There was something in the tone of his voice
which was satisfactory; and I should really have felt vexed had
anything occurred at the last moment to prevent his going with me.
Let it be a rule with every man to carry an English saddle with him
when travelling in the East. Of what material is formed the nether
man of a Turk I have never been informed, but I am sure that it is
not flesh and blood. No flesh and blood,--simply flesh and blood,--
could withstand the wear and tear of a Turkish saddle. This being
the case, and the consequences being well known to me, I was grieved
to find that Smith was not properly provided. He was seated on one
of those hard, red, high-pointed machines, in which the shovels
intended to act as stirrups are attached in such a manner, and hang
at such an angle, as to be absolutely destructive to the leg of a
Christian. There is no part of the Christian body with which the
Turkish saddle comes in contact that does not become more or less
macerated. I have sat in one for days, but I left it a flayed man;
and, therefore, I was sorry for Smith.
I explained this to him, taking hold of his leg by the calf to show
how the leather would chafe him; but it seemed to me that he did not
quite like my interference.
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