New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1852-10-02
LEE IN ALEPPO.


LIFE IN ALEPPO.
| Tyitori,l csrr..pond.nes OF The y. Y. Triburs
ALHPFo, Tuesday, June {, 1851
Our entry into Aleppo was fitting pre-
liminary to our experiences during the FIVE days
we have spent here. After passing blacsamoor,
who acted as an advanced guard Of the Custom
House, at q ragged tent outside Of the city, and
bribiDg him with two pastres, we crossed the mar
| row line Of gardens on the western side, and en-
tered the streets There were many coffee houses,
filled with smokers, nearly all Of whom accosted
us in Turkish, though Arabic is the prevailing lan-
| guage here. Ignorance made US dIscourteous, and
we sli shted every attempt to open a conversation.
| Out Of the narrow streets of the suburbs, we ad-
yanced to the bazaars, in order to find khan
where we could obtain lodgings. All the best
khsns, however, were filled, and we were about to
take a very inferior room, when a respectable in
divdual came up and offered to show us better
quarters. We followed him to neat, quiet and
pleasant street near the bazaars, where we were
ushered into a spacious court yard, with row OF
apartments opening upon it, and told to make
ourselves at home.
The place had evidently been recently inhabited,
for the rooms were well furnished, with not only
divans, but beds in the Frank style. A lean kit
ten was scratching at one Of the windows, to the
great danger of overturnng pair Of narghilehs, a
tame tea. gull was walking about the court, aud
two sheep bleated in q stable at the further end.
In the kitchen we not only found variety of uten
sis, but eggs, salt, pepper and other condiments
Our guide h ad left, and the only information we
could get from dyeing establishment next door,
was that the occupants had gone into the coun-
try. take the good the gods provide thee" is
my rule in such cases, and we were very hum
cry, we set Francois to work at preparing dinner
We arrang ed diysn in the open air, had table
brought out, and by the aid of the bakers in
the bazaar, and the stores which the kitchen sup
Piled, soon rejoiced over very palatable meal
We were Just finishing pondescrpt pastry which
FIancois found at bakers, and which, for want
Of better name, he called mtriagaes Il Ia khor-
assam, when there was loud knock at the street
door. We were in the same dilemma as the
schoolboy caught in the act Of playing teacher,
but resolved to maintain our places, and gravey
invite the real master to join u.s.
Itwas female servant, however, who, to our
great amsZement, made profound salutation aud
seemed delighted to ace u Ny master did not
expect your Excellences to day; be ha, gone
into the gardens, but will soon return. viii your
E1cellencies take coffee after your dinner 7" and
coffee was forthwith served. The old woman was
upremitting in her attentions and her son, boy
of eight years and the most venerable child ever
saw, entertained us with description Of horse
which his master had Just bought-a horse which
had cost two thousand piisters, and was ninety
years old. Well, this Aleppo is an extraordinary
place, was my first Impression, and the inhabitants
Gie remarkable people but waited the masters
arrival, IS the only Of solving the my stery.
About dusk, a lady dressed in white. with an
Indian handkerchief )und over her black hair, az
rived. Pray excuse Us, said sac, Ne thought
you would not reach here be.Jre 10. morrow, but
my brother will cone directly" la fact, the
brother did come soon alteiward. and greeted us
with still warner welcome. Before leaving
tie gardens" be raid, {" | heard Of your arrival,
and have come in fan gilOp the whole way"
In order TO put an end to this comedy Of errors,
declared ct oace that he was mistaken; nobody
in Aeppo could possibly know Of our coming, and
we were perhaps transgressing on his hospitality.
But no he would not be convinced. lie was a
drsgoman to the English Consulate; his master
had told him We would be here the next day, and
he must be prepared TO receive US. BESIDES, the
anissary Of the Consulate had showed US the
way TO bis house. We therefore le. the mstter
~ st till next morning, hen We called on Mr.. Very,
tie Consul, who informed rs that the j4nissary
had mistaken US for two gentlemen We had met
in Damascus, the traveliog companions Of Lord
Dslktith. As they had not arrived, ne begged rs
to remain 10 the quarters which had been prepared
for them. We have every reason to be clad Of
this mistake, as it has made us acquainted VITA
one Of the most cortsOus and Ospitsale gentlemen
in the Esst.
Aieppo hes go far out Of the usual routes Of
travel, that it is rarely visited by Europeans Oae
Is NOT, therefore, ss in the case OF Damascus.
prepared beforehand, by volumes Of description.
wien pr elude all possibility of mistake or sur
Prise. For pypart only knew ths. ,leooo had
once been the greatest Commercial, civ or ~.
Onsnt, though its power had long .;n.. 600
into other hands. But there were cent, Il, 80
associations lingering around the nam. ~
drew me toward it, and obliged me 70 ;peI,as !.
at all hazards 70 my As'Gtic tour. The .c,n,,
.cijItiOn OF Captains Irby an Ma.s,s, a..