The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1837-08-23

u
bility, that he would accompany me, with
the consent Of the father attended by the
old kiara, or house steward upon the un-
derstanding (aRd on this the grey headed Ell
fendi had resoutely insisted) that in the e.
vent OF detection, twas to be sduue 9Ui peut
an arrangement that would enable his sol,
at once to eladc pursuit, if he exercised
tho least ingenuity of caution.
What European traveller, possessed o!
the least spir, Of adventure, would refuse 10
encounter danger in order TO stand beneath
the dome of ST. Sophia And, above all,
what wandering Gisour could resist the
temptation of entering mosque during
high prayer
These were the questions that l asked
myself as the young Bey vowed himself so
gallantly to the venture, TO him, in any case,
not without danger) in order to avert from
me the disappointment which dreaded.
] Mt once understood that the attempt
must be made in Turkish dress but this
fact was of triflng importance, as no COS
tune in the world lends itself more readily
or more conveniently TO the purpose of dis
guise. After having deliberately weighed
the chances for and against detection, | re-
solved TO run the risk; and accordingly
stained my eyebrows with some Of the dye
common in the harem, concealed my fs-
male attire beneath n magnificent pelisse
lined with sables, which fastened from my
chin TO my feet pulled fez low upon
my brow; and, preceded by servant with
n lantern, attended by the Bey, and follow
cd by the Kiars and pipe-bsarer, at half
past ten, l sailed forth on my adventurous
errand.
We had not mentioned to either the wife
or the mother Of the Bey whittier we were
bound, being fearful of alarming them ua-
necessarily; and they consequently remain
ed perfectly satisfied with the assurance Of
the old gentleman, that | was anxious to
see the Bosphorus by moonlight, though n
darker night never spread its mantle ever
the earth.
am extremely doubtful whether, On less
exciting occasion, l could haze kept time
with tho rapid pace of my companion over
the vile pavement of Constantinople; ss il
was, however, i dared not give way, lest
any one among the individuals who follow
ed US; snd who wero perhaps bound on the
same crrand, should penetrate my disguise.
I" If we escape from ST. Sophia unsuspec-
tod" said my cbivalrous friend, "wc will
then make another bold attempt: we will
visit the mosque of Sultan Achmet, and ns
this is high festival, if you rlsk the ndven-
ture, you will have done what no inGdel
has ever yet dared to do but ! forownrn
you that, should you be discovered, and fail
to make your escape on the instant, you
will be torn TO pieces"
This assertion somewhat staggered me,
and for an instant my woman-spirt quniled
contonted myself, however with briefly
When we leave St. Sophia we
will talk of this, and continued to walk be-
side him in silence. At length we entered
the spacious court OF the mosque, and MS
he servant stopped to Withdraw my shoes,
he Bey murmursd in my ears, be firm
Or you are lost !" and making a strong cf. |
tort TO subdac the feeling Of mingled awe
md fear which was rapidly stealing ever
me, pulled the fez deeper upon my eye
1rows and obeycd.
On passing the threshold; found myself
N covered peristyle, whose gigantic col
INNS OF granite are partially sunk in the
vail of which they form part; the floor
vas covered with fine mating, and the col
'red lamps, which were suspended in fes-
oons from the lofty ceiling, shed n bread
ight on oil the surrounding objects. In
most OF the reeesses formed by the pillars,
'eggars were crouched down, holding ia
ront of them their little metal basins, to re-
eIve the paras Of the charitable I; while
ervants lounged TO and fro, or squatted in
'roups upon the mating, awnitlng the C.
,ress of their employers. As looked n
ound me, our own attendant moved for
yard, and raising the curtain which yelled
! double door Of bronze, situated at mid
cngth ofthe pcrstyle, lnvoluntarily .brank
'ack before the blaze Of light that burst up
IN me.
Far as the eye could reach upwards cir
lies Of colored fire, appearing as if suspend
ID in md-air, designed the form Of the stu
'endous dome; while beneath devices Of
very shape and color were formed by myr-
ads of lamps of various hues the imperial
loset, situated opposite to the pulpit, was
me blaze Of refuIgence, and its gilded lat
ices flashed back the brillIancy till il look
d like gigantic meteor
As stood within a few PAGES Of the door
ray, ] could not distinguish the limits Of
he edliice looked forward, upward,
D the right hand and to the left, but
could only take in given space, covered
nth human beings, kneeling in regular !
mes, and at certain signal bowing their
lrbaned heads to the earth, as if one soul I
nd one impulse animated the whole con- :
regstion; while the shrll chanting Of the
hoir peaed through the vast pile, and died
way in heightened cadences among the
III dark pillars which support it.
AID this was St. Sophia To Inc 1t I
eemsd like a creation Of enchantment--
Ie ligit-the ringing voices-the mysteri-
us extent which bsfiied the esrnestne. Of I
" gaze, the turbaned MosIems, all kneel-