The Litchfield County post. [volume] (Litchfield, Conn.) 1826-1829, 1828-10-09

W hSeNVuS uhu JupltSi WI uN'S SA"NNA
him down. The length ofthe chain is not
less remarkable than the height, extending
for FIVE hundred milestone end resting on
the Gulf of Venice, and the other on the
Black Sea. The chain is now called the
Balkan, which signifies difficult defle,
and it is properly divided into high and low;
the latter advancing forward on each side,
like outworks before the great natural RAM
part.
The town of Shumla lies in an angle ola
valley, formed by two ridges of those low
mountains; and they are the last branch
ofthem at this side, and their extreme ter
mination. If, therefore, the whole breadth
of this immense chain be taken, it may be
said 90 extend from Fakih to Shumla, thirty
two hours, or ninety-Six miles.the country
beyond these places being all level plain,
and between them being all mountains !;
the lofty ranges, however, extend onl y from
Haidhos to Topenitza, twenty-seven
miles.
"The mountains about Shumla, form
semi-circular ampitheatre, up the sides of
which the gardens and plantations extend
TO the summit of the hill, overhanging the
town with very rich aud beautiful pros
pect; below, at the extremity OF the ridg
e., an immense plain begins, which extends
TO the Danube on the north, and the Black
Sea on the east. Here are to be seen the
town and harbor of Varna, between two
headlands, distant A miles. To this port,
all who wish to avoid the difficulties of the
Balkan, hire vessel from Constantinople,
and from hence come to Shumia. In fact,
it appeared as if the country from the Dam
ube to the Propontis was originally dead
fat surface; when, by some commissions
ofnature this ridge ofmountains was thrown
up, which divided the country like vast
wall running from the Black Sea to the A
driatic. The part of the plain lying on
the south of the ridge was formerly called
Thraces, and is now Romelia; the part
on the north was formerly called Moesia,
and now Bulgaria.
"Shumla is very large and populous
town, containing 10000 inhabitants. 1t
is divided into two parts, the Turkish and
Christian. The Turkish is the upper part.
1t is filled with mosques, whose domes and
minarets are covered with Furnished tin
plates, which glitter in the sun with daz-
cling splendor so that when the sun
shone bright could not look at the town.
Here is, besides, an extraordinary novelty
in Turkish town--a large town clock
it tells the hours by bell, which is heard
all over the city, and regulates the time
Of the inhabitants, instead Of the muezzims
crying the hour from the minarets. This
extraordinary innovation and approxima-
tion to European manners, was introdu-
ced some years ago, by Hasha who had
been prisoner in Russia he there acqu-
red taste for bells: and on his return,
brought with him striking clock, which
he erected in Shumla. The improvement
however, has not yet proceeded beyond
the northern frontier. have never seen
or heard of any other town clock in the
Turkish dominions, except at Athens, pre-
sented by Lord Elgin, as some remu-
neration tor the delapidaton of the parthe-
non.
"Detached by an interval from this up
per town is smaller called Warish, which
extends into the plain. Within its limits,
the Rayas, or Jew and Christian popula-
Noh IoSlueS SvpdIdteu lloin inc rest, ike
the districts called Irish towns in iceland,
the original inhabitants in both having been
laid under the same interdct by their con-
Querors. In this district are about 800
houses inhabited by Jews, Armenians, anu
Greeks, who each have a.place of worship.
1t is here the most celebrated tinmen and
braziers in the Turkish Empire re ide,
who supply Constan,inope with their man
ufacture, and cover their own mosques
with tin and copper, which look so glitter
ing. Shumla has some irregular fortiica-
tons standing. We entered the town a.
cross deep fosse; and through ramparts
ofclay by which the Russians were repuls-
ed in their last invasion of Turkey their
main body had advanced from Rasgrad TO-
this place, while their Cossacks pushed a.
cross the mountains as far as Burghaz.-
They were, however, obliged to retrea,
without taking the town.
As military station, Shumla seems
to have been Of great importance to the
Turkish Empire. 1t is the point at which
all the roads leading from the fortresses
On the Danube concentrate. Its for,ifca-
tions would be weak and contemplate in
the hands of European troops, but are
very efficient defence when manned by