The sudden move of Omer Pasha to Soukum Kalé was unaccountable. He seemed to have purposely put all the rivers and ravines of the country between himself and his enemy-a clever movement for a retreating army, but inexplicable under his circumstances. Mouravieff smiled as he remarked to us that Omer Pasha had gone to Soukum Kalé to relieve us.

Georgia must be at all times most difficult for an invading army, and these difficulties favour its defenders. During the hot and dry season of the year the coast and the valleys are infested with a deadly fever; when the rains fall the roads are cut up by swollen mountain torrents, and streams through the dry beds of which one day an army could have marched, will sweep away man and horse the next. Add to these difficulties a hostile population, skilful in defending passes all but impossible, yet through which an army must of necessity defile, and you have Mouravieffs reasons for his pertinacity in keeping up the blockade of Kars, and leaving Omer Pasha to his devices.

Another question much agitated is this-Could Selim Pasha have advanced to our relief from Erzeroom? I am told he could, and that Major Stuart and the other British officers in that city did their utmost to impel him to march out, or at least to allow his troops to march with them. Nevertheless, I am inclined to believe, that what would have been a daring, and probably successful exploit with British troops, was all but hopeless with men who may be said to have been without officers, excepting a few gallant Englishmen, who were ignorant of their language, and who would have found them wholly un

accustomed to manoeuvres in the field. Selim Pasha had not more, I believe, than 8000 troops; his cavalry, with which Major Cameron, Captain Peel, and Mr. Evans offered to cut their way through the beleaguering force, were of the most inefficient description, and there was a corps of first-rate Russian troops on his right flank at Bayazid. Nevertheless, had it not been for the mendacious despatches of this Turkish General, we might have cut our way out of Kars through the enemy, after having destroyed our guns and standards, and while yet the strength of our men allowed them to perform the feat. Selim Pasha might have awaited us in some good position. This plan was, I know, a favourite idea of General Williams, which he abandoned reluctantly when the desperate condition of his famished troops pointed out its impracticability. The constant despatches of Selim Pasha encouraged us to continue in our position to the utmost limits of human endurance; and added to our other miseries by practising upon us a heartless and ignoble deception.

The British Government did assuredly choose the very best man for the peculiar and trying duties that devolved upon General Williams. Under him each British officer felt it a pride and a pleasure to serve, while his peculiar knowledge and large experience of the Turkish character enabled him to detect and frustrate intrigues, to check peculation, and to stimulate Asiatic apathy; his many noble qualities endeared him to the soldiery, and made the people his enthusiastic partisans. No one can deny that he was truly "the right man in the right place."

A GLOSSARY OF TURKISH WORDS

Occurring in this Work, which may not be intelligible to the general reader, or are not explained in the text.

Baba-Father, a term of endearment and respect.

Baksheesh a present in money.

Bouroyolti-a Government power authorizing the holder to demand change of horses, and conferring several other privileges.

Cadi-the Mussulman judge.

Capouji Bashi-the head porter of a large household.

Cavasses-policemen.

Cavass Bashi-the head of the police.

Chiboukji-pipe-bearer to Pasha.

Deribey-literally, a lord of the valley; an old-fashioned, and now

almost extinct, feudal chief.

Ghiaour-an infidel, one who does not believe in Mahomet.

Hadj-a pilgrimage.

Hammals-porters.

Hazna-treasury.

Haratch-a tax upon all Christians.

Istikbal-the ceremony of welcoming into a city a person of dis

tinction.

Kef—the lazy, dreamy state of repose so precious to the Eastern. Kissas-retaliation.

Kama-a broad dagger.

Konag-a large house or mansion.

Marafet skill, science.

Menzil Khan-a post house.

Mudir-the Governor of a small town and district.

Mijlisa Municipal or Military Council.

Mollah-the high functionary, or kind of priest, learned in the Koran.

Mashallah—an exclamation, literally "work of GOD."

Narguileh-a kind of hookah.

Rayah-a Christian subject of the Sultan.

Rustem-an Eastern hero.

Sheitanlik-magic, devilry.

Sheikh-ul-Islam-the highest functionary of the Mussulman religion and law, except the Sultan.

Somar-a measure of twelve bushels.

Toprak-literally "earth," any locality.

Turkomans-a nomad tribe of Seljukian Turks.

Ulema-the Mussulman priesthood, so far as they can be said to have any priesthood; for they have no class answering to the usual meaning of that term.

Vartabed-an Armenian priest.

Yali-a marine villa on the banks of the Bosphorus.

Yoghoort-a preparation of fermented milk, a staple diet of the Turkish peasant.

THE END.

LONDON: PRINTED BY W. CLOWES AND SONS, STAMFORD STREET,

AND CHARING CROSS.