Litchfield enquirer. [volume] (Litchfield, Conn.) 1829-current, 1844-07-25
Isttsrs frum Abroad. |. No. II.

-6GroeADAe 10 my pEoullseS my oear cnlt0henS
address you once more from this new, strange and
beautiful city Of the far east; and although inis.
position has debarred mygOing out Is much a.
desired until the last three days, have been bu-
~ in exploring some of its most interesting Gea-
lures, which will now describe.
On one excursion we mounted a high tOwer-the
fire tower Of GGlGtG from which the alarm of fire
is given, as we'll as information in what part of the
city it hascommenced. There is afre tower at each
extremity Of the Golden Horn, and these towers.
like the minarets, are of uniform circumference till
within few feet of the top, when like them they
taper to. point, the tapering part being painted
black, and surmounted by . gilt crescent. From
their submits you have most extensive view of
the city, its beautiful waters and lovely environs
Our road to the tower lay through the extensive
cemetery near our lodgings in the Pera, giving US
therefore an opportunity Of viewing more closely
Of these Turkish cities of the dead. Thousands
who once. like us, gazed upon these enchanting
scenes, were sleeping beneath the green turf press
ed by feet, their dark and dreary tenements as
thickly clustered as the habitatons of the living
surrounding them. These cemeteries, some more
extensive than Others all alike in other respects
filed with the tall dark funeral cypress seemingly
the mournful sentinels Of the dead, keeping their
lonely watch over the silent sleepers beneath the
green turf which their tall shadows darken, as if
they still mourned those forgotten by the living.
They seem to be thoroughfares to all, and are in
summer much resorted to as places of enjoyment.
where the inhabitants of this great city repair and
seat themselves the green and verdant carpet of
natures weaving to chat and laugh, eat ices and
fruits. The crowded pillars with various head pieces
denote the rank of those who sleep below, while
aplain white painted slab, with sometimes asimple
rose, marks the resting place of of the gentler
sex. while many other richly gilt or gaily paint
ed. Now and then a temple-ike building forms
mausoleum for some modern Dives, and on the
steps Of one Maj. G. and myself seated ourselves,
sheltered from wind and shaded from sun, awaiting
the return of MIR. c. and our guide Demetrius who
Z sss,s.e to procure some refreshments and warm
ising IN descending the tower that we resolved to
take caique and go to the Sweet Waters of Eu-
rope" lovely valley, one Of the favorite places
here Of resort to people Of al nations. While a.
waiting their return we saw at ashort distance q
number Of men bearing Al body 70 the tomb. They
DO NOT put the dead in collins. but place ne BODY
lOn board. and cover il with light thin boards
xer which sthroTn say sOJking pall: They 6e-
ieve the soul is suffering from the time it leaves
the body until it is buried and therefore the burial
takes place as soon as possible, and the men walk
at very hurried pace while conveying it to the
grave, believing too that he who carries body 40
PAGES procures for himself expiation for great
crime. They never open grave to bury another,
and dig it but two feet deep, az literally to ver
fy the antique wish, May the earth rest lightly
him." 1t is their custom also to plant tree at
the birth and another at the death Of each member
Of family, and cypress is always planted at the
head Of a Moslem's grave, the aromatic odor Of
which is supposed to do away the effects Of pest-
lential vapors naturally consequent on burying 90
closely together, and so near the surface, is the
custom here. These cities Of the dead, with their
groves Of cypress, are marked and distinguishing
features of Turkish city. Sailing along the Col
den Horn we stopped at Eyoub, where is a beauti-
full mosque, erected to Eyoub, or Job, the prophet
or companion of Mahomet The court yard was
filed with beautiful roses and other flowers in full
bloom, but there was no admittance into this Ma
hometan Holy Of Holes for the Giour. Here the
Sultan Mahmoud I'd, the Lion Hearted, was girded
with the royal sabre by Mollah Hunkier one Of the
Meolevea Dervishes with whom the Office is hered-
itary, and who was at the time only 7 years old;
and here is usually held the coronation Of the Sui
tans. We went into the Court Of the mosque and
gathered some Of the beautiful roses growing in pro-
fusion there. to which no objection was made, but
when we approached the other side Of the Mosque
and drew as near as we dared to get view Of the
interior, we found we could see only an inner sort
Of court in which grew an immense tree. and asks
ing our guide ifmoney would not here as elsewhere
gain " admission, he begged US mot to make the
experiment. "A venerable looking old Mussulman
with his long white beard and flowing robes came
forward, saying we could gain entrance to other
Mosques, but to this no Christian was ever admit
ted. Near the mosque il q sort Of royal cemetery,
containing the mausOlepm Of the unfortunate Selim
who was murdered by his cousin the brother Of the
late Mahmoud, and who was afterwards himself
murdered by Mahmoud Selim, j. here inferred with
two Of his wives in richly ornamented huge collins
covered with rich pals and enclosed BY magnificent
ratings Of Mother Of Pearl The walls are richly.
decorated with large gold Turkish characters. and
around the enclosnre ON low stands at abort inter-
walls, 10 placed the Koran covered with q green
haizag An fhis Won, aea ne laolxins through the