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Page:Travels & discoveries in the Levant (1865) Vol. 1.djvu/130

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102
TRAVELS AND DISCOVERIES

this gulf is noticed by Aristotle in his History of Animals.43

We returned home by Kalloni, at the head of the gulf. Everywhere we found very comfortable beds— mattresses on clean floors, and good wholesome food. The Greek host has no ideas of any hospitality, except that which satisfies the animal wants. Immediately after supper, the mattresses are brought in and his guest is expected to go to bed. The consequence is, that the night at this season of the year is of the most wearisome length.


IX.

Mytilene, December 6, 1852.

As yet I have been unable to make distant excursions, on account of the difficulty of finding a trustworthy person to leave in charge of the Vice-Consulate in my absence. In Levantine consulates there is usually an officer called a Cahcelliere, who acts as the Consul's secretary, keeps his archives in order, and acts as his official deputy. These Cancellieres are generally Levantines, and it is difficult to meet Turkish a genuine Englishman qualified for such an office, which requires a knowledge of Greek and Turkish, and familiarity with the ideas, customs, and forms of legal procedure in the Levant. I have, however, been so fortunate as to secure the services of Mr. J. Blunt, the son of H. M.'s Consul at Salonica,