We then went to the billiard-room with the Natchalnik, and played a couple of games, both of which I lost, although the Natchalnik, from sheer politeness, played badly; and at sunset we returned to the president’s house, where a large party was assembled to dinner.  We then adjourned to the comfortable inner apartment, where, as the chill of autumn was beginning to creep over us, we found a blazing fire; and the president having made some punch, that showed profound acquaintance with the jurisprudence of conviviality, the best amateurs of Posharevatz sang their best songs, which pleased me somewhat, for my ears had gradually been broken into the habits of the Servian muse.  Being pressed myself to sing an English national song, I gratified their curiosity with “God save the Queen,” and “Rule Britannia,” explaining that these two songs contained the essence of English nationality:  the one expressive of our unbounded loyalty, the other of our equally unbounded ocean dominion.

President.  “You have been visiting the rocks and mountains of Servia; but there is a natural curiosity in this neighbourhood, which is much more wonderful.  Have you heard of the baby giantess?”

Author.  “Yes, I have.  I was told that a child was six feet high, and a perfect woman.”

President.  “No, a child of two years and three months is as big as other children of six or seven years, and her womanhood such as is usual in girls of sixteen.”

Author.  “It is almost incredible.”

President.  “Well, you may convince yourself with your own eyes, before you leave this blessed town.”

The Natchalnik then called a Momke, and gave orders for the child to be brought next day.  At the appointed hour the father and mother came with the child.  It was indeed a baby giantess, higher than its brother, who was six years of age.  Its hands were thick and strong, the flesh plump, and the mammae most prominently developed.  Seeing the room filled with people, it began to cry, but its attention being diverted by a nodding mandarin of stucco provided for the purpose, the nurse enabled us to verify all the president had said.  This phenomenon was born the 29th of June, 1842, old style, and the lunar influences were in operation on the tenth month after birth.  I remarked to the president, that if the father had more avarice than decency, he might go to Europe, and return with his weight in gold.

FOOTNOTES: 

[Footnote 16:  Nahie is a Turkish word, and meant “district.”  The original word means “direction,” and is applied to winds, and the point of the compass.]

CHAPTER XXIV.

Rich Soil.—­Mysterious Waters.—­Treaty of Passarovitz.—­The Castle of Semendria—­Relics of the Antique.—­The Brankovitch Family.—­Pancsova.—­Morrison’s Pills.