Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1834-09-11
FIRST IMPRESSIONS, OR NOTES BY
THE WAY.-BY NATHANIEL P. WILLIS.
A Turkish pic-nic, on the plain of Troy.

returned. full Of wassail and pllaw, by the light
of an Asian moon.
The morning was such 4 one as you would
expect in the country where mornings were
fisrt made The sun was clear, but the breeze
was fresh. and as we sat on the bey's soft d.
vans taking coffee before starting, turned my
cheek to the open window, and confessed the
blessing Of existence
We we're sixteen from the ship, and our host
was attended by his interpI eter, the general OF
his troops, the governor of Bournabashi Qhe
name of the Turkish town near Troy,) anu
host of attendants on foot and horseback: HIS
cook had been sent forward at daylight with the
provisions.
The handsome bey came to the door, and
heIped to mount us upon his own horses, and
we rode Off with the whole population of the
village assembled to see our departure. we
forded the Scamander, near the town, and
pushed on at a hard gallop over the plain. The
bey soon overlook us upon a feet grey mare
caparisoned with red trappingS, holding an UNI
brea over his head, which he courteously OF
fered to the Commodore on coming up. We
followed grass path, without hill or stone, for
nine or ten miles, and after having passed one
or two hamets, with their open threshIng floors
and crossed the Smois, with the water TO our
saddle girths we left slig ht rising ground by
a sudden turn, and descended to cluster OF
trees, where the Turks sprang from their horses,
and made signs for us to dsmount
Ii was one of natures drawing rooms
Thickets of brush and willows enclosed foun-
tain whose clear waters were conhneo IN a
tank, formed of marble slabs, from the neigh
boring ruins. A spreading tree above, and soft
meadow grass to its very tip lett nothing to
wish but friends and quiet mind TO perfect lts
beauty The cooks fires were smoking in the
thcket the horses were grazing without saddle
or bride in the pasture below, and we lay down
upon the soft, Turkish carpets, spread beneath
the trees, and reposed from our fatigues for an
hour.
The Interpreter came when the sun had slant
ed little across the trees, and invited us to the
bey's gardens, hard by. A path, overshadowed
with wild brush, led us round the little meadow
10 gate. close to the fountain head of the Sea-
mander. One of the common cottages OF the
country stood upon the left, and i'll front OF II a
large arbour, covered with grape vine, was
underlaid with cushions and carpets. Here we
reclined, and coffee was brought us, with bas-
kets of grapes, figs, ounces, and pomegran-
ates, the hey and his officers waiting on US
themselves with amusing assiduity. The people
of the house, meantime. were sent to the helds
for green corn, which was roasted for us, and
this with nuts, wine and conversation, and
ramble to the source of the Simois, which bursts
from cleft in the rock very beautifully, whiled
away the hours till dinner.
About four O'Clock we returned to the foun-
grass between the edge and the overshadowlng
tree, and all around it were spread the carpets
uponwhich we were to recline while "a:ing. Wine
and melons were cooling in the tank. and plates
Of honey and grapes, and new made butter, "a
great luxury in the Archipelago stood Oh the
marble rim. The dinner might have led Fri
ANS army. Half lamb, turkeys chickens
were the principal meats, but there was, besides,
a srabble route Of made dishes, peculiar to the
country. of ingredients at which could not ha.
zard even conjecture.
We crooked our legs under lis WITH some awk-
wardness, and producing our knives and forks.
(Which we had brought with the advice OF the
interpreter,) commenced, somewhat ahated in
appetite, by loo liberal lunch. They hey and
his officers sitting upright, with their feet under
them pinched off bits Of meat deXterously with
the thumb and forefnger, passing from one to
the other dish of rice, with large spoon,
which all used indiscriminately. 1t is odd that
eating with the fingers seemed only disgusting
to me in the hey. His European dress proba-
badly made the peculiarly more glaring. The
fat old governor who sat beside me was greas-
ed to the elbows, and his long grey beard was
STUDDED with rice and drops of gravy to his CIR
de- He rose when the meats were removed,
and waddled off to the stream below, where a
wash in the clean water made him once more a
presentabe person.
is a Turkish custom to rise and retire while
tne DISHES eiiu oisSi " h'HS
through the meadow, we returned to q lavish
spread of fruits and honey, which conoluded the
repast
II is doubted where Troy stood. The reputed
site is on rising ground, near the fountain Of
Bournabashi, to which we strolled after dinner.
We found nothing but quantities of fragments
of columns. believed by antiquaries to be the
ruins of city, that sprung up and died long
since.
We mounted and rode home by round
moon whose light filled the air like dust of
phosphoric silver. The plains were in glow
with IL Our Indian summer nights, beautiful
as they are, can give you no idea of an Asian
moon.
The bey's rooms were lit, and we took coffee
with him once more, and fatgued with pleasure
and excitement, got to our boats, and pulled up
against the arrowy current of the Dardanelles to
the frigate.
The editorial connection of S. F. Wilson, Esq. |
with this Office having terminated yesterday, we |
have the pleasure to announce to our readers |
hat have