Literary cadet and Rhode-Island statesman. [volume] (Providence, R.I.) 1827-1829, 1828-10-04

GrCHUMLA.- THIS important Turk ish
fortress. which is the point where the Russian
Army has received It's first check, is described
in the following language by DIR. Waich. IN
hls travels.
"Tne town of Chumla lies in an angle of a
valley, formed by two ridges of low mountains
and they are the last branch of them al this
side, and Their extreme termination: If, there
fore, the whole breadth OF this immense cham
be taken, 1t may be SAID to extend from Fa-
kh TO Shumia, thirty two hours, or ninety SIX
miles, the country beyond these places being
all leve! PLAN, aud between them beng all
mountain; The lofty ridges, however. extend
only from Haidhos to Tnpcnltza, nIne hours,
or twenty seven miles. The mountains about
Chuala form semi circle, or amph theatic,
up the sides OF which gardens aud plantations
extend To me summit OF the hill overhanghg
the Town with very rich and beautiful pros
pect; below AT the extremity Of the ridges, an
iIHincnse plan b. Guns, which extends To the
Danube on The north, and the Black Sea Oh
the east. Here Is seen the town and barbour
OF Vnrna, between Two head-lands, distant
eIgh,ren hours, Or fifty -lour miles.
To tins port, all vino WISH 10 avoid the din
culties of the Balkan, hle vessel iro', Con
san,lnople, and from hence come TO Shumia.
The pirI OF the plain ly ng on the south Of the
ridge was formerly called Thracc, and IS now
Romeia; the paIt on the north was formerly
called NJ Isia, and now Rulgaria. Churnil IS
is a very large and popuous town, containing
about 60 900 inhabitants. Ii is divided into
two parts. the Turkish and the Christian The
Turkish is the upper part. IL is died with
mosques whose domcs and m,narets are COW
cred with FURNISHED plates, which gilier in
the sun with dazzl1hg sp!endor. Here IS, be
SIDES, an eXiraofdnuIy novelty IN Il Turkish
town--a large town clock ii tells the nours
by bell whicb is heard all over me chy, aud
regulates the time OF the mia abltanis, instead
Of The mueZzns crying the hour from the M
narets.
This extraordinary innovation and approx
lma;,on 10 European manners, vas introduced
some yeats ago by basna, WHO had been u
prisoner in Russia; he there acquired a aisle
tor bells; ant on h's return brought wrh hnn
a slrlkin- clock, which he erected IN Shumla.
The improvement. however, has not yet pro.
cccded beyond this northern frontier. | have
never see" or heard of any other town clock
in the Turkish domlnions, except at Athens,
presented by Lord ElgIn, as some remunera-
ton for the dllapldailou of the Parlhenon.
detached by an interval from this upper
town, is u smaller, called U'arnish, which
extends into the plain. Within its limits the
the Rayas, or Jew and Christian populai ioi,,
reside. separate from the rest, like the DIS
trlcts called Irish Towns, IN Ircland,- the o.
gnal inhabitants IN both having been laid
under the same lnterd'ct by their conquerors
In thus district are about three hundred hou-
scs nhabhcd by Jews. Armcnians. aud Grecns
who have each a place of worship. |, is
here the most celebrated lin men aud bra2crs
IN the Turkish empire reside, who supply Con-
sianiinople with their manufacture, aud cover
their own mosques with tin and copper, which
loONs SO glhterng Chumla has some irrecu-
lar for,licatons standing. We entered the
town across deep fosse; and, through ram
parts If clay by which the Russians were re-
pulsed IN their last invasion OF Turkey; their
ina m body has advanced from Rasgrad 10 this
place, while their Cossacks pushed across the
mountains as far as Burshaz. They were,
however, obliged to retreat without taking the
town.
"As a military station, Chumla seems 10
have been Of great Importance to the Turkish
empire. II is Oh tie point at which all The
roads leading from the iortresses on the Dan.
ubo, concentrate Its fodresses would b..
weak aud contemplate in the hands of Euro. !
pran troops. but a very efficient defence
shep manned b, Turks. They consist OF ear. |
,hern raniparis and brick walls, IN some pla. |
ces nanked by strong built watch To - ers, each |
capable OF holding eight or ten 'tophelepces.'
or musqueteers. They stretch for three miles !
in length and one IN breath, over a ground
intersected with valleys, and the cx enl and |
Irregularities Of Tho surface prevent the posi- |
blry of their being invested. II - here the |
Turks form their entrcnchment camp IN their |
contests, and the Russians have always found