It is one of the most disagreeable circumstances that can happen to the traveller to arrive at an Oriental town after evening has closed in.

He finds the gates locked, and may clamour for admittance in vain.
In order to gain our inn, we were obliged to ride through the greater part of the town.

I had here an opportunity of observing that it is just as unsightly as the interior of Constantinople.

The streets are narrow, and the houses built of wood, plaster, and some even of stone; but all wear an aspect of poverty, and at the same time of singularity;--the gables projecting so much that they occupy half the width of the street, and render it completely dark, while they increase its narrowness.

The inn, too, at which we put up, looked far from inviting when viewed from the outside, so that we had some dark misgivings respecting the quality of the accommodation that awaited us.