The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-06-06
A QUEER CAROUSE.

Disraeli's Night with Turkish Bey on the
Top of Mount Pindus.
From Home Letters by the late Earl of Beacons-
field.
Two hours before sunset, having completed
only half our course in spite of all our exertions
we found ourselves at vast but dilapidated
khan as big as Gothic castle, situated on
high range and built as a sort of half way house
for travellers by Ali Pacha when his long, gra-
cious and unmolested reign had permitted him
to turn this unrivaled country, which combines
all the excellences of Southern Europe and
Western ASIA to some of the purposes for which
it is fitted. This khan had now been turned into
military post, and here we found young Bey,
to whom kalio had given US a letter in case of
our stopping for an hour. He was a man of
very pleasant exterior, but unluckily could not
understand Govanni's Greek and had no inter
prefer.
So we smoked 1t is great resource, but
this wore out, and it was so ludicrous, smoking
and looking at each other and dying to talk, and
then exchanging pipes by way of compliment
and then pressing our hand to our heart by way
of thanks. The Bey sat in corner, unfortu-
nately next, so had the onus of mute attention
and Clay next to me, 80 he and NJ could at
least have an occasional joke, though, of course
we were too well bred to exceed an occasional
and irresistible observation. Clay wanted to
play ecarte. and with grave face, as if we were
at our devotions; but just AS we were about
commencing, it occurred to US that we had some
brandy, and that we would offer our host a
glass, as it might be q hint for what
should follow to so vehement sehnaps.
Mashailah! Had the effect only taken
place 1880 years ago, instead of in the
present age of skeptcism, it would have been
Instantly voted a irst-rate miracle. Our mild
friend smacked his lips and instantly asked for
another cup; we drank it in coffee cups By the
time that Meredith had returned, who had left
the house on pretense of shooting, Clay, our host
and myself had dispatched bottle of brandy ia
quicker time and fairer proportions than ever
did bottle of Burgundy, and were extremely
gay. Then he would drink again with Mere
dith, and ordered some figs, talking, / must tell
you, all the time. indugng in the most graceful
pantomime, examining our pistols, Offering
his own golden ones for our inspection, nd
finally making out Giovannis Greek enough to
misunderstood most ludicrously every obserya-
ton we communicated But all was taken in
good part and never met such jolly fellow in
the course of my life.
In the meantime we were ravenous for the
dry, round unsugary fig is q great Whether At
last we insisted on Giovannis communicating
our wants and asking for bread. The Bey
gravely bowed and said; leave it to me- take
10 thought" and nothing more occurred. We
prepared ourselves for hungry dreams, when to
our great delight most capital supper was
brought in, accompanied, to our great horror,
by-wne. We ate, we drank; we ate with our
fingers, we drank in a manner never recollect
Tho wine was not bad but if it had been poison
we must drink, it was such compliment for
MOSlemln we quaHed IL IN rivers. me hey
called for the brandy; he drank it all. The room
turned round; the wild attendants who sat at
our feet seemed dancing in strange and fan
tastc whirls; the Bey shook hands with me- he
shouted English Greek Very good he hi
caught up from us. .Kalo, Kalo." was my n
ioinder He roared; l smacked him on To
back / remember no more
In the middle of the night / awoke ! found
myself sleeping on the divan. rolled up Ia its
sacred carpet the Bey had wisely reelsd to the
FIRE. The thirst felt was like that Of Dives.