THE LITTLE EDEN
ENGLISHMAN'S ROMANTIC
INVESTMENT
A British officer sent to "The Times" tho following curious littlo page of history concerning TJrendjick, a place about/foUr miles to the east of Salonika. Ho describes it as one of the most romantic and. picturesque spots in tho country. Close by the camp, forming an oasis among the bleak and rugged hillsides, is a walled garden full of dchso foliage. It is owned by the French Brothers of_ the Collego at Salonika. Hero during tho great heat of summer they walk the sheltered! woodland paths, their refectory a rudo shepherd's shelter, their beds beneath leaves and stars, their bath a haifruined ornamental tank, and their altar beneath the greenwood tree. Thanks li ."°spita!ity of these genial audi C ?i j re Brothers, tho officer was enabled to penetrate tho mystery of the rums which ho had observed in aud around the glorious old gardens, and learncdi their romantic story. It appears that towards tho end of the eighteenth century a dweller in oalonika_ named Djeck Abott, of English origin, conceived the idea of trading m leeches from the ponds at Hortiak; a mountain overlooking Salonika, For these there was at that time a great demand by the medical profession. Having, ,by means of judicious backsheesh, cornered the European trade, Abott in ten years mado an enormous fortune. Ho retired from the business and became a megalomaniac. Employing more than 500 men, Abott transfohned the uncultivated Eurumedjeek ("tho little spider valley") into Ureudjick ("the little llden"). A man. sion and terraced gardens were constructed; mules brought soil up from the plain; the best gardbners arranged the flower beds ; more than 100 species of trees were imported. After five years' labour and the oxpendituro of £300,000 the work was completed. About 1830 tho entire valley was filled with the, villas of wealthy inhabitants of Salonika. The consuls were well entertained by Abotl/and M. Oousinery the French consul-general, wrote a book about the joyous life at TJrendjick. A religious service was instituted in honour of this little earthly paradise, and a priest officiated in a pretty chapel to the sound of cascades and tho songs of birds. The service was followed by drinks in tho garden among the 6taiue's afterwards romoved to the garden of the Ottoman Bank, -which was built on the site of Abott's original bouse in Salonika.. ■
In 1852 the Sultan Abdul Medjid visited Salonika with his three littlo sons, of whom Abdul Hamid has achieved notoriety. The Sultan was invited to visit Urendjiek, and for many days tho road leading to it, which had been enlarged was covered with fine sand. Abott bought Tip all the Turkish carpete in the bazaars, and spread them on the approaches to the villa. A Turkish bath was specially constructed for His Majesty. On the appointed day all Salonika was en fete. There was a wonderful procession to tho villa. Arrived before the magnificent entrance, Abdul Medjid placed his right foot on the stop of the. carriage, but a flash of lightning, followed by a loud thunder-, clap, was so obviously a bad augury that the Sultan withdrew his foot and refused to alight. Abott offered His Majesty coffee as ho sat in the carriage. A brazier was brought, and the coffee was heated with banknotes .to the value of £625. Then Abott brought a silver key on a gold platter, ajid tendered it to tho Sultan, who returned it, saying, "Urendjiek will he free from taxes for ever."
After this exciting day Abott's sous, seeing their fortune slipping through the hands of their prodigal father, shut him up. Abott refused all nourishment, and died of hunger. Some time later the sons sold the property and returned to England. Urendjiek then passed to Barou do Oharneaud, who caused the great carved stones and marbles t'o bo removed to his country seat and town house, , while the young trees were transplanted to liis? various eardons. Tho little paradise fell gradually into decay. In course of time the place was sold for 200 napoleons to M. Pascal Ruygiero,, who repaired tho road, planted some vines, and sold it again to tho Brothers of tho College at Salonika in 1901 for £T.<loo.
'A-nephew of Abott is a landowner in Salonika, and owns the site of the British Consulate. His son, Eobert Abott, was abducted by a band of 15 brigands from Asevedto-Chori in 1907. They demanded a_ransom of £25,000, and received £15,000, which the Sultan was compelled to pay. The captive passed .the first night in the bath prepared by his. great-uncle for the Sultan. Three of the brigands got safely to America; the remaining 12 were given away by an angry woman, and sentenced to terms of from five to 15 years' imprisonment. About £12,000 of the ransom was recovered. In 1008 they •wore all set at liberty.
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Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 2962, 28 December 1916, Page 3
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810THE LITTLE EDEN Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 2962, 28 December 1916, Page 3
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