Des Moines courier. ([Ottumwa] Iowa) 1848-1854, 1853-11-24
Dark arches under Constantinople:
20 :oR: 20
THE SULTAN'S REFUGE.

When Russia, as now appears almost
inevitable, marches to the gales of Con.
stanrinople, the struggle will be fierce and
Pro,racted. Under the Prophets banner
the Turks will fight valianty. They
will oppose the fercest fanalicism to The
discipline Of foe as skillful as rugged.
And who can doubt the result! Howev-
er, should the enemy approach Constan-
tlnople. that city nigh. be defended 10 an
indefinite period-that is, supposing the
fleets Of France aud England kept the
communications by sea open and unin-
terrup,ed- for the walls of Constantine,
pie are considered very good. Those
on the land side have a double range, 30
feet from each other, and are defended
by flat-bottomed ditch some 25 feet
broad. The outer wal, which is about
IL feet high, is defended by $50 strong
towers. The inner wall is about 20 feet
high, with towers similar to those of the
outer. Military slrategists consider that
II oil these points we're well fortified,
and the sea approaches KEEP, clear of the
enemy, Constantinoo ole might be defend.
ed against any force which the power of
Russia could bring against it. But sup
posing the city was reduced to the last
extremity, i. might still be desperately
defended. The population would be de-
s'royed, but the military could hold ou,
until famine swept them away. For the
storage of provisions, the wonderful
vaults of Constantinople supply ample
convenience. One OF them affords a
bundance of pure fresh waier-in fact,
It is subterranean reservoir.
These vast underground ediiices rank
among the most remarkable monuments
OF old Constantinople. They were built
by the Greeks as cisterns, and were al
ways KEEP! full, in case Of seige. Thro'
the neglect of the Turks, many of them
are much decayed, and some are wholly
blocked up, SO that their positions are
unknown. There is one vault, called
"the palace Of the thousand and one
pillars" which the Turks allow slran-
gers 10 inspect. The entrance TO it is
from the centre of the city, down mar
row, bu. substantial and well preserved
stone staircase. Instead of being els.
tern filled with an immense body of wa
ter, it is occupied as silk factory. 1t
is about thirty feet deep, and the roof is
about six fee. from the surface OF the
street. THE vault extends over abou,
an acre of ground. But the greatest Gu
riosity is the vault which still exists as
cistern. This vaul. the Turks guard
with the greatest jealousy-very few,
even of those who live above it, being
aware Of its precise locality. 1. is a
subterranean lake, extending under many
streets, and the former has an arched
roof. supported by 336 pillars Of solid
marble. An English gentleman, who
was fortunate enough to obtain access to
it, has supplied US with very animated
description OF its appearance. He says:
"Having learned that there was Grek
reservoir in the city, in good preserva'
tion, and still partially full of water, |
made many inquiries respecting il, but
all in vain. Al length, meeting friend
whose long residence in Cons,antinople
had afforded him the means of knowing
more than | could do about il, asked
him if the account of The existence Of
the reservoir was correct.
"'Perfecly so,' said he, 'lhough |
never have seen it,
Expressing an earnest wish TO behold
il, he told me that, with large bribe, he
though. he could obtain me permission
for he was acquainted with an old