The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1854-02-04

dampncSs of the air. that we were in the i'm
mediate vicinity of water. Our surmiscs
were soon verified by the Turk (who was a
step or two lower than either Of u>) called to
my friend to take his torch, while he nnmoor.
ed light boat that was fastened to the wind.
ing staircase. a step or two lower. and amid
innumerable columns. rising ON every hand
We disccrncd the water cleaning under the
light of our torches.
We were soon seated in the boat. and tho
Turk, eqnipping himself with pair of scrlls
showed us OIL: The splash of the chain thai
had moorcd the boat, as it tell heavily into
the water, echoed throughout the vaul.cd
cavern. shall never forget the feeling of
bcwilde'mcnt that for Tie first few minute.
crci,t over me- Rows of marble column.
seemed to rise cndleS>ly. while their pol;>!.ct
surfaces oiStcnrd in the torch liclt. I'll,
eastern dress OF our guide, the flowing beard
the dismal silence OF this strange place. un
broken save 10y the padllin. Of tie boat. ant
the cleaning Of our uncarthlv Iioht. mad,
m" think Of the poets description of the S.vr
ian !crryman. After time bccan TO Loo,
round more att"ntvcly. The columns are
oi marble: many of them with Corintl;aY
raniialS. though we saw some the compoS
tie. and others of the Doric order. S,.:,c re-
tanned all the sharpness Of their cxqiiStc fin
l>h. while others seemed to be un'c : DIN
ailaTidition from, the haad Of TIM.
They appeared to re to ic 'hc .cils 81
more ihan one temple, appropriated hv imrc
rial builders to this use We looked for Al,
ms ription but could nowhere find one. Til
roof seemed in excellent condition. and AZ,
pcared to he fifteen or twenty feet above tlc
~uriAcc Of the watrr Unlike most othol
guides. oars was lv no means communicative
an! only lv dint ot questioning him. could
we learn ANYTHING from him. lie sad .;h,
water was un',tlomaN!c. and il was a< i. al
WAYS had been. am Of opinion there W..
from twelve to fifteen feet 1r,th Of water IL
the ci>.c~n 1t cxtcn.lcd under several stree,
AID from the darkness and Gloom which cn-
vc'on"> i, lis area seemed Of great extent -
II may well h" called lake After raddlinc
t""nr extremity. which We found to con-i-'
o wall faced with blocks OF marble. an,l
reaching nearly across it in the opposite ii
rcrtlon. our .uidr. in spite OF all or rntrrr-
", determined 10 ascend W. could learn
nothing o. the mode T., which The watr~ find,
entrance :uN>t likely ~ >oinc u.' 1ra,:.5l
course. a"i obtain -rc>s in .;.,;ltr rtnn y.
VI l"ntth We reached tie staircase. and mucl,
a9nn>t our viii. wcr" compelled II leave ilt;~
wonderful. ci>tcrn. Which we wou,l .la,liy
still further have explored.
The rclrctancc Of the Turks 10 allow tl!n.r
underground reservoirs tn be cynG~aj ,ro'.-
ably arises from the fact that If il.c;r toiir,,
were known, tEcv woull disclose many On
frances 10 the city. anl Sc facilitate the -
mission OF foe. Another reason may Ia
rivVn. The Turks Ar" excessively <,acrs,.-
'iouS. They believe III hosts. COLLINS and
demons. and fancy that the lowers Of dirk
ness and destruction take NJ their abode il,
places l>p these sui,tcrrancan rrt-c.t>. The
trd'lIoAS .: he crrc!ficS rcrrc.ra-cl on r..
Greeks. IN these artificial cavrrrs h,ye no.
Yet died away: aud vixen We a,ll that Ties,
excavations have b'cn used wv The Turks e.,
The most !eteStaI,lc tHf1oscs If rc,cn,c IN
frlHHe and political :,coc>>itv. TIE f,.hc,
OF the incscnt Sultan once found the ere 4
hovc described very useful.
Sclim had been ,,thronc,l and imnri<orc,
b,v the Janl>saric>. and MuS;apha w. rcicrc,
in his stead. This arrangement did no. a
all suit the Baracticr a general who march
ed TO Con>tantinorlc at the head ofio-'v tlor
sand men. Having obtained possession Of III.
capital. he fastened to the Scraclio but fo,;nl
the gates closed. and every preparation r,a,l,
for a determined d,i;;cc. The General 1i
appointed tut not intimi,!atcd. ,ravc or,lc,
TOR an immediate assault The contest Taste,
hut a short time. bat the interval was fatal :,
Sclim. On the sound OF the first the cmmi<
SaricS OF The Sultan were despatched to IL,
apartment: OF Sr!im whom, notwi;h>;anIin,
he was at his Icvoton> they siranclcd.-
From the nurlcr of Sclim. the cNccuti,ncr
proceeded to the apartments of Mahmo,l
the Younger son of Ahdnlhaimid. and the on
ly remaining prince OF the blood roval Their
was some hope for the Sultan. IN the even,
tul death of his brother. Sci;m was no moro
the audaciouS Baracticr himself would rcSocc
the last of TIE Ottoman race. The rr;c
rushed into the chamber OF the co,;;,.o,
prince. Lu. he was nov here 20 b. tourd. T.,
the fond fidelity OF slave he was indc;tr.
Tor his llic,and the moment tl,a, rarac.icr la,
rushed into the pa'ace, MahmouI, who ha,
first been concealed in the furnace of q I,il
guided hy the slave, was cautiously thrcad;n.
SOME subtcrrancan passages, until they rain
cd an opening or success in the wall. iron
which opened door that concealed a t;;rI
OF steps. The slave had brought ,orci, witt
him, and as he held it aloIf. the future Suita,
"azcd IN some trcpdation on a mass of dark,
fiowIn~ wafer.
w hlthcr woul,ist thou conduct me he dc.
mandcd.