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94

THE BROTHER'S VINEYARD.

best bunches, asking the lady to take as many as she pleased.

"No, no, Georgie," replied she; come away quick-you very naughty-grapes not yours."

"Yes, yes, signora," cried he, "me quite good; they my bruder's grapes; he live other side hill up there; you come see him by and bye; he like you take plenty-no pay, all complimento." He gathered bunch after bunch.

She thought it very odd, but having become accustomed to odd things in Turkey ceased to remonstrate, only begging him to make haste. He led her through the vineyard and up the next hill where, sure enough, was a little cottage, or rather shed, where he said his "bruder" lived, who it appears kept a vineyard and sold grapes at Constantinople or in the neighbourhood. Georgie made her sit down, and then fetched his bruder and seester-she appearing to be

A PICTURESQUE SCENE.

95

about sixty, and he, seventy years of age. Georgie was about eighteen.

"These are your father and mother, are they not?" said the lady.

"Oh no, my pater is morto," said Georgie, pointing to the ground. "These my bruder and seester, signora."

We suppose they were in reality his aunt and uncle; they were most polite and kind, offering figs, melons, and grapes, and urging their visitor to partake of some, and take the rest home with her.

The whole scene was most picturesquethe young Greek boy in his holiday dress, and the old man and woman with their Eastern hospitality. After resting awhile, with many thanks the lady went her way, and, after copying the music, returned homeGeorgie having employed the time during which he was waiting for her in making bouquets for her and the other ladies at the Home. One great pleasure of these Greek

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boys was to present us with flowers; they were very grateful and affectionate, and so pleased with any little present we gave them, which they always called "complimento." gave Georgie a small

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One day Miss print of the Crucifixion; he walked about the garden kissing it and pressing it to his heart. On another occasion: he was ill in bed with a very bad foot; he slept in a small shed adjoining the Home. Miss took him some copies of the Illustrated News to amuse him, only intending to lend them, Georgie then expressed his thanks by kissing her hand, evidently taking it for a "complimento;" and behold the next day the walls of his room were adorned with the sheets of the Illustrated News. pasted all over them!

L

Ramazan commenced in June; it lasts thirty days. The Turks fast till sunset, both from eating, drinking, and smoking; the two latter privations make it very hard work, as ordinarily a Turk never has his

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pipe from his lips, and the heat causes great thirst. Shortly before sunset the Turkish troops assemble in the barrack-yard with their large copper dishes; rice is portioned out to them, sometimes mixed with a sort of gravy, and they stand still looking at it till the welcome sound of the sunset gun (which is fired the moment the sun sinks below the horizon) is heard, and then they set to with good appetites to enjoy their dirty-looking dinner.

The caidjees greatly object to taking passengers when near sunset time, but if persuaded to do so and the gun is heard they will stop at the nearest village to get their pipes lighted before they will proceed.

After sunset throughout Ramazan all peace
After the Turks have

and quiet is over.

done eating they begin shouting and dancing and what they call music, a sound resembling that which would be produced in England by one hundred hurdy-gurdies, all

VOL. II.

H

98

CEREMONIES OF BEIRAM.

playing together. The noise is distracting, and generally lasts until two or three in the morning. It was annoying even to those in the Home, but the officers, whose quarters. were close beside the Turkish barracks, complained bitterly of the impossibility of sleeping in consequence of it. All were thankful when the fast drew to its close.

Some of the English residents advised us strongly not to lose the sight of Bairam or Beiram, the Great Feast which follows Ramazan. This was a matter of difficulty, living the distance we did from Constantinople, but through the kindness of friends. some of our party were able to have the enjoyment.

The ceremonies of Beiram are as follows: The Sultan must be in Santa Sophia at sunrise, after which he receives in the gardens of his Seraglio his Ministers of State and the chief men of the empire. There are two feasts called by this name commanded to be

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