New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1852-10-23
BAYARD TAYLOR's LETTERS.
LII.
SCENES N KONIA QCONIUN.)

The view of Konia from th plain is not strik-
ing until one has approached within mile OF the sub
uTl~, when the group Of mosques, with their heavy
central domes lifted on clusters Of smaller oDes, and
their tai, light gitering rlinarets rsinS above the
foliage Of the gardens against the back ground OF thc
airy hills has very pleasing effect We approachei
through long line Of dirty suburbs, which ookei sui
more (orIorn Oh account Of the RsnaEsn Outside the
city wsTs We paced some very large barracks tor
cavalry built by BRAIuE PAsuA On the plain north
east Of the city the battle between him and the forces
of the Sultan resulting in the defeat OF the latter, was
fought
Wenext came upon two magnificent nio<ques, built
Of white limestone. with a multitude Of eaden donss
and lofty minarets adorned with galleries rich IN ara
besoue ornaments Attached II ofthem ia the tomb
Of HAzRET MERLisA the founder Of the sect Of hereT
Dervshes. which is rcputed one of the most sacred
racc. in the East The tomb il surmounted by DOM,
upon which stands tall cylindrical tower, reeiei with
channel. between each projection and terminating in
long. tspering cone. This tower il made of glazed
tles of the most brilliant seabue color and sparkle IN
the sun ike vast pillar of icy spar in some Polar grot
TO- Its most striking ard fantastic object, surround
ed by cluster OF minsrets and several cypress trees
amid which il seems placed the central ornament
and crown Of the group.
The aspect of the city flthy aud unnvitlng'
that we preferred pitching our TEN; but IT wa impos-
.ible 70 lind place without going back upon the plain
80 we turned into the bazaar and asked the way TO
khan There was tolerable crowd in the street, al
though many Of the shops were shut. The first khan
we Viifsd was too filthy to enter, but the second,
though most npromsing in appearance, turned out TO
be better than it looked The odGbds (master OF the
rocms) thoroughly swept and sprnkled the narrow lit
tie climber he gave US laid clean mats upon the floor,
and when our carpets end beds were placed within Us
walls of mud looked somewhat comfortable it, single
window, with iron grating in lieu OF glass looked
upon an oblong court the second story, surrounded
By the rooms Of Armenian merchants The main court
he gate Ct which is always closed ut sunset) Is two
siories in hight, with rough wooden balcony rinnny
around il, and a well OF muddy water in the center.
The oda-bashi lent us Il Turkish table and supplied
us with dinner from his own Kitchen; kibab. stewcd
beans and cucumber salad Mr.. II. and !, forgetting
the Ramszan went out to hunt for iced sherbet;
but all the cofceshops closed until sunset, Tlo
people stared at our Egyptian costumes, end fellow
in official dress demanded my tesere. Soon after we
returned Francois appeared with splendid lump OF
ice in ba, in and come lemons The ice the khdRgee
said is taken from lake among the mountains which
in winter freezes to the thickness of foot Behind the
lake is a natural cavern which the people oil with ice
and then close up. At this they take it out day
by day ard bring il down 10 the city 1t is very pure
and thick, and js6es the Turkish proverb in regard
to Konia, which is celebrated for three excellent
thngs: /" dooz booz kV.'-salt lee, and girls.
Soon after sunset cannon announced the close of
The fast We waited TN hour Or two longer, to allow
the people time to eat and then sailed out into the
streets. Every mineret IN the city bazed with a
Of lighted lamps around it, upper gallery, while the
koio a..
with brazen crescents one fair in the moonlight. 1t
was q strange brilliant spectacle In the square before
the principal mosque we found n crowd OF persons
lrolcking around the fountain, in the light Of numser
of torches ON poles planted in the ground. M'ts re
spread on the stones and Of TURKS Of all classes
rat thereon smoking their pipes Large earhen water
Jars stood here and there and the people drank 30 often
and 20 long that they seemed determined to provide
against the morrow. The boys were having their
in wrestling shouting and firing Of squibs
which they threw into the crowd. We kicked OF our
slippers sat down among the Turks smoked rargheh
drank a cup of coffee and iced sherbst of reisin
Juice and so enjoyed the Ramazan well as the best
OF them.
Numbers Of True Believers were drinking and wash
ing themselves at lie picturesque fountain, md just az
We rose depai the voice of boymuezzn, on one OF
the tallest uinaret sent down musical call to prayer.
Immediately the boys left on their sports and started on
run for the great mosque and the grave gray bearded
Turks got up from the mate showed on their sppers'
and marched of. We followed them getting glimpse
ofhc Illuminated interior of the building passed
but the odeba. hi conducted us still further a smaller
though more beautiful mosque, surrounded with
a g,rden-couIt 1t WAS truly magical picture. We
entered The gate and passed 10y marble pavement
under trees and arbors of vines that almost shu out the
moonlight 20 paycn space in the center whereof was
a beautiful fountain in the purest Arabic style lis
heavy projecting cornces and tall pyranidal roof
rested on a circle Of elegant arches, surrounding
marble structure, whence the water gushed forth in
dozen sparkling streams On three sides il was sur
rounded by the mooult and arbos on the fourth
BY the corridor of the mosque the door OF en-
trance being exactly opposite.
Large numbers of per-Ons were washing their hands
ard feet at the fountain after which they entered and
knet On the floor We stood unobserved in the corn-
dor and looked in on the splenddy Illuminated interior
and the crowd at prayer all bending their bodies q the
earth IL regular iutervuls and murmurng the name OF
Allah They resembed plain OF reeds bending before
the gusts Of wind which precede a storm. When all
bad entered and united in solemn prayer We re-
turned, passing the grand mosque. stole up TO the
door lifted the heavy carpc; that hung before IT, and
looked in. There was n Metlevi Dcr,ish staining in
the entrance but his eyes were lifted in heavenly Go-
stracton, and he did not me. The interior was
brilliantly lii by white andcolorcd lamps suspendedirom
the alls and the great central dome Ii an m2os-
ing structure simple in form yet grand from it, dimen'
sions The foor covered with kneelng figures and
deep voice coming from the other end OF thu mosque
utieripg pous phrases in kind OF chant satisfied
my curiosity quickly. and we then returned TO the
khan
Yesterday afternoon made more thorough examl-
nation of the city. Passing through the bazaars,
reached the Serai Pashas Palace which Stands on
the site of that of the Sultans OF conun IL Is long
wooden building with no pretensiols TO architectural
beauty Near it there is large and ancient mosque
with mnaret OF singular elegance. 1t Is about l21