Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1829-06-24
Prom the Baltimore American.
LETTERS FROM THE EGEAN.


We promised to make some extracts from
this work The author wat much struck win
the splendid panorama presented ny Smyrna
and its environs, the gulf, the boats, with their
eiIded sterns and snow.whiie sails, the ships OF
every nation, and the barqses, laden with the
produce of the country, which surrounded his
vessel
Baskets Of blushine peaches; pears the
amber hue Of which vas s,rraked with ifnts
like the tosr, aud heaps Of purple grapes Hung
down IN such iu1uriab, profusion, thar their
luscious branc hes were hanging IN the Tlpling
wafer.
Around US were the sunburnt hills Of Asia
Minor, their slipping and rugged sides studded
with white cottages, and va iegaied with plan
,a,ions Of olives apd fig trees, which stretch TO
the rich gardens al their base. washed by the
waters Of the bay Before US rested in calm,
repose "The birth place Of Homer" The
ornamen, Of ASA" lzmir the lovely" The
crown Of lonis; "and well do its splendid situa-
| impassioned epithe,s If It's ancient chroaiclers
"A, the foot Of sleep hill, the summit Of
whir is crowned by The ruins OF castle OF
the sloping beach, its "a, rooted houses min
eled with the domes of marble mosques and
lofy groups Of mnare's and muezzin towers"
OF The fruii market the author does not speak
like Mr. Hobhousr, who thought The grapes Of
England bitter than those Of the Le,ant.
"Its avenues are the true temple Of Pomona
'the lucous melons OF Cassaba are piled in
heap, with the peaches and apricots OF Sangl-
&C aud V.ula, while pears, pomgranates, al
monds, golden apples, tomatas, and thousand
others are built in fragran, pyramids, imhedded
in clusters Of purple and amber grapes; and in
tsrsperssd with ,.esr, at every turning, are the
linking fountains Of the vendors of cooling
! sherl'e's, and drafts Of every favor and icy
chilinesS."
The Greek character seems to be no favor
tie Win cur snhor, The Turks, he tells US,
are by no means Invested Of domestic affection
though they foster feeling Of male superiori-
". Bu' w,h the Greek, Who copies the gaudy
exterior without he solid virtues Of the Mus.
suman, this idea Of male superiority surmounts
all love or lasting attachment.
"Taken en- ',pnsse, the Turks are the fines,
looking wee OF men in the world; their oval
heads. xehing br"ws, jelly eyes, aud aqualine
noses, Their lofty figures and stately nen, all
set off 10 full adsanlagt, by their ample robes
and gsseeful turbans; all isease and proportion
abou, a Turk; there are no angles or straight
lines in his features or person, in all we find
Ishepare curve of manly beauty and majestic
grace"
I" II is inconceiveahle what miserable figure
an Englishmsn or Europsap makes beside him;
his black unmeaning hatsharirquiu pantal"ons,
AID harti-eAlased siraigb,1e,. eas,, (which will
one day 2ozzle taiose 81 pnsseii'y who shall be
an,iquariaos in costume,) conlras. so william.
ously with the picturesqe head dress, ample
,rowsers, and oaling pellissc Of the Ottoman,
W nile ais glossy beard Aings contempt on the
tffeminae chin Of the clipped and locked
European
On the use Of the bah our readers may take
some !,in,s from The Turkish customs. The
climate Of Smyrna is excessively variable; du-
ring the day the thermometer ranged often
from 80 TO go, notwithstanding which the
highs were benumbingly cold. Hence there
is an absolute necessity for the bath, as seems
to be Inc opinion of every rank in life. With
nut visi, TO the Levsn,, one would be at a
loss 10 understand The force Of the expression
in Genesis, 1" the day the drought consumed
me, and the fros by night" The following
is the authors picture Of the Greek ,empara.
ment.
Their present existence is one continued
struggle with terror; liable every turning
to he insults of the loves rabble, and uncon-
scious Of he moment wien the caprice or ir-
rita ion of their masters may vent itself in their
massacre, The volatility and buoyaDcy Of
their spirits, in which they seem TO excel every
other nation in Europe, alone preserves them
from despair or srli- destruction. But the
same feeling n'ser reiGrs long a, time in the
breast of Greek; Sadness will vanish in
moment, and The mos, melancholy events
leave bu, transitory impression on the mer
curial surface Of their temperament, which is
no sooner ruffied by some external movement,
than il smooines itself by is own elasticity.
Teas with them are bit The DEVELOPS which
form the rainbow Of hope, when struck BY
the after sunshine Of smiling gaie'y; and days
spent in terror and con:ealment arc conc ludrd
hu rioh, r -. ,,,I ir,h hos =