Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1852-04-17


perienced felow-ayeer however turned over 70 enjoy
another nap, with the philosophical remark that It's
great be walked up when can't see any thing
in the dark" There was truth rs well philosophy IN
this but all my efforts sleep again in vain From
the open sky-ght came down now and then the magic
words Stambul Stambul bringing before me- as strove
to keep down my eyeds visions of gilded palaces ana
seragos and Sultans in turbans and flowing robes ana
the spray OF fountains and caiques sweeping over inc
flashing waters, and the countless things OF beauty
that are invountary associated with the hrst Thoughts
of Constantinople 1t was useless to try any longeran
invisible something lifted up bodily and tumpied me
out on the cabin floor where sonrved after shipping On
two three pair Of boots that were much too short OF 700
long and that bagged In the legs wan
very Turkish effect grope out what belonged TO me-
and rushing up deck just succeeded IN not carrying
away the roof of the companion-way.
The CLEAN OF approaching day was spread over INC
eastern sky low on the water few pale lights lick
erng with faint gimmer, while overhead oil was deep
in night but clear and SOFT and spangled with countless
brilliant stars There loom Of darkness visible IN
the distance shapeess and shadowy cloud resting on
the horizon all ewes were turned towards it, that is to
saw all ewes that were open for the mass Of the deck
passengers we're snoring away in perfect indifference to
the Sublime Sultan and all his dominons. The women
in the cage however, chatterng like SO many mag
pies as they always seemed TO be- whether by DAY or
night and about the buwarks oungng some Of the
more enthusiastic Turks and Arabs who were awakened
probably by the chaterng unable to sleep, like my
self from fevered state of the imagnaton the very
men whose conversation about STEAMBOAT had charm
ed me-
.sWhere is it? said to an old Turk who reminded me
of the pictures of Mahomet els that it where the lights
are - ssStambu replied the old man. noddng There
is nothing in sight but that dark HILL is there STAN
bull" reioined the Turk. 81 can't see it," said l.
Stambu!' cried the old man pettishly s1You dom
speak English do you sir p Stambul! he bawled at
the top Of his voice. ''Stambul Stambul TWAS quite
evident that the old gentleman was touched on the sub
ject of Stambu so said more. To the best OF my
knowledge he uttered word but Stambu while ne
remained on the steamer and long after sunrise
when every body with eyes could see the well-known
MOSQUES and minarets within gunsho he continued to
point at them and repeat every passenger, stambul
Stambuln'
AS the day opened fair and clear, the outlines of the
higher points broke out through the morning atmosphere
and stood in bold relief against the sky and soon the
whole magnificent view revealed with the starting
effect of an optical Illusion Mosques and minarets there
were in profuson palaces with all the architectural orna
ment of oriental TASTE rising from within the walls OF the
city hemmed around with green shrubbery round white
domes gitterng like globes of snow strangely
houses with projecting roofs and grated windows; the
Turkish flags waving the towers; sails gliding noise
essy from under the shadow of the ramparts vstas
of valleys and hills stepped in soft glow of purple,
through which cleaned villages and pointed mnarets and
the moist foliage of groves the heights tipped with golden
rays of sunshine and the sleeping waters of the Bospho-
rus lost in the glitter of palaces and the shadows OF
mountains With such sky such glowing lights ana
mystic shades such soft distances such strange
full fabrics looming up in perfect maze Of beauty 1t IS
difficult to reconcile any idea of reality 1t is an enchant-
ment beyond oil the dreams of fancy the very soul IS
wrap in an ideal world and for moment reality itself
becomes dream too bright and beautiful for compre-
hension.
But the anchor is up the kissing steam sends us dash
ingy the Golden Horn where amid all the strange
sights and confusing soundspossbe - DO ennsAiAaa e IN
short time, the chain crashing out again. and
we are permitted land wherever the prophet wills which
is any where at all Here let solemny pause, while
six hotel commissioners from Pea endeavorng to tear
me to pieces and relieve my mind of this moral truth 1t
has troubled for three weeks night and day has
twisted itself into every imaginable shape for the sake Of
originality but the truth remains the same-a truth in
voluntarily spoken by every traveller who has put foot
ashore here. He who would fill his soul with g thing
Of beauty" that he would cherish joy forever, let
him go beyond the first full view Of Constanti-
nope To see is bliss; to smell, is reality; to touch is
misery IN the last degree
very stylish gentleman in pettcoas carried my KNAPP
SACK and conducted the Hotel de Bryant, clean
airy establishment in view of Stambu and the Bosphorus
The proprietor is Hungarian his wife an Italian and
his daughter full-bown beauty Of sixteen.
After all the of oriental life, described in
books and the charm of azness beautifully depicted
by poeca writer's there is want Of real comfort and
enjoyment painfully apparent throughout Constantine
plesuch, Mt least, would long satisfy person Of
ergetic temperament The novelty Of picturesque cos
tunes and strange languages and customs wears
away, and begins to feel the want of more exciting
to keep up the interest During the day. is plea
SAINT enough to rambe about the bazaars take stroll
the hills; but when night there is dreamy
void which nothing but the remembrance of exct
ing fill. miserable opera or tawdry thea
tire in Pera may TO kill time for one or two even
ngs but after that you might well be in the midst of
deserbetter in fact for then you would not be disturb
ed by bowling dogs the everlasting cries Of Yang
far! Yang far p-the fire in STEAMBOAT that be
seen The streets Of nky darkness; not a step
you venture out without guide and lantern and
then is proslemacal whether you win return without
coat-tai in battle with the dogs In the register of
the Hotel de Bryant there is melancholy statement Of
English traveller who complains Of having been seized by
some Turkish soldiers for throwing stones what he sup
posed in the darkness Of night, 70 be dogs but which
turned be the soldiers themselves who Immediately
seized him and put him in prison; and 1t not until
next day that he was liberated The insecurity Of life in
tho and tbe absence