"The _commissionaires_, or guides, usually make up a party of a dozen, so that it does not cost but about two dollars apiece. Be sure and have the _firman_ ready for to-morrow, Dimitri," said the captain as the party left the hotel, though they halted in the street. "But how are we to get about this city if there are no carriages?" asked Mrs. Woolridge. "The walk I had up that narrow street, through the mud and garbage, was quite enough for me." "We have carriages, though it is impossible for them to go through most of the streets; but there is a fine road at Tophana, where we see procession," interposed Dimitri. "Engage enough of them to seat the party," added Captain Ringgold. "There are sedans for ladies, and saddle horses for gentleman when we go to the Seraglio," added the guide, who hastened away to procure the _firman_. "There is a pedler selling grapes," said Miss Blanche, as she discovered a Turk with a big basket at a corner. He was dressed in full Turkish costume, and Felix insisted that he had escaped from some circus company. The basket looked as though it contained about two bushels of the fruit; but it was a fraud with a partition near the top, upon which the grapes were heaped up so as to make the greatest possible display. "We must have some of them," added Louis; but he had no Turkish money. Munif, the second guide, had attached himself to the party, and he soon procured a supply of it with an English shilling, and about half a peck of the luscious fruit was purchased. All the tourists tasted them, and declared they were fully equal to the recommendation the captain had given them. After a basket had been obtained it was filled, and the guide insisted upon carrying it, apparently as an excuse for going with the party. But most of the travellers were tired by this time, and the older members strolled down the hill to the landing. With the assistance of Munif, Louis treated Miss Blanche to a variety of Turkish confects and drinks. The sherbet of which they read in the Arabian Nights was nothing but raspberry shrub, as it is called in New England, or something very like it. The little cakes or rolls were strong of rancid grease, and the young lady could not eat the candy. They concluded that there was some delusion about things Oriental. Miss Blanche was tired, and Louis obtained a sedan to convey her to the little steamer, walking by its side down the narrow, filthy, and steep street. CHAPTER XXXVII THE SULTAN AND THE DANCING DERVISHES