trip from Istanbul to Tokat, first by ferry to
Samsun and then by car to Tokat. Along the way
he wonders whether he'll see Cemile again in
Tokat but when he arrives he learns she's in Sivas.
Later in July, Cemile returns to Tokat and
Selahattin sees her but still never speaks to her.//
Probably similar to the "Dumlupınar", which took
Selahattin to Samsun from Istanbul.
Sunday, 8 July 1934
I’ll leave for Tokat this evening. In the afternoon Namık
and I said our farewells. At 8 in the evening, we
departed, as Namık and Şemsi wave their handkerchiefs
from the dock. Our place was in the very front. With
our shirts off, we stretched out on the chaise longues. The
weather is fine and clear and not much of a wind to chill.
I’m viewing the Bosphorus filled with stars. We
encounter rowboats from time to time. Probably, they
contain couples lost in love and sharing kisses. Their
conversations are made up of whispers. After about two
hours we were met by the fierce, cold wind of the Black
Sea. Last night I couldn’t sleep so for that reason my
eyelids began to close. At first, Tevfik and I wanted to
sleep on the chaise longues but when we got cold we
headed for our beds.
Monday, 9 July 1934
When I awoke in the morning I saw that it was 6 o’clock.
The rising sun warmed me right up. I stretched out on
the chaise longue and began to read “Son Arzu”. We were
quite close to the shore. The sea was a bit rough. For this
reason, the Dumlupınar was rocking back and forth a bit.
At 11 o’clock we reached Zonguldak and the shrewd
grocers began to surround our ship. We bought simit
and plums and began to eat them. After 5 hours, the
ship departed again.
The wind picked up and we’re rocking like a swing. My
head spun and I vomited everything in my stomach. My
head aches and I can’t stand up. I was in this condition
till evening. The important event of today was our
getting wet from the rain and our drying in the rising sun.
Tuesday, 10 July 1934
When dawn broke it was raining. We got very wet but
with the rising sun an hour later, our clothes dried and we
were sweating. We reached İnebolu toward noon. The
attack of the shrewd grocers here was even beyond that
of the Zonguldak grocers. Since I couldn’t even lift my
head, I didn’t buy anything. I was only able to look a bit.
Not very pleasant.
Zonguldak is a nice place. In fact, the lovely wooden
houses remind one of the Bosphorus. We left İnebolu
after 2 hours and reached Ayancık toward evening. There
are lumber factories here. The tree stumps are transported
through the air. It’s not a bad place.
The weather began to improve and so did my headache. So
I began to enjoy the view from the chaise longue. As we
passed the shores of Sinop, the sun set. After Tevfik and I
talked for an hour we went to bed. I’ll be in Tokat in a day
or two. Perhaps I’ll see her.
Wednesday, 11 July 1934
I opened my eyes at 3 o’clock and the sky was turning
red. Samsun came into view. The city’s outline grew and
became more distinct. The weather was very nice. Tevfik
said that he would tour around Samsun for a couple of
hours. At four thirty our ship anchored and paying 60 kuruş
we rode in a motorboat to the pier. At first I was planning to
take the train but then when I ran into some people
from Tokat at the inn, I decided to go by automobile. After
Tevfik and I drank some milk, we played backgammon and
cards. At noon he went to the ferry and I went to the
automobile. At 1 o’clock it rained cats and dogs. So
poor Tevfik’s ordeal has yet to end. At 2 o’clock the
automobile began to climb Samsun hill. Samsun didn’t
really appeal to me, probaby because I’ve been in Istanbul
for a year. The road continued on through woods. I
suppose the villagers here are happy. At night we reached
Amasya. The city has been built with great difficulty
amid mountains. The big rocks on one side seem ready to
fall, and there are 3 ?radyum? on the main road for lighting.
Tevfik and I had eaten döner kebap during the day and here
I had some soup and meat with beans. After an hour’s rest,
the automobile was back on the road. The weather is
cold. Even though I’m in the driver’s compartment, I’m
shivering. My sleepiness overwhelmed me, though, and I
closed my eyes.
Selahattin's voyage to Samsun was essentially the
same as Atatürk's in May 1919 (loops along the
Black Sea coast.)
Thursday, 12 July 1934
I opened my eyes at 3 o’clock. We had passed Turhal
and were heading through the green Tokat plain. The road
was quite pretty, as the sun was getting ready to rise. The
rain of three days ago made the meadows even greener.
Finally, we began to see houses built with lime. As we
passed the İmam orchards I saw a few hard-working grocers
who had sacrificed their sleep to make some sales.
At four thirty the automobile reached the city. We
passed along the avenues and I looked at the square, which
was filled with soil. Evidently, this will be “Meydan Park”.
Most of the surrounding shops on the road had been torn
down. Two buildings whose foundations were layed on
Republic Holiday were almost finished. I came home,
shaved my 4-day-old beard, scrubbed up and started to
walk around, looking for her. Although I looked
everywhere I couldn’t find her.
At 7 o’clock I saw my father riding the donkey as he
crossed the bridge. I went and kissed his hand. From afar,
he didn’t recognize me but he smiled as I came closer.
After leaving the donkey at home, my father and I headed
toward the square. That day until evening I greeted
friends who welcomed my with deep thanks. But I still
didn’t see her. That day Enver and I played backgammon
at the lodge. I won.
In the evening I went to the orchard and kissed my mother’s
hand. I squeezed my older sister’s hands tightly. That
evening my nephew and I made a lot of noise.
Amasya
Saturday, 14 July 1934
I stayed at the orchard yesterday. The weather was rather
hot. I didn’t take off my night clothes until the evening and
filled my stomach with fruit like pears and mulberries. I
came to Tokat today in the morning and helped my father
quite a bit. Again today I didn’t see her. I ran into
Münevver on the road. In the evening I went to the park
with my father. There were three girls and three guys
singing and playing music very nicely.
Sunday, 15 July 1934
I wrote a letter to Şemsi and mailed it. We went to the
park again in the evening. While I was chatting with Ahmed
I asked about Cemile. I found out that she failed 9 classes
and is in Sivas now. She has proved her laziness. I wonder
when she’ll come. When I chatted with Enver on
Thursday he told me that most of the Tokat students had
been either forced to do make-ups or were left back.
There are 12 students of the (Sivas) Boys Teachers High
School who didn’t graduate and have to do make-ups.
Münevver graduated from Konya but Zehra had to do
make-ups at Kargı.
Monday, 16 July 1934
I sent a letter to Namık at his Pertek (Tunceli) address. The
weather is hot. There’s a lot of work to do in the office. I
spent half the day in front of the machine.
Thursday, 19 July 1934
These days, including today, have been extremely hot. At
night I’m sweating heavily in bed. Today my father went to
Turhal to meet Şükrü Bey. While I was sitting in the office
Kemal came and he asked me about my grades. I told him:
zoology 8 ¾ , chemistry 7, botany 6.5. I said that physics is
still uncertain. I told him that Istanbul is very beautiful and
that he should try to go to high school there, adding that we
could roam around together.
I wrote a letter to her and got a response. During my tests
I didn’t write. She’s probably angry with me and failed her
classes. She’s in Sivas now. Recalling the promise of justice
I ask: how could darkness be so bad?
Friday, 20 July 1934
I stayed in my pajamas the whole day at the orchard. I
started reading “Aşkım Günahımdır” and finished it. The
novel was pretty good. The story was so close to reality I
couldn’t help but be interested.
Saturday, 21 July 1934
I worked hard in the office today. In the evening we went
to the park and listened to songs and ‘saz’ music.
Sunday, 22 July 1934
I got a two-page letter from Şemsi filled with news. He
wrote about his daily life. I read the letter twice. In
particular, the news he gave me about my nephew made me
happy. I felt bad that Nedim had been expelled. He went
to Ankara but probably in vain. I got 6.5 in physics, which
is about as good as I could have hoped for. But I was
annoyed that Şeref got 7. Şemsi said that his brother has
been left back. I felt really bad about this because his poor
father will have to suffer for another year. Would that he
had passed the class.
Monday, 23 July 1934
Because today is a holiday, the office was closed. My father
and I went to the bath. I spent the rest of the day touring
around and went to the park in the evening.
Tuesday, 24 July 1934
Today I received a paper showing my marks from the dorm
directorate. When my father saw the 6.5 he scolded me
for getting such a low mark. I smiled without saying
anything and then explained that just about everyone’s grade
was the same as mine. I’m reading the novel “Sürgün” in
Yedi Gün (newspaper) and like it a lot. Kadircan wrote as
if it was real life.
In the evening, as I passed by her house I saw a lot of
heads in the window, one of which I recognized. Perhaps
she has come. Oh, if only I coud see her face one time.
These days I think about her almost every hour. Even when
I’m in bed she makes me think about herself.
Thursday, 26 July 1934
In the evening while riding my bike to the orchard, I went by
her house and again I thought I saw her. But I felt bad
because I’d promised myself I wouldn’t go there.
Friday, 27 July 1934
The weather turned bad toward noon today. There was lots
of thunder but it didn’t rain much. After a couple of minutes
of rain the sun comes out and then the same thing
happens again. It continued in this way until evening.
Since the weather was cool I slept well at night. I still
cannot forget her.
Saturday, 28 July 1934
Finally, I saw her. In the morning around noon, as I was
killing time in the office, I saw her looking at me as she
passed by. I was thrilled. There’s no way I can describe
the joy I felt at that moment. It has been 11 months since
I’ve seen her. Henceforth I’ll pass by her house all the
time and try to see her face.
Sunday, 29 July 1934
I wrote a letter to Şemsi and sent 4 liras for the book about
bones. I didn’t see her today.
Monday, 30 July 1934
Because Suzi and family came to the orchard in the evening
I went into town in the morning on my bike and came back
with groceries on the donkey, remaining at the orchard until
evening.
Tuesday, 31 July 1934
I stayed at the orchard today. In the afternoon I went in the
river with Necati, Suzi and Haluk. At 6 o’clock we at some of
the the large white grapes Suzi stole.
Tokat, 1930s
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