13 APRIL 1918, Page 12

" ANGARIA."

[To THE EDITOR or THE " SPECTATOR."]

Sia,—Before you close this correspondence on Angdria, may I quote the classic story of "Neer ed-din Hoja," the Turk of Anadalou ? The Hoja told his wife over-night that next morning, early, he was going either to his garden or to his "tchiftlik " (farm). " Say : In she' llah," said she. " No; there is no ' Please God' in the case," said the Hoja; either the baghtcheh or the tchiftlik." His wife again counselled "D.V.," but the Hoja would have none of it, and the curtainAecture ended in snores. Next morning, at dawn, the Hoja started, but was caught by Turkish soldiers, on " angaria" pressgang duty, and was worked terribly hard till late at night, when he was let go home. " Who's there?" said his wife at midnight, in reply to the poor man's knocks at the door. "Please God, it is I," said the exhausted Hoja.—I am,