The Kalida venture. [volume] (Kalida, Ohio) 1841-1865, 1854-01-20
7bTIiE BosPHoRUsI

/ '~'S va 'pO OpoHh"iuoi "'S'
connect The waters Of ibe Black Sea, nt
The western extremity OF which IS situated
the city Of ConslAnlindple, are seven
teen miles ID length, ard possesses an
average bredddi Of about one and hall
miles. They are Of considerable depth,
md remarkably easy of navigation. A
strolig current, however, constantly flows
rom the Black Sea, which, when aided
by northeast wind Of long duration, be-
comes SO powerful illat sailing vessel
can hardly make hoadway againslii In
The width Of its channel, safety Of naviga-
tion and swifiness OF current, il more
resembles a noble liver than branch OF
jNhe ocean. '''' ~ 4'A "a.
The harbor Of Constsntinople, which is
properly an arm Of the Busphorus, res
ceived at arecent period the apptl!alion
o! the "'Golden Horn," and is one OF the
most secure and capacious, as well as
beautiful ports ie the world. Ii is si-
tuated near the western mouth OF the
straits, about sixteen miles from the Black
Sea. The curve which il describes might
be compared with propriety TO that Of On
ox's horn; and the term golden, was ex-
presslve Of The riches which every wind
waited from distant countries 10 lis bosom
The entrance is about FIVE hundred ynrds
broad, and upon an emergency strong
chain might be drawn across to guard the
city against the attack Of hostile navy.
About five miles from the Black Sea, two
fortresses are consiructed-oneo on either
continent, upon the foundation Of the
celebrated temples OF Serapia and Jupiter
Ufius. These castles form The chief de-
Tense Of the city against encroachments
from The north and east. The old castle,
six miles distant from the city, a work Of
the Greek Emperors, commands the mar
rowcstI part of the channel where the
strait contracts to width Of bu, 500
PAGES. Here il was that Darius, twentyS'
three hundred years ago, connected tho
two continents by bridge Of boats. 5s
The scenery ofthe Bosphorous is said
TO unrivaled in its peculiar character Of
beauty. On each side of the straits arise
in picturesque confusion from the waters
edge, huge cliffs Of jasper, agate, por>
phy!y, calcareous spath and comedians.
Such is their abruptness, that the belief
is generally entertained by the inhablt>
ants of the surrounding country that the
two walls Of the straits were rent assun>
der thousands Of years ago, by some
terrible oonvulsion of nature. The TEN,
pies and votive altats, profuscly scattered
along the banks, attest the (ears and devo-
ton of The Greeks who first explored the
inhospitable Euxins or Black Sea. Pri-
vaie houses, too, and delightful gardens,
lie resting here and there upon the suns
mi,s of tine banks, or cling'ng 10 their
steep sides, while the mosques and pala>
ces ofstbe great metropolis, its snow
white minarets and glancing crescents,
resemble more the fanciful coniurations
OF an eastern fairy tale than reality Of
the modern world!lloom3I ed' la e.g1
The straits abound in fish, and the sea
Of Marmora has always been renowned
for possessing an inexhaustable supply Of
the 6nny tribe, which are taken at The
proper seasons, without skill, and almost
wilhou, labor. The Bosphorous and the
DardanolIes-the latter is better known
in ancient history as the Hellespont-
may lie considered as the two gates of
Constah,inople; and their passage may
always be closed by the reigning prince
against naval enemy, or opened 10 the
fleets of fcommeice. The name Bos,
phorous is derived from two Greek words,
signifying OK and passage. Tradition
the origin of the name 10 the
passage Of Jupiter ncross the straits in
the form Of white bull, bearing the
beautiful Europa, daughter Of a Phenician
king, upon his back. AT the northern
entrance Of the straits arc the Cyanean
Isles, which, according 10 The poets, once
floated upon the surface of the water,
md were stationed there BY the gods to
1efead the entrance Of the Euxine from
he ptying Of profane curiosity. Boston
Journal. 81 siq a9ili1
The Emperor Nicholas wishes ah errar
lam corrected in The next edition Of our
dictionaries. He begsaio say that an OF
.r :. .ak q tkinn trnon .ul,inh vo,, IN IN