Cooper's Clarksburg register. [volume] (Clarksburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1851-1861, 1853-01-12
casionaily occur upon our Western wa

casionally occur upon our Western wa
tsrD. is-l94-it 4so-a - atsHp a-a 2
As general thing, the captains of
steamers in Europe are very eautious.-
They never race. and an explosion is al
most unknown among them. G
As we sailed over the placid waters of
the Marmora. and approached the city of
the Sultan, was all impatience. to see
that famous place that had so long been
bright and beauteous picture in my ina
gination. Long before the God of day
reddened the East with his lurid rays,
on the morn that We anticipated catching
| glimpse of the distant city. l hurried on
deck. expecting to see its monifold beau
ties unfolded in all their glory before my
greedy gaze; but. alas for the fallaey of
human hopes. Twas doomed to disap-
pointment. Instead of the city. with its
populous suburbs, ABROAD expanse of
waters, only bounded by the horizon, was
all that greeted my vision. rs
1t appears that an accident occurred
during the night which SO implicated our
machinery that we had to be tewed up to
the eity by Turkish and English steamer,
and SO slowly did we advance, that the
sun had passed the zenith ere we came
in sight of the Old ,Stamuaul. 1t was
two o'clock p. NJ. when its mosques, its
towering minarets, and mournful cypress
trees appeared in the distance, and how
inadequate to the task of describing the
scene that then presented itself do feel.
All the glowing fancies which had form
ed of Oriental splendor and magnifcence,
as so graphically portrayed in the
" Arabian Nights" appeared to be reali-
zed. Proudly. there before us, upon se-
ven hills, stood Constantinople its gilded
mosques and minarets flashing back, with
golden hue. the suns resplendent rays;
Seraglio Point looking like miniature
Paradise, with its many domes charming
ly commingled..with the dark expresses,
forming in itself complete picture of
Eastern grace and loyeliness, and Senta-
ria, on the Asiatic shore, with its three
mile long cemetery.
AS we rounded Seraglio Point. we
found ourselves emerging into an amphi-
theatre of beauty. The city its suburbs.
both on the European and Asiatic shores,
the Bosphorus, lined with gardens and
palaces the Golden Horn. filled with
ships from whose masts floated the flags
of all nations; the large war ships of the
Sultan. one or two of which carry one
hundred and forty guns; the thousands
of slim and graceful caiques that shot
about in every direction over the surface
of the water, filled with grave Turks or
chattering women, in all the fanciful and
flowing garments of the East-all COM
bined to form a picture that judge no
other place in the world can afford.
AT length the rattling chain announ-
ced the sinking of the anchor. and we
came to staud-still in the harbor.
In connection with the scene which en-
sued, would remark that the Turk, be
he Pasha or am homnee tus orOiinarie,
scarcely ever goes below in ship. He
prefers to spread his bed upon the open
deck, SO as to enjoy the fresh breeze of
heaven. One half of our after deck, it
being separated by a temporary partition
| from the other half or hrs. class passen-
ger part. was completely covered with
mattresses, over which were strewn men,
women and children. reclining at night,
and squatLing Ia Iu,k throug gh the day.
When we had fairly stopped, there
was general confusion. Our Oriental
passengers were the chief actors in the
scene. There was grand resurrection
of the bodies that appeared to have been
in semi-recumbent position for four or
up and arranging beds and bedding; =
squabbling among the children, chatter
ing among the women composing the
harems that were on board much talk
and smoke among the Turkish men, whilst
all around the steamer were lowering cai-
ques filled with Turks, Americans, Greeks,
| &c, running in contact with each other,
quarreling. crying out to the passengers,
shrieking in all languages-thus render
ing the scene perfect Babel.
In an hour or two we found ourselves
deserted by the caiques and most of our
passengers, leaving US surrounded by So
Letting hotel agents that had leaped
aboard. These We dispatched, as we
had pretty well learned during our ira
vels in Europe, how to proceed in quest
of quarters without the assistance of do
zen advisers.
That night We were comfortably fixed
in Para, which is inhabited by Franks,
and being separated from Constantinople
by the Golden Horn, is quite a distinct
city. The houses now are mostly large,
and of late years have been built of stone
to prevent the fearful ravages so fire.
quently made here by fires. They are
generally constructed in the European
style. and afford striking contrast with
the small frame buildings of the Turks.
Speaking of fires reminds me that ev-
er since our arrival here we have been in
the midst of them. had often heard of
the fires in Constantinople. but was not
prepared to find them of such frequent
occurrence. Eleven large ones have oc-
Cured within few weeks; the last demo-