Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1840-11-12
From he Umled States tiaaetle.
MEMORANDA OF A TOUR IN The "a

I 4NtF<Sy tftC &AEaSs wv - tt@e a fsS "S~ts~S ~
4 Nahmoud in the streeis--Mr. Rhodes
The Street Watcrs."
| There are more than three hundred
Baths in Constantinople. The Bath is one
of the chief oriental Injuries, and may be
found in the meanest town in the East,
and calm enjoymen: Of life is one of the
most striking characteristics Of the Otto
man race. Hurry, hustle, confusion, the
signs of active trade, are unknown in Eas.
tern Capitals. The spirit of fatality. in.
culcated by the Mahommedan religion,
seems to make men Indifferent to the vi
cissitudes of this life. The sober equa-
nimty OF Turk, is undisturbed by the most
extraordinary occurrence. Ii his house
| is consuming over his head--ifthe Plague
devastates the town--il the Pasha, or an
unlicensed robber plumbers him of his pro.
perry, he will exclaim, Allah kerim, I"
at is Gods WILL" and should his pipes
be left to him, he will retire to his favo-
rite Cafe, lounge on the Divans, and for
get in the oblivious fumes oil tobacco, the
troubles ofhis earthly existence, or dream
of tho bright eyed Hours, and tho sensual
luxuries Of the Heaven promised to the
Faithful. The Bath is one of his favorite
Injuries. He passes hours in the enjoy
ment of that neutral kind ofexistence, in.
duced by the lassltude OF the Bath.
As the Bath is rather serious affair in
the East, we went to it early in the morn
ing. The Bath which we had selected,
was one of the most elegant in CONSTANT
nople. Its exterior, as usual, was mean
and unpromlsing upon entering we found
ourselves in a spacious circular hall, light
ed by dome, pierced with numerous
holes, covered with various colored glass.
Around the walls were recesscs, IN which
were reposing upon carpets and divans,
persons who had just finished the Bath
In the centre Of the Hall was fountain,
whose falling water made pleasant muir.
mur IN the still heat of the summer morn
ing. A row of Grecian columns, several
Of which were from Alexandria Troas,
supported the roof. We delivered our
selves into the hands ofone ofthe half
ked attendants fthe Bath; be changed our
garments fol veslment of clean linen,
and thus attired, and preceded by the ut.
tendant, NE shullled with our wooden
clogs, over the yerd antique pavement, in.
10 another apartment. The intervening
passage was well heated. From this we
passed into another apartment where the
hea. stood at more than 1909. The hot
vapour was so dense that we could hard
ly discern an object. We we're immed.
atey seized hold of by half naked saw.
age, with head entirely shaver, except
tufi upon the peak by which he might
be drawn into Heaven. We were thrown
upon our backs, and then commcnced such
scrubbing, as never had before. Not
particle Of cxtrane0us matter remaining
upon the skin, we were turned over, and
our bones were made to crack in such n
manner, tina, thought mine would snap
asunder. Remonstrances and cries ofag- |
ony were unavaillng, as our tonges could
not be understood by our torturer. After
this process, we were deluged with u tor.
rent of soap and water, and were then
plunged into n tank of boiling water. Our
moustaches being trimmed and boards
dressed and garments changed, we were
re-conducted to the hall.
Dry linen was here gwen us, and our
hands bound round with white napkins. -
We threw ourselves upon the dIvan, more
supple and lighter than we had ever felt.
Lemonade was first served, next glass
of Sherbet, then coffee and fille1 pipe OF
Lattake tobacco. We passed an hour or
more in dreamy repose looking upon
the Turks around US, and enjoying that
dolce far niente. sweet do-nothIng exis-
tence, in which the cares and troubles OF
life were forgotten in the happy condition
Of a quiet and languid frame, and soolh-
ing imagination.
Cousantlnople is more interesting as
typical of the manners and customs Of the
East than for its antiquities. Traces oil
its magniiicence under the Greek EmPer-
ors, however, yet exist. The cisterns
are as wonderful for the beauty and or
nate style of their architecture, as for
their great extent. Our attention was
arrested in rambling over Stamboul by a.
noise in the earth beneath our feet, which
proceeded from some silk.twlsters pursuing
their occupation in one oflh now water.
less cisterns. We descended into II by a
long flight of stone steps. 1t resembled
more the subterranean banquetllng cham
Der Of some gorgeous palace, than reser-
voir for the holding Of water. Its varit-
ed roof was supported by six hundred mar
BILE columns, resting on pavement OF mar
BILE. TINS was one ofthe reservoirs made
in the time Of the Greek Emperors. II
is in perfect keeping with the barbarlc
magnifcence of the age in which the arts
became corrupted from their original sim.
plicily, and in their decline participates
in the corruption of letters, taste and NOR
ais Of that era Of Roman greatness. The
49, anA,o.nitinr N r1a Ahnra ,uhich | have