The Argosy — page 230: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

216 Remembrances of Constantinople. Nothing impresses a stranger with the difference between this city by the Bosphorus and even the smallest Western town more forcibly than ‘the almost total absence of carriages, and the contrast between those that are seen and any that have ever been met before. Our party falling short of John Gilpin’s.complement of ‘“ precious souls,” five of us were packed, with some difficulty and much laughter, within the vehicle, whilst our cavaliers accompanied us on horseback. - Just after starting we met a gay native coach—a telekah. I wish one could be seen in Long Acre. In it four veiled ladies were seated, of course & la Turque. The carriage was resplendent with yellow, and the canopy decked with numberless red tassels, which were repeated, with the addition of bells, on the harness of the mule. From after experience I can aver that a more thoroughly uncomfort- able machine in which to go a-pleasuring than a telekah can hardly exist. On a smooth road, and suspended on the best springs that were ever turned out of a London coachbuilder’s, chair-sitting mortals would soon be tired, and perhaps cramped, after reclining on the softest cushions, with one leg tucked away, and the other planted at an angle of forty-five. When added to this discomfort you and your partners in misfortune are continually jolted toward a common centre; and when, moreover, the carriage being entirely guiltless of springs, you are shaken and tossed about until you begin to have unpleasant remi- niscences of shipboard ; I think it must be admitted that in private conveyances, as in other things, “the sick man” needs to mend his ways. The occupants of this telekah excited and evidently reciprocated our attention, The eyes alone of these houris could be distinctly seen, The rest of them was enshrouded in veil and robe. Those almond-shaped, long-lashed eyes were certainly bewitching, and their lustre was increased by the kohl or antimony with which the under lids were stained. The eyebrows were painted so as to appear to meet over the nose, which would be considered a disfigurement among ourselves, It was easy to see, through the almost transparent “ yash- maks,” that the fair dames added an artificial hue to their cheeks. The narrowness of the road, which obliged our carriage to come to a standstill while the other passed, alone enabled me to make these observations. Once on the move it was useless to dream of indulging our natural desire to gaze at the passers-by ; we were obliged to be on the alert to preserve ourselves from the dangers of the way. The late Sultan took no heed of the locomotion of his subjects, consequently the roads of his capital city were never mended. In good truth they never were made. When houses were first promiscuously placed here and there, as suited the taste or convenience of the builders, it swas comichbooks.com