are stationed there. They were smartly dressed, as, like most of the other troops in that district, they had been given new uniforms in houour of the German Emperor's visit; which by the way seems to have been a greater success in Damascus than it was in Jerusalem. On my arrival I found the commander of the police, an oriental Sir John Falstaff, waiting with marked impatience for sunset that he might break his fast. I. 'Isa Kubrusli II. "How the Palikar's Honour was Made White" III. A Quarrel among my Servants IV. Interview with an Official Read more