Page:Adventures of Baron Wenceslas Wratislaw of Mitrowitz (1862).djvu/125

 abundance of groves, not so much artificially constructed by men, as growing spontaneously by nature. Here goddesses formerly dwelt; here the muses had their seats; here learned men selected spots for meditation in private. Thus, after gazing on everything thoroughly, and gathering nosegaye of sweet-scented flowers, we sincerely lamented that this most beautiful spot, and the whole of this most delightful region, should remain in the power of the Turks. Furthermore, we saw the serail of the janissaries, where they live, and keep themselves in a very tidy condition, possessing guns, sabres, and battle-axes, beautifully polished, and hung up in cloth cases and sheaths. In this place the atchamoglans are instructed in all manner of military matters. The serail is not far from the first mosque which Sultan Mahomet caused to be erected, in honour of the taking of the city, on the place where the Christian church of the holy Apostles Peter and Paul had previously stood.

In Constantinople there are also large gardens, surrounded with walls, on which cats usually jump and assemble, waiting at certain hours for people to come and give them alms. For it is customary among the Turks to boil and bake paunches, lights, livers, and pieces of meat, and carry them in wooden buckets up and down the city, crying out, “Kedy et, kedy et!” i. e. “Cat’s meat!” A kitchen-boy also carries on his shoulders a number of spits, upon which are baked pieces of meat, liver, and spleen, and cries in the streets, “Tiupek et, tiupek et!” i. e. ”Dog’s meat!” till they ring again. Behind him run three-score dogs or more, looking to him to be served. The Turks buy this food, distribute it to the dogs, and throw it to the cats upon the wall; for