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31 May 1880 — Therapia | |
Monday. 31st May [1880]. Had visits of adieu from Mrs Sandison, Mrs Longworth, Mr & Mrs Washington. Directly after luncheon I had to dress to go to the Sultan’s. We started at 3 in the launch & went to Dolmabaghcheh where a carriage was waiting for us & we drove to Yildiz. On arriving we found we were a little late & the examination of the Royal Children had already begun. The centre hall has a kind of deep recess in each side wh are raised a step. In one of these the Sultan sat on a sofa. He put me in a chair on his right—Henry & Sir Alfred on his left. On the right seated in a line were Arifi P. Mahmoud Nedim P. Safvet P. Said P. (le petit) Hayreddin P. on the left of H.M. on the opposite side sat Osman P. Musurus P. Zarifi the Banker, M. Blanc & Col. Dreyssé. In the middle was a table with copy books. The examination was made by Munif P. the Minister of public instruction. Each child had first to read a bit of the Koran wh the Minister of In: first kissed & put to his forehead—then he made the child read a Turkish newspaper—then a French book– Then they stepped back to a black board on wh the pupil wrote french words & sentences & then showed places on a blank map. The Sultan’s nephew was the first we saw examined, then his own son both acquitted themselves well– Only the first wrote “l’omme” for the man & “les cabi” for the coats. When the boys had each come in turn & retired making their proper number of [illegible word] & received each a prize in the shape of an inkstand tied up in gauze with red & green ribbons– The little girls came & were examined. The Sultan’s daughter a lovely little girl in a pink long silk dress with a long tail advanced & read her lesson—& then was followed by another in a pale straw coloured dress—then Munir Bey little girl came & acquitted herself bravely. She was very ugly & horribly dressed with a bright yellow short dress trimmed with violet & having a black feather toque on her head—but she was very bright & sharp & evidently studied hard. Even the tiny little boys were brought in but they could hardly say their letters– There were several boys—Namyk P’s Osman P’s examined & all got prizes. Abt 6 o’clock it was all over & the sultan led us into a room & sat & talked a little while & then left us to rest. He sent Safvet P. & Munir B. to us & we had some tea brought us after wh we went down stairs & met H.M. in the hall & he took us to walk in the garden. Musurus & Munir accompanied us. He took us to a place where a spring had been discovered & where he had put a lot of trout from Brusa. They were jumping at the eveng flies in the little stream. He then took us on & made us cross the high swing bridge Holding my hand as we went over the middle of it. Musurus & Munir crossed with us but Safvet & Henry went round. As we were walking the Sultan said many kind things to me as to his regret at our departure & how sorry he was to find that Henry had been annoyed by having so many questions left unsettled many of wh he thought had been long ago settled, others of wh he knew nothing. I told him how sorry I was to leave Constple wh had become to me like a 2nd home chiefly thro’ the kindness of H.M. Then H.M. called Safvet P. & had a long talk with him over a paper he took out of his pocket wh was a list of the unsettled questions—& then Safvet dropped back & discussed them with Henry. At abt sunset we got to the little kiosque where dinner was prepared & it was all gaily lighted up within. I took off my bonnet & we sat talking abt ½ [hour] when we were fetched in to dinner. The Sultan sat at the end of the table—at his right I sat, Henry at his left. Next to me sat Safvet & next Henry Osman. As it was a dinér intime Munir B. was also allowed to sit & dine. Musurus & Sir Alfred completed the party. After dinner Henry & I & Munir B. retired with the Sultan & we sat talking till past 10. H.M. pulled out his paper of the unsettled questions & went into them one by one with Henry who spoke to him very plainly on many subjects & complained bitterly of the manque de bonne foi of his Ministers. At last as it got so late & we had a good way to go home Henry begged to be allowed to go & the Sultan gave us leave. I was very much affected at the parting & the Sultan took my hand in both of his & spoke most kindly—& I was glad to get away without breaking down—wh I very nearly did. We drove down to the Arnautkeui mosque passing thro’ the Yildiz gardens accompanied by grooms with lanterns, ADCamps & mounted guard & we found our launch there & got home abt 12 o’cl. very tired. | |
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