obtained, I found that these were the family of the poor oda bashi, who had brought the chickens as a present, and came with tears to thank me for saving their father, brother, or husband. They were really pained, poor people, when I would not accept the cocks and hens, for, though of little value, it looked like receiving a bribe for justice; and, after a long explanation of my strange notions, they walked off in smiles, upon their hind legs, the cocks crowing triumphantly on their way down stairs.

The clock of Erzeroom

logy of clocks

CHAPTER VI.

- A Pasha's notions of horology - PathoThe tower and dungeon — Ingenious mode of torture The modern prison.

IN the citadel-a place which might, with great ease, be rendered very strong, but which now is deserted and disused, having, I believe, been knocked to pieces in the Russian warthere are still two or three curious ancient tombs and some other incomprehensible old buildings. The building containing the prison, which was in constant use in the good old times, and the tower, from whence the flag of Turkey is displayed, possessed an old clock, which had been out of order for many years before the Russians carried it away, but which was the wonder and admiration of all Koords, Armenians, and strangers from the mountains, to whom time was "no object," and who considered this old clock with its dial and hands as some sort of talisman beyond the comprehension of ordinary folks. Erzeroom was indeed lifted up in the estimation of those unsophisticated herdsmen

and robbers, as the only place they ever heard of where anything in the nature of a clock was to be seen. It might happen that some few of those who not only were possessed of such an outlandish article as a watch, but who were in some measure initiated into the uses of that strange production, would expatiate learnedly in the coffee-houses on the wondrous properties of the great talisman in the tower of the citadel, which, in all probability, from its great size and exalted position, was considered as the father of all the little watches of the sheikhs and chiefs among the tribes. As for the clock not going, that signified but little. Talleyrand said that speech was accorded to man for the purpose of enabling him to conceal his sentiments. The big clock had doubtless his reasons for holding his tongue, and telling no lies; I believe his reputation was increased by his silence, as is the case among many other distinguished characters besides the clock of Erzeroom. Now it came to pass, once upon a time, that the great Pasha or viceroy of the wide realms of this great pashalic chanced to be a philosopher; he knew that clocks, though they might have been made to sell, besides this very primary quality, also ought to go, but no artificer in the land of Armenia was competent to accomplish this de

sirable end. Whenever a Frank traveller-not that there ever were any travellers by profession in those days-but whenever a Frank doctor or hakim made his appearance in those regions, he was always received with distinguished civility by the Pasha, who, after the preliminaries of coffee, Kef enis ayi-" may your powers of enjoyment be in good order!"-always ended with an expression of his desire that the Frank would immediately set about the repairs of the clock.

"Sir, your Excellency," said the poor man, "I am a doctor; I am not a watchmaker or a mechanic. I don't understand clocks; it is not in my power to set the clock right; it is not in my line of business. I am very sorry, but, O Effendim, I fear I am unable to meet your wishes in this point."

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Dog of a Frank," quoth the Pasha, “greatgrandfather's uncle to all dogs, more particularly those of Frangistaun, is it not thy base profession to meddle with the bowels of mankind? canst thou not expel ginns and evil spirits and other things, which have taken up their abode in the innermost recesses of the bodies of true believers, which thine eye cannot penetrate, while nevertheless thou turnest their livers upside down and their souls inside out;

and all this by the accursed aid of thy wretched Frankish incantations; shooting thine arrows at them, or rather sending down their throats certain wicked and diabolical contrivances, which are known by the barbarians of thy benighted country by the name of pills. Dost thou pretend to see all that is going on in the stomach of a follower of the Prophet, and wilt thou tell me with the same breath that thou canst not administer to the disorganized constitution of a clock? Hath not a clock a pulse, when he is alive and in good health? Go thou, feel his pulse, and see whether it is fast or slow; whatever thou mayest want thou shalt have; my hakim bashi shall assist you, only cure the clock. All Franks make clocks: I have it from authority do not pretend that thou canst not set the clock going again, for surely thou canst restore it to life, and make it strike, and do all that it ought to do. Behold! thou art a Frank. Guards, take the Frank up into the tower, and make him mend the clock; and, if the unbelieving dog will not mend the clock, then put him into the dungeon down below, till he confesses that he is ready to do as he is commanded by the Pasha of the true believers."

In this way every audience concluded. The