Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1852-05-01
NOTES OF TRAVEL IN THE OLD WORLD.
Wrltea for ts~ National bateAigencer tya Citizea
Of Washington.
RAMBLEs ABOUT coNsrANrINopLE.

bad opera last night am going to be serious and give
you a chapter dogs Doubtless you win think, after
the essay gave you Partisan and Italian that
am predisposed hydrophobia and labor under pre-
judce against the canine species; but this is not So
The fact bitten in my younger days by perfect
ly dog without the slightest provocaton; and ever
have taken personal interest in the study of the
entire Besides the dogs of Constantinople are
legitimate part of the population. Without them it
would be longer Constantnople They are as much
part of it the Mosques the Turks the Armenians
and the bazaars Dogs here protected by public
timent superstition, by law; SO they swarm
in immense numbers they do not belong any body
roam in freedom, enjoying the fullest immunity from
| moestation. Travellers generally set them down as
the great nusances of the East and heap unmeasured
abuse upon every that dares to bark his sentiments
This is UNJUST they might well abuse the Turks for
wearing boards and worshipping Mahome as denounce
the poor dogs for showing hostility towards Christians
Now for my part consider them extraordinary race
Of animals in spite of the prejudices Of education and
especially those of Constantnople and intend to do
them justice Throughout the streets, and in all the
grayeyards and public places, the attention of the
stranger attracted by the extraordinary number of WOLF
ishlookng dogs that he prowng about basking
in the and in of the passages he is often
compelled to step over whole families Of them These
4
MAN, and Turkish and formed into communities like
their twoegged neighbors. Certain invisible lines deter
mine the extent Of territory belonging to each community
and distinctly defined these boundaries that every
member down to the most iterae cur knows precisely
how far he venture and what his inherent rights are
But let il not be supposed that dogs sensible
than men they have their territorial disputes well
as human beings, and very much on the same general
principle A strong community crowds into the
possessions of weaker one; quarrel ensues, and
whichever maintains the disputed territory by force Of
teeth and paws holds till stronger intereres
and settles the difficulty by dispossessng both the others
There various minor grades of difficulty between
these canine communities petty iningements upon the
rights of Others such of respass, proving be-
yond the lines in search of food natchng up bones and
the like just with but these nracons of the law
settled at once, which makes justice terrible to
evildoers and costs less in the way of fees to shes
courts and lawyers The community fights its battles
and defends its rights Furnishes offenders within its
limits and commits depredaons upon Others very much
after the fashion Of the respectable human
mites; but never knew instance of dog giving
bone to another for arguing case of two dogs inyo-
ed in private quarrel drawing upon the Of the
Community to compensate Them pay the expenses of
appeal to higher tribunal. am not prepared to
say what religious doctrines these dogs Of Constantnope
Franks and bark grow at Christians just we do at
the Mahomeans and other oriental sects; and have
doubt they quite firmly convinced that of
us will reach heaven that the gates viii be
closed against all who disbelieve in doctrines. We
are good haers Of other sect and why should the dogs
be condemned for trying to be human If they hate with
bgoted cordially, yet they love with barbarous
sincerity.
Opposite to the Hotel de Bryant is open space
habited by of these canine communities whose ope
rations of domestic and municipal economy afford
constant food for study Near by is aMahomean grave
yard inhabited by another tribe, and it is my chief
employment every afternoon to sit the portico smok-
ing chibouk and watching the movements of my four
legged neighbors have formed quite attachment
the Byzantines and bitter prejudice against those
sneaking fellows beyond, who skulk behind the tomb
stones We Of the Bryant regionfor have fought for
them and am treated member of the community
and always received with general waggng of tails-we
Byzantines depend chiefly for our living upon the oHa
out from range Of houses just beyond the boundary
True, this is not strictly property but consider
that it ought to be; and whenever bone, a mutt
lated cat defunct chicken is thrown startled
from sunny and daily suhbers by the little
that keep wake and headed by the shaggy
old veterans who have fought their way emnenee
sally forth in body to seize prey. Domestic diff.
want than their share and scues take place. which
the scouts of the enemy Now from every tomb
stone there springs barking foe the graveyard reechoes
with the call to arms; big dogs and little dogs rush fu-
rousy into battle array and down they thunder terrible
force upon the fighting Byzantines, in avalanche Of
dust One universal yell of rage and defiance rends the
weln; the smoke Of battle rises high and for while
nothing is but cloud of DUST and nothing heard
but the grttng Of teeth and the tug Of strife close
quarters 1t is moment of awful suspense. Shall it be
victory and chicken defeat without chicken The noble
| Byzantnes or the skulkng Tombers? Now there is
swaying to and fro Of the struggling massals begin to
appear through the dust; the wounded rush and
skulk painting places Of temporary safety Indivd
ua foes, twisted up in mortal strife tumble out and
roll together the blood stained field towards hover
round in the outer circle, swapping at unguarded legs
and thieves sneak off with portions Of the prey and
them behind the tombsones while the battle is raging
AT last superior numbers prevail against desperate
age. Alas for the Byzantines The Tombers drive them
yelling beyond the lines. They rally and re-ray their
exhausted forces but it won't do they morally and
physically vanquished-the chicken is gone, and the
manned and the dying skulk off licking their wounds
Flushed with victory the Tombers follow up the very
doorseps Of the Bryant and despite the sacred temple Of
the Byzantnes. Do you suppose sit quietly with
stick in my hand, and witness this browning insult Not
Ito the rescue 70 the rescuei On Byzantines on
Away we go Down 90 the Tombers before a volley of
sticks and stones and chase the flying foe into the
| If he al g.