New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1852-11-04
nAYARp rAYL0R's LETTERS.
THE NIGHT OF PREDHsTrgATToN

CDx6TANTINOPLE Wedneruhy, July ~ -"'
Constantinople during the month OF Kama
xsn presents a very different aspect from Cons1ann'
ple at other times The city it s true, mucn NOR"
stern and serious during the day there Il none o.
cav careless lie Of the Orient which you sec NJ 0iyI'
na. Cairo and Damascus; but when once tne sunset
gun has fred and the painful fast Il ri an emu 'e
changes a. If by magic In ell the outward y mos o
their religion the Nussulmans show nier JOY III oens
relieved from what they consider sacred duty. Dur
~. The dsy III, quite science TO keep the appetite
dormant and the people not Only abstain from eating
and drpkpg but "a much possible from the sight Of
kood In the bazaars you see the famshed merchants
either sitting proppe6 back against their cushions with
the shawl about their waists frightened 70 prevent
the void under it from being senbly felt or lying ~
full length 10 the vain attempt 20 sleep IL whispered
here that many Of the Turks will both eat and smoke
when there IL no chance Of detection but one would
dare infringe the fast In public Most Of the mechanics
and porers here are Anmenians and the boatrnen are
Greeks.
Ibsve endeavored TO ascertain the origin Of this fast
month The eyrian Christians say that IT If mere I'M
Ss,on Of an incident which happened TO hahomet.
The Prophet having lost bis canels, went DAY nier
asv ,sekine them in the Desert taking no nourlshment
from the time of his departure in the morning h MS
return at sunfct After having sought them thus daily
for the period Of entire moon he found them ana
In token Of Joy gave three days feast to the uoe
now initiated In the festival Of Baira1n which lasts ior
,hYee davs after the close Of Raniszan. This reason
however seems too ti6ng for such O risd isst ana
tho Turkish tradition that the Koran was sent down
from Heaven during this month, offers more prooaole
erplsnston. During the fast the Mussulnlans, as is
ouae natural are much more fanstical than at other
tines They are obliged to attend prayers st the
rnosaues every night or 70 have a0Rah read the no
ran % them at their own houses. All the prominent
features OF their religion kept constantly before
their eves and their natural aversion to the Gsour or
Is6del IL increased tenfold have heard OF several
recent instances in which strangers have been exposed
TO insults and ndignities.
Al dusk the mnsrets are Illuminated peal OF can
non from the Arsenal echoed by others from tue iors
along the Bosphorus relieves the suffering followers OF
the Prophet and after hour OF silence, during which
they are all at home feasting the streets are led with
noisy crowds, and every cOfee-shop Is throngcd.
Every night there are Examinations along the water,
which added TO the crowns Of light sparkling on the
hundred minarots and domes give magical effect to
The night view of the city Toward midnight there lie
again season Of comparative quiet most OF the nhabi-
,auts having retired rest but about two hours after
ward n Waterman comes along with big drum,
which he beats Justify before the doors of the Faithful
m order 70 arouse them in time to eat again before the
dsylieht-nun which announces the commencement OF
another days fast.
Inst night was the holiest night OF Isam being the
twenty fifth of the fast 1t is called the Lebto kddi or
night of the PredesinGon the anniversary OF that ON
which the Koran was miracul0usy communicated to
The Prophet On this night the Sultan accompanied by
his whole suite attends service at the mosque, and ON
his return to the seragho, the suana Valde, or sui
na Mother presents him with virgin from one OF the
noble families of Constannople Formerly, ST. sophia
as the heater of this celebration but this year the sui
n chose the Masque of Tophaneh which stands on the
shore-probably being 10 his imperial palace
a Boshktashe, on the Bosphorus. consider myself
trtunae In having reached Constanncpe in season to
witqcss this ceremony, and the illumination OF the
Golden Horn, which accompanies IT,
Acr sunset the mosques browning the hills OF STAN,
sou the mosque Of Tophaneh this side of the water
and the Turkish men ofwar and steamers aoat at the
mouth of the Golden Horn, began to blaze with more
raan their ufual bTilance The outlines OF minarets
and dones drawn in light ON the deepening gloom
and the mass and yards Of the vessels were hung with
eolored lanterns. From the battery in front OF the
mosque and arsenal OF Tophaneh, blaze OF intense
light streamed out over the water, illuminating the
aiding forms of thousand caiqucs and the dark hulls
of the vessels lying anchor The water is the best
place from which to view the illumination and party
Of us descended 10 the landing place The streets of
Tophaneh were crowded with Il swarm of Turks,
Greeks and hrmcnians. The square around the ioun'
tain wss brilliantly lighted and vendors of -herbei and
kana1 were ranged along the sdewalks In the neigh
horhood of the mosque the crowd dense that
could with difficulty make way through. All the
open space next the water filed up with the clumsy
srabas or carriages OF the Turks in which ss the wives
ofthe Pashas and other dgnaries.
We took caique, and were pulled out into the
midst OF the multitude of other caques swarming all
ever the mouth OF the Golden Horn. The view from
this point strange fantastic Yet inconccvGhly
seous In front three four large Turkish irisatcs
Law In the Bosphorus their hus and spars outlined in
ere against the dark hills and distant twinkng lights OF
Asia Looking TO the wet the shores of the Golden
Horn were equally traced by the multitude Of lamps
that covered them and on either side the hills on
whh the city is built from the water masses Of
dark buildings dotted all over with shafts and domcs OF
the most brilliant light The gateway on Seraslo Point
was Illuminated as well the quay in from; OF the
mosque of Tophaneh, all the cannons Of the battery
being covered with lamps The commonest objects
shared In the spendor large veruscd forhoi-
ing goods being illuminated from top 70 bottom. The
mosque was of light and between the tall min
ares thanking burned the inscription, in Arabic char
scters, Long life 10 You, o our Sovereign
The discharge OF u cannon announced the Saltau's
departure from his palace, and immediately the guns
the ses and the batteries both shores took up the
salute Till the grand echoes filling the hollow throat Of
the Golden Horn crashed from side 70 side, striking
the hills Of Scu.ar and the point OF Chacelon and finally
dying away among the submits OF the Princes Islands
out on the sea of Marmora The huls OF the irgstes
were now lighted up with intense chemical fires, and
an abundance of rockets spoGted from their deck.
Alarge Drummond hight on seragliO Point and another
the Battery OF Tophaneh poured their rival
across the Golden Horn revealing the thousands OF
eaques jostng each other from shore to shore and the
endless variety Of gay costumes with which they
hled The smoke of the cannon hanging in the air.
increased the effect Of this Illumination, and became
Of surora brightness through which the superb
spectacle loomed with larce and unreal features Il