Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1854-01-11
The City Of ConstantinopIe.
A correspondent of the Baltimore fine

to describe that which Byron would not
venture upon, and | will only say, that the
approaches to this City whether from the
Sea of Marmora or the Black Sea, through
the Bosphorus, are surprisingly beautiful; ;
the SUBMITS of the hills on which it is built
are crowned and surrounded with Imperial
Mosques, where vast swelling domes, and
innumerable minarets tipped with gold, Ia
pering away towards the clouds, together
with the dark groves OF Cypress which ev-
ery where meet the eye; the palace and
gardens of the Seraglio, the winding Bos-
phorus literally lined with villages and pal
aces, the Sea of Marmora studded with the
Princes Isles, and lastly, the Golden Horn
covered with the ships Of many nations.
and thousands of the light and graceful
caiques of the country, form altogether, such
scene as have never yet seen equalled
in nv travels. But, if have been delight
ed with the situation and views of the un-
paralleled beauty of Constantinople from
icithout, have been wofully disappointed
with the City itself. Talk of oriental splen-
dor and magnifcence it is all an illusion,
like the fables of the Arabian nights. Go
into old Stamboul, (the city proper and
scramble up its narrow, tortuous, ill-paved
streets, into the fa:-famed Bazaars, where
you might expect to see stores of the lch
products and manufactures of the East, jew
els and precious stones, rich silks, and stufs
of silver and gold, rare perfumes and spices.
and 10! you will find that these celebrated
repositories are nothing more than mean,
though lofty arched passages. dimly light
ed, and shockingly paved filled with pet
ty shops, each some twelve or fifteen feet
square, the entire front often swinging upon
hinges, so as to close upon or expose at
pleasure, the stock in trade within, like
travelling pedlar's booth al home, whilst in
the midst of his wares, sits from morn till
night, the turbaned and bearded Turk, sip
ping his coffee, or inhaling the fumes of to-
bacco, seldom moving, except to the little
sanctum within, to perform his ablutlons
and say his prayers, as all good musseImen
do, five times day. And yet, after see
ING the Imperial mosque and tombs, the
Seraglio, the Egyptian and Roman obeisks'
the burnt porphyry column, and the sub
terranean cistern of Athens and Columns,
these Bazaars are, after all, the only oo-
liects of interest in the old city, for when
YOU become accustomed to their gloomy
Shades, you may lounge about them pleas
antly enough for few hours, bargain
ing with the shopkeepers for the few triles
YOU may wish for, as mementos Of the place,
and noting the costumes Of the various ra-
ces Greek, Turk, Armenian and Frank,
which here congregate together, or fixing
your curious gaze upon the half concealed
features of the Turkish ladies, who 60 there
to shop, as Christian. danes do in other
lands, away from the business haunts ofthe
city.
You may often wander about for hours,
meeting no one but beggars and boys, and
without seeing decent looking dwelling
the houses in STEAMBOAT being mostly OF
wood, mlserably built, and many of them
apparently in luinous state. The win
dows are generally closely latticed, and not
sound nor a sign indicates that there are
Inmates within; indeed, for great ard
popuous city, 1t is the most quiet and ST.
lent one have ever seen. No vehicles
are used for purposes Of transportation, the
narrow, steep, ill-raved streets, rendering
it inconvenient, and the only wheeled car
riages 10 be seen, arc those of the better
classes. Old fashioned, numbering, highly
guilt, but very tawdry equipages, filled
with cushions, IN which the fair OF Constan-
tinople ale occasionally TO be met, on their
way to the "sweet waters of Europe" or
to the Baths, or the Bazaars.
Pera, on the eastern side Of the Golden
Horn, is the best built part of the city, be-
ing mostly occupied BY the Franks or For
eigners. Gallata, adjoining it, is the COM
mercial part, and Ca>sin Pacha, populous
suburb thereof, is separated from Pera by
an extensive cemetery. Their cemeteries,
or vast charnel houses, are, think, one of
the most unpleasant features Of Constantl-
nope. They are to be found in all parts
of the city, and all appear to be filled to
overfowng, the dead being literally laid
side by side, and although the Turkish ones
are all planted with the mourning cypress,
they are otherwise SC much neglected be-
ing unprotected by enclosures OF any kind)
aud their fallen and broken stones some
inclining one way and some another, upon
the parched and naked soil, present such a
melancholy picture, that one wonders that
they should be places of such frequent re-
sort as they are said TO be.
The climate is represented to be good and
healthy; the uncleanly habits Of the Turks,
the narrow confined & authenticated streets,
the scarcity of water, and absence of sew
erage or DRAWINGS, would imply great NOR
tality, but it seems there are counteractlng
influences which operate favorably upon
the health Of the city-such as the refresh
ing breezes from the north, which prevail
generally throughout the year. and the rains
of winter, which sweep off in every direc-
ton, down the steep streets, the summer $
accumulation of impurities. The Turks,
too, are an abstemious people, both in eat
inc and drinking, and they avoid many OF
the ills which Aow from those prolific sourc-
es. Consumption. fevers, syphilis, and ner-
vous rheumatism, are the most common
complaints. The plague, which used to be
the scourge of the East, has not been known
for many wears, and il is 10 be hoped that
it has disappeared from Europe forever.
You will naturally expect me to say
something of the slave market, but there is
no proper place of the kind now the beau
tiful girls who are still brought here from
Cmcassia and Georgia, as well as the blacks
from Africa, being distributed about the
city according 10 the convenience of the
vender. Europeans are now admitted to
see the former. The whites. both male and
female who thus become objects of traffic,
do by no means consider their fate so cruel
a one as might be supposed, and often leave
their homes and kindred without pang; !;
TO them it is something like going into the
Ill A.. o,I, +ba;r fortnpos .,j .. 80. ..o