Soyer's Culinary Campaign: Being Historical Reminiscences of the Late War.: With The Plain Art of Cookery for Military and Civil Institutions

the Stromboli Mountain, which rises immediately from the ocean to the height of several thousand feet. Next morning we arrived at Messina, the spring garden of Sicily, where, in the open air, orange and lemon trees were in full blossom, and covered with delicious fruit. Lilies, roses, and violets perfume the air; whilst peas, beans, artichokes, and asparagus are gathered at the foot of the lofty mountains covered with snow. Although Messina is well known to travellers, yet they are not so well acquainted with the productions of its early spring. After a few hours’ ramble in this interesting city, our party embarked, and rapidly passed on our left the small but pretty town of Reggio, and on our right the mighty Mount Ætna, covered with deep snow. In less than forty-seven hours the _Simois_ brought us before the Piræus, the voyage never before having been accomplished under fifty. The _Simois_ is an English vessel, built at Liverpool by Mr. Layward, and recently purchased by the Messageries Impériales, and this is her first voyage in this sea. From the unexpected quickness of our passage, we were allowed to remain at this port four hours, and availed ourselves of the opportunity of visiting Athens. At the present time, in the ancient Parthenon, I am cooking, with my new camp-stove, on a fallen capital of the stupendous ruins, a _petit déjeûner à la fourchette_, with Greek and Sicilian wines, for my distinguished fellow-travellers; amongst whom are General Cannon (Behram Pacha); Colonel St. George, of the Woolwich Artillery; Captain Gordon; Captains Turner and Ponsonby; G. Munro, Esq.; W. S. Ball, Esq., Q.F.M.S.; Captain Arbuckle; Captain Boucher, Aide-de-camp of General Canrobert; and Signor Pitaki, the Governor of the Acropolis. We shall speedily re-embark for Constantinople. A. SOYER. CHAPTER VI. THE LAND OF THE MOSLEM. Departure from Greece--Amusements at sea--The Dardanelles--Gallipoli--A philharmonic soirée--Approach to the Bosphorus--First view of the Scutari Hospital--Reflections--The deserted steamer--The lady and her maid--Beautiful scene--The Golden Horn--Castle of the Seven Towers--Kadikoi--General and Barrack Hospitals--Grand panorama--Various edifices--Stamboul--Grand Oriental pageant--The Sultan’s kitchens--The Harem--Punishment for Turkish ladies--The Leander Tower--A romantic tale--On shore again--The enchantment dissolves--First