Daily American organ. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1856, 1855-01-30
Smithsonian Lectures.
REPORTED FOR THE AMERICAN ORGAN.
CoNsTANTINoPLE.
By HoS. GEORGE P. MARSH.

December, went on with description of Constan-
tinople, or, as the Turks style it, Stamboul The
streets narrow, crooked, without sidewalks,
with the cutters in the centre. Wheel carriages
are seldom used, except for the women, the gen
tlemen going out on horseback, accompanied by
numerous train of attendants.
The Turkish ladies use two kinds of carriages
one, the ARABIA, is long wagon, without springs,
covered with a scarlet woollen cloth, fringed and
tipped with gold and the body is usually painted
| red and highly gilded. This is drawn by oxen,
usually OF dove color, which driven by reins.
This carriage is mostly used in making short jour
news into the country while the tatika is the town
| carriage This has light body, hung on springs,
and drawn by single horse. Both carriages with
out seats their occupants sit on the cushions at
| the bottom; neither is there door, and they are
forced to climb over the side Of the carriage by the
help of ladder. There being no roads in Turkey,
except near the capital, these carriages cannot be
used and the ladies often ride horseback, sitting
astride like the men.
! He now gave minute description OF the houses
of Stamboul, which are usually of wood and paint
ed in glaring colors and very slightly built, with
as many windows as can be let into the wall which
is very plain, while great deal of taste and in
genuity is displayed in the carving and gliding of
the ceilings. They mostly of basement and
one story, sometimes two, and very rarely three
the first story projecting over the street. the
/
are without stoves, and there are no chimneys ex-
Sept in the kitchen.
In winter the Turks wear flrred pelisses, and
warm themselves by mdngais or basins filed with
burning charcoal, which either stands in the mid
die Of the room, or else under table covered by
a large woolen cloth, around which the family sit
! and keep their hands and feet under this CLOTH
The winter is about as cold as here, and doubtless
| there is much suffering from cold among them,
but as wood is about $l5 cord, and to burn char
coal would cost about $2 day, most families have
| to do without. But the American missionaries are
introducing among them air-tight stoves. Every
| good house has vapor and shower bath, which is
| frequently used.
| He now described the courtesies received on
calling on Turks, which did not differ from the his
torical accounts. But he farther said that, in all
the graces of polished, social life the Turks are
not surpassed by any people in Christendom.
1 The Mussuman population of Stamboul is differ
ent in physical aspect from that of the rural district
as they have been receiving their wives from Cir
cassa and Georgia, and thus the Turkish blood has
been diluted and the physiognomy of the Turks in
the capital changed--who are now handsome and
n thoroughly Caucasian race, though 80 years ago
| they were described as the opposite. They are
| not fond of the name of Turk, but, instead, call
1 themselves Osmanes, and their country the Otto
| man Empire.
He now described the beautiful harbor Of the
| Golden Horn, confirming the former accounts we
| have received concerning that basin then q scene
on the Sweet Water--the Friday afternoon retreat
of the Constantinopolitans beautiful effect of
| the numerous colors of the costumes of the differ
ent nations there represented.
The Turks have lately adopted the European
dress, with the exception of the hat, instead of
| which they wear the tight fitting red fez.
| He now described the shores of the Bosphorus
and its picturesque effect viewed from different
parts of the stream, the palaces, and their gardens
and acades, the four vallies running down to the
sea and the high bold shores.
| He now spoke of the Turkish cemeteries almost
hidden by the heavy cypress groves, as one of
the most interesting sights around the capital
| There are several of them--the largest being not
1 quite three miles long. One of them he described
as containing an epitome OF the rest, and well de-
serving place in the description of the shores of
| the Bospborus
The graves Of persons of middle rank are I'M
enclosed, and the monuments consist of head and
foot stones--the latter plain, but the Maidstone
| larger and ornamented. At the top of the stone
is carved the turban fez or other headdress of the
deceased, and from its form and color, before the
adoption of the European costume, could be seen
the rank and profession of the person commemo-
rated Beneath this head-dress is long inscrip-
| ton, usually in raised letters. The stones placed
on the graves of the women have, in places of
head-dress some of their distinguishing orna-
ments well carved. If the grave is that of person
of distinction, it is covered with a sarcophagus
| with head and foot stone also. The graves are
frequently enclosed with tasteful fences. The let
| tering Of the stones is often gilded, and the
ground of the stone painted scarlet, or some other
! lively color
| He now described the Bosphorus. 1t Is about
nineteen or twenty miles in length and is widest
at the outlet of the Black Sea, where it is some
thing less than two miles broadts average breadth
/ -. 10 a,,l al,
channel is of great depth, ranging from twenty to
sixty-fve fathoms, and is so free from shoals and
distractions of any kind, that stranger can nav
gate It without pilot if he has good chart. The
shores are so bold that large vessels can lay close
along the shore. The height of the banks is one
hundred and fifty feet on an average though at
points they are much higher. The current is usu-
ally of great rapdity, 1t is the only outlet of the
Black Sea. And the North wind blows down
the channel for large part Of the year. the down
ward current of air and water oppose serious OBJ
stacle to the upward passage of sailing vessels; and
the charges for towage by the few steam-tugs is
so high, vessels often crowd these straits waiting
| for fair wind. When the South wind at last does
/ blow the great feet Of long expectant ships are
once more in motion, and present the most beauti-
full sight in the world. Among them may be seen
every flag in the world but next to the Turkish
our flag is the most seldom seen so high up the
i straits.
But the caique is the water craft Of the Bospho-
II Is the swiftest wei the most graceful
of boats and in both contrasts favorably with
the slow motions of the gondolier Of Venice. It
is peculiarly adapted to the navigation of the
Bosphorus, and with Greek boatmen is perfectly
/ safe.
He spoke of the fine appearance of the fleets Of
men-ofwar, often crowding the streets and the
sublime sound Of the echoes so often repeated
| when salutes are fred.
The rumor Of the conclusion Of cannon at Sebas-
topol affecting the barometer at Paris, now re-
ceived attention. Mr.. Marsh had attentively OBJ
served the barometer at the time when one thou
sand cannon had been simultaneously discharged
at this point and had seen no difference in the mer-
curial column, therefore he gave no confidence TO
| the above rumor.
At the recent municipal elections in Texas the
| Known othings appear to have been very success
| full in eecting their candidates. At Austin, San
Antonio, Houston, Victoria, and Lavaca, they car
ried everything J. ]. Kendrick was elected Mayor