Litchfield enquirer., 1844-08-15
Letters from Abroad. No. XIII.


 in, need not be under any apprehension from this being written in the Lazaretto at Malta, and with l lR quarantine accommodations, which can assure you are by no means bad, though to us new and strange; and if the ravenous appetites brought with us after week spent on the Mediterranean. togeth- CT with being sound in health and sane in mind, could warrant our egress from the strong walls of Fort Manoel (where we are in a measure honora- ble prisoners,) we should be exploring this rocky Isle and it's curious forts and Notifications. As it is, we are not sorry to have little time to read and acknowledge letters received. must take you back again to Stamboul, as the Turks always de- nominate their city of the Sultan, Constantinople being the name usually applied by the Franks, but it is too much of an infidel cognomen to suit the Mussoulman. My last was written after a weeks illness when of course had had little opportunity to devote to sight seeing, but when give you an account of next days explorations you will admit improved my time to the utmost. Unable from in disposition to avail myself of the Frman issued on our first arrival and fearful there would not be an- other while we remained, gladly accepted the kind offer of our Charge, MF. B., to accompany us with his {" Crevasse" Ca soldier in the costume of the former Jannissaries,) who, armed with two stout pistols and cimiter, act as guards to the several legations; each having one or two who serve as protection well as passport to many pla- ces to which we could not otherwise gain access. By little after 10 A. M. we were all mounted five of us, forming quite cavalcade for the narrow streets of Pera and Stamboul, directing ou course first to the most splendid of all the mosques, that of Solyman the Magnificent, the only one thought to surpass that of St. Sophia in size and beauty, which last when finished by Jdstinian its founder, in the 9th century, for Christian church, 50 de- lighted him that he exclaimed " I have conquered thee, Soloman," thinking the temple he had lived to complete exceeded that of the wise king: while Solyman might exclaim with equal justice s'I have surpassed thee, Justinian." A description of this splendid mosque will answer for al as in their main features they are all alike
 In front is large quadrangle called the Harem, from the fountain always placed in the centre where the faithful perform their ablutions prior to their devotions, which occur five times day. These marble Contains ase either obiong, octagon, or square in form, with sloping. indented roof, and much ornamented with arabcslue carving. which is painted and giIded. This court is enclo- sed by colonade supported by light pretty arches, surmounted by small domes, twenty y-eght in num- bes. fine doors of the. mosque have beautiful arched recess. Gothic in form, but with Saracenic carving, haaiaS much the appearance ot sfaelllts suspended from the roof of gFotte. gi;ing an an' iqse and pretty effect Refore entering you are re- qured to take off your shoes puton slippers over those you wear that nothing impure may be brought within the sacred walls. heavy curtain hangs before the door, which is held forward for your ad mittance: you enter spacious temple with its lof- ty and numerous domcs. The walls are pure white, the Turks allowing pictures or images in their places of worship. There are some beautiful specimens of Persian stained glass in the windows, which last, though small, are numerous. Tbe al- tar pulpit. and praying place for the sslan are of white marble, and there is beautiful temple like enclosure, specially for those who have perform ed the pilgrimage to Mecca From the vault of the dome, lamps are suspended by wires, so long hat they nearly reach the heads of the worship pers. They are of glass, and globular in form, in every variety efarrangemen4 and color; and inter- mingled wah them are great number of ostrich eggs having some astrological meaning, also horses tails usually the standard of Pacha: but why pla- ced here, know not. Over the whole floor IS thick India mating, which prevents noise and is perfectly clean and neat Within the altar are nu-
 ,&:. :.i,, a ho1d OxNaY candles of proportionate size. During the Rama gan, Cor Turkish fast which lasted 2s days. and at which time they worship during the night, these candles as well as the nnumerable little lamps are lighted, forming beautiful and brilliant spectacle In the wall near the floor, at short intervals, are strong iron boxes where the Turks leave their mo ney and valuables when going on pilgrimage ol long journey having no banks or other places of curity for them from fres,. which, owing to the houses being all of wood, are frequent and exten siye. Around the whole building, near the floor 1 is stone platform raised about half foot. Oi this the faithful squat themselves. while reading the Koran, portions of which are read daily, ant there are portions so allotted to the priests of thu different mosques, that the schole Koran is read ev cry day it being of the acquisitions of the proph et and it is not unusual for the followers of Maho met to kno,O the schole Koran by heaf. Childrei may be seen learning portions of it, which they d | in singing, moAotonous tone, lowing themselve towards the book placed on a low wooden stand be fore them, but which they never touch. Near tn dome are two galleries running entirely around, an
 half way down is the gallery appropriated to fe