Page:Travels & discoveries in the Levant (1865) Vol. 1.djvu/281

Rh on this offender, and having convicted him on the evidence of two credible witnesses, a rare felicity in a Turkish trial, put him into my caique, and carried him off prisoner to Rhodes. The Caimacam of Cos, an old Janissary, was very anxious to intercede for him, and held me a long discourse on the frailty of humanity generally. I inquired why the Turk took such an interest in the case, as the prisoner was too poor to buy him, and was told that he was the bitter enemy of the prosecutor!

The part of the Archipelago from which I have just returned has as yet been but little explored. It lies off the great high road of steamers and tourists to Constantinople. The manners of the people have been far less affected by European influence than in islands like Mytilene, or Scio, which have maintained a more constant intercourse with Smyrna. For the same reason the Sporades appear to promise a very productive field for archgeological research. On my return to Rhodes, I found everybody full of warlike ideas. To-morrow's post may bring us decisive news. There is a general presentiment that this will be a year pregnant with mighty events for Turkey. The Turks show great resolution outwardly; but we live in an atmosphere of fear and expectancy; the word Russia is in every Turk's heart and on every European's lips.