The principal evil suffered by the merchants
and factors arises from the depredations occa-
sionally committed by a band of robbers in-
festing these parts, who waylay and strip
caravans, and even manage to abstract goods
by night from the warehouses, a thing by no
means difficult, and it was a notorious fact,
that the nucleus of this banditti was in the
immediate vicinity of a town called Pyass or
By ass, at the opposite comer of the gulf,
amongst almost inaccessible mountain passes,
only known to the inhabitants of the adjacent
villages. It was even whispered that they
received indirect countenance and support in
their nefarious transactions from the Governor
of Byass, who, though a subject and employe
of the Sublime Porte, was immediately de-
scended from a noted rebel chief, and inherited
some small portion of his ancestor's disposition.
It was found good policy by the Consuls to be




ASIA MINOR. 155

on a friendly footing with this said Governor,
the renowned Mustuk Bey, and to keep, if
possible, in his good books. Any little atten-
tion or civility flattered his vanity, and was
productive of more real good to the interests of
all parties concerned, than could be obtained
by any reprimands or remonstrance from his
nominal chief, the Pasha of Adana.
I went by sea to Byass with some friends,
to make the personal acquaintance of the Bey.
