Grass Valley telegraph., 1854-01-12
THE BosPHoRUs.

The Straits of Bosphorus, which connect
the waters of the Black Sea with those of the
Sea of Marmora, and at the western extremi-
ty of which is situated the city of Constanti-
nople, are seventeen miles in length, and pos
sess an average breadth of about one and a
half miles. They are of considerable depth
and remarkably easy of navigation. A strong
current, however, constantly flows from the
Black Sea, which, when aided by northeast
wind of long duration, becomes so powerful
that sailing vessel can hardly make head
way against it. In the width of its channel,
safety of navigation, and swiftness of cur
rent, it more resembles noble river than
branch of the ocean,.
The harbor of Constantinople, which is
properly an arm of the Bosphorus received at
recent period the appellation of 'The Col
den Horn" and is one of the most secure and
capacious, as well as beautiful ports in the
world. 1t is situated near the western mouth
of the strait, about sixteen miles from the
Black Sea. The curve which it describes
might be compared with propriety to that of
an ox's horn and the epithet golden was ex-
pressive of the riches which every wind watt
ed from distant countries, to its bosom. The
entrance is about five hundred yards broad
and upon emergency q strong chain might be
drawn across to guard the city from the at
tack Of hostile navy. About five miles
from the Black Sea, two fortresses are con-
structed-one on either continent. upon the
foundations of the celebrated temples of Sc
rapia and Jupiter Urls. These castles from
the chief defence of the city against encroach-
ments from the north and east. The old cas-:
ties, six miles distant from the city, work
of the Greek Emperors, command the mar
rOwest part of the channel, where the strait
Contracts of width of but five hundred pa
ces. Here it was that Darius, twenty-three
hundred years ago. connected the two conti-
nents by a bridge Of boats
The scenery of the Bosphoros is said to be
unrivalled in its peculiar character of beauty
On each side of the straits arise in pictur-
esque confusion from the waters edge. huge
cliffs of jasper, agate porphyry, calcareous
spath and cornelian. Such is their abrupt
ness that the belief is generally entertained
by the inhabitants of the surrounding coun-
try that the two walls of the straits were
rent asunder thousands of years ago by some
tremendous convulsions of nature. The tenn
pies and votive alters, profusively scattered
along the Banks, attest the fears and devO-
ton of the Greeks who first explored the in
hospitable and EuXine or Black Sea- Private
houses, too, and delightful gardens, lie rest
ing here and there upon the SUBMITS of the
banks, or clinging to their steep sides, while
the mosques and palaces of the great metro
polls, its snow-white minarets and cleaning
crescents, resemble more the fanciful conjura-
tions of an eastern fairy tale than reality of
the modern world.
The straits abound in fish, and the Sea of
Marmora has always been renowned for pos
sessing an inexhaustible store of the finny
tribe, which are taken in the proper seasons,
without skill and almost without labor. The
Bosphorus and the Dardanelles-t latter is
better known in ancient history as the Helle-
spont-may be considered as the two gates
of Constantinople; and their passages may
always be closed by the reigning prince
against naval enemy. or opened to the fleets
of commerce. The name BOsphoros is deriv-
ed from two Greek words, signifying OK and
passage.-Tradition attributes the origin of
the name to the passage of Jupiter across the
straits in the form of white bull, bearing
the beautiful Europa, daughter of Pheni-
clan king upon his back. At the northern
entrance of the straits are the Cyanean Isles.
which, according to the poets, once floated
upon the surface Of the water, and were sta
toned there by the gods to defend the en-
trance of the Euxine from the pryings of pro-
fame curiosity.-BOStOn Journal.